ful, and closely adapted in all their parts to the subject. Some of them are borrowed from the ancient prophets, but heightened by superior strokes. St. John's subject, the history of Christ's kingdom, as it surpasses in dignity the object of all preceding prophecies, so he exhibits it in colours that outshine all former prophetic descriptions. This kingdom of Christ, the greatest of all kingdoms, and his government of it, the most perfect of all governments, are described in a style proportionably exalted. The ancient prophets announced the orders and instructions they received from God, and were only favoured with visions in some particular cases: but the beloved disciple of Christ, not only receives from his Lord the verbal account he delivers, but is admitted to see transacted before him every scene of the history which he writes. Again, the ancient prophets chiefly confined their accounts to the temporal transactions of kingdoms; but St. John, after giving the history of the Christian Church for the whole time of her existence in this world, describes her future triumphant state in the heavenly Jerusalem, the period of which will be equal to that of eternity. Besides the picture which he there gives of the heavenly Jerusalem, is drawn with such exquisite art, is painted with such striking colours, and enriched with such charming scenes, and with such a collection of the choicest, the most valuable, and the most shining objects in nature, that the whole surpasses greatly whatever human conception is capable of imagining or combining toge

ther. Such then being the extent, the usefulness, and the excellence of the prophecy delivered in the Apocalypse, what can be more curious or interesting than a history founded upon it, which is what we offer to the Christian reader?

THE

GENERAL HISTORY

OF THE

CHRISTIAN CHURCH:

DIVIDED INTO

SEVEN AGES

AND DEDUCED CHIEFLY FROM THE

Apocalypse.

Before we enter upon this prophetic History, it will be necessary to explain the first chapter of the Apoealypse, as it contains the Preface to the whole book,and, on that account, is essential to the present work,

CHAPTER I.

Explication of the first Chapter of the Apocalypse.

Verse 1. "THE Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to make known to his servants the things which must shortly come to pass and signified, sending by his angel to his servant John.

v. 2. "Who hath given testimony to the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, what things soever he hath seen."

We are here informed that the book of the Apocalypse is a Revelation, which Jesus Christ, as Man-God, received from God: the purpose of which is to disclose to his servants, the Christians, a series of events very interesting to them, and

which must shortly come to pass. This revelation Jesus Christ communicates by the channel of his angel, whom he sends to deliver it to his servant John. The character here given to this servant John shews him to be the Apostle St. John; for he is here said to have given testimony to the word of God, by his preaching and suffering for the cause of God, and to have also given testimony of Jesus Christ, by bearing witness to what things soever he had seen of his divine Master. And this account of him coincides with what St. John says of himself at the beginning of his first epistle: "That which we have heard," says he, "which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the word of lifewe declare unto you."

We have said that it was Christ who signified or notified this his Revelation, sending it by his angel; which is confirmed by what he himself speaks in the conclusion of the Apocalypse: "I Jesus have sent my angel, to testify to you these things in the Churches." Apoc. xxii. 16. But it might be equally said, that God himself communicated this prophecy by his angel; for we likewise read: "The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to shew his servants the things which must be done shortly," Apoc. xxii. 6. which words are quite similar to those above of verse first. However, it is not material whether to God or to Jesus Christ the communication of the prophecy be ascribed, when we consider the divinity of Christ.

Another observation we must here make, is con- . cerning the angel of God or Christ, who is sent to communicate the Apocalypse to St. John. He is generally supposed to be a real angel; but upon close examination we think he will appear to be St. John the Baptist. This personage is peculiarly vested with the character of angel* or messenger of God and Christ, and is denominated such in the

❤ The word angel siguides messenger.

ancient prophecies, and by Christ himself:"Behold I send my angel," said the Lord by his prophet Malachy," and he shall prepare the way "before my face," Mal. iii. 1. which Christ applies to his precursor, St. John Baptist." This is he," says Christ, "of whom it is written: Behold I "send my angel before thy face, who shall pre66 pare the way before thee." Matt. xi. 10. The same is also confirmed by the Baptist's own declaration: "I am," says he "the voice of one "crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord," John i. 23. which plainly speaks his function of angel or messenger of Christ. A further proof is derived from the words of the angel himself, who thus speaks to St. John the Apostle: "I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren who have the testimony of Jesus." Apoc. xix. 10. And again, "I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them that keep the words of the prophecy of this book." Apoc. xxii. 9. This language, it is clear, cannot be that of a real angel, but corresponds very justly with the character of the Baptist, who had been a fellow-servant of the Apostle and his brethren in giving testimony to Jesus, &c. A function suitable to the character of St. John the Baptist; who, as he announced Christ and shewed him present to the people; so here, he announceth and sheweth to St. John the Apostle the History of Christ or of his Church. However, as the Apostle gives to St. John the Baptist the name of angel, perhaps his form and appearance were such on this occasion.

v. 3. "Blessed is he that readeth and heareth* the words of this prophecy: and keepeth those things which are written in it: for the time is at hand." We are here assured that great is the advantage of attending to what is delivered in the

D

In the Greek text, "and those that hear, &c."