tihraxy of Che theological ^tminavy
PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY
•d^^D*
Donation of
Samuel Agnew
sec ffl745
rviiliennium : or the thousariu years ot
prosperity, promised to the Church of God
bid TesUimeiil and in the New, snorQy to .
,-».'- -Vx >0''«^'J '
THE
^^^^?x/l^
M I L L E N NLI U M;
OR, T H E<iJ, YK^i^U^4Z^
THOUSAND YEARS of PROSPERITY,
PROMI SE D TO THE
CHU.RGH OF GOD,
(H THE OLD TESTAMENT and in THE,,Iffi^ QF r-f.i,
.<f
SHORTLV TO
C O M M E N C
^.;IUi 7 iy:>
AND TO BE CAR.RIED ON TO
PERFECTION^
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF BIM,
WHO, IN THE VISION^ V/AS PRESENTED TO St." JOHNo
/tKD i SAW, AND, BEHOLD, A WHITE HORSE; AND HE THAT
SAT ON HIM HAD A BOW; AND A CROWN WAS GI^EN UNTO
him: AND HE WENT FORTH CONQUERING AND TO CONQUER,
iVs are journey.ng unto the place ^ of 'which the Lord f aid y I loill.
give it yo;i: come thou nvith t(s, and w<? ay/7/ do thee good, for the
Lord hathfpoken good cmcerning IfraeU m o s £ s ,"
ELIZABETH TOIVN: ,
Printed sySHEPARD K O LL O C K— 1794.
yJ:
PREFACE.
IF the prophetic parts of the oracles ofGod^
from what may bejtiled '' afacred Calen-
dar;'' or^ " an Almanac of Prophecy^' it is
-with the greatejl propriety, that the Watchmen
of Zion are difpofed, now and then, to confult
this f acred calendar, in view of determining
the watch of the night, and, ofconfequence, how
long before the arrival of the long-wifiedfor
promifed day. Frompromifes which the f acred
fcriptures afford, calculations may, with a good
degree of precifion, he made, refpeEling the time
of the accomplifliments of the prophecies which
relate to the future profperity of the Zion of
God. The redemption of the church of God
from the bondage of Papal Babylon, as xcell as
from the general dominion of the Powers of
Darknefs, is a glorious and anii^ating fubjeH
of prophecy. The Lord hathfpoken, and the
decree fiall be fulfilled. — If, in ancient tifne,
the people of God believed what the Lord had
fpoken refpe£ling the redemption of his people;
if, from the f acred calendar, they difcovered
the time of the promifed redemption — prayed
for, and actually f aw the fulfilment of the ob-
jed of their hopes, in temporal and infpiritu-
al deliverance, what forbids that^ in this day
iv PREFACE.
of general captivity, the prophets of the Lord
Jlioidd look with the fame fiith and prayer f or
thefulfilmentofthofepromifes which refpe^the
fpiritual deliverance of the Chrifdan Church,
both from the bondage of Babylon, and from
the thraldom of Satan? — And more efpecially,
{^s we evidently fee marks of the divine progrefs
in this work, in his prefent judgments among
the nations of the earth, and particularly on
myjlicool Babylon; zohich all allow, are but a
little to precede the glorious redemption and
profperity of the Church in the Milleimial-day.
'. — " One circumftance, faith Dr. Halifax,^
ought not to be pafled by unnoticed — -
namely, the menaces of certain vengeance tQ
be hereafter inflifted on the enemies of the
true religion, intimated by the deflruction of
the body of the fourth beaft ; tind fubfe que nt
to that the promife of the univerfal efiablifii-
mentofthe reign of Chrifl, when the f one
cut-out of the mountain withov^t hands, fhall
fir ike and break to pieces the image on its feet;
and become a great mountain, andfJl the
xohole earth. ^ This part of the prophecies is
yet unfulfilled; nor is it for us to afcertaiu
NOTE.
'* Hal]if-ix*s Sermon, preached at Biflicp Warbuvton*s LeclurCj
3L-incola's-irin Chape!, London, page 96, publiihed 1776.
PREFACE. T
riie manner in which fo important a revolu-
tion, in the religious world, will be effefted:
The ufe intended by the obfervation here is,
from the fymptoms of decline which are now
difcernible in the fyflem of the Papal pow-
er, to point out to you the prefumptionthata-
rifes in favor of the truth of the prophetical de-
nunciations, and from the concufllons which
have already (hook the tottering throne of
fuperIlition,to learn to expect, in God's good
time, its full andjinal deinolitiGny
And if this celebrated Author, in his day,
thought there was ground to ufe thefollozoing
language, in view of prophecies already ful-
filed, and events then exifing, vjith how much
more reafcn may loc confidently adopt it now,
and fay, that, " under the aufpices of fuch
a guide we may hope to advance, fecurely,
in our projefled work ; and to have the plea-
fure of thofe, v/ho, after long travelling m a
dreary night, perceive, at laft, the darknefs
to diminifh, and the reddening ftreaks of the
morning, betokening to them, that the day
is at hand?" — r
The object in publifiing Dr. Bellarnys dif
courfe is to efablifi the doElrine of the Millen-
nium as to matter of fad: and by publfnng
Prefdent Edwards s '' Humble Attempt to
^^1
P R E J^ A C E.
promote explicit Agreemerxt and vifible U-
nion in Prayer;" it is hoped attention will be
excited to the ufe of thofe means which God
hath ordained to be iifed in view of a gracious
filfilment of cv^ry prcmife made to his Church
and to his People, Thus faith the Lord, I will
yet for this be enquired of by the houfe of
Ifrael, to do it for them.
The dejign of the third and lajl difcourfe is
tofupport the objeds of the tivo former, by an
appeal to exifiing facts, to the demonjlration
ofprefcnt events. By thcfe it appears, that
what Dr. Halifax termed " the reddening
ftreaks of the morning/'have become entitled
to thejUle of the dawn, if not to the morning
of the day, — Hoxv does our faith groio — our
confidence increafe, and our joyful hearts ex-
ult at the fight, or rather Ojt the found of the
fia'elyfi.cppirigs of our God vn the prefent re-
volutions of his providence, fulfilling the pur-
pofes of his great decree! — From what we ob-
ferve to have-, already, taken place, may ice not
confideri ily a nticipate all tliat is to come ? — The
teftimony o{'\it[\x%, faith the angel to St. John,
is a fpirit of prophecy. — If, in a fpirit of pro-
phecy, the Great Head of the Church hathfpo-
ken of things to come, to firengthcn the faith ^
and to cheer the hope of his followers, it can-
PREFACE. vii
7iol be denied, but our time and talents are
vjell employed, whiljl, injludy, with mceknefs
and prayer, we labor to underjiand and topof-
fefs the blejj^ngs he hath fo gracioujly prepared,
andfo abundantly promifed to his Church,
If, in the day in which Prejident Edwards
lived, it zoas thought time for the Zion of God
to go into labor, in view of the approach of the
tirae of promifed redemption to Ifrael, with
how much more courage and confidence viay
the Church of God now proceed in the ardu-
ous^ yet noble and inter efing work?
The arguments which his invaluable trafl
fuggcfisfor explicit Agreement and vifble U-
nion of God's People in extraordinary Prayer^
for the Revival of Religion, and the Advance-
ment of Chrifi's Kingdom on Earth, purfuant
to Scripture-promifes and Prophecies, concern-
ing the LAST TIME, are as applicable to the
flate of the Church, and of the world, 7iow, as
they were then, and the encouragement, from
prefent circumfances, much more animating.
If any individual Chnfian, any fociety of
Chrifian People, or any Mzni/ler, or affocia-
iion of Minifers,fhould be fofar imjyrefjed
with the propriety of a prefent compliance with
what Prefdent Edwards labored to bring about
in his day, as to defrc that meafuresfhould
viii PREFACE.
be taken for the accoiwplifhment of theobjeEldf
his work, and exyrejs a willircgncfs to aid in
laying a foundation for a general and united
exertion in prayer throughout all the Chrijliah
Churches in our land; the Editor pledges his
whole heart in aid to anyfuch frcpofal, and
would think hira [elf highly favored by any com-
munications, from any quarter, on thefublivfie
and animating fubj eel.
That the Great Head of the Church zvould
gracioiifly take this humble attempt to the ho-
nor of his name, and for the interejts of his
Zion, under his holy proteElioni and profper,
and do his own hle/fed will in all things zvhich
itjirives to accoinpliJli,is the fervent prayer of
one, zvho knows no higher objeci ofprefcnt or
future ambition, than to approve himfelf, and
to be approved of his Lord and Mcijter, as an
indujtrious hezver ofzoood, and drawer of wa-
ter for the chiirch of God,
DAVID AUSTIN.
Elizabeth Tow^,
Itla^ I, I794«
THE
MILLENNIUM.
JOSEPH BELLA MY> A. M.
MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT BBTHLEM*
l^FifJl puhlfjiosd at Bojlon m 1758.]
Hevelatiom XX. 1,2,3,
jind Ifaw an angel come down from heaven, having the kei
■of the bottomlefs pit, and a great chain in his hand. And
he laid hold on the dragon, that old fer pent, which is the
Devil and Satan, and bound him a thoufand years* And,
cajl him into the bottomlefs pit, and JJiut him up, and fet
a feal upon him, that he Jhould deceive the nations n$
more, till the thoufand years JJiould kefulfdUd.
TN agreat variety of refpefts the Bible is the
A moft remarkable book in the world. In
it we have God's moral charafter clearly ex-
hibited to view, by a hiftory of his conduft,
as moral governor of the world, from the be-
ginning; and the nature of fallen man paint-
ed to the life, by a hiftory of their behavi-
our for four thoufand years. In it we have
opened the glorious and aftonifhing method
that has been entered upon to difappoint all
10 The millennium.
Satan's defigns, by the interpofition of the
Son of God ; and are informed of his birth,
life, death, refurreftion, afcenfion and exalt-
ation; and of the glorious defigns he has in
view. And the whole is fo contrived as to
be admirably fuited to all the circum.ftances
and needs of a good man, that, as it was de-
figned to be the good man's book, in a pe-
culiar fenfe, fo it is perfeflly fuited to his
cafe. It is profitable foi' docirine,for reproof,
for correction, for ivftruclion in right covfnefs,
thcit the man of God may be perfzB, thorough*'
^lyfiirnified to all good zcorks.
That fincere concern for the caufe of truth
and virtue, for the honor of God and inte-
re^^ of true religion, which is peculiar to a
good man, whofe character it is to love
Chrift above father and mother, wife and
children, houfes and lands, yea, better than
his own life, muft naturally fubjeft him to a.
peculiar kind of folicitude; even as a child,
of a truly filial fpirit, is paired' whea it goes
ill with his father's family, to whofe inte reft.
he is clofely attached, and has a whole fyf-
tern of inward fenfations that a ftranger in-
termeddles not with. The Bible, the good,
man's book, is, therefore, wifely adapted to
eafe the good man's pained heart, and ^*
The millennium. ix
ford confolation in this interePting and rn oft
important point, as it gives the ftrongeft af-
furances that the caufe of virtue fhall finally
prevail.
How infupportable muft the grief of the
pious Jews have been, fitting on the fides of
the rivers of Babylon? There zbe fat down,
fay they, yea, zve wept zohen we remembered
Zion, And on the willows they hung their
harps, nor could any thing divert their minds.
Jf I forget thee, Jerufalem, let my right hand
forget her cunning! If Ida not remember thee,
let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth!
— How infupportable, I fay, muft their grief
•have been, w^hile their glorious holy tem-
ple, and their holy city, the place of all their
facred folemnities, were lying defolate, and
God's people in captivity, had it not been
for that promife, fo often repeated, that af-
ter feventy years God would vifit them, and
caufe them to return to their own. land. God
knew before-hand the anguifti which would
be apt to fill their hearts, the finking difcour-
agements, and all the train of dark and gloo-
my thoughts they would be incident to, and
before-hand provided a remedy. Yea, no
fooner had he denounced their doom in the
Xxxixth chapter of Ifaiah, but immediately
J2 The M I L L E N N I U M.
in the next chapter, and for ten or twenty
chapters together, does he provide for their
fupport. Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people ;
Jpeak comfortably to Jerufalem, &c, &c.
So, how infapportable would have been
the grief of the church of Chrift, through
the long, dark, cruel reign of myftical Baby
Ion, while they beheld error and wickednefs
univerfally prevail, Satan getting his will in
almoft every thing, and, to appearance, no
figns of better times, but a.11 things wearing
a dreadful afpefl: before their eyes :— How
great their grief? How finking their difcou-
ragements? How almoft infuperable their
temptations to apoftatize, and forfake a caufe
that heaven feemed to forfake, had not the
day of deliverance been exprefsly foretold,
and the glory that fnould follow opened to
view by the fpiritof prophefy? But in a firm
belief that the caufe they w^ere engaged in,
and for which they fpilt their blood, would
iinally prevail, and prevail in this world,
x\rhere they then beheld Satan reigning and
triumphing; I fay, in a firm belief of this,
the whole army of martyrs could march on
to battle courageoufly, willing to facrifice
their lives in the caufe, not doubting of final
yiftory, although they themfelves muft fall
in the field.
The millennium. 13
Indeed, were the falvation of his own foul
the only thing the good man had in view,
he would naturally be quite eafy upon a full
affurance that this was fecured. So, had
Mofes cared for nothing but the welfare of
himfelf and of his pofterity, he might have
been fatisfied, M'hile the v/hole congregation
of Ifrael were dellroyed, if he might become
a great nation, and that without any folici-
tude for the honor of the great name of the
God of Ifrael; yea, although the idolatrous
nations round about were fully eftabliflied
in the belief of the divinity of their idols,
and brought to look upon the God of the
Hebrews with ever fo great contempt by the
means. But, attached as he was to the ho-
nor of the God of Ifrael, nothing could give
him fatisfaclion, but a profpeft that that
would be fecured. The welfare of himfelf
and of his family was of no importance in his
cfleem, compared with this. See Exod, xxxii.
It muft, therefore, be remembered, that,
as the Son of God left his father s bofom,
and the realms of light and glory, and ex-
pired on the crofs in the utmoft vifible con-
tempt, that he might fpoil principalities and
powers, bruife the ferpent's head, deftroy the
v^orks of the Devil, fo hi* true difciples have
J4 The MILLENNIUM.
imbibed a meafure of the fame fpirit, and,
as volunteers enlifted under his banner, have
the fame thing in view; they long for the
deftruftion of Satan's kingdom, and thefe
petitions are the genuine language of their
hearts ; " Our Father which art in heaven,
*^ hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come,
♦^ thy will be done on earth as it is in hea-
*' ven/* Nor can the falvation of their ovrn
fouls, although ever fo fafely fecured, fatisfy
their minds, without a clear view and fair
profpefl: of Chrift's final viftory over all his
enemies: " But if our great general, w^ho
*^ has facrificed his life in thecaufe, may but
*' at laft obtain a complete viftory, notwith-
*^^ (landing all the prefent dark appearances,
^' this is enough," fays the Chriftian Soldier;
*' I am willing to rifque all in his fervice, and
" die in the battle too. But if Satan were
*^ always to carry the day. Oh, who could
•^ live under the thought!'*
This having been the temper of good men,
fnore or lefs, even from the early ages of the
world, and through all fuccefnve genera-
tions to this day, they have evidently want-
ed a peculiar fupport, which the reft of man-
kiiid ftood in no need of, to carry them
Tme millennium. 15
comfortably through fuch a long fcene of
darkncfs ; wickednefs prevailing, God dif-
honored, Satan triumping, the world pe-
riHiing, tlie true church of God more gene-
rally in fackcloth. And accordingly the fi-
nal viftory of the caufe of truth and virtue
was intimated in the very firft promife made
to fallen man ; and, from time to time, God
repeated this comfortable prediftion to his
church and people ; and finally made it the
chief fubjetl of the laft book of holy Scrip-
ture he ordered to be wrote for the ufe of
his church.
Now let us take a brief view of the whole
feries of thefe divine prediftions, from the
beginning of the world, even down to this
in our text, contained in one of the laft chap-
ters in the Bible, that we may fee what full
evidence there is of this truth, and fo what
abundant caufe for confolation to all the
people of God.
1. Immediately after the fall, when the
ferpent, even the Old Serpent the Devil, had
juft feduced mankind to revolt from God;
and had, to all appearance, laid this whole
world in perpetual ruin, even in the depths
of this midnight darknefs, a ray of light
i6 Th£ millennium
flione down from heaven — The feed of the'
Tjoomanfiall bruife theferpent's head. As if
God had faid, " I fee the fcheme that Satan
** has laid to ruin the world, and eilablifli his
'' impious, malicious caufe : I fee it, and
" am determined to defeat it. The feebler
*' woman he has over-matched, but her al-
*^ mighty feed fhall conquer him, and as ef-
*' feClually fubdue him, and prevent all fu-
" ture mifchief by him, as a ferpent is fub-
*' dued and incapacitated for further mif-
** chief when his head is crulhed to pieces,
^' under the indignant heel of one determine
" ed on his death." This was a complete
doom, indeed, denounced againft Satan, at
the head of the kingdom of darknefs. And
it fully implied, that the caufe of light, truth
and righteoufnefs, fhould finally obtain di
complete viftory.
2. After this gracious and gl6rious pro-
mife had been the chief foundation of all
tlie hopes of God*s people for two thoufand
years, God was pleafed to point out the par-
ticular family from whence this mighty de-
liverer fhould fpring, and to intimate what
a univerfal bleffmg he fhould be to all the
nations of the earth. And in thy seed fiall
ALL the families of the earth be blef/ed^ iaid
The millennium. 17
God to Abraham ; which again plainly
fuppofed, that the caufe of truth and right-
eOLifnefsj notwithftanding the dark Hate the
world then was in, all finking faft into idol-
atry, and would for many ages be in, buried
in heathenifh darknefs, fhould yet, in due
time, univerfally prevail over the whole
earth. For in thy s^ETiJkall all the fami-
lies of the earth be bleffed. This fame pro-
liiife was repeated again and again to Abra-
ham, and afterwards to Ifaac and to Jacob,
3. Hitherto God had fupported his peo-
ples' hopes chiefly with promifes, with verbal
prediftions ; but from the days of Mofes
to the days of Solomon king of Ifrael, to
affift his peoples' faith, God did^ befides
repeated promifes of the fame thing, by a
great variety of wonderful works, fhadow
forth the glorious day; and, at the fame
time, {hew. that he had fufficient wifdoni
and power to accomplifh the greateft de-
figns. That his people might be convinced
that he could eafily bring to pafs, for the
good of his c&urch, whatfoever feerned good
in his fiffht.
Ifrael, in the Egyptian bondage, were a
defigned type of a fallen world, uader the
dominion and tyranny of Satan ; nor \yag
B
i8 The MILLENNIUM.
Pharaoh more loth to let Ifrael go, than
Satan is to have his fubjefts deferthim, and
his kingdom go to ruin ; but notwithftand-
ing all the feeming impoffibilities in the way
of Ifrael's deliverance, infinite wifdom knew
how to accomplifh the divine defigns. God
could even caufe a member of Pharaoh's
family to educate one to be an inftrument
of this defigned deliverance. And, in due
time, behold all the armies of Ifrael march
forth from the land of Egypt, out of the
houfe of bondage ; and Pharaoh, and his
chariots, and all his hoft, lie buried in the
Red Sea! So eafily can God bring forth
his people, even out of the anti-chriftian
kingdom, which is fpiritually called Sodom
and Egypt ; and, if he pleafes, raife up the
inftruments of this glorious work, even in
the court of Rome.
And when the name of the true God was
almoft forgotten through all the earth, and
the Devil worlhipped in his room, in idols
of various names, through all the nations,
God knew how to make his name known,
and to caufe his fame to fpread abroad, and
fill the whole earth with his glory, by won-
ders wrought in the land of Ham ; by def-
cending on Mount Sinai; by leading the
The millennium. 19
Armies of Ifrael forty years in the wilder-
nefs, in a pillar of cloud by day, and of fire
by night, giving them bread from heaven
and water out of the flinty rock ; dividing
Jordan ; delivering up one and thirty idol-
atrous kings to the fword of Jofhua ; raifing
up judges, one after another, in a miraculous
manner, to deliver his people, until the days
of David and Solomon, types of Chrift. —
Of David who, Meffiah-like, fubdued the
enemies of Ifrael all around; of Solomon,
who built the Holy Temple, and filled Jeru-
falem with riches and glory. — He who hath
done all thefe things, can eafily accomplifh
all the defigns of his heart, preferve his
church, raife up deliverance, break to pieces
the kingdoms of the earth for her fake, make
truth viflorious, and fet up the New-Jeru-
falem in all her fpiritual glory, build up his
church as a glorious Holy Temple, and fet
the Son of David upon the Throne ; by
whofe hands Satan, and all the powers of
darknefs, fhall be fubdued, chained, fealed
up in the bottomlefs pit, as much afraid, and
as much unable, to attempt any mifchief, as
the fubdued nations around Ifrael werean
the very height of David's power.
But when fhall the Son of David reign.
20 The MILLENNIUM.
and the church have reft ? When fliall the
caufe of truth and righteoufiiefs thus prevail?
Perhaps the very time was defigned to be
ftiadowed forth in the law of Mofe5, in the
inftitution of their holy days. The feventh
day, faid God, who always had this glorious
feafon of reft in view — " The feventh day fliall
be a Sabbath of Rejl, the feventh month fiall
he full of holy days, the feventh year fiall be a
yea.r of refiT — So^ perhaps, after fix thou-
fand years are fpent in labour and forrow by
the church of God, the fevea thoufandth
{hall be a feafon of fpiritual reft and joy, an
holy fabbath to the Lord. — And as God the
Creator was fix days in forming a confufed
chaos into a beautiful world, and refted the
feventh; fo God the Redeemer, after fix
thoufand years labour in the work of the
new creation, may reft on the feventh, and
then proclaim a general liberty to an enftav-
ed world, and grant a general pardon to a
guilty race ; as in the year of jubilee, among
the Jews, every enflaved Jew was fet at li-
berty, and the debts of all the indebted were
cancelled,
4. Thefe things, thus {hadowed forth in
types, were alfo exprefly declared by the^
mouths of the ancient prophets, from the
The millennium. 21.
iflays of David and forward, to the end of
that difpenfation ; and the fame things are
hinted here and there in the New-Tefta-
ment, and largely opened to view in the
Revelation of St. John. So that both the
Old and New Teftaments join to raife in us,
who live in thefe ages, the higheft aflurance
that it is God's defign to give his Son the
Heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermojt
parts of the earth for his poffefjion. For all
kings f mil bow dozon before hivi, and all na-
tions fhall ferve him. And the mountain of
the Lord's houfe fliall be eftablified in the top
of the mountains, and JJiall be exalted above
the hills, and all nations fliall flow unto it.
Theyfiall beat their fwords into plough fhears
and their f pears into pruning-hooks, and learn
Tjoar no more. For the earth fiall be full of
the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover
the fea. A nation fiall be born in a day.
All thy people fhall be righteaiis, Theyfhall
all know the Lord, from the leajl to tlie great-
eft. And holinefs to the Lord fiall be written
on every thing. Kings fiall become nurfng
fathers, and queens nurfng mothers; and
there fiall be nothing to hurt or offend. The
inhabitants fiall not [fo much as]y^ I a^n
fck And this kingdom fiall f II the whole
22 The millennium.
earth. And all nations and languages Jliall
ferve him. And the kingdom and dominion^
and the greatnefs of the kingdom under the
xjohole heaven Jhall be given to the people of
the faints of the Mojt High God ; and the
Jewsfiallbe called iri, and thefulnefs of the
Gentiles. For the Gofpelfiall be preached to
every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people. And Satan Jhall be bound, and Chrijl
Jhall reign on earth a thoifandyears,^ And
as furely as the Jews were delivered out of
the Babylonifh captivity, and Babylon itfelf
deflroyed, even fo furely (hall all thefe things
be accompliflied in their time ; and myili-
MOTE.
* Satan Jhall helourj, Szc. " The church of Chnft fhall enjoy
purity of religion in peace, without any difturbance from thofe
old enemies of minkind, working in the children of difobedi-
efice." Daiihuz on the Place,
" And this feems to imply, that all fiiall be converted — However,
if there be any that remain unconverted, they will, during the im-
prifonment of Satan, be in fo fmall a number, and fo feeble in com-
parifon of the true Chriftians, that they fhall neither dare, nor be
able to difturb the peace of Chriil's kiagdom."
Lonuman on the Place,
A fpirit of itrift piety fhall rife fo high, and fo univerfally pre-
vail, that it fliall be as though all the martyrs of former ages were
rifen from the dead, and appeared upon the ftage all at once. This
feems to be tl-.e fenfe of thofe words in Rev. xx. 4. The martyrs
are faid to rife from the dead and reigi with Chrifl: a thoufand
years, much in the fame fenfe as John the Baptiji is called FMds^
viz, becaufe he was a man fo nearly referabling that celebrated pio*
phet. See Lo'wmar. on ike Place.
The millennium. 23
cal Babylon {hsdi^nk as a milljlone into the
fea, andjhall be found no more at all.
5. But when (hall thefe things be? I an-
fwer, in the firfl place, it is plain, as yet they
have not been ; thefe great things have not
been accomplifhed. They were not accom-
pliflied when the Jews were brought out of
their Babylonifli captivity ; for, from thence
to the coming of Chrift, they never were in
fo flouriHiing a (late as they had been before.
They were not accomplifhed in the apofto-
lic age; for St. John, when moft, if not all,
of the other apoftles were dead, fpake of
thefe things, in the Revelation, as yet to
come to pafs. They were not accompliflied
in the three firfl centuries, for that was al-
moft one continued fcene of blood. They
were not accomplifhed in the days of Con-
ftantine the Great; for it is fince then that
the Man of Sin has been revealed. Nor are
they accomplifhed to this day ; for Satan is
ftill walking to and fro through the earth,
and going up and down therein : Babylon
is not fallen ;>.the Jews are not called, nor is
the fulnefs of the Gentiles come in, but the
greateft part of the earth, to this day, fit in
hieathenira darkaefs.
64 The MILLENNIUM.
' When then fliall they be accomplifhed?
Not till the holy city has been trodden under
foot forty and tzoo months. Not till the wit-
nejjes have prophefied a thoufand two hundred
and threefcore days, cloathed in fackcloth.
And not till the zooman has been in the wil-
dernefs a time, and times, and half a tiiJie*
Now a time, and times, and half a time, i. e*
three years and a'half is equal to forty-two
months, which is equal to one thoufand two
hundred and fixty days, which doubtlefs
means one thoufand two hundred and fixty
years, a day for a year; as the event has
proved, was the cafe in the prophecy of
Daniel, who declared it to be feventy weeks,
from the going forth of the commandment
to build Jerufalem to the death of Chrift;
for it proved to be four hundred and nine-
ty years, which is feven times feventy, a day
for a year. Ban, ix. 24.
So that there is no difficulty in determin-
ing the dov^nfall of Antichrift, but what a-
rifes from the uncertainty we are at when to
date the beginning of his rife and reign. —
The Bifliops of Rome were fome hundred
years rifmg gradually from the honeft cha-
rafter of a fcripture-bifliop to the grand title
of UNIVERSAL POPE, which was obtained.
The millennium. 25
A. D. fix hundred and fix. And it was a
long time from this before they got to the
height of their grandeur, and the Pope was
conflituted a temporal prince, which
was not till a. d. feven hundred and fifty-
fix.* And perhaps he may fall as gradual-
ly as he rofe. And as now he has been fal-
ling two hundred and forty years, even ever
fince the beginning of the reformation",
fo we may rationally expeft he will conti-
nue to fall till BABYLON finks AS A MILL-
STONE INTO THE SEA. And then themoun-*
tains and the hills JJiall break forth intojing^
ing, and all the trees of the field Jliall clap
their hands. And all the hofl:s of heaven, as
loud as thunder, fhall fay, Hallelujah! For
the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us
be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him ;
for the marriage of the Lamb is come, o.ndhis
wife hath made herf elf ready.
And thus we have taken a brief view of
the fcripture-evidence, that the caufe of
truth and righteoufnefs will finally become
glorioufly victorious.
6. Nor is there the leafl; reafon to doUbt
the accomplifliment of thefe things ; for God
C
NOTE,
See Bo\ver'3 Hiilory of rhe Popes,
t6 The MILLENNIUM.
in all times pad has been faithful to his worcf^.
and is evidently fufficiently engaged in this
affair — knows hov/, and can eafily accomplifh
it, and it will be mueh to the honor of his
great name to do it.
God has been faithful to his promifes ta
his church from the beginning of the world.
To all human appearance, it was a very un-
likely thing that the Hebrews, enflaved in
Egypt, under Pharaoh, a very powerful
monarch, and funk down into idolatry, and
very low-fpirited, fhould arife and go forth
with all their flocks and herds, and march
through the wildernefs, and conquer the fe-
ven nations of Canaan, and poflefs their
land. And fo it was, to all human appear-
ance, equally unlikely, that the Jews in Ba-
bylon fliould ever return to their own land,
« — But God had promifed in both cafes, and
God performed. And an event more fur-
prifmg than either of thefe, yea, the moft
aftonilhing that could have happened, has
alfo come to pafs, jufl as God had faid, — -
The promifed seed has been born, and the
ferpent has bruifed his heel; and methinks-
now not only God's faithfulnefs, but even
the nature of the cafe itfelf, fhould lead us
to believe, that the si.'E.i> Jliall bruife his hecL
The millennium. 27
For after God has appeared to be fo in^
finitely engaged to deftroy the works of the
Devil, as to give his only begotten Son, it
can furely never once be imagined that he
wants fufBcient refolution to carry him thro'
what yet remains to be done.
And he who could fend Pharaoh's daugh-
ter to take up Mofes, when an infant, out of
iiis baflvct of bulrufhes, and educate him in
Pharaoh's court, that he might be {killed in
all the arts of government ; and when he
had fpent forty years in this fituation banifh
him into the land of Midian, that in the fo-
litary life of a fhepherd for another forty
years, he might attain to the meekeft man
on earth, that he might, by both, be tho-
roughly qualified for the work defigned him ;
and he, who could take David from feed-
ing his father's fheep, and, after a courfe of
trials, fo exceeding neceffary to prepare
frail man for high honors and great ufeful-
nefs, exalt him to the throne of Ifrael, fo
thoroughly furniflied to head their armies
and fubdue their foes, advance their exter-
nal grandeur, and put great honor upon
their religion ; and he, who could take Da-
niel, one of the Jewifli captives in Babylon,
and raife him to fuch high honor and great
^8 The MILLENNIUM.
authority, to be a father to his people thro'
their fcventy years captivity, and by his
means, perhaps, influence Cyrus fo gene-
roully to releafe them, and afTift them in
their return;* and finally, he, who could
take a number of poor illiterate fifhermen,
and the perfecuting Saul, and by them lay
the foundation of the Chriflian church, in
fpite of the united oppofition of earth and
hell; and after their death gaufc the Chrif-
tian church to live through, yea, at laft to
triumph over the ten bloody perfecutions,
find even conquer the Roman empire; and
that which is ftill more wonderful, to fubfift
to this day, notwithftanding all the fubtle
and cruel methods which have, for fo many
hundred years, been t^ken by Antichrift tq
NOTE.
* As Daniel underflood the prophecies of Jeremiah, which had
determined the time of the captivity to be feventy years, Dati. ix.
a. and had his heart fo much in the affair of their return, as \ofet
Ms face to feck the Lord hy fujiing and -pr.njer^ verfe 3; and being
t^ie chief man in the kingdom, muft have free accefs to Cyrus,
Tfau. vi. fo nothing could be more natural than to fhew him an an-
cient Jewifh prophecy, wherein he was mentioned byname, near
two hundred years age, and ^jointed out as the perfon who was to
let go the Jev/ifn captives, bbild Jerufalem, and lay the founda-
tion of the temple. Ifaiah xliv. 28. and chap. xlv. 1—3. To which
Cyrus no doubr refers in his proclamation. Ezra i. a, 3, 4. Thus
faith Cyrus king cf PerfiUy The Lord Gfd of heaven hath given
Trie all the klngdovis if the earthy and he hath chakged »ie tc build
Ufd an hcul3 at Jerufalem^, rf:hkh is in Judak, Who is there a^
7Vcngyc:Ci &c.
The millennium. 29
extirpate Chriftianity out of the world ; I
fay, he who could do thefe things, cannot
be at a lofs for means, or want power to ef-
feft the glorious things foretold^ which yet
remain to be accomplifhed.
And what if mankind are ever fo eftrang-
ed from God? And what if they are ever
fo averfe to a reconciliation? And what if
Satan reigns in the courts of princes, in the
councils of the clergy, as well as in the cot-
tages of the poor? And what if even the
whole world in a manner lies in wickednefs?
So that a general conflagration might ra-
ther be expefted, as it is fo eminently de-
ferved — are thefe things any bar in the way?
What if mankind have abufed divine grace
from the beginning of the world? What if
they have murdered his prophets, his Son,
and his apoftles ? What if they have refift-
ed and grieved the Holy Spirit, and pervert-
ed the doftrines, and gone counter to the
precepts of his holy word? Yea, what if it
appears that mankind are really on Satan's
fide? And this, after all the kind methods
God has taken to reclaim a guilty world, fo
that even the befl: man on earth, or the kind-
eft angel in heaven might be difcouraged,
totally and finally difcouraged, and think it
ho The MILLENNIUM.
tiever worth while to take any more pains
with fuch a perverfe race, but that it were
liidre fuitable to the rules of good govern-
rhent to refign them to deftruftibn !~Are
any, or all thefe things together, a fufficient
bar to the accomplilhment of God's defigns,
whofe goodnefs is abfolutely infinite? Can
they be fo, after the Son of God has been
oiFeredasa facrifice of atonement, to fecure
the honour of the divine government, and
open a v/ay for the honourable exercife of
his grace ? — What ! after the Mefiiah has
been exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour^,
to give repentance and remiffion of fins ? —
And after all power and authority in hea-
ven and earth is given into his hands, on
purpofe to deftroy the kingdom of Satan,
and bring every nation, kindred and tongue,
to bow the knee to God ! Yea, when the in-
finitely wife Governor of the world has be-
fore determined to permit the wickednefs
of mankind to come out and fland in fo
(glaring a light, and to fuffer Satan fo long
tio praclife and profper, to this very purpofe,
that his power, wifdom and grace, might
be the more effeftually and the more glori-
oufly difplayed, in the accomplifnment of
all his dorious defi^ns ?
I
The MILLENIUM. 31
Inftead of being difcouraged, from a view
of the paft, or the prefent (late of the world,
as without the light of divine revelation we
fhould naturally have been, methinks now,
viewing all things in the light of holy fcrip-
ture, it muft be perfeftly rational to con-
clude, that all thefe things are only prepa-
ratory, as an introduftion to the glorious
day ; even, as all the cruel bondage of Ifrael
in Egypt, and all the haughty conduft of
Pharaoh, were but preparatory as an intro-
duction to the glorious event that God had
then in his eye. And what unfpeakable ho-
nour will redound to God moft High, if
after all the vile conduft of this apoftate
world, and notwithllanding all their ill-de-
fert ; and after all the fubtle methods Satan
has taken to make his kingdom ftrong ; I
fay, what unfpeakable honour will redound
to God moft High, if, after all this, he fliould
accomplifh his glorious defigns ? And when
things have been ripening thefe five or fix
thoufand years, and are now fo'nearly every
way prepared for God, to get himfelf agreat
name in the total deftruftion of Satan's king-
dom, can we once imagine, that God will
let the opportunity flip ? Or rather, ought
%2 The millennium.
we not firmly to believe, that when every
thing is quite ripe, then God will arife, make
bare his arm, and fill the whole world with
his glory?
Efpecially, confidering that, as things {land,
the honour of all his glorious perfeftions
lies at ftake ; for ever fince the Almigh-
ty gave out the word, that the seed of the
woman Jhould bruife theferpent's head, even
from that very day, that Old Serpent, with
all his fubtilty, has employed his whole
power to defeat the divine defigns, main-
tain his kingdom in the world, and efcape
the dreadful blow. He ftirred up Cain to
kill his brother, and never ceafed till the
whole earth was filled with violence, which
brought on the general deluge ; and after
the flood, he was induftrious to divert man-
kind from the knowledge and worfhip of
the true God, and to eftablifh idolatry and
the worfhip of the Devil, in all the kingdoms
of the earth ; and fince Chrifl:ianity ap-
peared, he has turned himfelf into every
{hape to defeat the gracious defigns of the
gofpel, and has prevailed and reigned above
a thoufand years, at the head of the grand
antichriftian apoftacy ; and Ihould the Al-
The M I L L E N N I U M. 33
niighty fufFer him to go on and profper, and
finally prevail, what would become of his
own great name? and how great would be
their triumph inthe infernal regions, to think
that in fpite of God and of his Son, from
the beginning to the end of the world, they
have held out in a conftant war, kept the
field, and at laft come off victorious ? —
Wherefore, as when God repeats the won-
derful works which he had done for Ifrael
in the days of old, in the xxth chapter of
Ezekiel, he conftantly fays, / wrought for
mine own great name. So here, in this cafe,
will he do it again, and that in the mod
eminent manner; as it is written. The zeal
of the Lord of Hojls wilt perform this.
So that, in a word, if almighty power and
infinite wifdom, at the head of the univerfe,
infinitely engaged, are a fufficient match for
the guilty, impotent powers of darknefs,
then we may depend upon it, Satan will
meet with an overthrow, as notable as did
Pharaoh and his hoft in the Red Sea ; —
and as proud Babylon, once the mifl:refs of
kingdoms, is now no more, fo myftical Ba-
bylon fhall fink as a millftone in the fea, and
rife no more for ever. And,
D
34 The MILLENNIUM.
7. Whatever miftakes the Jewifli Rabbies
might fall into, in their interpretation of Da-
niel's feventy weeks, and in their attempts
to fix the precife time of the MefTiah's com-
ing ; and whatever miftaken notions any of
them had about the nature of his kingdom,
as though it was to be of this world, and he
to appear in all earthly grandeur ; and al-
though his coming, to fome, might feem to
be fo long delayed, that they began to give
up all hopes of it, and to contrive fome other
meaning to all the ancient prophecies, or
even to call in queftion the infpiration of
the prophets ; yet neither the miftakes of
fome, nor the infidelity of others, at all al-
tered the cafe. Days, and months, and years
haftened along, and one revolution among
the kingdoms of the earth followed upon
another, till the fulnefs of time was come,
till all things were ripe, and then, behold^
the Mefliah was born. Even fo it {hall be
now.
Whatever miftakes Chriftian Divines may
fall into, in their interpretation of fix
hundred and fixty-fix, the number of the
beaft ; or in their endeavours to fix the pre-
cife time when the one thoufand two hun-
dred and fixty years of Antichrift's reign
The millennium. 35
fliall begin and end; or whatever wrong
notions fome have had, or may have about
the nature of the Millennium, as though Chrifl
was to reign perfonally on earth ; and if
fome, mean while, begin to think, that all
things will go on as they have done, and to
conclude, that the expe&ation of thcfe glo-
rious days, which has prevailed in the Chrif-
tian Church from the beginning, is merely
a groundlefs fancy : Yet none of thefe things
will at all alter the cafe. Days, and months,
and years will haflen along, and one revo-
lution, among the kingdoms of the earth,
follow upon another, until the fulnefs of
time is come — till all things are ripe for the
event ; and then the minifters of Chrift will
accomplifh in reality, what St. Johnfaw in
his vifions : — If aw an angel Jly iji the midjt
of heaven, having the everlajling gofpel to
preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and
to every nation, and kindred, and tongue and
people. And then (hall it come to pafs that
the veil of ignorance, which hath fo long
fpread over all nations, (hall be deftroyed :
and knowledge fhall fo greatly increafe, that
it (liall be as though the light of the moon
were as the light of the fun, and the light of
the fun fevenfold ; until the knowledge of
35 The M I L L E N N I U iC
the Lord cover the earth as the waters do the
fea; and then there Jliall be nothing to, hurt
or offend in all God's holy mountain ; for
Bab) Ion fhall fall,, Satan be bound, and
Chrifl will rei^n,' and truth and riorhteouf-
Afefs i^!iivei*fally prevail- a thoufand years.
REMARKS AND INFERENCES.
1. 'When, therefore, our Saviour, in the
days of hii flefli, denorninated his followers
a little Jlock, from the fmallnefs of their num-
ber, he had no deuga to teach us that this
would always be the cafe; for aUhough it
wa$ very true, that his flock was at that time
a Mule Jlock, yet the day was coming, when
that little leaven ^aonld. leaven the whole lumpy
and thcjlone ciit out without liands fliould be-
come a great mountain^ and Jill tlie whole
earth. So, although it was a faying very ap-
plicable, not only to our Saviour's day, but
to moil other periods of the church, that
many, are called, and Jew are chojen; yet it
docs not hence follow, that this will be the
cafe^ when a. nation Jliall he horn in a day^
zwA all the people Jliall be righteous,— -And
although it has commonly been fo, that
of the MANY who have fought ta enter in at
The millennium. 37
the fir ait gate, but few have been able, and
the GENERALITY havc, from age to agc»
gone in the broad way, which leads down to
dcjirudion; yet it fliall be qurre otherwife,
\vhen Satan is bound, that he may deceive the
nations no more; and when all Jkall know
the Lord, from the leajl to the greatejl, when
the kingdom, and the greatnefs of the king^
dom, under the whole heavens, fiall be given
to the people of the faints of the Mofl High.
For it is very plain, that thefe, and fuch like
cxprefTions ufed by our Saviour, which v/ere
applicable to the then times, and to moft
other periods, when the number of true con-
verts hath been comparatively very fmall,
were never defigned to be applicable to that
glorious period yet to come, which is to be
the grand harveft time, when the Jews, ^Nfho are,
to this day, for that very purpofe, no doubt,
by divine Providence, preferved a diftinft
people, and the fulnefs of the Gentiles fliall
come in. Nor can it be right to interpret
fuch exprefiTions in fuch a fenfe, as to render
them inconfiftent with what the fcriptures
fo plainly teach fhall be the cafe in the lat-
ter days : Therefore,
2, Notwithftandiug hitherto but few have
g8 The MILLENNIUM.
been faved, there is no evidence but that yet
the greater part of mankind may be faved.
Nothing can be argued againft this frorn fuch
expreflions as have been jufl mentioned, for
the reafon already fuggefled. Nor can any
thing be argued from any other paffages of
feripture; for the fcripture no where teaches,
that the greateft part of the whole human
race will finally perifh. I am fenfible, many
feem to take this for granted, and they are
greatly ftrengthened in this belief from a
view of the awful flate mankind have been
in from the beginning of the world to this
day. But if we fhould even grant, that hi-
therto not one in ten thoufand have been
faved, yet it may come to pafs, (there may
be time enough for it, and men enough yet
born;) I fay, it may yet come to pafs, that
by far the greateft part of mankind may be
faved.
For as the fcriptures conftantly teach that,
in thefe glorious days, univerfal peace ft all
prevail, and inftead of war the nations flial]
employ their time in ufeful \dho\xr, JJiall beat
their [words into plow Jliares, and their f pears
into pruning hooks; fo it will naturally come
to pafs, that mankind, who are now in vaft
The millennium. 39
multitudes deftroyed in the wars from one
generation to another, vvill be greatly in-
creafed in numbers, and plentifully provid-
ed for. Only remove Vv^ars, famines, and all
thofe defolating judgments, which the fins
of mankind have, from age to age, brought
down on a guilty world, and let that uni-
verfa! peace and profperity take place, which
indeed will naturally refult from the fincere
praftice of pure Chriftianity, and mankind
will naturally increafe and fpread, and fill
all the earth. And while every one im-
proves his time well, and is diligent in his
calling, according to the rules of our holy
religion, and all luxury, intemperance and
extrava^nce are banifhed from the nations
of the earth, it is certain that this globe will
be able to fuftain with food and raiment a
number of inhabitants, immenfely greater
than ever yet dwelt on it at a time. And
now if all thefe (hall knoxo the Lord from the
leajt to the greatejl, as the fcripture afferts,
fo that the knowledge of the Lor dfiall fill the
earth as the zoaters cover thefea, for a thou-
fand years together, it may eafily, yea, it will
naturally come to pafs, that there will be
more faved in thefe thoufand years, than )
ever before dwelt upon the face of the earth
from the foundation of the world.
40 The MILLENNIUM.
Some indeed underftand the thoufand
years in the Revelation, agreeable to other
prophetical numbers in that book, a day for
a year; fo the time, and times, and half a
time, i. e. three years and an half, and the
forty two months, and the one thoufand two
hundred and fxiy days are no doubt to be
reckoned; and if the dark period is to be
reckoned by this rule, it fhould feem that
the light period fhould likewife ; for other-
wife the dark period, which in that book is
reprefented to be the fhorteft, will indeed be
the longeft — the one thoufand two hundred
and fixty days longer than the thoufand
years ; and if the thoufand years is reckon-
ed a day for a year, as the fcripture-year con-
tains three hundred and fixty days, fo the one
thoufand years will amount to three hun-
dred and fixty thoufand years; in which
there might be millions faved to one that has
been loft. But not to infift upon this, if this
glorious period is to laft only a thoufand
years literally, there may be many more fav-
ed than loft.
If it be granted, that it is difficult to com-
pute with any exaflnefs in fuch a cafe as
this, yet it is eafy to make fuch a computa-
tion as may fatisfy us in the point before us ;
Th£ MILLENNIUM. 4!
fef in Egypt the Hebrews doubled at the
rate of about on^e in fourteen years ; in
New-England the inhabitants double in lefs
than twenty -five years; it will be moderate,
therefore^ to fuppofe mankind^ in the Mil-
lennium, when all the earth is full of peacfe
and profperity, will double every fifty years.
But at this rate, there will be time enough
in a thoufand years to double twenty times,
which would produce fuch a multitude of
people, as that although v/e fhould fuppofe
&1I who live before the Millennium begins
to be loft, yet if all thefe fliould be faved^
there would he above feventeen thoufand
faved to one that would be loft; as may ap-
pear from the table below.
E
a
i»
4
13
8
14
16
15
3i
16
64
J7
ia8
iS
258
^9
511
lO
1,024
a,048
16,384
32,768
65,536
262,144
5a4>2B8
1,048,576
Sum total 2,097,150
In tlifc firfl coliirtinj we have the twenty periods, whicli one
thonfand years wdl make at fifiy years to a petiod. In the feccnvl
column, \ve fee in what propoition mankind will increafe, if they
are fuppofed tO double in every fifiy y^ars. At the end of the firfl
fifty years there will be two for one, and fo on. At the end of the
twentieth period there will b« above st raillion for one. Now fup-
42 The MILLENNIUM.
3, The periods paft, that have been fa
dark, ought to be confidered as introduc-
tory to this bright and glorious fcene, and
in various refpefts as preparatory thereto.
An apoftate race, who had joined with
the fallen angels in a courfe of rebellion a-
gainft the Governor of the Univerfe, might
juftly have been forfaken of God, and giv-
en up to a ftate of perfeft darknefs and wo,
from generation to generation, entirely un-
pofe the world to (land lixthoufand years before the Millennium^
and fappofe it in every age to be as full of inhabitants as it will be
when the Millennium begins. And fuppofe, through all the fix
thoufand years, all the inhabitants of the earth to have died off,
and new ones eorne in their room, at the rate of once in fifty years,
CiK thoufand years, at fifty years to a period, will be one hundred
and twenty periods — one hundred and tweaty worlds full, all loft;
fuppofe, yet by the table we fee, tha:t the feventh period alone,
\vhich is one hundred and twenty-eight, would more than coun-*
ter-balance the whole —
Suppofc all before the Millennium loft =r 120
Suppofe all in the Mlllennuim faved =» 4,097,150
Then 120 : 2,097,150 : : i : 17,456 iVo Q^E* D.
That is, above feventeen thoufand would be faved to one loft,
which was the point to be proved; therefore nothing hinders but
that the greatefc part of mankind may yet be faved if God fo pleaf-
es. There is time enough for it, and may bs men enough yet
born; and if thefe calculations may ferve to clear up this, they an-
fwer the propofed end. What proportion of mankind will finally
be faved, and Vv^hat loft, no one can tell — it is no where revealed;
God was not obliged to fave one out of all this guilty loft world.
Hitherto the generality may have perifhed, and the Lord is righi-
eov}!s; but who can tell to what a degree God may yet glorify his
grace? The holy fcriptares encourage us to look for things ex-
Cvicding great and glorious; even for fuch events as may put a ae^s>
fece on all God's pa»ft difpenfations.
The millennium. 43
der the power of the Prince of Darknefs. —
What has happened in dark ages paft, may
help us a little to realize what might juftly
always have been the woful ftate of a fallen
world. We have had a fpecimen of the
dreadful nature and tendency of Satan's go-
vernment in all the idolatry, wickednefs and
wo which have filled the world; and we
have feen a little what is in the heart of fal-
len man, who have flain the Lord's pro-
phets, crucified his Son, and fhed the blood
of thoufands, yea, of millions of his fervants.
And what has happened may help us to
realize a little what muft have been the
ftate of a fallen world, if grace had never
interpofed. At the fame time it hath ap-
peared, after the befl contrived experiments
have been fufficiently tried, that it is not in
the heart of fallen man to repent, nor can
he be brought to it by any external means
whatfoever, whereby the abfolute neceffity
of the interpofition of fupernatural grace
hath been fet in the moft glaring light. And
DOW, if after all, God fhould effeftually iu-
terpofe, deRroy the influence of Satan, feat-
ter the darknefs which fills the world, re-
cover mankind to God, and caufe truth and
righteoufnefs at laft to prevail^ it would ap-
44 The MILLENNIUM.
pear to be altogether of God, of his own
mere felf-movin^ goodnefs and fovereign
grace. And after fo long and fore a boa-
dage mankind will be the more fenfible of
the greatnefs of the deliverance. Nor can
it ever be faid by a proud and haughty world,
^' We did net need the influences of divine
^^ grace to bring us right;" whereas all other
methods had been fufficiently tried, and tri-
ed in vain. But God may juflly fay, ■' What
*' could have been done more to reclaim
<• mankind that I have not done.^ And ta
*^ what purpofe would it have been to have
^' taken one ftep further? I tried them e-
*^ nough — there w^as no hope — their heart
" was a heart of ftonc; therefore, behold I,
'' even I, will take away the heart of none,
*^ and give ap heart of flefii ; and an apoftate
" world fiiall be aihamed and confounded,,
" and fliall never open their mouth when I
^■' {hall do all thefe things for them."
We are apt to wonder why thefe glorious-
days fnould be fo long delayed, if God, in-,
deed, intends fuch mercy to men ; but God,
infinitely wife, knows what is beft — knows,
liow to condufl: the affairs of the univerfe—
knows when is the fitteft time to introduce
this glorious ftate of things — knows w^hen
The millennium. 45
matters will be all ripened, and every thing
in the moral world prepared, fo that this
glorious day may be ulhered in to the beft
advantage, in a manner moft fuited to honor
God and his Son, to humble a haughty
world, and to difappoint Satan moft griev-
oufly, after all his wily fchemes, great fuc-
cefs, and high expeftations ; I fay, God
knows when this will be ; and this is the very
time he has fixed upon for this glorious
work.
4. It therefore becomes all the followers
of Chrift, in their feveral fpheres, under firm
belief of thefe things, to be of good courage,
and exert themfelves to the utmoft, in the
ufe of all proper means, to fupprefs error
and vice of every kind, and promote the
caufe of truth and righteoufnefs in the world,
and fo be workers together with God.
If one flood at the head of this glorious
army, which has been in the wars above
thefe five thoufand years, and has lived thro'
many a dreadful campaign, and were allow-
ed to make a fpcech to thefe veteran troops
upon this glorious theme, he might lift up
his voice, and fay — " Hail, noble heroes !
" Brave followers of the Lamb! Your Ge-
*' neral h?is facrificed his life in this glorious
^6 The M I L L E N N I U M.
*^ caufe, and fpoiled principalities and pow-
*^ ers on the crofs, and now he lives and
^^ reigns ! He reigns on high, with all power
*^ in heaven and earth in his hands ! Your
*' predeceflbrs, the prophets, apoftles and
*^ martyrs, with undaunted courage, have
*' marched into the field of battle, and con-
*^ quered dying, and now reign in heaven !
*' Behold, ye are rifen up in their room, are
^' engaged in the fame caufe, and the time
** of the laft general battle draws on, when
*^ a glorious viftory is to be won. And al-
*^ though many a valiant foldier may be flain
*^ in the field, yet the army fhall drive all
*' before them at laft; and Satan being con-
*^ quered, and all the powers of darknefs
*^ driven out of the field, and confined to
•* the bottomlefs pit, ye fhall reign withChrift
*' a thoufand years-— reign in love and peace,
'* while truth and righteoufnefs ride triumph-
*^ ant through the earth ; w^herefore lay afide
" every weight, and, with your hearts whol-
*^ ly intent on this grand affair, gird up your
*' loins, and with all the fpiritual weapons of
*' faith, prayer, meditation, watchfulnefs, &c,
*^ with redoubled zeal and courage, fall on
" your fpiritual enemies: Slay every luft that
*' yet lurks within, ^s knowing your domef-
The MILLENNIUM. 47
'^ dc foes are the moft dangerous ; and with
«' gentlenefs, raeeknefs and wifdom, by your
*' holy conduft, your pious examples, your
«* kind inftruftions, your friendly admoni-
'' tions, fpread the favour of divine know-
*' ledge all around you, as ye are fcattered
*' here and there through a benighted world,
** labouring to win fouls to Chrift, to induct
" the deluded followers of Satan to defert
*' his camp, and enlift as volunteers under
*^ your prince Messiah. And if the pow-
" ers of darknefs ftiould rally all their for-
*' ces, and a general battle, through all the
" Chriflian world, come on, O love not your
*' lives to the death! Sacrifice every earthly
*' comfort in the glorious caufe ! Sing the
" triumphs of your viftorious General, in
prifons and at the ftake, and die courage-
oufly, firmly believing the caufe of truth
and righteoufnefs will finally prevail."
Surely it ig infinitely unbecoming the fol-
lowers of him who is King of Kings and
Lord of Lords, to turn afide to earthly pur-
fuits, or to fink down in unmanly difcou-
ragements, or to give way to floth and effe-
minacy, when there is fo much to be done,
and th£ glorious day is coming on. How
(hould thofe who handle the pen of the wri-
ti
€6
48 The MILLENNIUM.
tet, exert themfelves to explain and vindi*
cate divine truths^ and paint the Chriftiari
Religion in all its native glories ! HoW
fliould the pulpit be animated, from Sabbath
to Sabbath, with fermons full of knowledge
and light, full of fpirit and life, full of zeal
for God and love to men, and tender pity
to infatuated finners! Chrift loves to hav6
his minifters faithful, whether the wicked
will hear or not. — And let pious parents be
unwearied in their prayers for, and inftruc-^
tions of their children, and never faint un^
der any difcouragements ; as knowing, that
Chrift is exalted to give repentance and re-
miffion of fms^ and can do it for whom he
will. Bring your children and friends, with
all their fpiritual difeafes, and lay them at
his feet ; as once they did their fick, when
this kind Saviour dwelt upon earth. — Let
pious perfons of every age, and in every ca-
pacity, awake from deep, and arife from the
dead, and live and a£l worthy their glorious
charafter and high expeftations ; and in
their feveral ftations exert themfelves to the
utmoft to promote the Redeemer's gloriou.^
caufe. — Let this age do their fliare, as Da-
vid, although the temple was not to be built
in his day, yet exerted himfelf to lay up
The MILLENNIUM. 49
materials for that magnificent edifice, on.
which his heart was intently fet; as know-
ing that, in his fon's day, it would be fet up
in all its glory. — So let us rife up, and with
the greateft alacrity, contribute our utmoft
towards this building, this living temple,
this temple all made of lively ftones, of
ftones alive, in which God is to dwell, and
which will infinitely exceed in glory the
Temple of Solomon, that was built of dead
timber and lifelefs ftones. — And let this be
our daily prayer, an anfwer to which we
may be affured of, whatever other requefts
are denied us, Our Father zohich art in Hea^
ven, &Q.—for thine is the kingdom, the pow^
er^ and the glory, for ever* Amen.
F
A W
HUMBLE ATTEMPT
I TOPROMOTE
EXPLICIT AGREEMENT
AND
VISIBLE UNION of GOD's PEOPLE'
I N
EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER,
FOR T h'e
REVIVAL OF RELIGION
And the
ADVANCEMENT of CHRIST'S KINGDOM
O N
EARTH,
PURSUANT TO
SCRIPTURE-PROMISES and PROPHECIES
CONCERNING THE
LAST TIME.
By JONATHAN EDWARDS, A.M.
Minifte?- cf the G of p si at Northampton.
WITH A PREFACE BY SEVERAL MINISTERS.
Printed at Boftcn, in Ne-Jj -England, 1747. Reprinted at North,
at?: p tony in Old E7igland, 1789.
ELIZABETH TOWN:
Printed by chepard kollock, Printer and Bookfeller. 1794.
PREFACE
B Y T H E
EDITOR, IN ENGLAND.
I
Olney, May 4, 1789.
F any enquire why the enfuing work is
repiiblijlied, I would beg leave to lay be^
fore them the following intelligence :
At an afjbciation of the minijlers and mef
fengers of the Baptijl churches in the counties
of Northampton, Leicefer, &c. held at Not-
tingham, in the year 1784, a refolution was
formed to eflablifi, through the affociation, a
meeting of prayer for the general revival
and fpread of religion. This was to be ob-
ferved the firjl Monday evening in every ca-
lendar month, by all the churches. It Jlill
continues, — In 178S, another Baptif affocia-
tion, commonly called the Midland, held that
year at Aulcejter, in the county of Warwick,
entered into th-efame refolution. Many other
churches , particularly in Yorkfiire, have a-
dopted, and now follow the above praSiice. —
liv PREFACE BY THE EDITOR.
We have the plea fare alfo to find, that fever al
P^do-Baptift churches Jlatedly rueet on thcfe
evenings, for the fame piirpofe.
The re-publication of the follovjing work, is
with the avowed defgn ofprmnoting the above
aggeenient and pradice, Thofc concerned in
itsfirfiinfiitution, never intended it fhould be
confined, to any peculiar connection, or parti-^
cidar denojuination. Blather they ardently
wifiiedit might become general among thereat
friends of truth and holinefs. The advocates
of error are indefatigable in their endeavours
to ovevthrozo the diftinguifiing and inter efing
do5irines of Chrifuanity ; thofe doElrines which
are the grounds of our hope, and fourccs of
our joy. Surely it becomes the followers of
Chrift, to ufe every effort, in order tofirength-^
en the things vAich remain.
