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the fifth kingdom of the people of God, as recorded in Daniel.

IV. By the second advent of Christ, in which he destroys Antichrist, and commences the Millennium, or a thousand years glorious reign on earth. Then all the mystery of God shall be accomplished, as foretold by the ancient prophets, or yet hidden in the councils of the Most High.

He has no conception of the majesty of the Revelation, and its superior excellence to all the prophecies under the Old Testament dispensation, who has not observed, that its contents are wrought up into a masterpiece of systematic arrangement. Its sublime parts are adjusted by divine wisdom into a consecutive chain of events, firmly united, in which every link has its immovable place and receives light perspicuity, support and design from the whole. I have already enforced the necessity, of paying the strictest attention to this internal method and adjustment, and would urge it here again on every reader of this exposition; for it is the compass, which alone will direct us through the ocean of jaring opinions, to the point of destination. This is yet more indispensably requisite, in explaining this divine system from chapter x. to the cnd; where expositors begin to digress more materially from each other, and follow their beloved systems, which often appear tinctured with national or religious partiality and prejudice. I have hitherto avoided all criticism on expositors of this inestimable treasure of the Church, though I am acquainted with some of them; knowing from experience how easily a man may err on scientific points, without being ignorant, much more in treating a subject of so profound a nature, as that discussed in the Revelation of St. John.

I will now call the attention of the judicious reader, to my "Prospective view of the prophetic chronology and prophecies of the Apocalypse," inserted in the first part of this work; which exhibits this internal method of the Re

velation chronologically, as the scheme, according to which the Lord administers all things to the benefit of his Church It appears to me, that men of discernment will perceive a striking accordance between that table, and this system of prophecies when compared with their completion on the page of history, which ought to ensure its more attentive investigation. Its chronology becomes more interesting and remarkable, at the commencement of the first wo, whence it runs on in two distinct parallel prophetic lines; one of which advances the history of the woes, and the o ther the lineage of the Church, and of those states, kingdoms and empires, in which she should have her permanent residence for many centuries. This division is evident from the body of the Revelation itself. The contents of chap. x. and chap. xi. 1-14. are clearly a separate line of congenial and closely connected prophecies without any immediate relation to the events of the three woes, which are of a totally distinct nature. It branches out from the gen eral body of the prophecy, at the blast of the sixth trumpet, the extraordinary numbers of which belong to the woes exclusively, and not to the prophetic line now under consideration. Those expositors have committed a great mistake indeca, who considered the contents of these chapters as an appendage to the sixth trumpet, because St. John mentions. the third interval in the following verse, chap. xi, 14. This interval is not inserted here for the purpose of limiting the chronology of these prophecies, to which it has no reference whatever; but to give solemn warning of the approaching third wo, and to mark the pause before its commencement, The beginning of this prophetic line must be depicted in glowing colours on the page of history, as it commences with the rise of great kingdoms, where many princes successively sway the sceptre of command chap. x, 11. Their reigns are no less remarkable, as they perform achievements at the head of peoples & nations & tongues united, which are considered worthy of notice in this prophecy, because

of their connexion with the Church, and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom.

Some authors seem to believe, that the holy seer St. John, was under a mistake, when the vision of the sixth trumpet and the second wo, vanished before his sight, as if he then expected, on receiving the little book, the accom plishment of the mystery of God. But the apostle was, cer tainly, much better informed on this subject. He probably knew the length of the chronos, which had been intimated to him under the fifth scal, and the extent of the seventh seal, comprising the seven trumpets; from which he might anticipate that the seventh trumpet would comprehend a very considerable space of time. And he was not ignorant of the old prophecies concerning Antichrist, the restoration of the Jews, and the kingdom of Christ on earth. The excellent Faber, in his "Dissertation on the prophecies," is of opinion, that the little book contains the xi. xii. xiii. and xivth. chapters of the Revelation, and that these chapters, severally relate to the same periods and to the same events. But this is evidently committing violence on the internal order of this system of prophecies, which clearly connects itself again at chap. xi, 14. 15. to the ninth chapter, and to the conclusion of the sixth trumpet and the second wo; from which the prophetic line of the woe-trumpets is once more resumed by proclaiming the third interval, and by the sound of the seventh trumpet. These do not belong to the contents of the little book, but again continue the general body of the prophecy.

I conclude with the wish, that the discerning scholar and the christian may view the faults of this exposition with an indulgent eye; hoping, that the Lord will soon favor his Church with more light on this profound, and salutary subject of contemplation. May he incline his Gospel ministry in every church, to study the Revelation with more attention and assiduity, and enable them

to point out those rules of wisdom and prudence annexed to each time of trial and temptation, for the observance and government of his people. They are particularly entrusted with it for that purpose; and yet many of them could not have neglected it more than they did, if it had not existed as a part of the inspired volume. Many private Christians do not read it, because it is not recommended by their pastors; and thus the designs of the Lord are partly frustrated in his own Church, while Sa tan rejoices at such strange conduct.

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The first part of this work has been reviewed by the Rev Dr. El In his "Theological Review," published at Philadelphia-a work not suf ficiently esteemed, and worthy of a more general circulation-as also in the Port-Folio, and in the Portico: The authors of the two last valuable works have remained in the avenue, and did not consider it within their province, to enter the inner appartments of such edifices as this. But the learned Dr. Ely has done some justice to the work in this respect, and expressed a favorable opinion of it, with flattering encomiums which the author wishes to deserve In the latter part of his reveiw, the Dr. objects to the author's opinion “That there were some things which Christ, during his pilgrimage on earth did not know." I had proved this by Matt. xxiv, 36. Mark xiii, 32. but he prefers Dr. Macknight's translation, who renders the original 8 ders older no one maketh known, which to me appears grammatically erroneous, and to say the least, a forced translation. If the Dr. will please to consider the following passages, Matt. xxvi, 39. Matt. xxvii 46. Lukeii, 52 Hebrews v; 7. & Acts i, 7. Mark xi, 13, he will convince himself that it was necessary, that the divine nature of Christ as to its omniciency, should thus withdraw itself during his state of humi. liation, in order that his human nature might acquire certain qualific cations, and become capable of certain sufferings, decreed by Eternal Justice as to the manner in which they should take place.

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In regard to the Dr's. other points of objection my mind remains frm after reconsideration of the subjects. The metaphysical tenet, "That all our materials.of thought, are derived either from sensation or reflection p. 147," is perhaps not expressed with metaphysical precision. But I used the word reflection in its more common accepta tion, in which it comprehends all the operations of the mind; and for this sense, I might claim even the authority of Dr. Reid, Vol. 1, p. 3211

EXPOSITION

OF THE

REVELATION

OF

JESUS CHRIST.

CHAPTER X.

Accomplished from A. D. 772-to 1844.

1. And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, cloth. ed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire :

2. And he had in his hand a little book open: and set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

3. And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth; and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Here a new scene is opened, which in a manner interrupts the general order of visions in this book of prophecies, and by a prophetic side-line, details the lineage of the Church, and the regal succession of many princes, within the ancient limits of the Roman empire; running parallel with the chronological line of the woe-trumpets. The appearance of this glorious angel, precisely at this place, is of a twofold signification: first, to attract the. reader's attention to the beginning of this prophetic sideline; and secondly, to announce the opening of a new scene of visions in the general system of this prophecy, at the sound of the seventh trumpet. Thus a heavenly heråld appeared and made proclamation with a loud voice, before the lamb opened the seven seals, chap. v, 2; and

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