Though the meaning of the prophecies is neceffarily wrapt up in modes of expreffion not eafy to be understood, as they would otherwife operate against their own accomplishment; yet they may not be abfolutely infcrutable; and especially when their accomplishment approaches nearer, and increasing light is caft upon them by the arifing of circumftances connected with them. This feems to be intimated by the angel. Dan. xii. 4, 9, 10. But thou, O Daniel, fhut up the words, and feal the book, even to the time of the` end: many fhall run to and fro, and knowledge fhall be increafed.-The words are clofed up and fealed till the time of the end.-None of the wicked fhall understand, but the wife fhall understand. The meaning of these words, according to the learned Dr. Lowth, is, "The nearer the time approaches for the final accomplishment of the prophecy, the more light fhall men have for the understanding it; for the gradual completion of this and other prophecies fhall direct obferving readers to form a judgment concerning those particulars which are yet to be fulfilled. From hence we may observe the reafon of the obfcurity of feveral prophecies in fcripture; and itmay be observed, that generally thofe prophecies are most obfcure, the time of whofe completion is furtheft off. For the fame reason, in interpreting the prophecies relating to the latter times of the world, the judgment of the latter writers is to be preferred before that of the ancients, because the moderns living nearer the times when the events were to be fulfilled, had furer marks to guide them in their expofitions." Lowth's Expof. Dan. xii. 4. Ver. 9. he paraphrafes thus, "Be content with what has been made known to thee: (Daniel) for the fuller explication of this prophecy is deferred till the time of its accomplishment draws near.' The opinion then of this learned commentator was, that God would fo difpofe things that obferving men fhould, from the figns of the times, be led to understand the true meaning of those prophecies, relating to the latter times of the world, which had not been before understood, fo as hence to foresee the approaching downfal of Antichrift, and those other great events connected with it; and by which means the divine word will be much accredited, men be cured of their infidelity, and God hereby be honoured.

My mind has of late been much affected with the appearances of things in the Christian world, and with the occurrences which have,

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have, within these few years, burst upon us.-Occurrences which are unparelleled in the hiftory of nations.

In America a revolution has taken place which is fingular in its confequences, and especially as they concern the state of religion. We have long been told that if the Chriftian religion were left unprotected by establishments, and unfupported by emoluments, it would foon be borne down, and all its folemnities forsaken and despised. The experiment has here been made, and fact demonftrates the fallacy of fuch conclufions. The people are cafed of a heavy burden, and pure and undefiled religion flourishes more than ever. Hirelings have withdrawn, but piety and virtue, charity and union increase. But a few years after this grand event, one of the first nations in Europe, long enflaved, and blinded by fuperftition, at once broke its chains, and tore away the bandages with which popish priests had bound the eyes of the multitude. Civil liberty had long been forgotten, and, for more than a hundred years, no liberty of conscience was permitted to the infulted people, And as a nation they had for ages been made, by their tyrants, the fcourge of all their neighbours. This people have, to the aftonifliment of the whole civilized world, arofe up as in one day, and, in oppofition to the combined power of their king, their priests, and nobles, have dared to say, We will be free— We will have just and equal laws-No man fhall punish, and no mar fhall be punished but as the law commands-The poor as well as the rich, hall be protected-Confcience is the property of God, and every man fhall worship his Maker as he pleafes-We will neper make war, but in felfdefence, and will embrace all men as our brethren. And this was not the refolution of a few, it was the folemn covenant of twenty-fix millions of people. What a phænomenon in the history of man! What an epoch in the hiftory of the church! But German defpots and their creatures, whofe exiftence depends on the ignorance and fervility of mankind, fearing the influence of fuch an example, have been exerting all their power to crush this rifing spirit of liberty, and to fupport the falling papacy. By whofe hand was it that they and their remnant were driven back with lofs and fhame? His, who maketh the wrath of man to praise him.Alas! the calamities which oppofition to the most benevolent fentiments has occafion ed! The paffions of men have been enraged, and in the paroxism of refentment fear and defpair, the beft of caufes, the cause of liberty,

has

has been stained by the commiffion of crimes which affli&t a great majority of their own nation, and all the genuine friends of liberty and justice throughout the world, None can contemplate them but with the keenest anguish, except those who are watching for occafions to flander all who refift oppreffors. The circumstances of this wonderful revolution, mark it as an event of vast importance, and as probably big with confequences beyond all conjecture.

The prophecies refpecting the downfal of the Antichriftian ufurpations, must have their accomplishment in fome era, it may be the present. It is therefore furely worth our while to inquire how far the predictions of God's word will agree with the rise and progrefs of known events.