By re-piibl'fliing the following work, I da
not confider myff as becoming anfcoerable for
every fentimcnt it contains. An author and
an editor are very d?finct characters. Should
any entertain different views refpecting fome
of the prophecies in the inf pir edf) age ~ from
thofe thai are here advanced, yet ftich may,
and I hope zoill,. approve of the general defgn.
In the prejent imperfect fate, xve-may rea-
fonably expect a d.iverfity of fenliments upon
'religious matters. Each ouglit to think for
PREFACE &Y THE EDITOR. Iv
fimfelf; and every one has a rigkt, on proper
cccajons, toJJiezo his opinion, YetallJIioulcl
remember, thai there are but ttvo po.rtm in
the world, each enga.ged in oppofite ca/itjis ;
the caufe of God and of Satan ; of holimfs
and of fin ; of heaven and helL The advd^e-
ment of the one, and the downfall of the other ^
rniifi appear exceedingly defrablc to every real
friend of God and man. Iffnch, infome re-
fpects entertain difexentfentiments, andprac-
tife dijlinguipjiing modes of worfiip, furely
they may unite in the above bvfnefs. for
thoifands upon thoifands, divided into f nail
hands in their refpective cities, towns, villa-
ges and neighbourhood, all met at the fame
time, and in purfnit of one end, offering up
their united prayers, like fo many afc ending
clouds ofincenfe before the Mof High! May
he fhower down bleffings on all thefcattered
tribes of Zion ! Grace, great grace be with all
them that love the Lord Jefus Chrijl infinceri-
ty ! Amen !
JOHNSUTCLIFF-
^-
M
^^=^5^^==^ — -r^==v-i^
THE
PREFACE.
^TPHE ruin of Satan's miferaljle kingdom^
-^ and the advancement of the univerfal
and happy reign of Chrift on the earth, were
included and hinted in the fentence denoun-
ced on the ferpent, that they^^^ of the zoo-
man Jliould bruife. his head. What was a
terriblethreateningto Satan, in the furprized
ears of our firtl guilty parents, implied a joy-
ful prophecy, to keep them from defpair, and
enliven their hopes for themfelves and their
defcendants, of obtaining by this feed of her s
an eternal triumph over him who had fo fad-
ly foiled them. And it is likely, their hopes
and faith immediately arofe, laid hold on the
reviving prophecy, earneftly defired its hap-
py accompiifliment, and tranfmitted it to
their pofterity.
Biit though this prophecy was at firfl only
delivered in the form of a threatening to Sa-
tan ; it was afterwards direclly given in tlie
form of a promife to Abraham, though ftill
in general terms, that in his feed JJiould all
G
Iviii ' The PREFACE.
the nations of the earth be blejfed. Yet this
general promife was more clearly by. de-
grees explained in the following ages, to
iTiCa-n a Divine King, no other than the Son
of God affuming human nature of the feed
of Abraham, Ifaac, Jacob and David ; that
fnouM be born of a virgin in Bethlehem of
Judah ; and at firft defpifed, abufed, rejefted,
and put to death ; but fliould rife to im-
mortal life, afcend to heaven, and thence
extend his bleffed kingdom over all nations ;
not by outward force, but inward overcom-
ing influence, by his Vvord and fpirit, mak-
ing them his zvilling people in the day, of his
poioer ; and reigning in glorious light and
holinefs, and love and peace for ever ; and
the advancement of this univerfal and hap-
py reign has been the earneft defire and
prayer of the faints in all ages to the prefent
day.
But hov^r great the honour and how lively
the encouragement given in fcripture to thofe
their prayers ; by reprefenting them as of-
fered by Chrift himfelf with the fragrant in-
cenfe of his own merits and intercefnon, on
the golden altar before the throne, and afcend-
ing together in one grateful perfuine to God!
And how cheering to every faint is that pro-
The PREFACE, lix
mife of his — From the rijing ofthcfiin, even
to the going down of the fame, my name f tall
be great aviang the Gentiles, and in everyplace
■incenfe fiall be offered unto my name, and a
pure offering! How plcafing to God^'and
the heavenly hofts to fee, as the fun goes
round the globe, this grateful incenfe rifing
from every part on high ! and the more ex-
tenfive and inceffant are thefe prayers, af-
cending from the circle of the earth, the
more does this bleffed promife go into its
defired fulfilment, and the holy God is more
pleafed and glorified.
To promote the increafe, concurrency, and
conftancy of thefe acceptable prayers, is
the great intention both of the pious me-
morial of our reverend and dear brethren
in Scotland, and of the worthy author of
this exciting effay. And this defign we
cannot but recommend to all who defire the
coming of this blifsful kingdom in its pro-
mifed extent and glory, in this wretched
world.
As to the author's ingenious obfervations
on the prophecies, we entirely leave them
to the reader's judgment : with only obferv-
ing, though it is the apprehenfion of many
learned men, that there is to be a very ge-
\K The P R E FA C E.
neral fianghter of the witneffes of Chrift
about the time of their finifhing their tefti-
mony to the pure worfhip and truths of the *
gofpe!, about three or four years before the
feventh angel founds his trumpet for the ru-
in of AntichriR ; — yet we cannot fee that
this is any juft objeftion againft our joint
and earneft prayers for the glorious age fuc-
ceeding, or for the haftening of it.
For if fuch a terrible time is coming in
Europe, which we in depending America
are likely to (hare in ; the more need we
have of joining in earneft and conftant
prayers for extraordinary fuffering graces
for ourfelves and others. And that fuch a
time is coming on the members of Chrift,
is no more an objeflion againft their prayers
for the haftening of the follov/ing glory^
than it was before the incarnation of him
their head, that his moft bitter fufferings
were to precede the fpreading of this joyous
kingdom among the nations. And the
nearer the day approaches, the more need
we have to be awakened to continual w^atch-
fulnefs and prayer.
May God pour out on all his people a-
bundantly, the fpirit of grace and fupplica-
tion, and prepare them for the amazing
The PREFACE. Ixi
changes haftening on the earthy both for
previous trials and for following glories !
Jofeph Sewall, "^
Tfmnas Prince, l^jnifi^^
John Webb, >inBofton,
Ikomas roxcrojt, \
Jojliua Gee, J
Boston, N. E. January 12, 1747-8.
^^
trnmrmmKom
An HUMBLE ATTEMPT to pTomoU an explicit agree-
ment and vifible union of God's People through l he
World, in extraordinary prayer, yi?r the revi-
val ^/'religion, and the Advance?nent oj Christ's
Kingdom on Earth, purjuant to Scripture-Pro^nifcs and
Prophecies concerning the last time.
OCCASIONED
By a late Memorial piabliHied by a Number of Miniflers in Scot-
land, and fent over to Ameiica, giving an Account of a certain
Concert for Prayer, which has already been come into by many
Minifters and others in Great Britain and fume other Parts, and
in which they defire the general Concurrence of their Chriftian
Brethren every where.
CONTAINING
A Copy of the faid Memorial, wiih a more particular View of the
Affair it relates to: a Variety of Arguments and Perfuafives to
comply with the Motion therein made, for united and extraor-
dinary Prayer; and Anfwers to fome Objedlions.
TOGETHER WITH
Seafonable Confiderations on the Afpeds of Providence in many
late wonderful Difpenfitions, and the prefent State of Things
in the Church and moral World; pointing out the Fulfilling of
the Scriptures, and the Voice of God to his People, in thefe
Events.
By JON Ar H an EDWARDS, A.M.
Mifiijisr oftk Cofpd in Northaj^iptct:, N. E.
A
PART I.
The text opened, and an account given of the af-
fair propojed in the memorial from Scotland^
Zechariah viii. 20, 21, 22.
Thus faith the Lordof Hojh — Itjhall yet come to pafs, that
there JJiall come people^ and the inhabitants of many cities ;
and the inhabitants of one cifyfhallgo unto, another, fay^
ing—Let us go fpeedily to pray before the Lord, and to
feck the Lord oj Hnjis, I will go a Jew, (in the {Quk of the Apoflle)
faying, " We will go with you, for we have
V heard that God is with you." And thus
that (hall be fulfilled,' thou that heareji
Sray-er, unto theejliall alljlejk come,
4. We may obferve the m^ode of their u-
nion in this duty. It is a vifible union, an
union by explicit agreement, a joint refolu-
tion declared by one to another, come into
by being Erft propofed by fome, and readi-
ly and exprefsly fallen in with by others.—
The inhabitants of one city fhall apply them-
felves to the inhabitants of another, faying,
Id lis go, &c. Thofe to whom the motion
is made, fliall comply with it, the propofal
{hall take \vith many, it fhall be a prevailing,
fp reading thing; one ihall follow another's
example, one and another fliall fay, / will
go al/v. Some fuppofe, that thofe words—
J zoillgo alfo — are to be taken as the words
of him that makes the propofal; as much as
to fay, I do not propofe that to you, which
1 am not wilhng to do myfelf, I defire you
to go, and I am ready to go with you. But
this is to fuppofe no more to be expreffed in
thefe latter words^ than was expreffed be-
THE TEXT OPENED. fjj
fore in the propofal itfelf ; for thefe words,
let us go, fignify as much, as that I am wil-
ling to go, and dcfire you to go with me. It
feems to me much more natural, to under*
Hand thefe latter words as importing the
confent of thofe to whom the propofal is
m^de, or the reply of one and another that
falls in it. This is much more agreeable to
the plain defign of the text, which is to re-
prefent the concurrence of great num.bers in
^this affair, and more agreeable to the repre-
ftntaaon made in the next veif?, of one fol-
lowing another, many taking hold of the
Hurt of him that is a Jew, And though if
the words are thus underftood, we mufl: fup-
pofe an ellipfis in the text, fomething un-
derftood that is not exprefled, as if it had
been faid — Thofe of other cities fliall fay — •
I will go alfo; — yet this is not diflScult to
be fuppofed, fuch ellipfis are very common
in fcripture. We have one exaflly parallel
with it in Jer. iii. 22. Return, ye backjliding
childi'en, and I xvill heal your backjlidings:
behold, we come unto thee, for thou art the
Lord our God, i. e. the backfliding children
fhall fay — " Behold we come unto thee,"
&c. And in Cant. iv. Let my beloved come
into his garden^ and eat his pleafant fruits, —
^8 THE TEXT OPENED.
lam come into viy garden, myjijler, myfpoufe,
L e. her beloved (hall fay — '' I am come into
my garden." V/e have the like throughout
that fong! So Pfal. 1. 6, 7. The heavens Jhall
declare his righteoufnefs^ for God is judge
hivifelf. Hear, my people, a.nd Izvillfpeak,
i. e. the Judge fhall fay — '' Hear, O my peo-
ple/' &c. The pfalms and prophets abound
Vvith fuch figures of fpeech.
5. We may obferve the manner of prayer
agreed on, or the manner in which they
agree, to engage in and perform the duty.
Let us go fpeedily to pray ; or as it in the
margin, let us go continually. The words
literally tranilated are, /^^iij^om^^zn^. Such
an ingemination or doubling of v^ords, is
very common in the Hebrew language, v/hen
it is intended that a tiling fliall be very ftrong-
ly exprelied ; it generally implies the fuper-
lative degree of a thing; as the holy of ho-
lies fignifies the moft holy ; but it common,
ly denotes, not only the utmoll degree of a
thing, but alfo the utmoft certainty ; as when
God faid to, Abraham, in multiplying, I will
multiply thy feed. It implies both that God
would certainly multiply his feed, and alfo
mukiplyitexceedingly. So when Godfaidto
Adam, in the day that thou eat eft thereof in
TH£ TEXT OPE^EJy^ jg
J^ing thouflialt die (as the words are in the
original ) it implies, both that he mould furely
die, and alfo that he fliould die molt terribly,
Ihould utterly periili, and be deftroyed to
the utmoft degree. Yea, fometimes it feems
to imply fomething elfe ftill ; and, in fhort,
as this ingemination of words in the He-
brew, in general, denotes theftrength of ex-
preflion, fo it is ufed to fignify almoft all thofe
things that are wont to be fignified by the
various forms of ftrong fpeech in other lan-
guages ; fometimes it fignifies the utmoft
degree of a thing; fometimes certainty;
fometimes peremptorinefs and terriblenefs
of a threatening, or the greatnefs and pofi-
tivenefs of a promife, the itriftnefs of a com-
mand, and the earneftnefs of a requeft.
When God fays to Adam, dying thou Jlialt
die, it is equivalent to fuch ftrong expreffi-
ons in Englifti, as, thou flialt die indeed, or,
thou ftialt die with a witnefs. So when it
is faid in the text, let us go in going, and
pray before the Lord, the ftrength of the ex-
prefTion reprefents the earneftnefs of thofe
that make the propofal, their great engaged-
Hefs in the affair; and with refpeft to the
duty propofed, it may be underftood to fig-
nify that they Ihould be fpeedy, fervent, and
8o THE TEXT OPENED.
conftant in it ; or, in one word, that it fliould
be thoroughly performed.
6. We may learn from the tenor of this
prophecy, together with the context, that
this union in fuch prayer is foretold as a be-
coming and happy thing, and that which
would be acceptable to God, and attended
with glorious fuccefs.
From the whole we may infer, that it is
a very fuitable thing, and well pleafing to
God, for many people, in different parts of
the v/orld, by exprefs agreement, to com6
into a vifible union, in extraordinary, fpee-
dy, fervent, and conftant prayer, for thofe
o-reat effufions of the Holy Spirit, which
ihall bring on that advancement of Chrift's
church and kingdom, that God has fo often,
promifed {hail be in the latter ages of the
world.
And fo from hence I would infer the duty
of God's people, with regard to the memo-
rial lately fent over into America, from Scot-
land, by a number of minifters there, pro-
pofing a method for fuch an union as has
been fpoken of, in extraordinary prayer for
this great mercy.
And it being the fpecial defign of this
difcourfe, to perfuade fuch as are friends to
the interefts of Chrift's kingdom, to a com-
pliance with the propofal and requeft made
in that memorial, I (hall firft give a fhort
hiftorical account of the affair it relates to,
from letters, papers, and pamphlets^ that
have come over from Scotland ; to which I
fhall annex the memorial itfelf * and then
I (hall offer fome arguments and motives;*
tending to induce the friends of religion to
fall in with what is propofed; and laftly^
make anfwer to fome objeftions that may-
poflTibly be made againft it.
As to the firfl of thefe things^ viz, an hif^
torical account of the concert, which the
memorial relates to, the following obferva-
tions may give a fufticient view of that af-
fair.
In Oftober. a. ei. 1744J a number of mi-
iiifters in Scotland, taking into confideration
the flate of God's church, and of the world
of mankind, judged that the providence of
God, at fuch a day, did loudly call fuch as
were concerned for the welfare of Zion, to
united extraordinary applications to the
God of all grace, fuitably acknowledging
Him as the fountain of all the fpiritual be-*
nefits and bleffin^s of his church, and ear^*
K
82 AN ACCOUNT OF THE
neftly praying to him, that he would appear
in his glory, and favour Zion, and manifeft
his compaffion to the world of mankind, by
an abundant effufion of his Holy Spirit on-
all the churches, and the whole habitable
earth, to revive true religion in all parts of
Chriflendom, and to deliver all nations from
their great and manifold fpiritual calamities
and miferies, and blefs them with the un-
fpeakable benefits of the kingdom of our
glorious Redeemer, and fill the whole earth
with his glory. And confulting one another
on the fubjecl, they looked on themfelves,
for their own part, obliged to engage in this
duty ; and, as far as in them lay, to perfuade
others to the fame; and to endeavour to
find out, and fix on fome method, that fhould
moft effeftually tend to promote, and up-
hold fuch extraordinary application to heav*
tn among God's people. And after feek-
ing to God by prayer for direftion, they de-
termined on the following method, as what
they would conform to in their own prac-
tice, and propofe to be praSifed by others,
for the two years next following, viz. To
fet apart fome time oa Saturday evening,
and. Sabbath morning, every week, for the
purppfe aforefaid, as other duties would al-
CONCERT FOR PRAYER^ 83
Jew to every one refpeftively ; and more fo-
lemnly, the firft Tuefday of each quarter,
(beginning with the firft Tuefday of Novem.
ber, then next enfuing) either the whole day, ^
or part of the day, as perfons find them-
fclves difpofed, or think their circumftances
w^ill allow; the time to be fpent either in
private praying focieties, or in public meet-
ings, or alone in fecret, as (hall be found
moft prafticable, or judged moft conveni-
ent, by fuch as are willing, in fome way or
other, to join in this affair; but not that any
fhould make any promifes, or be looked up-
pn as under ftrift bonds in any refpeft, con-
ftantly and without fail to obferve every one
of thefe days, whatever their circumftances
fhould be, or however other duties and ne,
ceffary affairs might interfere; or that per-
fons fhould look upon themfelves bound
with regard to thefe days in any wife as tho»
the time were holy, or the fetting them a-
part for religious purpofes were eftablifhed
by facred authority; but yet, as a proper
guard againft negligence and unfteadinefs,
and a prudent prefervative, from yielding
to a difpofition, which perfons might be li-
able to, through the prevalence of indolence
§4 AN ACCOUNT OF THE
&nd liftleflhefs^to excufethemfelves on trivial
occafions, it was propofed, that thofe who
unite in this affair fhould refolve with them-
felves, that if, by urgent bufinefs, or other-
wife, they are hindered from joining with
others, on the very day agreed on, yet they
would not wholly negleft bearing their part
in the duty propofed, but would take the
firft convenient day following, for that pur-
pofe,
■ The reafon why Saturday evening and
Lord's-day morning were judged mod con-
venient for the weekly feafons, was, that
thefe times being fo near the time of dif-*
penfmggofpel ordinances through the Chrif-
tian world, M^hich are the great means, in
the ufe of which God is wont to grant his
Spirit to rnankind, and the principal means
that the Spirit of God makes ufe of to carry
on his work of grace, it may be well fuppof-
ed, that the minds of Chriftians, in general,
will, at thefe feafons, be efpecially difengag-
ed from fecular affairs, and difpofed to pious
meditations and the duties of devotion, and
more naturally led to feek communication^
of the Holy Spirit, and fuccefsof the mean^
of grace. And as to the quarterly times, it
was thought helpful to rnemory^ that they
CONCERT FOR PRAYER. ^5
Ihould be on one or other of the firll days
of each quarter; Tuefday was preferred to
Monday, becaufe in fome places people
might have public prayers and fermon on
the dated day, which might not be fo con-
venient on Monday, as on fome day at a
greater diftance from the Sabbath,
It was reckoned a chief ufe of fuch an a-
greement and method as this, that it would
be a good expedient for the maintaining and
keeping up, amongft the people of God, that
great Chrillian duty of prayerfulnefs for the
Gomingof Chrift's kingdom, in general, which
Chrift hasdirefted his followers to be fomuch
in, that it may not be out of mind, and in a
great meafure funk. Things, that we are
too little inclined to, through floth, carnali-
ty, or a fulnefs of our own worldly and
private concerns, and that are to be attend-
ed at fome feafons or other, but have no fpe-
cial feafons ftated for them, are apt to be
forgotten, or put off from time to time, and,
as it were, adjourned without day; and fo,
if not wholly neglefted, yet too little attend-
ed. But when we fix certain feafons, which
we refolve, unlefs extraordinarily hindered,
to devote to the duty, it tends to prevent
8o wA.N ACCOUNT OF THE
forgetfulnefs, and a fettled negligence of it.
The certain returns of the feafon will natur-
ally refrefh the memory, v/ill tend to put us
in mind of the precept of Chrift, and the ob-
ligations that lie on all his followers, to a-
bound in fuch a duty, and renewedly en-
gage us to the confideration of the import-
ance, neceffity and unfpeakable value of the
mercy fought ; and fo, by frequent renova-
tion, to keep alive the confideration, and
fenfe of thefe things at all times. Thus the
firft promoters of this agreement judged that
it would be fubfervient to more abundant
prayerfulnefs foreffufions of the Holy Spir-
it at all times through the year, both in fe-
cret and focial worlhip ; particularly as to
this laft, in congregations, families, and o-
ther praying focieties. And then they alfo
judged, that fuch an agreed union would
tend to animate and encourage God's peo-
ple in the duty propofed ; and that particu-
lar perfons and focieties, knowing that great
multitudes of their fellow-Chriftians, in fo
many diftant places, were, at the fame time,
(as a token of the unionof their hearts with
them in this affair) by agreement, engaged
in the fame holy exercife, would naturally
be enlivened in the duty by fuch a confider-
ation.
CONCERT FOR PRAYER. 8/
It was not thought beft to propofe at firft
a longer time for the continuance of this pre-
cife method than two years ; it being confi-
dered, that it is not pofTible, before any trial,
fo well to judge of the expedience of a par-
ticular method and certain circumftances of
the managing and ordering fuch an affair,
as after fome time of experience. And it
was not known, but that, after long confi-
deration, and fome trial, it might be thought
bed to alter fome circumftance ; or whether
others that had not yet been confulted, might
not propofe a better method. The time firft
agreed on, though but fhort, was thought
fufficient to give opportunity for judgment
and experience, and for fuch as were dif-
pofed to union in an affair of fuch a nature,
in diftant places, mutually to communicate
their fentiments on the fubjeft.
The way, which thofe that firft projefted
and came into this agreement, thought beft
for the giving notice of it and propofing it
to others, was not by any thing publifhed
from the prefs, but by perfonal converfation
with fuch as they could conveniently have
immediate accefs to, and by private corref^
pondence with others at a diftance. At firft
it was intended, that fome formal paper, pro-
88 AN ACCOUNT OF THE
pofing the matter, (hould be fent about for
proper amendments and improvements, and
then concurrence; but on more mature de-
liberation, it was confidered how this might
give a handle to objeftions, (which they tho't
it beft, to the utmoft, to avoid in the infan*-
cy of the affair j and how prafticable it was,
without any fuch formality, to fpread the
fubftance of the propofal by private letters,
together with a requeft to their correfpond-
ents, mutually to communicate their tho'ts.
Therefore this was fixed on, as the method
that was preferable at the beginning. Ac-
cordingly, they propofed and endeavoured
to promote the affair in this way, and with
fuch fuccefs, that great numbers in Scotland
and England fell in with the propofal, and
fome in North America. As to Scotland,
it was complied with by numbers, in the four
chief towns, Edinburgh, Glafgow, Aberdeen,
and Dundee, and many country towns
and congregations in various parts of the
land. One of the minifters, that was pri-
marily concerned in this affair, in a letter to
one of his correfpondents, fpeaks of an ex-
plicit declaration of the concurrence of the
praying focieties in Edinburgh, which they
had made in a letter. The number of the
CONCERT FOR PRAYER. go
praying focieties in that city is very confi-
derable. Mr. Robe, of Kilfyth, (in a letter
to Mr. Prince, of Bofton, dated November 3,
1743,) fays — There were then above thirty
focieties of young people there, newly erefted,
fome of which confifted of upwards of thir-
ty members. — As to Glafgow, this union was
unanimoufly agreed to by about forty-five:
praying focieties there, as an eminent minif-
ter in that city informs, in a letter.
The two years, firft agreed on, ended laft
November. A little before this time expir-
ed, anumberofminiftersin Scotland agreed
on a memorial, to be printed and fent abroad
to their brethren in various parts, propofing
to them, and requefting of them, to join with
them in the continuance of this method of
united prayer, and in endeavours to pro-
mote it. Copies of which memorial have
lately been fent over into New-England, to
the number of near five hundred, direfted
to be diflributed in almoft every county in
this province of the Maffachufetts-Bay, and
alfo in feveral parts of Connecticut, Nev/-
Hampfhire, Rhode -Ifland, New- York, New-
Jerfey, Pennfylvania, Maryland, Virginia,
Carolina^ and Georgia. The moft, I fup-
L
go The MEMORiAt/i^om sCotland.
pcfe, of thefe were fent to one of the con-
gregational minifters in Bofton, with a let-
ter fubfcribed by twelve minifters in Scot-
land, about the affair; many of them to an*
other of the faid minifters of Bofton, and
fome to a minifter in Connefticut. It being
fhort, I ftiall here infert a copy of it at length
—It is as follows:
A M £ M o R I A hfromfeveral Minijlers in ScoU
land, to their Brethren in different places,
for coiilimiing a concert for prayer,
Jirji entered into in the Year 1744.
WHEREAS it was the chief fcope of
this concert, to promote more a-
bundant application to a duty that is per*
petually binding, j^rajy^r that our Lord's king-'
dom may come, joined \^\th. praifos ; and it
contained fome circumftantial expedients,
apprehended to be very fubfervient to that
defign, relating to ftated times for fuch ex-
ercifes, fo far as this would not interfere with
other duties; particularly a part of Satur-
day evening and Sabbath morning, every
week; and more folemnly of fome one of
the firft days of each of the four great divi-
fions of the year, that is, of each quarter; as
the firft Tuefday, or firft convenient day af-
The MEMORIALy"?'{??/i SCOTLAND. Ql
ter;* and the concert, as to this circum-
ftance, was extended only to two years ; it
being intended that, before thefe expired,
perfons engaged in the concert fhould reci-
procally communicate their fentiments and
inclinations, as to the prolonging of the time,
with or without alteration, ^s to the eircum-
ftancc mentioned ; and it was intended by
the firft promoters, that others at a diftance
fliould propofe fuch circumftantial amend-
ments or improvements, as they fliould
find proper; it is hereby earneftly intreated,
that fuch would jcommunicate their fenti-
ments accordingly, now that the time firft
propofed is near expiring.
2. To induce thofe already engaged to
adhere, and others to accede to this con-
cert, it feems of importance to obferve, that
declarations of concurrence, the communi-
cating and fpreading of which are fo evi,
dently ufeful, are to be underftood in fuch
a latitude, as to keep at the greateft diftance
from entangling mens' minds : not as bind-
ing men to fet apart any ftated days from
fecular affairs, or even to fix on any part of
O T E.
* The meaning is the firft Tuefdays of February, May, Augult
and November, or the firft convenient days after thcfe.
g2 The MEMORIAL from Scotland*
fach and fuch precife days, whether it be
convenient or not; nor as abfolute promifes
in any refpeft, but as friendly, harmonious
refolutions, with liberty to alter circumftan^
ces as fiiall be found expedient. On account
of all which latitude, and that the circum^
ftantial part extends only to a few years, it
is apprehended, the concert cannot be Hable
to the objeftions againft periodical religious
times of human appointment.
3. It is alfo humbly offered to the confir
deration of miniilers, and others furniflied
with gifts for the moft public inflruftions,
whether it might not be of great ufe, by the
blefTmg of God, if fhort and nervous fcrip-
ture perfijafives and direftions to the duty in
view, were compofed and publifhed, (either
by particular authors, or feveral joining to-
gether, which laft way might fometimes have
peculiar advantages) and that, from time to
time, without too great intervals, the better
to keep alive on mens' minds a jufl fenfe of
the obligations to a duty fo important in it-
fclf, and m Vv'hich many may be in danger
to faint find turn remifs, without fuch re-
peated incitements; and whether it would
n,ot alfo be of great ufe, if roinifters would
be pleafed to preach frequently on the irn-
The UEMORiAL froin Scotland, g^
portance and neceflity of prayer for the com-
ing of our Lord's kingdom, particularly near
the quarterly days, or on thefe days them-
felves, where there is public worfhip at that
time.
4. They who have found it incumbent on
them to publifh this Memorial at this time,
having peculiar advantages for fpreading it,
do intreat that the defire of concurrence and
affiftance, contained in it, may, by no means,
be underflood as reftriSed to any particular
denomination or party, or to thofe who are
of fuch or fuch opinions about any former
inftances of remarkable religious concern;
but to be extended to all who (hall vouch-
fafe any attention, to this paper, and have at
heart the intereft of vital chriflianity, and
the power of godlinefs ; and who, ho\f ever
differing about other things, are convinced
of the importance of fervent prayer, to pro-
mote that common intereft, and of fcripture
perfuafives to promote fuch prayer.
5. As the firft printed account of this con-
cert was not a propofal of it, as a thing then
to begin, but a narration of it, as a defign
already fet on foot, which had been brought
about with much harmony, by means of pri-
vate letters^ fo the farther countinuance, and,
54 The MEMORIAL/r07?l SCOTLAND.
it is hoped, the farther fp reading of it feems
in a promifing way of being promoted by
the fame means, as importunate defires of
the renewing the concert have been tranf-
mitted aheady from a very diftant corner a-
broad, where the regard to it has of late in-
creafed; but, notwithftanding of w^hat may
be done by private letters, it is humbly ex-
pefted, that a memorial fpread in this man-
ner may, by God's bleffing, farther promote
the good ends in view, as it may be ufefully
referred to in letters, and may reach where
ihey will not.
6. Whereas in a valuable letter, from the
corner juft now mentioned, as a place where
regard to the concert has lately increafed, it
is propofed, that it fliould be continued for
feven years, or at lead for a much longer
time than what was fpecified in the firft 3.^
Sfreemcrdi'^thole concerned in this memo-
rial, who would wiui rather to receive and
fpread direclions and propofals on this head,
than to be the firft authors of any, appre-
hend no inconvenience, for their part, in a^
greeing to the feven years, with the latitude
above defcribed, which referves liberty to
make fuch circumftantial alterations, as may
be hereafter found expedient; on the con-
The MKMORiAtfrom Scotland. 95
trary, it feems of importance, that the la*
bour of fpreading a concert^ which has al-
ready extended to fo diftant parts, and may,
it is hoped, extend farther, may not need to
be renewed fooner, at leaft much fooner, as
it is uncertain but that may endanger the
dropping of it, and it feems probable, there
will be lefs zeal in fpreading of it, if the time
propofcd for its continuance be too incon-
fiderable. Mean time, declarations of con-
currence for a lefs number of years may
greatly promote the good ends inview, tho'
it feems very expedient, that it Ihould ex-
ceed what was firft agreed on, feeing it is
found on trial, that that time, inftead of be-
ing too long, was much too Ihort.
7. If perfons who formerly agreed to this
concert, fhould now difcontinue it, would it
not look too like that fainting in prayer, a-
gainft which we are fo exprefsly warned in
fcripture? And would not this be the more
unfuitable at this time, in any within the
Britifh dominions, when they have the u-
nited calls of fuch public chaftifements and
deliverances, to more concern than ever a-
bout public reformation, and confequently
about that which is the fource of all tho-
rough reformation, the regenerating and
q6 The uEMORi AL fro7n Scotland.
fanftifying influence of the almighty Spirit
of God?
Augujl 26, 1746.
The minifter in Boflon afore-mentioned,
(io whom moft of the copies of this memo-
rial were fent) who, I fuppofe, has had later
and more full intelligence than I have had,
fays, concerning the propofal, in a letter —
" The motion feems to come from above^
" and to be wonderfully fpreading in Scot-
«^ land, England, Wales, Ireland and North
** America.
PART II.
Motives to a Compliance with what is propO'
fed in the Memorial.
I NOW proceed to the fecond thing in-
tended in this difcourfe, viz. to offer to
confideration Tome things, which may tend
to induce the people of God to comply with
the propofal and requeft made to them iri
the Memorial.
And I dcfire that the following things may
be confidered:
1. It is evident, from the fcripture, that
there is yet remaining a great advancement
of the intereft of religion, and the kingdom
of Chrifl, in this world, by an abundant out-
pouring of the Spirit of God, far greater and
more extenfive than ever yet has been. It is
certain, that many things, which are fpokeit
concerning a glorious time of the chiirch s
enlargement and profpcrity, in the latter
days, have never yet been fulfilled. There
has never yet been any propagation and pre-
vailing of religion, in any wife, of that ex-
tent and univerfality, which the prophecies
M
g8 THE LATTER-DAY GLORY
reprefent. It is often foretold and fignified,
in a great variety of Ilrongexpreffions, that
there fliould a time come, when all nations,
through the whole habitable world, (hould
embrace the true religion, and be brought
into the church of God. It was often pro-
mifed to the patriarchs, that in their feed all
the nations, or, (as it is fometimes expreffed)
all thefaviilies of the earth Jhould be blejfed,
A greeably to this, it is faid of the MefTiah,
That all nations Jhallferve him, and menjhall
ke blejfed in him, and all nations JJiall call him
blejfed. And it is faid, that all nations Jliall
f.ow unto the mountain of the hoiife of the Lord.
And, that all nations Jliall be gathered unto
the name of the Lord to Jerifalem, andfiall
toalk no more after the imagination of their
evil heart. So it is faid, that all fief ifiall
come and wmfiip before the Lord, And that
allffh fiouldfee the glory of God together.
And that allfefifioidd come to hivi that hears
prayer. Chrift compares the kingdom of heav-
en, in this world, to leaven, which a woman
took and hid in three meafures of meal, till the
whole was leavened. It is natural and reafon-
able to fuppofe, that the whole world fhould
finally be given to Chrift, as one whofe right
it is to reign, as the proper heir of him who
NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED. gg
is originally the king of all nations, and the
pofTefTor of heaven and earth ; and the fcrip-
lure teaches us, that God the Father had con-
ftituted his Son, as God-Man, and in his
kingdom of grace, or mediatorial kingdom,
to be the heir of the world, that he might in
this kingdom have the heathen for his inheri-
tance, and the utmojt ends of the earth for his
pofjeffion. Thus Abraham is faid to be tht
hcirofthevJorld,ViOim himfelf, but in Azi"
feed, which is Chrift. And how was this to
be fulfilled to Abraham, but by God's fulfill-
ing that great promife. that in Eis feed all
the nations of the earthfiould be hleffed? For
that promife is what the apoftle is fpeaking
of; which fliews, that God has appointed
Chrift to be the heir of the world in his king-
dom of grace, and to poffefs and reign over
all nations, through the propagation of his
gofpel, and the power of his Spirit commu-
nicating the bleflings of it. God had ap-
pointed him to this univerfal dominion by
a moft foiemn oath : Ihavefuoorn by niyfelf
the word is gone out of my mouth in righte-
oufnefs, andfiall not return, that unto me e-
very hieefhall bow, every tongue fhall fwear.
Though this foiemn oath of God the Father
is to be underftood in fo comprehenfive ^
10(^ THE LATTER-DAY GLORY
fenfe, as to extend to what fliaH be accom^
pli{lied at the day of judgment, yet it is evi-
dent by the foregoing and following verfeSs
that the thing moll directly intended, is what
fhall be fulfilled by the fp reading of thegof-
pel of his faivation, and power of the Spirit
of grace, bringing all the ends of the earth ta
look to him that they may he faved, and come
to him for righteoufnefs andjlrength that, in
him they might be jujlzjied, and might glory,
God has fuffered many earthly princes to ex-
tend their conquefts over a great part of the
face of the earth, and to pofTefs a dominion,
pf a vaft extent, and one monarchy to con-
quer and fucceed another, the latter being
ftill the greater; it is reafonable to fuppofe
that a much greater glory in this refpefl
fhould be referved for Chrift, God's own fon
and rightful heir, who has purchafed the do%
minion by fo great and hard a fervice ; it is,
reafonable to fuppofe, that hi^ dominion
fliould be far the largeft, and his conquefts
vaftly the greateft and moft extenfive. And
thus the fcriptures reprcfent the matter, in
Nebuchadnezzar's vifion, and the prophet's
interpretation, Dan. ii. There the four great
monarchies of the earth, one fucceeding an-
fither^ are reprcfented by the great image of
KOT YET ACCOxMPLlSHED. lOl
gold,Jilver, brafs, iron and clay; but at laft a
Jlone, cut out of the mountains without hands ^
finitcs the image upon his feet, which breaks
the iron, clay, brafs, fiver and gold in pieces^
that all becomes as the chaff of the fummer
threfiing foors, and the wind carries them
azvay, that no place is found for them; but the
ftoJie loaxes great, becomes a great mountain,
and YiLLS THE WHOLE EARTH; fignifying
the kingdom which the Lord God of heav-
en Ihould fet up in the world, laft of all,
which fhould break in pieces and confume
all other kingdoms. Surely this reprefen-
tation leads us to fuppofe, that this laft king-
dom fliall be of vaftly greater extent than
any of the preceding. The like reprefen-
tation is made in the viith chapter of Daniel ;
there the four monarchies are reprefented
by four great beafts that arofe fucceflively,
one conquering and fubduing another; the
fourth and laft of thefe is faid to be dreadful
and terrible, ^nd frong exceedingly, and to
have great iron teeth, and to devour and break
in pieces, and ft amp the refidue with his feet;
yea, it is faid, verfe 23, that the kingdom
reprefented by this beaft fhall devour the
tvhole earth; but laft of all, ojie like the Son
of Man appears, coming to the Ancient of
102 THE LATTER-DAY GLORY
Days, and being brought near before him, a7id
receiving of hint a dominion, and glory, and
a kingdom, that all people, nations
AND L AN GV AGES fioiddferve him, Thislafl
circumftance, of the vaft extent and univer-
fality of his dominion, is manifefily fpoken
of as one thing greatly diflingin(hing this
holy kingdom from all the preceding mo-
narchies; although of one of the former it
was faid, that it Oiould devour the whole earthy
yet we are naturally led, both by the much
greater eraphafis and ftrength of the expref-
fions, as well as by the whole connexion and
tenor of the prophecy, to underfland the u-
niverfality here expreffedin a much more ex-
tenfive arxv}abfolute fenfe ; and terms ufeH in
the interpretation of this vifion are fuch, that
fcarcely any can be devifed more flrong, to
fignify an abfolute univerfality of dominion
over the inhabitants of the face of the earth;
ver. 27. And th^. kijigdom, and dominion, and
great NESS OF THE KINGDOM UNDER THE
WHOLE HEAVE N,fiall be given to the peo-
ple of the mojl high God, Agreeably to this,
the gofpel is reprefented as preached unto
them that dwell on the earth, and to every na^
tion, andtongue, and kindred, andpeople. The
univerfality of the prevalance of true reli-
NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED. I03
gion in the latter days, is fometimes expref-
fed by its reaching to the utmojl ends of the
earth. To all the ends of the earth, and of the
zvorld. All the ends of the earth with thofa
that are far off upon the fea. From the ri-
fug of the fun to the going down of the fame.
The outgoings of the morning and of the even^
ing. It feems that all the moft ftrong ex-
prefTions, that were in ufe among the Jews
to fignify the habitable world in its utmoft
extent, are made ufe of to fignify the extent
of the church of God in the latter days, and
in many places a variety of thefe expreffions
are ufed, and there is an accumulation of
them, expreffed with great force.
It would be unreafonable to fay, thefe are
only bold figures, ufed after the manner of
the eafl:ern nations, to exprefs the great ex-
tent of the Chriftian church, at and after the
days of Confl:antine ; to fay fo, would be in
effefl: to fay, that it would have been irapof-
fible for God, if he had defired it, plainly
to have foretold any thing that fhould abfo-
lutely have extended to all nations of the
earth. I queftion whether it be poffible to
find out a more ftrong expreffion, to figni-
fy an abfolute univerfality of the knowledge
of the true religion through the habitable
104 tUE LATTER-DAY GLORY
world, than that in Ifai. xi. g. The earth Jhall
iefull of the knowledge of the Lorcl^ as the
WATERS COVER THE SEAS. Which is as
much as to fay, as there is no place in the
vafl: ocean where there is not water, fo there
fhall be no part of the world of mankind
where there is not the knowledge of the
Lord ; as there is no part of the wide bed
or cavity poflefTed by the fea, but what is
covered with water, fo there (hall be no part
of the habitable world, that fliall not be co-
vered by the light of the gofpel, and pof-
feffed by the true religion* Waters are of-
ten in prophecy put for nations and multi-
tudes of people ; fo the waters of the main
ocean feem fometimes to be put for the in-
habitants of the earth in general ; as in Eze-
kieFs vilion of the waters of the fanftuary
which flowed from the fanftuary, and ran
eaft, till they came to the ocean, and were
at firft a fmall ftream, but continually en-
creafed till they became a great river ; and
when they came to the fea, the water even
of the vafl ocean was healed, reprefenting
the converiion of the world to the true reli-
gion in the latter days. — It feems evident,
that the time will come, when there will not
be one nation remaining in the world, which
NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED, IO5
fiiall not embrace the true religion, in that
God has exprefsly revealed, that no one fuch
nation (hall be left ftandincr on the earth;
The nation and kingdoyn that will not ferv6
theejliall perijli; yea, thofc nations Jliall be
utterly zoojied. — God has declared that hea-
then idolatry and all the worlhip of falfe
gods fliall be wholly abolidied, in the moft
univerfal manner, fo that it (hall be continu-
ed in no place under thfe heavens, or upon
the face of the earth ; the gods that have not
made the heavens and the earth, even theyjlialt
perijh from the earth, and from under thefe
heavens. They are vanity, and the zoork of
errors, in the time of their vifdation theyfnalL
perifi. This muft be underftood as what
fliall be brought to pafs v/hile this earth and
thefe heavens remain, f. e, before the end
of the vN^orld. Agreeable to this is that in.
Ifaiah. Sing, barren^ and thou that didfl not
hear ;— for more are the children of the defol-
iate than the children of the married zcifCf
faith the Lord. Enlarge the place of thy tent,
mid let them flr etch forth the curtains of thy
habitation; [pare not; lengthen thy cords,
flrengthen thy fta^kes. For thy maker is thy
hufband; the Lord of Hofls is his name; and
^ N
rob THE LATTER DAY GLORY
thy Redeemer the Holy One of Ifracl; the
GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH SHALL HE
BE CALLED.
The prophecies of the New Teftament do
no lefs evidently fhew, that a time will come
v/hen the gofpel iliall univerfally prevail^
and thekinirdom of Chrifl: be extended over
the whole habitable earth, in the moft pro-
per fenfe. Chrift fays, I, if I be If ted up
from the earth, toill draio all vien unto me^
It is fit, that v/hen the Son of God becomes
man, he fiiould have dominion over all
mankind : it is fit, that fince he became an
inhabitant of the earth, and fiied his blood
on the 'earth, he fliould poflefs the whole
earth : it is fit, feeing here he became a fer-
vant, and was fubjett to m^n, and was ar-
raigned before them, and judged, condemn-
ed and executed by them, and fuffered ig-
nominy and death in a moR public manner^
before Jews and Gentiles, being lifted up to
view on the crofs upon an hill, near that
populous city Jerufatem, at a moft public
time, when there were many hui^dred thou-
{^md fpeilator.s, from all parts, that he fhould
be rewarded with an univerfal dominion
over mankind ; and it is here declared he
flaall be. The apoPile, in the xith of Ro-
NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED, IO7
mans, teaches us to look on that great out-
pouring of the Spirit and in-gathering of
fouls into Chrift's kingdom, thaf was in thofe
days, firfl: of the Jews, and then of the Gen-
tiles, to be but as the firft-fruits of the in-
tended harveft, both with regard to Jews
and Gentiles ; and to look on the in-gather-
ing of thofe firft fruits as a fign that all the
remainder both of Jews and Gentiles fnall
in due time be gathered in. For if the firjl-
fruit be holy, the lump is alfo holy : and if
the root be holy, fo are the branches. And
in that context, the apoftle fpeaks of the
FULNESS of both Jews and Gentiles, as what
fliall hereafter be brought in, as diftinft
from that in-gathering from arnong both,
which was in thofe prim.itive ages of Chrif-
tianity; we read of the fulnefs of the Jews,
and of the fulnefs of the Gentiles ; and the
apoftle teaches us to look upon that infideli-
ty and darknefs, which firft prevailed over
all Gentile nations, before Chrift came, and
then over the Jew^s after Chrift came, as v/hat
was wifely permitted of God, as a prepara-
tion for the manifeftation of the glory of
God's mercy, in due time, on the whole
world, conftituted of Jews and Gentiles.
God hath concluded them all in unbelief.
loS THE LATTER-DAY GLORY
that he might have mercy upon all. Thefe
things plainly fnew, that the time is coming
when the whole world of mankind Ihall be
brought into the church of Chrift ; and not
only a part of the Jews, and a part of the
Gentile world, as the firft-fruits, as it was in
the hrft ages of the Chrillian church; but
the fulnefs of both, the whole lump, all the
Tiation of the Jews, and all the world of
Gentiles.
In the laft great conflift between the
church of Chrift and her enemies, before the
commencement of the glorious time of the
church's peace and reft, the kings of the
earth, and the whole warld, are reprefented
as gathered together, and then the feventh
angel pours out his vial into the air, which
limits that kingdom that Satan has, as god
of this v/orld, in its utmoft extent;— and
that kingdom is reprefented as utterly over-
thrown. In another delcription of that
great battle, Chrift is reprefented as riding
forth, having on his head many crowns, and
on his vefture and on his thigh a name writ-
f ten, KING OF KliVGS AND LORD OF LORDS,
Which v/e may well fuppofe fignifies, that
he is now going to that conqueft, whereby he
fhall fet up a kingdom, in which he Ihall be
NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED. 10^
king of kings, in a far more extenfive man-
ner than either the Babylonifh, Perfian, Gre-
cian, or Roman monarchs were. And an
angel appears (landing in the fun, that over-
looks the whole world, calling on all the
fowls that fly in the midft of heaven, to
come and eat the flefh of kings, &c. And
in confeqaence of the great viftory Chrift
gains at that time, an angel comes doivii from
heaven^ having the key of the bottomless pit,
and a great chain in his hand, and lays hold
on the devil, and binds him, and cajls him in--
to the bottomlefs pit, andjliuts him up, and
Jets a feal upon him, that he fliould deceive
the nations no more, Satan's being difpof-
feffed of that higheft monarchy on earth,
the Roman empire, and caft out, in the time
of Conftantine, is reprefented by his being
caft down from heaven to the earth ; but
now there is fomething far beyond that ; he
is caft out of the earth, and is ftiut up in
hell, and confined to that alone, fo that he
has no place left him in this world of man-
kind, high or low.
Now will any be fo unreafonable as to fay,
that all thefe things do not fignify more than
that one third part of the world ftiould be
brought into the church of Chrift, beyond
110 THE LATTER-DAY GLORY'
v/hich it cannot be pretended that the Chrif-
tian rehgionhas ever yet reached, in its great-
eft extent? Thofe countries, which belong-
ed to the Roman empire, that were brought
to the profeffion of Chriftianity, after the
reign of Conftantine, are but a fmall part of
what the habitable v»^orld now is; as to ex-
tent of ground, they altogether bear, I fup-
pofe, no greater proportion to it, than the
land of Canaan did to the Roman en pire.
— And our Redeemer, in his kingdom of
gi*ace, has hitherto poffefied but a little part
of the world, in its moft ilourifliing (late,
fince arts are arifen to their greateft height,
and a very great part of the world is but
lately difcovered, and much remains undif-
covered to this day.
Thefe things make it very evident, that
the main fulfilment of thofe prophecies that
fpeak of tjie glorious advancement of Chrift's
kingdom on earth, is ftill to come.
And as there has been nothing as yet, with
regard to the flourifhing of religion, and the
advancement of Chrift's kingdom, of fuch
extent as to anfv^er the prophecies, fo nei-
ther has there been any thing of that dura-
tion that is foretold. The prophecies fpeak
of Jerufalem's being made the joy of the whole
NOT YET ACCOMPLISHED. m
earth, and alfo xhtjoy of viany generations.
That God's people Jhould long enjoy the loork
of their hands. That they fhould reign with
.Chri/t a thouf and years ; by which we muft
at lead undejftand a very long thne. But
it would be endlefs to mention all the pla-
ces, which fignify that the time of the church's
great peace and profperity fhould be of long
continuance: almoft all the prophecies that
fpeak of her latter-day glory, imply it; and
it is implied in very many of them, that when
once this day of the church's advancement
and peace is begun, it fhall never end, till
the world ends; or, at leaft, that there fhali
be no more a return of her troubles and ad^
verfity for any confiderable continuance ;
that then the days of her 7nourning fiall be
ended; that her tribulations^Zz^w/^i then be as
the waters of Noah unto God; that as he has
fworn that the waters of Noahfiouldno more
pafs over the earth, fo he tvillfwear that he
vjill no more he wroth zoith his people, or re-
buke them; that God's people fiould no more
walk after the imagination of their evil heart;
that God would hide himfelfno more from the
houfe of Ifrael, becaufe he has poured out his
Spirit upon them; that their fun fiould no
more go down, nor the moon zoithdraxo ifelf;
112 THE LATTER-DAY GLORY
that the light Jliould not be clear ajid dark;
(i. e. there fhould be no more an interchange
of light and darknefs, as ufed to be) but that
It Jliould be all one continued day ; not day
and night, (for fo the words are in the ori-
ginFxl in Zech. xiv. 7.) a.herna.tt\y , but itjliall
come to pafs, that at evening-tivie (i. e. at the
time that night and darknefs ufed to be) it
Jliall be light; and that the notions fliould beat
their fwords into plow-Jliares, and their fpears
into pruning-hooks ; and that nation Jhall
Qiot lift np floor d againjl nation, nor leant
war any more; but that thtx^Jliould be abun*
dance of peace Jo long as the moon endurHh„
And innumerable things of this nature are
declared.
But the church of Chrift has never yet
enjoyed a (late of peace and profperity for
any long time ; on the contrary, the times of
her reft, and of the flourifliing Hate of reli-
gion, have ever been very fliort. Hitherto
the church may fay. Return, for thy ferv ants*
fake, the tribes of thine inheritance ; thepeo^
pie of thy holinefs have poffeffed it but a little
while. The quietnefs that the church of God
enjoyed after the beginning of Conftantine's
reign was very fliort; the peace the empire
enjoyed, in freedom from war, was not more
NOT YEf ACCOMPLISHED. Ho
thai! twenty years; no longer nor greater
. than it had enjoyed under Ibme of the hea-
then emperors. After this the empire was
rent in pieces by inteftine wars, and wafted
almoft every where by the invafions and ifi-
curfions of barbarous nations, and the Chrif-
tian -world was foon all in contention and
confufion, by herefies and divifions in mat-
ters of religion. And the church of Chrifl has
never as yet been for any long time, free
from perfecution; efpecially when truth has
prevailed, and true religion flourifhed. It k
manifeft, that hitherto the people of God
have been kept under, and Zionhas been in
.a low affliaed ftate, and her enemies have
had the chief fv/ay.
And another thing that makes it exceed-
ing manifef>, that that day of the church'5
greateft advancement on earth, which is fore-
told in fcripture, has never yet come, is that,
it is fo plainly and exprefsly revealed that
this day Ihould fucceed the laft of tlie four
monarchies, even the Roman, in its laft ftate,
wherein it is divided into ten kingdoms, and
after the deftruftion of Antichrift, fignified
by the little horn, whofe reigri is contempo-
rary with the reign of the ten kings. Thefe
O
114 ^^^ LATTER-DAY GLORY
things are very plain in the fecond and fc-
venth chapters of Daniel, and alfo in the Re.
vela^nn of St. John. And it is alfo plain
by the ninth chapter of Romans, that it fhall
be after the national converfion of the Jews,
which fhall be as life from the dead to the
Gentiles, and the fulnefs of both Jews and
Gentiles fliould be come in, and all the nation
of the Jews, and all other nations, fhall ob-
tain mercy, and there fhall be that general
• in-gathering of the harvefl of the whole earth,
of which all that had been converted before,
either of Jews or Gentiles, were but the firfl
fruits. And many other evidences of this
point might be mentioned, which for brevi-
ty's fake I omit.
And thus it is meet, that the laft kingdom
which fliall take place on earth, fhould be
the kingdom of God's own Son and heir,
whofe right it is to rule and reign; and that
whatever revolutions and confufions there
may be in the world, for a long time, the
caufe of truth, the righteous eaufe, fhould
finally prevail, and God's holy people fliould
at lait inherit the earth, and reign on earth;
and that the world fhould continue in tu-
mults, and great revolutions, following one
^mother, from age to age, the world being.
UNSPEAKABLY GREAT. 11^
as it were, in travail, till truth and holinefs
are brought forth; that all things fhould be
fliaken, till that comes which is true and
right, and agreeable to the mind of God,
which cannot be Ihaken ; and that the wif-
dom of the ruler of the world (hould be ma-
nifefted in the bringing all things ultimately
to fo good an iffue. The world is made for
the Son of God ; his kingdom is the end of
all changes that come to pafs in the (late of
the world of mankind ; all are only to pre-
pare the way for this ; it is fit therefore that
the laft kingdom on earth Ihould be his. —
It is wifely and mercifully ordered of God
that it fhould be fo, on this account, as well
as many others, viz. that the church of God,
under all preceding changes, fhould have this
confi deration to encourage her, and maintain
her hope, and animate her faith and prayers,
from generation to generation, that God has
promifed, her caufe fhould finally be main-
tained and prevail in this world.
Let it now be confidered,
2, The future promifed advancement of
the kingdom of Chrifl is an event unfpeak-
ably happy and glorious. The fcriptures
fpeak of that time, as a time wherein God
and his Son Jefus Chrifl will be mofl emi-
ai6 THE GREAT GLORY
nently glorified on earth; a time, wherein
God, who till then had dwelt between the
cherubims, and concealed himfelf inthe ho-
ly of holies, in the fecret of his tabernacle,
beliind the veil, in the thick darknefs, fhould
openly fliine forth, and all flefla fhould fee
his glory, and God's people in general have
as great a privilege as the high prieft alone
had once a year, or as Mofes had in the
mount; a time, wherein the temple of God in
heaven Jhould be opened^ and there JJioiild be
feen the ark of his tejlament; a time, where^
in both God will be greatly glorified, and
his faints made unfpeakably happy in the
view of his glory; a time, wherein God's
people fliould not only once fee the light of
God^s glory, as Mofes, or fee it once a year
with the high prieft, but fiiould dwell and
walk continually in it, and itfhould betheir
conftant daily light, inftead of the light of
the fun, which light fl^iould be fo much more
glorious than the light of the fun or moon,
that the nioonjliallbe confounded, and the fun
€jliamed,wheii the Lord of Hofsfiould reign
in Mount Zion, and in Jerufakm, before his
ancients glorioifly.
It is rrprefented as a time of vaft increafe
pf kiiowledgc and underftandipg, efpecially
OF THE LATTER-DAYS. II7
in divine things; a time, wherein God would
dejlroy the face of the covering cajl over all
people, and the veilfpread over all nations ;
wherein the light of the moonfiallbe as the
light of the funy and the light of the fun
fevenfold. And the eyes of them that fee
fiall not he dim, and the heart of the rafh
fliall underfand knowledge. And theyfiall
no more teach every man his neighbour^ and
every man his brother, faying, Knozo the Lord,
becaufe they fiatl all know him from the leajl
to thegreatef. A time of general holinefs.
Thy people fiall be all righteous, A time of
great prevailing of eminent holinefs, when
little children ihould,infpiritual attainments,
be as though they were a hundred years old.
Wherein he that is feeble among God's peo^
plefiould be as David. A time wherein ho-
linefs fhould be, as it were, infcribed on eve-
thing, on all mens' common bufinefs and em-
ployments, and the common utenfils of life,
all ftall be dedicated to God, and improved
to holy purpofes. Her merchandize and hire
fliall be holinefs to the Lord. In that day fhall
there be upon the bells of the horfes, holiness
UNTOTHELORD; and the pots in the Lord's
houfe fhall be like the bowls before the altar ;
yea, every pot in Jenfalevi and in Judahfiall
It8 THE GREAT GLORY
he holinefs unto the Lord of Hojls, A time
wherein religion and true Chriftianity fhall,
in every refpeft, beuppermofl in the world;
wherein God will caufe his church to arije
andjhake herfclffrovi the dujl, and put on her
beautiful garvients, and ft down on a throne;
and the poor fhall be rafedfrom the duf^ and
the beggar frovi the dunghill, and f mil befet
among princes^ and r,iade to inherit the throne
cf God's glory. A time wherein vital piety
fhall take poffeffion of thrones and palaces,
and thofe that are in moft exalted ftations
fhall be eminent in holinefs. Andkingsfiall
he thy nurfng fathers, and their queens thy
nurfng mothers. Thou fialt fuck the breafls
of kiyig s. The daughter of Tyrefiall he there
tvith a gift, the rich among the people fJiall en-
treat thy favour. A time of wonderful union,
and the mod univerfal peace, love and fweet
harmony, wherein the nations fhall beat their
fwords into plow-fliares, &c. and God will
caufe wars to ceafe to the ends of the earth, and
break the bozo, and cut the f pear in [under, and
hum the chariot in the fire ; and the m ountains
fiall bring forth peace to God's people, and the
little hills by righteoufnefs ; wherein /A^ zoolf
fiould dtvell with the lavih, &c. and wherein
God's people fhall dwell in a peaceable hahita-
OF THE LATTER-DAYS. ng
tion, andinfure dwellings, an d quiet rejlingpla-
ces, A time wherein all herefies, and falfe doc-
trines fhall be exploded, and the church of
God {hall not be rent with a variety of jar-
ring opinions. The Lord JIi all be king over
all the earth ; in that day there Jliall be one
Lord and his name one. And all fuperfti-
tious ways of worfliip fliall be aboliflied, and
all agree in worfhipping God in his own ap-
pointed way, and agreeable to the purity of
bis inftitutions. L will give them one heart
and one way, that they may fear me for ever,
for the good of them and their children after
them. A time wherein the whole earth fhall
be united as one holy city, one heavenly fa-
mily, men of all nations fhall as it were
dwell together, and fweetly correfpond one
with another as brethren and children of
the fame father ; as the prophecies often
fpeak of all God's people at that time as the
children of God, and brethren one to an-
other, all appointing over them one head,
gathered to one houfe of God, to worfhip
the king, the Lord of Hofts. — A time where-
in this whole great fociety fliall appear in
glorious beauty, in genuine amiable chrifti-
anity, and excellent order, as a city compaft
together, the perfeftion of beauty, and eter-
20 THE GREAT GLORY
nal excellency, fhining with a refle£lion of
the glory of Jehovah rifen upon it, which
ihall be attraSive and ravifliing to all kings
and nations, and it fhall appear as a bride
adorned for her hufband. — A time of great
temporal profperity ; of great health. The
inhabitant jhall not fay, I am Jick. As the
days of a tree, are the days of my people, A
time wherein the earth (hall be abundantly
fruitful. A time wherein the world (hall be
delivered from that multitude of fore ca-
lamities that before had prevailed, and there
ihall be an univerfal bleffing of God upon
mankind, in foul and body, and in all their
concerns, and all manner of tokens of Gods
prefence and favour, and God Jhall rejoice
over them, as the bridegroom rejoiceth over his
bride, and the mountains Jhall as it were drop
down new wine, and the hills JJiall Jlow with
milk, A time of great and univerfal joy
throughout the earth, v^htnfrovi the utmojl
ends ojthe earth shall be heard Jongs, even glo-
ry to the righteous, and God's people shall
zoith joy draw water out of the well ofjalva-
tion, and God Jaall prepare in his holy moun-
tain, ajeajl ofjat things, ajeajl oj wines on
the lees, ojjat things Jull oJ marrow, oJ wines
on the lees well refined, which feafl is repre-
bf TPiE Latter days. 121
lerited, as the marriage /upper of the Lamb.
