DELIVERED BEFORE THE \ NE JVYQRK MISSIONARY SOCIETY, \ AT THEIR ANNUAL MEETING , APRIL 3, 1804. By JOHN H. LIVINGSTON, D. D. S. T. P. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, AN APPENDIX, AND OTHER PAPERS RELATING TO AMERICAN MISSIONS^ (giemfielO. PRINTED BY JOHN DENIO. . , ' ' ' ;* ... •V • . :■ * • < * ■ <. - 1 ■ ■• - V. - •«■ • - s , ^ »-■' *• . • i ■ •«, . • ■ ■ f - A 1 * • i ; . ’ . a t>T CV J .... & -1* ; .™ • C«* s'* - ■ ^ . A. . # .■ ijAft-PSg .Wr*^**- »** . ■ V .(JOifi -V : \. •.;. ■ X -••■ A SERMON. REVELATION XIV. G, 7. And If aw another angel fly in the viidfl of heaven, hav- ing the everlajling Gofpel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth , and to every nation , and kindred , and tongue , and people, faying, with a loud voice. Fear God, and. give glory to him ; for the hour of bis judgment is come ; and worjhip him that made heaven , and earth , and the fca, and the fountains of waters . T HE glory of God, the love of Chrift, and the falvation of fmners, fuggell conftraining motives for propagating the Gofpel. The command to teach all nations, and the promife that the word {hall not re- turn void, prefent a warrant and encouragement to vig- orous exertions for converting the heathen. Chrii- tians have always recognized the obligation, and pro- faned a fubmiffion to this duty ; yet they have crim- inally neglected the means, or ignobly Numbered in the work. In the dark period of ignorance and opprdllon, when the Church lied before an implacable enemy, it was impofiible to devife liberal plans, or proi'ecute any benevolent deiign for the enlargement of the Re- deemer's kingdom. Her fttuation precluded every generous effort. But why, in more profperous times, did believers abate in their zeal ? Why for the fpace of three centuries, when placed beyond the reach of perfecution, have no ftrenuous meafures been adopt- ed for extending the knowledge of the Savior ? ]$Ien, eminent for their piety and talents, have, in fuccei- flop, been raifed up in the Church. jMany, during [ * ] fliis long interval, have defended the truth, and, by their invaluable writings, recommended the excel- lence and power of godlinefs. Faithful and learned minifters have indefatigably labored ; and the Lord hath often fent a plentiful rain , and confirmed bis in- heritance when it was weary • but ftill an extenfive pro- mulgation of the Gofpel has not been ferioufly at- tempted. '• Nothing fince the primitive ages of Chrif- tianity, deferving the name, has appeared, until the prefent period.* Now, at a leafon the moft unprom- ifing, when wars, revolutions, and confufion pre- vail ; now, when infidelity afiumes a formidable af- pect, increafes its votaries, and arrogantly threatens to crulh revealed religion ; at this yery time, under all thefe inaufpicious circumftances, fee the Church enlarging the place of her tent , and Jlr etching forth the curtains of her habitation ! She breaks forth on the right hand and on the left , to inherit the Gentiles , and make the dcfolate cities to be inhabited- All who embrace the doctrines of grace, in every nation, feem infpired with the fame fpirit. Vail plans arc formed, wn- menfe expenfes incurred, and the moll dillant conti- nents and illands become the objects of attention. Now, the deplorable ftate of thole who dwell in the land of the fhadow of death, and perifh for lack of knowledge, excites companion. Societies are infti- tuted to facilitate the work ; and men, zealous and intrepid in the lervice of their Lord, readily offer to vifit the utmoft ends of the earth, and cheerfully fub- mit to the toils and dangers infeparable from miffiori- ary labors. v Such views and efforts conllitute a diftinguifhed epoch in the hiftorv of the Church. f Events lo fin- gular> and in their confequences fo interefting, create ferious inquiries. The alliduous obferver of Divine Providence, lofing fight of fuborninate agents, looks up, and alks, What is God doing ? Wliv are the in- tricate wheels, which, with refpebl to this important objeft, liave fo long feemed ftationary, now put in * Sec Appendix, pote A, [ 5 ] motion ? Is there nothing in tl>e word of God, is there no promife, no predi&ion, which v LH ifluftrate the procedure of Providence, and inform his people of the rife and progrefs, the fource and tendency of this aftonifhing movement ? From the prophecies of the Old Teftament refpe cling the kingdom of Chrift, a fatisfaclory reply cannot be obtained. 'ihofc prophecies refer chiefly to the beginning or to the ponclufion of the Gofpel difpenfation. Some \yere accompliihed in the days of the apoftles and their immediate fucceflors. The moft of them look for- ward to a diitant period. Very little concerning the intermediate fpace, or the train of events which mark the approach, and are to ufher in the glory or pf the latter days, can be from them exprefsly col- lected. * Our blefTcd Lord, in many of his parables, delineates the gradual and extenlive progrefs of his kingdom. In the Epiftles i formidable adverlary is mentioned, whom the Lord Jhall confume with the breath of his mouth, and foall dejiroy with the' bright nefs of his coming. But our rnoft decifive information is to be derived from the Apocalypse.! The various vicif- fitudes which, in fucceflion, dehgnate the prefent dif- penfation of the Church, and the time when the promifes will be fulfilled, are there 'more pointedly deferibed than in any other portion of the ficred » feriptures. To a prophecy in this book 1 have pre- fumed, my Brethren, upon this occafon. to requel’: your attention ; a prophecy in which } r ou will iind an anfwer to your inquiries, and from which it is my deflgn to deduce a new motive for flrenuous and perievering exertions in your miflionary engage- ments. Convinced of the difficulties which unavoidably attend the explanation of prophecies not yet accom- plifhed, and perfuaded of a prevailing dlfpofition to magnify prelent events ; aware of the propen iky which urges to anticipate what is future a .d fenfib; e of the peculiar circumfpedior. with which we ought * See Appendix C. f See Appendix D. t * 3 to comment upon the book of Revelation ; I ap- proach my fubjed with humility and diffidence ; yet not without hope that the meaning of the Holy Spiiv it, in the paffage feleded for our meditation, is right- ly apprehended, and that fomething may be adduced for inftrucHon and edification. Let us endeavor, I. To alberta: a the objed of this prophecy ; and then, II. Inveftigate the period of Its accomplifhment. Fuji. To ascertain the objed of this prophecy, and determine what event is here predicted, let it be ob- served, that in this chapter feveral diftind vifions are recorded, which follow each other in uninterrupted lucceffion, referring to events, which, in that very or- der, v. ill be accomplifhed ; that the vifion now un- der conilderation is the Second, and, in regard to its meaning and precife objed, is uninfluenced by what precedes or follows, John once beheld and heard an angel flying through the midjl of heaven , faying , with a loud voice , Woe, woc t wee , to the inhabit ers of the earth !* The charaders and feene now before us arc of a different nature ; inftead of woe and alarm, they are replete with glad tidings and confolation. I faw another angel fly in ttjji midjl of heaven, having the ever la fang Gofpel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth. In this text the hicroglyphLa! and alphabetical language both occur. A few fvinbols are firft introduced, after which an ex- planation fucceeds in the ordinary ityle. The ^symbols are, heaven , and an angel , bearing a pre- cious treaiii vc, flying in the midjl of heaven, and crying with a loud voice. Heaven is often, throughout the Scripture, uled literally to indicate the plac» of glory, the beatific vjlion, the manfiofi of the blefled. In the paffage before us it is a Symbol, and means the Church under the New Teftament difpcnlation. Th$ jn'ujl if heaven , then, is the in id ft of the Chriftian Churches. Angkj. i,s an official term ; it is frequent- ly applied to thiTc fpiritual and celeftial beings wflo * Rev. yffi. 13. C 7 J are fent forth to minifter to the heirs of falvation ; but the word exprefles not fo much the nature as the character and duty of thofe who are employed as mct- fengers. It is here a fymbol, and reprcfents the min- isters of the Gofpel, the meflengers of the Lord to his people ; and means not one particular minifter, but a Gofpel miniftry in the aggregate. Of this a fatisfaCto- ry explanation occurs in the fecond and third chap- ters of this book, where the fymbol always refers to the miniftry of the churches. Flying is the figure of fpecd. A continued flying indicates an uninter- rupted and unceafing progrefs. The loud voice ez- prefles earneftnefs, zeal and authority. From the fymbolical terms we then collect, that John forefaw a period when a zealous miniftry would arife in the midil of the Churches, with a new and ex- traordinary fpirit ;■ a miniftry Angular in its views and exertions, and remarkable for its plans and fuc- cefs ; a miniftry which would arreft the public at- tention, and be a prelude to momentous changes in the Church and in the world. The literal explanation removes every doubt res- pecting the meaning of thefe fymbols. What is the treafure the angel bears ? What does he proclalm- with fo loud a \^)ice ? To whom is his mefiage di- rected ? Each of thefe is here determined. The an- gel has the everlafting gofpel to preach r- This is his treafure. He calls to the practice of the eflential du- ties of true religion, and announces the hour of God’s judgment : This is the import of his proclamation. He is eommiflioned to vifit every nation and people on the earth : To them his meSa^e is directed.— -V ' ' Some of thefe articles deferve a minute difeuffion ; but we muft be contented with a few' brief obferva- tions upon each. 1. The Gospel fignifies good tidings, tidings of great joy, of falvation for loft: finners, falvation from great mifery, procured by a great price, a great fac- tion. To preach this Gofpel is officially to declare the fact, and authoritatively to command and per- [ S ] ftiade finners to be reconciled to God. So the teleftiai angel preached the Gofpel to the Shepherds in the field of Bethlehem, when he publiflied the birth of the Savior. So the apofiolic angels preached the Gof- pel when they v/ent forth as ambajjadors for Chriji. and inculcated repentance and faith. So the ordina- ry angels of the Churches have continued in every age to preach the Gfofpel, as far as they have faithful- ly profeffed and taught the doctrines of Jefus and his apoftlcs. This Gofpel is here called everlasting, not mere- ly becaufe it was devifed in the eternal counfel of peace between the Father and the Son, and becaufe it is ef- tablilhed by an everlafling covenant, which renders all the benefits well ordered, fure, and perpetual ; but it is thus denominated with particular emphafis, in' this prophecy, to indicate that the Gofpel, which Ihould go forth from the midft of the Churches, and be fent to all the nations of the earth, would be the fame Gofpel which had always been maintained by the faithful followers of the Redeemer ; the fame Gofpel which was preached before unto Abraham ; the fame which all believers embraced under the Old Tef* tament ; the fame which the Apoftles preached and the primitive Chriftians profeffed ; the fame to which the fealed of the Lord bore witnefs during the perfe- ction of ahtichrift ; the fame for which the Church- es at the Reformation protefted, and which has fince, by many of thofe Churches, been preferved in its pu- rity. The very fame weapons, and no other, which had been mighty through God to the pulling down offtrong - holds heretofore, Ihould now be effectually employed. This afeertains that, at the period intended in the vi- lion, the doctrines of grace would be faithfully preach- ed ; that the miffionaries fent out from the niidft of the Churches would be, like Barnabas, good men, full of the Iioly Ghojl, and oj faith ; that they would not accommodate their meffage to the pride of philofoph- ers, to the prejudice Of infidels, or the - bigotry of idol- aters : but houeftly, plainly, and boldly preach Cbryl; t 9 1 and him crucified ; Chrift, the way, the truth , and the life , by whom alone finneys can come to the Father ; that, without flattery or dilguife, they would call traiifgreflors to repentance, \nd offer a Savior to the chief or finners. ( f 2. To what doth the angel call ? What is the im- port of his proclamation ? In three comprelienfive Lnfences a funmury of the whole is exhibited — Fear God ; give glory to him ; and worship him. By the fear, ot* God, the whole of true religion, as it ref- pects principles and practice, is often expreffed ; par- ticularly a veneration for the infinite majefty of Jeho- vah, and a holy dread of his judgments. The Lord is the true God , he is the living God , and evsrlafiingKing ; at his wrath the earth fijall tremble. Who would not fear thee , 0 King of Nations ? For to thee doth it appertain. But the fear particularly inculcated by the Gofpel is here’efpecially intended ; not a fervile dread, which urges awakened linners to defpair, and extinguilhes de- votion ; but a holy reverence, blended with fuch per- fect love as cafteth out flaviih fear. The fpirit of a- dopdon feals the forgivenefs of fins — is an earneft of acceptance in the beloved — and excites in his people a filial fear. There is forgivenefs with thee , that thou mayefl be feared. Give glory to him, is added by the angel, as an- other comprehensive fummary of the Gofpel call. In all his divine attributes God is infinitely glorious. The heavens declare his glory. The whole earth is full of his glory. All his works praife him. He is glorious in his holinefs and fearful in his praifes. But in the face of Jelus Chrift the glory of God fhines moll confpicuoufty. In the falvation of guilty, de- praved, and helplefs tranfgreffors, through the imput- ed righteoufnefs of the blefied Immanuel, glory re- dounds to God in the higheft. The Gofpel difplays the glory of his majefly ; and wherever it is rendered the wifdom and power of God unto falvation, it in- ftructs the redeemed to give glory unto the Lord. The angel concludes with the authoritative coru- \ B 5 - E io ] mane!, Worjhip him. Revealed religion reftores true worlhip to the world, dire&s to the right object, and opens the only way for finners to the mercy feat. It is with peculiar propriety- the prophecy mentions, that the worlhip taught by the Gofpel is the worlhip of the Creator, who made heaven and earth , and the fea and the Fountains of waters* It inculcates this great truth, that revealed religion adopts, confirms, and en- joins the religion of nature ; that God, who is related to us as Creator , has revealed himfelf alfo in the new and adorable relation of P.edeemer ; that finners, there- fore, who come to the Savior, come to him who made them ) in worfhipping their Redeemer they worlhip their Creator. Thy Maker is thy hujband. This meets the objections of infidelity, and feems to point to prevailing principles at the time when the e- vent foretold will be accomplilhed. The everlafting Gofpel which the angel proclaims demonftrates the religion of nature, however perfect in itfelf, to be in- adequate for the falvation of thofe who have finned. It declares tlte Creator to be a Redeemer, and in this relation invites linners to fear God, to give him glo- ry, and worlhip him. ^s a motive for preaching the Gofpel, and an ar- gument for its reception, the angel announces that the hour of God's Judgment is come. The term judg- m nt , in the Apocalypfe, ufually refperts the decifion of the controverfy which has long fubfilted between the world and Jefus Chrilt ; but it is evident a partic- ular reference is here made to the judgment to be in- flirted upon the nations chargeable with flaying the witneffes. The nations were angry,\ and thy wrath is come , and the time of the dead that they Jhou/d be judged ; the time when the dead faints lhall be remembered, and the blood of the martyrs, by terrible judgments, be avenged. This is confidered as the commencement of that awful decifion, the beginning of that feries of judgment, which will terminate the controverfy be- tween the Redeemer and his adverfaries. To this, in the firfl infunce; the angel has rclpcrt. He calls * Ails xiv. 1.5 — xvii. 24. C 11 3 with a loud voice — the hour of his judgment is come. Lot the nations tremble ; let the world adore ; efpecial- ly let the Churches hear ! The beginning of this judg- ment, the very hour of its commencement, is the lignal for the angel’s flight, and for extending the Redeemer’s kingdom. 