Thus it has appeared to me, and the more I examine and think upon the subject, the more I am convinced, that the last days spoken of by God's fervants the prophets, are faft approaching; when Babylon the Great fhall come in remembrance, and God will avenge the blood of his faints, and the kingdoms of this world fhall become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Chrift; by not only profeffing the religion of Jefus, but by acting under its influence, and copying after his example who was meek and lowly in heart, and who came not to deftroy men's lives, but to fave them." And this kingdom fhall not be a kingdom of anarchy, but a state of things, in which the governors and the governed, and all the different ranks in fociety will unite to promote the general good. It is not impoffible that the present shaking of nations fhould bring about this defirable event. Some however object, that the progrefs of the French revolution has been marked with too much outrage and blood; and that the perfons engaged in it are of a character too bad to admit it to be from God, a work which he approves, and which he intends as the introduction to thofe happy days of which the prophets have spoken.

It would not be a very difficult task to prove that those German princes and domeftic foes to liberty, who have opposed the emancipation of France, from the yoke of royal and prieftly tyrants, have been the occafion of almost all the horrors which have been committed, and, at their hands will much of the blood be required, which has been, or may hereafter be, fhed, in this mighty and interefting ftruggle between men roufed up by the feverity of

their sufferings, to claim the rights they had long been robbed of, and thofe continental tyrants who, for ages, have been the fcourges of the human race. But granting that the leaders in the French revolution have been rs atrocioufly wicked as reprefented, this does not, in the flightest degree, affect our hypothefis,

Though many of the inftruments which Providence employs may be unworthy characters, and though the extraneous evil conn ted with the revolution in France may afflict our hearts, and provoke not only our cenfure, but our indignation, still the great principles of it may demand our homage, and the end to be hoped for, the triumphs of truth and juftice over fuperftition, perfecution, and oppreffion, may excite our joy. Cyrus waded through the blood of kings and armies to plunder the earth, and subject nations to his will; (he fpared not children, Ifa. xiii. 18.); but we have been taught to venerate his memory, as the righteous man of the caft. And why? Not because all his exploits, as his, were righteous, but because we have seen the iffue, and been informed, that he was made an instrument in the hand of God, to execute his righteous judgments; that it was He who gave nations before him, and made him rule over kings, that Babylon might fit in the duft, and captive Ifrael go free. What was Henry the Eighth, who began our reformation? A monster! What were his motives? The gratification of his lufts. What were the means which he employed?-How blind is man! We only know, that in God dwell the attributes of wisdom, justice, and goodness, but we are incapable of tracing the fphere of their operations. He faw fit to make use of the Jewish rulers, and to direct the worst of human pallions, for the purpofe of effecting our redemption, by the death of Jefus Chrift. Arc cftablished fyftems of fuperftition and tyranny to be overthrown by a few smooth words of benevolence and wisdom? Happy if they could! Are the dragon and the beasts which have fo depopulated the earth for ages, to perish without convulfion? Read, They have fhed the blood of faints and prophets, and thou haft given them blood to drink, for they are worthy. When this period fhall arrive there will be much work to do, for the execution of which the meek of the earth are by no means qualified. To cenfure disorder, to † Rev. xvi. 6,

fhudder

fhudder at blood-shed, and to practise mercy, is our duty; for nei ther God's fecret counfels, nor his providential judgments, are to be the rule of our conduct. We know who hath faid, Love your enemies, and do good to them that hate you. This is our rule,

Sir Ifaac Newton had a very fagacious conjecture, which he told to Dr. Clark, from whom Mr. Whifton fays he received it, viz. "That the over-bearing tyranny and power of the antichrif tian party, which hath fo long corrupted Chriftianity, and enflaved the Chriftian world, muft be put a stop to and broken to pieces by the prevalence of infidelity, for fome time, before primitive Chrif tianity could be restored; which seems to be the very means now working in Europe for the fame good and great end of Providence." Poffibly," fays the relater, he might think that our Saviour's words (Luke xviii. 8.) imply it. When the Son of Man cometh fhall he find faith on the earth? Or, poffibly he might think no other way fo likely fo likely to do it in human affairs. It being, I acknowledge, too fadly evident, that there is not at present religion enough in Christendom, to put a stop to such antichristian tyranny and perfecution upon any genuine principles of Chriftianity." Whifton's Effay on the Revelation of St. John. Second Edit. Page 321. Printed in the Year 1744.

This was a very fagacious conjecture indeed; and it is not unlikely that it may foon be realized. There are reasons for fearing that ere long infidelity will as generally prevail as the name of Christianity has done. It is in vain to flatter. It is too evident, that though the Christianity of individuals, among all ranks and. fects, has been genuine, yet that of nations has been only in name. By their fruits fhall ye know them. The generality of governments have been oppreffive; a great majority of the ministers of religion have not only been men of the world, who have fought after nothing but gain, but they have been cruel lords over God's heritage, perfecuting inftead of feeding the flock; teaching men to hate, oppress, and murder one another, for opinions, instead of inculcating thofe leffons of love taught by Jefus Chrift. Among the rich and great even the forms of religion are scarcely to be found. The spoil of the poor is in their houfes, and because they are full they forget God, and are waxed wanton. If we defcend, pride, covetoufnefs, deceit, oppreffion, riot, impurity, irreligion, impiety, perjury, and baseness, prefent themselves, without fecret search, at