Yea, the fcriptures reprefent it hot only as a
time of iiniverfal joy on earth, but extraor-
dinary joy in heaven, among the angels and
faintSi the holy apoftles and prophets there.
Yea, the fcriptures reprefent it as a time of
(extraordinary rejoicing with Chrift himfelf,
the glorious head, in whom all things in
heaven and earth Ihall then be gathered to-
gether in one. The Lord thy God in the midji
of thee is mighty; he will fave; he -will re-
joice over thee with joy; he will reft in his love;
he will joy over thee witkfmgijig. And the
very fields, trees and mountains fliall then,
as it were, rejoice, and break forth into fing-
ing. Yefliall go out zvithjoy^ and be led forth
with peace; the mountains and the hills fiall
break forth before you into fnging, and all
the trees of the field fhall clap their hands,—
Sing, heavens, for the Lord hath done it :
J7iout,ye lower parts of the earth; break forth
intofinging,ye mountains; for eft, and e-
very tree therein ; for the Lord hath redeem^
ed Jacob, and glorified himfelf in IfraeL
Such being the ftate of things in this fu-
ture promifed glorious day of the church's
profperitv, furelv it is worth praying for,
122 THE HOLY SPIRIT THE
Nor is there any one thing whatfoever, if
we viewed things aright, which a regard to
the glory of God, a concern for the king-
dom and honour of our Redeemer, a love
to his people, pity to perifliing finners, love
to our fellow^creatures in general, compaf-
fion to mankind under its various and fore
calamities and miferies, a defire of their tem-
poral and fpritual profperity, love to our
country, our neighbours and friends, yea,
and to our own fouls, would difpofe us to
be fo much in prayer for, as for the dawn-
ing of this happy day, and the accomplifii-
ment of that glorious event;
It may be worthy to be confidered,
3. How much Chrift prayed and labour-
ed and fuffered, in order to the glory and
happinefs of that day.
The fum of the biefiTmgs Chrift fought, by
what he did and fuffered in the w^ork of re-
demption, was the Holy Spirit. So is the
affair of our redemption conflituted ; the
Father provides and gives the Redeemer,
and the price of redemption is offered to
him, and he grants the benefit purchafed ;
thf Son is the redeemer who gives the price,
and alfo is the price offered ; and the Holy
Spirit is the grand bleffmg obtained by the
SUM OF Christ's purchase. 123
price offered, and beftowed on the redeemed.
The Holy Spirit, in his in-dwelHng, his in-
fluences and fruits, is the fum of all grace,
holinefs, comfort and joy ; or in one word,
of all the fpiritual good Chrift pnrchafed
for men in this world ; and is alio the fum
of all perfeflion, glory and eternal joy, that
he piirchafed for them in another world.
The Holy Spirit is that great benefit, which
is the fubjeft-matter of the promifes, both
of the eternal covenant of redemption, and
alfo of the covenant of grace ; the grand
fubjefl: of the promifes of the Old Teflament,
in the prophecies of thebleffmgs of the Mef-
fiah's kingdom ; and the chief fubjeft of the
promifes of the New Teflament ; and par-
ticularly of the covenant of grace delivered
by Jefus Chrifl to his difciples, as his lafl
will and teflament, in the xiv. xv. and xvi.
chapters of John ; the grand legacy that he
bequeathed to them, in that his lafl and dy-
ing difcourfe with them. Therefore the H«-
]y Spirit is fo often called the fpirit of pro-
mife,.and emphatically, the promife, the pro-
mife of the Father, &c. This being the great
bleffmg Chrifl purchafcd by his labours and
fufferings on earth, it was the bleffing he
received of the Father, when he afcended
124 '^^^ HOLY SPIRIT THE
into heav^en, and entered into the holy of
holies with his own blood, to communicate
to thofe that he had redeemed. It is expe-
dient for you, that I go away ; for if I go not
away, the comforter zqHL not come ; but if I
depart, I will fend him unto you. Being by
the right hand of God exalted, and having re-
ceived of the Father the promife of the Holy
Ghofl, he ho^thfhed forth this which ye 7iozofee
and hear. This is the fum of thofe gifts,
which Chrift received for men, even for the
rebelliQ-"is, at his afcenfion. This is the fum
of the benefits Chrift obtains for men by his
interceffion. / will pray the Father, and he
fiiall give you a^nother comforter, that he may
^ abide with you for ever — even the fpirit of
truth. Herein confifts Chrift's communica-:
live fulnefs,even in his being full of the Spirit,
and fo full of grace and truth, that we might
of this fulnefs receive, and grace for grace*
He is anointed with the Holy Ghoft; and
this is the ointment that goes down from the
head to the members. God gives the Spirit
Xiot by meafure unto him, that every one
that is his might receive a.ccording to the
meafure of the gift of Chrift. This, there-
fore, was the great blefting he pz^ayed for in
that wonderful prayer, that he uttei^d for
SUM OF CHRIST S PURCHASE. I25
his difciples, and all his future church, the
evening before he died. The bleffing he prayr
ed for to the Father, in behalf of his difciples,
was the fame he had infifted on in his preced-
ing difcourfe with them; and this, doubtlefs,
was the blefhng he prayed for when, as our
High Prieft, he offered up flrong crying and
tears with his blood. The fame that he fhed
his blood for, he alfo Ihed tc^rs for, and pour-
ed out prayers for.
But the time that we have been fpeaking
of, is the chief time of the beflowment of
this bleffing — the main feafon of the fuccefs
of all that Chrift did ^nd fuffered in the work
of our redemption. Before this the Spirit
of God is given but very fparingly, and but
few are faved; but then it will be far other-
wife; wickednefs fiiall be rare then, as vir-
tue and piety had been before; and, un-
doubtedly, by far the greatefl: number of
them that ever receive the benefits of Chrift's
redemption, from the beginning of the world
to the end of it, will receive it in that time.
The number of the inhabitants of the earth
will, doubtlefs, then be vaftly multiplied,
and the number of redeemed ones much
more. If we (hould fuppofe that glorious
day to laft no more than (literally) a thou-
126 THE LATTER-DAY EMINENTLY
fand years, and that at the beginning of that
thoufand years the world of mankind (hould
bebutjuftas numerous as it is now, and
that the number fliould be doubled, during
that time of great health and peace, and the
univerfal bleffmg of heaven, once only in an
hundred years, the number at the end of the
thoufand years would be more than a thou-
fand times greater than it is now ; and if it-
fliould be doubled once in fifty years, (which
probably the number of inhabitants of New-
England has ordinarily been, in about half
that time) then at the end of the thoufand
years, there would be more than a million
inhabitants on the face of the earth, where
there is one now. And there is reafon to
think, that through the greater part of this
period, at leaft, the number of famts will, in
their increafe, bear a proportion to the in-
creafe of the number of inhabitants. And
it muft be confidered, that if the number of
mankind at the beginning of this period be
no more than equal to the prefent number,
yet we may doubtlefs conclude, that the
number of true faints will be immenfely
greater, when inftead of the few true and
thorough Chriilians now in fome few coun-
tries, every nation on the face of the whole
THE DAY 'OF SALVATION. 12/
earth fliall be converted to Chriftianity, and
every country (ball be full of true Chrillians^
fo that the fucceffive multiplication of true
faints through the thoufand years, will begin
with that vaft advantage, beyond the multi-
plication of mankind; where the latter is be-
gun from units, the other, doubtlefs, will be-
gin with hundreds, if not thoufands. How
much greater then will be the number of
true converts, that will be brought to a par-
ticipation of the benefits of Chrift's redemp-
tion, during that period, than in all other
times put together? I think, the foregoing
things confidered, we fhall be very mode-
rate in our conjeSures, if we fay, it is pro-
bable that there will be an hundred thou-
fand times more, that will actually be re-
deemed to God by Chrift's blood, during
that period of the church's profperity that
,we have been fpeaking of, than ever had
been before, from the beginuing of the world
to that time.
That time is reprefented in fcripture, as
the proper appointed feafon of Chrift's fal-
vation; eminently the eleft feafon, the ac-
cepted time and day of falvation, the year
of Chrift's redeemed. This period is fpoken
of as the proper time of the dominion of the
i28 THE LATTER-DAY EMINENttY
Redeemer, and reigri of his redeeming love,
in the fecond and feventh chapters of Da-
niel, and matiy other places ; the proper time
of his harveft, or in-gathering of his fruits
Irom this fallen world; the appointed day
of his triumph over Satan, the great deftroy-
tr, and the appointed day of his marriage;
with his eleft fpoufc; The time given to the
Sun of Righteoufnefs to rule, as the day is
the time God has appdirited for the natural
fun to beat rule • therefore the bringing on of
this time is called Clirijl's coming in his king-
^om, wherein he xvillrent the heavens and come
downs and the Suji of Righteoufnefs Jfiall a-^
The comparatively little faving good there
is in the world, as the fruit of Chrift's re-
demption, before that time, is, as it were,
granted by way of anticipation ; as we aiiti^
cipate fomething of the fan's light by re*-
fleftion before the day-time, the proper time
of the fun's rule ; and as the firft- fruits are
gathered before the harveft : Then more ef-
pecially will be the fulfilment of thofe great
promifes, made by God the Father to the
Son, for his pouring out his foul unto death ;
then f mil he fee his feed, and the pleafure of
the Lordfiallprofper in his hand ; xhcxifhall
THE DAY OF SALVATION. l2g
he fee of the travail of his foul, andbe fatis*
fed, and, fiall jifify maiiy by his knowledge ;
then will God divide him a portion zoith the
great, and he fhall divide thefpoil with the
flrong; then fhall Chrift, in an eminent man-
ner, obtain his chofen fpoufe, that he loved
and died for, that he might finEiify and cleanfe
her, with the zoafiing of water, by the word^
and p'refent her to hivfelf a glorious church.
He will obtain the joy that wasfet before him^
for xvhich he endured the crofs, and defpifed ^
thefhame, chiefly in the events and confe-
quences of that day: That day, as was ob-
ferved before, is often reprefented as emi-
nently the timeof the rejoicing of the bride-
groom. The fore-knowledge and confider-
ation of it was what fupported him, and that
which his foul exulted in, at a time when
his foul had been troubled at the view of his
approaching fufferings; as may be feen in
Johnxii. 23, 24, 27,31, 32,
Now, therefore, if it be fo, that this is what
Jefus Chrift, our great Redeemer and the
Head of the Church, did fo much defire, and
fet his heart upon, from all eternity, and
which he did and fuffered fo much for, of-
fering up ftrong crving and tears, snd his
Q
130 HOW THE CREATION
precious blood, to obtain it; furely his dif-
ciples and members fhould alfo earneftly
feek it, and be much and earneft in prayer
for it.
Let it be confidered,
4. The whole creation is, as it were, ear-
neftly waiting for that day, and conftantly
groaning and travailing in pain to bring
forth the felicity and glory of it. For that
day is above all other times, excepting the
day of judgment, the day of the manifefta-
tion of the fons of God, and of their glori-
ous liberty ; and, therefore, that elegant re-
prefentation the apoftle makes of the earneft •
expeClation and travail of the creation, in
Rom. viii. ig — 22 is applicable to the glo-
rious event of this day. The earneji expec^
tation of the creature waiteth for the viani-
fejlation of the fons of God, For the creature
was made fuhjeB to vanity, not willingly , but
by reafon of him who hathfubjeHed the fame
in hope. Becaufe the creature itfelf alfofiall
be delivered from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the childre^i of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth
and travaileth in pain together until now, —
The vifible world has now, for many ages.
TRAVAILS IN PAIN. I3I
been fubjeQed to fin, and made, as it were,
a fervant to it, through the abufive improve-
ment that man, who has the dominion over
the creatures, puts the creatures to. Thus
the fun is a fort of fervant to all manner of
wickednefs, as its light, and other beneficial
influences are abufed by men, and made fub-
fervient to their lufts and finful purpofes.
So of the rain, and fruits of the earth, and
the brute animals, and all other parts of the
vifible creation ; they all ferve mens' cor-
ruption, and obey their finful will ; and God
doth, in a fort, fubjeft them to it, for he con-
tinues his influence and power to make them
to be obedient, according to the fame law of
nature, whereby they yield to mens' com-
mand when ufed to good purpofes. It is by
the immediate influence of God upon things,
afting upon them, according to thofe con-
ftant methods which we call the laws of na-
ture, that they are ever obedient to mens'
will, or that we can ufe them at all. This
influence God continues to make them obe-
dient to mens' will though wicked ; which
is a fure fign that the prefent fl:ate of things
isnotlafting, itis confufion, and God would
not fuffer it to be, but that he defigns, in a
little time, to put an end to it, when it fliall
132 HOW THE CREATION
no more be fo. Seeing it is to be but a lit-
tle while, God chufes rather to fubjefl: the
creature to man's wickednefs, than to dif-
turb and interrupt the courfe of nature ac-
cording to its ftated laws ; but it is, as it
were, a force upon the creature; for the crea-
ture is abufed in it, perverted to far meaner
purpofes than thofe for which the author of
its nature made it, and to which he adapted
it. The creature, therefore, is, as it were^
unwillingly fubjefl, and would not be fub-
jeft, but that it is but for a fnort time, and
it, as it v/ere, hopes for an alteration. It is
a bondage the creature is fubjecl to, from
which it was partly delivered when Chrift
came, and the gofpel was promulgated in the
%vorld, and will be m.ore fully delivered at
the commencement of the glorious day we
are fpeaking of, and perfeftly at the day of
judgment. This agrees with the context,
for the apoftle was fpeaking of the prefent
fuffering flate of the church. The reafon
why the church in this world is in a fuffer-
ing ftate, is, that the world is fubjefted to
the fm and corruption of mankind. By va-
nity, in fcripture, is very commonly meant
fin and wickednefs, and alfo by corruption,
as might be fliewn in many places would ray
intended brevity allow.
TRAVAILS IN PAIN. ' igg
Though the creature is thus fubjeft to va-
nity, yet it does not reft in this fubjeflion, but
is conftantly afting and exerting itfelf, in or-
der to thjat glorious liberty that God has ap-
pointed at the time we are fpeaking of, and,
as it were, reaching forth towards it. All
the changes that are brought to pafs in the
world, from age to age, are ordered by in-
finite wifdom, in one refpeft or other, to
prepare the way for that glorious iffue of
things, that (hall be when truth and righte-
oufnefs (hall finally prevail, and he, whofe
right it i^, (hall take the kingdom. All the
creatures, in all their operations and mo-
tions, continually tend to this ; as in a clock,
all the motions of the whole fyftcm of wheels
and movements, tend to the ftriking of the
hammer at the appointed time. All the re-
volutions and reftlefs motions of the fiin and
and other heavenly bodies, from day to day,
from year to year, and from age to age, arc
continually tending thither; as all the many
turnings of the wheels of a chariot, in a jour-
ney, tend to the appointed journey's end.—
The mighty ftruggles and conflifts of na-
tions,and fliakings of kingdoms,and thofe vaft
fuccefiive changes that are brought to pafs, in
134 HOW THE CREATION
the kingdoms and empires of the world, from
one age to another, are, as it were, travail-
pangs of the creation, in order to bring forth
this glorious event. And the fcriptures re-
prefent the laft ftruggles and changes that
fliall immediately precede this event, as be-
ing the greateft of all — as the laft pangs of
a woman in travail are the moft violent.
The creature thus earneftly expeftingthis
glorious manifeilation and liberty of the
children of God, and travailing in pain in
order to it, therefore the fcriptures, by a like
figure, do very often reprefent, that when
this (hall be accompliflied, the whole inani-
mate creation fhall greatly rejoice: That
the heavens fiall Jing, the earth be glad, the
mountains break forth into finging, the hills
he jo)iful together, the trees clap their hands ^
the lower parts of the earthfiout, thefea roar
and the fulnefs thereof and the foods clap
their hands.
All the intelligent eleS creation, all God's
holy creatures in heaven and earth, are tru-
ly and properly waiting for, and earneftly
expecting that event. It is abundantly re-
prefented in fcripture as the fpirit and cha-
rafter of all true faints, that they fet their
hearts upon, love, long, wait and pray for
TRAVAILS IN PAIN. I35
the promifed glory of that day ; they are
fpoken of as thofe that prefer Jerufalem to
their chief joy ; that takepleafure in theflones
of Zion, and favour the dujt thereof; that
wait for the confolation of IfraeL It is the
language of the church of God, and the
breathing of the foul of every true faint,
that we have in Pfal. xiv. 7. that thefal-
vation of Ifrael zvere come out of Zion f when
the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his
people, Jacob fiall rejoice, and Ifrael fhall be
glad. Agreeably to this was the fpirit of
old Jacob, which he expreffed when he was
dying, in faith in the great promife made to
him and Ifaac and Abraham, that in their
feed all the families of the earth fhould be
bleffed, I have loaited for thy falvation,
Lord, The fame is reprefented as the fpi-
rit of his true children, or the family of Ja-
cob. I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth
himf elf from the houfe of Jacob, and I will
look for him, — They that love Chrifl's appear-
ingl is a name that the apoftle gives to true
chriftians.
The glorious inhabitants of the heavenly
world, the faints and angels there, that re-
joice when one finner repents, are earneftly
waiting, in an affured and joyful depend-
136 SCRIPTURE PRECEPTS, &C.
ance on God's promifes of that converfion
of the world, and marriage of the Lamb,
which (liall be when that glorious day
comes ; and therefore they are reprefented
as all with one accord rejoicing and praifing
God with fuch mighty exultation and tri-
umph, when it is accomliflied, in Rom. xix.
5. The word of God is full of precepts,
encouragements and examples, tending to
excite and induce the people of God to be
much in prayer for this mercy.
The fpirit of God is the chief of the blef-
fings that are the fubjeft-matter of chriflian
prayer ; for it is the fum of all fpiritual blef-
fings ; which are thofe that we need infinite-
ly more than others; and are thofe wherein
our true and eternal happinefs conGfts. —
That which is the fum of the blcffings that
Chrifl purchafed, is the fum of the blcffings
that Chriflians have to pray for ; but that,
as v;as obferved before, is the Holy Spirit ;
and therefore when the difciples came to
Chrift, and defired him to teach them to
pray, Luke xi. he accordingly gave them
particular direftions for the perform.ance of
this duty ;— theconclufion of his whole dif-
courfe, in the 13th verfe, plainly {[\qw^ that
the Holy Spirit is the fum of the blcffings
FOR THE PRAYER PROPOSED. 137
that are the fubjeft-matter of that prayer
about which he had inftrufted them. Ifyc
then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
unto your children, how much morejliallyour
heavenly Father give the Holy Spi rit to them
that ajk him ? From which words of Chrift
we may alfo obferve, that there is no blef-
fing that we have fo great encouragement
to pray for, as the Spirit of God ; the words
imply, that our heavenly Father is efpecially
ready to beftow his Holy Spirit on them
that afk him. Of the more excellent na-
ture any benefit is, which we {land in need
of, the more ready God is to beftow it in
anfwer to prayer. The infinite goodnefs of
God's nature is the more gratified, and the
grand defign and aim of the contrivance
and work of our redemption, is the more
anfwered, and Jefus Chrift the Redeemer
has the greater fuccefs in his undertaking
and labours ; and thofe defires that are ex~
preffed in prayer for the moft excelJent
bleftings are the moft excellent defires, and
confequently fuch as God moft approves of,
and is moft ready to gratify.
The fcriptures do not only direft and en-
courage us in general to pray for the Holy
Spirit above all tilings elfe, but it is the ex-
R
138 SCRIPTURE PRECEPTS, &C,
prefsly revealed will of God, that his church
fiiould be very much in prayer for that glo-
rious out-pouring of the Spirit that is to be
in the latter days, and the things that fhall
be accornpliFned by it. God fpeaking of
that blefied event, Ezek. xxxvi. under the
figure olcleanjing the hoiife of Ifraelfrom all
their iniquities, planting and building their
xoajte and ruined places, and inaking them to
become like the garden of Eden,andfdlingtheni
rjoithmcn like a flock, like the holy flock, thefock
of Jerufalem in herfolemnfcafs ; wherein he,
doubtlefs, has refpefl: to the fame glorious
reftoration and advancement of his church
that is fpoken of in the next chapter, and in
all the following chapters to the end of the
book, he fays, ver. 37. Thus faith the Lord,
I will yet for this be enquired of by the houfe
of Ifrael, to do it for them. Which, doubt-
lefs, implies, that it is the will of God that
extraordinary prayerfulnefs in his people
for this mercy Ihould precede the beflow-
ment of it.
I know of no place in the Bible, where fo
ftrong an expreflion is made ufe of to figni-
fy importunity in prayer, as is ufed in Ifai.
Ixii. 6, 7. where the people of God are call-
ed upon to be importunate for this mercy:
EXAMPLES OF SUCH PRAYER. 1 OQ
Ye that make mention of the Loixl, keep not
flence, and give him no rejl, till he ejlahlijli,
and till he make Jeriifalem a praife in the
earth, Hovv^ ftrong is the phrafe ? And how
loud is this call to the church of God, to be
fervent and incefTant in their cries to him for
this great mercy ? How wonderful are the
words to be ufed, concerning the manner in
which fuch worms of the duUrticuldaddrefs
the high and lofty One that inhabits eterni-
ty ? And what encouragement is here, to
approach the mercy-feat with the greatell
freedom, boldnefs, earneftnefs, conflancy,
and full affurance of faith, to feek of God
this greateft thing that can be fought in
chriftian prayer?
It is a juft obfervation of a certain emi-
nent minifler of the church of Scotland, in
a difcourfeof his, cuifocial prayer, in which,
fpeaking of pleading for the fuccefs of the
gofpel, as required by the Lord's prayer, he
fays, " That notwithftanding of its being fo
** compendious, yet the one half of it, that
" is, three petitions in fix, and thefe the firft
" prefcribed, do all relate to this great cafe ;
*' fo that to put up any one of thefe petiti-
'' ons apart, or all of them together, is upon
" the matter, to pray that the difpenfation
140 EXAMPLES OF SUCH PRAYER.
^' of the gnfpel may be bleffed with divine
^•' power." That glorious day we are fpeak-
ing of IS the proper and appointed time, a-
bove all others, for the bringing to pafs the
things requefied in each of thefe petitions ;
as the prophecies every where reprefent that
as the time, which God has efpecially ap-
pointed for the hallowing or glorifying his
own great name in this world, caufmg his
^lary to be rev ceded, that all jlejh may fee it
tcgether, cauhng it openly to b€ mardfejled in
the fivht cf the heathen, filling the whole
world with the light of his glory to fuch a
degree, that the moonjiiallbe confounded and
thefiuiauiamedhefore that brighter glory ; the
appointed time for the glorifying and mag-
nffying the name of Jefus Chrift, caufmg
every knee to bow, and every tongue to confefs
to him. This is the proper time of God's
kijigdovis coming, or of Chriffs coming in his
kingdom: that is the very time foretold in
the iid of Daniel, when the Lord God of hea-
ven fliallfet up a kingdom,'\n the latter times
of the faft monarchy, w^hen-it is divided in-
to ten kingdoms ; and that is the very time '
foretold in the viith of Daniel, when there
ftiouid be given to One like to the Son of Man^
doinimon, glory, and a kingdom^ that all pea-
EXAMPLES OF SUCH PRAYER. I41
pie, nations, a7id languages, Jhouldfcrve him ;
and the kingdom and dominion, and the great-
nefs of the kingdom under the whole heaven
fiiall be given to the people of the faints of the
mofi high God, after the deftruftion of the
little horn, that fhould continue y^?'(2 time^
times, and the dividing of time. And that is
the time wherein God's zvillfiall be done on
earth, as it is done in heaven ; when heaven
fhall, as it were, be bowed, and come down
to the earth, as God's people fiall be all righ-
teous, and holinefs to the Lordfiall be written
on the bells of the horfes, Sec, So that the
three firft petitions of the Lord sprayer are,
in effeft, no other than requefts for the
bringing on this glorious day. — And as the
Lord's prayer begins with aflcing for this, in
the three firft petitions, fo it concludes with
it, in thefe words. For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Which words imply a requeft, that God
would take to himfelf his great power, and
reign, and manifeft his power and glory in
the world. Thus Chrift teaches us, that it
becomes his difciples to feek this above all
other things, and make it the firft and the
laft in their prayers, and that every petition
fhould be put up in a fubordination to th€
142 EXAMPLES OF SUCH PRAYER.
advancement of God's kingdom and glory
in the world.
Befides what has been obferved of the
Lord's prayer, if we look through the whole
Bible, and obferve all the examples of prayer
that we find there recorded, we (hall not find
fo many prayers for any other mercy, as for
the deliverance, reftoration, and profperity
of the church, and the advancement of God's
glory and kingdom of grace in the world.
If we well confider the prayers that we find
recorded in the book of Pfalms, I believe
we ihall fee reafon to think, that a very
great, if not the greater part of them, are
prayers uttered, either in the name of Chrift,
or in the name of the church, for fuch a
mercy ; and undoubtedly, the greatefl: part
of that book of Pfalms, is made up of prayers
for this mercy, prophecies of it, and pro-
phetical praifes for it.
The prophets, in their prophecies of the
relloration and advancement of the church,
very often fpeak of it as what fhall be done
in anfwer to the prayers of God's people.
Ifai. XXV. g. — xxvi. 9, 12, 13, 16, 17. to the
end. Chap, xxxiii. 2. PfaL cii. 13 — 22.
Jer. iii. 21. Ifai. Ixv. 24. — xli. 17. Hof.
V, 15. with vi. 1, 2, 3. and xiv, 2. to the
EXAMPLES OF SUCH PRAYER. 1^3
end. — Zech. x. 6. — xii. x. and xiii. 9. Ifai.
Iv. 6. with ver. 12, 13. Jer. xxxiii. 3. The
prophecies of future glorious times of the
church, are often introduced with a prayer
of the church for her dehvcrance and ad-
vancement, prophetically uttered, as in Ifai.
li. 9, &c. Chap. Ixiii. 11. to the end, and
Ixiv. throughout.
In order to Chrift's being myftically born
into the world, m the advancement and flou-
rifhing of true religion, and great increafe
of the number of true converts who are fpo-
ken of as having Chrift formed in them, the
fcriptures reprefent it as requifite, that the
church fliould firft be in travail, crying, and
pained to be delivered. And one thing that
we have good reafon to underftand by it, is
her exercifing flrong defires, and wreflling
and agonizing with God in prayer for this
event ; becaufe we find fuch figures of fpeech
ufed in this fenfe elfewhere. My little chil-
dren, o/whoni I travail in birth again, until
Chrijl he formed in you. Lord, in trouble have
they vifited thee; they poured out a prayer
when thy chafiening was upon them. Like as
a woman zvith child, that draweth near the
time of her delivery, is zn pain, andcryeth out
in her pangs, fo have zve been in ihyfght,
144 EXAMPLES OF SUCH PRAYER.
Lord, And certainly it is fit, that the church
of God fhould be in travail for that, which
(as I before obferved) the whole creation tra-
vails in pain for.
The fcriptures do not only abundantly
manifeft it to be the duty of God's peo-
ple to be much in prayer for this great mer-
cy, but they alfo abound with manifold confi-
derations to encourage them in it, and ani-
mate them with hopes of fuccefs. There is,
perhaps, no one thing that fo much of the
Bible is taken up in the promifes of, in or-
der to encourage the faith, hope, and pray-
ers of the faints as this, which at once af-
fords to God's people the cleared evidences
that it is their duty to be much in prayer
for this mercy, (for, undoubtedly, that which
God does abundantly make the fubjeft of
his promifes, God's people fhould abundant-
ly make the fubjeft of their prayers) and alfo
affords them the flrongeft alTurances that
their prayers fhall be fuccefsful. With what
confidence may we go before God, and pray
for that, of which we have fo many exceed-
ing precious and glorious promifes to plead ?
The very firfl promife of God to fallen man,
even that it Jliall bruife thy head, is a pro-
mife which is to have its chief fulfilmeut at
SCRIPTURE ENCOURAGEMENTS, &C, 145
that day ; and the whole Bible concludes with
a promife of the glory of that day, and a
prayer for its fulfilment. He that tcjtifieth
thcfe things, faith — Surely, I coine quickly —
Amen.. Evenfo, conie, Lord J ejus.
The fcripture gives us great reafon to
think, that when once there comes to appear
much of a fpirit of prayer in the church of
God for this mercy, then it will foon beac-
complilhed. It is evidently with reference
to this mercy, that God makes that promife,
When the poor and needy fcek water, and there
is none i and their tongue failcth for thrift /,
the Lord, will hear them; L the God of If
rael, will not forfake them; Izoillopen rivers
in high places, and fountains in the midfi of
the vallies; Itoill make the wildernefs a pool
oficater, and. the dry landfprings of water ;
I will plant in the wildernefs the cedar, the
fiittah-tree, and the myrtle, and the oil-tree;
Iicill fet in the defart the fir-tree, the pine,
and the box-tree together. Spiritual waters
and rivers are explained by the apoftle John,
to be the Holy Spirit. It is now a time of
fcarcity of thefe fpiritual waters; there are^
as it were, none : If God's people, in this
time of great drought, were but made duly
S
146 SCRIPTURE-ENCOURAGEMENT TO
fenfible of this calamity, and their own emp-.
tinefs and neceffity, and brought earneftly to
thirtt and cry for needed fuppIies^God woidd,
doubtlcfs, foon fulfil this blelFed promife. —
Wc have another promife much like this, in
Pfal. CH. 16, 17. Wheii the LordJIiall build
up Zion, hejiiall appear in his glory ; he will
regard the prayer of the dcjlitute, and not de-
fpife their prayer. And remarkable are the
words that follow in the next verfe : This
Jliall be written for the generation to come;
and the people zvhich fliall be created fiall
praife the Lord, Which feems to fignify, that
this promife fliall be left on record to en-
courage fome future generation of God's
people to pray and cry earneflly for this
mercy, to whom he would fulfil the promife,
and thereby give them, and great multitudes
of others, that fhould be converted through
their prayers, occafion to praife his name.
Who knows but that the generation here
fpoken of, may be this prefent generation?
One thing mentioned in the chara6ler of that
future generation, is certainly true concern-
ing the prefent, viz. That it is defHtute; the
church of God is in very low, forrowful and
needy circumflances; and if the next thing,
tliere fuppofed, were alfo verified in us, viz.
PRAY FOR CHRIST S KINGDOM. I47
That we were made fenfible of our great ca-
lamity, and brought to cry earneRIy to God
for help, I am perfuaded that the third would
be alfo verified, viz. That our prayers would
be turned into joyful praifes, for God's gra-
cious anfwers of our prayers. It is fpoken
of as a fign and evidence, that the time to
favour Zion i^ come, when God's fervants
are brought, by their prayerfulnefs for her
refloration, in an eminent manner, to fliew
that they faxjoiir her Jiones and clujl. Thou
Jlialt arife, and have mercy upon 7Aon; for
the time to favour her, yea, thefet tune is come;
for thy fervants take pleafure in her f ones ^
and favour the dufl thereof-
God has refpeft to the prayers of his faints
in all his government of the world, as we
may obferve by the reprefentation made. Re-
velations viii. at the beginning. There we
read of feven angels flanding before the
throne of God, and receiving of him feven
trumpets, at the founding of which great
and mighty changes were to be brought to
pafs in the world, through many fucceffive
ages. But when thefe angels had received
their trumpets, they muft fland ftill, and all
mufl be in filence, not one of them muft be
allowed to found, until the prayers of the
148' SCRIPTURE-ENCOURAGEMENT TO
faints are attended to. The an^el of the co-
vcnant, as a glorious High Priefl, comes and
liands at the altar, with much incenfe, to of-
fer with the prayers of all faints upon the
golden altar, before the throne; and the
fmoke of the incenfe, with the prayers of
the faints, afcends up with acceptance be-
fore God, out of the angel's hand; and then
the angels prepare themfelves to found. —
And God, in the events of every trumpet^
rea:embers thofe prayers, as appears at laft,
by the great and glorious things he accom-
pliflies for his church, in the iffue of all, in
anfwer to thefe prayers, in the event of the
laft trumpet, which brings the glory of the
latter days, when thefe prayers fhedl be turn-
ed into joyful praifes. Rev. xL 15, 16, 17.
AVfil thefeventh angel founded, and there were
great voices in heaven, faying — The kingdoms
of this world are become the kingdoms of our
Lord and of his Chriji ; and he fiall reign
for ever and ever. And thefour-and4xventy
elders, which fat before God on their feats, fell
iipon their faces, and zoorfaipped God, faying.
We give thee thanks, Lord God Abmghty,
%johich art, ajid wafl, and art to come, becaufe
thou haft taken to thee thy great forcer^ and.
PRAY FOR Christ's kingdom. 14^
hajl reigned. Since it is thus, that it is the
pleafure of God fo to honor his people, as
to carry on all the defigns of his kingdom
in this way, viz. by the prayers of his faints ;
this gives us great reafon to think, that
whenever the time comes that God gives an
extraordinary fpirit of prayer for the pro-
mifed advancement of his kingdom on earth,
(which is God's great aim in all preceding
providences, and which is the main thing
that the fpirit of prayer in the faints aims
at) then the fulfilling this event is nigh.
God, in wonderful grace, is pleafed to
reprefent himfelf, as it were, at the command
of his people, with regard to mercies of this
nature, fo as to be ready to beftow them
whenever they (hall earneftly pray for them.
Thus faith the Lord, the holy One of Ifrael,
and his maker, Afk of me of things to come,
concerning myfons, and concerning the work
of my hands, command ye me. What God is
fpeaking of in this context, is the reftoration
of his church ; not only a reftoration from
temporal calamity, and an outward captivi-
ty by Cyrus ; but alfo a fpiritual reftoration
and advancement, by God's commanding
the heavens to drop dovjii from above, and
thefkies to pour downrighteoufnefs, and can-
150 EXAMPLES, &C.
Jing the earth to open and bring f or thfalvation^
and righteoufnefs tofpring up together, God
would have his people afk of him, or en-
quire of him by earneft prayer, to do this
for them; and manifefts himfelf as being
at the command of earneft prayers for fuch
a mercy : and a reafon why God is fo rea-
dy to hear fuch prayers, is couched in the
w^ords, viz. Becaufe it is prayer for his own
church, his chofen and beloved people, his
fans and daughters, and the work of his hands;
and he cannot deny any thing that is afked
for their comfort and profperity.
God fpeaks of himfelf as flanding ready
to be gracious to his church, and to appear
for its refloration, and only waiting for fuch
an opportunity to beftow this mercy, when
he ihall hear the cries of his people for it,
that he may beftow it in anfwer to .their
prayers. Therefore zoill the Lord wait, that
he may be gracious to thee ; and therefore toilL
he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon
you: For the Lord is a God of judgment ;
bleffed are all they that wait for hird-. For the
people fiall dwell in Zion at Jcrifalevi. —
Thouflialt weep no more; he will be very
gracious unto thee, at the voice of thy cry : —
when he f hall hear it, he f mil anfwer thee, —
EXAMPLES, &C. 151
The words imply as much as that when God
once fees his people much engaged in pray-
ing for this mercy, it (hall be no longer de-
layed. Chrilt defires to hear the voice of
his fpoufe, that is in the clefts of the rock, m
the fecret places of the flairs \ in a low and
obfcure flate, driven into fecret corners : he
only waits for this, in order to put an end
to her ftate of affliflion, and caufe the day
to break, -and thefhadows to flee away. If he
once heard her vo'ce in earnelt prayer, he
would come fwiftly over the viountains of
feparation between him and her, as a roe, or
yoimg hart. When his church is in a low
flate, and oppreffed by her enemies, and
cries to him, he will fwiftly fly to her relief,
as birds fly at the cry of their young. Yea,
when that glorious day comes, that I am
fpeaking of, before they call, he will anfwer
them, and while they are yet fpeaking, he will
hear ; and, in anfwer to their prayers, he
will make the zoo f and the lamb feed together,
&c. When the fpoufe prays for the effufion
of the Holy Spirit, and the coming of Chrifl:,
by granting the tokens of his fpiritual pre-
fence in the church, faying, Azvake, north
wind, and come, thou fouih, blow upon my
garden, that the f pices thereof may flow out;
1^2 EXAMPLES, &C.
let my beloved come into his garden, and eat
his pleafant fruits ; there feems to be aii
immediate anfwer to her prayer, in the next
words, in abundant communications of the
Spirit, and beftowmentoffpiritual bleffings';
lam come into my garden, viyjijler, myfpoiife;
I have gathered my ?nyrrh loith viy fpice ; /
have eaten my honey -comb with my honey ; I
have drunk my toine wkh my milk. Eat,
friends ; drink, yea, drink abundantly, he*
loved.
Scripture inftances and exarnples of fuc-
cefs in prayer, give great encouragement to
pray for this mercy. Mofl of the remiark-
able deliverances and reilorations of the
church of God, that we have account of in
the fcriptures, were in anfwer to prayer. So
was the redemption of the church of God
from the Egyptian bondage. The great
reftoration of the church in the latter day,
is fpoken of as refembied by this ; as in Ifai.
Ixiv. 1 — 4. xi. 11, 15, 16. xliii. 2, 3, 16
— 19. h. 10, 11, 15. Lxiii. 11, 12, 13.
Zech. X. 10, 11. Hof ii. 14, 15. It was
in anfwer to prayer, that the fun flood ftill
over Gibeon, and the moon in the valley of
Ajalon, and God's people obtained that
great viiiory over their enemies : in which
EJ^AMPLES, &C. i^^
Wonderful miracle, God feemed to have
fome refpcfl to a future more glorious event
to be accompli(bed for thechriftian churchy
in the day of her viftory over her enemies,
in the latter days ; even that event foretold,
Ifai. xl. 20. Thy fun Jliall no viorego down^
neither Jliall thy moon zvithdrazv itfelj\ It
was in anfwer to prayer, that God delivered
his church from the mighty hoft of the Af-
fyrians, in Hezekiah's time ; which difj^en-
fation is abundantly made ufe of, ^s a type
of the great things God will do for the chri-
ftian church in the latter days, in the pro-
phecies of Ifaiah. The reftoration of the
church of God from the Baby lonifh captivity,
as abundantly appears both by fcripture-
prophecies and hiftories, was in anfwer to
extraordinary prayer ; feejer.xxix* 10— 14.
and 1. 4, 5. Dan. ix. throughout. Ezra
viii. 21, &c. Neh. i. 4. to the end.— iv. 4,
5. and chap. ix. throughout. This reftora-
tion of the Jewifh church, after the deftruc-
tion of Babylon, is evidently a type of the
glorious reftoration of the chriftian church,
after the deftruftion of the kingdom of Anti-
chrift ; which, as all know, is abundantly
fpoken of in the revelation of St. John, as
the anti-type of Babylon. Sampfon, out of
T
154 EXAMPLES, &C.
weakncfs, received ftrength to pull down
Dagon's temple, through prayer. So the
people of God, in the latter days, will, out
of weaknefs, be made fl:rong,and will become
the inltruments of pulling down the king-
' dom of Satan, by prayer.
The Spirit of God v/as poured out upon
Chrift himfelf, in anfwer to prayer. Now
when all the people were baptized, it came to
pafs, that Jefus alfo being baptized, and pray-
ing, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghoji
defcendcd in a boddly jhape like a dove, upon
hivi; and a voice came from heaven, which
faid, Thou art my beloved Son, in Thee I ant
' well pleafed. The Spirit defcends on the
church of Chrift, the f^me way, in this re-
fpeft, that it defcended on the head of the
"church. The greateft effufion of the Spir-
,it that ever yet has been, even that which
wa^s in the primitive times of the chriftian
church, which began in Jerufalem on the
(3ay of Pentecoft, was in anfwer to ex-
.traordinary prayer. When the difciples
were gathered together to their Lord, a lit-
tle before his afcenfion, he commanded them
that they Jlio^ild not depart from Jerufalem,
but wait for the promife of the Father, which,
faiih he, ye have heard of me, i. e. the pro-
EXAMPLES, &C» 355
mife of the Holy Ghoft ; Afts i. 4. What
fhey had their hearts upon was the reftora-
tion of the kingdom of Ifrael : Lord, fay
they, wilt thou, at this time, rejiore again the
kingdom to Ifrael, ver. 6- And according
to Chrift's direftion, after his afcenfion, they
returned to Jerufalem, and continued in u-
nited fervent prayer and fupphcation. It
feems they fpent their time in it from day to
day, without ceafing ; until the fpirit came
down in a wonderful manner upon them,
and that work was begun which never ccaf-
ed, until the world was turned upfide down,
and all the chief nations of it were convert-
ed to chriftianity ; and that glorious deli-
verance and advancement of the chriftian
church, that was in the days of Conflantine
the Great, followed the extraordinary cries
of the church to God, as the matter is repre-
fented, Rev. vi. at the opening of the fifth
feal. The church, in her fuffering ftate, is
reprefented crying with a loud voice, How
long. Lord, holy and true, daft thou not judge,
and avenge our blood on them that divell on
the earth ? And the opening of the next
feal brings on that mighty revolution, in the
days of Conflantine, compared to thofe
great changes that (hall be at the end of the
w
orJd.
156 OUR GREAT NEED OF
As there is fb great and manifold reafon
from the word of God, to think that if a
fpirit of earned prayer for that great effufi-
on of the Spirit of God which I am fpeak-
ing of, prevailed in the chriftian church,
the mercy would be foon granted ; fo thofe
that are engaged in fuch prayer might well
expect the lirft benefit. God will come to
thofe that are feeking him and waiting for
him; Ifai. xxv. 9. and xxxvi. 8. When
Chriil: came in the flefh, he was firfl reveal-
ed to them who were vjaitingfor the confo^
Idtion of Ifrael, and looking for i^edemption
in Jerufalevi, And in that great out-pour-
ing of the Spirit that was in the days of the
apoflles, which was attended with fuch glo-
rious effefts among the Jews and Gentiies,
the Spirit came down firft on thofe that
were engaged in united earned prayer for
it. — x\ fpecial blefhng is promifed to them
that love and pray for the profperity of the
church of God. Pray for the peace of Je-
rufalem. They fhall prof per ^ that love thee.
y. We are prefented with many motive^
in the difpenfations of Divine Providenc^
at this day, to excite us to be much in pray,
er for this mercy.
There is much in Providence to fhew us
THE MERCY SOUGHT. iry
our need of it, and put us on defiring it. —
The great outward calamities, in which the
world is involved, and particularly the bloo-
dy war that embroils and waftes the nations
of Chriftendom, and in which our nation
has fo great a fhare, may well make all that
believe God's word, and love mankind, ear-
neilly long and pray for that day, when the
wolf {hall dwell with the Iamb, and the na«
tions fhall beat their fwords into plow-fhares
&c. But efpecially do the fpiritual calami-
ties, and miferies of the prefent time, (hew
our great need of that bleffed effufion of
God's Spirit; there having been, for fo long
a time, fo great a witb-holding of the Spirit,
from the greater part of the Chriftian w^orld,
and fuch difmal confequences of it, in the
great decay of vital piety, and the exceed-
ing prevalence of infidelity, herefy, and all
manner of vice and wickednefs; and efpe-
cially in our land and nation; of which a
moft affefting account has lately been pub-
liftied in a pamphlet, printed in London,
and re-printed in Scotland, entitled, Britain's
Remembrancer; by which it feems that lux-
ury, and wickednefs of almoft every kind, is
well nigh come to the utmoft extremity in
the nation ; and if vice Ihould continue to
158 OUR GREAT NEED OF
prevail and increafe for one generation more,
as it has the generation paft, it looks as tho'
the nation could hardly continue in being,
but mufl fink under the weight of its own
corruption and wickednefs. And the ftatc
of things in the other parts of the Britifh do-
minions, beGdes England, is very deplora-
ble. The church of Scotland has very much
loft her glory, greatly departing from her
ancient purity, and excellent order; and has
of late been bleeding with great and mani-
fold wounds, occafioned by their divifions
and hot contentions. And there are fre-
quent complaints from thence, by thofe that
lament the corruptions of that land, of fin
and v/ickednefs, of innumerable kinds, a-
bounding and prevailing of late, among all
mnks and forts of men there. And how la-
mentable is the moral and religious (late of
thefe American colonies? Of New-England
in particular! Hov/ much is that kind of re-
ligion, that was profefled and m.uch experi-
enced and practifcd, in the firft, and appa-
rently the beft times in New-England, grown
and growing out of credit ? What fierce and
violent contentions have been of late among
mini'fters and people, about things of a re-
ligious nature? How much is the gofpel-
THE MERCY SOUGHT. 1^^
miniftry grown into contempt ? and the work
of the ^miniftry, in many refpefts^ laid under
uncommon difficukies, and even in danger
of finking amongfl us? How many of our
congregations and churches rending in pie-
ces? Church-difcipline weakened, and ordi-
nances lefs and lefs regarded- What wild
and extravagant notions, grofs delufions of
the devil, and llrange pra6lices have prevail-
ed, and do ftill prevail, in many places, un-
der a pretext of extraordinary purity, fpirit-
uality, liberty, and zeal againft formality,
ufurpation, and conformity to the world?
How ftrong and deeply rooted and general
are the prejudices that prevail againft vital
religion, and the power of godlinefs, andal-
moft every thing that appertains to it, or
tends to it? How apparently jire the hearts
of people, every where, uncommonly (hut
up againfl: all means and endeavours to a-
-waken finners and revive religion? Vice
and immorality, of all kinds, withal increaf-
ing and unqfually prevailing? — May not an
attentive vievr and confideration of fuch a
flate of things well influence the people that
favour the duft of Zion, to earneftnefs in
their cries to God for a general out-pouring
of his Spirit, which only can be an effeftual
remedy for thefe evils?
l6o OUR GREAT NEED OF
Befides the things that have been men-
tioned, the frefh attempts made by the Anti-
chriftian powers againft the Proteftant inte-
reft, in their late endeavours to reftore a
Popifti government in Great Britain, the
chief bulwark of the Proteftant caufe; as
alfo the perfecution lately revived againft
the Proteftants in France, may well give oc-
cafion to the people of God, to renewed and
extraordinary eaVneftnefs in their prayers to
him, for the fulfilment of the promifed down-
fall of Antichrift, and that liberty and glory
of his church that ftiall follow.
As there is much in the prefent ftate of
things to (hew us our great need of this mer-
cy, and to caufe us to defire it; fo there is
very much to convince us, that God alone:
. can bejlow it, and ftiew us our entire and ab-
folute dependence on him for it. The in-
fufficiency of human abilities to bring to pafs
any fuch happy change in the world as is
foretold, or to afford any remedy to man-
kind, from fuch miferies as have been men-
tioned, does now remarkably appear. Thofe
obfervations of the apoftle, i Cor. i. The
world by wifdovi knows not God, and God
makes foolijh the zoifdom of this ivorld, never
were verified to fuch a degree as they are
THE MJERCY SOtJGHT. t6t
now. Great difcoveries have been made in
the arts and fciences, and never was human
learning carried to fuch a height, as in the
prefent age; and yet never did the caufe of
religion and virtue run fo low, in nations
profeffing the true religion. Never was an
age wherein fo many learned and elaborate
treatifes have been written, in proof of the
truth and divinity of the Chriftian religion;
yet never were there fo many infidels among
thofe that were brought up under the light
ofthegofpeL It is an age, as is fuppofed^ .
of great light, freedom of thought, and dif-
covery of truth in matters of religion, and
deteftion of the weaknefs and bigotry of our
anceftors, and of the folly and abfurdity of
the notions of thofe that were accounted e-
minent divines in former generations ; which
notions, it is imagined, did deftroy the very
foundations of virtue and religion, and ener-
vate all precepts of morality, and, in effeft^
annul all difference between virtue and vice;
and yet vice and wickednefs did never fo
prevail, like an overflowing deluge. It is an
age wherein thofe mean and ffingy principles
as they are called, of our forefathers, which,
as is fuppofed, deformed religion, and led
U
l62 OUR GREAT NEED, &C.
to unworthy thoughts of God, are very much
difcarded, and grown out of credit, and fup-
pofed more free, noble and generous tho'ts
of the nature of rehgion, and of the Chrifti-
an fcheme are entertained ; but yet never
was an age, wherein rehgion in general was
fo much defpifed and trampled on, and Je-
fus Chrift and God Almighty fo blafphem-
ed and treated with open daring contempt.
The exceeding weaknefs of mankind, and
their infufficiency in themfelves for the bring-
ing to pafs any thing great and good in the
world, with regard to its moral and fpiritu-
al (late, remarkably appears in many things
that have attended and followed the extra-
ordinary religious commotion, that has late-
ly been in many parts of Great Britain and
America. The infirmity of the human na-
ture has been manifefted, in a very affefting
manner, in the various paffions that men
have been the fubjefts of, and innumerable
ways that they have been moved, as a reed
fliaken with the wind, on occafion of the
changes and incidents, both public and pri-
vate, of fuch a ftate of things. How many
errors and extremes are we liable to? How
quickly over-topped, blinded, mifled, and
confounded? And how eafily does Satan
ENCOURAGEMENT, &C. i6q
make fools of men, if confident in their own
wifdom and ftrength, and left to theinfel ves ?
Many, in the late tvonderful feafon, were
ready to admire and truft in men, as if all
depended on fuch and fuch inftruments, at
leafl: did afcribe too much to their (kill and
zeal, becaufe God was pleafed to improve
them a little while to do extraordinary things;
but what great things does the (kill and zeal
of inftruments do now, when the Spirit of
God is withdrawn?
As the prefent ftate of things? may well
excite earnell defires, after the promifed ge-
neral revival and advancement of true reli-
gion, and ferve to fhew our dependence on
God for it, fo there are many things in Pro-
vidence, of late, that tend to encourage us
in prayer for fuch a mercy. That infideli-
ty, herefy and vice do fo prevail, and that
corruption and wickednefs are rifen to fuch
an extreme height, is that v/hich is exceed-
ing deplorable; but yet, I think, confidering
God's promifes to his church, and the ordi-
nary method of his difpenfations, hope may
juftly be gathered from it, that the prefent
ftate of things will not laft lon^, but that a
happy change is nigh. We know, that God
Hcver will defert the caufe of truth and ho-
164 ENCOURAGEMENT TO BE DRAWN
linefs, nor fufFer the gates of hell to prevail
againft the church; and that it has ufually
been fo from the beginning of the world,
that the ftate of the church has appeared
moft dark, juft before fome remarkable de-
liverance and advancement. Many a time
may Ifraelfay — Had not the Lord been on our
Jide, then our enemies would have fwallowed
us up quick — The zvaters had overwhelmed us.
The church's extremity has often been God's
opportunity for the magnifying his power,
mercy and faithfulnefs towards her. The
intereft of vital piety has long been in gene-
ral decaying, and error and wickednefs pre-
vailing; it looks as though the difeafe were
now come to a crifis, and that things can-
not long remain in fuch a ftate, but that a
change may be expected in one refpeft or
other. And not only God's manner of deal-
ing with his church in former ages, and many
things in the promifes and prophecies of his
word, but alfo feveral things appertaining to
prefent and late afpefts of Divine Provi-
dence, feem to give reafon to hope that the
change will be fuch, as to magnify God's
free grace and fovereign mercy, and not his
revenging juftice and wrath. There are cer*
tain times, that are days of vengeance, ap-
JFROM LATE PROVIDENCES. 165
pointedfor the more fpecialdifplays of God's
juftice and indignation; and God has alfo
his days of mercy, accepted times, chofcn
feafons, wherein it is his pleafure to fliew
mercy, and nothing (hall hinder it; they are
times appointed for the magnifying of the
Redeemer and his merits, and the triumphs
of his grace, wherein his grace (hall triumph
overmens' unworthinefs initsgreateft height.
And if we confider God's late dealings with
our nation and this land, it appears to me
that there is much to make us think that
this day is fuch a day; particularly Gods
preferving and delivering the nation, when
in fo great danger of ruin by the late rebel-
lion, and his preferving New-England, and
the other Britifh colonies in America, in fo
remarkable a manner, from the great arma-
ment from France, prepared and fent againft
us the laft year; and the almoft miraculous
fuccefs given to us againft our enemies at
Cape-Breton the year before, difappointing
their renewed preparations and frelh attempt
againft thefe colonies, this prefent year 1747,
by delivering up the ftrength of their fleet
into the hands of the Englifti, as they were
in their way hither. And alfo in protefting
us, from time to time, from armies by land.
l66 LATE ENCOURAGING
that have come againft us from Canada fince
the beginning of the prefent war with France.
Befides many flrange inftances of proteftion
of particular forts and fettlements, fhewing
a manifeft interpofition of the hand of hea-
ven, to the obfervation of fome of our ene-
mies, and even of the favages. And added
to thefe, the late unexpefted reftoring of
the greater part of our many captives in
Canada, by thofe that held them prifoners
there. It appears to me, that God has gone
much out of his ufual way, in his exercifes
of mercy, patience and long-fuffering in thefe
inftances. God's patience was very wonder-
ful of old, towards the ten tribes, and the
people of Judah and Jerufalem, and after-
wards to the Jews in Chrifl's and the apof-
tles times ; but it feems to me, all things con-
fidered, not equal to his patience and mercy
to us. God does not only forbear to deftroy
us, notwithftanding all our provocations and
their aggravations, which it would be endleft
to recount ; but he has, in the fore-mention-
ed inRances, wrought great things for us,
wherein his hand has been moft vifible, and
his arm made bare; efpecially thofe two in-
ftances in America, God's fucceeding us a-
gainft Cape-Breton, and confounding the ar-
DISPENSATIONS OF PROVIDENCE. 167
mada from France the laft year; difpenfa-
tions of Providence which, if confidered in
all their circumllances, were fo wonderful,
and apparently manifefting an exti:aordina-
rv divine interpofition, that they come, per-
haps, the nearefl to a parallel with God s
wonderful works of old, in Mofes's, Jofhua's,
and Hezekiah's time, of any that have been
in thefe latter ages of the world. And it is
to my prefent purpofe to obferve, that God
was pleafed to do great things for us in both
thefe inflances, in anfwer to extraordinary
prayer. Such remarkable appearances of a
fpirit of prayer, on any particular public oc-
cafion, have not been in the land, at any
time within my obfervation and memory, as
an occafion of the affair of Cape-Breton. —
And it is worthy to be noted and remember-
ed, that God fent that great ftorm on the
fleet of our enemies the laft year, that final-
ly difperfed, and utterly confounded them,
and caufedthem w^holly to give over their de-
figns againft us, the very night after our day
of pubHc fafting and prayer, for our protec-
tion and their confufion.
Thus, although it be a day of great apof-
tacy and provocation, yet it is apparently a
dayof the wonderful works of God; w^onders
^l68 LATE ENCOURAGING
of power and mercy, which may well lead US'*
to think on thofe two places of fcripture,
Pfal. cxix. 126. It is time for thee i Lord,
to work, for they have made void thy lazu. — ■
And Pfal. Ixxv. 1. That thy name is near^
thy zvonderous works declare. — God appears,
as it were, loth to deftroy us, or deal with
us according to our iniquities, as great and
aggravated as they are, and (liews that mer-
cy pleafes him. As corrupt a time as it is,
it is plain, by experience, that it is a time
wherein God may be found, and Hands rea-
dy to fhew mercy in anfwer to prayer. He
that has done fuch great things, and has fo
wonderfully and fpeedily anfwered prayer
for temporal mercies, will muc^ more give
the Holy Spirit if we afl-i him. He marvel-
loufly preferves us, and waits to be gracious
to us, as though he chofe to make us monu-
ments of his grace, and not his vengeance,
and waits only to have us open our mouths
wide, that he may fill them.
The late remarkable religious awaken-
ings, that have been in many parts of the
Chriftian world, are another thing that may
juftly encourage us in prayer for the pro-
mifed glorious and univerfal out-pouring of
DICrENSATI )NS OF PROVIDENCE. l6g
the Spirit of God. '' In or about the year .
*' 173 -2 or 1733, God was plea fed to pour
*• oiu His Spirit on the people of Saltzburg,
*• in Germany, who were living under Fop-
'•' iHi darknefs, in a moH uncommon man-
'' ner; fo ihawabovc tv/cnty tboufand of
'• them, r)iii?fe^' by reading the Bible, which
'' they made a fhift to get in their own lan-
** g^'-^g^? were determined to throw ofTPop-
"'' ery, and embrace the reformed Religion;
*' yea, and to become fo very ^zealous for
'•' the truth and gofpel of Jefus Chrid, as to
*•' be willing to fuffer the lofs of all things in
'•' the world, and actually to forfake their
'' houfes, lands, goods and relations, that
'' they might enjoy the pure preaching of
''the gofpel;— wiih great earneflnefs, and »
*' tears in their eyes, befeeching Protedant
'* miniilers to preach to them, in different
'' places Vv'here they came, when banifhed
'• from their ov/n country.'' — In the year
1734 and 173,5, tliere appeared a very great '"'
and general awakening in the county of
Hampfnire, in the province of the Maffa-
chufetts-Bay, in New-England, and alfo in
many parts of Connefticut. Since this, there
X
170 LATE ENCOURAGING El'ENTS.
has been a far more extenGve awakening of
many thoufands in England, Wales, and Scot-
land, and almofl: all the Britiili provinces in
North America. There has alfo been fdmc-
thing remarkable of the fame kind in fome
places of the United Netherlands ; and about
two years ago, a very great ^vakening and
reformation of many of the Indians in the
Jerfeys and Pennfylvania, even among fuch
as never embraced Chriilianity before; and
wfthin thefe two years, a great awakening
in Virginia and Maryland. Notwithitand-
ing the great diverii^y of opinions about the
iffue of fome of thefe awakenings, yet I know
of none that have denied that tliere have
been great awakenings of late, in thefe times
and places, and that multitudes have been
brought to more than comm.on concern for
their falvation, and for a time were made
more than ordinarily afraid of fm, and bro't
to reform their form.er vicious courfes, and
take m»uch pains for their fal^ition. If I
fhould be of the opinion qfthofethat think
thefe awakenings and ilrivings of God's Spi-
rit have been generally not well improved,
and lb, 2s to nofl:, have not iffued well, but
have ended in enthufiafm and delufion, yet.