3. To whom is the Gofpel to be fent ? To whom is the angel commiflioned to carry his treafure ! Unto them that dwell on the earth , and to every nation , and kin- dred , , and tongue , and people. The term earth, when uf- ed figuratively in this book, is a fymbol for the Ro- man Empire, including the whole extent of the papal hierarchy. Commentators, who view it here as a fymbol, underhand the prophecy as only foretelling the promulgation of the Gofpel in its purity, throughout the bounds of that empire, as it is now divided into different nations, tongues and people. But the term has a literal meaning, and occurs here in connexion with the alphabetical language ; it muff, therefore, be underftood in its literal fenfe, in- dicating the whole globe which we inhabit, with all the nations and people of the world. To thefe, how- ever diftant and dil'perfed, diverfified in their iitua- tion, and differing in their manners and languages ; to all thefe the angel bends his courfe ; to all thefe he is commiflioned to preach the everlafting Gol- pel. You have the meaning of the prophecy. What was fuggefted by the hieroglyphic, is illuftrated and confirmed by the alphabetical language. John faw in vifion, that after a lapfe of time, a An- gular movement would commence, not in a folitary corner, but in the very midft of the Churches — That the Gofpel, in its purity, would be fent to the mod diftant lands, and luccefs crown the benevolent work. The ordinary exercife of the miniftry, or the feeble attempts which, at different times, might be made to propagate the Gofpel, were not the object of this vifion. It was fomething beyond the common ftandard, which the apoftle beheld with admiration C .12 ] and rapture. It was fuch preaching and fuch propaga- tion of the Gofpel as John never before contemplated. There was a Magnitude in the plan, a concurrence of fentiment, a fpeed in the execution, a zeal in the ef- forts, and a profperity in the enterprize, which dif- tinguifhed this from all former periods. The event here defcribed comprehends a fcries of caufes and effects, a fucceffion of means and ends, not to be completed in a day, or finifhed by a fingle exertion. It is reprefented as a growing and perma- nent work. It commences from fmall beginnings in the midft of the Churches, but it proceeds, and will increafe in going. There are no limits to the pro- grefs of the angel. From the time he begins to fly and preach, he will continue to fly and preach until ne has brought the everlafting Gofpel to all na- tions, and tongues, and kindred, and people in the earth. Hail, happy period 1 Hail, cheering profpect \ When will that bleffed hour arrive ? When will the ^ngel commence his flight ? This leads us, Secondly. To inveftigate the time when this prophe- cy will begin to be accomplifhcd. The whole Aruchire of the vifion, the grandeur of the fcene, and the folemn expofitlon of the fymbols, recommended this ifluftrious prophecy to the pecul- iar notice of the Churches ? and yet it feemsto have been generally neglected or mifreprefented by com- mentators. It has either been reftrictcd to what hap- pened at the Reformation, or thrown into the great mafs of events which are to take place after the Mil- lennium has fully commenced. Whereas, upon ex- amination, it will be found, both from the Order of the vifion and its exprefs object that it comprehends fomething vaftly beyond what was realized at the « Reformation. And, fo far from aftually belonging to the millennial period, it is only the appointed means for introducing that ftate ; whatever may be its progrefs or confummation, it mud, in the nature of things, begin its operation fome coi.aderablc time be? I 13 ] fore the Millennium can commence. Let us impar* dally examine the fubjeft. Prophecy is furnifhed, like hiftory, with a chrono- logical calendar ; and the predictions, with reipeft to the time of their accomplifhment, may be referred to three dittiinfk daffes. Sonx exprefsly fpecify the peri- od when the tiling foretold fhall take place, and give, either in literal or fymbolical numbers, the exact fe- ries of years that fliall elapfe before the fulfilment. — So to Abraham it was Laid in plain terms, that four hundred years fliould pals away before his pofterity would be freed from bondage. So feventy years were appointed for Judah to remain in captivity. So alfo feventy weeks, a fymbolical term for four hun- dred and ninety years, were to intervene between the decree of Artaxerxes and the death of the Mcf- fiah. Other predictions do not fpecify any feries of years from which a computation can proceed, but connect the event with fontething preceding or lub- quent. In fuch, the key of explanation mult be found in the order of the events. To the third clafs belong thofe prophecies in which no time is mention- ed, and no order eltabliflied, but other events are predicted, and declared to be coexiltent. Whenever, therefore, thofe take place, the event in queltion may be expected. Agreeably to this arrangement, we find the pre- diction now under confideration does not belong to the firft clafs. There is no mention of time, no peri- od named, no number of years, either fymbolical or literal, from which a calculation can proceed, or any expectation be formed, when the preaching angel will begin his flight. To the fccond clafs it muft be attached. To the or- der of the event we mult be principally indebted for information. The vifion before us is the fecond re- corded in this chapter. Confiflently with an eftab- lifhed rule refpecting an uninterrupted order of pro r phecies expreffing the aflual feries of events, the time- when the angel will commence his preaching niufl. fc>e> [ 14 3 after what is intended by the firft villon, and before the third. At fome period between thefe two ex- tremes this prophecy will be accomplished. What was the object of the firft vifion ? If you at- tend to the hieroglyphic, and the expofition which fol- lows ; efpecially when you compare the whole with what is found in the Seventh chapter of this book, you will not helitate to determine, that the great e- •vent, which is commonly called the reformation, was there intended. 1 " This happened in the beginning of the fixteenth century. The firft vifion, then, reS- pe6ts an event we know is accomplifiied, and has ac- tually happened about three hundred years ago. In the third vifion the fall of great Babylon is pre- dicted. By this Symbolical name is indiSputably in- tended, the Seat and dominion of that powerful adver- sary, who for many ages has oppofed the interefts of true religion, encroached upon the prerogatives of Jefus Chrift, and perfecuted his faithful followers. — The duration of this enemy is limited to twelve hundred and fixty prophetic years. Different calcu- lations have been made refpecting the time when his reign actually commenced, which renders it difficult to determine the precife period of his deftruction ; but the lateft date which has been, or, indeed, can be, fixed for his rife, extends his continuance to the year 1999 ;f consequently his fall muft, at fartheft, be im- mediately before the year 2000, when the Millenni- um will be fully introduced. J Here, then, we have found two extremes, between which the prediction in queftion will be fulfilled. It muft be after the Reformation, and before the fall of antichrift. The angel muft begin his flight after the year 1 . 500 , and before the year 2000 . This brings our inquiry within the Space of five hundred years. Thefe boundaries will be abridged, when we re- flect that three hundred years have elapfed Since the reformation, and nothing corresponding to the vi- * See .Appendix E. f See Appendix F. % Sec Appendix G. [ 15 J lion has yet been feen ; nothing in refpecl to the u- niverfality, the power, and, fuccefe, which character- ize the preaching of the gofpel defcribed in the pre- diction. Much was confefl'edly done ; great things were achieved at the Reformation. But this is anoth- er angel — this foretells another preaching, vaftly more enlarged and interefting in its confequences than any thing which happened then, or at any period fince. It delineates an event which, when eftimated in all its concurring circumftances, cannot fail of eftablifhing the conviction, that it is not yet fulfilled. Three hundred years have pafled away, and inftead of in- creafiing, the Church has rather diminiflied in puri- ty, in zeal, and in numbers. She has retired, fome fteps at leaft, back into the wildernefs again, and doth not now maintain that eminence nor ling with fo elevated a note, as when flie made her appearance upon Mount Zion at the Reformation. We are compelled, therefore, to look forward for the aecompliihment ; and are now reduced to the fhort remaining fpace of two hundred years. With- in this compafs there can be no miftake. At fome point of time from, and including the prefent day, and before the clofe of two hundred years, the angel mud begin to fly in the midft of the Churches, and preach the everlafting Gofpel to all nations and tongues, and kindred, and people in the earth. Tlius far the prophecy, taken in its connexion and order, has afiifted us in our calculation. We (hall, perhaps^ approach nearer, if we attend to moment- ous events , which, from the whole tenor of the pro- phetic word, we know are to happen previous to the millennium, and, confequently, within two hundred years. If thele be fuch as will neceflarily require con* fiderable time, and if the event in queftion be infepa- rably connected with them, and ftand foremofi: in the feries, we may be enabled, from them, to form a rational conclulion of the probable feafoa when tlji? will commence. The events to which vve allude are — the punifiir [ 16 ] ment of the nations who aided antichrift in murder- ing the fervants of God — the converfion of the Jews — the bringing in the fulnefs of the Gentiles — and the fall of myflical Babylon. Whether the order of thefe events will accord to this enumeration j whether they will begin at once, and move forward together ; or whatever may be the length of time be- tween one and the other ; our reasoning upon them will not be affected, fince they are all to be completed within the fpace of two hundred years. It would lead us too far from the fubject immedi- ately before us, to difcufs the feveral articles we have Hated, to attempt to demonltrate their certainty, or calculate the precife time of their accomplifhment ; we mull here take them for granted, and content ourfelves with little more than naming them. Before we advert, however, to either of thefe, it may obviate erroneous inferences, and affift in form- ing a juft eftimate of the time required for the ac- complifhment, briefly to premife — that an inviolable harmony for ever fubfifts between every fubordinate event and the great end to which God has always ref- pect in the adminiftration of his providence, and no- thing is ever admitted to the injury of this harmony — that the defigns of providence are always executed in a way fuited to the f'ubjects to which they relate, and analogous to the ufual procedure in fimilar ca- fes — that as the attainment of every end is affected by proper means, fo the progrefs which characterizes all the works of God is gradual ; and — that we are not permitted to indulge in the marvelous, or expect an unnecelfary profusion of miracles, where the end can be obtained by the concurrence of ordinary cadf- es and affects. Thefe are maxims reflecting the mor- al government of God ; and in judging of the man- ner in which thofe events will be produced, and con- fequcntly, in eftimating the fpace of time required for their completion, are to be particularly recollect- ed. 1. We mentioned / W pun'jhment of the nations r u)ht [ 17 3 aided antichrijl in murdering toe fervants of God. That the blood of the martyrs will be avenged, and the wrath of God poured out upon the nations who wick- edly ihed that blood, is awfully intimated, Rev. vi. 9, 10, 1 1, aud is indifputably confirmed by a folemn appeal to the perfections of Jehovah. Rev. xvi. 5, 6. Thou art righteous , 0 Lord, bccaufe thou haft judged thus ; for they have fhed the blood of faints and prophets and thou hail given then blood to drink ; for they are •worthy. The tremendous procefs of this judgment, whenever it opens, may, by various procedures in Divina Providence, be Ihortened. The quiver of God is full of arrows. Yet as thefe nations perpe- trated their cruelties. by violence, as they flew by the fword, it is probable they ftoall perifh with the ficord. But, what conflicts ; what revolutions ; what tilings of nations, who are to be the mutual executioners of this terrible fentence, are here implied ! 2. The Jews are to be converted. That ancient and fmgular people have long been difperfed throughout the world, without partaking in the government, or mixing in confanguinity with any nation. For many days , indeed, they have abode without a king , and without a prince , without a facrifce , and without an epbod and teraphini. Excommunicated by their unbelief, wandering and forlorn, they have long been paying the price of precious blood. Preferved by a particu- lar providence, and perhaps as numerous as ever, they continue monuments of the truth of God in his righteous threatening?, and of the feverity of his aw- ful juftice. Bat bleflings and honor are in flore for that people. They are deilined to become equal monuments of the faithfulnefs of God to his promif- es, and of the riches of his fovereign grace. The ref- idue of the fpirit is with him, and he will breathe up- on thefe Jlain , that they may live . God is able to graff them in again , and has declared he will do it. All If- rael floall be faved. The Jews will affuredly be con- verted, and with raptures of faith and love, hail the adorable Jefus as the true Meffiah, their Lord and our C L is J Lord, their King and our King. To their own land' they will alfo again return, and flourifh there, not under the former theocracy, which was blended with rituals now aboliihed, but under a government a- capted to their new and exalted condition.* The Lord will rejoice over them to build them up, and do them good, and fhowers of blefllngs fhall defcend up- on them. There they will coriftitute the centre, the mod diftinguifhed and dignified point to which the whole Ghriftian Church, throughout the world, will ftancl related. But to effect all this, admitting the miraculous interpofition of divine grace and power, what inftruction, what arrangements, what affiftance from other nations, what journeyings, what concur- ring providences muft here combine ! 