THE BEAUTY, &C. ini
that the Spirit of God has been of late To
v/onderfully awakening and (Irivino- wii!i
fuch multitudes, in fo many different parts
of the world, and even to this day, in one
place or other, continues to awaken men, is
what I fliould take great encouragement
from, that God Vv^as about to do fom.ething
more glorious, and would, before he finilhes,
bring things to a greater ripenefs, and not
finally fu3er this work of his to be fruflrat-
ed and rendered abortive by Satan's crafty
management; and that thcle unufual com-
motions are the forerunners of fomething ex-
ceeding glorious approaching; as the wind,
earthquake and fire, at Mount Sinai, v/ere
forerunners of that voice, v/herein God was,
in a more eminent manner; althoucrh they
aiiO were cauied by a divme power, as it is
reprefented, that thefe things were caufed by
the Lord p offing by. i Kings xix. ii. 12.
8. How condecent, how beautiful, and of
good tendency would it be, for multitudes
of Chriilians, in various parts of the world,
by explicit agreement, to unite in fuch pray-
er as is propofed to us.
Union is one of the mofl amiable thinp-s
that pertains to human fociety; yea, it is
172 THE BEAUTY AND BENEFIT
one of the moft beautiful and happy things
on earth, Vv^hich indeed makes earth mod
like heaven. God has made of one blood
all nations of men, to dwell on all the face
of the earth; hereby teaching us this moral
leffon, that it becomes mankind all to be u-
nited as one family. And this is agreeable
>to the nature that God has given men, dJ-
])ofing them to fociety; and tie circum-
ilanccs God has placed them in, fo many
Av^ays obliging and neceffitatlng them to it.
A civil uniQD, or an harmonious agreement
among men, in the managem^ent of their fe-
cular concerns, is amiable; but much more
a pious union, and fweet agreement in the
rreat bufinefs for which man was created, and
had powers given him beyond tlie brutes;
even the bufinefs of religion, the life and
foul of which is love. Union is fpoken of
;n fcripture as the peculiar beauty of the
church of Chrill, Cant. vi. g. My dove, my
undifded is but oiic^Jlic is the only one of her
mother, JJie is the choice one of her that bare
her ; the daughters f aw her and blejjcd her,
yea, the queens and the concubines, and they
praifedher. Pfal. cxxii.5. Jerufalem is build-
cd as a city that is compact together. Eph. iv.
OF THE PROPOSED CONCliRT. !-<>
/ o
3 — 6. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body
and one fpirit; even as ye are called in one
hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, cnc
haptifm, one God, and Father of all, vclio is
above all, and through all, and in you all.
\^er. 10. The zchole body filly framed togeth-
er and compacted, by that zvhich' every joint
fvpplieth, according to the effcdttal working
in the nieafire of every part, niikelh increafe
cfthc body, unto the edifying iff If in love. .
As it is the glory of the church ofChriil,
that [lie, in all her members, however dif-
perfed, is thus one, one holy foiciety, one
city, one family, one body; fo it is wtry de-
firable, that this union fliould benianifefted,
and become vifible; and fo, that herdiilart
members (houldafl as one, in thofe things
that concern the common intcrefl oftlie
whole body, and in thofe duties and exer,
cifes wherein they have to do v»ith their
common lord and head, as feeking of l^im
the comnion profperity. It becomes all the
inembej's of a particular family, who are
liriftly united, and have in fomany refpefls
one common interefl, to unite in player to
God for the things they need ; it become: a
174 ^^^ BEAUTY AND BENEFIT
nation, in days of prayer, appointed by na-
tional authority, at certain feafons, vifibly
to unite in prayer for thofe public mercies
that concern the intereft of the whole na-
tion; fo it becomes the church of Chrift,
which is one holy nation, a peculiar people,
one heavenly family, more ftri6lly united ?
in many relpe61:s, and having infinitely great-
er interefts that are common to the whole,
than any other fociety; I fay, it efpecially
becomes 'this fociety, vifibly to unite, and
exprefsly to agree together in prayer to God
for the common profperity; and above all,
that common profperity and advancement
that is fo unfpcakably great and glorious,
which God has fo abundantly promifed to
fulfil in the latter days.
It is becominof of Chriftians, with wliofe
character a narrow felfidi fpirit, above all
others, difagrees, to be much in prayer for
that public mercy, wherein confifts the wel-
fare and happinefs of the whole body of
Chrift, of which they are members, and the
greateft good of mankind. And union or
agreement in prayer is efpecially becoming,
when Chriftians pray for that mercy, which
above all other things concerns them unit-
OF THE PROPOSED CONCERT. lyr
edly, and tends to the relief, profperity and
glory of the whole body, as well as of each
individual member.
Such an union in prayer for the general
out-pouring of the Spirit of God, would not
only be beautiful, but profitable too. It
would tend very much to promote union
and charity between diflant members of the
church of Chrifl, to promote public fpirit,
love to the church of God, and concern for
the intereil of Zion, as well as be an amiable
exercife and manifeftation of fuch a fpirit. —
Union in religious duties, efpecially in the
duty of prayer, in praying one with and for
another, and jointly for their common wel-
fare, above almoft all other thincrs, tends to
promote mutual affeftion and endearment.
And if miniflers and people (hould, by par-
ticular agreement and joint refolution, fet
themfelves, in a folemn and extraordinary
manner, from time to time, to pray for the
revival of religion in the world, it would na-
turally tend more to awaken in them a con-
cern about things of this nature, and more
of a defire after fuch a mercy; it would en-
gage them to more attention to fuch an af-
fair, make them more inquifitive about it,
mqre ready to ufe endeavours to promote
^75 GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT GIVEN
that which they, with fo many others, fpend
fo much time in praying for, and more rea-
dy to rejoice and praife God when they fee
or hear of any thing of that nature or ten-
dcTKy; and in a particular manner, would
it naturally tend to engage minifters (the
bufmefs of whofe life it is, to feek the vrel-
fare of the church of Chrift, and the advance-
ment af his kingdom) to greater diligence
and earneflnefs in their work; and it would
have a tendency to the fpiritual profit and
advantage of each particular perfon. For
perfons to be thus engaged in extraordinary
f)rayingfor the revival andflourilhing ofre-
igion m the world, will naturally lead each
one to refleft on himfelf, and confider hov/
religion flouriflies in his own heart; and hov/
farhisexam^ple contributes to the thing that
he is praying for.
g. There is great and particular encour-
agement given in the word of God, to ex-
prefs union and agreement in prayer. Da-
niel, when he had a great thing to requeft
. of God, viz. That God, by his Holy Spirit,
v;ould m:raculoufly reveal to him a great
fecret, which none of the wife men, aflrolo-
gers, magicians, or footh-faycrs of Babylon
could find out. he goes to Hananiah, Mi-
TO EX^RESS AGREEMENT IN PRAYER. I77
Ihael and Azariah, his companions, and they
agree together, that they will unitedly defire
mercies of the God of heaven, concerning
this fecret; and tlieir joint requeft was foon
granted: and God put great honor upon
them^ above all the wife men of Babylon,
to the filling their mouths with praife, and
to the admiration and afionifhment of Ne-
buchadnezzar; infomuch,that that great and
haughty monarch, as we are told, fell upoa
his face and worfliipped Daniel, and ov/ned
that his God zcas of a truth a God cf gods ^
and greatly promoted Daniel and his pray-
ing companions in the province of Babylon.
Edher, when fhe had a yet more important
requeft to make, for thefaving of the church
of God, and v/hole nation of the Jews, dif-
perfed through the empire of Perfia, when
on the brink of ruin, fends to all the JewsU'
in the city Shufhan, to pray 4nd faft with
her and her maidens ; and their united pray-
ers prevail, fo that the event was wonderful ;
inilead of the intended deftruftion of the
Jews, the Jews enemies are deflroyed every
where, and they are defended, honored and
promoted, and their forrow and diftrefs is
turned into great gladnefs, feafting, triumph,
and mutual joyful congratulation^;.
Y
178 GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT, &C.
The encouragement to explicit agreement
in prayer is great from fiich inltances as
thefe; but it is yet greater from thofe won-
derful words of our bleffed Redeemer. Mat.
xviii. 19. I fay unto you, that if tiny tvjo of
youfiaU agree on earth touching any thing
thoot they f mil afk, itfiallbe done for them of
my Father -which is in heaven, Chriil is pleaf-
ecl to give this great encouragement to the
union of his followers in this excellent and
holy exercife of feeking and ferving God ; an
holy union and communion of his people
beinp^ that which he g^reatlv deiires and de-
]i<Thts in, that which he came into the world
to bring to pafs, tliat which he efpecially
praved for with his dying breath, John xvii.
that which he died for, and which was one
chief end of the whole affair of our redemp-
tion by him. Eph. i. In zohovi zve have re-
dcnipiion thrditgh his blood, the forgivenefs of
fihs, according to the riches of his grace, where-
in he hath abounded towards us znallwifdovi
and briidence ; having made knozvn to us the
Dificry of his will, according to his good plea-
fare, which he hath prop of ed in hdnifef; that
tn /he difpenfation of the fulnefs of times, he
might gather together in one ail things in
Chrifl, both xchich are in heaven, and zvhich
are on earth, even in him.
III.
tsr^imfWtKSailMSuem
OBJECTIONS A N S W P: R E D.
I COME now, as was propofed,in the third
place, to anfwer and obviate fome objec-
tions, which fome may be ready to make a-
gainft the thing that has been propofed to us.
Objecl. 1. Som.e may be ready to fay, That
for Chriftians, in fuch a manner tofet apart
certain feafons, every week, and every quar-
ter, to be religioufiy obferved and kept for
the purpofes propofed, from year to year,
would be, in effeft, to eftablifli certain peri-
odical times of human invention and ap-
pointment, to be kept holy to God, and fo
to do the very thing, that has ever been ob-
jected againfl, by a very great part of the
moft eminent Chriftians and Divines among
Proteftants, as what men have no ricdit to
do, it being for them to add to God's infti-
tutions, and introduce their own inventions
and eftablifhments into the ftated wordiip
of God, and lay unwarrantable bonds on
mens' confciences, and do w^hat naturally
tends to fuperHition.
Aiif To this I would fiy. There can be
nojuiiicein flich an objeftion againft this
l8o NO SUPERSTITION IN THE
propofal, as made to us in the foremention-
ed memorial. Indeed, that caution and pru-
dence appears in the projefl:ion itfelf, and
in the manner in which it is propofed to us,
that there is not fo much as any colour for
the objetlion. The propofal is fuch, and fo
well guarded; that there feems to be no room
for the weakeR Chriilian that well qbferves
it, fo to miilake it, as to underfiand tbofe
things to be implied in it, that have, indeed,
been objected againit, by many eminent
Chriilians and Divines among Proteflants,
as entanghng mens'confciences, and adding
to divine inltitutions, &c. — Here is no pre-
tence of eltablifhing any thing by authority ;
no appearance of any claim of power in the
propofers, or right to have any regard paid
to their determnnations or propofals, by vir-
tue of any deference due to them, in any re-
fpeft, any more than to every individual
perfon of thofe that 'they apply themfelves
to. So far from that, that they exprefsly
mention that which they have thought of,
as what they would propofe to the thoughts
of others, for their amendments and im-
provements, declaring that they chufe rather
to receive and fpread the direfHons and pro-
pofals of others^ than to be the firll authors
CONCERT AND MEMOKIAL. l8l
of any. — No times, not fanctified by God's
own inftituiion, are propofed tobeobferved
more than others, under any notion of fuch
times being, in any refpeft, more holy, or
more honorable, or worthy of any preference,
or diftinguifhingregard ; either as being fanc-
tified, or made honorable, by authority, or
by any great events of Divine Providence,
or any relation to any holy perfons or things ;
but only as circumflantially convenient, help-
ful to memory, efpecially free from worldly
bufinefs, near to the times of the adminiiira-
tion of public ordinances, &c. None at-
tempts to lay any bonds on others, with re-
fpe6l to this matter, or to defire that they
fnould lay any bonds onthemfelves, orlook
on themfelves as under any obligations, ei-
ther by power or promife ; or fo much as
come into any abfolute determination in
their own minds, to fet apart any ftated da) s
from fecular affairs, or even to fix on any
part of fuch days, without liberty to alter cir-
cumftances, as fliall be found expedient, and
alfo liberty left to a future alteration of judg-
ment, as to expediency, on further trial and
confideration. All that is propofed is, that
fuch as fall in with what is propofed in their
judgments and inclinations, while they do
l82 NO SUPERSTITION IN THE CASE.
fo, Tnall ftrengthen, affift and encourage their
brethren that are of the fame mind, by vifi-
bly confenting and joining with them in the
affair. Is here any thing like making laws
in matters of confcience and religion, or ad-
ding mens' mftitutions to God's, or any fhew
of impofition, or fuperftitious efleeming and
preferring one day above another, or any
poffible ground of entanglement of any one's
confcience?
For men to go about by law to eftablifn
and limit circumftances of worfliip, notefta-
blifhed or limited by any law of God, fuch
as precife time, place, and order, may be in
many refpecls of dangerous tendency. But
furely it cannot be unlawful or improper for
Chriilians to come into fome agreement w^ith
regard to thefe circumftances, for it is impof-
fible to carry on any focial worfliip without
it. There is no inflitution of fcripture re-
quiring any people to meet together to wor-
Ihip God in fuch a fpot of ground, or at
fuch an hour of the day; but yet thefe m.uft
be determined by agreement, or elfe there
will be no focial worfhip, in any place, or
any hour. So we are not determined by in-
ftitution, what the precife order of the dif-
ferent parts of worfhip fliall be, what fhall
THE CONCERT NOT WHIMSICAL. 183
precede, and what fhall follow; whether
praying or finging (hall be firll, and what
fhall be next, and what fhall conclude; but
yet fome order mull be agreed on by the
congregation that unite in worflnp^otherwife
they cannot jointly carry on divine worfhip,
in any way or method at all. If a congre-
gation of Chriilians do agree to begin their
public worfhip with prayer, and next to nng,
and then to attend on the preaching of the
word, and to conclude with prayer; and do
by confcnt carry on their worfliip in this or-
der from year to year, though this order is
not appointed in fcripture, none will call
this fuperflition. And if a great number of
congregations, through a whole land, or more
lands than one do, by common confent, keep
the fame method of public worfhip, none
will pretend to find fault with it. But yet
for any to go about to bind all to fuch a me-
thod, would be ufurpation and impofition.
And if fuch a precife order fliould be regard-
ed as facred, as though no other could be
acceptable to God, this would be fuperftition.
— If a particular number of Chriflians fliall
agree, that befides the flated public worlhip
of the fabbath, they will, when their circum-
flances allow, meet together to carry on
184 THE CONCERT NOT WHIMSICAL.
feme religious exercifes on a fabbath-day
night, for their mutual edification; or if fe-
t^eral focieties agree to meet together in dif-
ferent places at that time, this is no fuper*
fiition, though there be no inflitution for it.
If people in different congregations volun-
tarily agree to ^ake turns to meet together
in the houfe of God, to worfliip him and
hear a public ,le6lure, once a month, or once
in fix weeks; it is not unlawful, though
there be no inflitution for it;^ but yet to do
this as a thing facred, indifpenfible, and bind-
"ing on mens' confciences, would be fuper-
ftition. If Chriftians of feveral neighbour-
ing congregations, initeadof alefture, agree
on fome fpecial occafion to keep a circular
faft, each congregation taking its turn in a
certain time and order, fixedonby confent;
or indead of keeping faft by turns, on diffe-
rent days, one on one week, and one on an-
other, they fhould all agree to keep a faft
on the fame day, and to do this either once
OF frequently, according as they flia-ll judge
their own circumftances, or the difpenfations
of the Divine Providence, or the importance
of the mercy they feek, do require; neither
is there any more fuperftitioa in this than
the other.
THF. CONCERT NCt WHIMSICAL. 185
Objed. 2. Some may be ready to fay, therc
feems to be fometliinff whimfical in itsbeinir
infifled on that God's people, in diifercnt
places, fliould put up their prayers for this
mercy at the Tame time, as though their
prayers would be more forcible on that ac-
count, and as if God v/ould not be fo like-
ly to liear prayers oHcred up by many, tho'
they happened not to pray at the fam.e time,
as he would if he heard them all at the fame
moment.
Anf, To this I Vv'Ould fay, If fuch an ob-
jcftion be made, it muil be through mifun-
derftanding. It is not fi^nified or implied
in any thing faid in the propofal, or in any
arguments made ufe of to enforce it that I
have feen, that the prayers of a great num-
ber, in different places, will be more forci-
ble, merely becaufe of that circumftance, of
their being put up at tlie fa ire time. It is^
indeed, fuppofed, that it will be very expedi-
ent, that certain times for united prayer
Ihouid be agreed on ; which it may be v/ith-
out im.plymg the thing fuppofed in the ob-
jeftion, on the following accounts.
1. This feems to be a proper expedient
for the promoting and m.aintaining an uni-^
Z
l85 THE CONSERT NOT WHIxMSIC AL.
on among Chridians of difiant places, in
extraordinary prayer for fuch a mercy. It
appears, from what was before obferved, that
there ought to be extraordinary prayers a-
mong Chriftians for this mercy ; and that it
is fit, that God's people fliould agree and
unite in it. Though there be no reafon to
fuppofe that prayers will be more prevalent,
merely from that circumflance, that differ-
ent perfons pray exatUy at the fame time-^
yet there will be more reafon to hope, that
prayers for fuch mercy will be prevalent,
when God's people are very much in prayer
for it, and v/hen many of them are united
in it. If therefore agreeing on eertain times
for united and extraordinary praver, be a like-
ly means to promc>te an union of many in ex-
traordinary pra^^er, then there is more reafon
to hope that there will be prevalent prayer
for fuch a mercy, for certain times for extra-
ordinary prayer being agreed on. But, that
agreement on certain times for united ex-
traordinary prayer, is a likely and proper
means to promote and maintain fuch pray-
er, I think will be eafily evident to any one
that confiders the matter. If there fhould
be only a loofe agreement or confent to it as
a dutyj-or a thing fit and proper, that Chrif-
THE CONCERT NOT WHIMSICAL. 187
lians fliould be much in prayer for the re-
vival of rehgion, and much more in it than
they ufed to be, without agreeing on parti-
<:ular times, how liable would fuch a lax a-
greement be to be foon forgotten, and that
extraordinary prayerfulnefs, which is fixed
to no certain times, to be totally neglefted?
To be fure, diftant parts of the church of
Chrift could have no confidence in one an-
other, that this v/ould not be the cafe. If
thefe minifters in Scotland, infteadofthe
propofal they have m.ade, or any other mi-
niiters or Chr jftians in any part of the Chrif-
tian world, had fent abroad only a general
propofal, that God's people ihould, for the
time to come, be much more in prayer for
the advancement of Chrift's kingdom, than
had been common among Chriftians here-
tofore; and they fiiould hear their propofal
was generally allowed to be good, 'and that
minillers and people, in one place and an-
other, that hadoccafion to fpeak their minds
upon it, owned that it was a very proper
thing, that Chrifiians fliould pray more for
this mercy than they generally ufed to do;
could they, from this only, have, in any
meafure, the like grounds of dependent,
that God's people, in various parts of the
l88 THE COx\CErs.T xNTOT WHIMSICAL.
Chrlftian world, would, indeed, hencefor-
ward aft unitedl)^ in maintaining extraor-
dinary prayer for this mercy, as if they fhould
not only hear that the duty in general was
approved of, but alfo that particular times
were aftually fixed on for the purpofe, and
an agreement and joint refolution was come
into, that they would, unlefs extraordinari-
ly hindered, fet apart fuch particular feafons
to be fpent in this duty, from time to time,
maintaining this praftice for a certain num-
ber of years?
2« For God's people, in difiant places, to
ag^ree on certain times for extraordinary pray-
er, wherein they will unitedly put up their
requefts to God, is a means fit and proper
to be ufed, in order to the viability of their
union in fuch prayer. Union am^ong God's
people in prayer is truly beautiful, as has
been before obferved and fnewn ; it is beau-
tiful in the eyes ofChrif!:, audit isjuilly
beautiful and amiable in the eyes of Chril-
tians. And if fo, then it muft needs be de~
firable to Chriflians that fuch union fliould
be vifible. If it would be a lovely fight in
the eyes of the church of Chrift, and much
to their comfort, to behold various and dif--
THE CONCERT NOT WHIMSICAL. 189
ferent parts of the church united in extraor-
dinary prayer for the general out-pouring
of the Spirit, then it muft be defirable to
them that fuch an union fhould be vifible,
that they may behold it; for if it be not vi-
fible, it cannot be beheld. But agreement
and union in a multitude in their worfhip
becomes vifible, by an agreement in fome
external vifible circumftances. Wcdhip it-
felf becomes vifible v/orfhip, by fomethin^
external and vifible belonging to the wor-
fhip, and no other way ; therefore union aiid
agreement of many in v\^orfhip becomes vi-
fible no other vv^ay, but by union and agree-
ment in the external and vifible afts and cir-
cumftances of the worfliip. Such union and
agreement becomes vifible, particularly by
an agreement in thofe tw^o vifible circum.-
fiances, time and place. When a number
of Chrifiians live near together, and their
number and fituation is convenient, arid they
have a defire vifibly to unite in any acis of
worfhip, they are wont to make their union
llj^ and agreement vifible by an union in both
thefe circumilances. But when a much great-
er number of ChriPdans, dwelling in diflant
places, fo that they cannot unite by worfliip^
ping in the fame place, yet defirc a vifible
igo THE CONCERT NOT WHIMSICAL,
union in feme extraordinary worfhip, they
are wont to make their union and agree-
ment vifible, by agreeing only in the former
of thofe circumftances, viz. that of time; as
is common in the appointment of public
Tafls and thankfgivirgs ; the fame day is ap-
pointed, for the performance of that extra-
ordinary worfnip, by all thofe Chriftians, in
different places, that it is intended fhouldbe
united therein, as a vifible note cf their uni-
on. This the common light and fenfe of
God's people leads Chriftians to in all coun-
tries. And the wifdom of Godfeems to dic-
tate the fame thing, in appointing that his
people, through the world, in all ages, in
their ftatcd and ordinary public worfhip, e-
very week, (hould manifcft this union and
communion one with another, in their wor-
{hip, as one holy fociety, and great congre-
gation of worfiiippers, and fervants of God,
by offering up their worOiip on the fame
day, for the greater glory of their common
Lord, and the greater edification and com-
fort of the whole body, jl
If any yet find fault with the propofal or
certain times to be agreed on by God's peo-
ple in different places, in the manner fet
forth in the memorial, I would afk whether
THE CONCERT NOT WHIMSICAL, igj
they objeft againfl any fuch thing, as a vifi-
ble agreement of God's people, in different
parts of the world, in extraordinary prayer,
for the coming of Chrifl's kingdom? Whe-
ther fuch a thing, being vifible, would not
be much for the public honor of God's name?
And whether it would not tend to Chriftians
afTiltance, quickening and encouragement in
the duty united in, by mutual example, and
alfo to their mutual comfort, by a manifeft-
^tion of that union which is amiable to Chrift
and Chriflians, and to promote a Chriftian
union among profefiing Chriflians in gene-
ral? And whether we have not rcafon to
think, from the wOrd of God, that before
that great revival of religion foretold is ac-
complifhed, there will be a vifible union of
the people of God, in various parts of the
world, in extraordinary prayer, for this mer-
cy? If thefe things are allowed, I would
then afk further, whether any method can
be thought of or devifed, whereby an exprefs
agreement, and vifible union of God's peo-
ple, in different parts of the world, can be
come into, and maintained, but this, or fome
other equivalent to it? If there be any ex-
prefs agreement about any extraordinary
Ig2 THE CONCERT NOT WHIMSICAL.
prayer at all, it raafl firfl: be propofed by-
feme, and others muft fall in, in the manner
as is rcprefented in my text. And if extra-
ordinary prayer be agreed on and m.aintain-
ed by many in different places, vifibly one
to another, then it muft be Agreed in fome
refpeci, and with regard to fome circumftan-
ces, what extraordinary prayer ihall be kept
up; and it muft be feen and heard of, from
one to another, what extraordinary prayer
is kept up. But how fiiall this be, when no
times are agreed upon, and it is never known
nor heard, by thofe in different parts, nor is
in any refpeft vifible to them, when, or hov/
often, thofe in one tov/n or country, and an-
other do attend this extraordinary prayer?
The confequence mufl neceffarily be, that it
can never be known how far, or in what re-
fpe6l others join with them in extraordina-
ry prayer, or whether they do it at all; and
not fo much as one cir'cumftance of extra-
ordinary prayer will be vifible; and indeed
nothing will be viftble about it. So that L
think any body that well confidcTs the m?.9
•ter, wnli fee, that he who determines to op-
pofe fuch a method as is propofed to us ia
the memorial, and all others equivalent to
THE CONTCERT NOT \^%MIMSICAL. IQ3
it is, in cffeci, determined to oppofe tliere
ever being any fuch tiling at all, as an agreed
iand vifibly united extraordinary prayer, ill
the churcli of God, for a general out-pour-
tng of the Spirit.
3. Though it v/ould not be rrafonable to
fuppofe, that merely fuch a circumflance of
prayer, as many people's praying at the fame
time will dire£Hy have any influence or pre-
valence with God, to caufe him to be the
more ready to hear prayer; yet fuch a cir-
fcumflance may reafonably be fuppofed to
have influence on the minds of men ; as the
confideration of it may tend to encourage
and affift thofe in praying, that are united
in prayer. Will any deily, that it has any
reafonable tendency to encourage, animate,
br in any refpeft to help the mind of a Chrif-
tian in ferving God in any duty of religion j
to join with a Chriitian congregatioB, and
to fee an afTembly of his dear brethren
around him, at the fame time engaged with
him in the fame duty? And fuppofmg one
In this afTembly of faints is blind, and [cqr
ho one there, but has by ether m.eans ground
of fatisfaftion that there is prefent at that
A a
194 I'HE CONXERt NOT WHIMSICAL^
time a multitude of God's people, that are
united with him in the fame fervice, will
any deny, that his fuppofing this, and being
fatisfied of it, can have any reafonable influ-
ence upon his mind, to excite and encour-
age him, or in any refpeft to aflift him in
his worfliip? The encouragement or help
that one that joins with an affembly in wor-
{hipping God, has in his worfhip, by others
being united with him, is not merely by any
thing that he immediately perceives by fight,
or any other of the external fenfes (for uni-
on in worfhip is not a thing objefted to the
external fenfes ;) but by the notice or know-
ledge the mind has of that union, or the fa-
tisfaftion the underftanding has that others,
at that time, have their minds engaged with
him ill the fame fervice ; which may be when
thofc unitedly engaged are at a diflanceone
from another, as w^ell as when they are pre-
fent. If one be prefent in a worfhipping af-
femblv, and is not blind, and fees others pre-
'fent, and fees their external behaviour, their
union and engagednefs with him in w^orfhip
is ^'hat he does not fee, and w^hat he fees
encourages and aflifts him in his worfnip,
only as he takes it as an evidence of that
union and concurrence in his w^orfhip, that
THE CONCERT NOT WHIMSICAL. IQ;^
is out of his fight. And pcrfons may liave
evidence of this concerning perfons that are
abfent, that may give him as much fatisfac-
tion of their union with him, as if they were
prefent. And therefore the confideration
of others being at the fam*e time engaged
wdth him in wordiip, that are abfent, may
as reafonably animate and encourage him in
his worfhip as if they v/ere prefent.
There is no wifdom in finding fault v/ith
human nature, as God has made it. Things
th^t exift now, at this prefent time, are, in
themfelves, no m.ore weighty or important,
than like things, and of equal reality, that
Gxifted in time pad, or are to exift in time
K) come; yet it is evident, that the confider-
ation of things being prefent (at leaft in m.oll
cafes) does efpecially affefl human nature.
As for inftance, if a man fiiould be certainly
informed, that his dear chi'd. at a difcance,
v/as now under fom.e extreme fuffering, or
that an abfent m.oft. dear friend was at xlus
time thinking of him, and in the exercifeof
great affefiion towards him, or in the per-
formance of fome great deed of friendfhip ;
or if a pious parent fliould know that now
his child was in the aft of fome enormous
vrickednefs ; or that, on the contrary^ he was
agS THE CONCERT NOT WHIMSICAL.
now in forne eminent exercife of grace, and
in the performance of an extraordinary deed
of virtue and piety; would not thofe thing^y
be more aflefting to tlie human nature, for be/ 1
incT confidered as things that are in exigence
at the prefent time, than if confidered as at
fome diftance of time, either pall or future?
Hundreds of other indances might be men-
tioned wherein it is no lefs plarin, that the
confideraticn of the prefent exiftence of
things gives them advantage to affeft the
-minds of men. Yea, it is undoubtedly fo
with things in genera!, that take any hold
at all of our afFeftions, and towards which
v/e are not indifFerent. And if the mind of
a particular child of God is difpofed to be
aiTe61ed by the confideration of the religion
of other faints, and with their union and con-
currence with him in any particular duty or
aQ: of religion, I can fee no rcafon why the
human mind (hould not be more moved by
the objeft of its afieciion, when confidered
as prefent, as well in this cafe, as in any o-
ther cafe ; yea, I think, we may on good
grounds determine there is none.
Nor mav we Iook uoon it as an inftance
of the peculiar weVknefs of the human na-
THE CONCERT NOT WHIMSICAL. igj
turc, that men are more affe61cd with things
that are confidered as prefent, than thofe that
^re diftant; but it feems to be a thing com-
mon to finite minds, and fo to all created in-
telligent beings. Thus, the angels in heaven
have peculiar joy, on occanon of the con-
verfion of a finner, when recent, beyond
what they have in that which has been long
paft. If any therefore ftall call it iiily and
whimfical in any, to value and regard fucli
^ circumftance, in things of religion, as their
exifting at the prefent time, fo as to be the
more affefted with them for that, they mull
call the hoft of angels in heaven a parcel of
filly and w^himfical beings.
I remember, the Spe61:ator(v/hom none will
call a whimfical author) fomewhere fpeaking
of different w^ays of dear friends mutually
exprelfiqg their affe6iion,and maintaining a
kind of intercourfe, in abfence-one from an-
other, mentions fuch an inftance as this, with
much approbation, viz. That two friends,
that were greatly endeared one to another,
v/hen about to part, and to be for a confi-
derable time neceflariiy abfent, that they
might have tlie comfort of the enjoyment of
daily mutual exprefiions of friendfliip, in
their abfence, agreed that they would, eve-
ig8 THE CONCLRT NOT PHARISAICAL.
ry day, precifely at fuch an hour, retire from
all company and bufnicfs, to pray for one
another. Which agreement they fo valued,
and fo ftriclly obferved, that when the hour
came, fcarce any thing would hinder them.
And rather than mifs this opportunity, they
would fuddenly break off converfation, and
abruptly leave thecompany they were engage
ed with. — If this be a defirable w^ay of inter-
courfe of particular friends, is it not a defir-
able and amiable way of maintaining inter-
courfe and fellowfiiip between brethren in
Chrift. Jefus, and the various members of the
Sioly family of God, in different parts of the
world, to come into an agreement, tliatthey
will fet apart certain times, which they w^ill
fpend with one accord, in extraordinary
prayer to their heavenly Father, for the ad-
vancement of the kingdom, and the glory of
their common dear Lord and Saviour, and
for each other's profperity and happinefs,
and the greateft good of all their fellow-
creatures through the world?
Object. 3. Some perhaps may objeft. That
it looks too much like Pharifaifm, when per-
fons engage in any fuch extraordinary reli-
gious exercifes, beyond what is appointed
by cxprefs inftitution, for them thus defign-
THE CONCERT NOT PHARISAICAL, igg
edly to make it manifefl abroad in the wo^ld^
and fo openly to dillinguifh themfelves from
others.
Aiif, 1. Allopenly engaging in extraordi-
nary exercifes of religion, not exprefsly en-
joined by inflitution, is not Pharifaifm, nor
has ever been fo reputed in the Chriftian
church. As when a particular church or
congregation of Chriftians agree together to
keep a day of fading and prayer, on fome
fpecial occafion; or when public days of
fading and thankfgiving are kept, through-*
out a Chriilian province or country; and
though it be ordinarily the manner for the
civil magiftrate to lead, in the fetting apait
fuch days, yet that alters not the cafe; if it
be Pharifaifm in the fociety openly to agree
in fuch extraordinary exercifes of religion^
it is not lefs Pharifaifm for the heads of the
fociety leading in the affair. And if that
were now the cafe with the Chriflian church,
that once w^as, for about three hundred years
together, that the civil magiftrate was not
of the fociety of Chriftians, nor concerned
himfelf.in their affairs; yet this would not
render it the lefs fuitable for Chriftians, on
proper c^ccafions, jointly, and vifibly one to
another, to engage in fuch extraordinary ex-
206 THE CONCERT NOt PHARISAICAL;
^trcires of religion, and to keep days of faft-
ing and thankfgiving by agreement.
Anf, 2. As to the latter part of the objec»
tion, there can be no room for it in thi^ cafe;
It cannot be objecred againft what is propof-
ed in the memorial, that if perfons fhould
comply with it, it would look like affefting
fingularity, and open dillinflion from others
of God's profefiing people, in extraordinary
religion, fuch as was in the Pharifees of old-
becaufe it is evident^ the vfery defign of thei
memorial, is not to pron^ote Angularity and
diftinftion, but as mut:4^as poffible to avoid
and prevent it. The end of the memorial
is not to confine and limit the thing propo*
fed, that it may be praciifed only by a few,
in did inftion from the generality ; but on the
contrary to extend it, and make it as gene-
ral among profeffing Chriftians as poilible.
Some had complied with the extraordinary
duty propofed, and therein had been diftin-
guifned from others, for two years, before:
the m.emorial was publifhed; and they w^ere
more dirtinguifhed than they d^fired, and
therefore fend abroad this memorial, that
the pi-aflice might be more fpread, and be-
come more general, that they might be lefsr
diRinguifhed. What they evidently feek, is
OF THE SLAVlMtJ, ScC. 201
to bring to pafs as general a compliance as
poffible of Chriflians of all denominations,
'' intreating, that the defire of concurrence
'" and affiftance, contained in the memorial,
*' may by no means be underflcod, as reflric-
" ting to any particular denomination or
*' party, or thofe who are of fuch or fuch
*' opinions about any former inftances of re-
'' niarkable religious concern; but to be ex-
" tended to all^ who (hall vouchfafe any at-
'•' tention to the propofal, and have at heart
*• the interefl of vital Chriilianity, and the
/' power of godlinefs; and who, however dif-
'' fering about other things^ are convinced
'' of the importance of fervent prayer^ to
*' promote that common intereft, and of
'' fcripture perfuafives, to promote fuch
^"' pray en
Object, 4. Another objection^ that is very
likely to arife in the minds of many againfl
fuch extraordinary prayer as is propofedfor
the fpeedy coming of Chrift's kingdom, is
that we have no reafon to expeft it, until there
firft come a time of mod extreme calamity
to the church of God, and prevalence of her
anti-chridian enemies againfl her; even that
which is reprefented, Rev. xi. by the flaying
B b
^02 OF TPIE SLAYING
of the witnefTes ; but have reafon to deter-
mine the contrary.
Anf. It is an opinion that .feems pretty
much to have obtained, that before the ful-
fihnent of the promifes relating to the church's
latter-day glory, there muft come a mofl ter-
rible time, a time of extreme fuffering, and
dreadful perfecution of the church ofChrift,
wherein Satan and Antichrift are to obtain
their greateft viftory over her, and Ihe is to be
bro't lower than ever by her enemies. Which
opinion has chiefly rifen from the manner
■ of interpreting and applying the fore-men-
tioned prophecy of the flaying of the wit-
neffes. This opinion, with fuch perfons as
retain it, mull needs be a great reflraintand
hindrance, with regard to fuch an affair as
is propofed to us in the memorial. If per-
fons ex pe61 no other, than that the more
the glorious times of Chrift's kingdom are
haftened, the fooner will come this dreadful
time, wherein the generality of God's peo-
ple mufl: fuffer fo extremely, and the church
ofChrift be almoft extinguifhed, and blotted
out from under heaven; how can it be o-
therwife, than a great damp to their hope,
courage and activity, in praying for and
reaching after the fpeedy introduftion of
.^ "^
OF THE WITNESSES. 203
thofe glorious promifed times? As long as
this opinion is retained, it will undoubtedly
ever have this unhappy influence on the
minds of thofe that wifh well to Zion, and
favor her ftones and dull. It will tend to
damp, deaden, and keep down life, hope,
and joyful expeftation in prayer; and even
in great meafure, to prevent all eavneft, ani'
mated and encouraged prayer, in God's peo-
ple, for this mercy, at any time before it is
aftually fulfilled. For they that proceed on
tliis hypothefis in their prayers, muPc, at the
fame time that they pray for this glorious
day, naturally conclude within themfelves,
that they fliall never live to fee on the ea.rth
any dawning of it, but only to fee the dif-
mal time that fhall precede it, in which the
far greater part of God's people, that (hall
live until then, (hall die under the extreme
cruelties of their perfecutors. And the more
they expe61 that God wiil anfwer their pray-
ers, by fpeedy bringing on the promifed
glorious day, the more mull they withal ex-
peft themfelves to have a fhare in thofe
dreadful things, that nature fhrinks at the
thoughts of, and alfo expeft to fee things
that a renewed nature flirinks at and dreads ;
even the prevailing of God's enemies^ and
204 -tij THE SLAYING
the almofl total extinguifhing the true reli-*
gion in the world. And on this hypothefis?
thefe difcouragemcnts are Hke to attend the
prayers of God's people, until that difrnal
time be aftually come; and when that is
come, thofe that had been prophefving and
praying in fackclolh, fhall generally beflain;
and after that time is over, then the glorious
day fliall immediately commence. So that
this notion tends to difeour^ge and hinder
all earneft prayer in the church of God far
that glorious coming of Chrift's kingdom,
until it be aftually come; and that is to hin-
der its ever being at all.
It being fb, this opinion being of fuch
hurtful tendency, certainly it is a thoufand
pities it fhoald prevail and be retained, if
truly there be no good ground for it.
Therefore in anfwer to this objeflion, I
would, with all humility and modefTy, ex-
amine the foundation of that opinion, of
fuch a dreadful time of victory of Antichrift
over the church, yet to be expefted; and
particularly fiiall endeavour to fliew that the
Jlaying of the witmejjes, foretold, Rev. xi, 7
— 10. is not an event that remains yet to be
fulfilled. — To this end, I would propofe the
following things to confideration.
67 THE WIT^:ESSEs. 205
1. The time vv herein the witnrjfes lie dead
in thejlreets of the great city, doubtlefs, f3g~
nifies the time wherein the true church of
Chrifl is lowed of all, mod of all prevailed
againft by Antichrift, and nearefl to an ut-
ter extinftion ; the time wherein there is left
the lead vifibility of the church of Chrift
yet fubfiding in the world, lead remains of
any thing appertaining to true religion,
whence a revival of it can be expefted, and
wherein all means of it are miod abolidied,
and the date of the church is, in all refpeQs,
furthed from any thing whence any hopes
of its ever flourii'hing again might arife. For
before this the \v'itnef[i^spropheJy infackcloth,
but now they are dead; before this they were
kept low indeed, yet there was life, and pov/-
er to bring plagues on theirenemies, and fo
much of true religion left, as to be a contin-
ual eye-fore and torment to tliem ; but novv^
their enemies rejoice and fead, and have a
general public triumph, as having obtained
a full victory over them, and having entire-.
ly extirpated them, and being completely
delivered from them, and all that might give
them any fear of being troubled with them
any more. This time, wherever it be fixed,
doubtlefs, is the time, not only v/herein fewe-ft
2oS WHETHER THE SLAYING OF THE
profeffors of the true religion are left in the
world, but a time wherein the truth (hall be
fanhefl out of fight, and Out of reach, and
moft forgotten ; wherein there are left few-
eft beams of light, or traces of truth, feweft
means of information, and opportunities of
coming to the knowledge of the truth; and
fo a time of the moft barbarous iraorance,
moft deftitute of all hiftory, reliques, monu-
ments and memory of things appertaining
to true religion, or things, the knowledge of
which hath any tendency to bring truth a-
gain to light, and moft deftitute of learning,
ftudy and enquiry.
Kov7, if we confidcr the prefent ftate of
mankind, it is credible tliat a time will yet
come in the Vv^orld, that in thefe refpefts ex-
ceeds all times that were before the Refor-
mation? And that fuch a time will come
before tlie fall of Antichrift, unlefs v/e fet that
at a much greater diftance, than the farih-
eit that any vet have fuppofed? It is next
to impoffibie, that fuch a change fhould be
brouGfht about in fo ftiort a time — it cannot
be v/ithout a miracle. In order to it, not
only muft the Fopifti nations fo prevail, as
utterly to extirpate the Proteftant religion
through the earthy but muft do many other
WITNESSES BE A PAST EVENT. 207
things, far more impoffible for them to effefl
in order to cover the world with fo grofs
and confirmed a darknefs, and to bury all
light and truth in fo deep an oblivion, and
fo far out of all means and hopes of a revi-
val. And not only muft a vaft change be
made in the Protellant world, but the Popifh
nations muft be ftrangely metamorphofed,
and they themfelves muft be terribly perfe^
cuted by fome other power, in order to bring
them to fuch a change; nor would perfe-
cution without extirpation be fufficient for
it. If there fhould be another univerfal de-
luge, it might be fuflBcient to bring things in
the world to fuch a pafs, provided a few ig-
norant barbjirous perfons only were pre-
ferved in an ark; and it would require fome
cataftrophe, not much fhort of this, to ef-
feft it,
2. In the Reformation, that was in the
days of Luther, Calvin, and others their
contemporaries, the threatened deftruftion
of Antichrill, that dreadful enemy that had
long oppreffed and worn out the faints, was
begun; nor was it a fmall beginning, but
Antichrift hath fallen, at leaft, halfvv^ay to
the ground, from that height of power and
2o8 WHETHER THE SLAYING OF THE
grandeur, that he was in before. Then be-
gan the vials of God's wrath to be poured
^ut on the throne of the beajl, to the great
{baking of its foundations, and diminution
of its extent; fo that the Pope loR near half
C of his former dominions^ and as to degree of
authority and influence over what is left, he
is not poffeffed of what he had before. God
nov7 at length, in anfwer to the long contin^
ued cries of his people, awaked as one out
of fleep^ and began to deliver his church
from her exceeding low ftate, that Ihe had
continued in for many ages, under the great
oppreffion of this grand enemy, and to re^
{tore her from her exile and bondage in the
fpiritual Babyloii and Egypt. And it is not
agreeable to the analogy of God's difpenfa-
tions, that after this, God fhould defert his
people, and hide himfelf fronl them, even
jTiore than before, and leave them mofe
than ever in the hands of their ehemy, and
all this advantage of the church againfl An-
tichrift (hould be entirely given up and loil,
and the power and tyranny of Antichrift be
more confirmed, and the church brought
more under, and more entirely fubdued than
ever before, and further from all help and
means to recover. This is not God's way
WITNESSES BE A PAST EVENT. 2O9
of dealing with his people, or with their e-
nemies; his work of falvation is perfeft —
when he has began fuch a work he w:ill car-
ry it on — when he once caufes the day of
deliverance to dawn to his people, after fuch
a long night of difmal darknefs, he will not
'extinguifh the light, and caufe them to re-
turn again to midnight darknefs — when he
has begun to enkindle the bleffed fire, he
will not quench the fmoaking flax, until he
hath brought forth judgment unto viftory.
When once the church, after her long la-
bour and fore travail, has brought forth her
man-child, and wrought fome deliverance^
her enemies fhall never be able to deflroy
this child, though an infant^ but it (hall af-
c^nd up to heaven, and be fet on high out
of their reach.
The deftruftion that God often foretold
and threatened to ancient Baby-Ion (which
is often referred to in the Revelation, as a
great type of the anti-chriflian church) was
gradually accompliflied, and fulfilled by va-
rious [}eps, at a great diilance of time one
from another; it was begun in the conqueft
of Cyrus, and was farther accompliflied by
Oariusj about eighteen years after, by a yet
Cc
210 WHETHER'THE SLAYING OF THE
greater deftraftion, wherein it was brought
much nearer to utter defolation; but it was
about two hundred and twenty-three years
after this, before the ruin of it was perfeft-
ed, and the prophecies againft it fully ac-
complifhed, in its being made an utter and
perpetual defolation, without any human in-
habitant, becoming the dwelling-place for
owlsj dragons, and other doleful creatures.
But yet wlien God had once begun to de-
ftroy her, he went on until he finifhed, and
never fuffered her any more to recover and
eftabliih her former empire. So ihe refti-
tution of the Jewifh churth, after tlie Baby-
lonilh captivity, was gradual, by various
fteps; there v/ere feveral times of return of
the Jews from captivity, and feveral diftinft
decrees of the Perfian emperors, for the re-
ftoring and rebuilding Jerufalein, and re-
eflablifliing the Jewifli church and ftate;
and it was done in turbulent times, there
were great interruptions and checks, and
violent oppofitions, and times wherein the
enemy did much prevail: But yet, when
God had once begun the work he alfo made
an end: he never fuffered the enemies of
the Jews to bring Jerufalem to fiich a ftate
of defolation as it had been in before, until
WITNESSES BE A PAST EVENT. 211%
the promifed reftoration was complete. A-
gain, the deliverance of God's church from
the opprefTion of Antiochus Epiphanes, (a-
nother known type of Antichrift) was gra-
dual; they were firft alhfled in a fmall de-
gree, by the Maccabees, and afterwards the
promifed deliverance was completed, in the
recovery of Jerufalem, the reftoration of the
temple, the miferable end of Antiochus, and
the confequent more full deliverance of the
w^hole land. But after God once began to
appear for the help of his church in that in-
ftance, after it feemed dead and paft all hope,
he never fuffered Antiochus to prevail a-
gainfl: his people, to that degree, again;
though the utmoft ftrength of this great mo-
narch was ufed, from time to time, in order
to it, and his vaft empire was engaged againft
an handful that oppofed them: God never
forfook the w^ork of his own hands; w^hen
he had begun to deliver his people, he alfo
made an end. And fo Haman, tliat proud
and inveterate enemy of the Jews, that tho't
to extirpate the whole nation, who alfb was
probab'y another type of Antichriir, when
he began to fall before Efther and Mordecai,
never flayed, until his ruin, and the church s
deliverance was complete. Haman's wife
il2 WHETHER THE SLAYING OF THE
fpeaks of it, as an argument of his approach-
ing inevitable full deftruQion, that he had
begun to fall, Efth. vi. 15.
3. Ifitfhould be fo, that ant i-chriftian
tyranny and darknefs fhould hereafter fo
prevail againft the Proteftant church, and
the true religion, and every thing appertain-
ing to it, as to bring things to the pafs fore-
mentioned, this would hardly fo properly
anfwer the prophecy of flaying the two wit-
nefies ; for, doubtlefs, one reafon why they
are called two witnefles is, that the number
of the remaining witneffes for the truth was,
though fufBcient, yet very fmall. Which was
remarkably the cafe, in the dark times pi
Popery ; but fince the Reformation the num-
ber of thofe appearing on the fide of true
religion, has been far from being fo fmall,^
-—The vifible church of Chrift has been
vaflly large, in comparifon of what it was
before; the number of Proteftants has fome-
times been thought nearly equal to that of the
Papifts; and, doubtlefs, the number of true
faints has been far greater than before.
4. It feems to be fignified in prophecy,
that after the Reformation, Antichriil fhould
never prevail againft the church of Chrift
any more, a3 he had done before. I cannot^
WITNESSES BE YET TO COME. 223
but think, that whoever reads and well con-
fiders what the learned Mr. Lowman has
written on the five firft vials, Rev. xvi. in
his late Expofition on the Revelation, mufl:
think it to be very manifeft, that what is
faid, verfe lo, of the pouring out of the fifth
vial on the throne of the beajl, (for fo it is in
the original) is a prophecy of the Reforma-
tion. Then the vial of God's wrath was
poured out on the throne of the beaft, i. e,
according to the language of fcripture, on
his authority and dominion, greatly to weak-
en and diminifh it, both in extent and de-
gree. But when this is reprefented in the
prophecy, then it is added, and, his kingdom
was fall of darkncfs, and they gnawed their
tongues for pain. If we confider what is com-
monly intended by fuch like phrafes in the
fcripture, I think we fhall be naturally, and,
as it were, necefTarily led to underfland thofe
words thus: Their policy, by w^hich here-
tofore they have prevailed, fliail now fail
them; their authority fhall be weakened,
and their dominion greatly diminifhed, and
all their craft and fubtilty fhall not avail
them to maintain and fupport the throne of
the beafl, or even again to extend his autho-
rity fo far as it had been before extended.
214 WHETHER THE SLAYING OF THE
and to recover what it loft; but all their
crafty devices to this end (hall be attended
with vexatious tormenting difappointment;
they that have the management of the af-
fairs of the beaft's kingdom, fiiaH hencefor^
ward grope as in the dark, and ftumble, and
be confounded in their purpofes, plots and
enterprizes ; formerly their policy was great-
ly fuccefsful, was as a light to guide thern
to tlieir ends, but now their kingdom fhall
be full of da.rknefs, and their wifdom (hall
fail them in all their devices to fubdue, and
again to bring under the church of God. —
The fcripture takes notice of the great po-
licy and fubtilty of the powers that fupcort
this kingdom, Dan. vn.'%.- -jj^-^dy behold, in
this horn ivere eyes like the eyes cf a 'man.' So •
it is (aid of Antiochus Epiphanes, that great
type of Antichrilt, Dan. viii. 23. A king of
fierce coimtenance, and underji.anding dark
fcntences.JIiaUJland up, Ver. 25. And thro'
his policy alfo.jliall he caiife craft to prof per
in his hand. This underftanding and poli-
cy is the light of this kingdom, as true wif-
dom is the light of the fpiritual Jerufalem^
And, therefore, when the light fails, then
may the kingdom of this fpiritual Egypt be
faid to be full of darknefs. God hencefor-
WITNESSES BE YET TO COME. 215
vfard v\^ill defend his people from thefe my-
ftical Egyptians, as he defended Ifrael of
old from Pharaoh and hjs hoft, when pur-
fuing afler them, by placing a cloud and
darknefs in their way, and i'o not fuffering
them to come nigh. So he will protect his
church from the men of that city that is fpi-
ritually called Sodom, as Lot's houfe, where-
in were the angels, was defended from the
men of Sodom, by their being fmitten with
darknefs or biindnefs, fo that they wearied
themfelves to find the door; and as God
defended the city in which was Eliflia the
prophet, and witnefs of the Lord, from the
Syrians, when they compafled it about with
horfes and chariots, and a great hoft to ap-
prehend him, by fmiting them with biind-
nefs. The fcripture teaches us, that God is
wont in this w^ay to defend his church and
people from their crafty and powerful ene-
mies. Job V. 11, &c, Tofet'itp on highthofe
that be low^ that thofe which mourn may be
exalted tofafety : He dijappointeth the devices^'
of the crafty, fo that their hands cannot per-
form their enter prize: He taketh the wife in
their own craftinefs, and the counfel of the
forward is carried headlong: They meet with
darknefs in the day-time, and grope in the
2l6 WHETHER THE SLAYING, &C*
noon-day as in the night; but hefavcth Uw
poor from theftcord, from their mouth, and
from the hnnd of the mighty, PfaL- xxx v. 4.6*
Let then be confounded and put tofmme, that
feek after my foul; let them be turned back^
and brought to cbnfufon. that devife my hurt
^ — Let their wuy^ be dark andflippery.
Upon the account of fuch defence of God's
Proteftant church, and difappointment and
confufion of all the fubtle devices, deep-
laid fchemes, and furious attempts of their
anti-chriftian enemies, to bring them under^
and root them out, and their feeing theni
ftill maintaining their ground, and fubfifting
Jn an independency on them, in fpite of all
that they do, it makes thein as it weregnafli'
their teeth, and bite their tongues for mere
rage and vexation; agreeable to Pfal. cxii.
p, 10. His righteoifnefs endurethfor evefy
''his hornfhall be exalted with honour: The
wicked f tail fee it and be grieved, andgnafji
'^"^ with his teeth and melt away: The defire of
^ the zoickedfnall perifi.
Hitherto this prophecy has been very fig-
tially fulfilled; fince the Reformation, the
kingdom of Antichrift has been remarkably
filled with darknefs in this refpeft. Innu-
WHETHER THE TWO WITNESSES, &C. 2I7
merable have been the crafty devices, and
great attempts of the churchof Rome, where-
in they have exerted their utmofl: policy and
power, to recover their loft dominions, and
again to fubjugate the Proteftant nations,
and fubdue the northern herefy, as they call
il* They have wearied themfelves in thefe
endeavours for more than two hundred years
paft; but have hitherto been difappointed^
and have often been ftrangely confounded.
When their matters feemed to be brought
to a ripenefs^ and they triumphed as though
their point was gained, their joy and triumph
has fuddenly turned into vexation and tor-
ment* How many have been their politic
and powerful attempts againft the Proteftant
intcreftin our nation in particular? And how
wonderfully has God difappointed them from
time to time! And as God has hitherto fo
remarkably fulfilled his word in defending
his Proteftant church from Antichrift, fo I
think we have ground to truft in him, that
he will defend it to the end.
5, The hypothefis of thofe who fuppofe"
the flaying of the witnefles is a thing that
yet remains to be fulfilled, makes the pro-
phecies of the Revelation to be inconfiftent
Dd
2l8 WHETHER THE TWO WITNESSES .
one with another. According to their hy-
pothefis, that battle. Rev. xi. 7. wherein the
beail makes war with the witnefTes, and o-
vercomes them^ and kills them, is the lafl
and greatell: conflift between Antichrift and
the church of Chrift, v/hieh is to precede the
titter overthrow of the anti-chriftian king-
dom. And they muft fuppofe fo, for they
fuppofe, that immediately after the fuffer-
ings the church fhall endure in that war, fhe
fliall arife, and, as it were, afcend into hea-
ven; i. e, as they interpret it, the church
fhall be direftly advanced to her latter-day
reft, profperity and glory. And confequent-
ly^ this conflift muft be the fame with that
great battle between Antichrift and the
Cfiurch, that is defcribed, chap, xvi. 13. to
the end, and more largely, chap. xix. 11. to
the end. For that which is defcribed in thefe
places, is moft evidently and indifputably
the greateft and laft battle or conflifl that
fliall be between the church and her anti-
; ehriftian enemies, on which the utter down-
fall of Antichrift, and the church's advance-
ment to her latter-day glory, fiiall be imme-
diately confequent. And fo the earthquake
that attends the refurreftion of the wifnef-
fes, chap. xi. 13. muft be the fame with that
REMAIN YET TO BE SLAINT. 2lQ
great earthquake that is defcribed.chap. xvi.
18. And the falhng of the tenth part of the
city muft be the fame with that terrible and
utter defiruaion of Antichrill's kingdom,
chap. xvi. 17. to the end.
But thefe things cannot be. The battle,
chap. xi. 7. cannot be the fame v/ith that laft
and great battle between the Church and
Antichrift, defcribed, chap xvi. and xix.—
For the things that are faid of one and the
other, and their iffue, are in no wife confift-
ent. In that battle, chap. xi. the church of
God confiifts with her enemies in forrow,
fackcloth, and blood; but in the other the
matter is reprefented exceedingly otherwife
—the church goes forth to fight with Anti-
chrift, not in fackcloth and blood, but cloath-
ed in white raim.ent, Chrift himfelf before
them, as their captain, going forth in great
pomp and magnificence, u^on^i white horfe,
and on his head many crowns, and onhisvef-
ture, and on his thigh, a navie written, king
OF KINGS A^JD LORD OF LORDS; and the
faints who follow fo glorious a leader to this
great battle, follow him on white horfes,
cloathed in fine linen, white and clean, in
garments of ftrength, joy, glory and tri-
umph ; in the fame kind of raiment, that the
220 WHETHER THE TWO WITNESSES
faints appear in, when they are reprefented
as triumphing with Chrift, with palms in
their hands, chap. vii. g. And the iffue of
the latter of thefe conflifts, is quite the re-
verfe of the former. In the battle, chap, xi*
7. The beajt makes war with the witnejfes^ and
OVERCOMES THEM, AND KILLS THEM; the
fame is foretold, Dan. vii. 21. I beheld^ and
the fame horn made loar toith the faints, and
prevailed agaivfl them. — ^And Rev. xii. 7,
And it was given unto him to make war with
the faints, and to overcome them. But in the
iifue of that laft and great battle, which the
church {hall have with her anti-chriftian e-*
ricmies, the church (ball overcome them,
AND KILL THEM, Rcv. xvii. 14. Thefefhalt
■"make war toiih the Lamby and the Lavibfliall
overcome them; for he is Lord of Lords, and
King of Kings; and they that are with him,
are called, and chofen, and faithful, compar-
ed with chapter xix. 16, and following verf-
es, and chapter xvi. 16, 17. In the conflift
that the bead fliall have with the wutneffes,
the beafl kills them^ and their dead bodies lit
%inburied; as though they were to be meat
for the beafts of the earth, and fowls of hea-»
yen; but in that laft battle, it is reprefented
that Chrift and his church fhallfay their e-
REMAIN YET TO BE SLAIN. 221
nfiTiies, and give their dead bodies to be meat for
the fowls of heaven, chap. xix. 17. to the end.
There is no manner of appearance, in the
defcriptions which are given of that lafl; great
battle, of any advantages gained in it, by the
enemies of the church, before they themfelves
are overcome, but all appearance of the con-
trary. Be fure the defcriptions in the xvi.
and xix. chapters of the Revelation will, by
no means, allow of fuch an advantage, as the
overcoming God's people, and flaying them,
and their lying dead for fome time, and un-
buried, that their dead bodies may be for
their enemies to abufe, and trample on, and
make fport with. In chap. xvi. we read of
their being gathered together againft the
church, a mighty hoft, into the place called
Armageddon, and then the firft thing we
hear of, is the pouring out the feventh vial
of God s wrath, and a voice faying — It is
done. And fo in the xix. chap, we have an
account of the beaji, and the kings of the earth,
and their armies, being gathered together to
make war againfl him that fat on the horfe,
and againfl his army. And then the next
thing we hear of is, that the beafl is taken,
and with him the falfe prophet ; and that thefe
arc both cafl alive into the lake of fire; and
222 WHETHER THE TWO WITNESSES
that the remnant of their vafi army arejlain,
and all the fozvls filled with their fiefii. The
iffue of the conflict of the beafl with the wit-
neffes, is the triumph of the church's ene-
mies over God*s people, looking on them
as entirely vanquifhed, and their intereft ut-
terly ruined, pad all pofiibility of recovery :
They that dwell on the earth JJiall fee the dead
bodies of the faints lying in thejlreets of the
great city, andfiiaU rejoice over tJum, and
make merry, and fend gifts one to another. —
But the iflue of that great and laft battle is
quite the reverfe ; it is the church's triumph
over her enemies, as being utterly and for
ever deftroyed.