3. The fulnefs of the Gentiles is to be brought into the Church. If the cajling away of the Jews be the re- fondling of the world , what float l the receiving of them bc Y but life from the dead ? Millions have already been gathered from the nations ; yet thefe are only the firfl fruit, an handful, compared to the harveft wh'ch Jhall Jhake like Lebanon. But what means and ends, what caufes and effects, what a train of events are comprised in the converfion of the world to the o- bedience of Chrilt ! What prejudices muft be con- quered, v-hat old foundations razed, what new ftruc- tures erected ! The nations muft be i taught bafore they can believe of will fubmit. How jhall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? and how Jhall they believe * God brought them out of Egypt ; he rcflored them from- Chaldea ; and he will again thfplay the riches of his grace, his truth, and power, by gathering them, at the appointed time, from their wide diiperlions. That the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compcffruj upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations whither the Lord thy God hath /f uttered thee. Tf any of thine he driven o,.t unto the utmod parts of heaven , from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will hi fetch thee ; and the hard thy God wilt bring thee in- to the land which thy father . pojfjjed, and thou (halt pcjfefs it ;• end he will do thee good. Uuut. xaX. ii, 4, #. [ 19 ] in him of whom they have not heard ? and how fhall they hear without a preacher ? ami how JIju/ 1 they preach ex- cept they be fent ? It required forty years to preach the Gofpei at tirft throughout the Roman Empire ; and it was three hundred and twenty five years before the Chriftian religion publicly triumphed over Pa- gan Idolatry. Should the fame Divine Power, the fame effuGon of the Holy Spirit, even in a more am- ple meafure, be afforded ; fhould Pentecoft feafons be frequently repeated, and the work be cut Jhort, ftill a number of years muft neceflarily elapfe in accom- plilhing this bleffed purpofe. Scattered over every continent and illand between the diftant poles ; many of the nations uncivilized, depreffed in lavage igno- rance, and degraded in brutal manners ; and every carnal mind, in all the nations, at enmity againjl God , and oppofed to the Gofpei ; what materials, what a field, from which to gather fo rich a harveft ! 4. The dejlruftion rf antiahrtj ?, or the fall of myfli- eal Babylon, was the lad thing mentioned. This ad- verfary will certainly be brought down. There lhall be nothing left to hurt nor dejlroy in all the holy moun- tain. Whatever oppofes the interefts of true religion, in the eftablifhment of any State or. Church, will be proftrated. Ecclefiaftical dignitaries, fpiritual lords, and all the pageantry of the hierarchy, in its various modifications, which have debafed the Gofpei, and metamorphofed the kingdom of Chrift to a kingdom of this world, will be finally trampled in the dull, and defpifed by Chriftians. Antichrift is to be con- fumed by the Spirit of the mouth of the Lord. This confumption began at the Reformation, and will in- creafe in the fame degree in which the everlafting Gofpei is preached with fuccefs. But his final de- ftruction will be by judgments, not of correction, but of extermination. Every thing in that fyftem is branded with perdition. This is the fatal mark which God has fixed upon antichrift. To the expulfion of whatever offends within the pale of the vifible Church, tnuii be annexed the removal of every obftacle which [ 20 ] has hitherto prevented the promulgation and proiV perityofthe Gofpel. When the principal enemy, who fixed his feat at Rome, is deftroyed, the eaftern antichrift will alfo be demoiifhed. The powers which fupport the delufion of Mahomet, with every Thing that militates againft revealed religion, and the worfhip of God the Redeemer, throughout the whule earth, {hall be overthrown. What changes in the moral world, what revolu. tions in the civil, are impending ! Attend to each of the enumerated articles ; efiimate their magnitude ; recollect the maxims refpecting the procedure of Di- vine Providence ; and then determine, whether two hundred years are not a fhort fpace for the confum- mation of fuch events ? And, if the exter.five prop- agation of the Gofpel is to precede the convernon of the Jews, the bringing in of the fulnefs of the Gentiles, and the deitru&icn of antichrift, fay whether we may not indulge the expectation that it will foon com- mence, if it be not already begun ? We ct nclude without hefitation, that the Churches are authorifed to hope that the •vifion Jhall quickly /pe ak. It will fur e- ly come , it ’will riot tarry. W 7 ith this conciufion, if, now, we compare exift- ing facts ; if we view the miflionary fpirit v Inch has fucidenly pervaded the Churches, and eftimate the efforts lately made, and (till making, for the lending the Gofpel to thofe who know' not the precious nan it* of Jefus, and arc perifliing in their fins ; do we not difeover a linking relemblance of what the \ .non dt- feribes ?— May we not exclaim, Behold the angel 1 flis flight is begun ! Here our enquiries might reft ; yet as this predic- tion may be comprifed alfo under the third clals of prophecies, and receives additional light from the rules of explication refpecting cocxifting events, we muft, in juflice to the lubjeift, briefly attend to what can be obtained from that l'ource. The hour cf Cod's jiulgment^we have already lecn, is mentioned as the •yery hour when the ar.gel begins to fly. This is a [ 21 ] part of his proclamation. Upon this his commifiion to go forth is exprefsly fandioned. To t lie three other great events which are to happen, the extenfive preaching of the Gofpel muft,in * lie nature of things, be antecedent, as means to effect thoXe enejs ; but with the firft mentioned it is to be coetaneous. When that begins, this will alfo commence* What we are to underhand by this judgment of Cod has been explained, and we are aflured that, foor.er or later — but we recoil at the expedition, and proceed with reludance upon a fubjecl which excites l'uch fympathy, fuch fenlibility, fo much pain. Yet faithfulnefs renders it incumbent to lay — We are af- fured that, fooneror later, it will certainly be inflict- ed upon the nations, in their national capacity, who are chargeable with the murder of the faints. r i he jui- tice and dignity of the moral government ; the ve- racity of God in fulfilling what he has lo repeatedly declared in his word ; a vindication of the intuited honor ot the Savior ; and his love to his people and caufe ; all confpire to render his difpenfation inevita- ble. The debt mull be paid. The voice of blood will be heard. Believers who refide in thofe nations, and dread the feene, might as well pray that the Lord would not be revealed in flaming fire to take vengeance upon them that know net God , and obey not the Gofpel if our Lord Jehus Chrifl ; or, that the elements might be preferved irorn melting with fervent hiat , and the world exempted from final conflagration ; as to pray that the precious blood of the faints fliould not be a- venged. — The righteous may protect the wicked, and in the ordinary procedures of Providence, avert im? pending cleftruclion for a time ; but although Noah t Daniel and Job were there, when this hour of retribu- tion arrives, they could procure no longer forbear- ance. Conformably to this, his people are not ex- horted to pray againft the approaching calamity, but to fubmit in faith and hope ; and when the awful feafon (h ill arrive, to fly to their chambers and hide themfelves. Ihey-fliall be fafelv protected. The Lord knoweth how to deliver his children ) and L 22 ] will, as when Jerusalem was deftroyed, provide fome Pella for them. When he maketh inquifition for blood , he re'membereth them : He forgetteth not the cry of the humble . But when will God perform this Arrange work ? Ah, perhaps it is already begun !* What are the lin- gular, what the defolating feenes which have opened, and are ftill enlarging in profpect ? Why are convulf- ed nations riling in a new and terrific form to exter- minate each other ? Are thefe the beginnings of for- rows ? Are thefe the lirft rr\ovements for avenging the Savior’s caufe ? Is God now coming out of his place to judge the earth , to judge that portion of the world which aflilted the beaft in flaying the witneff- es ? Mull the blood, fo long covered and forgotten by men, now come in remembrance and be difclofed ! Mull this generation — we forbear. Judge ye. But, be allured, that if this work be begun, or whenever it doth begin, at that very hour the angel will begin to fly. When Zion flngs of judgment, flie always lings of mercy. Let this fuflice. You have attended to the proph- ecy, and eftimated the period of its accomplilhment. You have compared oxifting fads with the prediction, and drawn a concluflon. Do you now call, Watchman , •what of the night ? Watchman , what cf the night ? The watchman faith , the morning cometh , and cfo the night. Clouds and darknefs ftill remain, and the gloom may even thicken at its clofe ; but the rifing dawn will foon difpel the lhades, and fliine more and more unto the perftft day. The morning cometh! FROM the numerous reflections fuggefted by this fubjefl, the limits of our difeourfe permit us to felect only a few. 1. Iiow mysterious are the ways of God ! His way is in the fca , his path in the great waters , and his footjleps are not known. The time which elapfed before the birth of the Mefliah ; the narrow boundaries within .which the Church was circumfcribed during the dtf- * See Appendix H. C « ] penfation of the Old Tedament } the fufferings which overwhelmed her immediately after the primitive ages of Chridianity ; and the fmall progrefe of truth and right eoul'nefs for fo many centuries to the pref- ent day, are all, to us, myfterious and inexplicable. What difficulties hold us in fufpenfe ! How many in quiries arife ! If the everlading Gofpel is to be preach- *ed to the whole world, why are the nations permit- ted to remain fo long in ignorance and wickednefs ? II the heathen be given to the Lord Jefus, why doth he delay to take pofleffion of them ? Why a difcrim- ina>;on ? Why But 0 man, who art thou that re- plicji againf God ? Shall the thing formed fay to him that formed it. Why haft thou made me thus ? Can any fay unto him , what doji thou ? Say rather 0 the depth of the riches both of the wifdom and knowledge of God ; how unfear ch able are his judgments , and his ways pafl finding out ! Even fo. Father, for fo it feemed good in thy fight ! Delays have tried the faith and patience of th« faints ; and fcoffers, feizing the occafion, have dared to demand. Where is the promife of his coming ? But darknefs will be fucceeded by light, perplexing diffi- culties all be folved, and apparent confufion terminate in perfect order. Zion {hall before long, ceal’e to complain, that her Lord hath forgotten her ; and as for the wicked, they may fuppreis their blaiphemies.- The Lord is not flack concerning his promife. Behold the day cometh, too foon for them, the day cometh that jhall burn as an oven ; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly , fa all he fubble. God will vindicate his ways, and difplay the harmony which has forever Cibdfted between his providence and promifes. The period is approaching that will abundantly compen- sate for the fevered trials and the longed delays ,* a period when the Redeemer’s kingdom on earth will perfectly correfpond to the fublimeft defcriptior.s of ks extent and glory. The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice. He will make crooked things firaighl , and dark - nefs light. As for God his way is perfect. * See Appendix I. [ 24 ] 2. The magnitude of this event next arrcfls our attention. Vail in its nature and confiequences, it in- volves renovations in the moral World more extenfive and ftupenduous than any hitherto experienced ; it implicates radical changes in the manners and cuftoms of mankind ; and even comprehends revolutions in the principles and adminiftration of ci\il government* which furpafs the power of anticipation. But vaft and difficult as thefe may appear, there is nothing in their rife, their progrefs, or their confummation, that implies a contradiction. In the phyfical order of things the event is poffible ; agreeable to the moral fyftem it can be effected ; and it certainly is mod de- firable and devoutly to be wifhed. When all nations receive the Gofpel, and become real chriftians ; when men of every rank, from the leaji to the greateji , Jhall know the Lord, and devote themfelves to the fervice of their Redeemer, then all will be happy. Individuals will be happy, fociety will be happy, and peace, joy* and holinefs prevail throughout the whole earth. This is the manifeftation for which the world is wait- ing. The creation, groaning under the complicated miferies introduced by fin, will then obtain the de- liverance for which it has been fo long in travail. Alarmed at the profpect, infidels raife formidable objections, *and, with infernal malignity, ridicule the hope of believers. All things , fay they, ail things con* time as they were from the beginning of the creation ; and all things will for ever fo remain. Nothing can pro- duce the mighty change you Chriftians contemplate* You cherilh fictions, chimeras, and dreams. You draw Elyfian feenes which will never be realized* What ! convince the ferocious followers of Mahomet that their prophet was an impoflor, their Alcoran a rhapfody ! Perfuade the Chinefe to abandon their an- cient habits ! Induce the myriads in India to demolifh their pagodas, and ereef temples to Jel'us Chrift ! Curb the roving Tartars ! Elevate the groveling Af- ricans ! Or tame the favage* of America ! How can thefe things be ? Not by human might or power , we reply. We know, more than infidels can inform us, C 25* ] of the ftupendous heights and horrid abyffes ove£ which the promifo has to pais f but none of thefe things move us. Were it to be accompliihad by man ; were the fubtle counfels of the wife, or the nerved arm of the hero required ; the afflicting con- fequences, in their fulled latitude, would readily be admitted. But it is the work of God. This anfwers all queftions — this filences every cavil. Is any thing too hard for him that fttctb upon ‘he circle of the earthy and the inhabitants thereof are as grafshoppers ? Are not all things poflible with him who doth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earthy and none can flay his band? Has the glorified Mediator all power given to him in heaven and in earth to accompli fli this very event, and can the faith of his people be chimerical ? Are their hopes to be ridiculed ? Great as it may be, it is not too great for him to perform. . Every valley fhall be exalted , and ev- ery mountain and hill Jhall be made low ; and the crooked fhall be made ft r ait ; and the rough places plain ; and the glory of the Lord fhall be revealed , and all fhfio fhail fee it together ; for the mouth of the Lord hath fpoken it. 3. The Certainty of the accomplilhment affords a confoling reflection. This is implied in what has already been faid ; but it deferves a more diftinct con- fideratiori. Chriuians are not chargeable with en- thufhfm when they believe the promifes of God will be fulfilled. They follow no cunningly devifed fable when they make known the power and coming of the Lord Jcfus Chrifl. They fpeak the words of truth and fobernefsy when they fay, the everlafting Gofpel will be fuccefsfully preached to all them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation , and kindred , and tongue , and people • Always ready to give a reafon of the hope that is in theniy in regard to their own falvation, they are equally prepared to vindicate their expectation ref- pecting the enlargement of their Redeemer’s king- dona iruthe world. Ihe truth of God is pledged to accomplilh his word. Nothing can poflibly intervene to change his [ 26 A plan. Nothing can arife to fruftate his purpofc. Ihe Lord has faithfully executed all he promifed, in the proper feafon, from the beginning of the world - y : and will he not perfect what yet remaineth r .After preferving his Church under the wafting perfec- tions’* of imperial Rome, and the execrable fury of Rome papal ; after hiding her in the wildernef^ and nourrfhing her fo Jong in her adveriity ; will he not bring her forth to public view in the beauties of holi- nefs, fair as ihe moon, ctear as ihe fun , and terrible as an army with banners ? As I live , faith the Lord , thou fhalt furely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament , and bind' them on thee as a bride doth : I will contend with him that contendeth with thee , and I will fave thy chil- dren : AH ftcfh foall kno-iv that I the Lord am thy Savior and tby Redeemer , the mighty one of Jacob. It is right and proper that Jefus Chrift fhould reign over the whole world, and that all nations fhould ferve him. Is he not worthy, “ the Sceptre of whofe kingdom is a Sceptre of right eon frvefs, to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords ?’ 