Here, if any one fhall fay, that the afcen-
fion of the witnefFes into heaven in the fight
of their enemies, may, as has more general-
ly been fuppofed, fignify the church's laft
viftory and triumph over her anti-chriftian
enemies, and final deliverance from them,
and yet the battle between Antichrift and
the witneffes, fpoken of, Rev. xi. 7. where-
in the witneffes are flain, may not be the
fame with that laft and greateft battle be-
tween Antichrift and the church, chap.xvi,
and xix. which immediately precedes and
iffues in the church's final vi6lorv and deli-
REMAIN YET TO BE SLAIN. 223
verance; there may be two great battles,
foon following one another, though both are
not mentioned in the fame place ; one a con-
flift, wherein Antichrift prevails againft the
AvitnefTes, and overcomes them, and kills
them, and another that great battle defcrib-
ed, chap. xvi. and xix. after the witnefies
refurreftion, before their afcenfion into hea-
ven, wherein they fliall prevail and over-
come their enemies, and kill them; I fay, if
any one fhall fay thus, they will fay that
which the prophecies give no reafon, nor
-allow any room to fuppofe. Thatlaft battle
between the Church and Antichrift, w^herein
Chrift and his people obtain a complete vic-
tory, is evidently one of the greateft and re-
markable events foretold in all the Apoca-
lypfe; and there is no one thing, unlefs it
be the confummation of all things, in the
two laft chapters, that is defcribed in fo fo-
lemn and auguft a manner. And the de-
fcription (hev/s that it is an event which,
with its circumftances, muft take up much
time. There is vaft preparation made for
it by the church's enemies ; the devils, in or-
der to ftir men up, and gather them togeth-
er, to this battle of that great day of God Al-
mighty^ go forth unto the kings of the earth.
224 WHETHER THE TWO WITNESSES
and of the whole world, to propagate various
kinds of delufions, far and wide, all over the
world; which, undoubtedly, muft take up
many years time^ chap xvi. 13, 14. And
then great preparation is made in the church
of God, to make oppofition, chap. xix. 11
— 17. Now can any reafonably fuppofe,
that in what is reprefented, chap. xi. of a
great conflifl: between Antichrift and God s
people, wherein the latter are overcome and
flain, and lie dead three days (or three years)
and a half, and their enemies triumphing o-
ver them, but God's people rifing again from
the dead in the midft of this triumph of their
enemies, and afcending into heaven, while
the enemies ftand aftonifhed and arnazed
fpeclators — that the manner of the defcrip-
tion leaves fair room for us to fuppofe, that
after this refurreftion of God's people, they
continue long before they afcend, to encoun-
ter with Antichrift in a new confliQ, where-
in their enemies, after long time to prepare,
{hould engage with them with vaftly great-
er preparations, ftrength and violence than
before, and fhould wage war with the migh-
tieft army that ever was gathered againft the
church, and in the greateft battle that ever
was fought !
REMAIN YET TO BE SLAIN. S225
And befides, the witnefFes afcending into
heaven in the fight of their enemies, fpokcn
of chap. xi. cannot be the fame with the
church's gaining a glorious afcendant over
her enemies, in her final viciory over Anti-
chrift^ fpoken of chap. xvi. and xix. becaufe
the defcriptions of the events that attend the
one and the other do by no means anfwer
each other. For, obferve, it is faid, that when
the witnefies arofe, and.Jlood on their feet,
and afcended into heaven^ the fame hour there
"was a great earthquake ; but this does not
feem to anfwer to w^hat is defcribed, chap*
xvi. 18. Andtherewere voices^ and thunders^
and lightnings, and there was a great earth-^
quake, fuch as was not f nee men were upon
the earth, fo mighty an earthquake, andfo greats
—-It is faid, that at the fame time of the firfl
earthquake, chap, xi, 13* The tenth part of
the city fell; but hov/ far does this fall (hort
of what is defcribed, as attending the great
earthquake.^ chap. xv. ig, 20. And the great
city was divided into three parts, and the cities
of the nations fell ; and great Babylon came
into remembrance before God, to give unto her
the cup of the wine of the fiercenefs of his
wrath; and every if and fled away, and tkc
Ee
226 WHETHER THE TWO WITNESSES
moimtains were not found. It is faid of the
earthquake, chap. xi. And in the earthquake
were Jlain of men f even thoufand ; but how
far is this from anfwering the {laughter de-
fcribed, chap. xix. 17, &c. Which is repre-
fented as a general flaughter of the kings,
captains, mighty men, horfes, and armies of
the earth, and of the whole world; fo that
all the fowls that fly in the midfl: of heaven,
as far as the fun flxines, are filled with the
flelli of the dead carcafes, it being \hejlejli of
all men, both free and bond, both fnall and
great; (compare chap. xvi. 14.) who can
think, that this great flaughter, that is thus
reprefented, fliould, in chap. xi. be only caU
led 2i faying of f even thoifand men?
If we read this very eleventh chapter thro',
we (hall fee that the falling of the tenth part
of the city, and the witnefles rifing and af-
cending into heaven, are entirely difl:in6l
from the final deftruftion of Antichrift, and
that advancement of the church to her lat-
ter-day glory, that is confequent upon it. —
I'he judgments here fpoken of, as executed
on God's enemies, are under another woe;
and the benefits beftowed on the church, are
under another trumpet. For immediately
after the account of the rifing and afcend-
REMAIN YET TO BE SLAIN. 227
ing of the witRefTes, and the tenth part of
the city's falling, and the flaying of L^f feven
thoufand men, and the affrighting ott,he rett,
and their giving glory to the God of heaven,
follow thefe words in the 14th and 15th
verfes, Thefecond woe is pajl, and behold the
third looe cometh quickly. And thefeventh
angel founded, and there were great voices in
heaven, faying — The kingdoms of this world
are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of
his Chrifl, and he f mil reign for ever and e-
ver. And in the following verfes, we have
an account of the praifes fung to God on
this occafion. And then in that lad verfe,
we have a brief hint of that fame earthquake,
and the gr^at hail, and tliofe thunders, and
lightnings, and voices, that we have an ac-
count of in the latter part of chap. xvi. So
that the earthquake mentioned in the laft
verfe of chap. xi. is that great earthquake
that attends the laft great conflift of the
church and her enemies, and not that men-
tioned ver. 13.
The three woes are the woes of God on
Antichrift and his fubjefts; and the third
and laft of them evidently fignifies the ter-
rible judgments of God on Antichrift, by
which God's wrath upon him fliall be ful-^
228 WHETHER THE TWO WITNESSES
filled in his utter de{lru6iion; but the cala-
mities <f)n Antichrifl, fpoken of as attending
the rififrg and afcending of the witnefTes, fuch
as the falling of the tenth part of the city,
and fiaying feven thoufand men, do not be-
long to this laft woe, and therefore do not
fignify the final deftruQion of Antichrift;
for the words of verfe 14. will by no means
allow of fuch a fuppofition ; for there, imme-
diately after giving an account of thefe ca-
lamities, it is added — ThefecGnd zcoe ispajl;
and, behold, the third woe covieth quickly;
making a moR plain and exprefs diftin^Hon
between thefe calamities that had already
been mentioned, and efpecially- thefe that
werejuft then mentioned in tlf^ very laft
words, and the calamities that belong to the
third woe, that yet remain to be mentioned;
for by being paffed, the prophet is to be un*
derftood no othevwife than paffed in the de-
claration and reprefentation — it was not paft
m any other refpefli; it is as much as to fay.
Thus an account has been given of the ca-j
lamities upon Antichrifl that belong to the
fecond woe; now I proceed to give an ac-
count of thofe difpenfations of Providence
that belong to the third and laft woe, which
fhall prove Antichrift's final deftru6iion, eu^
REMAIN YET TO BE SLAIN. 229
in the kingdoms of this world becoming the
kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chrift.
What was fulfilled in the Reformation,
well anfwers the reprefentation made con-
cerning the witneffes. Rev xi. 1 1. 12. Of the
fpirit of If e from God entering into them, and
their fanding on their feet, and afcending up
to heaven, in thefght of their enemies. A lit-
tle before the Reformation, the Hate of the
church of God, and of true religion was low-
eft of all, and neareft to utter extinftion. —
Antichrift had, after great and long ftrug-
gles, prevailed againft the Waldenfes, Albi-
genfes, and Bohemians. The war with the
Albigerifes feems efpecially to be intended
by the war of the beaft with the witneffes,
fpoken of verfc 7. Thefe were witneffes to
the truth that were the moft numerous and
confiderable, and thofe that moft tormented
the church of Rome. And the war that was
maintained againft them, was, by far, the
greateft that ever Antichrift had againft any
of the profeffors of the truth, before the Re-
formation, and was properly the war of the
beaft; it was the Pope that proclaimed the
war, and that raifed the foldiers by his emif-
faries and priefts, preaching the crofs, ga-
thering innumerable multitudes of pilgrims
230 WHETHER THE TWO WITNESSES
from all parts of Chriftendom, and raifing
one croifade after another, which were con-
duced and managed by the Pope's legates ;
and it was the Pope that paid the foldiers
with pardons, indulgences, promifes of Pa-
radife, and fuch like trumpery. When An-
tichrift had gradually prevailed againft thefe
witnelfes, with much difficulty, and long
continued violent firuggling, and after in-
numerable vexatious difafters and difap-
pointments, the church of God, in the time
of Luther, and ether reformers, on a fud-
den, in a wonderful manner, revives, when
fuch an event was leaft expefted, (to the fur*
prize and amazement of their anti-chriftian
enemies) and appears in fuch ftrength, that
the reformed are able to ftand on their own
legs, and to withftand all the power and
rage of the church of Rome, Prefently af-
ter this revival, the people of God are fet
on high, having the civil magiftrate in many
countries on their fide, and henceforward
have the power of many potent princes en-
gaged for their proteftion. And this, in
fight of their enemies, and greatly to their
grief and vexation; who, though they, from
time to time, exert their utmoft, never are
able to prevail againft them, to bring thera
REMAIN YET TO BE SLAIN, 23!
under any more, as they had done in for-
mer wars. Oftentimes, in fcripture, God's
church's dwelling in fafety, out of the reach
of their enemies, is reprefented by their dwel-
ling on high, or being fet on high; as Pfal.
lix. 1. Ixix. 29. xci. 14. cvii. 41. Prov.
xxix. 25. Ifai. xxxiii. 16. The children
of Ifrael, in their deliverance out of Egypt,
from their cruel taflv-mafters, w^ho would
fain have brought them into bondage again,
w^ere faid to he carried on eagles wings, which
is lofty in its flight, flies away towards hea-
ven, fo that the Egyptians could not come
at them ; and they were protefted by the
cloud that went with them, as the witnefies
are faid to be caught up to heaven in a cloud.
Compare this with Ifai. iv. 5. And the Lord
will create upon every dzoelling-place of Mount
Zion, and upon her ajjcmhlies, a cloud and
fmoke by day, and thejhiningofajlamingjir^
by night; for upon all the glory f hall be a de-
fence.
I fliall not pretend to explain the myftery
of the three days and a half of the witnefies
lying dead, or to determine the precife du- /
ration fignified by that myftical reprefenta-
tion. Poffibly no particular meafureoftimc
may be intended by it, and yet it may not
232 WHETHER THE TWO WITNESSES
be without fignificancy.* As no particular
numbcrof perfons is intended by the two wit-
neffes, but, in general, it intends a fmall num-
ber, and yet a lufficient number ; and as fmall
as might be, and yet be fufficient ; as lefs than
two witnefies was not fufficient, fo, perhaps,
no particular duration of that low ftate that
the church was in before the Reformation,
may be intended by three days and an half,
but, in general, it may be hereby fignified,
that this time of the triumphing of the wick-
ed, and extremity of God's church, ihould be
but fliort. Poihbly three days and an half
may be m^entioned, becaufe that is the utmoft
fpace of time that a dead body can be ordi-
narily fuppofed to lie without putrefaction,
fignifying that at this time the church fliould
be brought to the very brink of utter ruin,
and yet {hould be preferved, and revive a-
gain. And half a day may be mentioned to
NOTE.
* IVJr. Lowman, In the preface to his Paraphrafe on the Reve*
lation, page 3, obferves as follows: Prophetic tiu7?ihers do net aU
ivays exprefs^ a determinate duration^ or fpace of time^ any Piora
than they alnvays exprefs a certain number. Prophecy^ I acknoiu-
ledge^ ufes nuvibers fo?netimes as other expreJionSi in a figurate
nieaningy as fymhols and hieroglyphics. Thus the number seven
fometimes does not denote the precife number feven; hut fgurative-
ly de7iotes perfe^ionyor a full and complete nu?nher; andthe?iu?K'
. her tenfo7netimss dots not mean precifely ten in nwnbsr^ hut ?/ia?ty
in general^ <fr a confidarahle rmmber^
REMAIN YET TO BE SLAIN. 233
fignify the particular care of Providence in
exadlly determining this time of his church's
extremity. And probably there may be fome
reference to the three tim.es (or three years)
and an half of the witnefTes prophefying in
fackcloth : the more apparently to fliew the
difproportion between the time of the church's
welfare, and the time of her enemies viflory
and triumph; the time of the church's af-
fliftion and conflict may be long, and in the
iffue (he may be overcome; but the time of
this viftory (hall be but {hort, in comparifon
with the other, but as a day to a year; {he
may, as it v;ere, be killed, and lie dead, un-
til the comes to the very brink of utter and
hopelefs ruin, but yet God will not fuffer her
to fee corruption; but at that very time,
when her enemies expe6led that flie (hould
putrify, file fnall rife, and be fet on high, out
of their reach, greatly to their aflonifliment-
The grand objetlion againfl all this is,
that it is faid, that the -wiincffes faould pro--
phefy twelve kiindred andjixty days cloathed
in fackcloth ; and when they havefiniflied their
tejlimony, the beaftJJioidd make zvar agaivji
them, and kill them, &c. and that it feems ma-
nifefl, that after this, they arc no longer m
234 WHETHER THE TWO WITNESSES
fackcloth, for henceforward they are in an
exalted ftate in heaven ; and that, therefore,
feeing the time of their v/earing fackcloth is
twelve hundred and fifty days, which is the
time of the continuance of Antichrift ; hence
their being flain and rifing again, muft be
at the conclufion of this period, and fo at
the end of Antichrift's reign.
In anfwer to which I would fay, that we
can juftly infer no more from this prophecy
than this, viz. That the twelve hundred and
fixty days is the proper lime of the church's
trouble and bondage, or being cloathed in
fackcloth, becaufe it is the appointed time
of the reign of Antichrift. But this does not
hinder but that God, out of his great com-
paffion to his church, ftiould, in fome refpecl,
{horten the days, and grant that fhe fhould,
in fome meafure, anticipate the appointed
great deliverance that Ihould be at the end
of thofe days; as he has, in faft, done in the
Reformation, whereby the church has had a
great degree of reftoration granted, from the
darknefs and power of Antichrift, before her
proper time of reftoration, which is at the
end of the twelve hundred and fixty days.
Thus the church of Chrift, through the ten-
der mercies of her Father and Redeemer, in
REMAIN YET TO BE SLAIN, 235
fome refpefts, anticipates her deliverance
from her forro ws and fackcloth; as many-
parts of the church are hereby brought from
under the dominion of the anti-chriftian pow-
ers, into a ftate of power and liberty, though,
in other refpefts, the church may be faid to
continue in fackcloth, and in the wildernefs,
until the end of the days; many parts of it
flill remaining under grievous perfecution.
What we render, When theyjliall kaveji'
nijiied their tejlimony, Mr. Lowman, from Mr,
Daubuz, renders, Whiletheyjhallperforvitheir
tejlimony; and obferves, that the original
may mean the time of their teftimony, as
well as the end of it.
I might here obferve, that we have other
inflances of God's fhortening the days of his
church's captivity and bondage, either at the
beginning or end, very parallel with what
has been now fuppofed in the cafe of the wit-
neffes. Thus the proper time of the bondage
of the pofterity of Abraham in Egypt, was
four hundred years. Gen. xv. 13. But yet
God in mercy deferred the beginning of their
bondage, whereby the time was much fhort-
ened at the beginning. So the time where-
in it was foretold, that the whole hnd of If-
BgS WHETHER THE TWO WITNESSES^ &G.
raeljliould he a defolation and an ajioniflivient,
and the landjliould enjoy herfabbaths, by the
Babyloniili captivity, v/as feventy years, Jer.
XXV. 11, 12. and thefe feventy years are dat-
ed in 2d Chro. xxxvi. 20, 21. from Zede-
kiah's captivity; and yet, from that captivi-
ty to Cyrus's decree, was but fifty-two years ;
though it was indeed feventy years before
the more full reftoration of the Jewifh church
and ilate by Barius's decree, Ezra vi. So the
proper time of the oppreflion and bondage
of the Jewifh church under Antipchus Epi-
phanes, wherein both the fandtuary and hojl
Jliould be trodden underfoot by him, was two
'thoufand three hundred days, Dan. viii. 13,
14, The time from Antiochus's taking Je-
rufalem, and polluting the fanftuary, to An-
tiochus's death, feems to have been about fo
long ; but God Ihortened the days, by grant-
ing remarkable help to his people by means
of the Maccabees, before that time ; yea, the
temple and fancluary were reftored, and the
altar rebuilt and dedicated before that time.
Upon the whole, I think there appears to
be no reafon from the prophecy concerning
the two v/itnefTes, Rev. xi. to expeft any
fuch general and terrible deftruftion of the
^hurch of Chrift, before the utter downfal of
OF THE SUPPOSED GREAT, &C. 237
Antichrifl;, as fome have fuppofed, but good
reafon to determine the contrary. It is true,
there is abundant evidence in fcripture, that
there is yet remaining a mighty conflift be-
tween the church and her enemies, the mofl
violent flruggle of Satan and his adherents,
in oppofition to true religion, and the mod
general commotion that ever was in the
world, fince the foundation of it to that time;
and many particular Chriftians, and fome
parts of the church of Chrift, may fuiTer hard
things in this conflift ; but, ii^ the general,
Satan and Antichrifl fliall not get the vic-
tory, nor greatly prevail, but, on the con-
trary, be entirely conquered, and utterly o-
verthrown, in this great battle. So that I
hope this prophecy of the flayingof the wit-
neffes will not ftand in the way of a com-
pliance with the propofal made to us in the
memorial, as a prevalent objeftion and dif-
couragement.
Object, 5. A late very learned and ingeni-
ous Expofitor of the Revelation, viz. Mr.
Lowman, fets the fall of Antichrifl, and con-
fequently the coming of Chrift's kingdom,
at a great diftance,fuppofing that the twelve
hundred and fixty years of Antichrifl 's reign
did not begin till the year feven hundred
^238 OF THE SUPPOSED GREAT DISTANCE
^ and fifty-fix; and confequently, that it will
/^ not end until after the year two thoufand,
more than two hundred and fifty years hence,
and this opinion he confirms by a great va-
riety of arguments.
Anf. 1. If this objeftion be allowed to be
valid, and that which ought to determine
perfons in an affair of this nature, and thofe
things concerning God's people praying for
this glorious event, be alfo allowed to be
true, which before were fliewn to be the will
of God abundantly revealed in his word,
then the following things mull be fuppofed,
viz. That it is the will of God that his peo-
ple be much in prayer for this event, and
particularly that it is God's revealed will
and purpofe, that, a little before the accom-
plifhment of it, his people be earnefl:ly feek-
ing and wriiting, and importunately and in-
ceffantly crying to God for it; but yet that
it was God's defign, that before this time
comes of extraordinary prayer and impor-
tunity of his church, for the bringing on this
glorious event, his church fhould have it giv-
en them to underfl:and precifely when the
appointed time fhould be, and that accord-
ingly he has now aftually brought the fixed
time to light by nieans of Mr. Lowman. — ^
OF antichrist's fall.
239
But is it reafonable to fu ppofe, that this fhould
be God's manner of dealing with his church,
firfl to make known to them the precife time
which he has unakerably fixed for the fliew-
ing this mercy to Zion, and then make it
the duty of his church, in an extraordinary
manner, to be, by prayer, enquiring of him
concerning it, and faying — Hozolong, Lord!
and waiting for it, day and night, crying to
him, with exceeding importunity, that he
would bring it on, that he would come quick-
ly, that he would hide himfelf no longer,
but would arif^ and have mercy upon Zion,
and awake as one out of fleep, openly ma-
nifeft himfelf, and make bare his holy arm
for the falvation of his people? That they
that make mention of the Lor djlioidd not keep
filence, nor give him any rejl, until heejlabljjji
and make Jerufalem a praife on the earth ?
And that the church fhould then fay to
Chrift, Make hajt.e, my beloved, and be thou
Like a roe or a young hart on the mountain
offpices?
It may be many w^ays for the comfort and
benefit of God's church in her afflifted ftate,
to know that the reign of Antichrifl is to be
no more than one thoufand tvv^o hundred
and fixty years ; and fome things in general
240 THE TIME OF ANTICHRIST S FALL
may be argued concerning the approach of
it, when it is near; as the Jews could argue
the approach of Chrift's firfl: coming, from
Daniel's prophecy of the feventy weeks ^
though they knew not precifely when that
feventy weeks would end. But it is not rea-
fonable to expefl: that God fiiould make
^, known to us beforehand, th^ precife time of
Chrift's coming in his kingdom* The dif-
ciples defired to know this, and manifefted
their defire to their Lord, but he told them
plainly, that it was not for them to know the
times and feafons^ which the Father ■ hath
put in his own poioer, Afts i. 6, 7. and there
is no reafon to think that it is any more for •
us than for them, or for Chrift's difciples in
thefe days, any more than for his apoftles in
thofe days. God m.akes it the duty of his
church to be importunately praying for it,
and praying that it may come fpeedily; and
not only to be praying for it, but to be feek-
ing for it, in the ufe of proper means, en-
deavouring that religion may now revive e-
very where, and Satan's kingdom be over-^
thrown ; and always to be waiting for it, be-
ing in a conftant preparation for it, as fer-
vants that wait for the coming of their lord^
or virgins for the coming of the bridegroom,
WILL NOT BE KNOWN BEFOREHAND. 24I
not knowing at what hour he will come. — <
But God's making known beforehand the
precife time of his coming, does not well
confift v/ith thefe thingr,.
It is the revealed will of God, that he
fliould be enquired of by his people, by ex-
traordinary prayer, concerning this great
mercy, to do it for them, before it be fulfill-
ed. And if any fuppofe, that it is now found
out precifely when the time is to be, and
(the time being at a confiderable diflance)
that now is not a proper feafon to begin this
extraordinary prayer, I would, on this fup-
pofition, afk — When we (liall begin? How
long before the fixed and known time of the
beftowment of this mercy comes, (hall we
begin to cry earneftly to God that this mer-
cy may come, and that Chiift would make
hafte and be like a roe^ &c. For us to de-
lay, fuppofing that we know the time to be
far ofT, is not agreeable to the language of
God's people in my text — Come, let its ga
SPEEDILY, and pray before the Lord, and
feek the Lord of Hojls.
Anf. 2. I acknowledg-e that Mr. Lowman'^s
Expofition of the Revelation is, on many ac-
counts, excellently written, giving great Yighi
242 THE TIME UNKNOWN, &C.
into fome parts of that prophecy, and an in-
fiance of the fuIfiHrncnt of that precli61ion,
Dan. xii. 4. Manyjhall run to and fro, and
knowledge faall he increafed; and efpecially
in his Interpretation of the Five Firll Vials,
(which he fuppofeth already poured out) ex-
ceedingly fatisfying. But yet the opinion of
Mr. Lowman, with regard to the particular
time of the beginning and end of the time,
times, and an half of Antichrid's reign, and
of all others that pretend to fix the time, is
the leaft to b^ regarded, becaufe it is clearly
revealed, and exprefsly declared by God,
that that matter fliall be fealed up and hid,
and not known until the time of the end of
this time, times, and an half. Daniel, in the
laft chapter of his prophecy, gives us an ac-
count, how the angel told him of a future
time of great trouble and aftliftion to the
church of God, and then faid to him, ver. 4.
But thou, Daniel, shut up the words,
AND SEAL THE BOOK, EVEN TO THE TIME
OF THE END. And then the prophct pro-
ceeds to give an account of a vifion that he
had of one earneflly enquiring of the angel
of the Lord how long it would be to the end
of this remarkable and wonderful time of
the church's trouble^ faying, Boio long fliall
THE TIME UNKNOWN, &C. 243
it be to the end ofthefe wonders? ver. 5, 6.
The anfwer was, that it/Iiould be for a time,
times, and an half, and that when fo long a
time was palt, then this wonderful affliftion
and fcattering of the holy people (hould be
finiflied, ver. 7. But then Daniel tells us, in
the next verfe, that he heard, but he under-'
flood not, and faid, 0, my Lord, whatfiallbt
the end of thefe things? He did not under-
ftand that general and myflical anfwer, that
thofe things fhould have an end at the end
of a time, times, and an half; he did not
know by it, v/hen this period would have an
end; and therefore he enquires more parti-
cularly v/hat the time of the end was. But
the angel replies, ver. g. Go thy way, Daniel,
the zcords are clofed and fealed up, until the
time of the end, I do not know what could •
have been more exprefs. The angel gently
rebukes this over inquifitivenefs of Daniel,
very much as Chrift did a like inquifitivenefs
of the difciples concerning the famxe matter,
when he faid to them— /^ is not for you to
know the times andfeafons, that the Father
hath put in his own power, — I think there
can be no doubt but that this fpace, of a time,
times, and an half of the church's great trou-
ble, about the end of which Daniel enquires.
!g44 ^^^ TIME UNKNOWN, &G.
is the -fame with that time, times, and half,
that is fpoken of, chap. vii. 25. and Rev. xii.
14. as the time of Antich rift's reign, and the
church's being in the vv^ildernefs, and not
merely the time of the church's troubles by
Antiochus Epiphanes. But we fee, when
Daniel has a mind to know particularly
when this time would come to an end, he is
bid to go away, and reft contented in igno-
rance of this matter; for, fays the man cloath-
ed in linen, th£ words are closed up,
AND SEALED, UNTIL THE TIME OF THE
END. That is,- very plainly, the matter that
you enquire about, when the end of this time,
and times, and half &ail come, ihall not be
known, bu t be kept a great fecret, until the time
of the end actually comes, and all attempts
to find it out before that fliall be in vain.
And therefore wiren a particular divine ap-
pears, that thinks he has found it out, and
has unfealed this matter, and made it ma-
nifeft with very manifold and abundant er
vidence, we may well think he is m,iftaken,
and doubt whether thofe fuppofed eviden-
ces are truly folid ones, and fuch as are in-
deed fufficient to make that matter manifeft,
Vv^hich God has declared lliould be kept hid^
and not made manifeft before it is accom-
THE TIME UNKNOWN/ &C. 245
plifhed. Mr. Lowman's own words in hh
preface, p. 24, 25. are here worthy to be re-
peated: " It will (fays he) ever be a point
•" of wifdom, not to be over bufy, or over
*' confident in any thing, efpecially in fix-
*' ing periods of time, or determining fea-
^^ fons, which it may be are not to be deter-
^' mined, it may be are not fit to be known,
" It is a maxim, of greater wifdom than is
*' ufually thought, Seek not to know what
^^Jliould not be j-evealed. Such are many
*' future events. Theprecife time of our Sa-
^^ viour's coming to judgment, was not re^
" vealed, becaufe not fit to be revealed. —
" The uncertainty of his appearance was of
^^ greater fervice to preferve a care of reli-
'' gion, than the revelation of it would have
'^ been; for the uncertainty itfelf gives many
." ufeful exhortations — Watch,foryeknow7iot
" zvhat hour the Son of Man cometh. S,iip-
'' pofe then fome of the events defcribed in
^' this prophecy fhould be of doubtful ap-
'' plication; fuppofe the precife time of the
** downfall of the beaft, the flaying and re^
*' furre6iion of the witneffes, and the begini-
" ning of the thoufand years happy fl:ate of
"' the church, fiiould not be fo determined,
'' but it would admit of different calcula-
Q^5 AntichrijTs Fall groundlefsly
'^ tions; may it not be wife, and therefore
^^ fit, it fliould be fo? The certainty of thofe
*' events in a proper time, though that time
*^ fliouId not be precifely determined, will
*^ anfwer the greater ends of ufeful inftruc-
*' tion. And if the revelation {hould go no
*^ farther than this, it would yet be a revela-
^^ tion, of great benefit and advantage, as the
*^ certainty of the day of judgment in its pro-
*^ per time furely is, though of that day and
*^ hour know^eth no man."
Anjl 3. Though it is not for us to know
the precife time of the fall of Antichrift, yet
I humbly conceive that w^e have no reafon
to fuppofe the event principally intended, in
the prophecies, of Antichrift's de(lru6lion, to
be at fo great a diftance, as Mr. Lowman
places it, but have reafon to think it to be
much nearer. Not that I v/ould fet up my-
felf as a perfon of equal judgment with Mr,
Lowman in matters of this nature. As he
diflPers from mod others of the m.oft approv-
ed expofitors of the Apocalypfe, in this mat-
ter, fo I hope it will not appear vanity and
prefumption in me, to differ from this par-
ticular expofitor, and to agree with the great-
er number. And fincc his opinion (lands fo
m.uch in the way of that great and import-
fuppojecl at a very-great Diftance. 247
^nt affair, to promote which is the very end
of this whole difcourfe, I hope it will not
look as though I affefted to appear confi-
derably among the interpreters of prophecy,
and as a perfon of (kill in thefe myfterious
matters, that I offer fome reafons againfl Mr,
Lo\vman's opinions. It is furely a great pity,
that it (hould be received as a thing clear
and abundantly confirmed, that the glorious
day of Antichrifl's fall is at fo great a dif-
tance, (fo direftly tending to damp and dif-
courage all earnefl prayers for, or endea-
vours after its fpeedy aecomplifliment) un-
lefs there be good and plain ground for it. I
would therefore offer fom.e things to coiifi-
deration, which, I think, may juflly make
us look upon the opinion of this learned in-
terpreter, of this happy event's being at fa
great a diftance, not fo certain and indubi-
table, iis to hinder our praying and hoping
for its being fulfilled much fooncr.
The period of Antichrift's reign, as this
author has fixed it, feems to be the main
point infifted on in his Expofition of the Re-
velation, which he fuppofes a great many
things in the fcheme of prophecies deliver-
.ed in that book do concur to eftabliCn. And,
indeed, it is fo, with refpeft to the fcheme
248 Antichriffs Fall groundlefsly
6f interpretation of thefe prophecies, which
he goes into, and finds it requifite to main^
tain, in order to confirm this point. But
there are feveral things in that fcheme, that
appear to me juflly liable to exception.
Whereas it is reprefented. Rev. xvii. 10^,
11. that there are feven different fucceffive
heads of the beafl; that five were paft, and
another was to come, and to continue a
ftiort fpace, that might, on fome accounts^
be reckoned a feventh ; and that Antichrifl
was to follow next after this, as the eighth ;
but yet the foregoin'g not being properly one
of the heads of the beafl, he was properly
the feventh. Mr. Lowman does not think
with others, that by the feventh that was to
continue a fhort fpace, which would not be
properly one of the heads of the beaft^ is
meant Conftantine, and the other Chriflian
emperors ; (for he thinks they are reckoned
as properly belonging' to the fixth head of
the beafl) but that hereby is intended the
government that Rome was fubjeft to un-*
der the Gothic princes, and the exarchate
of Ravenna, after the imperial form of go-
vernment in Rome ceafed in ^^guftdlus,
until the Pope was invefled with ms tempo-
ral dominion, called St. Peter's Patximon/^
fiippofcd at a very great Dijlance. 249
by Pipin, king of Fi-ance, in the year fevcA'
hundred and firty-fix. And he fuppofeSj that
that wounding of one of the heads of the
beafl with a fword of death, that we read of,
chap. xiii. 3 and 14. was not fulfilled in the
deltruftion of the heathen empire^ and the
giving the imperial power unto Chriflians,
but in the deftruflion of the imperial form
of government, by the fword of the Goths,
in the time of Augufruius. But it feems to
me to be very unlikely, that the Spirit of
God fhould reckon Conftantine and the
Chriflian em.perors as proper mem.bers, and
belonging to one of the heads, ofthatmon-
ftrous wild and cruel beaf}, that is compar-
ed to a leopard and a bear, and a devouring
lion, and that had a mouth fj^eaking great
things and blafphemies, and that rules by
the power and authority of the dragon, or
the devil f^^ which bcaft is reprefentcd in
this 17th chapter, as full ofnam.es of blaf-
phemy, and of a bloody colour, denoting his
exceeding cruelty in perfecuting the Chrif-
tian church. For Conftantine, inftead of
Hh
Tf NOTE.
* The word Therion fipniiies a wild favage bead:, as Mr. Low-
man hlmfelf obferves, page n;.
250 Antichrijl's Fall groundlefsly
this was a member of the Chriftian churchy
and fet by God in the mod eminent ftation
in his church, ar-d was honoured above all
other princes that ever had been in the world,
as the great proteftor of his church, and her
deliverer from the perfecuting power of that
cruel fcarlet-coloured bead. Mr. Lowman
himfelf ftyles him a Chri/iian Prince , and Pro^
tedorof the Chrijlian Religion. God is very-
careful not to reckon his own people among
the Gentiles, the vifible fubjecls of Satan,
Num. X xiii. 9. The people Jlidl not he reckoned
' among the nations, God will not enroll them
with them ; if they happen tobe among them,
he will be careful to fet a mark upon them,
as a note of diflinflion, Rev. vii. 3, &c. when
God is reckoning up his own people, he
leaves out thofe that have been noted for
idolatry. As among the tribes that were
fealed. Rev. viii. thofe idolatrous tribes of
Ephraim and Dan are left out, and in the
genealogy of Chrift, Matth. i. thofe princes
that were chiefly noted for idolatry, are left
out. Much more would God be careful not
to reckon his own people, efpecially fuch
Chriftian princes as have been the m.oft e-
minent initruments of overthrowing idola-
try, amongft idolaters, and as members and
fuppojed at a very great Dijlance. 251
heads of that kingdom that is noted in fcrip-
ture as the moft notorious and infamous of
all, for abominable idolatry, and oppofition
and cruelty to the true worfhippers of God.
And efpecially not to reckon them as pro-
perly belonging to one of thofe feven heads
of this monarchy, of which very heads it is
particularly noted that they had on them
the names of blasphemy, which Mr. Low*
man himfelf fuppofes to fignify idolatry. It
was therefore worthy of God, agreeable to
his manner, and what might w^ell be expect-
ed, that when he was reckoning up the fe-
veral fucceffive heads of this beaft, and Con-
ftantine and his fucccffors came in the way,
and there was occafion to mention them, to
fet a mark, or note of diftinftion on them,
fignifying that they did not properly belong
to the bcaft, nor were to be reckoned as be-
longing to the heads, and therefore are to
be fkipped over in the reckoning, and Anti-
chrift, though the eighth head of the Roman
empire, is to be reckoned the feventh head
of the beaft. This appears to me abundant-
ly the moft juft and natural interpretation
ofRev. xvii. 10, it. It is reafonable to fup-
pofe, that God would take care to make
fuch 51 note in this prophetical defcriptioa
252 Antichrijl's FoJl groundlefsly
of this dreadful beaft, and not, by any means
to reckon Conftantine as belonging properly
to him. — If we reckon Conftantineas a mem-
ber of this bead having feven heads and ten
horns, defcribed chap. xvii. and as properly
one of his heads, then he was alfo properly
a member of the great red dragon with fe-
ven heads and ten horns that warred with
the woman, chap. xii. For the feven heads
and ten horns of that dragon, are plainly
the fame with the feven heads and ten horns
of the bead. So that this makes Conftantine
a vifible member of the devil; for v;e are
told exprefsly of that dragon, ver g. that he
was that oldferpcnt, called the Devil and Sa-
tan, And to fuppofe that Conftantine is
reckoned as belonging to one of the heads
of that dragon, is to make thefe prophecies
inconhRent with themfelves. For here in this
12th chapter, we have reprefented a war be-
tween the dragon and the woman cloathed
with the fun • which woman, as all agree, is
the church; but Conftantine, as all do alfo
agree, belonged to the woman, was a mem-
ber of the Chriftian church, and was on that
fide in the war againflthe dragon; yea, was
the main indrument of that great viftory
that was obtained over the dragon there fpO'
fuppofed at a very great Dijlance. 253
ken of, ver. 9 — 12. What aninconfiftency
therefore is it, to fuppofe that he was at the
fame time a member and head of that very-
dragon, which fought with the woman, and
yet which Conflantine himfelf fought with,
overcame, and glorioufly triumphed over!
It is not therefore to be wondered at, that
Gcd was careful to diflinguifh Conflantine
from the proper heads of the beaft ; it would
have been a wonder if he had not. God feems
to have been careful to diflinguifh him, not
only in his word, but in his providence, by
fo ordering it that this Chriftian emperor
ftiould be removed from Rome, the city that
God had given up to be the feat of the pow-
er of the beafl, and of its heads, and that
he fliould have the feat of his empire elfe-
where.
Conflantine was made the ihflrument of
givinga mortal wound to the heathen Roman
empire, and giving it a mortal wound in its
head, viz. the heathen emperors that were
then reigning, Maxentius and Licinius, —
But more eminently was this glorious change
in the empire owing to the power of God's
word, the prevalence of the glorious gofpel,
by which Conflantine himfelf was convert-
ed, and fo became the inftrument of the o-
254 Aiitickrift's Fall groundlef sly
verthrow of the heathen empire in the eaft
and welT. The change that was then bro't
to pafs, is reprefented as the deftruftion of
the heathen empire, or the old heathen world,
and therefore feems to be compared to that
difTolution of heaven and earth that (hall be
at the day of judgment. Rev. vi. 12. to the
end. And the re fore" well might the heathen
empire, under the head which was then reign-
ing, be reprefented as wounded to death,
chap. xiii. 3, It is much more likely, that
the wound the beaft had by a fword, in his
head, fpoken of ver. 14, was the wound that
the heathen empire had in its head, by that
fword which we read of, chap. i. 16. and
xix. 15. that proceeds out of the mouth of
Chrift, than the wound that was given to the
Chriftian empire and emperor by the fword
of the heathen Goths. It is moft likely that
this deadly wound was by that fv\^ord with
which Michael made war with him, and o^
vercame him, and caft him to the earth, chap,
xii. g. and that the deadly wound which was
given him, was given him at that very time.
It is moft likely, that the fword that gave him
this deadly wound, after which he llrangely
.revived, as though he rofe from the dead, was
the fame fword with that which is fpoken of.
fwppoftd at a very great Dijlance. 25/j
as what fhall at lafi: utterly deftroy him, fo that
he fhall never rife more, chap. xix. 15, ig,
20, 21. This wounding of the head of the
beaft by the deilruction of the heathen em-
pire, and converfion of the emperor to the
Chriftian truth, was a glorious event indeed
of Divine Providence, worthy to be fo much
fpoken of in prophecy. It is natural to fup-
pofe, that the mortal wounding of the head
of that favage cruel beaft, that is reprefent-
ed as conRantly at war with the woman, and
perfecuting the church of Chrift, (hould be
ibme relief to the Chriftian church; but, on
the contrary, that w^ounding to death, that
Mr. Lowman fpeaks of, was the viftory of
the enemies of the Chriftian church over her^
and the wound received from them.
It is faid of that head of the empire that
fliall be next after the fixth head, and . next
before Antichrift, and that is not reckoned
as properly one of the number of the heads
of the beaft, that when it comes, it JIi ill con-
tinue aJJiortfpace, chap. xvii. 10. By which
we may underftand, at leaft, that it fliall be
one of the (horteft, in its continuance, of the
fucceffive heads. But the government feat-
ed at Ravenna, in the hands of the Goths,
or of the deputies of the Greek emperors,
2^6 Antic/iri/i's Fall groundlcfsly
(which Mr. Lowman fuppofes to be meant
by the head) continued, as Mr. Lowman
himfelf takes notice, very near three hundred
years. And if fo, its continuance was one
of the longefl of the heads mentioned.
And befides, if the government that Rome
was under, from the time that Augullulus
abdicated, to the tim.e when the Pope was
confirmed in his temporal dominion, was
meant by the feventh head that was to be
between the imperial head and the papal,
there would doubtlefs have been two differ-
ent heads mentioned, inftead of one, between
the Emperor 4nd the Pope, viz. Firfl, the
Gothic princes, which reigned near an hun-
dred years. Secondly, the Exarchs of Ra-
venna, which governed for about one hun-
dred and eighty-five years. The Gothic
kingdom was much more properly a diftinft
government from the Imperial, than the Ex-
archate of Ravenna; for during the Exar-
chate, Rome was under the government of
the emperor, as much as it v/as in Conftan-
tine's time.
In Rev, xvii. 12. it is faid, the ten koriis
are ten kings, which are to receive power as
kings one hour with the beajl, or (as Mr. Low-
man fays, it ought to have been tranflated)
fuppofed at a very great Dijlancc. 257
the fame hour, ox point of time -with thebeajl.
This will not al'ow the time when Aniichrift
firfl receives power as king, to be fo late as
Mr. Lowman fuppofes. This divifionof the
empire into many kingdoms, denoted by the
number ten, was about the year four hun-
dred and fifty- fix, after Genfericus had tak-
en the city of Rome; but Mr. Lowman pla-
ces the beginning of the reign of Antichrift
in the year feven hundred and fifty-fix, which
is three hundred years later. I know, fuch
an expreffion as in one hour, of thefanie hour^
may allow fome latitude, but furely not fuch
a latitude as this. This is a much longer
time, than it was from the time of the
vifion to Conftantirie : much longer than the
fpace of all the firil fix feals, longer than it
was from Chrift's afcenfion to Conftantine^
and near as long as the time of all the reigns
of the heathen emperors put together, from
Aucruftas Csefar to Conftantine. An hour
is every where, in the other places in this
book of Revelation, ufed to fignify a very
fhort time, as may be feen in places cited in
the margin.*^ And the expreifion, the fame
li
N O T K.
* Rev. xviii. lo, ir, i9» Chap. iii. 3, r®.— viii. i.— ix. 1^.-— >
xiv. :,
258 Antichrijt's Fall groundlef sly
hour, every where elfe in the Bible, intends
near the fame point o^ time.t The phrafe
one hour is ufed feveral times in the next
chapter, fpeaking of the downfall of Anti-
chrifl:;J and each time, evidently fignifies a
very fhort fpace of time. And there is no
reafon why we fhould not underfland the
fame phrafe in the fam.e fenfe, when it is
ufed here concerning the rife of Antichrift.
Mr. Lowman greatly infills upon it, that
Vv^hat is fpoken as continuing one thoufand
two hundred and fixty days, is not fo much
any fpiritual authority orecclefiaftical pow-
er of the Pope, over the nations of ChriHen-
dom, as his temporal government and domi-
nion in that individual city of Rome, and
therefore to determine v/hen thefe one thou-
fand two hundred and fixty days or years
began, and when they will end, we muft con-
fider when the Pope firft received this his
temporal povrer over tlie city of Rome, and
the neighbouring regions, called St. Peter's
patrimony. But I can fee no good reafon
for this. Indeed it is llrange, if it be fo. —
God has been pleafed in thefe revelations
NOTES.
f Dan. ill. 6.— iv. z:-,>—\. 5. Maith. viii. 13.— x. 19.— Luke
vlu II.— xii. 12.— XX. 19.— xxiv. .^3. Jolm iv. 53. Ads xvi»
18, 33.— xxii. 13. Her. xi. 13. X Ver. 10, 17, 19.
fuppofed at a very great Dijlance. 259
and prophecies, which he has given for the
benefit of his church in general, to fpeak
much concerning an anti-chriftian power
that fhould arife, that (hould perfecute the
faints, andfcatter the power of the holy peo-
ple, and be an occafion of great affliftion to
the church ofChrift; and in thefe revela-
tions, in both Old Teftament and New, has
declared, and often repeated it, that his do-
minion fhall continue fo long, and no longer;
and for the comfort of his church in general,
Chrift hath fworn with great folemnity, that
the continuance of this perfecuting power
{hall be limited, Dan. xii. 7. Now it would
be ftrange if, in all this, the thing principal-
ly intended is not that dominion of this an-
ti-chriftian power which chiefly concerns the
church of Chrift in general, but merely his
temporal dominion over one province in I-
taly, called St. Peter's Patrimony. Doubt-
lefs, that dominion of Antichrift, which the
prophecies infift upon and defcribe, is the
dominion whofe duration and limits thofe
prophecies declare. But the dominion of
Antichrift which the prophecies infift upon
and defcribe, is not any dominion over a
particular province in Italy, but the domi-
nion by which he fucceeds the four great
s6o Aniichriji's Fall groundlefsly
monarchies of the world, Dan. vii. The do-
minion by which hcfucceeds the dragon in.
Ms power, throne and great authority, Rev,
xiii, 2. The dominion in which he \i7x^ pow-
er nven him over all kindreds, tongues and.
nations, ver. 7. The dominion by which
the great whore Jits on many waters, chap,
xvii. 1. which the angel explains to h^pco--
ples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues^
ver. 15. and the dominion in which he reigns,
over the ten kings, into which the Romaa
empire is divided, Rev. xiii, 1. an4 xvii. 3,
1 2. 13. The beaft that had ten horns, is not
the city of Rome, and the neighbouring re-
gion, but the Roman empire; they are the
horns or the kings, not of the city, but of
the empirCe If we ccnfi der what is expreff-
ea in ths paffages themielves, v/hich fpeak
of the three years and an hah'' of Antichrift,
they will lead us to underftand»fomething
very diver (e from the duration of histem^
poral dominion over St. Peter^s Patrimony.
In Dan. vii. 25. the time, times, and half of
the little horn, is exprefsly the continuance
of time, wherein it Jhall be given to him to
change times and lazvs, and wear out the faints
<>.f the Mofi High;- and in chap. xii. 7. it is
fpaken of as the time of hisfcattering the
fuppofcd at a very great Dijlajice. 26 1
power of the holy people; in Rev. xi. 2. the
forty and two months is fpoken of as the
time of Antichrift's treading underfoot the
court of the temple and the holy city; i. e. the
external and vifible Chriftian church abroad
in the world, or the nations of Chriftendom.
In ver. 3. the one thoufand two hundred and
fixty days of Antichrifl are fpokenof as the
time of the witneff'es prophefying infackcloth;
and in chap. xii. 6. and 14. the time of the
zoomans being in the -wildernefs, which was
through the great power that Antichrifl: had
over the ChriRian world, and not his fmall
temporal dominion in Italy.
It is true, fome regard is had in the pro-
phecies to the city of Rome, the city built
on feven hills; which being the fountain of
all rule and authority in the Roman monar-
chy, and the capital city in the empire, from
w^hence the v/holeempire was denominated,
and the place where the head of the empire
ufually refided, was properly made ufc of
by the angel. Rev. xvii. g, 18. to (hew what
empire Antichrifl fhould rule over, and what
city he fliould ufually refide in. And this
is all tliat can be meant by the words of the
angel ; and not that thofe flreets and walls,
and the very ground, were fuch main and
262 Ajiiichri/i's Fall groundlef sly
effential things in what the prophecy intend-
ed by the beafl ; that when Antichrift's do-
minion ceafes in that place, then the beaft
ceafes. For, if fo, then it will follow, that
the beaft had liis head wounded to death a
fecond time, and ceafed to be, when the
Popes redded at Avignon in France, for the
bfefl part of a century; w^hen not only the
Popes did not refide in Rome, nor in any
part of St. Peter's Patrimony, nor any part
of Italy, but fome of them were neither Ro-
mans nor Italians. Though the angel fays
of the great whore. Rev. xvii. 18. The wo-
7?ian which thoufaieejt, is the great city which
reigns over the kings of the earth; yet by the
city, in this cafe, is not meant fo much what
was contained wnthin thofe Roman walls, as
the Roman empire, as is evident by chap,
xi. 8. And their dead bodies Jliall lie in the
Jireet of the great city^ which isfpiritually coll-
ed Sodom and Egypt, Here,by that great city,
neither Mr. L owman himfelf^ nor, I fuppofe,
any other Proteftant interpreter, underftands
the city cf Rome, ftrifclly fpeaking, but the
Roman m.onarchy.
And though it fee true, as Mr. Lowman
obferves, the Pope's ecclefiaftical monarchy,
and power and influence through Chriften-
fuppofcd at a very great Dijlance. 263
dom, was greatly eflablifhed and advanced
by Pepin's making him a temporal prince
over the Exarchate of Ravenna; yet, I would
afk, whether the Pope's power and influence
in the world, and his ability to difturb the
quiet of the nations of Chriftendom, and
(as it is expreffed in Daniel) to change times
and lazos^ and to carry his own defigns, in
the various countries and kingdoms of Eu-
rope, was not greater before Pepin, than it is
now, and has been for a long time? And yet
Mr. Lowman fuppofes that now is properly
the time of Antichrifl's reign, that the one
thoufand two hundred and fixty years of his
reign continues, and will continue for about
two hundred and feventy years longer; tho'
his power be now fo fmall, and has been de-
clining ever fince the reformation, and flill
declines continually.
One thing that Mr. Lowman fuppofes con*
firms his opinion of fo late a beginning of
the one thoufand two hundred and fixty years
of the reign of the beafl, is the order of the
feveral periods of this prophecy, and the man-
ner of their fucceeding one another.
As to his particular fcheme of the feven
periods, fo divided and limited, and fo ob-
vioufly ranked in fuch order, and following
264 AntichriJTs Fall groundlefsty
one another in fuch direft and continual fuC-
cefTion, and each ending in a flateof peace^
fafety and happinefs to the church of God,
it feems to me to be more ingenious than
folid, and that many things might be faid to
demonftrate it not to be founded in the truth
of things, and the real defign of the divine
author of this prophecy. But now to enter
into a particular and full examination of it,
would be to lengthen out this difcourfe far
beyond its proper limits. I would only ob-
ferve, (which direQly concerns my prefent
purpofe) that to rrake out this fcheme, Mr.
Lowman fuppofcs that the fifth and fixth
trumpets, that bring on the two firft woes,
and the whole ninth chapter of the Revela-
tion, altogether refpecls the Saracens. But
it appears to me not very credible, that the
Saracens fliould have fo much faid of them
in this prophecy, as to have a whole chap-
ter taken up about them, and not a word in
the prophecy be faid about the Turks, who
immediately fucceeded them* in the fame
K O T E.
* For though it be true, that the reign of Othman, or Ottomaff^
\v'ho htgan what they call the Ottoman empire, was a long time
-after this; yet the Tmks themfelves, under other princes, in the
government they fet up in territories that had formerly been pof--
ieilbd by Chriftians, and in their over-running and ravaging Chrif"
fuppofed at a Very great BiJlarLce. sSj
J-eligioii, and proceedirig On the fiime prin-
tipies, and were fo muc^h more confiderable,
and brought vaftly greater calamities on the
Chrirtian world, and have fet up and long
maintained one of the greateil, ftrohgeft and
moft extraordinary empires that ever the
Vorld faw, and have been the moft terrible
fcourge to Chriftendom, that ever Divine
Providence made ufe of, and one of the great-
eft of all God's plagues oti the world of man-
kind.
Mr. Lov^^^man, in purfuance of his fcheme,
alfo fuppofes, (v/hich is yet more incredible)
this period of the trumpets ends in a flateof
fafcty, peace and hap pine fs to the church of
God; fo that, on that occafion, there are great
voices in heaven, faying, The kingdoms of this
world are become the kingdoms of our Lord^
and of his Chrif, And yet he fuppofes, that
it ifl'ucs ill fetting up the kingdom of Aiiti-
chrift; and that about that very time, wheu
thefe heavenly voices fo joyfulh^ proclstim-
ed this, the bead was enthroned, arid the
time, times and half, or one thoufand twd
Kk
NOT F.
\\2X\ couritrie^, immediately facceeding the Saracens; and from'
thenceforward have been a terrible, rhu ahnr.ft continuai icourgr
*-'^ the church.
266 THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST
hundred and fixty days of his reign began,
which is fpoken of every where, as the time
of the church's great'eft darknefs and trou-
ble, the time wherein the little hornjliould
wear out the faints of the Mojl High, The
time appointed for his fcattering the power of
the holy people. The time of the woi?iaris be-
ing in the zoildernefs. The time of treading
underfoot the court of the temple. And the
time of the witneffes prophefyinginfackdoth.
However, I do not deny that the time when
Mr. Lowman fuppofes the reign of the beall
began, even the time when Pepin confirm-
ed t6 the Pope his temporal dominions in
Italy, was a time of the great increafe and
advancement of the power of Antichrift in
the world, and a notable epoch. And if I
may be allowed humbly to offer what ap-
pears to me to be the truth with relation to
the rife and fall of Antichrift, it is this — As
the power of Antichrift, and the corruption
of the apoftate church, rofe not at once, but
by feveral notable fteps and degrees, fo it
will in the like manner fall; and that divers,
fteps and feafons of deftruciion tothefpirit-
ual Babylon, and revival and advancement
of the true church, are prophefied of under
one. Though it be true, that there is fome
WILL BE GRADUAL. 267
particular event, that prevails above al! o-
thers in the intention of the prophecy, fome
remarkable feafon of the deftruclion of the
church of Rome, and the papal power and
corruption, and advancement of true reli-
gion, that the prophecies have a principa*
refpeft to.
It was certainly thus with regard to the
prophecies of the deftruftion of old Baby-
lon, and the church's deliverance from cap-
tivity and oppreffion by that city and king,
dom, which is abundantly alluded to in thefe
prophecies of the Revelation, as a noted
type of the oppreffion of the church of Chrift
by the church of Rome, calling the latter fo
often by the name of Baby Ion, and the church
of Chrift Jerufalem. The captivity of the
Jews by the Babylonians was not perfefted
at once, but was brought on by feveral not-
able fteps. So neither was the reftoration of
the Jewifh church, after the captivity, per-
fefled at once. It was feveral times fore-
told, that the duration of the captivity (hould
be feventy years ; and alfo, that after feven-
ty years were accomplifhed, God would de-
ftroy Babylon. But this period had mani-
feftly feveral different beginnings, and feve-
ral endings. Thus from Jehoiakim's capti-
268 THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST, 8cC.
vity to Cyrus's decree, for the return of the
Jews, and the rebuilding of Jerufalem, was
feventy years. And from Zedekiah's capti-
vity to Darius's decree feventy years. And
from the laft carrying away of all, to the fi*
nifhing and dedication of the temple, was
alfo feventy years. So alio the prophecies
of Babylon's deftruftion were fuUilled by fe-
veral fleps. Thefe prophecies feem to have
a principal refpeft to that deftruftion that
was accomplifhed by Cyrus, at the end of
the firft feventy years fore-mentioned; but
there were other things in the very fame
prophecies, that were not fulfilled until the
fourth year of Darius, when what remainecJ^
of Babylon was fubjefted to another dread-,
ful deftruftiona which, in a great meafure^^
completed its defolation, which Vas at the-
end of the fecond feventy years, and at the
fame time that the reftoration of the Jew^s
was perfefted by the decree of Darius.*— ?
But yet, there were many other things con-
tained in the fame prophecies of Babylon's
deftruftion, rendering it thenceforward per- j
feflly and perpetually defolate^and the haunt
N O T B.
♦ Prjdeaux^s Conne(?iion, part I. p. i8jj 184^5 and 267, 3^2^
5(^,9. Edi;. 9» and p. 271 and aj^o
antichrist's fall gradual. 269
offerpents and wild beafls, that were not
fulfilled until more than two hundred years
after, in the time of Seleucus king of Syria.*
So alfo it was with refpefl: to the prophe-
cies of the deflruftion of Tyre, in the xxvith,
xxviith and xxviiith chapters of Ezek. from
which many of the cxpreflions ufed in the Re-
velation, concerning the deflruftion of the
kingdom of Antichrift, arc taken, and which
is evidently made ufe of in fcripture as a type
of the latter. Thefe prophecies of the de-
ftruflion of Tyre were fulfilled by various
ftcps. Many things were fulfilled in the de-
ftruftion of the old city by Nebuchadnez-
zar,+ and yet other parts of the fame pro-
phecies were fulfilled by Alexander, J which
was about two hundred and forty years af-
terwards. And yet both thefe defolations
are prophefied of under one.
And thus it feems to me very probable,
that it will prove, with refpeft to the pro-
phecies of the defl:ru6iion of myftical Baby-
lon. It is, I think, pretty manifefl by the
prophecies, that this anti-chriftian hierarchy
and apoftate church will at laft be fo de-
ftroyed, that there fliall be no remainders of
NOTES.
* Prld, Connea. Part I. p. 808—812. f Ibid. nS, 129, 130.
i Ibid. p. 693,
270 ANTICHRISTS FALL GRADUAL*
it left, and fhall have as perfeft a defolatiori,
before God has done with her, as old Baby-
lon had ; there fhall be no fuch thing as Pope
or church of Rome in the world.* It feems
alfo pretty manifeil, that after that event
that is chiefly intended in the prophecies of
Antichrift'sdeftruftion, there will befome re-
mains of the Romiili church. This appears
by that moft particular and large defcrip-
tion of that deftruftion, Rev. xviii. There
it feems to be implied, not only that many
fliall yet remain of the church of Rome, that
fhall bewail her overthrow, of her people
and clergy, but that there fliould be fome
princes among them, Kings of the earth, that
have committed fornication, and lived delici-
oifly with her. And it is exceeding improba-
ble in itfelf, that every Papift, in each quar-
ter of the world, fliould be defliroyed, or ceafe
from the world, at one blow. And as long
as fo confide rable a number remains, as may
be gathered from the prophecy, they will
doubtlefs have an hierarchy, and there will
be one among them that will bear the name
of a Pope, although the church of Rome
Ihall be mainly deilroyed, and the interefl: of
Popery fliall be funk very low in the v/orld,
NOTE.
* See Rev. xviii. zi—z^- and xix. jo, 21. Daa. vii. a6, 27.
The Beginning of the Millennium, Sec, 271
fo that there will yet remain fuch a thing as
a papal church and hierarchy in the world,
to be wholly extirpated at another period,*
fometime after that great overthrow princi-
pally infifted on in the prophecies. And
this fecond deftruftion of Antichrift, or ra-
ther extirpation of his remains, together with
the complete extirpation of all remains of
mahometanifm, heathenifm and herefy thro*
the world, and the finifhing ftroke towards
the overthrow of Satan's vifible kingdom on
earth, and fo the beginning of the Millen-
nium, or fpiritual reft of the world, may, for
ought I know, be about the time Mr. Low-
man fpeaks of; agreeable to the opinion of
the ancient Jews, and many Chriftian di-
vines that have followed them, that the
world would ftand fix thoufand years, and
then, the feventh thoufand years fhould be
the world's reft or fabbath. The ruin of the
Popifti intereft is but a fmall part of what is
requifite, in order to introduce and fettle
luch a ftate of things, as the world is repre-
fented as being in, in that Milk-nnium that
is defcribed. Rev. xx. wherein Satan's vifi-
ble kingdom is every where totally extir-
N O T E,
* At the pouring oat of the feventh vial upon the air,-ths pria-
cipahties and powers of Satan.
272 The Beginning of the Millennium
pated, and a perfeft end put to all herefies^
delufions, and falfe religions whatfoeven
through the whole earth, and Satan hence-
forward deceives the nations no more ^ andhass
no place any where but in hell. This is the
fabbatifm of the world, when all fhall be in
a holy reft; when the wolf fhall dwell with
the lamb, and there fhall be nothing to hurt
or offend, and there fhall be abundance of
peace, and the earth fhall be full of the know-
ledge of the Lord as the waters cover the
feas, and God's people fhall dwell in quiet
refting-places. There is not the leaft rea-
fon to think, that all this will be brought to
pafs as it were at one ftroke, or that from
the prefent lamentable ftate of things, there
fhould be brought about and completed the
deftruftion of the church of Rome, the en«
tire extirpation of all infidelity, herefies fu-
perftitions and fchifms, through all Chrift-
endom, and the converfion of all the Jews,
and the full, enlightening and converfion of
all Mahometan and heathen nations, thro*
the whole earth, on every fide of the globe,
and from the north to the fouth pole, and
the full fettlement of all in the pure Chrif-
tian faith and order, all as it were in the if-
fue of one battle, and by means of the vie-
may he about the Year 2000* 273
tory of the church in one great conflifl with
her enemies. This would contradift many
things in fcripture, which reprefent this great
event to be brought to pafs by a gradual pro-
grefs of religion; as leaven that gradually
fpreads, until it has diffufed itfelf, through
the whole lump, and a plant of muftard,
which from a very fmall feed, gradually be-
comes a great tree. And like feed which a
man cajis upon the ground, that Jprings and
grows up, night and day ; and Jirjl brings
forth the blade, then the car, then the full coj^n
in the ear. And efpecially would this contra-
di6l the prophetical reprefentation in Ezek.
xlvii. where the progrefs of religion is repre*
fented by the gradual increafe of the waters
of the fanftuary; being firft a fmall fpring
iffuingout from under the threfliold of the
temple, and then after they had run a thoufand
cubits, being up to the ankles ; and at the
end of another thoufand cubits, up to the
knees; and at the end of another thoufand^
up to the loins; and afterwards a great riv-
er, that could not be palled over; and being
finally brought into the fea, and healing the
waters even of the vaft ocean. If the Spirit
of God fliould be immediatclv poured out,
L 1
274 '^^^^ Beginning of the Millennium
and that work of God's power and grace
fhould now begin, which, in its progrefs and
iffue, fhould complete this glorious efFeft ;
there muft be an amazing and unparalleled
progrefs of the work and manifeftation of
divine power to bring fo much to pafs, by
the year two thoufand. Would it not be a
great thing, to be accompliflied in one half
century, that religion, in the power and pu-
rity of it, Ihould fo prevail, as to gain the
conquell over all thofe many things that
ftand in oppofition to it among Proteftants,
and gain the upper hand through the Pro-
teftant world? And if in another, it fhould
go on fo to prevail, as to get the viftory o-
ver all the oppofition and flrength of the
kingdom of Antichrift, fo as to gain the af-
cendancy in that which is now the Popifh
world? And if in a third half century, it
{hould prevail and fubdue the greater part
of the Mahometan world, and bring in the
Jewifh nation, in all their difperfions? And
when in the next whole century, the whole
heathen world fhould be enlightened and
converted to the Chriltian faith, throughout
all parts of Africa, Afia, America and Terra
Aullralis, and be thoroughly fettled in Chrif-
tian faith and order, without any remainders
may he about the Year 2000. 275
of their old delufions and faperftitions, and
this attended with an utter extirpation of the
remnant of the church of Rome, and all the
relicls of mahometanifm, herefy, fchifm and
enthufiafm, and a fuppreffion of all remains
of open vice and immorality^ and every fort
of vifible enemy to true religion, through the
whole earth, and bring to an end all the un-
happy commotions, tumults, and calamities
occafioned by fuch great changes, and all
things be fo adjulled and fettled through the
world, that the world henceforward fhould
enjoy an holy reft or fabbatifm,
I have thus diftinguifhed what belongs to
a bringing of the world from its prefent ftate,
to the happy ftate of the Millennium, the
better to give a view of the grestnefs of the
work; and not, that I pretend fo much as
to conjefture, that things will be accom-
pliftied juft in this order. The whole work
is not the lefs great and wonderful, to be ac-
compliftied in fuch a fpace of time, in what-
ever order the different parts of it fucceed
each other. They that think that what has
been mentioned would not be fwift progrefs,
yea, amazingly fwift, do not confider how
great the work is, and the vaft and innumer-
able obftacles that are in the way. It was
N
276 CONCERNING THE SIXTH VIAL
a wonderful thing, when the Chriftian reli-
gion, after Chrift's afcenfion, fo prevailed, as
to get the afcendancy in^the Roman empire
in about three hundred years, but that was
nothing to this.
Anf, 4. There are, as I apprehend, good
reafons to hope, that that work of God's
Spirit will begin in a little time, which in the
progrefs of it will overthrow the kingdom
of Antichrift, and, in its iffue, deftroy Satan's
vifible kingdom on earth.
The prophecy of the fixth Vial, Rev. xvi.
22 — 16. if we take it in its connection with
the other Vials, and confider thofe provi-
dential events, by which the preceding Vials
have manifeftly been fulfilled, I humbly con-
ceive, affords juft ground for fuch a hope.
It is very plain, from this whole chapter,
as alfo the preceding and following, that all
thefe feven Vials are Vials of God's wrath on
Antichrift ; one is not poured out on the Jews,
another on the Turks, another on Pagans,
another on the church of Rome ; but they
all fignify God's fucceffive judgments or
plagues on the beaft and his kingdom, which
is in this chapter and almofl every wherein
this book, called great babylon. And
therefore undoubtedly, v\^hen it is faid. The
ON THE RIVER EUPHRATES. 277
Jixlh angel poured out his Vial on the river
Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried
up, that the way of the kings of the eajt might
be prepared. By the river Euphrates is meant
fomething fome way appertaining to this
myftical Babylon, as that river that ran thro*
Chaldea, called Euphrates, was fomething
appertaining to the literal Babylon. And
it is very manifeft, that here is in the pro-
phecy of this Vial an allufion to that by
which the way was prepared for the deftruc-
tion of Babylon by Cyrus, which was by turn-
ing the channel of the river Euphrates, which
ran through the midft of the city, whereby
the way of the kings of the eaft, the princes
of Media and Perfia, was prepared to come
in under the walls of the city, at each end,
where the waters ufed to run, and deftroy
it; as they did that night wherein Daniel in-
terpreted the hand-writing on the wall, a-
gainft Belfliazzar, Dan. v. 30. The prophe-
cies of Babylon's deftruftion do, from time
to time, take notice of this way of deftroy-
ing her, by drying up the waters of the riv-
er Euphrates, to prepare the way for her
enemies, Ifai. xliv. 27, 28. That faith to the
deep — Be dry — and I will dry up thy rivers;
that faith of Cyrus — He is my fervant, and
278 CONCERNING THE SIXTH VIAL
Jkall perform all my pleajure. Jer. li. 3 1, 32.
Onepojljhall run to meet another, tojlieio the
king of Babylon that his city is taken at one
end, and that the pafages arefopped, and the
reeds they have burnt with f re, and the men
of war are affrighted. And ver. 36. / will
dry up her fea, and make her fprings dry, —
The Medes and Perfians, the people that de-
ftroyed Babylon, dwelt to the eaftward of
Babylon, and are fpoken of as coming from '
the eaft to her deftruftion, Ifai. xlvi. 11.
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the
man that executeth my counfel, from afar
country. And the princes that joined with
this ravenous bird from the eafl, in this affair
of deftroying Babylon, are called kings, Jer.
li. 11. The Lord hath raifed up thefpirit of
the KINGS of the Medes; for his device is a-
gainjl Babylon to defiroy it, Ver. 28. Pre-
pare agaivjl her the nations, zoith the kings
of the Medes, the captains thereof, and the
rulers thereof, — The drying the channel of
the river Euphrates, to prepare the way for
thefe kings and captains of the eaft, to enter
into that city, under its high walls, was the
laft thing done by the beCegers of Babylon,
before her a61ual deflruftion; as this fixth
Vial is the laR Vial of God's wratb but one.
ON THE RIVER EUPHRATES. 279
on the myftical Babylon, and the effeft of it,
the drying up the channel of the river Eu-
phrates, is the laft thing done againft it, be-
fore its aftual deftruftion by the feventh Vial,
and opens the way for thofe that fight in a
fpiritual war againft it, fpeedily to bring on
its ruin.
Hence I think it may, without difpute, be
determined, that by the river Euphrates in
the prophecy of this Vial, is meant fome-
thing appertaining or relating to the myfti-
cal Babylon, or the anti-chriftian church and
kingdom, that ferves that, or is a benefit to
it, in a way anfwerable to that in which the
river Euphrates ferved old Babylon, and the
removal of which will in like manner pre-
pare the way for her enemies to deftroy her.
And therefore what we have to do in the
firft place, in order to find out what is in-
tended by the river Euphrates, in this pro-
phecy, is to confider how the literal Eu-
phrates ferved old Babylon. And it may be
noted, that Euphrates was of remarkable be-
nefit to that great city in tv/o refpefts; it
ferved the city as a fupply — it was let thro'
the midft of the city by an artificial canal^
and ran through the midft of the palace of
the king of Babylon; that part of his pa-
28o CONCERNING THE SIXTH VIAL
lace called the Old Palace, {landing on one
fide, and the other part called the New Pa-
lace, on the other; with communications
from one part to another, above the waters
by a bridge, and under the waters, by a vault-
ed or arched pafTage, that the city, and ef-
pecially the palace, might have the conve-
nience of its waters, and be plentifully fup-
plied with water. And another way that
the waters of Euphrates ferved Babylon, was
as an impediment and obftacle in the way
of its enemies, to hinder their accefs to it to
deflroy it; for there was a vafl moat round
the city, without the walls, of prodigious
width and depth, filled with the water of
the river, to hinder the accefs of her befieg-
ers; and at each end of the city, the river
ferved inftead of walls. And therefore when
Cyrus had dried up the river, the moat was
emptied, and the channel of the river un-
der the walls left dry, and fo his way was
prepared.
And therefore it is natural to fuppofe,
that by drying up the waters of the river
Euphrates, in the prophecy of the deftruc-
tion of the new Babylon, to prepare the way
^ of her enemies, is meant the drying up her
incomes and fupplies, and the removal of
V
bU THE HIVER EUPHRATES. 281
thofe things that hitherto have been the chief
obftacles in the way of thofe that, in this
book, are reprefented as at war with her,
and Seeking her deftruftion, (fpoken of Rev.
xix. 11. to the end, and chap. xii. 7.) that
have hindered their progrefs and fuccefs^ or
that have been the chief impediments in the
way of the Proteftant religion* The firft
thing is the drying the dreams of the wealth
of the new Babylon, the temporal fupplies^
revenues^ and vaft incomes oftheRomifh
church, and the riches of the PopiOi domi-
nions* Waters in fcripture language very
often fignify provifion and fupplies, both
temporal and fpiritual, as in Prov. ix. 17.
Ifai. xxxiii. 16. — xliii. 20. — Iv* i.andlviii.
11* Jer. ii. 13 and 18. — xvii. 8 and 13. and
in other places innumerable. The tempor-
al fupplies of a people are very often in fcrip-
ture called waters, as Ifai. v. 13. Therefore
my people u gone into captivity, and their ho-
nourable men are famijlied, and their riiulti-
tude dried up -with thirjl, i. e. deprived of
the fupports and fupplies of life. And the
drying up the waters of a city or kingdom,
is often ufed in fcripture prophecy, for the
depriving them of their wealth, asthefcrip-
M m
282 CONCERNING THE SIXTH VIAL
ture explains itfelf^Hof.xiii. 15. His fprings
Jhall become dry, and his fountain jliall he dried
up: He Jhall fpoil the treafure of all pleajaixt
vejfels. Ifai. xv. 6, 7. The waters of Niin-
rivifliall be defolate, for the hay is withered^ .
the grafs faileth, there is no green thing, —
Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and
that which they have laid up,fhall they carry
away to the brook of the willows. By the
brook of the willows there feems to be a re-
ference to the waters of AfTyria orChaldea,
whofe ftreams abounded with willows. So
that the carrying away the treafures of Moab,
and adding of them to the treafures of Af-
fyria, is here reprefented by the figure of
turning away the waters of Nimrim from the
country of Moab, and adding them to the
waters of Affyria, as the prophecy explains
itfelf. Yea, even in the prophecies of the
deftruftion of Babylon itfelf, the depriving
her of her treafures, feems to be one thing
intended by the drying up of her waters. —
This feems manifeft by the words of the pro-
phecy in Jer. 1. 37, 38. Afword is upon her
treafures, and they fiall be robbed; a drought
is iLpoji her loaters, and they ft all be dried up.
Compared with chap, li, 15. thou that
dwellefl upon many waters^ abundant in trea^
ON THE RIVER EUPHRATES. 283
fares; with ver. 36. / will dry up her fea^
and make her fprings dry. The wealth, re-
venues, and vaft incomes of the church of
Rome, are the waters by which that Baby-
lon has been nouriflied and fupported; thefe
are the waters which the Popifh clergy and
members of the Romifli hierarchy third af-
ter, and are continually drinking down, with
infatiable appetite; and they are waters that
have been flowing into that fpiritual city like
a great river ; ecclefiaftical perfons pofleffing
a very great part of the Popifh dominions ; as
this Babylon is reprefented as vaftly rich, in
the prophecy of the Apocalypfe, efpecially
in the 17th and 18th chapters. Thefe are
efpecially the waters that fupply the palace
of the king of this new Babylon, viz. the
Pope, as the river Euphrates ran through
the midft of the palace of the king of old
Babylon. The revenues of the Pope have
been like waters of a great river, coming in-
to his palace, from innumerable fountains,
and by innumerable branches and lefTer
ftreama, coming from many various and dif-
tant countries.
This prophecy reprefents to us two cities
very contrary the one to the other — viz.
New Babylon and the New Jerufalem^ and
284 CONCERNING THE SIXTH VIAL
a river running through the midft of each,
- — The New Jerufalem, which fignifies the
church of Chrift, efpecially in her beft eftatg,
is defcribed as having a river running thro'
the midft of it, Rev. xxii. 1, 2. This river,
as might eafily be made moft evident, by
comparing this with abundance of other
fcriptures, undoubtedly fignifies the divine
fupplies, and rich and abundant fpiritual in-
comes and provifion of that holy city. Mr,
Lowman, in his late Expofition, faysr, *• It
^' rcprefents a conftant provifion for the com-
**' fortable and happy life of all the inhabi-
^' lants of this city of God." And in his
notes on the fame place, obferves as follows :
*' Water, (fays he), as neceffary to the fup-
^•' port of life, and as it contributes in great
*' cities, efpecially in hot eaftern countries,
*' to the ornament of the place, and delight
^' of the inhabitants, is a very proper repre-
^^ fentation of the enjoyment of all things,
*' both for the fupport and pleafure of life."
As the river that runs through the new Je-
rufcilem, the church of Chrift, that refrefties
that holy fpiritual fociety, fignifies their fpi-
ntual fupplies, to fatisfy their fpiritual thirft,
fo the river that runs through the new Ba-^
bylon, the anti-chriftian churchy that wick-^
ON THE RIVER EUPHRATES. 285
cd carnal fociety, fignifies, according to the
oppofite charafler of the city, her worldly,
carnal fupplies, to fatisfy their carnal de-
fires and thirftings.
This new Jerufalem is called in this book
the Paradife of God, and therefore is repre-
fented as having the tree of life growing in
it. And it being defcribed, as though a riv-
er ran through the midft of it, there feems
to be fome allufion to the ancient paradife
in Eden, of v/hich we are told that there ran
a river through the midft of it to water it ;
i, e. to fupply the plants of it with nourifli-
ment. And this river was this very fame ri-
ver Euphrates, that afterwards ran through
Babylon. And in one and the other, it re-
prefented the divers fupplies of two oppofite
cities; in Eden, it reprefented the fpiritual
fupplies and wealth of the true Chriftian
church, in her fpiritual advancement and
glory, and feems to be fo made ufe of. Rev.
xxii. 1, 2. In the other it reprefented the
outward carnal fupplies of the falfe anti-
chriftian church, in her worldly pomp and
vain glory, chap. xvi. 12.
When the waters, that fupply this myfli-
cal Babylon, come to be dried up in this
fenfe, it will prepare the way for the ene-
f86 COKCERNING THE SIXTH VIAL
mies of anti-chriflian corruption, that feek
her overthrow. The weakh of the church
of Rome, and of the powers that fupport it,
is very much its defence. After the ftreams
of her revenues ar)d riches are dried up, or
very greatly diminifhed, her walls will be
as it were broken down, and (he will become
weak and defencelefs, and expofed to eafy
ruin.
When Joab had taken that part of the
city of Rabbah, that was called the City of
Waters, whence the city had its fupply of
water, the fountains of the brook Jabbok
being probably there, and which was alfo
called the royal city, probably becaufe there
the king had his palace and gardens, on the
account of its peculiar pleafantnefs ; I fay,
when he had taken this, the conquefl of the
reft of the city was eafy ; his meffage to Da-
vid implies, that the city now might be tak-
en at pleafure, 2 Sam. xii. 27, 28. It is pof-
fible that by the pouring out of the fixth
Vial to dry up the river of the myftical Ba-
bylon, there might be fomething like the
\ taking the City of Waters in Rabbah ; fbme
one of the chief of the Popifh powers, that
has been the main ftrength and fupport of
the Popiih caufe, or from whence that church
ON THE RIVER EUPHRATES. 287
has its chief fupplies, may be deftroyed, or
converted, or greatly reduced. But this e-
vents muft determine.
In the prophecies of Egypt's deflruftion,
it is fignified, that when their rivers and wa-
ters fhould be dried up, in that fenfe, that
the ftreams of their temporal fupplies fhould
be averted from them, their defence would
be gone, Ifai. xix. 4, &c. The Egyptians
will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord^
and the water sjliall fail from thefea, and the
river Jfiall be wajled and dried up^ and the
brooks of DE^LNC Ejhall be emptied and dried
up, and the reeds and flags fliall zvither—
Every thing fown by the brooks fhall zvither:
ThefiJJiers alfo fliall mourn —
Thofe whofe way was prepared to come
in and deftroy Babylon, by the drying up
the river of Euphrates, were the army that
was at war with Babylon, Cyrus the king,
and his hoft, that fought her overthrow; fo
there feems to be all reafon to fuppofe, that
thofe whofe way will be prepared to come
in and deftroy myftical Babylon, by drying
up the myftical Euphrates, are that king and
army that are, in this book of Revelation,
reprefented as at war with Antichrift. And
what king and army that is, we may fee ia
288 CONCERNING THE SIXTH VIAL
chap. xii. 7. and xix. 11. to the end — Mi-
chael the king of angels, and his angels ; he
lohofe name is called the Word of God, and
that has on his vejture, and on his thigh, a
name written, King of Kings, and Lord of
Lords; and the heavenly armies that follow
him, cloathed in fine linen, white and clean.
Cyrus, the chief of the kings of the eaft, that
deftroyed Babylon^ and redeemed God's
church from thence, and reftored Jerufalem,
feems, in that particular affair, very mani-
feftly to be fpoken of as a type of Chrift:
God calls him his fiiepherd, to perform his
pleafure, to fay to Jerufalem—Thoufialt be
built, and to the temple — Thyfoundationfhall
he laid. God calls him his Mefiiah. Thus
faith the Lord to his anointed, (in the origin-
al to his MeJJiah) to Cyrus. He is fpoken of
as one that God had raifed up in righteouf
nefs, that he might build his city, and freely
redeem his captives, or let them go without
price or reward. He is faid to be one whom
God had loved; in like manner as the Mef-
fiah is faid to be God^s eled, in whom his foul
delighteth. As by Babylon, in the Revela-
tion, is meant that anti-chriftian fociety that
is typified by old Babylon; fo by the kings
of the ead, that fnould deflroy this anti-
ON tHE RIVER EUPHRATES. 28^
chriftian church, mud be meant thofe ene-
mies of it that were typified by Cyrus, and
other chieftiaiis oFthe eaft, that deftroyed old
Babylon; viz. Chrift, who was born, livedo
died, and rofe in the call, together with thofe
fpiritual princes that follow him, the princi-
palities and powers in heavenly places, and
thofe minifters and faints that are kings and
priefts, and (hall reign on earth; efpecially
thofe leaders and heads of God's people—
thofe Chriftian minifters and magiftrates^
that fliall be diftinguifhed as public bleffings
to his churchj and chief inftruments of the
overthrow of Antichrift*
As the river Euphrates ferved the city of
Babylon as a fupply^ fo it alfo was before
obferved, it ferved as an impediment or ob-
ftacle to hinder the accefs of its enemies; as
there was a vaft moat round the city^ filled
with the water of the river, which was left
empty when Euphrates was dried up. And
therefore we may fuppofe, that another thing
meant by the effeft of the fixth Vial, is the
removal of thofe things which hitherto have
been the chief obftacles in the way of the
progrefs of the true religion, and the viftory
of the church ofChrift over her enemies j
2gO CONCERNING THE SIXTH UIAL
which have been the corrupt doftrines and
praftices that have prevailed in Proteftant
courktries, and the doubts and difficulties
that attend many doftrines of the true reli-
gion, and the many divifions and conten-
tions that fubfift among Proteftants. The
removal of thofe would wonderfully prepare
the way for Chrift and his armies, to go for-
ward and prevail againft their enemies, in a
glorious propagation of true religion. So
that this Vial^ which is to prepare the way
for Chrift and his people, feems to have re-
fpetl to that remarkable preparing the way
for Chrift, by levelling mountains, exalting
valleys, drying lup rivers, and removing fium*
bling-blocks, which is often fpoken of in the
prophecies, as what fliall next precede the
church's latter-day glory, aslfai. xlii. 13, &c»
The Lor dfaall go forth as a mighty man; he
Pialljlir up jealoiijy asamanofvjar; hejliall
prevail againjl his enemies, — Izoill make wajle
mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs ;
and I loill make the rivers ijlands, and I will
dry up the pools; and I will bring the blind
by a zoay that they know not, and I will lead
them in paths thai they have not known; I
will make darknefs light before them, and
crooked things Jtraight: thefe things xvilllda
ON THE RIVER EUPHRATES. 2gl
unto them, and notforfake them. Chap. xL
3, 4, 5. Prepare y'e the way of the Lord;
makejlraight in the defart an high-way for
our God : every valley fiall be exalted, and
every mountain and hillfhall be made low,
and the crooked fliall be made flraight, and
rough places plain ; and the glory of the Lord
fliall he revealed, and allflefh fhallfee it to-
gether. Chap. xi. 15, 16. And the Lord fiall
deflroy the tongue of the Egyptian fea, and
with his mighty wind fiall he (Jiake his hand
over the river, and shall fmite it in the feven
f reams thereof, and make men go over dry
shod; and there shall be an high-way for the
remnant of his people which shall be left, from
Affyria, like as it was to Ifrael, in the day thai
he came out of the land of Egypt. Chap. Ivii.
14. Cafiye up, cafl ye up, prepare the way,
take up the fiumbling'block out of the way of
my people. And chap. Ixii. 10. Go through,
go through the gates; prepare ye the way of
the people ; cajl up, cafl up the high-way ; ga-
ther out the f ones ; lift up aflandardfor the
people. Zech. x. 10, ii, 12. I will bring
them again alfo out of the land of Egypt, and
gather them out of Affyria ; and L will bring
them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon ;
and place shall not be found for them. And
2gZ CONCERNING THE SIXTH VIAL
he shall pafs through thefea with offliElion^
and shall finite the waves of thefea; and all
the deeps of the river shall dry up ; and the
pride of Afjyria shall be brought down y and
thefceptre of Egypt shall depart away : And
I Will frengthen them in the Lord, and they
shall walk up and down in his name, faith the
Lord. And it is worthy to be remarked, that
as Cyrus's dellroying Babylon, and letting
go God's captives from thence, and reftoring
jerufalem, is certainly typical ofChrift'sde-
ftroying myftical Babylon, and delivering
his people from her tyranny, and glorioufly
building up the fpiritual Jerufalem in the
latter days ; fo God's preparing Cyrus's way,
by drying up the river Euphrates, is fpoken
of in terms like thofe that are ufed in thofe
prophecies that have been mentioned, to fig-
nify the preparing Chrift's way, when he (hail
come to accomplifh the latter event. Thus
God fays concerning Cyrus, Ifai. xlv. 2. /
-will go before thee, and make crooked.
PLACES STRAIGHT. And vcr. 13. I will
diretl, or make fir aight (as it is in the margin)
all his zcays. This is like chap. xl. 2, 4. Pre-
pare ye the way of the Lord; niakeftraightin
i^he depart an high-way for our God. — The
^rooked things fiall he made fir aight, Chap^
ON THE RIVER EUPHRATES. 293
xlii. 16. I will make darknefs light before them^
and crooked things Jlraight,
If any fliould objeft againft underftanding
the river Euphrates, m Rev. xvi. 12. as fig-
nifying v/hat has been fuppofed, that when
mention is made of the river Euphrates, in
another place in this prophecy, it is mani-
feilly not fo to be underftood, viz. in chap,
ix. 14. Saying to thejixth angel -which had
the trumpet — Looje the four angels which are
hound in the great river Euphrates; and that
there is no reafon to underftand the river
Euphrates in the vifion of the fixth Vial., as
fignifying fomething diverfe from what is
meant by the fame river in the vifion of the
fixth trumpet.
I anfwer. That there appears to me to be
good reafon for a diverfe underftanding of
the river Euphrates in thefe two different
places; the diverfity of the fcene of the vi-
fion, and of the kind of reprefentation, in
thofe two divers parts of this prophecy, na-
turally leads to it, and requires it. It is in
this book as in the Old Teftament; when
the river Euphrates is fpoken of in the Old
Teftament, both in the hiftories and prophe-
cies, it is mentioned, with refpeft to the two-
fold relation of th^it river, viz. ift, with re-
/
294 CONCERNING THE SIXTH VIAL
gard to its relation to Babylon. And as it
was related to that, it was fomething belong-
ing to that city, as its defence and fupply, as
has been reprefented. Thus the river Eu-
phrates is fpoken of in many places that have
been already obferved, and others that might
be mentioned. 2dly. This river is fpoken
of with regard to its relation to the land of
Ifrael, God's vifible people ; and as it was re-
lated to that, it was its eaftern boundary. It
is fo fpoken of, Gen. xv. 18. Exod. xxiii. 3 1.
Deut. i. 7. and xi, 24. Jofh. i. 4. 2 Sam.
viii, 3. 1 Chron. xviii. 3. 1 Kings iv. 21.
Ezra iv. 20. Agreeable to this diverfe re-
fpeft or relation of this river, under which
it is mentioned in the Old Tellament, fo
muft we underfland it difiFerently in different
parts of the prophecy of this book of Reve-
lation, according as the nature and fubjeft
of the vixion requires. In the xvth chapter,
where the prophecy is about Babylon, and
the vifion is of God's plagues on Babylon,
preparing the way forherde{lru6lion,there^
when the river Euphrates is mentioned, we
are naturally and neceffarily led to confider
it as fomething belonging to Babylon, ap-
pertaining to the myflical Babylon, as Eu-
phrates did to old Babylon. But we cannot
ON THE RIVER EUPHRATES. 295
underftand it fo in the ixth chapter, for there
the prophecy is not about Babylon. To men-
tion Euphrates there, as fomething belong-
ing to Babylon, would have been improper;
for the nature of the vifion, and prophetical
reprefentation, did not lead to it, nor allo\\r
it. John had hadno vifion of Babylon; that
kind of reprefentation had not been made
to him; there is not a word faid about Ba-
bylon till we come to the fecond part of this
prophecy, after John had the vifion of the
fecond book, and Chrift had faid to him —
Thou viujl prophecy again before peoples^ and
nations, and kings, chap. xi. The fcene of
the vifion, in the former part of the prophe-
cy, had been more efpecially the land of If-
rael, and the vifion is concerning two forts
of perfons there, viz. thofe of the tribes of
Ifrael that had the feal of God in their fore-
heads, and thofe wicked apoftate Ifraelites
that had not this mark. Compare chap. vii.
3 — 8. and chap. ix. 4. The vifion in this ixth
chapter, is of God's jndgments on thofe of
the tribes of Ifrael, or in the land of Ifrael,
which had not the feal of God in their fore-
heads ; and therefore when mention is made,
ver. 14. of a judgment coming on them from
the river Euphrates, this river is here fpokea
296 CONCERNING TME Sli^TH VIAL
of in the former refpeft, viz. with regard 10
its relation to the land of Ifrael, as its eaft-
ern border; and thereby we muft underftand
that God would bring fome terrible calahii^
ty on Chriftendom from its eaftern border,
as he did when the Turks were let loofe up-
on Chriftendom.
If thefe things that have been fpoken of^
are intended in the prophecy of the fixth
Vial, it affords, as I conceive, great reafoil
to hope that the beginning of that glorious
work of God's Spirit, which, in the progrefs
and iffu^ of it, will overthrow Antichrift,
and introduce the glory of the latter days^
is not very far oflF.
Mr. Lowman has, I think, put it beyond
all reafonable doubt, that the fifth Vial was
poured out in the time of the Reformation,
It alfo appears fatisfyingly,by his late Expo-
fition, that take one Vial with another, it has
not been two hundred years from the begin-
ning of one Vial to the beginning of ano-
ther, but about one hundred and eighty
years. But it is now two hundred and twen-
ty years fmce the fifth Vial began to be
poured, and it is a long time fince the main
effefts of it have been finilhed. And there-
fore if the fixth Vial has not already began
ITS BEGINNING TO BE FULFILLED. 297
to be poured out, it may well be fpeedily
lexpefted.
But with regJlrd to the firft thing that I
have fuppofcd to be fignified by the efFeft of
lliis Vial, viz. The dning up the fountains
and ftreams of the wealth and temporal in-
comes ^ndfupplies of the antichrifHan church
and territories, I would propofe it to confi-
tlerationj whether or no many things that
have cbme to pafs within thefe twenty
years paft, may not be looked upon as pro-
bable begiilnings of a fulfilment of this pro-
phecy; particularly what the kings of Spain
and Portugal did fome years fince, when dii-
pleafed with the Pope, forbidding any thence-
forward going to Rome for inveltitures, &c,
thereby cutting off two great ftream.s of the
Pope's wealth, from fo great and rich a part
ofthePopifii world; and its becoming fo
frequent a thing of late for Popi(h prmces,
in their wars, to make bold Vvith the trea-
fure of the church, and to tax the clergy
within their dominions, as well as laity; or
which is equivalent, to oblige them to con-
tribute great fums, under tlie na-xe of a free
gift; and alfo the late peeling and im.pove-
riihing the Pope's temporal dominions in
Oq
298 Aiitichrijr s Ruin fpeedily follotos*
Italy, by the armies of the Auftrians, Nea-
politans and Spaniards, pafiingand repaffing
through them, and living fo much at difcre-
tion in them, of which the Pope has fo loud-
ly complained, and in vain; receiving no-
thing but menaces, when he has objefted a-
gainfl giving liberty for the like p-ifTage for
the future. Thefe things make it hopeful
that the time is coming when the princes of
Europe, the ten horns, Jliall hate the whore y
and make her defolate and naked, and eat her
fiefli, as Rev. xvii. 16. which will prepare the
way for what next follows, her being burnt
-with fire; even as the fixth Vial poured out,
to confume the fupplies of Antichrift, and
ftrip him.naked of his wealth, and, as it were,
to pick his fleOi off from his bones, will make
way for vs^hat next follows, thefeventh Vial,
that will confume Antichrift, by the fierce-
nefs of God's wrath.
Thefe things duly confidered, I imagine?
afford us ground to fuppofe, not only that
the efiFeS of this fixth Vial is already begun,
but that fome progrefs is already miade in
it, and that this Vial is now running apace.
And when it fhall be finiflied, there is all rea-
fon to fuppofe that the deftrutlion of Anti-
chrift will very fpeedily follow, and that the
AniichriJiS Ruin fpeedily follows. 200
two laft Vials will fucceed one another more
clofely than the other Vials. When once
the river Euphrates was dried up, and Cy-
rus's way was prepared, he delayed not, but
immediately entered into the city to defiroy
it. Nor is it God's manner, when once his
way is prepared, to delay to deliver his
church, and (hew mercy to Zion. When
once impediments are removed, Chrifl will
no longer remain at a diilance, but will be
like a roe or a young hart, coming fwiftly
to the help of his people. When that cry
is made, Cajl ye up, ccijl ye up, prepare the
zoay, &c. The high and lofty One that inha-
bits eternity, is reprefented as very near to re-
vive thefpirit of the contrite, and deliver his
people with whom he had been wroth. When
that cry is made, Ifai. xl. Prepare ye the
way of the Lord, make fraight in the dcfart
an high-way for our God; every valley f mil
be exalted, See, God tells \\\^ ch\xrQh,that
her loarfare is accomplified, and the time to
comfort her is come, and that the glory of the
Lord noxofiall be revealed, and allflrfi fee it
together. And agreeably to theie things,
Chriil:, on the pouring ou tthe fixth Vial,
fays. Behold I come. The fixth Vial is the
forerunner of the fcventh or laft, to prepare
300 A great Revival of Religion
its way. The angel that pours out this Vial^
is the harbinger of Chrift, and when the har-
binger is come, the king is at hand. John
the Baptift, that vv:as Chrift's harbinger, who
came to level mountains and fill up vallies,
proclaimed, The kingdom of heaven is at hand;
and when lie had prepared Chrift's way, then,
the Lordfuddenly ca'me into his temple, even
the meJfenger of the covenant, Mai. iii. i.
It is true, that we do noj: know how long
this Vial may continue running, and fo Chrift's
w^ay preparing, before it is fully prepared;
bur yet if there be reafon to think the eflFcft
of this Vial is begun, or is near, then there
is reafon alfo to think that the beginning of
that great work of God's Spirit, in reviving
of religion, which, before it is finidied, w41l
idue in Antichrift's ruin, is not far off. For
it is pretty manifefl, that the beginning of
this work will accompany the fixth Vial;
for the gathering together of the armies on
both fides, on the fide of Chriil and Anti-
: chrilt, to that great battle that fliali iiTue in
the overthrow of the latter, will be under
this Vial; (compare Rev. xvi. 12, 13, 14.
with chap. ,xix. 11. to the ^vA.) And it is
plain, tluit Chrin's manifefling himfelf, anc"
wonderfully appearing after longhidinghiin-
toill accompany thejixth Vial, 301
[elf, to plead his own and his people's cauf'%
and riding forth againd his enemies in a glo-
rious manner, and his people's foJlov/ing
him in pure linen, or the praftice of righte^.
oufnefs and pure religion, will be the thing
that w^ill give the alarm to Antichrifl, and
caufe him to gather that vaft holt to make
the utmoft oppofition. But this alarm and
gathering together is reprefented as being
under the fixth Vial; fo that it will be a
great revival, and mighty pro^Tefs of true
religion under the fixth Vial, eminently
threatening the fpeedy and utter overthrow
of Satan's kingdom on earth, that will fa
mightily roufe the old ferpent, to exert him-
felfwith fuch exceeding violence, in that
greatefl: conflift and flruggle that ever he
had with Chrift and the church, fince the
world flood.*
All the feven Vials bring terrible judo-„
ments upon Antichrifl; but there feems to
be fomething diflinguifhing of the three lafl:
the fifth, fixth and feventh, viz. That they
NOT E.
* If there be any miflake here, it is an anticipption of the de-
f^rudion of Antichrifl, through the prevalence ofvit:-!] rehgicn,
inftead of the prcfent rod of tlie divine indignation; hut, it raiiy be,
there is a warfare between truth and error yet to come, towards
v/hich our author's views might Le diixa^d, and for which it be-
comes us ail to be piepared. Eun or.
302 A great Revival of Religion
more direftly tend to the overthrow of his
, kingdom, and accordingly each of them is
• attended with a great revivino[ of reliorion.
The fifth Vial was attended with fuch a re-
vival and reformation, that greatly weaken-
ed and diminiflied the throne or kingdom,
of the beaft, and went far towards its ruin.
It feems as though the fixth Vial (hould be
much more fo, for it is the diftmguilhing
Bote of this Vial, that it is the preparatory
Vial, which more than any other Vial pre-
pares the way forChrift's coming todellroy
the kingdom of Antichrift, and to fet up his
own kingd^-^m in the world. A great out-
pouring of the Spirit accompanied that dif-
penfation which Vv'as preparatory to Chrift's
coming in his public miniftry, in the days of
his flelh; fo, much more, will a great out-
pouring of the Spirit accompany the dif-
penfation that will be preparatory to Chrill s
coming in his kingdom.
And befides thofe things which belong to
the preparation of Chrifl's way, which are
fo often reprefented by levelling mountains,
drying up rivers, c&c. viz. The unravelling
intricacies, and removing difficulties attend-
ing Chriftian doftrines, the diftinguilhing
between true religion and its falfe appear-
will accompany thefixth Vial. 303
ances, the deteaing and exploding errors
and corrupt principles, and the reformmg
the wicked lives of profeffors, which have
been the chief ftumbling-blocks and obfia-
cles that have hitherto hindered the progrefs
of true religion; I fay, thefe things, which
feera to belong to this preparatory Vial, are
the proper work of the Spirit of God, pro-
moting and advancing divine light and true
piety, and can be the effedl of nothing elfe.
Ao-reeably to what has been fuppofed, that
an extraordinary out-pouring of the Spirit
of God is to accompany this fixth Vial; fo
the beginning of a work of extraordinary a-
wakening has already attended the probable
beginning of this Vial; and has been con-
tinued intone place or other, for many years
paft; although it has been, in fome places,
mingled with much enthufiafm, after the
manner of things in their firft beginnings,
unripe, and mixed with much crudity. But
it is to be hoped, a far more pure, exten-
five and glorious revival of religion is not
far off, which will more properly be the be-
ginning of that work, which, in its iffue,
ftall overthrow the kingdom of Antichrift,
and of Satan through the world. But God
will be enquired of for this, by thxhoufe of If
rad to do it for than.
304 Prayer mill not be in Vain.
Anf, 5. If, notwithflanding all that I hav^
ftid, it be flill judged that there is fufficient
i*eafon to determine that the ruia-of Anti..
chrifl; is at a very great diftance, and if all
that I have faid^ as arguing that there is rea-
fon to hope the beginning of that glorious
revival of religion, which, in its continuance
and progrefs, will deftroy the kingdom of
Antichrift, is not very far off, be judged 10
be of no force; yet it will not follow, that
our complying v/ith what is propofed to us
in the late memorial from Scotland^ will be
in vain, or not followed with fuch fpiritual
bleffings, as will richly recompence the pains
of fuch extraordinary prayer for the Holy
Spirit, and the revival of religion. If God
does not grant that greateft of all effufions
of his Spirit, fo foon as we defire, yet we
{hall have the iatisfaclion of a confcioufnefs
of our having employed ourfelves in a mait-
ner that is certainly agreeable to Chrift's
will and frequent commands, in being much
in prayer for this mercy, and much more in
it than has heretofore been common with
Chriftians; and there will be all reafon to
hope, that we (hall receive fome bleffed to-
ken of his acceptance. If the fall of myfti-
cal Babylon, and the work of God's Spirit
What is prdpofed in the Memorial, &.c, 30.5
that (hall bring it to pafs, be at feveral hun-
dred years diftance, yet it follows not that
there will be no happy reviv?^ls of religion
before that tinae, which flialhbe richly worth
the mod diligent, earned and condant pray-
ing for.
I would fay fomething to one objeftion
more, and then haden to a concludon of this
difcourfe.
Object, 6, Some may be ready to objefta
that what is propofed in this memorial is a
new thing, fuch as never was put inpra6lice
in the church of God before.
Anjl 1. If there be fomething circumdan-
tially new in it, this cannot be a fufficient
'objefticni The duty of prayer is no new
duty; for many of God's people exprefsly
to agreCj as touching fomething they diall
aflv in prayer, is no nev/ thing; for God's
people to agree on circumdances of time and
place for united prayer, according to their
own difcretion, is no new thing; for many,
in different places, to agree to offer up ex-
traordinary prayers to God, at the fame time,
as a token of their union, is no new things
but has been commonly praftifed in the ap-
pointment of days of fading and prayer for
QoS What is propofed in the
fpecial mercies. And if the people of God
fhould engage in the duty of prayer, for the
coming of Chrift's kingdom, in a new man-
ner, in that refpeft, that they refolve they
will not be fo negligent of this duty, as has
been common with profefTors of religion
heretofore, but will be more frequent and
fervent in it; this would be fuch a new
thing as ought to be, and would be only to
reform a former ncghgence. And for the
people of God, in various parts of the world,
vifibly, and by exprefs agreement, to unite
for this extraordinary prayer, is no more
than their duty, and no more than what it
is foretold the people of God fhould actual-
ly do, before the time comes of the church's
promifed glory on earth. And if this be a
duty, then it is a duty to come into fome
method to render this prafticable; but it is
not practicable (as was fhewn before) but by
this method, or fome other equivalent.
Anf. 2. As to this particular method, pro-
pofed to promote union in extraordinary
prayer, viz. God's people, in various parts,
letting apart fixed feafons, to return at cer-
tain periods, wherein they agree to offer up
their prayers at the fame time, it is not fo
new as fome may poflTibly imagine* This
Memorial is no nezo Thing. 307
may appear by what follows, which is part
of a paper, difperfed abroad in Great Bri<
tain and Ireland, from London, in the year
1712, being the latter end of queen Anne's
reign, and very extenfively complied with,
entitled, " A ferious Call from the City to
" the Country, to join with them in fetting
*' apart fome time, viz. from feven to eight,
" every Tuefday morning, for folemn feek-
" ino- of God, each one in his clofet, now ia
" this fo critical a junfture,"
Jonah i. 6, Call upon God, iffo be that
God will think upon us, that loepcrijli not. —
What follows is an extraft from it.
" You have formerly been called upon to
*' the like duty, and have complied with it,
^•' and that not without fuccefs. It is now
'' thought highly feafonable to renew the
" call. It is hoped that you will not be more
'' backw^ard, when it is fo apparent that there
" is even greater need. It is fcarce imagin-
'' able how a profeffing people fhould Itand
" in greater need of prayer, than we do at
'' this day. You were formerly bcfpoke from
'' that very pertinent text, Zech. viii. 21.
'•' The inhabitants of one cityJJiallgo to ano-
" ther, faying, Let us go fpeedily to pray be-
''fore the Lord, or, (as the marginal reading.
308 What is prop of ed in the
*^more exprelTive of the original reading,
*' is,) co7itinually,from day to day, to entreat
*' the face of the Lord, According to this ex-
'' cellent pattern, we of this city, the metro-
*' polis of our land, think ourfelves obliged
^- to call upon our brethren in Great Britain
'^•' and Ireland, at a time when our hearts can-
^' not but meditate terror, and our flefh trem-
'' ble for fear of God, and are afraid of his
" righteous judgments; thofe pafl being for
•' the moft part forgotten, and the figns of
*' the times foreboding evil to come, being
*' by the generality little, if at all, regarded;
" w^e cannot therefore but renew our earneft
*' requeft, that all who make confcience of
'' praying for the peace of Jerufalem, who
" widi well to Zion, who would have us and
''our poflerity a nation of Britifh Protef-
'' tants, and not of Popifh bigots and French
'' {laves, would give us (as far as real and
''' not pretended neceffity will give leave) a
^' meeting at the throne of grace, at the hour
" mentioned, there to wreftle with God for
'•' the turning away his anger from us, for
" our deliverance from the hands of his and
" our enemies, for the turninor the councils
" of all Ahitophels, at home and abroad, in-
^^ to fooliflmeiy, for mercy to the queen and
Memorial is no nezo Thing, 309
^' kingdom, for a happy peace or fuccefsful
^' war, fo long as the matter {hall continue
■^ undetermined; for fecuringthe Proteftant
-' fucceffion in the illultrious houfeofHa-
-' nover, (by good and evil wilhes to which,
-" the friends and enemies of our religion and
" civil rights, are fo effentially diilinguifh-
^^ ed,) and efpecially for the influences of di-
^' vine grace upon the rifing generation, par-
" ticularly the feed of the righteous, that the
^\ offspring of our Chriftian heroes may ne-
^' ver be the plague of our church and coun-
'' try. And we defire that this folemn pray-
" er be begun the firfl Tuefday after fight,
'' and continued at leafl the fummer of this,
" prefent year 1712, And we think, every
^' modeft, reafonable and jufl requefl, fuck
'' as this, fliould not on any account be de-
" nied us, fince we are not laying a burden
" on others, to which we will not mofl wil-
." lingly put our own fhoulders ; nay, indeed,
" count it much more a blefhng than a bur-
'' den. We hope this will not be efleemed,
*' by ferious Proteftants, of any denomina-
** tion, a needlefs ilep ; much lefs do we fear
*' being cenfured by any fuch, as fanciful
" and melancholy, on account of fuch a pro-
" pofal. We, with them, believe a provi-
€(
2 lo What ispropofed in the Memorial^ &c.
^' dence, know and acknowledge that our
God is a God hearing prayen Scripture
" recordeth, and our age is not barren of in-
*^ fiances of God's working marvellous deli-
** verances for his people in anfwer to hum-
** ble, believing and importunate prayer, ef»
** pecially when prayer and reformation go
*•' together, which is what we defire. Let
*^ this counfel be acceptable to us, in this
** day of the church's calamity, and our com-
" mon fears. Let us feek the Lord while he
^' may be found, and call upon him while he
** is near. Let us humble ourfelves under
*^ the mighty hand of God. Let us go and
*^ pray unto our God, and he will hearken
*' unto us. We fhall feek him and find him,
*^ when we fearch for him with all our hearts.
" Pray for the peace of Jerufaiem ; tl:iey fhall
** profper that love her. And may Zion's
" friends and enemies both cry out with won-
'• der, when they fee the work of God — Be-
''• hold they pray! — What hath God wrought!
^^ Verily there is a God that judgeth in the
^'^ earth.
•' Pojlfcript. It is defired and hoped, that
** if any are hindered from attending this
'* work at the above-mentioned hour, they
'' Will neverthelefs fet apart an hour week-
'' ly for it.".
tnt coNCLustor?. gii
God fpeedily and wonderfully heard and
anfwered thofe who were united in that ex-
traordinary prayer, propofed in the above^
mentioned paper, in fuddenly fcattering thofe
black clouds which threatened the nation
and the Proteftant interefl: with ruin, at that
time; in bringing about, in fo remarkable a
manner, that happy change in the ftate of
affairs in the nation, which was after the
queen's death, by the bringing in king George
the Firft. jufl at the time when the enemies
of the religion and liberties of the nation
had ripened their defigns to be put in fpee-
dy execution. And we fee in the beginning
of this extraft, this which is propofed, is
mentioned as being no new thing, but that
God's people in Great Britain had former-
ly been called upon to the like duty, and
had complied, and that not without fuccefs.
Such like concerts or agreements havefeve-
ral times been propofed in Scotland, before
this which is now propofed to us, particu-
larly there was a propofal publifhed for this
very praftice, in the year 1732, and another
in 1735; fo that it appears that this objec-
tion of novelty is built on a miftake,
THE CONCLUSION-
And now, upon the whole, I defire every
312 THE CONCLUSidNi
ferious Chriftian, that may read this difcourfe^
cahnly and deliberately to confider whether
he can excufe himfelf from complying with
what has been propofed to us and requefted
of us, by thofe minifters of Chrift in Scot-
land, who are the authors of the late memo-
rial. God has flirred up a part of his churchy
in a diflant part of the world, to be in an
extraordinary manner feeking and crying to
him, that he would appear to favour Zion^i
as he has promifed. And they are applying
themfelves to us, to join with them, and make
that very propofal to us which is fpoken of
in my text, and in like manner and circum-
ftances. The members of one church, in
one country, are coming to others^ in other
diftant countries, faying, Let us gofpeedily
and conjtantly to pray before the Lord, and to
feek the Lord ofHoJls. Will it not become
us readily to fay, Iwill goalfo? Whatthefe
fervants of Chrift afk of us, is not filver or
gold, or any of our outward fubftance, or
that we would put ourfelves to any coft, or
do any thing that will be likely to expofe
us to any remarkable trouble, difficulty or
fuffering in our outward intereft, but only
that we would, help together with them, by
our prayers to God, for the greateft mercy
THE CONCLUSION. 313
in the world, and that a mercy which as much
concerns us as them, for the glory of their
Lord and ours, foi"^ the great advancement of
our common intereft and happinefs^ and the
happinefs of our fellow-creatures through all
nations; a mercy, which, at this day efpe-
ciaily, there is great need of; a mercy, which
we, in this land, do ftand in particularneed
of; a mercy, which the word of God re-
quires us to* make the fubjeft-raatter of our
prayers, above all other mercies, and gives
us more encouragement to pray earneltly
and unitedly to him for, than any other mer-
cy ; and a mercy, which the providence of
God towards the world of mankind, at this
day, does loudly call the people of God to
pray for. I think we cannot reafonably doubt
but that thefe minifters have afted a part be-
coming difciples of the great Meffiah, and
minifters of his kingdom, and have done the
will of God, and according to his word, in
fetting forward fuch an affair at this day, and
in propofing it to us; and therefore I defire
it may be confidered, whether we fiiall not
really fm againll God, in refufmg to com-
ply with their propofal and requeft, or m
neglecting it, and turning it by, with but lit-
O q'
314 ^J-HE CONCLUSION.
tie notice and attention, therein difregard-
ing that which is truly a call of God to us.
The miniHers that make this pfopofal to
us, are no feparatifts or fciiifmatics, promo-
ters of no public diforders, nor of any wild-
riefs or extravagance in matters of religion,
but are quiet and peaceable members and
minillers of the church of Scotland, that
have lamented the late divifions and breach-
es of that church. If any {hall fay, that they
are under no advantage to judge of their
charafter, but muft take it on truft from o-
thers, becaufe they conceal their names ; in
anfwer to this, I would fay, That I prefume
no fober perfon will fay that he has any rea-
fon to fufpeft them, to be any other than
crentlemen of honeft intention. Befure there
is no appearance of any thing elfe, but an
upright defign in their propofal, and that
they have not mentioned their names, is an
argument of it. It may welt be prefumed,
from the manner of their expreffing them-
felves, in the memorial itfelf, they conceals
ed their names from that, which, perhaps,
may be called an excefs of modelly, chufmg
to be at the greaieft diRance from appear-
ing to fet forth themfelves to the view of the
world, as the heads of a great affair, and the
THE CONCLUSION, 3I/5
firfl projeclors and movers of fometliing ex-
traordinary, that they defire (hould become
genera], and that God's people, in various
diftant parts of the world, fliould agree in.
And therefore, they are moreover careful
to tell us, that they do not propofe the af-
f^iir, as now fetting it on foot, but as a thing
already fet on foot, and do not tell us who
firft projefted and moved it. The propofal
is made to us in a very proper and prudent
manner, with all appearance of Chrillian
modefty and fincerity, and with a very pru-
dent guard againft any thing that looks like
fuperftition, or whatfoever might entangle a
tender confcience, and far from any appear-
ance of a defign to promote any particular
party or denomination of Chriftians, in op^
pofition to others, but with all appearance
to the contrary, in their charitable requeft,
that none would, by any means, conceive of
any fuch thing to be in their view, and that
all, of every denomination and opinion con-
cci ning the late religious commotions, would
join with them, in feeking the common inte-
reft of the kingdom of Chrifi; and, there-r
fore, I think, none can be in the way of their
duty, in neglefling a propofal in itfeif exceK
lent, and that which they have reafon to
3l6 THE CONCLUSION,
think is made with upright intentions, mere-
ly becaufe the propofcrs modeflly conceal
their names. I do not fee how any ferious
perfon, that has an ill opinion of late reli-
gious flirs, can have any colour of reafon to
refufe a compliance with this propofal, on
that account; the more diforders, extrava-
gancies and delufions of the devil ha\'^ late-
ly prevailed, the more need have we to pray
earneftly to God, for his Holy Spirit, to pro-
mote true religion, in oppofition to the grand
deceiver, and all his works; and the more
fuch prayer, as is propofed,is anfvv^ered, the
more efFeftually w^ill all that is contrary to
fober and pure religion be extirpated and
exploded.
One would think that every one who fa-
vours the duft of Zion, when he hears that
God is ftirring up a confiderable number of
his miniflers and people, to unite in extra-
ordinary prayer, for the revival of religion
and advancement of his kingdom, fhould
greatly rejoice on this occalion. If we lay
to heart the prefent calamities of the church
ofChrift, and lon^ for that bleffed altera-
tion which God has promifed, one would
think it fliould be natural to rejoice at the
appearance of forr.ething in fo dark a day,
THE CONCLUSIOiN. 317
which is fo promifing a token. Would not
our friends that were lately in captivity in
Canada, who earneflly longed for deliver-
ance, have rejoiced to have heard of any
thing that feemed to forebode the approach
of their redemption? And particularly may
we not fuppofe fuch of them as were religi-
ous perfons, would greatly have rejoiced to
have underftood that there was ftirred up in
God's people an extraordinary fpirit of pray-
er for their redemption ? And I do not know
why it would not be as natural for us to re-
joice at the like hopeful token of the redemp-
tion of Zion, if we made her intereft our own,
and preferred Jerufalem above our chief joy.
If we are indeed called of God to comply
with the propofal now made to us, then let
me befeech all that do fmcerely love the in-
tereft of real Chriftianity, notwithftanding
any diverfity of opinion, and former dif-
putes, now to unite in this affair, with one
heart and voice— and let us go fpeedily io
pray before the Lord. There is no need that
one (liould wait for another. If we can o-et
others, that are our neighbours, to join with
us, and fo can conveniently fpend the quar-
terly feafons with praying focieties, this is
defirable; but if not, vrhy fhould we \vholly
318 THE CONCLUSION.
negleft the duty propofed? Why (hould not
we perform it by ourfelves, uniting in heart
and praQice, as far as we are able, with thofe
who, in diflant places, are engaged in that
duty at that time?
If it be agreeable to the mind and will of
God, that we fhould comply with the memo-
rial, by praying for the coming of Chrift's
kingdom, in the m.anner therein propofed,
then doubtlefs it is the duty of all to comply
with the memorial, in that refpetl alfo, viz.
in endeavouring, as far as in us lies, to pro-
mote others joining in fuch prayer, and to
render this union and agreement as exten-
five as may be. Private ChriRians may have
many advantages and opportunities for this ;
but efpecially minifters, inafmuch as they
not only are by office overfeers qf whole
congregations of God's people, and their
guides in matters of religion, but ordinarily
have a far more extenfive acquaintance and
influence abroad, than private Chriflians in
common have.
And I hope that fuch as are convinced it
is their duty to comply with and encourage
this defign, will remember we ought not on-
ly to go fpeedily to pray before the Lord,
and to feek his mercy, but alfo to go con-
THE CONCLUSION. 319
itantly. We (hould unite in our praftice
thefe two things, which our Saviour unites
in his precept, praying and not fainting. If
we fhould continue fome years, and nothing
remarkable in Providence (hould appear, as
though God heard and anfwered, we (hould
aft very unbecoming believers, if we (hould
therefore begin to be di(heartened, and grow
dull and (lack, in our feeking of God fo great
a mercy. It is very apparent from the w^ord
of God, that God is wont often to try the
faith and patience of his people, when cry-
ing to him for fome great and important
mercy, by with-holding the mercy fought,
for a feafon, and not only fo, but at (irft to
caufe an increafe of dark appearances, and
yet, without fail, at laft, to fucceed thcfe who
continue inftant in prayer with all perfever-
ance, and will not let God go except he blef-
fes. It is now propofed that this extraordi-
nary united prayer (liould continue for fe-
ven years, from November, 1746. Perhaps
fome that appear forward to engage, may
begin to think the time long, before the fe-
ven years are out, and may account it a dull
(lory, to go on, for fo long a time, praying
in this extraordinary method, while all yet
continues dark and dead, without any dawn-
320 THE CONCLUSION.
ings of the wifhed-for light, or new promill
ing appearance in Providence of the near
approach of the defired mercy. But let it
be confidered, whether it will not be a poor
bufinefs, if our faith and patience is fo fhort-
winded, that w^e cannot be willing to wait
upon God one feven years, in a way of tak-
ing this little pains, in feeking a mercy fo
infinitely vaft. For my part, I fincerely wifli
and hope, that there may not be an end of
extraordinary united prayer, among God's
people, for the efFufions of the bleffed Spi-
rit, when the feven years are ended, but that
it will be continued, either in this method^
or fome other, by a new agreement, that
will be entered into, with greater engaged-
nefs, and more abundant alacrity, than this
is ; and that extraordinary united prayer for
fuch a mercy will be further propagated and
extended, than it can be expefted to be in
one feven years. But yet, at the fame time,
I hope, God's people, that unite in this a-
greement, will fee fome tokens for good, be-
fore thefe feven years are out, thatfliall give
them to fee, that God has not faid to the
feed of Jacob — Seek ye me in vain; and
fhall ferve greatly to animate and encou-
rage them to go on in united prayers for the
THE CONCLUSION'; 321
advancement of Chrifl's kingdom, with en-
creafing fervency. But whatever our hopes
may be in this refpeft, we muft be content
to be ignorant of the times and feafons,
which the Father hath put in his own pow-
er; andmufl.be willing that God fhould
anfwer prayer, and fulfil his own glorious
promifes, in his own time; remembering
fuch inftru6lions, counfels and promifes of
the word oPGpd as thefe — Wait on the Lord,
he of Good courage, and hejliall Jlrengtheii
thine heart; zvaity I Jay, on the Lord. For
the vijion is yet for an appointed time; but in
the end it -will jipeak, and not lie: though it
tarry ^ xoaitfor it, becaufe it -will fur ely come,
it will not tarry. Itoill look unto the Lord,
I tdll waiitfor the God ofmyfalvation; my
God zcili hear me. God xcill zcipe away tears
fy^m off m faces', and the rebuke of his people
fliall he take azvayfrom off all the earth; for
the LoM hathfpoken it, Anditfiall be [aid
in thai day, Lo, this is irur God! zoe have
rjoaited for Jiivi, and he xcillfave us: This is
JEHOVAH r cve have zvaitedfor hini^ zee %viU
be glad and rejoice in his falvation. Amen,
Rr
T H 1'
DOWNFALL
O V
MYSTICAL BABYLON;
O R> A
KEY TO THE PROVIDENCE of GOD,
IN THE
POLITICAL OPERATIONS of 1793-4,
BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF A DISCOURSE, PREACHED,
FIRST, AT ELIZABETH TOWN, AND AFTERV/ARDS
AT NEW-YORK, ON THE EVENING OF THE LORD's
DAY, APRIL 7, 1793., AND NOW OFFERED, VvITH
NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, IN EVIDENCE OF THE
. SENTIMENTS THEN DELIVERED.