1 ' Is he conftituted the licit of the world, and fhall he not in due feafon, pof- fefs his inheritance ? Hath he fhed his precious blood upon this earth, and is it not reasonable and fit that the theatre of his deep humiliation fliould become al- fo the theatre of his exalted authority, power and grace ? Has the heel of the Savior been bruifed to the uttnoft extent of the fcntence, and will not the head oftheferpent be broken in the fulleft import of the promife ? — Are the children of God inftrucled to plead, that his kingdom may come ; and will not their heavenly rather anfwer the mediant prayers, which for many ages have addreffed his throne? “ Shall not God avenge his own eleift which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them l I tell you that he will avenge them fpeedily. 'i he kingdom and dominion, and the greatnefs of the kindom under the whole heaven, fhall be given to the people of the faints of the Moft High, whofe kingdom is an evcrlafting kingdom, and all domin- * be“ Appanciia 1C, [ 27 ] ions (hall ferve and obey him. The kingdom fluff not be left to other people, but it Hull break in pie- ces and confume all the kingdoms, and it lhall ftand forever. Remove the diadem and take off the crown. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it lhall be no more until he come whoje right it is ; and I will give it to him.” Before the M^ffiih came his people were wearied with waiting. Many conjectures and errors prevail* cd among the Jews in their calculations and expecta- tions. But feafons, and years, and ages revolved j and changes and revolutions in the nations and king- doms of the earth fucceeiled ; until the fulnefs of time arrived, and then the Savior was born. So a- inong Chriilians there may be mifapprchenlions con- ‘ cerning the nature and extent of the blelliogs promif- ed to the Church ; erroneous conclusions may be formed refpecting the time when the happy period we contemplate will commence ; but, in the end , the vifions Jhall /peak. Seafons and years, and ages will revolve ; and changes and revolutions in the nations and kingdoms of the earth lucceed until the day dawns, and the day Jiar arifes , and then the dominion and glory, and kingdom, Jhall be given to him, that all peo- ple, not ions and languages Jhall ferve him. Nothing on the part of linners prevented his coming in the ficth; and all the ignorance of mankind, the prejudice oi unbelief, the malice of infidelity, and the combined powers of earth and hell, will not dely his coming, with his Gofpel and Spirit, agreeably to his promife, God is not a man, that he Jhould lie, neither the fon of man, that he Jhould repent : Hath he f aid, and foall he not do it ? Or hath be fpoken, and floall he not make it good ? I the Lord will haften it in his time. Come, let us walk about Zion, and go round about her , let us tell the towers thereof and mark well her bulwarks. The Church, from the beginning, had been greatly circuinfcibed, and was ftill a fmall fiock when our Lord w as upon earth. It has continued comparative- ly imall for many centuries, and few have even hith- erto entered in at the ffraight gate, contrafced with [ 28 3 the multitude who choofe the broad way that Icadeth to dejlrudicn. But glorious things are Jpoken of the city of God. The interefts of religion {hall not always be thus depreffed. The Church of Chrift will emerge from obl'curity, and the number of his followers not be frnall. Nothing is more certain than that God has promifed a great enlargement of the kingdom of the Redeemer in this world, with abundant commu- nications of his fpirit and prefencc. In the nv .1 une- quivocal language it is foretold, that ail people and nations throughout the whole earth {hall be irftruct- ed in the true religion, and brought into the Church of God. All dominions fhall ferve and obey him. /Ill nations Jhall ferve him. All nations fhall call him bli jfcd. In him Jhall all the nations of the earth be blcffcd. He will deflroy the covering cafl over all people , and the veil that is fpread over all nations. All fejh Jhall fee the falvation of the Lord. Unto him Jhall all fief come. ' The earth Jhall be full of the knowledge . of the Lord , as the waters cover the feas. In this the promifes of the Old as v ell as of the New Teflament completely harmonize. They all eftablifli the defirable fact, that a period will molt af- furedly arrive, when there fhall not be one nation in the world which fhall not embrace the Chriftian re- ligion. The nation and kingdom which fall not ferve thee Jhall perijh , yea , theje rations Jhall be utterly waft- ed. A time will therefore come when the knowledge of the truth fhall univerfally prevail, and hohnefs fhall characterize the world ; a time when the Church fhall be known and acknowledged to be but one, a dignified and excellent fociety, connected in the moft perfect order, and thinning in the light of the Sun of Righteoufnefs ; a time when the world fhall be de- livered from the Evils and calamities under which it has fo long groaned, and the blcfiings sof God the Redeemer be upon all the families of the earth. — Then the wilder nefs and the Jolit ary place fall beverlafting GoT 1 :c every people, tongue and kindred in the earth. This time, we believe, is arrived. The prefent exertions i me Churches, we are perfuaded, are the nrlt furring', the gradual beginnings for accemplilhirg that great end. Eventful period ! A time replete with occurrences of the.higheft importance to the world ! Long lives for many generations have pifled in uniform fuccef- fiorv, and men have grown old without witneiling a- hy remarkable deviation from thjj ordinary courfe of Providence. But now a new era is commencing. The clofe of. the laft, and the opening of the prefent century, exhibit ftrange and a lion Thing things. Prin- cipled and achievements, revolutions ana defighs, e- vents uncommon and portentous, in rapid fucceffion, arreft our attention. Each year, each day is pregnant with femething great, and all human calculations are fet at defiance. The infidel, with his impious philo- sophy, Hands aghaft, and deititute of refourccs, with trembling forebodings, wonders how and where the t; -so 3 perplexed fcene will end; whilft the Chriftian, in. ftrucled by the word and fpirit of his Savior, calmly views the turning of the dreadful wheels, and knows which way they proceed. Strengthened by divine grace he hands undaunted in the mighty commotion, ,and looks up rejoicing that his prayers are heard, and that his redemption drcrwefh nigh . 4. How influential the motive fuggefted by this pre- diction to engage in ftrenuous exertions to propagate the Gofpel ! How forcible ,the argument to perfevere in the benevolent work ! When Daniel uridcrjlood by books the number of years, whereof the word of the Lord fame to , Jeremiah the prophet, his attention was fixed ; his affe&ions were raifed ; and it operated as a mo- tive to 'intercede for the accomplifliment of the pro. phecy ; agreeably to the maxim, that will be inquired of by the floufe of Ifrael to do it for them.-r-The pi. ous captives anxioufly waiting for their reftoration, were no doubt mflru&ed by Daniel, and joined with him in fuppiicating the throne of grace. The word pafli-d rapidly among the fcattered families, and they gladly prepared for the impending change. It is fup. poled that Daniel, who, from his former ftation at the king’s court, might ealiiy obtain accefs to Cyrus, com- municated to that prince, with fuitable and fuccefsful arguments, the part afiigned in prophecy for him to fulfil.* in this way the prophet was inftrumentaf * Something fimihr to wji it is here fuggefted did a£kunlly happen with Alexander the Great, to whom the high prieft Jaddus, Ihowed the book of the prophet Daniel, and in it the prediction of the overthrow of the Perlian Empire, by a certain Grecian king, whom Alexander interpreted to be him- felf. Plealed with this reflection, he offered to grant the peo- ple any requeft they fhouM delire of him by thejr high prieft.” And as he had.dedared to Parmenio, “ he made no doubt of gaining his point in all his undertakings, to his utmoft wilh, as he made war under the direction of that Supreme lleing, to whom in the per Ion of his high prieft, he paid adoration ” The whoie account of this remarkable occurrence is worthy of no- tice. It was a lingular interpofition of Divine Providence in favor of the Jews, while they were under the government and protection of the theocracy. — See Jolephus’s “ Antiquities of tfic Jews,” book xi. chap. 8. [ 31 J rj Divine Providence to bring forward the comple- tion of the promife. He united exertions with his prayers. He felt the influence of the motive ; and the grace which was bellowed upon him was not in vain. In like manner, let Chriftians now be wife, and receive inflruction. Te, Brethren, are not in darknefs that that day Jhould overtake you as a thief. Te are all the children of light, and the children of the day ; we are not of the night nor of darknefs , therefore let us not fleep as do others , but let us watch and be fober. — It is time for the wife virgins who have Ilumbered to arife and trim their lamps. The cry is made, behold , the Bridegroom cometh 1 He cometh to fend his Gofpel a- broad, and blefs the world with his truth and right- eoulnefs. It is an honor to be employed in the fervice of the Redeemer. I had rather be a door keeper in the houfe of my God , them to dwell in the tents of wickednefs. It h a privilege to be laborers together with God. — It is a pleafant work, to go up to the mountain and bring wood and build the houfe, when we are convinced the time is come, and the Lord faith, ht will take flea fare in it, and will be glorified. Every motive which {Emulates to vigorous efforts in propagating the Gofpel, derives additional force and energy from this word of prophecy. Is the glory of God an impreffive argument ? Attend to the prediction before us, and be encouraged to hope, that God, who hath glorified his holy name, will foon glorify it again. He will make himfelf known throughout the whole earth, nGt only in his divine perfections, as the one only true God, but in the adorable manner of his exig- ence, as Father, Son and Holy Ghoft, and will be wor- fhipped every where in the bleffed relation of Re- deemer as well as Creator. Doth the love of Chrift conftrain ? Have you crowned him with your hom- age ; and often grieved at the contempt caff upqn his precious name and caufe ? See what is doing in the Churches ! To him every knee will bow j The Mo/i [ *2 1 Mighty is girding his fword upon his thigh ; the arm cf fire Lord will awake as in the ancient days , in the genera- tions of old ; and tire people J hall fall under him. His name Jhall endure forever. Are you affected with the deplorable condition of the greateft part of the world, which lieth in ignorance and wickednefs ? Be- hold the everlafting Gofpel is going foth to every tongue, and kindred, and nation, and {hall univerfally prevail. Yet a little while, and the people that walk in darknefs wifi ice a great light, and upon them that dwell in the. land of the Ihadow of death will the light fliine. All the precepts which are our warrant to engage in this- work ; all the promiles which are our encouragement to perfevere with firmnefs, re- ceive new weight and influence. While we are muf- ing upon the prediction before us, our hearts are hot within us ; the fire burns ; zeal kindies to a flame ; we glow with ardor to perform our part, and aflill the flight of .he preaching angel. 'We live to fee the dawb ; we long to lee the day. We winds at leaft the beginnings of what many prophets and righteous men have , defil ed to fee, and have not leen them. For thofe of us who are advanced in year*, let this fuflice. We now can depart in peace. We {hall hear of the accomplishment and join with thofe who rejoice in heaven, over finners who are converted. But you, my younger Brethren indulge the pleafant view, and enter with vigor into the labors before you. Lift up your eyes and look on the fields , for they arc white already to harveft. Go on and profper in your work. De- rive wifdom, ftrength and grace from your exalted Jefus. Be of good courage, and behave valiantly. Watch ye, hand {afl in the faith, quil ye like men, be ftrong. The Lord will go before you, and the God of ifrael will be your reward.” 5. Let Missionary Societies afeend the prophetic mount, and enjoy the vaft profpect laid open to their view. Let them appreciate as they ought, the eminent flat ion afligned them by their Savior, and obtain grace to be found faithful. They are employed by him in [ 33 ] (he midd of the Churches, to accomplifh his blefled purpofes, and fuliil his word. By their agency the preaching angel commences his flight, and through their inftruinentaliry the treafure of the Gof- pcl will be brought to all the nations of the earth. By fach allocutions and efforts it* might be expe&ed the fcene would open. A 'of by night nor bv power , not from carnal policy, or by the combination andl'upport of civil rulers, but by the fpirit of the Lord, exciting his minifters and people, from the pureft principles, to execute the myftery of his will. The hearts of all men are in his hand. He can gird and council thofe vhom he honors with his fervice, to perform any tiling he pleafeth. Miflionary Societies are, therefore, to be confldered as miniftering fervants employed in a work well pleating to God ; and deferving, while they faithfully perfevere, the efteem and aflecfion of all good men. Be not difcouraged my Brethren, when you enquire, whom (hall we fend, and who will go for us ? The Lord can provide inftruments for his own work. — t: Pray, ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvefl, that he wiil fend forth laborors into his harvefl.” He will hear your prayers, and raife up miflionaries. But with your prayers unite the means for obtaining fuitable characters. Reflect ferioufly whether it would not be advifeable to inftitute a Theological School, for the exprefs purpofe of inflructing and preparing picus vounn; men for this arduous fervice* — whether fucb an inftiturion would not probably ftimulate fome to offer themielves ; and certainly produce the higheft * Similar inftitutions were formed even by the Roman pon- tiffs ; and afterwards in Holland, the Reformed Church paid at- tention to this object. Some profeiTors of theology were emi- nently ufeful in preparing miflionaries for foreign parts, efpe- cialiy for the Indies. In Rotterdam there is now 1'omething of this kind, to which many of thofe who are lent out by the Neth- eriand Miflionary Society now repair, for one or two years, pre- vious to their millions. Alfo at Gofport, in England, under the dire&ion of the Rev. Mr. Bogue, , L [ 54 3 affurance, that the angels who go out from the nudft of the Churches are well eftabliflied in the truth, and will carry the everlafting Gofpel in its purity abroad. If this be acceptable to the Lord, he will incline the hearts of his people to aiiift you. The earth alfo {hall help the woman. To accomplifh this meafure, the ref- pective focieties in America might correfpond upon the fubject, and, after due confultation, mutually a- dopt fuch plans as might be judged the molt practica- ble and beft calculated to anfwer the important object in view. To him that knoweth to do good , and doth it not y to him it is fin. The King’s hvfinefs requireth hafe. We, my Brethren, were not the firft who engaged in this benevolent defign ; but we Hand foremoft in our opportunities for ufefulnefs and accefs to the hea- then. Our Brethren in Europe have achieved great things. Involved in complicated troubles, and the field of their labors at an immenfe diftance from them, they have notwithftanding, formed noble defigns, and executed them with aftonifhing promptitude and fuccefs. Our fituation is happily the reverfe. We enjoy tranquillity and reft. There is not a nation at prcfent on earth permitted to threaten qr difturb our repole. Our borders are extenfively enlarged ; and the heathen to whom the Gofpel, in the firft irrftance is to be lent, are near at hand. Already we have found a door of entiance opened, and the neighbor- ing tribes are becoming friendly to millions : They ftrotch out the imploring hand ; they cry with af- fecting importunity, Come over and help us ! This is not merely the language of their real neceflity ; it has been expreffed by their chiefs, with an earneftnefs and folcmnity which evinced their efteern for the Gof- pel. Should fuccels not always attend your efforts, be not, my Brethren, difeouraged. Wait patiently for the precious fruit The apoftles themfelves were not always profperous In every place ; nor did the - feed fown immediately fpring up. Only be faithful ; look to your divine Mailer for direction, depend up- on his grace, and leave the iffuo to him. Be allured your laW fhall not be in vain. “ Believe in the C 35 ] Lord your God, fb (hall ye be eftablillied ; believe his prophets, fo (hall ye profper.” But recollect the work in which we are engaged involves great and unavoidable expeufes. The main- taining of midionaries *, the erecting and fupporting ichools among the lavages ; and many necenary con- tingent charges, amount td a confiderable fum. Without any fund prepared for thcfe puvpofes, we depend chiefly upon the contribution of members, and the collections made at our monthly and anniver- fary meetings. It is incumbent, therefore, upon me, to remind you of this before we clofe. To attain the end we mult attend to the means. Every motive which urges to propagate the Gof- pel is an argument to excite to extenlive liberality. The heathen, in whofe behalf I folicit your benevo- lence, are poor ; in every fenfe of the word, they are poor indeed. In what way can charity be better be- llowed ? To what higher purpofe can you employ your property ? What object fo affecting to a iympathif- ing heart ? What defign fo interefting to an inform- ed and pious mind ? It is a branch of that love which is due to your neighbor ; it is an expreflion of that homage you owe your Redeemer. To h if you have experienced the power of divine grace, you have devoted your perfons and all you poliefs. The filver is his , and the gold is his. To promote his gra- cious defigns of reftoring peace, holinefs and happinefs to a miferable world, let all that be round about him brin% prefents unto him that ought to be feared. When Chriftians of every denomination lhall ob- tain more information upon the fubjeCt of mi ’.ions, and rightly eflimate the importance of the work, they will conlider it a duty and privilege to become mem- bers, of focieties formed upon principles fo difintereft- ed and excellent.