By DjIVID /lUSTINy A.M.
Minlfter of the Firll Prefbyterian Church at Elizabeth Tov/n.
APOLOGY.
AS the folio-wing difcourfe was delivered
from Jhort notes, it is hoped that any
Utile difference in arrangement, or any addi-
tional proof s or illuf rations, now obferved^
will be readily excufed by any who heard the
difcourfe preached; efpecially, whiljl it is re*
member ed, that in a printed difcourfe much
higher authorities are expeEled, than what is
neceffary in the common courfe of parochial
preaching.
For any fentiments obferved to be omitted,
the reader is referred to the tenor of the pre-
ceding difcourfes; and ifanyfhould be ready
to fay, that proofs and illuflrations are need-
lefsly multiplied, it may not be improper to
anfwer, that on thefubjeB, of prophecy, as well
as in refpeSt to every other, the truth gains in
proportion to the evidence by which it is aitefl-
ed; andfhines much brighter whilfl fupported
by a cloud of approved witneffes, than whilfl
refiing on the opinion of anyfngle interpret
tcr^
i i iLiwiw p »i ! i»j«ua.yj i mj 8ggi[
T H 3-
D O W N F A L L
o s
MYSTICAL BABYLON-
Revelatiom XVlii, 20.
Rejoice over her thou heaven, and ye holy a^
pojlles and prophets, for God hath avenged
you on her^
IN all the calamities which it pleafes God
to bring upon his enemies, or upon the
enemies of his church, all holy beings have
caufe to rejoice. The ground of their joy,
in fiich events, however awful to the fuffer-
ers, is founded in the reafon and nature of
things as well as in the exprefs appointment
and call of God.
The caufe of God in heaven, and the caufe
of Chrill: and of his church on the earth are
one and the fame ; and fo far as either the
former or the latter, or both unitedly, may
be employed, in their ufual methods of ex-
ertion, in counterafting, and in overturning
328 THE DOWNFALL OF
the purpofes of the Grand Adverfary or of
his inftruments ; in the fame degree may the
ftruggle be ftiled a common caufe, or a ge-
neral war. The enemies of God are the e-
nemies of his church, and they who feek the
overthrow of the latter, would, if poffible,
dethrone the former. On this account, there-
fore, it is, that all holy beings, whether in
the heaven of heavens, on high, or whether
in the heavens of the Chriftian church, (for
fo, in prophetic ftile, the word fometimes
fignifies,) are called upon to rejoice at the
calamities which God, in judgment for their
fins, brings on his enemies, and on the ene*
mies of his Zion.
All holy beings have caufe to rejoice in
the downfall of the wicked, as fuch a difaf-
ter, under the management of heaven, may
tend to the upbuilding of the kingdom of
Chrift, and of the truth in the world. By
fuch events viftory is, renewedly, afcribed to
God. The faith and hope of the pious are
revived and confirmed. — That fuch effefts,
by fuch difaflers upon the wicked, have been
produced, the fcriptures plainly teach. The
drowning of the old world, and the deftruc-
lion of Pharaoh and his hoft are inftances
in point. In view of the latter,y^?2^ Mofes,
Mystical babylon-. q2q
^nd the children of Ifrael this fong unto the
Lord, aMf pake, faying — / zoilljing unto the
Lord, for he hath triumphed glorioujly: the
horfe and his rider hath he thrown into the
Jed, The Lord is my^Jlrength andfong^ and
he is become my falvation : he is my God, and
1 will prepare him an habitation ; my father's
God, and I will exalt htm. The Lord is a man
of war: the Lord is his name.
Not only is the confidence of the righte-
ous maintained by fuch difplays of vindic^
live powder, but the fame events load, with
increafing danger, the interefls of Sataii and
of the wicked in-general.
To revive the interells of truth and of
grace— to fupport the caufe of God in the
bofoms of the righteous, and to accumulate
the degrees of danger, apprehenfion and fi-
nal deftruflion, on the part of the wicked,
have no doubt been important, if not lead-
ing objeQs to be accompliihed, in all the
denunciations and executions which^ in all
ages^ have been, in a higher or lefs degree,
emptied forth upon the wicked, from the
vials of the divine indignation.
In purfuance of the fame important ob-
jefts^ a call is iffued, on a mighty and folemn
S s
53^ THE DOWNFALL OF
occafion, to all friends to God, and to hi§
government to rejoice. Rejoice over her thou
heaven, and ye holy apojtles and prophets^ for
God hath avenged you on her.
Unfolding this paffage I propofe tolliew,
I. Who it is over whofe deilruftion holy
beings are called upon to rejoice.
II. The caufe of this difafler.
III. Notice the means employed to bring
this event to pafs. And,
IV. Shew the foundation the event lays
for univerfal joy; concluding with fome re-
flexions from the whole.
And will a very gracious God fo enlight-
en the mind, both of the fpeaker and of the
hearers, that truths may be opened, impref-
fions made, and effefts wrought anfwerable
to the nature and import of fo folemn and
momentous a fubjeft. — I am,
I. To fliew who it is over whofe deftruc-
tion, or downfall, all holy beings are called
upon to rejoice.
For this knowledge we muft repair to the
firft and fecond verfes of the context. And
after thefe things, faith the infpired ajx)flle.
If aw another angel come doxonfrom heaven^
MYSTICAL BABYLOiY. ggt
having great power , and the earth was light*
enedwith his glory. And he cried mightily
mth a Jlrong voice, faying, babylon the
GREAT IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN.
It is very generally, if not unanimoufly,
agreed by ProteRant writers, that by Baby-
lon, as ufed in this place, you are to under-
fland the extenfive, once triumphant, and
peiTecuting power of anti-chrillian Papal
Rome, filled babylon, becaufe there are fo
many appendages to this idolatrous power,
which fo nearly refemble, and fo exaflly
anfwer the prophetic defcription of Baby-
lon, of the Chaldees — the inveterate, the pow-
erful, and, for a feafon, the fuccefsful ene*
my of the people of God, in ancient time.
Figures of fpeech, efpecially in the pro-
phetic parts, are very frequent in the fcrip-
tures. Indeed, almofl the whole of this book
of the Revelation of Jefus Chrif vjhich God
gave unto him, to fliew unto hisfervants things
zohich mufifiortly come to pafs, is made up
of figures. Sometimes, left the figure (hould
be unintelligible, the angel fent to commu-
nicate the very interefting intelligence of
this invaluable book, explains the figure. —
And fometimes the prophetic herald gives
a different view of the fame object in differ*
332 THE DOWNFALL OF
ent figures. Of this method we have an ex-
ample in the fubjeft before us.
Papal Rome, here ftiled babylon the
GREAT, in the chapter preceding is called,,
becaufe of her idolatrous praftices, and be-
caufe of her forfaking her original faithful
Lord and Hufband — ^the great whore:
And that it might be known to be the fame
power, as is here defcribed, the word Baby-
lon is annexed or interwoven with the o-
ther charafters of this myftical harlot. This
fa6l will be yet more clear if you liften to
the teftimony itfelf So he carried me away
in thefpirit into the zvildernefs: and I Jaw a
roomanjit upon a fcarlet-coloured beaJi^fulL
of navies ojblajphemy, having f even heads and
ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in
purple and fear let-colour, and. decked loith
gold, and precious Jiones, and pearls, having
a golden cup in her hand, full of abomina-
tions a.ndfilthinefs of her fornication. And
upon her forehead zvas a name^'written, mys-
tery, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MO-
THER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS
OF THE EARTH.
In fupporting the allufion, or in running
the parallel between ancient heathenifii and
modern anti-chriftian Papal Babylon, yea
MYSTICAL BABYLO.V. g^^
will permit, that I but touch upon the dif-
ferent branches of fimilarity, leaving the
more full illuftration to be fupplied by your
own recolleftion and ftudy.
As in the prophetic writings the words
Jerufalem, Zion, the Temple of the living
God, &c. are ufed to exprefs the ftate of
the church under the Jevv^ifh, fo the fame
words are fometimes applied to exprefs the
ftate and charafter of the church under the
Chriftian difpenfation. On the other hand^
as Sodom, Egypt and Babylon were names
given to the enemies of God, and of his
church, in ancient time, fo, under the fame
names, their fucceffors are fet forth and de-
fcribed as to exift in later times.
All thefe dark (hades of national charac-
ter, and many more, did time allow, might
be proved to be, with juftice, applicable to
this anti-chriflian power of Papal Rome. —
To Sodom this power may be likened for
her fin, and to Egypt for her darknefs, ido-
latry and oppreiTion. And, without doubt,
by the angel of God, in his addrefs to St.
John on the fubje6l of the (laughter of the
witneffes, thefe dark fiiades are applied to
this tyrannical dominion. And their dead
bodies JJiall lie in the Jireet cf the great city.
334 '^^^^ DOWNFALL OF
xohich fpiritually is called Sodom and Egypt ^
tohere, alfo, our Lord was crucijied^ On thefe
words, faith an approved commentator* — •
*' The place where this was done is ftiled
" Sodom and Egypt, and the great city
*' xohere our Lord was crucified; which, if
*' literally underftood, fignifies Jerufalem,
^' but if myftically underftood, ROME,orthe
*^ Roman empire." — And no one, I may add,
will fuppofe it is perverting the prophetic
emblem, if it be applied, folely, to Rome;
efpecially, if it be recollefted, that as Jeru-
falem was the head of the Jevvifh, fo Rome
profefTes to be the head of the Chriftian em-
pire; and alfo, that the once crucifying of
our Lord at Jerufalem, is but a faint emblem
of the thoufand crucifixions he has fince un-
dergone in the multiplied perfecutions and
tortures of the members of his myftical bo-
dy; and, I may add, which he ftill under-
goes in the daily offerings, the myflical fer-
vices, the fuperftitious maffes of the church
of Rome.
Hear, alfo, to this point, the teftimony of
a late very refpeclable writer on the fubjeft
of prophecy.t " As to the great city, men-
NOTES.
* Buikit in loco, f Langdon in loco«
MYSTICAL BABYLON. ggg
*' tioned under the figurative names of So-
*' dom and Egypt, and comparedalfo to Je-
•* falem, where our Lord was crucified, we
*' {hall find by following vifions that Rome,
*^ with its empire, is meant. It is called So-
" dom, on account of the abominable crimes
*' committed in it; Egypt, on account of
*^ abounding fuperfiition and idolatry, and
*' the cruel bondage in which it holds the
*' people of God: And it is compared to
*' Jerufalem, being faid to be the city where
•' our Lord was crucified ; becaufe w'hile it
" pretended to be an holy city, it had killed
*^ the prophets and faints, and crucified Chrill
*^ afrefh in his members. Here it may be
'' more efpecially obferved, that as in the
*' beginning of the chapter the temple is the
*' emblem of the Chriflian church, that city,
" with its empire, in which the church is com-
*' prehended, may very properly be compar-
" ed to Jerufalem, the city in which the Jew-
" ifli temple flood: And as our Lord was
" crucified within thejurifdiftionof theRo-
*' man empire, and by the Roman authori-
" ty, and the Papal empire has fucceeded to
" the other, and claims an equal extent, there,
" is a propriety in faying that our Lord was
^^ crucified in the great city Rome, confi-
33^ THE DOWNFALL OF
*^ dered in connexion with the empire of
" which it is the capital."
Having laid this foundation as to the ufe
and application of prophetic figures, to which
much might be added, were it neceffary, the
way is plain to proceed v/ith my fubjeft, in
an attempt to fliew, that by babylon the
GREAT, whofe fall is predifted in the text^
is meant the prefent anti-chriftian power of
Papal Rome*
This fafl: will, at once, appear moft pal-
pably evident, if, with attention, you are
pleafed to follow me in a confideration of
thefeveral articles of analogy, between anci*
ent and modern Babylon, defigned to juftify
the prophetic allufion.
1. Did Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Ba*
bylon, fet up an image^ and call upon the
fubjecls of his empire to fall down and wor-
fhip it, fo hath the Nebuchadnezzar of the
church of Rome, fupported by the magi of
his kingdom, fet up, and continued to fet
up images innumerable, to which the ho-
mage of bowing and kneeling is continually
paid in churches, in many public places, and
even on the common country roads, by the
fubjecls of this myftical empire, as is well
known to thofe who have paffed through
this idolatrous country.
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 337
2. Did the decree of the king of Babylon
enjoin homage to this image on pain of be-
ing ccifiiiito the midjl of a burning Jiery fur-
nace; fo doth the church of Rome enjoin
homage to her idols on pain of exclufion
from her communion, with the tortures of
the inquifition in this world, and the pains of
purgatory and damnation in the next.*
3. Did Nebuchadnezzar a6lually inf]i61-,
or attempt to inflifl:, the pains of the fiery
furnace on fome who refufed to bow down
to his image; fo hath the church of Rome
aftually inflicted, on thoufands of innocent
Proteftants, refufing to partake in her idola-
tries, all the tortures which imagination could
invent.
Let the hiftory of her perfecutions, maf-
facres, flaughters and burnings teftify to this
faa.t
Tt
NOTES.
* The Author once had his own hat knocked ofr by the bayO"
net of a ibidier, belonging to a party who efcoried and proteded
a Bi(hop and his confederates, during a very thronged procefiion,
at Nantes, becaufe he would not do culloraary h.arnage at the pre-
fence of the Holl, which was carried along the llreet?, claiming re-
ligious homage, during the farcical exhibitions on the celebra-
tion of the Fete de Dieu.
f ** Satan has oppofed the Reformation with cruel perfscu-
tions. The perfecutions with which the Proteftants, in one king-
dom and another, have been tormented, by the church of Rome,
338 ' THE DOWNFALL OF
4. Was ancient Babylon the feat and fource
of idolatry in the Pagan ; fo is Rome in the
Chriftian world.
NOTE.
have been, in many refpeds, beyond any that were before. So
that Antichrift has proved the greateil and moil cruel enemy the
church of Chrlll ever had; agreeable to the defcriptlon given of
the church of Rome, jhii I fa-iM the ^.v-imaji drmikcn imth tbe
Ihodof the faints^ and '•^nth the blood' of the martyrs of Jefus. —
jlTid /;; her <was found th' blood of prophets ^ and of faints, a?id of
c.ll them that ivere^flain upon the earth.
The heathen perfecutions !iad been very dreadful ; but now per.
fecntion, by the church of Rome, was improved, and fludied, and
cultivated as an art or fcience. Such methods of tormenting were
found out, that were beyond the invention of former ages. And,
that perfecution might be managed more effeflually, there were
certain focieties efcabliftied in various pnrts of the Popifii domi-
nions, whofe bufinefs it rtiould be to ftudy,' improve, and pradife
perfecution in its highefl perfev3ion, which are called the courts
of inquifition.* A perufal of the hiilories of the Romilh perfecu-
tion, and their courts of inquifition, will give that idea, vv'hich a
few worc!'^ cannot exprefs.
* Thefe infernal tribunals were firfc ere.51ed in the twelfth cen-
tury by th^2 infamous Father Dominic, under the patronage of
Pope Innocent IH. ia order more completely to extirpate the
Waldenfes, and other pretended lieretics. It is difhcuit to con.
ceive, tivat if God had delivered the world entirely into the Devil's
hands, {as Satan once pretended) tliat his ingenuity and niaHce
could have invented any ihing more dsteilable and (hocking. In
faft, there is fcarcely a method that could delay or pervert juftice,
but they have adopted it in their forms ; nor does there feem a
pofiible method of touure but they have invented and repeatedly
exercifed. "1 he reader, whofe nerves can bear fuch reiterated
fcenes of cruelty, mav read Baker's Hiftory of the Inquifition — the
Hiilcry of the Inquifition at Goa, written by a Papiil, and fimilar
works. But to flicw how far it is pcJTible for human nature to go,
let him read the following e.xtradt from a fermon preached at E-
vora, on occafion of one cf the moft horrid fcenes the fun ever be-
held, an tf«/i? ;/^'^/^j when they burn or rather roafc heretics (as
MYSTICAL BABYLON. gog
Did her kings rule over many kingdoms
and provinces; io this anti-cKriftian idola-
NOTE.
they call them) alive, from a principle of religion- " Beloved
Portuguefe," laid the inhuman wretch, ** let us return thanks to
Heaven, for his great goodnefs in giving us this holv tribunal (the
Inquiiition.) Had it not been for this tribunal out kingdom would
have become a tree without flowers or fruits, fit only to be com-
mitted to the flames. What progrefs has herefy made, for want
of an Inquifition, in England, France, Germany, and the Nether-
lands ! It is evident, had it not been for fo great a blefling, our
country would have b^en like tothofe above-mentioned.'*
When the Reformation began, the bcaft with feven heads and
ten horns began to rage in a dieadful manner. After the Refor-
mation, the church of Rome renewed its perfecutfon of the poor
Waldenfes, and great multitudes of them were cruelly tortured
and put to death. Soon after the Reformation, there were alfo
terrible perfecutions in various parts of Germany, and efpecrally
in Bohemia, which lafted for thirty years together, in which fo
much blood was (bed for the fake of religion, that a cenain v/riter
compares it to the plenty of waters of the great rivers of Germany,
The countries of Poland, Lithuania, and Hungary \^'ere, in like
manner, deluged wiih Protellant bJood.*
* *' If Rome Pagan hath fl.iin her ihoufands of innocent Chrif-
tians, Rome Chrijlian hath flain her ten thoufp.nds. lor, not to
mention other outrageous flaughters and barbarities, the croifades
againfl; the Waldenfes ?ia<\ Aibigenfes, the murders committed by
the Duke of Alva in the Netherlands, the maiTacres in France
and Ireland, will probably amount to above ten times the number
of all the Chriftians fl.rln in all the ten perfccutioriS of the Roman
emperors put together.''
" By means of ihefe and other cruel perfecutions, the ProteH:-
ar.i religion was in a great meafure fuppi efTed in Bohemia, and the
Palatinate, and Hungary, which before were Protedant countries.
Thus was fulfilled what was foretold of the little horn." Jndof
tks ten horns that vjdre in his head, and of tJ)a other nyyhich came
upland before ^hom three f II, even t^f thai horn that had eyes »
and a mouth thatfpake g-reut things y ^hofi look "aias vi'irejloiit
than hisfelbz^js: I bdeld and the fame horn, made vjar '■j^ith ths
340 THE DOWNFALL OF
trous harlot is faid to Jit upon many waters;
with whom the kings of the earth have commit-
note;
faint Si and prevailed stgainjl them. And what was foretold of the
beaft having feven heads and ten horns. And it 'was given unto
him to make 'war 'with the faints, and to overcome them ; andpo'-w-
er 'was given hiyn over alt kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Alfo Holland, and the other low countries, were,for many years,
a fcene cf nothing but the nsoft affecting and amazing cruelties,
being deluged with the blood of Protefiants, under the mercilefs
hanris of the Spaniards, to whom they were then in fuhjedion. —
But in this perfecution the Devil in a great raeafure failed of his
purpofe, as it i/Tiicd in a great part of the Netherlands cafting off
the Spanifh yoke, and fettiag up a wealthy and powerful Proteft-
ant fiate, to the great defence of the Proteftani caufeever fince.
France alfo is another country which, fince the Reformation,
in fome refpe<^s, perhaps, more than any other, has been a fcene
of dreadful cruelties fuffered by the Proteftants there. After many
cruellies had been exercifed towards the Protefiants in that king-
dom, there was begun a perfecution of them in the year 15 71, in
the reign of Charles the IX. king of France.
It began with a cruel mafTacre, wherein feventy thoufand Pro-
teftants were flain in a few days time, as the king bcafted; and
in all this perfecution, he fiew, as is fiippofed, three hundred
thoufand martyrs. And it is reckoned, that about this time, with-
in thirty years, there were martyred in this kingdom, for the Pro-
. teftant religion, thirty-nine princes, one hundred and forty-eight
/ counts, two hundred and thirty-four barons, one hundred and
forty-feven thoufand five hundred and eighteen gentlemen, and
feven hundred and fixty thoufand of the common people.
The Parifian mafTacre was aggravated with feveral circumflan-
ces of wantonnefs and treachery; but we hope that the above num-
bers are exaggerated. Thuanus, their own hiftorian, reckons
thirty thoufand lives deftroyed in this flaughter; but Proteflant
anthors feem to have reafon for fuppofing them not lefs than one
hundred thoufand in the whole. But the moii horrid circumftance
in the hiflory is, that when tlic news of this event reached Rome,
pope Gregory XUL inftitaicd the moit fclemn rejoicings, giving
MYSTICAL BABYLON.
tedfornication, and the inhabitoMts of tlie earth
have been made drunk with the wine of her
fornication.
NOTE.
thanks to Almighty God for this glorious vi<Slory ! ! ! — An in-
fiance that has no parallel, even in hell.
But all thefe perfecutions were, for exquifite cruelty, far ex-
ceeded by thofe which followed in the reign of Lewis XIV. which,
indeed, are fuppofed to exceed all others that ever have been;
and being long continued by reafon of the long reign of that king,
almoft wholly extirpated the Proteftant religion out of that king-
dom, where had been before a multitude of famous Proteftant
churches all over the country.* Thus it was given to the beafl
to make war with the faints, and to overcome them.
* The Perfeciition U7ider Lenjcis XIF. — This followed the re-
vocation of the Edi6t of Nantes, a. d. 1685. The following ex-
tra6l is taken from a French work of reputation.
" The troopers, foldiers and dragoons went into the Proteftants*
houfes, where they marred and defaced their Iioufehold ftufF
broke their looking-glafTes, and other utenfils and ornan-.ents, let
their wine run about their cellars, and threw about their corn,
and fpoiled it. And as to thofe things which they could notxle-
ftroy in this manner, fuch as furniture of beds, linen, wearing ap-
parel, plate, &c. they carried them to the market place, and fold
them to the Jefuits and other Roman Catholics. By thefe means
the Proteflants in Montaubon alone were, in four or five days,
flripped of above a million of money. But this was not the worfl.
** They turned the dining-rooms of gentlemen into flables for
their horfes, and treated the owners of the houfes where they
quartered with the highefl indignity and cruelty, lafhing them a-
bout from one to another, day and night, without intermiflicn,
notfufFering them to eat or drink; and when they began to fink
under the fatigue and pains they had undergone, they laid them
on a bed, and when they thought them fomewhat recovered, made
them rife, and repeated the fame tortures. When they faw the
blood and fweat run down their faces and other parts of their bo-
dies, they fluiced them with waterj and putting over their heads
342 THE DOWNFALL OF
5. Was ancient Babylon a fcourge to the
people of God, and did (he bring them into
NOTE.
kettle-drums, turned npfide down, they made a continual din upon
th^m till thofe unhappy creatures loft their fenfes. When one
party of thefe tormentors were weary they were relieved b^^ ano-
iher, who pradifed the fame cruelties with frelh vigor.
At NegrepiiiTe, a town near Montaubon, they hung up Ifaac
Favin, 2 Piotsftant citizen of that place, by his arm-pits, and tor-
Fnented him a whole night by pinching and tearing off his flefli
with pincers. They made a great fire round a boy about twelve
years old, who, with hands and eyes lifted up to heaven, cried
out — " il> God, help me!" — And when they found the youth
Fcfolved to die rather than renounce his religion, they fnatched
tim from the firejud as he was on the point of being burnt.
*' In feveral places the foldiers applied red hot irons to the
Lands and feet of men, and the breads of women. At Nantes
they hung up fjveval women and maids by their feet, and others
by their arm-pits, and thus expofed them to public view llark-
naked. They bound mothers that gave fuck to pofts, and let their
fucking infants lie idnguifliing in their fight for feveral days and
nights, Giying, mourning and gafplng for life. Some they bound
before a great fire, and, being half roailed, let them go — a puniHi-
nient worie than death. Amidil a tlioufand hideous cries, and a
ihouiand blafphemies, they hung up men and women by the hair,
and foxf by their feet, on hooks in chimneys, and fmoaked them
with wifps of wet hay till they werfe fuffocated. They tied feme
under the arms with ropes, and plunged theai again and again in-
to wells. They bound others like criminals, put diem to the tor-
tuje, and with a funnel filled them v/ith wine, till the fumes of it
took avv'ay their reafon, when they made ihem fay rhey confented
to be Catholics. They fcripped them nakeJ, ana, after a thouf-
iind indignities, fluck them with pins and needles ftom head to
foot. They cut and flafhed them with knives, and fometimes with
red-hot pincers took hold of them by the nofe and other parts of
the body, and dragged them about the rooms till they made them
proraife to be Catholics, or till the cries of thefe miferable wretch-
es, calling upon God for help, forced them to let them go. They
beat them with ftaves; and thus bruifcdj and with broken bcnes.
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 343
a feventy years captivity? fo this anti-chrir-
tian power hath been a fcourge to the true
worlhippers of God in modern times, and
hath had a great part of the Chriftian church
NOTE.
dragc^ed them to church, where their forced prefence was taken
for an abjuration. In fome places they tied fathers and hufoands
to their bed-pofts, and, before their eyes, ravaged their wives and
daughters with impunity. They blew up men and women with
bellows till they burll them. If any, to efcape thefe barbarities,
endeavoured to fave themfelves by flight, they purfued them into
the fields and woods, where they (liot them like wild beafts, ajid
prohibited them from departing the kingdom, (a cruelty n^ver
pradifed by Nero or Dioclefian) wpon pain of conhfcation of ef-
tedts, thegallies, the lafh, and ^rpeiual imprifonment; infomuch
that the prifons of the fea-port t^owns were crammed v/ith men,
women and children, who endeavoured to fave themfelves by
fiiglit from this dreadful perfecution. With thefe fcenes of dcfo-
iation and horror, the popifh clergy feafted their eyes, and made
only a matter of laughter ar 1 fport of them.'*
0/Z'fr <:r«^///>/.~Befide the Proteftant blood Hied in thefe per-
fecutions, Popery has to anfwer for the lives of millions of Jews,
Mahometans, and barbarians. When the Moors conquered Spaio
in the eighth century, they allowed the Chriftians the free exer-
cife of their religion. But in the fifteenth century, when the ta-
bles were turned, and Ferdinand fubdued the Morifcoes, (thede-
fcendants of the a^ove Moors) many hundred thoufands of them
were forced to be baptized, or burnt, mafTacred, or baniHied, and
their children fold for flaves; befides an innumerable multitude of
Jews, who fhared the fame cruelties, chiefly by means of the infer-
nal Inquifition. A worfe flaiighter, if poffible, was made among
the natives of Spanin\ America, where fifteen millions are faid to
have been facrificed to the genius of Popery in the courfe of about
forty year?. Well, therefore, miglit the infpired apoflle fay, that
at my flic Babylon's deflrudion — hi her 'was found ths blood of
prophets^ a7id of faint s ^ and of all that nverd fain upon ths earthly
Rev. xviii. 24 [Sec Edv;ards's Hifcory of Redemption, with
notes, page 452, 459, of the London, or new American edition.')
344 '^^^ DOWNFALL OF
in more than Egyptian bondage for tv/elve
hundred years.
During this bondage it is that the two
WITNESSES — they^^ri) faithful, who, in every
age, have teftified to the truth ; (as fome have
fuppofed) but if fo, there may be alfo an al-
lufion, and perhaps a primary one, to the
TWO OLIVE TREES of the prophet's vifiou,
the anointed ones thatjiand by the Lord of the
whole earth.
The olive tree afforded light from its fat-
nefs, and nourifhm.ent from its fruit. Un-
derftanding, therefore, the purport of the
TWO WITNESSES, as explained by the an-
gel, to be the two olive trees, and the
Tv/o CANDLESTICKS, Jianding before the
God of the earthy I am rather inclined to
think, that they have a more extenfive, myf-
tical, and important meaning than v/hat they
have been generally underllood to imply.
If the olive trees and candlefticks were an
emblem of fpiritual and divine communica-
tions during their {landing in the Jewifh,
v/hat fhould hinder the fame application
whilfl they (land in the Chriftian church?
As the gifts and graces fhed down upon
the minifters of our bleffed Lord, and upon
his churches, after his afcenfion, were fup-
MYSTICAL BABYLON. ^45
pofed to have been typified or prefigured
by the anointing and common oil of the
fanfluary; fo the olive tree as giving light
and heat, and, I may add, nourilhment too.
Was found in the ufage and appointment of
heaven, no unbecoming reprefentation or
emblem of thofe fpiritual communications
which were then fhed upon the true wor-
fhippers, and which will ever be continued
as long as Chrift is the vine, or true olive,
and his people the needy branches.
May we not then fuppofe, that by thefe
TWO OLIVE TREES and the two candle-
stick S,j/?a7Z(iz?2^ before the God of the earthy
is meant the fources of divine and fpiritual
fupplies to his church, the mediiivi of com-
munication, or methods of outward and o-
pen exhibition; or {hall we fay, that the em-
blem may partake a little of each, andftand
a lively figure of them all?
If you afiv how this interpretation can cdrt-
fift with the epithet, with their being called
xvitnejfes, it may be anfwered, they are juftly
and literally fo to be ftiled. Are not the
Word of God preached, and his ordinance^
adminiftered, by his faithful minifters, pro-
perly to be (tiled witnesses for God?-^
Uu
346 THE DOWNFALL OF
And if you choofe to retain the number tico,
may we not fay the^m^ and the word,v7\\\\
their ufual and outward methods of admini-
ftration^ are fignified; or fay the word, and
the ordinances of God in general, or the
whole exhibition of the teftimony of God?
whether in things inward and fpiritual, or
in things outward and vifible?
With this interpretation agrees well the
idea of their prophefying 2?ij^<;/^(:/^^/z; for
no one can pretend, but the adminiftration
of the word and worfliip of God, in the Ro-
milh church, is fo beclouded by ignorance,
ftiled darknefs ; by fuperftition and error,
and by the miniftry of a corrupt priefthood,
as to layjuft foundation to fay, that the wit-
nefles, with this interpretation, are empha-
tically prophefying in fackcloth.
With the fame ideaconfifts, very exaQIy,
the term of time in which thefe witneffes are
appointed to prophefy: — It is during the
whole reign of Antichrift, the forty-two
months, or twelve hundred and fixty years.
And J zvill give, or appoint, unto my tzco zoit-
nejfes, and they jliall prophefy a thoufand tzco
hundred and threefcore days, clothed in fack-
cloth.
With the fame interpx'etation agrees the
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 347
declai'ation or expofition of the angel in the
next verfe. Thefe are //z^ t w o o l i v e t r e e s
and the two candlesticks Jianding be-
fore the God of the earth. And, in faft, there
feems nothing in the chapter but what may,
with as great apparent truth, be reconciled
to this interpretation, as to any other; and
there are forne things in it which cannot,
with eafe, be interpreted as applicable to the
witneffes, in any other fenfe, underftood or
explained.
And if any fhould be difpofed to believe,
that the prefent reigning perfecuting infidel
power, now waging war againfl: all revealed
religion, in France, is likely to be the death
of thefe fame witneffes, who, for a long time,
have already been made to prophefy in fack-
cloth, perhaps the opinion may find fupport
from the declaration of the angel : And when
they Jliall have fijiijlicd tluir tejlimony, the
beajl that afoendeth out of the bottomlefs pit^
fiall make war againjl them, andfliall over-
come them, and kill them. If this interpre-
tation be true, the mourning witneffes are
now fuflfering death in thofe parts of myfli-
cal Babylon, where the exifling exterminate /
ing power has prevailed.
Did time allow, and was the prefent a
348 THE DOWNFALL OF
proper place in the order of my difcourfe, I
might expound upon the whole chapter, and
eahly reconcile any expreflions which, at firft
view, might appear intricate, or doubtful,
to the fpirit of this interpretation. Suffice
it, for the prefent, to fay, that \vith this in^
terpretation agrees well the declaration made
refpefting the injury thefe witnefTes are able
to do their enemies. And if any man will
hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouthy
and devoureth their enevnes. And of no-
thing (hort of the adminiftration of Heaven
can it be faid : Thefe have power tofiut hea*
ven, that it rain not in the days of their pro-!
phecVc And of nothing {hort of this can it
|)e [sLid-^They have power over waters to turn
them to blood, and to finite the earth with ail
plagues as often as they wilL And very cor-
refpondent to the death of the witneffes, and
10 the lying of their dead bodies inihejlreet
qf the great city, is the death, the broken
and demolifhed ftate of external religion
in thofe parts of Papal Rome, in which the
prefent exterminating power hath prevail-
ed. And equally correfpondent is the decla-
rauon, that they of the people, and tongues, and
nations; probably thofe nations and churches
out of the communion of the church of Rome^
MYSTICAL BABYLON. g^g
Jhallfee their dead bodies three days and an
half, andyhy a more lively adminiftration of
the word and ordinances of God, J/iall not
fuffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
And over the death of thefe witnefTes it
is, that the men of this world Jliall rejoice,
and make merry, and Jliall fend gifts 'one to
another; becaiife thefe two prophets torment- -
ed them that dwelt on the earth.
To the refurreftion and final exaltation
of thefe witneffes well applies the verfes
fucceeding. And after three days arid an
half, thefpirit of life from God entered into
them, and they food upon their feet, andp-reat
fear fell upon them thatfaw them. And they
heard a great voice from heaven, fayino- unto
them — Come up hither » And they afcended
up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies be-
held them. During thefe events it is faid
And the fame hour was there an earthquake.
May it not mean the earthquake now begun
— the prefent convulfions amongft the na-
tions, (for fo in prophetic ftile the word fig-
nifies) which are to be fucceeded by the op-
ening of the temple of God in heaven. And
the temple of God was opened in heaven, and
there was feen, in his temple, the ark of his
tejlament; and there were lightnings, andvoi-
250 Antichrijl's Fall groundlefsly
'this was a member of the Chriftian churchy
and fet by God in the moft eminent ftation
in his church, ar<d was honoured above all
other princes that ever had been in the world,
as the great proteflor of his church, and her
deliverer from the perfecuting power of that
cruel fcarlet-coloured bead. Mr. Lowman
himfelf ftyles him a Chriftian Prince ^ and Pro^
teElorof the Chrijiian Religion. God is very-
careful not to reckon his own people among
■ the Gentiles, the vifible fubjecls of Satan,
Num. X xiii. 9. The people Jliall not be reckoned
among the nations. God will not enroll them
with them ; if they happen to be among them,
he will be careful to fet a mark upon them,
. as a note of diftinftion, Rev. vii. 3, &c. when
God is reckoning up his own people, he
leaves out thofe that have been noted for
idolatry. As among the tribes that were
fealed. Rev. viii. thofe idolatrous tribes of
Ephraim and Dan are left out, and in the
genealogy of Chrift, Matth. i. thofe princes
that were chiefly noted for idolatry, are left
' out. Much more would God be careful not
to reckon his own people, efpecially fuch
Chriflian princes as have been the moft e-
minent inilruments of overthrowing idola-
try, amongft idolaters, and as members and
fuppofed at a very great Dijlance. 251
heads of that kingdom that is noted in fcrip-
ture as the moft notorious and infamous of
all, for abominable idolatry, and oppofition
and cruelty to the true worfhippers of God.
And efpecially not to reckon them as pro-
perly belonging to one of thofe feven heads
of this monarchy, of which very heads it is
particularly noted that they had on them
the names of blasphemy, which Mr. Low*
man himfelf fuppofes to fignify idolatry. It
was therefore worthy of God, agreeable to
his manner, and what might w^ell be expeft-
ed, that when he was reckoning up the fe^
veral fucceffive heads of this beaft, and Con-
ftantine and his fucccfTors came in the way,
and there was occafion to mention them, to
fet a mark, or note of diftinftion on them,
fignifying that they did not properly belong
to the bcafl, nor were to be reckoned as be-
longing to the heads, and therefore are to
be fkipped over in the reckoning, and Anti-
chrift, though the eighth head of the Roman
empire, is to be reckoned the feventh head
of the beaft. This appears to me abundant-
ly the moft juft and natural interpretation
ofRev. xvii. 10, u. It is reafonable to fup-
pofe, that God would take care to make
fuch a uote in this prophetical defcription
252 Antichrijl's Fall groundlefsly
of this dreadful beaft, and not, by any means
to reckon Conftantine as belonging properly
to him. — If we reckon Conftantineas a mem-
ber of this bcaft having feven heads and ten
horns, defcribed chap. xvii. and as properly
one of his heads, then he was alfo properly
a member of the great red dragon with fe-
ven heads and ten horns that warred with
the woman, chap. xii. For the feven heads
and ten horns of that dragon, are plainly
the fame with the feven heads and ten horns
of the bead. So that this makes Conftantine
a vifible member of the devil; for v/e are
told exprefsly of that dragon, ver g. that he
was that old fer pent, called the Devil and Sa-
tan. And to fuppofe that Conftantine is
reckoned as belonging to one of the heads
of that dragon, is to make thefe prophecies
inconfiflent with themfelves. For herein this
12th chapter, we have reprefented a war be-
tween the dragon and the woman cloathed
with the fun; which woman, as all agree, is
the church; but Conftantine, as all do alfo
agree, belonged to the woman, was a mem-
ber of the Chriftian church, and was on that
fide in the war againftthe dragon; yea,w^as
the main inRrument of that great viftory
that was obtained over the dragon there fpo*
fappofed at a very great Dijiance. 253
ken of, ver. g — 12. What aninconfiftency
therefore is it, to fuppofe that he was at the
fame time a member and head of that very
dragon, which fought with the woman, and
yet which Conflantine himfelf fought with,
overcame, and glorioufly triumphed over!
It is not therefore to be wondered at, that
God was careful to diflinguifh Conftantine
from the proper heads of the beaft ; it would
have been a wonder if he had not. God feems
to have been careful to diflinguifh him, not
only in his word, but in his providence, by
fo ordering it that this Chriflian emperor
fhould be removed from Rome, the city that
God had given up to be the feat of the pow-
er of the beafl, and of its heads, and that
he fhould have the feat of his em.pire elfe-
where.
Conflantine was made the ihflrument of
givinga mortal wound to the heathen Roman
empire, and giving it a mortal wound in its
head, viz. the heathen emperors that were
then reigning, Maxentius and Licinius. —
Butmore eminently was this glorious change
in the empire owing to the power of God's
word, the prevalence of the glorious gofpel,
by which Conftantine himfelf was convert-
ed, and fo became the inflrument of the o-
254 Aiytichrijl's Fall groundlef sly
verthrow of the heathen empire in the eafl
and weft'. The change that was then bro't
to pafs, is reprefented as the deftru6tion of
the heathen empire, or the old heathen world,
and therefore feems to be compared to that
diflblution of heaven and earth that (hall be
at the day of judgment. Rev. vi. 12. to the
end. And therefore^ well might the heathen
empire, under the head which was then reign-
ing, be reprefented as wounded to death,
chap. xiii. 3. It is much more likely, that
the wound the beaft had by a fword, in his
head, fpoken of ver. 14, was the wound that
the heathen empire had in its head, by that
fword w^hich we read of, chap. i. 16. and
xix. 15. that proceeds out of the mouth of
Chrift, than the wound that was given to the
Chriftian empire and emperor by the fworci
of the heathen Goths. It is moft likely that
this deadly wound w^as by that fvv^ord w^ith
which Michael made war with him, and o-
vercame him, and caft him to the earth, chap,
xii. g, and that the deadly wound which was
given him, was given him at that very time.
It is moft likely, that the fword that gave hirn
this deadly wound, after which he llrangely
revived, as though he rofe from the dead, was
the fame fword with that which is fpoken of.
fwppofd at d very great Dijiance. 25/j
as what fhall at lafl utterly deflroy him, (b that
he fhall never rife more, chap, xix. 15, 19,
20, 21. This wounding of the head of the
bead by the deitruction of the heathen em-
pire, and converfion of the emperor to the
Chriftian truth, w^as a glorious event indeed
of Divine Providence, worthy to be fo much
fpoken of in prophecy. It is natural to fup-
pofe, that the mortal vv^ounding of the head
of that favage cruel beaft, that is reprefent-
ed as conflantly at w^ar with the woman, and
perfecuting the church of Chrift, fhould be
fome relief to the Chriftian church; but, on
the contrary, that w^ounding to death, that
Mr. Lowman fpeaks of, was the viftory of
the enemies of the Chriftian church over her^
and the wound received from them.
It is faid of that head of the empire that
(liall be next after the fixth head, and . next
before Antichrift, and that is not reckoned
as properly one of the number of the heads
of the beaft, that when it comes, it JliaU con-
tinue ajlwrtfpace, chap. xvii. 10. By w^hich
we may undcrftand, at leaft, that it fhall be
one of the (horteft, in its continuance, of the
fucceffive heads. But the government feat-
ed at Ravenna, in the hands of the Goths,
or of the deputies of the Greek emperors,'
gg6 THE DOWNFALL OF
that thoujlialt take up this proverb againjl the
king of Babylon, and fay — How hath the op^
preffor ceafed! The golden city ceafed! — The
jjohoLe earth is at ref, and is quiet, they break
forth into fin ging : Yea, the fir-trees rejoice at
thee, and the cedars of Lebanon fiaying — Since
thou art laid down, no feller has come up a^
gainfi us. Hell from beneath is moved for thee,
to meet thee at thy coming: itfiirreth up the
dead for thee.
Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and
the nofe of thy viols; the wormis fpreadun^
flcr thee, and the worms cover thee.
How art thou fallen from, heaven, Luci^
fir! Son of the Morning, hovj art thou cut
down to the ground, ^ohich d.id tveahcn the
nations!
TJiey tliatfie theefiiall narrowly look upon
thee and confider thee,fiaying — Is this the man
that made tlie earth to tremble? thatdidfiiake
kingdoms? that m.ade the world as a zoilder-
nefs? and defiroyed the cities thereof? tJiat
opened not the houfc of the pr if oners?
' For I tvtll arife up aga.infi t/iem faith the
LordofiHqfts, and cut off rom Babylon the
name and remnant, thefion and nephew fiatth
the Lord. Iwillalfio make it a poffeffionfor
ihc bittern, and pools ofi zvater; and I will
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 357
fweep it with the befovi of deJlniElion faith the
Lord of Hofls,
Having thus taken but a very brief fur-
vey oith^ joyful, though aioful expreffions
of exultation at the deftruftion of ancient
Babylon, let us, for a moment, examine what
there is, upon facred record, to anfwer this
emblem in refpeft to the downfall of myfti-
cal Babylon. — And after thefc things Ifaw
another angel come dozonfrom heaven, hav-
ing great power ; and the earth was lightened
with his glory. And he cried mightily with a
firong voice, faying, Babylon the great is fal-
len, is fallen, and is become the habitation of
devils, and the hold of every foul fpirit, and a
cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For
all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath
cf her fornication, and the kings of the earth
have committed fornication with her, and the
merchants of the earth are zvaxed rich thro'
the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard
another voice from heaven, faying, Come out
of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of
her fins, and that ye receive not of her plagues :
For her fins have reached unto heaven, and
God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward
her even as fie rewarded you, and double un-
to her double^ according to her works: in the
358 THE DOWNFALL OF
cup ivhichjlie hath filled, Jill to her double.
How much file hath glorified herfielf, and lived
delicioufiy , fio much torment and fiorrozo give
her: for fiie faith m her heart, I fit a queens
and am no xoidozv, and fiiall fiee no fiorrow.
Therefore fiiall her plagues come in one day,
death, and mourning, and famine; andfiie
Jhall be utterly burnt with fire: for firong is
the Lord God loho judgeth her. And the kings
of the earth, zoho have committed fornication
and lived delicioufiy zoith her , fiiall bezoail her ,
and lament for her, zjohen they fiiall fee the
fnoke of her burning. Standing afar of for
the fear of her torment, faying, Alas, alas!
that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for
in one Iioiir is thy judgment come. And the
merchants of tlie earth fiiall zoeep and mourn
over Jier : for no man buyeth their merclian-
dife any more: The merchandife of gold, and
fdoer, and precious fiones, and of pearls, and
fine linen, and purple, andfilk, andfcarlet,
and all thyme zuood, and all manner vcffels of
ivory, and all manner vefi'els of mofi precious
zuood, and ofbrafs, and iron, and marble, and
cinnainon, and odours, and ointments, and
frankincenfe, and zjcine, and oil, and fine fiour,
and zjoheat, and beafis, andfiieep, and horfes,,
andchm'iots, andfitaves, and fouls of men, —
MYSTICAL BABYLON. ^59
And the fruits that thy foul lufeth after are
departed from thee^ and all things which were
■dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and
thoufialt find them no more at alL The merch-
ants ofthefe things, which were made rich by
her, fiall fand afar off, for the fear of her
torment, weeping and wailing. And faying,
Alas, alas! that great city, that was clothed
in fine linen, and purple, and fcarlet, and
decked with gold, and precious fanes, and
pearls! For in one hour fo great riches is come
to nought. And every fiip-mafer, and all the
company in flips, andfailors, and as many as
trade by fe a, food afar off, and cried, when
they f 110 the f nolle oflier burning, faying —
What city is like unto this great city! And
they caf difl on their lieads, and cried, weep-
ing and wailing, faying, Alas, alas! that great
city, wlierein were made rich all that had flips
intliefea by reafon of her coflinefs! for in
one hour fie is made defolate. Rejoice over
licr, thou heaven, and ye holy apofles andpro-
pliets; for God hath avenged you on her. And
a miglity angel took up afone like a great mil-
ftone, and cofi it into tliefea, faying. Thus
with violence fiall tliat great city Babylon be
tlirown down, and fiall be found no more at
all. And the voice of harpers, and mificians,
366 THE DOWNFALL OF
and of pipers, and trumpeters, piall be heard
no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of
whatfoever craft he be, shall be found any
more in thee; and the found of a milfone shall
be heard no more at all in thee; and the light
of a candle shall shfne no more at all in thee;
and the voice of the bridegroom and of the
bride shall be heard no more at all iri thee:
for thy merchants were the great men of the
earth; for by thy forceries were all nations
deceived^ And in her wasfound^the blood of
prophets, and of faints^ and of all that zvere
flain upon the earth,
" And after thefe things I heard a great
" voice of much people in heaven, faying,
" Alleluia! Salvation, and glory, and honor,
" and power, unto the Lord our God: For
" true and righteous are hi^ judgments; for
" he hath judged the great whore, which did
** corrupt the earth with her fornication,
" and hath avenged the blood of his fervants
** at her hand. And again they faid, Alle-
" luia! And her fmoke rofe up for ever and
" ever. And the four and twenty elders, and
*' the four beafts, fell down and worfliipped
" God that fat on the throne faying, Amen ;
"Alleluia! — And a voice came out of the
" throne^ frying, Praife our God, all ye hb
MYSTICAL BABYLOiNT* 3S1
**. fervants, ftnd ye that fear him^ both fmall
*' and great. And I heard as it were the voice
" of a great mukitude, and as the voice of
*' many waters, and as the voice of mighty
" thunderings, fay ingj Alleluia! for the Lord
" God omnipotent reigneth.
Did time allow, I might follow feveral o-
ther prophecies in their application to this
fame anti-chriftian churchy and fhew the e--
vidence they all carry of a threatened over-
throw; but I fliall wave this fortheprefent^
expreffing all neceffary to be expreffed in
this place, in the vv^ords of an eminent Eng-
lilh writer on this fubjeft,*
'' The prophecies of Daniel, St. Paul, and
St. John^ though /%^ of great weight, re-
ceive additional force if brought near and
illuftrated by each other. Having already
examined them feparately, and apart, let us
now confider them together, and colle6lthe
evidence that arifes when they are taken in
one view, and form an entire and perfect
whole.
From the moft curfory vie\\r of the three
prediftions it is evident, that the fame fchemS
Yy
NOTE.
* Sec Hallifax*3 Sermons, page 3*8*
362 THE DOWNFALL OF
and conflitution of things, the fame events^,
perfons and times, the origin, continuance
and deftruftion of the fame tyrannical pow-
er, (which power, by Daniel, is noted by the
appellation of the little horn, by St. Paul is
denominated the vian i?/'^,?;!, and by St. John
is branded with the titles of the beajl, and
xh^falfe prophet:) are ^?/?m^/); foretold ia
alL
If Daniel defcribes the kingdom in which
the little horn was to arife, by fuch emblems
as can belong to none but the Roman, the
fame emblems, to pre-figure the kingdom of
the beafl and the falfe prophet, are alfo em-
ployed by St. John, from whom we farther
learn, thathis appropriated place of refidence
is the city of Rome.
If Daniel reftrains the fovereignty of this
Roman pov/er to the European or weftern
. part of the empire, after it was divided into
ten (hares, the fame reftriftion is intimated
in one of the epiftles of St. Paul, and is more
explicitly declared by the beloved difciple
in the Apocalypfe. If Daniel reprefents the
^nature of this ufurped dominion as different
from any other, St. Paul and St. John in-
flruct u,s, that this diverfity confifls in its be-
ing fpiritual, not a civil dominion, whicl^is^
MtSTlCAL BABYLON/ ^Sj^
therefore to be fought for, not m the Heath-
en, but in Chriftiaii Rome. If the inftanccs
in which this fpiritual dominion is exerted,
according to Daniel, be chiefly thefe — afpir-
ing to fupreme and uncontroulable authori-
ty over the inhabitants of the earth — affeft-
ing divine titles and honors — enjoining the
worfliip of daemons and departed faints —
prohibiting marriage — working falfe mira-
cles — and perfecuting and killing thofe who
oppofe its claims; the fame particulars are
related, and with new additions and expli-
cations in the writings of St. Paul and St.
John. If the duration of this ecclefiaftical
polity be limited by Daniel to a time, and
times, and the dividing of time, the fame dura-
tion is expreffed, and, in a variety of phrafes,
by St. John, by whom the reign of the beaft
is fixed to a time, and times, and half a time,
or to three years and an half, or forty-two
months, or twelve hundred and fixty days.
And laftly, if the demolition of this ex-
traordinary polity be denounced by the pro-
phet of the Old Teftament, the fame inte-
refting event is promifed by the two apof-
tles of the Nevv^ Such a number of coinci-
dencies, all fo ftrange and unufual in their
kinds, to be found in the compofitions of
364 THE DOWNFALL OF
three perfons, living in diffei^nt, and one in
a very remote period, cannot fairly be a-
fcribed to any other caufe than to the im-
pulfe oS. \h^ felf-fmie Jpirit, who taught them
all things, which it was neceffary fhould be
communicated for the admonition of the
church of Chrid, upon whom the ends of the
zcorld fnould covie.
Now of the eharafters recorded in fcrip-
ture, as the undoubted marks of Antichrift,
many, at leaf!:, have been (hew^n to belong,
exclufively, to tjie tyranny nov/ exifting in
Papal Rome. Yox^firji of all, this power
is certainly a Roman one: Secondly, it is
confined to the limits cf the Latin, or wefl^
ern empire: Thirdly, it arofe among the ten
kingdoms into which that empire was parted
by the northern barbarians; Fourthly, its
throne or feat is in the city of Rome: Fifth-
ly, it is a Chriftian power; ?LnA,fixthly, it is
difcriminated from all others, by being of the
fpirituai or ecclefiaftic kind. Thefe are cir-
cumllances fo plainly realized in that part
of Chriftendom which is fubjefl to the Ro-
man Pontiff, that it is not poflible, by any
ait or fubtilty of our adverfaries, they cau
be evaded or denied."*
NOTE..
* See the eleventh of Bilhop Hurd's Sermons on \\\t Proihg-
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 365
After fuch teftimony and volumes to the
fame effefl: which might be produced, if ne-
cefTary, you will not deem it harlh, uncha-
ritable, or unfair, if I fay, the objeft pointed
at in thefe prophecies, muft infallibly be the
prefent tyrannical, though, blefled be God!
the tottering church of Papal Rome. This
is the haughty Babylon, and this is the zoo-
man arrayed in purple andfcarlet-colour, and
decked with gold andpreciousjlones, and pear Is,
having a golden cup in her hand,full of abo-
minations, and filthincfs of her fornication.
And this is the ivonian,u^on whok forehead
zcasaname written, mystery, babylon
THE GP.EAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS,
<l?Z^ ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And
this is the woman that was feen drunken with
the blood of the faints, and with the blood of
the martyrs of Jefus, And this is thtioovian
■ that is denominated by the great city which
reigneth over the kings of the earth.
If, in this place, you think proper to afk
any thing refpefting the rife, continuance,
and final deftruclicn of this multi-formed
NOTE.
cies, where the prophetic characters of Antichrlft, above defcrib-
ed, are fiiewn, and in a very fatisf'adlory way, to be, fairly, appli-
cable to the chuich of Rome.
366 ^HE DOWNFALL OF
devouring monfter, I anfwer, briePiy, that
according to the prefent mod approved cal-
culations we are authorized to lay, that the
origin of this anti-chriftian power was gra-
dual, though its aftual continuance is feve^ :
ral times plainly expreffed by the prophets
to be tioelve hundred and Jixty years,
" Sometime between a. d. 500, and tha
end of the reign of the Goths, w^hich was a, .
D. 553, when Narfes tool^ Rome and their
dominions in Italy from them, and began
the exarchate of Ravenna, the reckoning of
tw^elve hundred and fixty years mufl begin.
But Antichrift cannot be fuppofed to Hart
up into view at once, in ^ fudden manner,
as he will not fall without many preparatory
circumjlances. He becan^e, by degrees, dif-
tineuifhable. and doubtlefs his ruin will be
brought on by feveral fleps in Providence.
Therefore, if we begin at the earlieft date^
when we may fuppofe he fird prefented him-
felf to view, the end of the period will bring
us to the firil fleps towards his fall ; but if
we begin at the lateft time, twelve hundred
and Jixty years, will bringus to the complete
ruin of his power.
The firft open breach between the weft-
em and eaftern churches was, as w^e have
AfYSTICAL BABYLOr. 367
faid, about the year 500. To reckon: twelve
hundred and fixty years from that time brings
us to A. D. 1760. And it is remarkable that
from that very year, v/hen the Jefuits had
excited the refentments of the kings of Eu-
rope, which finally brought on the diffolu-
tion of that order,, the power of the church
of Rome has been very apparently declin-
ing,, and feveral plain fleps have been taken
by the providence of God toward her ut-
ter deflruftion. Convents have been fup-
prefied, and their revenues feized in king-
doms w^here fuperflition had long reigned
without controuL
The infernal Courts of Inquifition have
received fevere checks, by which they are
likely to be foon annihilated, in countries
moft noted for Romifh bigotry.
Liberty of confcience has been given tO
Proteftants in nations which had loner beea
devoted to the papacy.
Roman Catholic princes begin to with-
hold from Rome the cuftomary revenues.
Even a late Pope, by his liberal writing??,
lias lent his help to render Romifh fuperftr-
tion ridiculous. And appearances arejiill
proceedings^
NOTE.
* Langdon en RereJatlon, page 2.66-
368 THE DOWNFALL OF
If, on the ground of the calculation juft
now mentioned, we proceed, the conclufion
obvioully is, that the deftruftion of Babylon
\% very near at hand. If to 1760, the date
of the commencement of her fall, be added
fifty years, the term in which (he is fuppof-
ed to be falling, the fum will be the period
of her expefted overthrow. And from ap-
pearances, now before us, we have good
ground to conclude, that, if the decree of
Heaven goes on for fixteen years to come,
until 1810, as it has for four years paft, the
denunciation for the deftruftion of Babylon
will be fully accomplifhed.
As to times and feafons, it is not for us
exaflly to know; and whatever miftakes we
make in our calculation of numbers, it does
not however, at all alter the decree, or poft-
pone the effeft.
Hear the tedimony of an eminent divine
on this fubjed.*
" Whatever miflakes the Jewifh Rabbles
" might fall into in their interpretation of Da-
'* niel's feventy weeks, and in their attempts
" to fix the precife time of the Meffiah's com-
NOTE.
* Dodor Bellamy's difcourfe on the Millennium, piibliihed ti*
X75S>— piige 34 of this work.
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 3^9
„ mg; and whatever miftaken notions any of
" them had about the nature of his kincrdom,
•' as though it was to be of this world, and
*' he to appear in all earthly grandeur, and
'' although his coming, to (bme, might feem
'* to be fo long delayed, that they b gan to
*' give up all hopes of it, and to ccntrive
*' fome other meaning to the ancient pro-
'^ phecies, or even to call in queftion the in-
*' fpiration of the prophets; yet neither the
*' mijlakes of fome, nor the infidelity of o-
** thers, at all, altered the cafe. Days, and
** months, and years haftened along, and one
** revolution, among the kingdoms of the
*' earth, followed upon another, till the ful"
" nefs of time was come, till all things were
" ripe, and then, behold, the Meffiah was
" born! Even fo it fhall be now.