* Where fuch focieties exift, they will gladly join them ; and in diftricts where none have yet been eftablifhed, they will heartily unite to form iimilar inftitutions. None were ever injured by fetving the divine Redeemer. The Churches * See Appendix L. < C 36 ] which exert themfelves to fend his Gofpel to tiie per. ifhing heathen, may hope to fee his power and glory hi the ancillary , as the gracious fruit of their prayers and labors. When Chriftians learn to compare the providence of God with the word of his prophecy, and fee the completion of the promifes approaching, they ■will gladly open their treafures , and prefent their gifts unto Je- lus. When they believe that his voice, which Jhook the earth , will once more not fake the earth only , but al- fo the heaven ; that the world and the Church may be prepared, in its fulieit extent, to receive a kingdom which cannot be moved ; they will not rejije nor turn a- way from him that fpeaketh from heaven ; they will tf- teem Zion their chief joy, and favor the duji thereof — He that hath an ear , let him hear what the Spirit faith unto the Churches . And now, my Brethren, defpife not the day of fnall things ; complain not that you have labored in vain , and fpent your frength for nought ; for yet a little while, and you or your children lhall fee, and hear of greater things than thefe. The Lord will few thee great and mighty things which thou hnowcfl net. The voice of the trumpet will found long , and wax louder and louder. You will hear of judgments which (hall make the ears to tingle ; and of mercies you will alfo hear ; for from the uttermof parts cf the earth wc fall hear Jongs , even glory to the righteous. The Church of Chrift, we trull, hath furvived her word days ;* or if conflicts lharp and fevere Ihould {till be in referve, we may afiurcdly ccnfidcr the pref- ent jefforts to propagate the Gofpel as a precious token for good. It is an earned of the revival of religion at home, and a pledge of fai ration to pcridiing heathen abroad. Who that fympathizes with the miferics of the human family, can fail to rejoice in obferving the people of the Lord, of different denominations unit- ing their counfels and exertions in this benevolent work ! Who that can ellimate theneceftity and excel- lence of the doctrines of grace, will not view with ,* See Appendix Ml r 37 2 raptures of gratitude and praifc an ^ ‘ . nod, when the ie;nonnt w ;n u •’ V? a PP rr aching pc . "S*ned, and >he ro Ho n «* vfci£ verially prevail ! Wi.l S u . ind 1- ^ Ma ° uni. too fan gu ,ne, or anticipatin' l r S? cJ lories of f'uccefles, in uhfch "f ld and “nmtcrrupt. agaments will internofr w,. , " deIa >' s or difcour- luil accomplilhment^r D rnn r C0I,fid ™« lw the S ™* Gos’pA Plrtidpite )"S fia. w,faSlfel7r behola » exin. Aa*yW t/ je everla/li^r ft ,n the mid J l of ^nj tbe “" *» ratfed affections we cordialiv hid / 'n ,P ra )’ crs and welcome mcfenger of ^ od fP ecd - Go, able treafure * Lry nJlZ ^ T’ .**" the invalu- &nd p;op! c , Proclaim T ^ ’ klndred > and tor> zuc bls figment is come ; cry aloud' fa™ that tbe bour °f whole world lhall learn lo fear rfd? ^ UntiI the • nd ^ as their Cke vroa’ and^R^ ^ d R£D££ ^r APPENDIX. The>e nre facts fated in the preceding Difcourfe which require con- firmation. Jo prevent disfiguring the page with protracted notes , an Appendix is added. It was affected — that an extra - Jive promulgation of the Gofpel had not until lately been Jerioufiy attempted — that the prefent views and efforts conditute a difiin - guifhed epoch in the hijhry of the Church — that the vificn. Rev. xiv. 1 — 5, refers to the Information — and, that the latejl date which can be determined for the fall of tnydical Babylon fixes that extent previous to ihe year 2008. Under the indulgence of on Appendix , fome obfervations, not nccejfi yily attached to the Jdjcoufe, but which may ferve to ilhjlrate it, are afo annexed. A former M ijfions. THE antichrifljan fpirit invaded the Church at an early pe- riod. In the days of the A potties the snyfiery of wiquity already worked. When the good feed was Town, the enemy a lfo fow- cd tares •, and it pleafed the Lord of the harveft, in Ids un- fetrohable wifdom, to fuff'er them both to grow up together. In the fame degree that error and pride prevailed, the primitive ardor for propagating the Gofpel declined. After the influ- ence and power of antichrift were matured, and his reign had fully commenced, nothing worthy of notice upon the fubjefi of miflions occurs in eccleliaftical hiffory for many ages. In the thirteenth century miflionaries were fent by the Ro-I man Pontil fs into China and Tartary. In 1 33ft new legates! were defpatched into thofe countries, in confequence of an ein-l bafTy from the Kan of the Tartars. The wars afterwards wag-1 ed by the Tartars again'! the Chinefe and other Afiatic nations! in the conclufion of the fourteenth century, nearly cxtinguilhf eJ the Ropifh millions and faith there. Towards rhe end of the fifteenth century^ the Portugnefcl who cultivated with fuccefs the art of navigation, penei-atcd :[ far as Ethiopia and the Indies, and tranfported the religion c[ C 39 ] Rome to their new fettlements. About the fame time the ifl- nnds of Ilifpaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica, together with the con- tinent of America, were difcovered. The Spaniards and Por- tutjuefe, who had an immediate intered in the difcoveiies, fent mitfionarics to propagate the Roman faith among the unenlight- ened American natives ! and their labors, blended with the civ- il authority, and fupported by military force, were reprefented as very fuccefsful. In the fixteenth century, when the pontiffs faw their ambi- tion checked bv the progrefs of the Reformation in Europe, they turned their attention more pointedly towards other parts of the world, and became more folicitous than ever to propa- gate the Roman faith. The famous fociet f of the Jefuits was devoted to the Court of Rome in the execution of this defign. A number of their order held themfelves in condant readinefs to repair to any part of the world that might be def.gnated as the feene of their exertions. The mod didinguifhed of thcle miffionaries was Francis Xavier, who propagated the Pcnifn religion with amazing fuccefs in India and Japan. After his death other members of this infmuating order penetrated into China, and edabliflied feveral churches in fubjeftion to the Roman See. During the feventeenth century more vigorous and fyflemat- ical meafures were adopted. In the year 1622 the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith was indituted, and enriched with ample revenues. It confided of thirteen cardinals, two prieds, one monk, and a fecretary. To this celebrated eftab- lifhment another ;was added in 1627, under the denomination of a College or Seminary for the Propagation cf the Faith. The principal objefl of this inditution was to educate thofe who were to be employed in foreign miffions. Similar edablifh- ments were alfo formed in France. In the year 1663, the Con- gregation of Priefs cf the Foreign Mijftor . rr was inftitutec} bv Royal authority ; and alfo another, entitled the Pariftan Semi- inary for MiJJions abroad. From thefe focieties and ir.ditutions tnany were fent forth to different parts of Afia. In the beginning of the eighteenth century the Jefuits were particularly fuccefsful in the Ead Indies, dfjiecially in the kingdoms of Carnate, Madura, and Marav 2 , on the coad of Malabar, in the kingdom of Tonquin, and the Chinefe em- v pire. In all thole regions, their numerous profflytes, like thofe among the natives of Mexico, Peru, and Brazil, became profeffed Papids, but received little or no indruction in the principles of true and undefiled religion. They were called Converts, but did not, perhaps, deferve the name of Cburib £ 40 5 '/he Protestants have not been altogether unmindful of this important duty. In the year 1.55 fourteen Proteltaut m flionaries .are faid to have been fent from Geneva to propa- gate the Chriftian religion among the A&ericans; but it is not known who was the immediate promoter of this pious dcfign, or with what fuccefs it was carried into execution. The Eng- lilh and Dutch, towards the conclufion of the fame century, and the beginning of the next, fent colonies into the northern parts of America, and with them tranlplanted the Reformed Relig- ion which t hey profefTed. About the fame time the Swedes were zealoufly employed in converting to Chritiianity many of the inhabitants of Finland and Lapland. In the feventeenth century fome Proteftant millions were in- ftituted. The propagation of the gofpel in foreign parts was, by an act of the Engiifh Parliament, in 1647, committed to the care and infpettion of a fociety compofed of perions of dif- tin«uifhed rank. In the year 1701 this fociety recived lingu- lar marks of protection and favor from King William III. who enriched it with new donations and privileges : Cut it has not proved fo eminently ufeful in facilitating the means of inftruc- tion to the heathen, or fending the Gofpel where before it was not preached, as, from its ample means and munificent patron- age, might have been expected. During the eighteenth century nothing fingular or diftin- guifhmg occurred until its cl«Twg period. I he Danifh mif- hons, planned by Frederick IV. for the converfion of the In- dians on the coal! of Malabar, was pious and prudent, and has been attended with fume luccefs. The Dutch propagated the Reformed Religion, an 1 planted churches, in their new fettlements, in the Ealt Indies, and at the Cape of Good H pe. In 1621 a church was formed at I’uavia, from whence minifters vifited Ceylon, Amboyna, Malabar, MacafTar, Mallucca, Banda, and Ternaie, and organ- ised feveral congregations j as alio in the ifltnds of Sumatra and Java. The celebrated I'rofeflbr Walleus, at Leyden, educated a number of inlnifters and fubordinatc teachers for the milfion- ary fervice in the Fla ft ; and from that time the Dutch Church- es there appear, from their annual reports to the Church in Holland, to have had ^onfiderable fuccefs. New congrega- tions have been conftituted, and a great number of lchools e- reefted among the natives of Forutofa, Columba, limor r and upon the Coromandel coaft. In 1771 a tranflation of the Ei- hle was begun in what was called the Singaleefe tongue, and fanguine hopes were entertained of a more extenfire pnpaga- tiou of the Gofpel among the numerous nations who under- hand that language. But after all, thefe exertions for convert log the heathen have not been fupported with the zeal ami C 41 "I J aerfeverance due to fo great an objetfl The pious members of ch? Dutch Churches in Europe have long lamented, that while their narion imported the fragrant (pices of the Indies, and en- rich It'icm e! ves with the trealures of the Eaft,they neglected to lpraad the ftveet odor of the Saviour’s name, and fend to the pagan nations the richer treafures of the everlafling Golpel. The tjnijed {Brethren , commonly called Moravian who have revive 1 the name an i character of the ancient Umtas Frntrurn, appear, in their diitinguifhed exertions for promulgat- ing the religion of Jefus, to be the only denomination of Chrif- tians who are a<5hi *.ted bv the primitive fpirit of the Gofpel. Eminent in meekneft and inJuftry, and void of ollentation* they have been but little known, and much milreprefented — Li proportion to their numners and abilities, they have from their firft formation as a fociety, which is about eighty yen's ago, exceeded all others in their arduous, extenfive, anefufe- ful labors. In 17S‘J they began the eftab’.ifhment of a million in the Daniih Weft India iflmds. In 1733 they lent milfion- aries to Greenland. The lituation of their community oblig- ing ‘them to attempt frequent emigrations, they were inclined to make fettlements, where favorable opportunities occurred, to communicate the knowledge of the Gofpel to the heathen. In 1735 a number of families from Hernkut, a place belong- ing to Count Zinzendorf, in Upper Lufatia, emigrated to Georgia, in America. Being averfe to war, and ordered to bear arms againft the neighboring Spaniards, they removed from Savannah, where they had fettled, to Pennfylvania, in 174-0, and formed the eftablifhnents they now polTefs at Bethleham and Nazareth. Thefe fettlers foon perceived the dildrelTed Iruacion of the Indian natives, and reprelented their deplorable cafe to the brethren at Hernhut. Twelve miffion- aries immediately came over from Germany, and labored with various fuccefs among the heathen. Tbev had formed three fiourilliiog lettlements on the river Mulkingum before the late revolutionary war, during which thole places were deftroyed, and the inhabitants partly murdered and partly dilperfed. A number of Chriltian Indins, who had fled to Upper Canada, re- turned in 17:18,' to take po.Telfion of their former lettle- meots on the Mulkingum, which have been fince fecured to them by the U. States ; and they have built a new to »n, called C fJj 'n. In 1 736 a miilionary eftabiifhment was begun at Bavi- tm’s Kloof, near the Cape of Good Hope, in Africa •, — 1738, in •South America •, — 1754, in Jamaica ; — 17.56, in Antigua ; — 1760, in the Eaft Indies, near Tranquebar ; — 1764, on the coafl oi Labrador, in America ; — 1765, in Barbadoes ; — and the Lme year, in the Ruffian part of Afia, Surepta was built, chiefly with a view to bring the Gofpel to the Calmuck Tarui'j -> — 17 75, in St. Kitts -,—1789, in Tobago. F L 42 j How juft the fentiments exprefl'rd in ar. addrefs “ npoir the probable fuccefs of a proper million to the South Sta ifl- ands,” publilhed in London in 1795 ! “ When I lee our Mo- ravian brethren hazarding their lives, and biefiTed in their la- bors among the frozen mountains of Greenland, and feeding on whale’s defii, to carry the Goipel into the hut o f the lavage Efkimaux ; when 1 follow them in their travels to Mount Caucafus, on the one hand, or mark them purfuing the wan- dering tribes of American Indians in their various migrations, and even reconciling theinfelves to the cabin of a filthy Hot- tentot, in order to make them know the power of Jcfus’s blood ; 1 bow before fuch ardent zeal, and feel the {harp rebuke of my own lukewarmnefs. I reverence their miliionaries, and love the people that thus love the fouls of men, for the lake of him who loved us unto death, even the death of the crois.”* From this fiiort Iketch of former mifllonary exertions, it appears that focnething has been undertaken by the Roman pontiffs, and a’fo by the Proteftant churches. But their efforts have been fo partial and feeble, that they feem to be the de- lign of party, or the mere palliation of an accufing con- fidence, rather than an earneft and vigorous intention of profe- cuting the benevolent work, or obtaining the profefled end. — They juftify the decl iration, that an extenfiVe promulgation of the Gofpel had not been lei ioufly attempted ! nothing lince the primitive days of Chriltianity, deferving the name, had appeared! The Moravian brethren alone are an exception. — They have, in this inftance, evidenced much of the genuine fpirit of the Goipel, and were prcbnbly railed up for the ex- prefs ptirpr fe of preparing the way for wh.it has at length* Commenced. * Evangel. Mag. J“l)t 1795. 3 Prefect /Visions. BY the prefent period is intended the laft eight or ten years* comprifing the dofe of the eighteenth and opening of the nineteenth century. To exhibit an abridged detail tf what l>ns' been performed within that time would require a volume. X^orhing more titan a mere enumeration of the feveral eitabiiih* ments of Miifionnry Societies can be litre expected. l he Moravian brethren, who heretofore excelled in their exertions to propagate ilit Goipel among the heathen, have, ot late, exceeded their former labors ; and other churches, at length, have attained tlic Itatiou they ought to occupy in this beuevoient work. C 43 3 The Moravians have now, in St. Thomas, two eftablijJ*. ments ; in St. Croix, two ; in St. John’s, two ; in Greenland, three; in North America, four ; in South America, three; at the Cape of Good Hope, one ; in Jamaica, two ; in Antigua, .three ; on the coatt of Labrador, three ; in Harbndocs, one ; in Ruffian Aff«b one ; in St. Kitt’s, one ; in Tobago, one — l he Rev. G. H* Lolkiel (author of the Hiliory of tne Millions of the United Brethren, &c. tranflated from the German by C. J. La Trobe) from whom the principal information reflecting thefe millions has been obtained, obferve , in the clole ot his letter, “ from very fmall beginings the millions ot the breth- ren have increafed to about thirty iettlements in different parts of the earth, in which nearly 150 millionar.es are employed ; a number hardly lufticient for the care of above 24,000 converts from among the heathen.” Several animated publications uppn the fubj°cl of millions engaged the attention of Chriftians at this period. Among thefe, the Rev. Mr. Carey’j “ Inquiry into the Obligations ot ChriiTuns to lend Millions to the Heathen the earnell and ipirited Letters of Melville Horne, late Chaplain of Sierra Le- one ; and a judicious and pathetic Addrd's by the Rev. Du id Hogue, leem to have made the decpeli imprtfiion. A train of extraordinary and affeding events in Divine Provitlen.e, which, a; the time, convulfcd many kingdoms in Europe, appear to have been fjnd tiffed to the churclies. Pious and excellent men of different denominate ms, and in different nations, wore ot once aroufed to ferious thoughtfuincls, to much ronveriation, and, ffnally, the forming of Allocations, for the expreis pur- pole of glorifying the Divine Redeemer, by extending t)ie knowledge of his ialvation to the urternsoit parts of the eart-b. The Jet time to build up Zion w is come, and the fpirit of the Lord inclined his people to favor her ruins. Mr. Parey evinced his ffneerity by becoming himfelf a rr.if- fionarv, and went, with others, into India. Betides preaching the Gofpel to the Hindoos and neighboring natives, he has been indefatigably employed in translating the Bible into tne Bengalefe language, and has nearly completed ;he verfion. What bielEngs have attended thefe labors may be efltmated from an extrad of one of his letters to the Rev. Dr. Miller, of this city. • “ f have written an account of the great work of God on the coaft near Cape Comorin, to ftveral perlbns in A- merica. I think when the laft accounts came away the^e had been near 4000 perlbns baptized there in the {pace of a few months. About 1000, more or ieis, by Mr. Gericke, and 2700 by the native minifters. Thefe have all rejected heathemfm, Jemolifhed their idols, and fitted up the temples for Chrii'ti’n wovllnp.” There were in 1798, nine miffionaries employed on the Madras coaft : Three in Tranquebar, who depend on the Mif- fionary College at Copenhagen ; three at Tanjore ; cr>e in Trichinopoly •, two at Vepery, near Madras, who depend on the Society in London for Promoting Chriftian Knowledge. The following lill of Miffionary Societies lately erected, will evince a general movement in the Churches for the converfion of the heathen. In Europe. The particular Baptift Miffionary Society, inflituted in 17SC. London Miffionary Society, inflituted in 17^5. Edinburgh, Glafgow, Aberdeen, Paifley, Dundee, Perth, and Kelfo Miffionary Societies, inflituted in 1796. The mod of thefe are branches of the London Society. The Netherland Miffionary Society, inflituted in 1797. Miffionary Society at Bafil, in Switzerland ; in Berlin, and different parts of Germany; in Sweden and Denmark, of which particulars arc not known. A Miffionary Society in England, inflituted about four years ago, for lending Miffionaries to the Sooioo country in Africa, and to the Tartars and other nations in the Fall. This Soci- ety has undertaken to publifh a vcrfion of the fcripunt in A- rabic, and has had gopd luctefs in Miffionary labors. In Africa. The South African Miffionary Society, at the Cape cf Good Hope. In America. The Miffionary Society cfNewyoik, inflituted 1796. The Northern Miffionary Society in the flate of Newvorlc, 1798. The Miffionary Society of Connecticut, 1798. The Miffionary Society of Maffiicliufetts, 17P9. The MiffionarvSociety of Hampfhire, in MaiTachufetts 1500. The Miffionary Society of Newjerfey, 1801. Btpiifl Miffionary Society of Mafiachnfetts, 1 "02. ‘Wel'tern Miffionary Society, competed of the Prefhyterian Synod of Pitifburg, formed 1802. The General Synod of the Reformed Dutch ChuTch have, fince the year 1789, made annual collections in tl^eir Chiucli- es, and conflitured the claffis of Albany a handing Cor irittic. for millions. They have lent fevetal miffionaries upon th : frontiers, and fome into upper Canada. In 1 800 ti t y had fix. The Kpiicopal Church, in General Convention, 1792, rein v- ed to colleCt a fund for miffionar) gurpofes, anti have made fome efforts to fend the Golpel among the frontier fcttUn < i * §. In a fubfequent General Convention the bufinefs was lift to the Convention of each State, in conlequcnce of which, the Ep.l- C 45 3 copal Church in the State of Newvork have eftabliihed a Mli- fionary Society, fupported hv annual coiledtions, and there are now emp’oyed three miflionaries. Tlir General Afiembiy of the Prefbyterian Church began, in 1789, to form miflionary plans. The Affenvbly it :c-if man- aged the bufirefs of n.ifiions until 1802, when they chole a 5; .ruling Cuwnittee of M’jfntii. For a number of years there hav been from fix to ten miflionaries employed unoer the di- rection of the Afieicbly. There are, at this time, under the ctr? of the Allembly and the Synods of Virginia, Pit.tburgh, and the C.irolinas, about twenty miflionaries. Three among the India s ; one black man among the negroes in the Soutn- ern States ; and the remaining fifteen in the frontier fetile- ments. From the annual reports of the refpeftive Societies in A- merica, it appears that the frontier citizens, lately emigrated, .nid dciiitute of the ordinances of ^race, have hitherto been the principal objects of attention. The reports of the New- pork Society lhow a door of ufefulncls opened among lome of the Indian tribes, and conlhlerable luccefs in their mifEons, piriiculartv m the fuf:arora and Seneca nations, Tue London Society ftatnls foremoft of any in the world for the magnitude of their plans and thcdv'gorous mealures they have puriued. At their lint meeting, September, L79o, when about two hundred ministers of different denominations were afTembied, it was refohed “ to fend miflionaries to Otabeite, or tome other of ti e fouth Sea Iflands •, and that as foon as poiii- ble millions (he um oe attempted to the Coaft of Africa, or to Tartary, by Ailracan i or to Surat, on the Malabar Coaft ; or to Bengal, or the Coromandel Coafi, or co the Itland of Suma- tra, or to the Pelew Iflands, as providence might direct.” Con- tributions ffowed in from all parrs of the country, and in 1796 the funds of the Society amounted to eleven thousand and eigh- ty eight pounds. Before the meeting in April of that year, nineteen miflionaries were engaged by the directors ; others were afterwards admitted, and in Auguft, twentynine mifiion- ar'es, dettined to the Iflands in the South Sea, embarked or\ ho ird me D:f, a thi.p pur chafed by the Directors at four thou- i. nd eight hundred and l'eventy five pounds. The whole ex- veofe of the undertaking amounted to twelve thoufand pounds tterling. In May, 17v7, fix miflionaries embarked for the Foulah country, in Africa, in a vciFcl in the f rvice of the Si- ena Leone company. Of the miflionaries font to the South Se i Iflan Is, nineteen were left at Otaheite, nine at Tcngatcboo, and one at Marquefas. A fccond company were fept out in Dec. 1793. Thefe were taken by a French privateei , a iu none of them reached the place of their defiination. In the beginning of the year 17l*S, eleven of thct./iflicnaries Lie r 46 3 ptahclte and went to New-Holland, where they hare been fuc- celsful in preaching the Gof’pel. The London Society Tent four mifTsonnries in J 798 to the Cape of Good-Hope. They had two in Canada, and one in Newfoundland. They had alfo one in India, and have ft nee fent eight or ten more to Otaheite. In 1799 they had lent out above eighty miffionaries to ditferer.t parts of the world. Among all thefe vaft exertions for the infirudfion and con- vection of the heathen, the million by the way of the Cape of Good Hope to the fouthern parts of Africa, has at; ref tea molt ntten ion, and been crowned with the greatell prolperity. The venerable Dr. Van Dek Kemp, of Rotterdam, a phyfician of improved talents and exemplary piety, offered Lis fervice to the London Scc : ety, aid was received with the relpeit due to hi; chnradler. He cheerfully engaged in a million to Africa, and has penetrated above five hundred miles from the. Cape, where lie is now fuccefsfullv labouring with Mr. Edwards and iomc others, in the converfion of the Cafires. The pious young Kiel. ever, alfo from Holland, is employed with Mr. Edmonds and others among t' e Bofchmen, the m oft lavage of all the Hottentot race. i iic accounts tranfmined from thefe apoftoi- ic men, dated from the molt inhofpi able regions of the earth, excite aftonifhment and gratitude. The I^oru is evidently with them Tiie power of divine grace appears to be hr ft exem- p’ifie.l in the moft wretched ami degraded portion of the hu- man family, as a prelude to mercies to be conferred upon all nations. The fbciety of Edinburgh have f.nt feven miffionaries iqto P.uflian Kartary. The Emperor Alexander. upon application, proved friendly to this million, and appears difpofed to encour- age that good work in any part of his extenfive empire. In a letter from thefe millionarics to the Society, dated at Karals, October l, ISOli, they pro no led to redeem a number of voting pet Tons from flavor)-, and teach them the Tartar, Circafii.m, l'lnglifh, and Ruhian languages, and the principles of the chritfian religion. They intended alfo tQ publifh a tranfl.ition nt the fer ptures in the Tartar language ; and as foon as they were fu;ficientvtcd, much lefs to determine the number of mifli maries at preiVnt employed indifferent nations. A id icry of thefe eltablih'mvjnts, it i . laid, is preparing, and will (bo » be publilhed in Britain, whicfi cannot fail of proving an mteretliag and acceptable work. — From the imperfect out- L *7 ] iirc»s here drawn, a view of the fubjeft may bo taken. Attend to what has been done within the lull ten years. Eftirrute th» greatnds of the defign, and the promptitude and extent of the execution. Conlider all this as only a fmall portion of the plans formed, only the fir ft fellings of the Ipirit which now in- vigorates the Churches. Compare the whole with what has heretofore been attempted, and then decide whether it does not conftitute a new and diftinguifhed epoch in the biliary of the Church. C. if at ah xxv i. 17. At. IT was faid in the Difcourfe, that little refpecting the inter- mediate fpace between the opening and the clofe of the New Teftament difpenfation, could be exprefsly colle&cd Irom the prophecies of the Old Teftament. Among the exceptions to this obfervation, is a remarkable predi&ion in Ifiaiah xxvi. The Church, under the Cofpel difpenfation, is in this and the pre- ceding chapter, the principal fubjeft of prophecy. Zion is in- troduced finging. A long is always, in the prophecies, a fym- bol of the enlargement of the Church. In verfes 17, IS, flic complains of feeble and ineffectual efforts in extending the in- terefts and kingdom of her Redeemer. IV e have not wrought any deliverance in the earthy neither have tie inhabitants of the world fallen. She receives in anfwer the confiding promife of a period when ilie (ha'l make vigorous and fuccefsful exertions, ati no i mg Tco nplain of abo-ti/e l.ibars when converts, nu- merous as the morning dew, Ihnll join her ftandard. Thy dead fjall live. Awahe and fug — thy dew is as the dew of herbs. Nofeafim or time is particularly afeertained when this promife will be actomplifhed ; but another event is foretold, and ias- mediatelv connected with this. A judgment, a lingular judg- ment, indited as the punilhment of a peculiar and enormous crime, is mentioned. The event is reprefented as inevita- ble •, the Lord’s people may not pray for its removal, but are direefed to fly to their chambers and hide themfelves, until the indignation beoverpal. Tory bthold the Lord cornel!) out of his place to puaifb the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity ; the earth fh all alfo difclofe her blood, an ljha.ll no more cover her Jlu in. The terms here ufed, compared with parallel exprefilons m the Revelation, put it beyond a doubt that the blood of the mar- tyrs is intended, and the punifliment predicated is the avenging of that blood. This is introduced as a coetaneous event with the enlargement of the Church. Whenever that precious blood begins to be avenged, then Zion Will fing of mercy as [ 48 3 - veil as judgment \ then a new and profperous rr.iniftry will suife in the Church, and her borders be widely extended. The death of the martyrs under i ial Rome h?s been con- fidered as fully avenged at the overthrow of that form of gov- ernment, when, bv terrible difpenfations of Providence, tne perfecutors were exterminated * Whatever may be determin- ed upon that difficult queftion, it is certain, that the debt con- tracted under Rome pabal has never yet been difeharged!