" Whatever miftakes Chriftian Divines
" may fall into, in their interpretation of fix
** hundred and fixty-fix, the number of the
" beail, or in their endeavors to fix the pre-
'^ cife time when the twelve hundred and
*^ fixty years of Antichrill's reign fiiall begin
" and end ; or whatever wrong notions fome
*^ may have had, or may have about the na-
** ture of the Millennium, a^ though Chrill
Zz
370 THE DOWNFALL OF
" was to reign, perfonally, on earth; and if.
'^ fome, mean while, begin to think that all
" things will go on as they have done, and to
'•' conclude, that the expedation of thefeglori-
" ous days which has prevailed in the Chrif-
*' tian church, from the beginning, is merely
^' agroundlefsfancy; yet none of thefe things
" w^iil at all alter the cafe. Days, and months/
" and years, will haflen along, and one revo-
" lution, among the kingdoms of the earthy
" follow upon another, until the fitlnefs of
*' tivie is come; till all things are ripe for
^' the event; and then the miniflers of Chrift
*^ will accomplifh, in reality, what St. John
*^ faw in his vifions : Ifazo an angel Jly in the
*^ viidji of heaven, having the everlajiing gof-
*' pel to preach unto them that dwell on the
" earth, and to every 7iatiooi, and kindred, and
^' tongue, and people. And then fhall it come
" to pafs, that the veil of ignorance which
*' hath fo long fpread over all na.UonsJIiali
" be dejiroyed, and knowledge fliall fo great-
*' ly increafe, that it fliall be as though the
*' light of the moon were as the light of the
'-fun; and the light of the fan fev enfold, un-
" til the knowledge of the Lord cover the earth
^' as the waiters do thefea. And then there
^'fliall be nothing to hurt or offend in all God's
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 37I
" holy mountain. For Babylon (liall fall, Sa-
*' tan be bound, and Chrift will reign, and
*' truth and righteoufnefs univerfally prevail
*' a tliouf and years.''
Having, thus, confidered who it is over
whofe deftruftion all holy beings are called
to rejoice, and fa id fomething of the origin,
continuance, and expefted downfall of this
power, I proceed,
11. To confider the caiife of this awful dif-
after.
Rejoice over her thou heaven, and ye holy
apojlles and prophets ; for God hath avenged
you on her.
If we confine our refearchcs after the pro-
curing caufe of this difafter to the appenda-
ges of Babylon, we fhall find it in her ozon
guilt.
Permit me to point out her guilt as hint-
ed at in the chapter from which my text is
taken.
1. Babylon is charged with the extent of
her idolatry.
The kings of the earth have committed for-
nication with her; that is, have been em-
braced by her idolatrous communion — unit-
ed with her in a general apoftacy from God.
2. She is charged with a felfifh, mercena"
372 THE DOWNFALL OF
r\^ fpirit in the concerns of her adminiftra«
tion. The merchants of the earth are waxed
rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
*' By the merchants underftand all fuch as
trade in Babylon's wares; her pleafing and
CO ly wares of pardons, mafTes and indul-
gencies, by which fo many are enriched; as
well as thofe who trade in images, and in all
the coftly trappings of their idolatrous wor-!
iliip, and efpecially in the fouls of men."
3, She is fpoken of as contaminating ?^nA
endangering thofe who tarried within her li-
mits, expofmg the people of God to be be-
witched by her forceries. And I heard an-,
other voice from heaven, faying, Come out of
her my people, that ye he not partakers of her
fns, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
My brethren, doth not this folemn decree,,
for the feparation of God's people from the
fins and abominations of Babylon^ preach
to us in thefe United States, even to us, who
inhabit this afylurn of the diftreffed, to be-
ware of the habits, cufloms, influence and
inchanting prerogatives of thofe who are
fleeing before the vengeance of an incenfed
God ? Be not partakers of her fins, that ye re-
ceive not of her plagues.
Xbis caution is fupported by the annum-
MYSTICAL BAB/LON. 373
elation of the angel of God. And there foU
lowed another angel, faying, Babylon is fallen,
is fallen, that great city, becaufefie made all
nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her
fornication. And the third angel followed
them, faying with a loud voice, If any man
zoorjhtp the heafl and his image, and receive
his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the
famefiall drink of the-wine of the wrath of
God, which is poured out without mixture in-*
to the cup of his indignation: and hefiallbe
torjnented loithfire and brimfone in the pre"
fence of the holy angels, and iii the prefence of
the Lamb,
4. The guilt of Babylon is Ipoken of as
fending forth a cry: For her fns have reach-
ed unto heaven, and God hath remembered her
iniquities. Either a cry of the perfecuted
and fuffering church, or a cry for vengeance.
And when he had opened^ the fifth feal, I faio
under the altar the fouls of them that were
fain for the word of God, and for the tefiimo-
ny which they held. And they cried toith a loud
voice, faying. How long, holy ojnd true, dojt
thou not judge and avenge our blood on them
that dwell on the earth? And white robes were
given unto every one of them; and it was [aid
imto t/ieiUs thattheyffiouldrefl yet for a little
374 ^^^ DOWNFALL OF
feafon, until their fellow-fervants alfo, and
their brethren, that fJiould be killed as they
toere^JIiould be fulfilled,
5. A remembrance of the perfecuting fpi-
rit of this anti-chriftian power is fpoken of
as warranting a decree for vengeance from
the Court of lieaven. Reward her even as
file rewarded you, and double unto her double^
according to her work; in the cup which fiie
hath filled, fill to her double.
It is probable this injunction or command
is given to the minifters— to the miniflering
angels of God's judgments, in behalf of his
church; and though it doth not call for the
peaceful followers of the Lamb to wage a
carnal warfare wnth this intolerant power,
yet it doubtlefs authorifes our prayers that
her dellruflion may be fpeedy and inevit-
able.
6. The lad inherent caufe of this awful
calamity I (hall mention, is found in the pride
and haughtinefs, luxury and voluptuoufnefs
of this felf exalted anti-chriftian powder. — >
How much file hath glorificcd herfielfi and liv-
ed delicioufiy,fio much torment and fiorrozo
give her. For fine fiaith in her heart — Ifiit a
queen, ayid am no widow, and fiiall fiee nofior-
rovj. Thercfiore fiiall her plagues come in one
MYSTICAL BABYLON, 375
day, death, and mourning, and famine: and
fiejhall be utterly burned with fire : for Jlrong
is the Lord God loho judgeth her.
I am led to conclude this branch of my
difcourfe, by adding, that they??Z(2/caufe of
the deftruftion of Babylon is ihefentence of
God againil her. This fentence is pronoun-
ced by an angel from the court, from the tri-
bunal of heaven. And he cried inightily with
afirong voice, faying, Babylon the great is
fallen, is fallen. And a mighty angel took up
afione like a great milftone, and caft it into
the fe a, faying. Thus toith violence fiiall that
great city Babylon be thrown down, andfhall
be found no more at all. If you afk the rea-
fon of this judicial fentence from the tribu-
nal of heaven, it is faid — For by thy forcer ies
were all nations deceived. And in her was
found the blood of prophets, and of faints, and
of all that zcerefiain upon the earth*
Having pointed out who it is over whofe
deftrufiion holy angels and men are called
upon to rejoice, and conhdered the caifeoi
this awful cataftrophe, my fubjeft leads,
III. To confider the means by which this
event fhall be brought about.
And what 7neans, my audience, fhould you
fuppofe might be adequate to fuch a talk?
376 THE DOWNFALL OF
to the tafl^ of overturning a power which hath
fubfifted more than twelve hundred years,
fupported by the kings of the earth, who
drink of her cup, and delight in her force-
ries — who have long fince lent their aid for
her fupport againft the voice of reafon — the
demands of Heaven, and the cries of per-
ifning thoufands? — What pow^r is equal to
the talk of accomplifhing even the decree of
Heaven againil fuch might, fuch united force
as Babylon is able to bring into the field?
more efpecially, when you confider that for
the terror of her enemies, and for the com-
fort of her friends, this intolerant power pro-
feffes to have in poffeffion the keys of hea-
ven and of hell?
Retreat you will be ready to fay from fuch
a taPis.! Let no one be fo prefumptuous as to
provoke her to anger, as to flir up her fury !
— Many have been devoured by this levia-
than, by this multi-formed, infatiable mon-
fter; and God forbid that any more fhould
befwallowed up, whilfl: they are able to make
but a feeble, though honed attempt!
Our fears, my friends, are relieved whilft
I read to you, from the infpiration of God,
that the angel that pronounces the decree of
deftruftion is commiffioned from the Court
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 377
of Heaven ; has great power, and that the
earth is lightened zoith his glory. And to
fupport the executioner of the fentence it is
a.ddcd,forJtrong is the Lord God zoho judg-
eth her^
As then the decree hath its origin inhea-
veri, and the promulgation of it is by a mef-
fenger from Heaven, we are authorifed to
look to Heaven for means to accompHfii
what its decree hath ordained.
Did it pleafe the Lord of Hofts, in an-
cient time, to promife dehverance to the He-
brews in Egyptian bondage; and did he not
gracioufly provide the means of deliverance?
—Was it in after times threatened againfl
this rebellious people that, for their hypo-
crify and fins, they fliould go into captivi-
ty ; and did not a righteous God provide the
means to execute the fentence? — Hear the
appointment of heaven to this taflc. AJfy-
rian! the rod of mine anger, and thejlaff in
their hand is mine indignation! I will fend
him againfl an hypocritical nation, and againjt
the people of my wrath will I give him a charge
to take thefpoil, and to toJie the prey, and to
tread them down like the mire in the ftreets.
Howbcit he meaneth not fo, neither doth his
A3
\
378 .THE DOWNFALL OF
heart think fo ; but it is iii his heart to dejlroyf
and cut off- nations not a/ew,
. Vikerefwe itjliall come to pafs, that, roheit
the Lord hath performed his whole work upon
Mount Zion, and on Jerufalem, Iroill punijk
ihejTuit ofthejtout heart of the king of AJjy-
Q'ia, and the glory of his high looks; for hs
faith, bytheftrength ofiny hand I have done
it, and by my wifdovi ; for I am prudent : and
I have removed the bounds of the people, and
have robbed their treafures, and I have put
down the inhabitants like a valiant man,
I cite this paffage at length, not only that
the fentiments under confi deration may be
fiipported, as to ineans of execution, appoint-
ed by the decree of Heaven; but to teach
that means may be appointed, and m.ay e-
ven execute the v/ill of Heaven, and yet be
themfeU'cs wholly ignorant of the God they
are ferving-— be vaftly finful in what they
do, and be, final]y, forely puniPned for the
ungodly deed.
Again, did it pleafe God to promife de-
liverance to the captive Jews from Babylon ;.
and did he not gird his man for the purpofe?
Thus faith the Lord to his oMointed, to Cyrus^
xchofe right hand I have holden, to fub due na-
tions bfore him; and I zvill loofe the loins of
MYSTICAL BABYLON. r^J^
kings, to Open before him the two-leaved gates,
and the gates Jliall not be Jliut : I loill go be-
fore thee, and make the crooked places Jlraight :
I will break in pieces the gates ofbrafs, ajid
cut in funder the bars of iron. For Jacob
my ferv ant's fake, and Ifraelmine eled, Ihavt
even called thee by thy name: Ihavefarnam^
ed thee though thou haft not known me. I ani
the Lord, and there is none elfe, there is no
God befAes me: I girded thee, though thoU
hafl not known me.
Thefe examples of means provided for
the accomplifnment of mercies promifed, or
for the execution of judgments denounced,
in the wifdom of God, lay good foundation
for us to proceed, and afford unerring di^
Teftion to us in our enqurics after the means
or methods which God will provide and ufe,
for the execution of the awful fentence of
which our fubjeft treats.
Babylon is fallen, is fallen! But by what
means is (he to be brought down?
The ftate of this anti-chriRian church is
fpoken of under feveral figures or emblems,
all of Vvdiich are to ^ave their end in fome
method fuited to the deftruftion of the ori-
ginal figure.
If we afk after the deftruftion of this
g8o THE DOWNFALL OF
church under the figure of Babylon, we fhalj
find the means pre-figured under the pour-
ins: out of the fixth vial — -the vial Vv^hichall
o
prefent expofitors allow to be now running.
' And thejixth angel poured out his vial up-
on the great river Euphrates; and the water
thereof toas dried up, that the way of the king^
of the eaft might be prepared.
I need not detain you here to fay that the
river Euphrates fignifies the wealth, the re-
venues, the ftrength and fupport of what-
ever kind, by which Papal Babylon hath, in
time paft, been upheld : — -And if you wilh to
' know whether this river hath been, or is
now drying up, you may be informed by
aflung thofe who can tell to what end the
revenues of the church of Rome have late-
ly come. You may ad; where are her pri-
vileges and prerogatives, her churches, her
church-lands, her wonted revenues from
princes and from fubjefts, efpecially, in re-
fpeft to thofe parts of the empire on whicli
the contents of this vial have already been
poured? — -You may alk, where is that faith,
that implicit faith which Vv^as once put in
her?— that domination which flie maintain-
ed over the confciences of men ? — Wher^
are her idols^ — her mafies-— her fuperfcitions
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 381
.—her minifters? — As to her revenues, it
will be anfwered, they have ceafed; — as to
fdith, confidence and truft in this once re-
puted fountain of truth and infallibility, it
will be faid, it is departed; her fubjefts have
thrown off the mafk, and refufe to be hood-
v/inked any longer. As to her idols, fo far
as there was any value in them, they are now
paffing in coin ; and as to her minillers, they
are executed and difperfed. Even the col-
lege of Sorbonne* is obliged to yield up her
magi, and give them, to her foes, a prey.
If you afl^ why the drying up of the river
Euphrates is fpoken of, that the zv ay of the
kings of the eajl may be prepared? I anfwer,
in a word, that as ancient Euphrates was
dried up, that the way of her enemies, who
^'eame from the eaft, might be prepared, in
their approach to her de{l:ru6lion ; fo this
myftical river is dried up, that the city itfelf
may become. an eafy prey.
On this pafiage hear the language of a ju-
dicious divine.t
*' In the drying up of the river Euphrates,
NOTES.
'^ A celebrated in{lltution,or college, for the refidence of doc-
tors, profefTors, and {ludents in divinity, at Paris, who fufFered ip
the general calamity.
t B.urkit in loeo.
3S2 THE DOWNFALL OF
manifefl: allufion is had to the manner of old
Babylon's deftruftion. The river Euphrates
rail through eld Babylon, and vs^as a greater
defence to it than its celebrated walls, which,
for thicknefs and height, were the wonder
of the world. Cyrus, " the leader of the
Kings of the EaR," whea he took Babylon,
cut many ditches, and let the river Euphra-
tes run out, and fo he and his foldiers enter-
ed the city, and took it. As the drying up
of Euphrates, theii, was^an immediate fore-
runner of the dellruQion of Babylon ; in HIkj
manner, the drying up of Euphrates, fignify
it what it will, fiiall be the immediate fore-
runner of the deftruftion .of anti-chriftiaq
Babylon, whenever it (hall be. The RoiBiflj
Euphrates being dried up, the Romifii Bar
bylon will hallen^ amain., tpwaiids itS: final
ruin.'*
Vv'hether the Euphrates of the R6mifh
Babylon is not already fo far dried up, a^.
that the Kings of the E a ft have made a breach
upon her, let fa61s and daily intelligence dcr
ieanine.
What though you call the inftruments of
this fuccefsful attack upon Rome a lawlefs
banditti — a race of infidels — men, whopro-
fefs to '' knov/ no God but Liberty, and no
. MYSTICAL 3A3YL0N. 383
pofpel but their ConlHtution.'' — What then!
are th^y not, in the hand of God, as well cho-
fen inftruments for the execution of threaten-
ed vengeance upon myflical Babylon, as the
heathenifli kings of the eaft were, for the fame
defign, upon Babylon of the Chaldees?
Thofe who look through the great plan,
viewingthcpurpofesofHeavenuponabroad
fcale, believe and know that Kings and Cap-
tains, in all ages ; nay, that even wicked men
and devils, in the fullnefs of their rage, are
yet under the divine controul ; that the wrath
of tile whole, in the end, VnaWpraife him, and
the remainder he is able to reftrain.
In runnins: throucfh with the deftruclion
of Babylon, the prophet notices a movement
of a very extraordinary nature; an exertion
made to oppofe the deluge which Almighty
God is caufmg to overfpread the anti-chrif-
tian world. But, alas ! a feeble exertion, and,
in the end, does but expedite the overthrow
denounced.
And Ifcizv three iincleanjpirits, likefrogs^
xovie out of the mouth of the dragod, uiid^oM.
of the mouth of the beajl, and out of the moiak
rf the falfe prophet. The apoftle proceeds
.to interpret tl:e objefls prefentcd. For they
are the fpirits of devils, zoorking miracles^
384 THE DOWNFALL OF
ioohich go forth unto the kings of the earth, and
cf the whole world, to gather them to the hat-
tie of that great day of God Almighty.
*' In the foregoing verfes,'*' fakh the author
juft now cited, '' an account was given of the
" fubjed upon which the fxth vial was pour-
*' ed out, namely, upon the river Euphrates.
" Here we have an effeft that followed there-
*' upon; a warlike expedition, or gathering
*' to battle. Where, note 1. The principal
•^ commanders, in this battle, the Dragon^
" the Bead, and the Falfe Prophet.
" 2. The inftruments employed and made
^' ufe of by them who are faid to be, for their
" xiB-iure, fpirits; for their qm.Vily, unclean;
" for their number^ j^Ar^^; for their fmilitude
" and refemblance like frogs; namely, with
" refpefl: to their corrupt origin, and their
*' numbers — they fwarm and croak in all
<* places, and live both in the v/ater and up-
" on the earth:— by all which, many inter-
" preters underfland emiffaries, miffionaries^
" negociators, folicitors and legates, fent
'' forth, and employed by Antichrift for th^^
'' fupport and flrengthening of him and his
^' kingdom, by foliciting the kings of ths
*' earth to join together in battle againfl: his
*' enemies,"
MYSTICAL BABYLOI^. 385
We need no teflimony to fupport the o-
pinion that the nuncios, legates, bifiiops and
monks of the church of Rome have been in-
dullrioufly, and, fpeaking after the manner
of men, but too fuccefsfuUy employed in
ranging the prefent combination of kings a-
gainft the progrefs of the divine decree. —
But Babylon is fallen, is fallen in the coun-
cils of heaven, and no popifh emiifaries fhall
prevail to parry the fatal blow. True, they
have boafted their art and fuccefs in parry-
ing the arguments, and the appeals of Pro-
teftants in time pad, but they cannot parry
the judgments of God.
And he gathered them together into aplace^
called in the Hebreio tongue Armageddon.
'' He, that is Almighty God, by his per-
*' midive providence, fuffered the kings of
" the earth to hearken to Antichriil's miffion-
« aries, and to affemble and gather together^
'' as Jabin and Sifera gathered together a-
*' gainft Ifrael to their own defl:ru6lion : And
'' whereas the place of their gathering to-
«' gether and deftruSion is called a r m a g e d-
** DON, that is fo named from the event of
'' the battle, fignifying fuch a place where
•' the enemies of the Lord Ihall be deilroy-
'' ed."
Bq
386 THE DOWNFALL 6f
If any are difpofed to enquire after this
place of deftruftion, let them perufe the ac-
counts of the many bloody battles which
have been fought fmce refiftance has been
made to the purpofes of heaven in the exijl-
ing decree, and anticipate the deflru6lion yet
to follow.— One hundred and fifty, if not
two hundred thoufand, are fuppofed to have
perifhed in all the conflifts, battles, fieges, af-
fafmations and executions which have tak-
en place fince the prefent vial has begun to
run. Vv^itnefs, efpecially, the late very feri-
ous rencounters between the forces of France
and the allied armies, in and about the Auf-
trian Netherlands, as well as upon all their
frontiers, and we may add alfo the maffacres
of internal commotion. — Muft not fuch tor-
rents of blood be placed to the account of
the battle of the great day of God Almighty?
If this anti-chriftian power, for her apof-
tacy from God, and for her idolatry, be fi-
gured forth to us under the degrading and
abominable idea of a proftitute. herdellruc-
tion is find to come from the hatred of the
itn kings or kingdoms heretofore in her
idolatrous communion.
And iiie ten horns which thoiifawejl are ten
kings, zvhich have received no kingdom as yet;
MYSTICAL BABYLOK. 387
but receive power as kings one hdur,OY<iX.\\\Q
fame time, with the beajl, Thefe have one
mind, and Jhall give their pozoer and Jlrength
unto the beajl.
But, in the day of God's wrath, whilft the
Jixth vial continues to deliver its myfterious?
but avenging contents, the ten kings Jliall hate
the whore, and Jliall make her defolate and
naked, and Jliall eat herjlejli, and burn her
with fire.
If it pleafe God to fet forth this anti-
chriftian power under the denomination of
a beaft, his deflruftion, with his adherents,
is threatened by an angel of God, not only
as to this life, but as to the life to come.
And the third angel Jollowed them, faying
with a loud voice. If any man zoorfiip the beaft.^
and his image, and receive his mark in his
forehead, or in his hand, the fame fiall drink
of the wine of the wrath of God, zohich is pour-
ed out without 7nixture into the cup of his in-
dignation: and he Jhall be tormented with fire
and brimfione in the prejence of the holy an-
gels, and in the prefenceofthe Lamb,
If it pleafe God to fpeak of this idolatrous
and intolerant power under the character of
the man of fin, whofie coming is after the work-
ing of Satan, xvith all power, andfigns, and
388 THE DOWNFALL OF
lying zoonders; his deftruftion is denounced
as being brought about by the vindiQivejuf-
tice of God; — W/ioiii the Lordjliall conjumt
Tcith thcfpirit of his Tfiouth, ayid Jhall dejtroy
zviih the brightncfs of his coming.
If this power is reprefented as interwoven
with the civil power oith^ fourth great king^
dom of the world ; if the civil and ecclefiaf-
tical power of Rome forms the iron and the
cla^\ well m^y its deflruftion be predicled by
the rolling of the ftone (cut out, not with
human hands, but by the providence of God.)
apainft the legs, or rather the feet and toes
of this kingdom, wdiich is founded of iron
and clay- — partly firong and partly -voeak —
partly true and ^dinlyfalfe: well, I fay, may
deftruftion come from the ftone prepared of
God with this defign. Thou fazvfl, faith
Paniel to Nebuchadnezzar, till that ajlone
was cut out without hands, zvhichfmote the
image upon his feet that zvere of iron and clay^
and brake them to pieces: And the f one that
fviote the image became a great moimtain, and
filed the whole earrth.
Can I better fet before you the interpre-
tation of this portion of prophecy, than in
the words of Bifiiop Newton, fupported by
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 389
the celebrated Mr. Mede?* " As the fourth
kingdom, or the Roman empire, was repre,
fented in a twofold ftate; firft, ftrong and
flourifhing, with legs of iron, cinAxhtn weak-
ened and divided, withy^r^^ and toes, part of
iron and part of clay ; fo ihisffth kingdom,
or the kingdom of Chrift, is defcribed like-
wife in tzvo ftates, which Mr. Mede rightly
diftinguifheth by the names of regnum lapi-
dis, the kingdom of the ftone, and regnum
montis, the kingdom of the mountain; the
fyf, when the Jione was cut out of the moun-
tain without hands; the fecond, when it be-
came itfelf a mountain, and filed the whole
earth,
" Thefonewas cut out of the mount ainwith^
out hands. The kingdom of Chrift was firft
fet up while the Roman empire was in its
full ftrength, with legs of iron. The Roman
empire was afterwards divided into ten lef-
fer kingdoms, the remains of which are fub-
fifting at prefent. The image is ftill ftand-
ing upon h\?>feet and toes of iron and clay.
The kingdom of Chrift is yet afoneoffwU"
bling, and a rock of offence. But the ftone
will, one day, fmite the image upon the feet
NOTE.
* Newton on the Prophecies, vol. ii. page 244,
3gO THE DOWNFALL OF
and toes, and deftroy it utterly, and will it-
it\i become a great mountain, and fill the whole
earth: or, in other words, the kingdoms of
this world JIialL become the kingdoms of our
Lord and of his Clmjf, a.nd hefiallreignfor
ever and ever.
" We have, therefore feen the kingdom of
xh^Jlone, but v/e have not yet feen \h^ king-
dom OF THE MOUNTAIN. Some parts of
this prophecy ftill remain to be fulfilled; but
the exaft completion of the other parts will
not fuffer us to doubt of the accomplilhment
of the reft alfo, in due feafon."
And what period of time, ray brethren,
hath ever looked fo likely to be introduflo-
ry to the regnum montis, to the kingdom of
the mountain, as the prefent? Is not the
flone now rolling againft the feet and toes of
the mighty image? And when it fliall have
fplit in funder the heterogeneous and unna-
tural mixture, of which the empire of Rome
is now compofed ; when the civil and eccle-
liaftical authority (v/hich hath fo long com-
pofed what, in the dignity and pride of an-
ti-chrillian glory, hath been ftiled the ho-
ly ROMAN EMPIRE,) (hall bc fcparatcd or
diffolved, there will be good ground to be-
lieve, that the empire of Jefus Chrift — the
regnum montis, w^ill begin.
MYSTICAL BABYLON. ggi
The rolling of the ftone, then, and the in-
creafe of it to the fize of a mountain, may
JLiftly be placed to the account of means or-
dained of God for the deftruftion of myfti-
cal Babylon — the empire of the church of
Rome.
And if it may not be prefuming too far,
I would venture to aflert, that appearances
are not only now favoring the introdu£tion
of the REGNUM MONTIS, but that it has al-
ready begun, and is confiderably advanced
in its progrefs. But,
How {hall the IzUleJlcnebzcQmc 3. moun-
tain, and how fhall it deftroy this mighty
image, this anti-chriflian colofTus, which hath
flood fo many a florm?
Muft it not acquire a power — gain a mo-
mentwn equal to the tafk?
Muft there not be fome power applied be-
fide reafon and argument; the force of which
this power hath found means fo long to with-
ftand? — Undoubtedly, you will fay, there
muft be fuch a power — but wliere is it to be
found, and from what quarter muft it come?
Behold, my brethren, behold in the fcenes
now paffing in the drama of Europe— an-
other Aft'yrian and his hoft!— another axm
the hand oi him that heiodh thereicith, and
392 THE DOWNFALL OF
anothery2iZ(; in the hand of Am thatjhaketli
Hi—
In the fame group behold another Cyrus,
xohofe right hand the Lord hath holden tofub--
due nations before him — before whom the
Lord loofened the loins of kings, and opened
before him the two-leaved gates. Before whom
the Lord went to make crooked places Jtr aight ;
to break in pieces the gates of brafs, and cut
in f under the bars of iron : — Whom the Lord
furnamed, and whom he girded with power,
though the AiTyrian knew him not.
If this language feem too myfterious to
any, let them receive a familiar itile, and be-
hold the regnum montis, the kingdom of the
mountain, begun on the Fourth of July,
177S, when the birth of the man-child — ■
the hero of civil and religious liberty took
place in thefe United States. Let them read
the prediftions-of heaven refpe6iing the in-
creafe of his dominion — that he was to rule
all nations with a rod of iron; that is, bring
them into complete and abfolutefubjeftion;
and that the young hero might be equal to
this mighty conqueft, he is fupported by an
omnipotent arm ; he is caught up unto God^
and to his throne. Behold, then, this hero
of America wielding the ftandard of civil
iMYSTICAL BABYLON. 393
and religious liberty overthefe United States!
— Follow him, in his flrides,acrofs the Atlan-
tic! — See him, with his fpear already in the
heart of the beail! — See tyranny, civil and
ecclefiaftical, bleeding at every pore! — See
the votaries of the tyrants; of the beafts; of
the falfe prophets, and ferpents of the earth,
ranged in battle array, to withfland the pro-
grefs and dominion of him, who hath com-
miffion to break down the ufurpations of ty-
ranny — to let i\\t prifoner out of the prifon-
houfe; and to fet the vafTal in bondage free
from his chains— -to level the mountains —
to raife the valleys, and to prepare an high
way for the Lord!
Againft all oppofiiion to the execution of
this decree, the Lord, from the heavens, will
laugh. He that Jitteth in the heavens Jhall
uiugh, the Lord Jhall have them in dcrijion*
— ThoUjfhalt break them with a rod of ii^on;
thou fJiCvlt daji them in pieces like a potter s
vcfeL Be zoife now, therefore, ye kings, be
injtruded ye judges of the earth.
It feems no unnatural conclufion from an-
cient prophecy, and from prefent appear-
ances, that in order to ufher in the domi-
nion of our glorious Immanuel, as predic-
254 THE DOWNFALL OF
ted to take place, and ufually called the to-
tcT' day -glory, two great revolutions
are to take place; i^n^firjl outward and po-
litical; the y^C6)7i^ inward and fpintual. —
Thejirjl is now taking place; its happy ef-
fecis we, in this country, already enjoy; and
O that the Lord would gracioudy put it in-
to the hearts of his miniilers and churches,
nay, of all now under the dominion of civil
and religious liberty, to begin th^fecond re-
volution, that which is inzoard and fpiritual^
even the revolution of the heart. Come forth
then, may we not pray, all ye votaries of
truth! ye advocates for the foiritual empire
oithe latter day, come forth !^ —
Let the ftandard of truth and of duty, the
flandard of allegiance to God, through faith
in his beloved Son, be fet up ! Let us preach,
let us pray, let us fight, manfully, the war-
fare of faith— not doubting, but in God's owu
time, the glorious things, of which the pro-
phets have fpoken, (hall be fulfilled !
Behold the firjl revolution, (through the
agency of the hero of America] in this coun-
try, already begun, nay, already accompliih-
ed! — why not then now begifi thefecond?
What encouragement is there to proceed,
v/hilft we fee feme of the lafl events taking
Mystical ba^yLOW og^
place, under the fixth vial, which are to pre-
cede the glory of the latter day, to hcti/Jier-
ed in.imrnediately on the pouring out of the
feventh!
I have now gone through with aconfider-
ation of the means appointed of God for the
overthrow of my Rical Babylon. Thefe means,
I make no doubt, you will believe fully ade-
quate to the execution of the decree. It now
cnly remains that I confider,
Lajily, The foundation which the execu-
tion of this decree lays for univerfal joy.
Rejoice over her thou heaven, and ye holy
apojlles and prophets ; for God hath avenp-ed
you Oil her.
If there was no other caufe of rejoicino-
on this mighty occafion, but the invitation
of heaven to the general concert, fufficient
caufe might be found for the emotion the
event demands.
But we are not called to rejoice without
fufficient light afforded, to guide us in this
rational and Chriftian exercife.
1. There is caufe of univerfal joy on this
occafion, becaufe by the deftru6tion of myRi-
Qhl Babylon, the great Michael ofthe churcli
hath gained a v^ry important viclory over
the principalities and powers of helh The
39'S THE DOWNFALL OF
placing of one, bearing horns like a lamb, and
fpeaking with the mouth of a dragon, in high-
eft authority in the church of Chrift, is al-
lowed, on all hands, to be a mafter-piece a-
mong all the devices of Satan; the highelt,
the moll crafty and fuccefsful effort which
the wicked one hath ever played off againft
the interells of Chrift in any age of the world.
— Well then may the dete6iion and over-
throw of Satan, in this fcherae of ruling the
church, in the garb of an angel of light, de-
mand the iivelieft acclamations of general
2. A participation in this general anthem
of praife, at the downfall of Babylon, is de-
manded, as matter of exultation on the part
of the holy prophets, apofties and martyrs,
whofe blood (he had formerly flied. Rejoice
over her thou heaven, and ye holy apojlles and
prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
And in her loas found the blood of prophets ,
and of faints, and of all that wereflain upon
the earth,
v\ There is caufe of joy, at this event, on
the partof the church, as in her advancings to
her promifey imerefling events?
E3
410 THE DOWNFALL OF
In this fenfe, denoting the power of God In
conquering the enemies of his people, and
in fecuring them under the banner of his
own prote6iion—the phrafe is ufed in Exo-
dus xix. 4. Ye have feen what I did unto the
Egyptians, and how 1 hrire you on eagle's
WINGS, and brought you unto viyifelf. And
after a long courfeof prottftion afforded to
the people of God, througli the wildernefs
of Sinai, and their fettlement in the promif-
ed land, it is again faid, Dent, xxxii. g — 12.
For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is
the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a
defert land, and in the wajle howling tvilder-
nefs: he led him about, he inJlruSied him, he
kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle
fiirreth up her nef, flutter eth over her young,
fpreadeth abroad her zvings, taketh them, bear-
eth them on her wings; fo the Lord alone did
lead him, and there was nojlrange god with
him.
Under the fame idea of the divine agency
and proteftion afforded, faith the Pfalmift —
Becaife thou liojl been my help, therefore, in
thefiadow of thy loings, will Lrejoice.
This foundation being laid as a key to the
chapter, may we not proceed, and fay, that
the woman denotes the Hate of the church
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 4II
in its firfl iriflitiitif^n? And there appeo.red a
great wonder in heaven, a woman cloathed
with the fun; it may be with the veftments
of the fun of righteoufnefs; and the via on
under her feet;, the earth and other fublu-
nary things in their proper place; and upon
her head a crown oftzoelvefars; guided and
governed by the unadukerated doftrines of
the twelve apoflles. In this charafter, the
church of Chrill at firfl flood forth; but fo
foon was the truth beclouded — her privi-
leges reflrained, and her members perfecut-
ed, that fhe, flruggling for civil and religi-
ous liberty, is denominated as being zoith
child, as travailing in birth, and pained to be
delivered. The charafter of a woman the
church is fuppofed to take, as denoting her
delicacy — her fi uitfulnefs, and her need of
proteftion.
But under the laflies of paganifm and hea-
thenifh tyranny, flie was obliged to groan
out the ten perfecutions, v.vx\], in the perfon
of Conftantine the Great, the firfl Chnflian
emperor, fhe brought fanh her firft-bcrn,
and lived, for a while, und^r the happy do-
minion of civil and religious liberty.
And v;ho would have thougrht that, in
procefs of time, profperity would have pro-
412 THE DOWNFALL OF
duced fuch pride, dominion and tyranny in
fpiritual, and in earthly things ; even in thofe
who have but jail tiow emerged from a fuf-
fering and pe^fecuted ftate?
But, alas! behold the Pagan Dragon re-
ftored to life, in the papal, anti-chriftian im-
age ! And under this papal, perfecuting po v/<
er behold the feries of heathenifh perfecu-
tion again renewed!
How did the woman again labor to be de-
livered, and v/hat were the effeftsof her la-
bor, under papal tyranny, but the glorious
reformation v/hich took place in thefixteenth
century, under the preaching of WicklifF,
John Hufs, and Jerom; and afterwards car-
ried on by Luther, Calvin, and others?
And fiiall it, may it now^ be faid, that the
fpirit of proteftantifm — the hero of deliver-
ance from the thraldom of Popery, ever be-
come fo degenerated as, in the fmalleft de-
gree, to aft over the part of its Papal and
Pagan predeceffors ? Let the perfecutions of
civil and ecclefiaftical powder, under Mary,
James, Laud, and others, whilft they flrug-
gled for uncontrouled dominion in church
and ftate, '' m things civil and ecclefiafti-
cal," anfwer to this point!
The fufferings of the Proteftants, under
MYSTICAL BABYLON, 413
this new-formed intolerant power, do well
anfwer to the charafter of the cluirch — of
tlie woman in lier fuffering and perfecuted
ftate.
But, behold! howfoon does the perfecut-
ed woman receive an anfwer to her folema
appeals, and reiterated cries? See, on the
wings of a bounteous providence, how fne
is wafted acrofs the Atlantic, and fettled in
thefe peaceful American abodes! — Happy,
that as the time of general redemption comes,
her enemies are held in partial reifraint. —
Here {he is purfued and perfecuted only in
outvfard and civil things; though what de-
figns might have been formed againft her
religious freedom v/e cannot fay.
In a word, behold the hero of civil and
religious liberty born in thefe weftern climesl
And fee him already on his way back to de-
molifh the proud and haughty eUablifhrnents
of civil and ecclefiaflical tyranny, which have
in thefe feveral forms, perfecuted his mo-
ther, whilft fhe labored to give him birth!
And is it too much to fuppofe, that, in
his progrefs back, he will demolilh all that
is contrary to the fpirit of the truth — to the
intent and defign of that power, under whofe
aufpiccs he now proceeds, conquering and
414 THE DOWxNFALL OF
to conquer; whether fuch counterfeits of
truth be found in Proteftant, in Papal, or in
Pagan Rome? Efpecially, whilft you read,
that this hero is to rule all nations with a
rod of iron, and is caught up to God and to
his throne? — If you requeft any further il-
luftrations to authenticate this interpreta-
tion, attend to the declaration, that when the
Dragon, in his multi-formed charafter, was
caft out, was conquered, difappointed, or dif-
graced, he perfecuted the woman that bro't
forth the man-child. And thus, my audi-
ence did the Pagan Dragon, in the perfon
and perfecutions of Julian the Apoflate ; and
thus did the Papal Dragon, in all the perfe-
cutions, thunders, and councils, by which he
hath vexed and deflroyed the Proteftants;
and thus has the Proteftant Dragon done, not
only in heavy perfecutions for confcience
fake, but, efpecially, in the flood of troops,
armies and fleets — Britons andIrirn,Brunf-
wickers and Waldeckers, Heffians and Anf-
pachers, which this red dragon vomited forth
for the deftruftion of the woman in the A-
nierican wiidernefs, during the late unpro-
voked and cruel v;ar; and thus is this Pro-
teftant Dragon, even nov/, but too ready to
exprefs of his perfccuting temper, in open^
MYSTICAL BABYLO^;. 415
ing upon thefe defencelefs ftates the Alge-
riiie Corfairs — in committing depredations
upon our commerce, and in letting loole, or
in countenancing their f'avagc allies, in mak-
ing war upon our weftern frontiers. But we
believe in God, our hope and confidence is
in him, and to his protefting power and pro-
vidence do we, therefore, humbly appeal.
You will not nov/ doubt of the propriety
of the allufion, juft now hinted at, refpefting
ing the perfecuting power of the ProteRant
Dragon — nor at all deny the propriety of
our holding ourfelves in lively and animat-
ed readinefs to break the jaws of this levia-
than, as God may give us power, fhould he
attempt again to break our peace.
And if any fhould be difpofed to afk what
has become of the eagle, on whofe wnngs the
perfecuted woman was born into the Ame-
rican wildernefs, may it not be anfwered,
that (he bath taken her ftation upon the
broad feal of the United States; and from
thence has perched upon the pediment of
the firft government-houfe, dedicated to the
dominion of civil and religious liberty, where
fhe is flill to be feen, an emblem of thepro-
teftion of Providence towards our prefent
government, and towards this our happy
land.
^l6 THE DOWNFALL OF
If any fliould be difpored, further, to aflc
whether the dragon of the regions below,
even that old ferpent called the Devil, and
Satan, is to be feen in any other form than
as animating the dragons — the combinations
of civil and ecclefiaftical power, in the many
external injuries they have wrought againft
the church of God on the earth? I anfwer,
yes, in every age of the church, whether her
external ftate has been peaceful or trouble-
fome: The errors in doftrine — the breaches
upon the purity of Chriftian praflice — the
fcifms, divifions and difcords in churches —
the prejudice, hatred and malice which have,
at times, prevailed in the church, have been,
for the moft part, but the ebullitions of Satan,
the great dragon of dragons, who continually
goeth about, as a roaring lion, feeking whom
he may devour; and haplefs ftate the church,
too frequently, has been in, that even with-
in her own bofom, the Devil himfelf fhould
find fo many willing inftruments of his plea-
fure; agents of his infernal crafto Look a-
broad upon our churches, and behold the
dearth of religion — the want of unity, ani-
mation and zeal amongft both minifters and
people; and pray, oh fervently pray, that
when, as at the prefent time^ the enemy (hall
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 4I7
tome in like a flood, the fpirit of the Lord,
in his word, in his minifters and churches,
may lift up a ftandard againft him.
But returning to the important fubjeft of
i\\^ fecond great revolution, after which it is
our duty conftantly to labor, may we not
add, in view of the example of our late po-
litical ftruggle—
If, then, noble exerrions for the firft revo-
lution have been made by our brethren, guid^
ed by heaven in the field, and in the cabi-
net; are not we now, as Chriftians, and as
iiiinifters, to be guided? — Is it not full time,
that we fliould be led, by the zeal of their
tioble example, whilft we fight the battles of
the Lord of Hods, in our clofets and in our
families — in our churches and in our pul-*
pits?
Purfuing this objeft, let us reafon the point,
for a moment, with yonder infidel — Let us
aflc what more evidence he needs of the truth
of the fcriptures, than to fee the events, long
Cnce predifted, daily fulfilling before his
eyes ? — Let us afk him to read a page or two
in a late publication, on the fubjeft of pro-
phecy, as the teftimony of Jefus.*
K O T E.
* See Hinfdale's Difco. A. P. voL iv. page laJ.
^l8 THE DOWNFALL OF
■ " Where ai^e now ihoie renounced cities^
Nineveh, Babylon and Tyre, v/hofe defola-
tion was fo often Jenoanced by the prophets ?
— What is now the condition of Jerufalem
and Jadea? — Are they not trodden dozon of
the Gentiles, and likely to be Itill trodden
down, until the times that the G entiles Jliall he
fiiljilled? How remarkably do the aftions
and ftate of the Turks, who have To long
trodden them down, agree to what was pre-
difted of them ? Hejliall covie xoith horfevieny
and manyjiups, and Jliall overfuoio and pafs o-
ver. He (hall enter into the glorious land,
and many countries (hall- be overthrown.
Do you not find it even fo ? And that he hath
ftretched out his hand over the land of E-
gypt, with the Lyhian at hisjleps, whilft the
Arabians /till efco.pe out of his hand.
Hath not the Rate of Egypt, for many paft
ages, been juft as was foretold? a hafe, and
the bafefi of kingdoms, without a ruler of her
own, and zcajted byjlrangers?
Obferve the fourth kingdom of Daniel's
vifion broken into ten. Behold that won-
derful power, diverfe from the Jirfl, which
hath arifen up among them, with a lookmore
Jlout than his fellows, and a mouth fpeaking
great things^ even great words againft the
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 419
MOST HIGH: thatpowerwhich wearetli out
the faints of the most high, and changeth
times and laws. Behold him cajling down
the truth to the ground; forbidding to Jjiar-
ry, and commanding to abjiain from meats:
Yea, behold hxmjitting in the temple, in the
church of God, an d fiezoi ng himfe If ihdit he is
God, whofe coming is with fgns and lying
zvonders. And remember that the feat of this
horrid tyrannical power is ^/i^j^^rm^^a^jVtt'AzV/^
fandeth on feven mountains, and vs^hich, in
the days of the prophecy, reigned over all
the kings of the earth. — In fine,
" You fee the church of God fubfifting,
at this day, in the world— the fame church
which, before Chrift, w^as continued in the
feed of Abraham, and which, at and after
his coming, took that nesv form which Da-
niel faw under the name of the kingdom
OF HEAVEN; and hath ever fmce fubfifted
among the Gentiles. You know the prefer-
vation and final prevalence of this fociety,
together with the hoflile attempts, and final
ruin of all her enemies, have been predifted
by all the prophets from Mofes to St. John.
" Now, when ye fee this very church prefent
in exiRence and enlargement, afier al! the at-
tempts v/hich liave been made, in all man-
42Q THE DOWNFALL QF
ner of ways, and through a long fuccefTion
of ages, for her deftruftion; and notwith-
ftanding (lie has all the feeds of defolation
in herfelf, has often been extremely feeble,
and in the hand of her enemies, and at the
point of death: When you fee this, you be-
hold an event, which, though perfectly cor-^
refponding to hundreds of fcripture-prophe-
cies and promifes, is yet unparalleled
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. Suffer
me to repeat, it is unparalleled in the
HISTORY OF THE WORLD. The mofl Un-
likely event, when it was foretold, ever to
have exifted, and which indeed never could
have exifted, but by the marvellous provi-
dence of God, defeating the influence of na-
tural caufes, that he might fulfil the defigns
of his mercy — that he might confirm the
words of hisfervants, and perform the counfel
of his vieffengers; and, at the fame time, that
he might f^ii/irafe the tokens of the liars, and
make diviners mad, and clofe the mouth of
infidels m perpetual flence,
'• Thus is the fpirit of prophecy the tefli-
mony of Jehovah to the facred fcripturesas
his ovv'N ORACLES,andtoJefusas theChrift,
^nd of confequence to the Chriltian Religion
^S DIYINE."
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 42I
And where fhall the minifters of Chrift
next turn their attention, in order fuccefs-
fully to carry on the purpofes of this fecond,
this inward and fpiritual revolution of the
heart?
Unlefs the great Michael of the church
fiiould aid, our hopes of fuccefs would be
loft ; but fo long as we have his promife —
Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of
the world — we are encouraged to go on»
Let us, then, make our addrefles to men
of underftanding — to men of found judg-
ment, and reftitude of heart, and folicit the
force of their intereft and example.
Let us even attempt to touch the ambi-
tion of the ambitious, by pointing them to
the robes of diftinftion, and inconceivable
marks of favor in the regions of glory, which
await the man whom the king delights to
honor.
Let us affail the caftle of the mifer, and
tell him, that in the regions of glory are riv-
ers of treafure, floods of falvation, a thoufand
fold more regaling to the appetites of the
foul, than earthly fubftance can be to the
body.
Let us guide the wandering views of the
man of bufinefs, by fetting before him thene-
422 TPIE DOV/NFALL OF
cmTity of feekingj^r/? the kingdom of God and
his righteoufnefs, that all thefe things may be
added.
May we not aroufe the attention of the
ftupid, the obftinate, and fenfual, by paint-
ing to them, in lively colours, the danger to
which they are expofed, as well as the bafe-
nefs oi earthly Z-Tid fenfual gratifications, in
comparifon v/ith thofe which are intelleflual
and heavenly? ,,
May we not folicit the aid of the improv-
ed, the elevated, and the polite, by affuring
them that a field of improvement, profpefts
of elevation, and the moR finifhed examples
of heavenly grace, are all prefented to their
embrace, in the purfuit of the rewards pro-
mifed by our exalted king?
And, laft of all, may v/e not, Vvith high
profpefts of fuccefs, humbly fuggeft, that by
the example and influence of the female
world, even of the mofl delicate and refin-
ed, much might be done to further the pur-
pofes of heaven? — If any of our fair audi-
ence ihould fay, '^ We have not yet learned
the paths of piety ourfelves: we are, alas!
but too far from hope of fetting good exam-
ple to others, or of aiding the interefts of
vntue, by the feeble efforts of what, at beft.
MYSTICAL BABYLON. 423
can be only ftiled the improvements cf na-
ture, deflitute of the refinements of heaven-
ly grace:" — Let us pray th.em to lend their
hand to fome guardian angel, v/ho may lead
them, perhaps, abroad to view the v/ondrous
traces of wifdom, and of power, in all crea-
tion's handy works; and when, from the o-
racles of truth, they become farther convinc-
ed of the being of a God — of his equitable^
holy, juft and good laws — of their ovv^n im-
perfeclions of heart and life — of their final
accountablenefs at the bar of an impartial
judge; they maybe willing to follow their
heavenly guide into the retirements of fecret
devotion, and there unbofom the foul to
God, imploring the pardon and ablution of
fin, through the blood of the Lamb. What
though a tear of contrition find its way, e-
vincing the deep woundings of the heart,
purfued by an upbraiding confcience, for
time and talents mifimproved — for negleft
of God, the univerfal Creator— for neglecl
of the overtures of proffered mercy — for the
grievings of the holy fpirit of God, occa-
fioned by the pride of the heart, refufing to
bow to thefceptre of fovereign grace? What
though, from caufes likethefe, a tear of con-
trition might fall, and the bofom heave in
424 THE DOWNFALL Of
fighs ofpenitence and prayer? If pardon fof
the foul, and acceptance with God fliould be
the happy fruit, and a life of unexampled
piety the permanent effefts- — how interefting
the change — how promifmg the profpecl !
With fupport of numbers, and example of
graces fuch as thefe, with what fuccefs might
the advocates of truth plead the caufe of
heaven, and how foon might we expeft that
in the place of unbelief, ftupor, infenfibility
and hardnefs of heart; we Ihould difcover
the feeds of the happy wifhed-for revolution
already to be fov/n, and the effefts to appear
in full and abundant fheaves of heavenly
grace !
But — whither do I run, leading my au-
dience — fathers and brethren, it may be^
into paths lefs promifmg than thofe in which
they have been accullomed, fuccefsfully to
tread ! — -I paufe, then ; nay, I draw to a con-
clufion by faying, in the words of a refpefted
father in the church of God, on the fubjeft
of Minifterial Charafter and Duty,* — " It
requires no fmall attention and labor to feek
out fit and acceptable words, as the preacher
expreffes it, to ftir up the attention of the
NOTE.
* Witherfpoon, voK i. A» P. page 19,
MYSTICAL BABYLONT. 425
inconfiderate — to awaken, fecure, and con-
vince obftinate Tinners — to unmafk the co-
vered hearts of hypocrites — to fet right the
erring, and encourage the fearful."
Notwithftanding this^, may we not all, ani-
mated by the profpefts of promifed aid, go
forth manfully, to fight the battles of the
Lord — to play the man for God, and for
the cities of our God; knowing that in our
faithful exertions the name of the Lord' is
honored, though Ifrael be not gathered.
Finally, my brethren, " Have we feen the
fcriptures fealed by paft events ; let it exalt
our faith into a full affurance, that all the
prophecies which remain, and efpecially
thofe which fpeak of jesus' future 01.0-=
HY, ftiall receive, in due time^ their perfe6t
accomplifhment.
" This GRAND ^RAis approaching with
k fpeed rapid as the flight of time. The
night is far fpent, the day is at hand. In
this profpecl, with what ardour fliould we
pray — thy kingdom come;"'^ and in the
fervency of our united devotions, may we
G3
NOTE.
? HInfdale, A. P. vol. iv. p. 133, 134,
426 THE DOWNFALL, &C.
not add— /A); will be done on earth, as it is
done in heaven; for thine, gracious God! is
the kingdom, and thine is the power, and thine
{hall be i\it glory, world without end. Amen,
END OF inz FIRST VOLUM
CONTENTS.
PART I.
A DIfcourfe bytheReverendDr . Bellamy,fbunded on Revelation
XX. I, 2, 3. And I f^i-xv an angel comi do^jju from heaven ^ having
the key of the bottomlefs pity occ.
PAGE.
9. The Scriptures, by their Promifes and Prophecies of good
Things to come, are well calculated to keep alive the Faith
of God*s People in the Day of Trial.
ai. A Summary of Promifes refpev5ling the Increafeof the Re-
deemer's Kingdom.
ii3. When fliall thefe 1 hings be?
2S' From the Faithfulnefs of God we have no Caufe to daubt the
Fulfilment of his gracious Promifes to his People.
34. Human Miftakes, as to Time, no Bar in the Way of the final
Event.
36. Becaufe Chrift once ftiled his People a little Flock, it is no
Sign they will always appear f:>.
4Z. Seventeen Thouland may be faved to one Soul iinaily lofi:.
44. God knows beft wiien to bring thv^f^ Things to pais.
45. A Veteran in the Service of God, animating the Followers of
the Lamb.
48. Chrift loves to hare his Minifters and People faithful.
49. As David gathered Materials for the Temple, to be bulk in
Solomon's Day, fo we are to do our Endeavor to favor the
great Building of God.
PART IL
A Treatife by the late learned and highly e(i?emed Prefidcnt
Edwards, entitled, '* An Humble Attempt to promote explicit A-
greement and vihble Union of God's People in extraordinary Pray-
er, for the Revival of Pveligion, and the Advancement of Chrifl*3
Kingdom on Earth, purfuant to Scripture-prdmifes and Prophe-
cies concerning the lall Time" — founded on Zechariah viii- ao,
a I, 22. Thus faith the Lord of hojlsy It fo all yet covis to pafsy
that there fhali come peophy and the inhabitants of many cities : — -
And the inhabitants of one city /hall go to another, faying ^ Let us
gofpsedilytoprciy hefcre thg Lordj andtofeek the Lord of Hojls'
CONTENTS.
I 'Will go alfo. Tea^ many people and Jlrong nations JhaU come t%
/eek the Lord of Hojls in Jerujakmy and ta pray before th^
Lord.
PAGE.
dy Text is opened, and Union in Prayer recommended.
8 1. An \ccount of the Concert for Prayer,
90. A Memorial from Scotland.
Motives to a Compliance 'with fwhat is propofed in the Mejua^
rial.
97. The Latter-Day Glory not yet accomplifhed.
iij. The great Glory of the latter Day.
\x%. The Holy Spirit the Sum of Chrift's Purchafe.
127. The latter Day, eminently the Day of Salvation.
130. How the Creation travaileth in Pain for that Day.
J36. Scripture Precepts, Encouragements and Examples of Pray-
er for Chrift's Kingdom.
i^(). Dlfpenfations of Providence at this Day, prefent with many
Motives to Prayer for it.
171. The Beauty and good Tendency of uniting in fuch Prayer.
176. The particular and great Encouragement in the V^Tord of Gqc5
^0 exprefs Agreement in Prayer.
Ohje£IioT2s anfivered^
ijg. No Superftition in the Cafe.
185. The Concert not whimfical.
198. The Concert not Pharifaical.
aoi. The flaying of the WitnefTes confiJered.
237. The Fall of Antichrift approaching.
«4i. The Time not known beforehand.
246. The Time not at a very great Diflance,
a66. His Fall will be gradual-
ayO. Good reafon to hope that that Work of God's Spirit will
foon begin, which will, in its Progrefs, overthrow Anti-
chriftand Satan's Kingdom on Earth.
Ihid. The fixth Vial probably now in fulfilHng.
896. Antichriit's Ruin fpeedily follows it.
304. However if other wife, yet our Prayer will not be in vain.
305. Such an Agreement in Prayer no new Thing.
The Duty of agreein- to pray no new Duty.
The like pradifed in ijUt with the wonderful Confequence.
311, The Conclufion.
CONTENTS,
PART III.
A Difcourfe by the Reverend Mr. Auftin, entitled — The Down-
fall of MYSTICAL BABYLON; Of, a Key to the Providcnce of God
in the political Operations of 1 793-4 — founded on Revelation xviii.
ao. Rejoice over her thou hetveii^ ar.d ye holy apojlks and prophet si
fer God hath avenged yeu on her.
PAGE.
328. All Holy Beings are called upon to rejoice in the Calamities
which God brings on his and their Enemies.
330. Plan of the Difcourfe.
331. Prophetic Figures point us to Papal Rome, as the Object of
the divine Decree.
336. A Parallel run between ancient Heathcnifh, and modern An-
ti chriflian Rome.
337. Sketch of the awful Perfecutions of Papal Rome, in a note.
344. The two WitnefTes.
350. The prefent is the Time of the flaying of the WitnefTes, and
affords a Key to the Caufe of the prefent Dearth of Reli-
ligion in many Parts of the Chriflian Church.
361. The Prophecies of Daniel, of St. Paul, and of St. John re-
fpeding Babylon brought to a Point.
365. Of the Rife, Continuance, and probable Deflrudtion of this
anti-chriflian Power.
371. Caufes of this Difafler.
375. Means by which it fhallbe brought about.
388. The little Stone fmiting the Image, and becoming itfelfa
great Mountain.
393. Two great Revolutions to ufher in the Latter-Day Glory;
outnuard and political — innvard 2i^Afpiritual.
395. The foundation of univerfal Joy in the Profped.
401. The Time of the Falling of the Stars of Heaven is come.
403. The Dodlrine of the Millennium is true.
405. Duty of Miniflers and Churches,
408. The Proteflant Dragon.
413' The Hero of America on his Way to demolifh the Ufurpa-
tions of Proteflant, Papal and Pagan Rome.
4 '5- '^he Eagle and her Station.
416. The Dragon of Dragons, and his efforts againfl the Church
of God.
4i7« Addrefs to an Infidel.
4ii. to Men of underflanding.
C O N T E K T a>
4ii. Addrefs to the Ambicious.
to the Miftr.
■ to the Man of Biifinefs*
^33. .» to the Stupid and Obilinate,
to the Elevated and Polite.
Hopes from the Example and Influence of the Fair.
45^3. The Fair Penitent led by a Gu«irdiaa Angel to the Throne of
Grace*
Erratum.— ?age 344* line 5, after th? v/ovd. fuppofeJ^ add^
havs prophejicd infackctoth.
rpHE fubfcribing editor to the American preacher pre-
^ fents his moft afFe(51ionate and Chriftian regards to all his
Fathers and Brethren in the Miniftry; and, efpecially, to thofe
■who have aided in contributing Materials for the Execution of the
Plan of that Woiji thus far; and is happy in being able to affure
them, that their Labors have been, to fuch a degree, acceptable
to the Public, that fcarcely a Copy of the three Firft Volumes is
to be found for Sale; and repeated applications are made to the
Printer for farther fupplies. The Fourth Volume is now circu-
lating, and promifes fair to fecure, and to increafe the Reputation
cf this, generally, interefting Work.
As the prefent is a Day full of great Events, and a general at-
tention to the di6lates of Prophecy feems to be gone forth, it is
propofed, that a Volume of Difcourfes, on the Subjed of Prophe-
cy, with particular application to Predidlions. now fulfilling, or yet
to be fulfilled, fliall be prepared, and ilTued, perhaps, at the clofe
of the prefent Year.
Any of our Chriflian Brethren, who would contribute to the
Execution cf fuch a Plan, might be inflrumental in reviving the
Caufe of Truth— in animating their Brethren, and of comforting
the Church cf God ; and would receive the mofl grateful Acknow-
ledgments from the Friends and Promoters of the propofed Vo-
lume.
Shortly will be put to Prefs a Volume of Difcourfes, preached
on occalion of the late Vifitation of the City of Philadelphia by the
Yellow Fever, entitled, *' A Comment on the Providence of God,
Jn the lare Vifitation of the City of Philadelphia, by the Yellow
Fever: or, InflructiveLefTons to the People of the United States,
on the Subjed of that folemn Event, comprifed, in a Number of
Difcouifes, preached by feveral Minifters of Chrifl:, oh that Oc-
cafion, who are willing to leave this Teflimony as a Memorial of
the tragical Scene which gave it Birth."
Any of our Chriflian Miniflers, who are willing to aid in the
fuitherance of either of the foregoing Defigns, may be affured that
their Contributions will meet a mofl: friendly welcome, and be du-
ly noticed in View of forwarding the Defign for which they may
ps fent.
Elizabeth Town, May j, 1794,
DATE DUE