*' As the eloiihg period ot the Old Teftament was the time oTVeck- oning for all ibe righteous blood Jhed upon the earth, under that difpenfation •, fo the dole of antichrift’s reign\vill, probably ac- cording to the anilogy of the divine proceedings, be the fet time when the precious blood of the faints, ffied by antichrilt, will be difclofed and avenged. Omnif enim perfecutio et af- fiiCtio ecclefiae verse ac confefibrum verce religionis cauffii fidei iudituta hacipfa perfecutione et affliCtione ( Maccabatia nempe) eptphanica involuta fuii. — Vidit eccleGa Deum variis cafibus ct temporibus e loco fuo prodeuntem, et caufTam c cclefiae fux fan- guinemque fervorum fuorum, injuftiffime maclatorum vindican- tcm. — Neque enim tot confefforutn et inartyrum proximorum duorum Feculorum occidiones injuftiffimae et fanguis juftorvm in lanienis Albigeiffibus Merindoliana et Caprareiffi, PariiienH, Hibernica, horrendo ac deceftando cxemplo, protufus, a terra et aqua abforptus haCtenus expiatte funt, nec eorum nomine di- vinae juttitiae pro merito cauffie et fcelerum iniquitate ac gravi- litatum videtur. Veniet tempus judicii perfeefi, quo caulEa r r- Jigionis et confeflbrum ejus, n.aCtatorum propter teftiqpohiiun Jefu, in publicani protraheltir lucem ; fangtiis juftorum damans vindicbm retegetur, et defenfores horum atrocium fcelerum, qui ea oraiiotiibus aut icriptis tegere, excufare, aut pailaire ftu- dueront, pudefiegt. — Vltkinga in loc. * See HO nmentators upon Rev. vi. See alp LaGTANTIUS D Aj or iibus VerfiCutorum. I) The ufjiocalypfe. THE ApoCAT.vpsr. at firft view appears dark and unintelli- gible* M mv who receive it as a precious Portion orlhe I acred v dtime fuppof'e this book, with lome parts of Ezekiel, Daniel, a id Zaclvanah, to be intended t'olely for die ufe of the Church at ti e dole of the New Teifament difpenfati >n. The difeord- aot fa.uhnents, and different explications of learned and pious commentators, who profel's to have ft tidied it with attention, feem alio to difeourage any further attempts to difeover -is x C 4$ 3 meaning. But, let it be remembered, this is not a clofed book. Some parts, at leaft, are eafily comprehended. Our blefled Je- fus, who opened the feals, has given it to his people for their immediate inftruttion j and upon thofe who faithfully read and improve it, has pronounced his blefling. As the feafon ap- proaches in which the Lord is about to fulfil his proraifes, he v.i'1 no doubt, diredf the attention of believers to this fure word of prophecy , which is as a light Ihining in a dark place, that they may know what he is performing, what they have to expeft, and for what they are elpecially to pray. It is the i harafter of all prophecies to be in fome meafurc obfcure. M my reafons are ob\ious why they ought to be fo. Nor can this detract from the wiliiom and authority of the di- vine oracles. When the fubjeEl, the language, and the order, adopted in the Apocalypfe are understood, it becomes luffi. cienrly accetlible, and will be found a fource of delightful and edifying ftudy. i • r . The subject is introduced in the firft chapter, and compre- hends the things which were, and thofe things which were to be hereafter. The things which were , reipefted the ftate of the Church and religion at that prefent time, of which the leven Churches in LelTer Alia exhibited a lpecimen. The things which were to he, comprife the whole future difpenfation of the New Teftament, until the myftery of Redemption be finilh- ed. Thefe future events are divided into two great periods. The firfl relates to the adverle ftate of the Church during the protrafled interval of her fufferings, when opprefled with er- rors and pe*'ecutions, (he would gradually retire from public view, and after a long concealment,* again, by gradual fteps, be brought forward, and, finally, triumph overall her enemies. Thefe changes, including only fo much of the hiftory of the world as is immediately connected with the fate of the Church* are introduced in the beginning of the fourth chapter, and ex- pend to the clofe of the nineteenth. They are depi&ed by feals, trumpets, and vials, which open the different fcenes, pnd exhibit the fuccefiion of thole momentous events. Various hi- eroglyphics and vvlions, interfperfed with literal explanations, and frequent epifodes of the moft fublime devotion, enliven and elevate the interefting pnkli&ions. The lajl period refpefts that profperous ftate of the Church, when the whole world ftiall know the Lord, and ferve him in fpirit an# in truth. This is del'cribed in the twentieth and two following chapters, which delineate what is commonly called the Millennium. * The Church was never fo completely hidden as to be wholly in - ■viable. In her roof obfcure flute, the enemy always knew where to find her , G I SO J The language of the Apocalvpfe, like the prophecies o? the Old Teftament, is partly fymbolical and partly alphabeti- cal. In the principal predictions both languages are found. The fymbolical is ufually firft introduced, and then an expla- nation follows in plain words. The fymbolical language is of the nature of a picture,* reprefrnting the thing intended bj a figure or emblem, inftead of exprefiing it by its name, or de- feribing it by words. This is called hieroglyphic (hieros glu- pho, facred fculpture) and was the ancient mode of writing, iit the fit ft ftage of that art, before the alphabet was invented, and is ftill praCtifed by fome nations. It was certainly very fuitable to revelations communicated in vilions ; lince it (hows the very thing which the prophet faw and thus leaves the vifion entire upon record, ftill to be leen and ftudied by the Churches. As it refpeCts Ample objeCts and events, the hieroglyphic writings arc the moft equivical of all others. They are equally intelligible to people of all tongues and nations. A piCture needs no tranl- lation. Provided the fymbols hatie a fixed and determinate meaning, there will be lefts ambiguity or poflibility of miftake in this than in any other mode of writing. If the fame figures or hieroglyphic always means the fame thing, it cannot be mif- app'ied. Thofe who have examined this circumliflnce with the greateft accuracy, have found that the Holy Spirit has, without any deviation, always employed the fymbols in one uniform, method, and that the prophets forever introduce the fame fig- ure in the fame primary fenfe. With refpedt to the order maintained in thi^book, it isob- fervable, that a whole feries of events, as they are to lucreed each other are commonly introduced in one general exhibition ; after which\ many of the particular events belonging to that fe- ries are again brought into view, and, with fome concomitant circumftances, more minutely deferibed. This accounts for the repetitions and apparent perplexities which (o frequently occur ; and, without attending to this, a labyrinth of errors- cannot" be avoided. Another rule refpeChng order is, that whenever a number of vilions or predictions immediately follow each other, in an uninterrupted courfe, there the order of e- vents, in regard to the time of their refpeCtive accompliihmcnt, is always to be confidered as ftriCUv exprefled. * In a late commentary upon the Revelation, by Dr. Brice 'Johnfon, the reader will find the mofl fatisfnefory explanation cj* the fymbolical language. This Commentary is, perhaps , the bejl of any p'ubliJheJ upon the Aptcalypfe, and ought to be conf ulted by all mho mijlj to obtain a Jut; sf a fiery vie-w of the prophecies recorded in that both. . C 51 3 E. The Reformation. THE hieroglyphic in the vifion, recorded Rev. xiv. 1,2, S, A, 5, exhibits a number of fealed perfons Ln a confpicious fta- tion, (landing with a Lamb, and finging a fong which the world could not underdand. The literal expofition defcribcs the charadler of the fealed, by l'uch accurate and diftinguilhing marks, as renders it impoflibie to midtJce the intention of the predi&ion. The whole of this vinon correfponds fo exactly with what we find in the feventh chapter of this book, that we mud refer to that pafiage to underdand the meaning of this. Previous to the prophecies refpedling an inimical power, which would be permitted to tyrannize, for many centuries, over the Church ; it pleafed the Lord to give afiiirance, that a feed fliould De preferved, who would maintain the truth and hand it down in- violate to pofteritv ; a people who would know the Redeemer, and be known aud owned of him, as his faithful dilciples. Ac- cordingly, in the feventh chapter, before the fcenes of defection and the conlequent judgments open, the feal of God is affixed upon a number of perlons. A feal is an appropriating mark, and (erves as a pledge of didinftion and prefervation. The foundation of God fandejl fare, bauing this ft //, the Lord knowth them that a> e his. His people are fealed with the Holy Spirit to the day of their redemption. And as, they name the name of Chrtjl, fo they depart from iniquity. Thole who were fealed were fuck .as anlvver to this defcription. Their faith would be built upon the foundation of the prophets and apf.es, Jefus Ghriji h'.mfelf be- ing the chief cornner Jlcne ; wherefore the fyjmbolicai number of twelve, the number of the patriarchs, fquaned by twelve, the number of the apoftles, is ufed ; and Jnis is multiplied by one thoufand, in referrence, probably, to the thoundfand years of the Millennium, when (uch fealed ones would be multiplied a thoufand times : To theie the names of the tribes of Iirael, not in regular order or exadl enumeration, are annexed. This hieroglyphic denotes, that during the long defpotifm of antichritl, when the Church would fly into the wildernefs, the great body of profelfing Chriftians would be infincere and cor- rupted ; that a true (piritual Ifrael would, nouvithftanding, be always preferved $ that thefe compared to the great mafs, would be very few ; that the fealed fhould not be confined to any particular tribe or denomination •, that their fncerity would be known and acknowledged by none but their divine Mailer ; and, finally, that they (hould be certainly preferved from the .C M 3 defilement of idolatry cr fpiritual adultery. By the prediction, then, in the feventh chapter, an affurance was given, that the Lord would have a faithful people in the word of times. Al- though the world might hate them, and antichrift attempt to wear out the faints of the Moft High, yet there (hould be a number, not always exactly the fame, but always during that flate of the Church, comparatively few, who would cleave to the Lord, and the upright before him. They were the sf.ali n of God, and would therefore efcape the fuperftition and pollu- tion of the times They were written in the Book of Lifeof tfse Lamb, and they were excepted from the number of thofe who Wor (hipped the Bead. They were the elec? of God , and it would be impofiible to. deceive them to their final deftruc- tion. Look now at the firft vifion in the fourteenth chapter. We have here the fame number of the fealed,the fame character, & underthe fame fymbolical name with thofe in the feventh chap- ter ; which renders it evident that the fame identical people are intended, with this difference only, that here they appear open- ly as a Church They are, therefore, reprefcnted as (landing upon mount Zion, the fymbol of the Church, with their once crucified Savior at. their head ; and there thev ling. They fing the very fong which believers had fung in fecret fo many ages. They anticipate the very fong which the Church will fing when her fufferings are ended. But yet their fong is known only to themfelves ; which proves it refers to a time wherein the Church is ftili circumfcribed aud unacknowledged by the world — that (he is not yet fully emancipated from the wildernefs. To what can this refer, but to that which was dccomplifhed at the Reformation ? Nothing ever happened before that period, which correfponds with this vifion ; but what was then effect- ed, completely anfwers to the hieroglyphics and literal explana- tion. Then the fealed of the Lord were brought to public view. Then the faithfulnefs of God to his promife in prefeiv- ing (uch a people, appeared. Then the bleffed Jefus vindicat- ed his caufe, lyonored his Gofpel, and (bowed himfelfto be the Savior of his Zion. Then antichrift began toconlume before the word of the Lord , the fpirit of his mouth and a pledge was given that the Church would be fafely preferved during the re- maining fpace of her wildernefs (late. We may undoubtedly expefl,that fo great an event as the Reformation would be fomewhere fpecifically foretold in the prophecies. Leffer concerns are declared ; and would not thv Lord notify a bleffing, a change in their condition of fuch a magnitude to his faithful people, who were waiting for the con- folation of Ifrael ? But unlflfs this vifion refers to it, where is C 53 3 the predifHon which e^prefsly notifies that event ? In general, terms, it is, indeed, throughout all the proptucies, luliiciemiy afceruined that the Church (hall be fafeiy protected and tn. ally victorious. But no where, excepting in this vilion, is the ex- hibited in the dignified attitude and lingular character, by which the was particularly dillingujlhed at the Reforma- tion. By what marks or rules of eXpofition is jt polTible to deters mine the meaning of a fymbolical prophecy more iatisi actordy than by thole before us ? The vilion, which is uiuintt and c«_m- plete, evidently refers to a particular object, and trom the lub- limity andftrikiug hieroglyphics here introduced, muil indicate Something great and intereltiig. Ic contradicts all regard to order and propriety, to crowd unneceflarily the accompliihment of a number tf prophecies relpecting diltincc events into oi.e fhort period of time. There is no neceflity, therefore, to looic for vard to the commencement of the Millennium tor the ful- filment of this prediction, as fome commentators have done. It is already fulfilled. What happened in the beginning of the fifteenth century was the fpecific event here foretold. It will, indeed, be again and again accompnlhed at every great difpi.iy of the Church, ?s (lie advances in her profperity ; but the Reformation was the lirlt and particular period intended in this prophecy. F Tie Fall cf Babylon. AS in every age there have been, fo at this day there are, many worthy characters in the communion of the papal hie- rarchy, who abhor the practices which have difhonored that power, and are eminent for their talents and virtues. Such diftmguifhed individuals muft not be offended, when the de- clarations of fdripture are faithfully explained, and compared with fafts which cannot be denied. The prophecies are numerous which announce the rife and exploits of a pernicious adverfarv, who would introduce a form* inftead of the power of religion, blend the worlhip of God with temporal intereffs, and attempt to change the kingdom of Jefus Chrift into a kingdom of this world. The adverfarv is deferibed by fo many marks, that it is impoflibte to miftake him. A picture delineating every feature, and exhib ting in various lights a ffriking likenefs, determines with greater pre- cinon who is intended than could be done bv even naming him. The name might be difputed as fymbolical, but the por- trait can admit cf no queflipn. [ 54 . ] The duration of this inimical power is limited and ascertain- ed with great precifion. Daniel predicts that he lhall contin- ue for a time, and times, and the dividing of time. The fame fymbolical number is expreffed in the Apocalypfe by a time t and times, and half a time ; again by fort) and two months ; and a- gain by a thoufand two hundred and th reef core days. By fpecifying the period under fuch various computions, we are taught, not to understand them in a literal fenfe, as intimating only three years and an half, but asfymbols of a much longer time, where a day is put for a year. Agreeably to this conftru&ion, which may eafily be proved to be juft and fcriptural,* 12G0 days, reckoning 30 days to a month, the manner in which the year was anciently divided, amount to 1260 prophetic years. The difference between the folar 3nd pro- phetic year, of five days, and a few hours, makes, in this long period, without regarding a frnall fraftion, 17 years. This de- duced from 1260, leaves 1243 ; the precife time reprefented by the fymbolical numbers of 42 months, of three years and an half, and of 1260 days ; all of which exprefs the fame pe- riod of time. This is the whole fpace of the reign of antichrift, 1243 years {hall that enemy opprefs the caufe of truth and righteoufnefs. So many years the Church will be in the wil- derness. So many years the holy city will he trodden under foot by the Gentiies. And fo many years the two wirnefles {hall prophecy, clothed in fackcloth. If now wexan deter- mine the time when this dark period commenced, we may im- mediately, by adding 1243 ycais, afeertain when it will ger- minate. It is impoflable within the compafs of a {Ingle note, to do juftice to an inquiry l'o intricate and important. . Thefe who •with to obtain ext enfive information, may read what Mcde, Vitringa, Daubux, Lowman, Durham, Fleming, Whitby, Bilh- op Newton, Johnfton, and other learned men have written up- on the {ubject. To confirm what was afiferted in the Difcuurle, that the lateft calculation which has been, or can be made of the fall of antichrift, extends that event to the year 1999, is all that is here intended. A few obfervations will fuffice for this. 4s the introduction of errors into the Church, and the con- sequent decline of truth and piety were gradual, it is a difficult talk to (ix, with precifion, the exadt time when the reign of an- jtichrift commenced. This accounts for the variety of opinions and calculations which have appeared. The earlieft period which can be fuggefted is the year 325. The civil eftablifh- irjcn: and exteniive favors conferred at that time by Conftan- jine, have been celebrated by many as the brighteft era and molt prolperous event ever experienced in the church. But * See A. FiiA/r.R, “ Key to the Prophecies part ii. feft. 2, ethers, who form a different eftimate of the friendship o/ tr.t world, have viewed the imprudent zeal of that Emperor as pro- ductive of the greateft difafters, 8t more pernicious to the inter- efts of true religion, than the fierce!! persecutions had ever prov- ed. They therefore date the rife of antichrift from that fatal peri- od. To this, if 1243 years be added, the clofe of his reign would be in 1568, about the very time when the Reformation was confurnmated. Hence fome learned and good men have main- tained, that antichrift then fell, and that the Millenium then began. But fince that period, many cruei perfections have exhibited terrible proofs that antichrift was not fallen. And furely Satan was not then, nor is he yet, bound in chains ! wars have not ceafed ; nor is the kingdom of righteoufnefs and peace unrverfally prevalent. Antichrift is deferibed under the fymbol of a b eaft. And ten horns or kings are faid to receive their power one, or at the fame hour, with the bealt. Some have therefore held, that the reign of antichrift commenced as foon as the Roman em- pire was divided intO’ten different kingdoms. Tncfe kingdoms were not formed until the year 4,>6. If to this be added 1243, the end of the reign of antichrift would have been in the year 1699. It is predicted, 2 ! hes. ii. 7, 8. He who now letteth will lst y until he be taken out of the way , and then Jhall that wicked one be revealed. This fome have underftood to intimate, that as an- tichrift could not appear during the government of the Roman empeiors, lb he would arife immediately upon the removal of that power, which, during its exiftence, hindered his domina- tion and tyranny. The Roman empire was not wholly diffolv- ed until the depofition of Augu/iulttt , the laft who reigned over the eaftern and weftern empire. This happened in the year 4>7G, which would extend the fall of antichrift to 1719. But neither of thefe calculations correfpond with faffs. The premifes upon which the conclulions reft, are, of courfe, nqt accurately determined. Two periods which refpefl the immediate formation of the Roman hierarchy, either in regard to its lpiritual or civil con- stitution, are moft diftinguiflicd, and from one or other of rhefe, the foundeft calculations appear to be formed. The gradual decline of the Church had reached the lotveft point of depreftion, when the Bifhop of Rome a.Tumed the ab- furd title, and began to exercife the tyrannic power of Oecu- menical or uoiverfal Biihop. This happened in the year GOG. Then a beaft tvas feen in the Church. Then the ten horns or kings fubmitted to his ufurped fupremacy. And then the pa- pal hierarch called himfelf the Vicar of Chrift, and might he legitimately recognized as antichrift. If to this date we add' L sc ] / J'243, the period of Lis fall will be in 1849 — A period wfu&bi fonie prefent, certainly our children, may live to enjoy. Others conceive, that as a Beafi and a Hern are, in prophs- cy, fymbols of organized civil power, the former conveying the additional idea of rapacity and cruelty ; and, as antichrid is con- fidered as one or the heads of the civil empire and the image of the former Bead, that his rife mufl be dated from the time when the Bdhop of ft 'me became a temporal prince. Then he biended what in their natures are eflcntiaUy diftimft and ought to be for ever fepar..te. i’hen he completely anfwered to the import of the fymbols, and gained the fuccefllon align- ed him for his reign or government. This took place in the year 7.56, to which when 1 24? 3 are added, we are brought to 1939, the year immediately preceding the commencement of the Millennium: To this lad calculation the moll celebrated commentators appear to incline. The former, however, is not without its learned and pious advocates! When the difciples inquired refpe&ing the future events of his kingdom, our Lord toid them it was not for them to know the times or the feajcitf which the Father hath put in his own pow- er. The anfvver alfo of the angel to Daniel, chap. xii. implies fome uncertainty in relation to the prec’Je time for the accom- piilhtnent of at lead; fome of the prophe, ; es. But this was not intended to dilTuade from the fdudy of prophetical feripture, to which the people of the Lord are often exhorted and encour- aged y but to fugged fuitable humility and patience. Much has been revealed to the Church ftnee the afeenfion of the Sav- ior. It hath pleafed the Father, by the revelation of Jefus Chrid, which Clod gave un o him , to [how unto his fervants things which mue believe they will, obtain a Literal accompliduneot. If the religion of Jtfus be from God, as it certainly is, we may expefl a time will come, when Lhat reli- gion Iliad exert its lulled energy, and be completely experienc- ed in all its tram of happy confequences throughout the world; when it (hail triumph over every falfe reUgton, and. ?11 the nations of theearth,be blefled under its benign influence. Tais expe&ation is not hypothetic or problematical ; it is con- firmed by the infallible word of proiuiie, which has given .the fulled afl’urance of that delirabie event. The eflcntial ingredients of the Millennial period are — the knowledge of the truth when all fhall be taught ot God — the holinefs that will prevail, when men of every rank and da- tion fhall live by faith, and whether they eat or drink, do all to < he glory ef God — the union cf the viflble Church, when «o longer divided, the lame doctrine?, ordinances, and gov- ernment* will conftitnte one body — the abundant influence of the Holy Spiric as the fauctifier and comforter ; whereby communion with the Father and the Son will be richly enjoy- ed ; the means of gr*ce become wells cf [alvation ; and every acl ot worfliip a feojl of fat things. Civil government will not ceale ; it is the ordinance of God, and, while fociety re- mains, is edentiai for the maintenance of order ; but ru:ers, by whoever name they may be diftinguifhed, or with whatever i 60 3 authority they may be inverted, will then no longer abufc their power, leek their own advancement, or injure religion by their wickeJ examples and iniquitous policy. Animated by the fpirit of Chrift, they will be his fervants, and promote the glory of God, the honor of the Savior, and the happinefs of mankind. — Crimes will be extinCt in the fame proport 'on tl at covetoufnefs, pride, and revenge are fubdued. 'Ike w-ckeunfs of the wicked will come t. an end, when love, gertlenets go, d- nels, anda'lthe fruits of the Spirit abound. Peace wd l pre- vail, peace with God and peace with man. H ars will ctafe un'o the ends of the earth Then they fh i l b.ut their J 'words m- to ploughfloares and their fpears into pruning hocks ; nation full not lift up J word againjl nation, neither Jhall they tram icur any more. The effedb of temperance will be health and great longevity. An active and ufeful life wilt be crowned with a ferene and fruitful old age. Individuals, families, and nations, bv believing in Jefua and obeying his word, will be exeu p'ed from the calamities produced by unfa cThed p..flions, and the world be bleifed under rhe reign of Mifliah. 2. When will the Millennium commence ? This is the next inquiry. All the predictions concerning that happy peri- od, refer it to the clofe of the New Teftament difpenlation. It is to be in the latter days , in the lajl times. The mountain is the lart ftate or form, in w hich the ficne cut out without hards , after dertroying the image, is to" appear. But, theie are in- dications refpeCting the beginning of this period, from which we gather more than probable conjectures — I* Prom the un- interrupted order of events, as arranged in the Prophecies — What relates to the Millennium is introduced in the Apoca- lypfe as immediately following the defiruCtion of Babylen cr antichrirt. But this dertruClion we know, from tl«e latelt pof- fible date, cannot be beyond the yesr 1999. The Millennium, therefore, which is the next event in fucceflion, will commence in the year 2000. But — 2. The number Jtven, io often uf- ed in feripture, appears to have given rile to an ancient calcu- lation, faid to be familiar among the Jews long before the coming of Chrift ; — “Two thoufand years before the law (or before Abraham) ; two thoufand years under t Ire law ; two thoufand years under the Meftiah •, then coiveth the Sabbath.'’ This, upon tire ftriertert examination, may found to comdpond with what we are authorized from feripture to expcCf will be rea ized. I'he time employed in creation ; the inftitution of the fab- hat h ; the numerous fabbaths, not only of days, but of weeks and years ; all meafured by feven, have put a tingular mark upon a IVventh portion of time from the earlieft period of the world. The fame number is fanCtioned in the Apocalypfe, ar^ C 61 3 rendered peculiarly difiinCt and remarkable. To this general oblervaiion we may apply the argument of I’aul to the He- brews, chap. iv. where he fpeaks of a great Jubbath or re/i f which rem?ineth for the people of God ■, and ti e words of Peter, 1 Epil- chap, iii where he not only aflerts that otie day is as a thoufand years, and a thoufand ytars as me day with G'd ; but realons upon this calculation of time, to refute IcotFers and eftablith believers in their expectation of the new heavens and a ft. tv earth. Tiie moil candid and critical exposition of thele p llages, tipecially when compared together, and both confid- cred in connexion with the peculiar emph.tfis God hat, throughout his whole word, and in every dilperdation of his Cimrch, put upon the numberyh/tfl, lead us to conclude, that the ieventti Millenary period will be as much luperior in every thing refpecting religion, to all the preceding periods, as the faobath excels the ordinary days of labor : That therefore, the C.iurcli may hope that iev nth portion of time will be tue great fabbath of the world. With the opening of that period we ex- peci the Millennium will commence. 3. i'he duration oftne Millennium, and what from prophe- cy tye le .rn is to follow that period, include tne remaining in- quiry upon this lubjecl. From its name it is determined to be a tHouland years. i'he only queltion upon this number is, whether years mull be here taken lymbohcally or literally. If the Hrlt, a dav for a year, it would amount to the prodigious term of 160,000 \ears. But it is not here a fymbolical num- ber. Smaller things are always uled aslyinbols for greater.— - Hence days for years. But years being the greatelt periodical revolution known to the ancients, were expreffed literally. — We are undoubtedly in the Apocalvpfe to take i; thus, and to underfland this numoer as exprellnig ftriClly oi*e th ufand years ; a feventh portion of the great iv illenuary week. ^s the Millennium will be immediately preceded by a terri- ble confliCl, which is the lall firuggle of the antichriltian ad- verfary, called in prophecy the Dfltt.e of Armageddon ; lb after the thoufand years .ire expired, Satan, wno during that whole period had been bound, will be loofed out of his prijon, and new and unexpected troubles will immediately arile in the wor d — Thele are laid to be conduCied by an enemy called G g and Magog. Ezekiel has plainly foretold and fully described thi$ event. In the Apocalyple the time when it will happen is fix- ed. The dilcomfiture of this lad adverfary, the victory in this lad battle in which the Church wil ever he involved, ciofes the feenes of Revelation, as to the date of the Church in.tl.is w orld. It has pleafed God not to inform his people what will be the fubfequem train of even's. It is enough to know that captiv- ity will ifien be led captive, and all but the lait enemy, Death, Z 62 3 be already put under the feet of our conquering Immanuel, But when the whole myftery of fa.vation will dole ; when the day of judgment will open, and the dead arife, is not revealed. This no man knoweth nor may know. How long after the de- feat of Gcg and Magog, before the blefltd jefus will come it be glorified in his faints , and admired in all them that beheve, is not declared. From the ftate of things which appear to be then fully ripened and brought to a crifis, we may conclude, it will not be very long before he will appear the Jecond time , without Jin , for the complete and eternal falvation 9/ his redeemed family. H, The Martyrs avenged. THE aftonifhing events which diftinguifh theclofa of th^e Jalt century are already confidered by fome of the moll enlight- ened and pious minifters in Europe, as the commencement of divine judgments for avenging the blood of the martyis. In the Evangelical Magazine, an excellent periodical work, pub- lifhed under the immediate infpeCtion and aufpices of thel'e minifters, there is a review of a iermon upon the death of Lou- is XVI, where they obferve : “ There are few inflances in which the retributive juftice of God has been more evidently dilplayed than in the late melancholy events which have taken place in that unhappy nation. “ By all the readers of ecclefiaftical hiftory it mud have been obferved, that France has produced a greater number of martyrs and confeflbrs for pure Chriftianity than all the other Europe- an nations. Exclulive of the Waldenfes , and Albigenfes , the fiifferings of the Proteftants in that kingdom, from the reign of Fiancis the Firjl to the period of the Revolution, have been both numerous and extreme. “ When employed in perufing the details of the difaftrous tranfa&ions ot that country, protracted from age to age, we htive been aftonilhed at the marvellous patience of God, and his myfterious providence, in Teeming to difregard the fouls un- der the alter , gf them that were Jlain for the tejlimony j/ J e f us » though they daily cried, Hoiu long , O Lcrd, holy and true , doji thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth t Notv at laft, the righteous Jehovah has taken vengeance ; and as puhilhmeyt was long delayed, it has, according to the divine procedure fallen on its victims with the greater feveritv. Nor lh old it be accounted prefumptuous if we lay, that God has mg) bed the trauigreflbrs in the punilhincnt he has infli&cd. The L 6J } Jjng, tire Nobles the Clergy, and the Parliaments of France, who were all united in perlecuting the Proteftants, do now all fhnr in bitter fu Strings themfelves. We have fetn the Par- liaments and nobles annihilated - r the Clergy, who were attach- ed to the hierarchy of Rome, driven from their country ; and the King put to death. Nor is this all ; there is fonaething ftill more ltricking. Thofe ftrcets of Paris, which on St. Bar - tkolomciv's day 1572, ran with the blood of the Proteftants, are in the fame month, 1792, Sained with the blood of fome hun- dreds of Romifh Pi ieSs : And as the revocation of the edits if Nantes banifhed multitudes of Proteftants into every country that would receive them, a decree of the national affumbiy has driven thoufands of the Clergy (the chief authors of the fuf- ferings of the Proteftants) into every kingdom of Europe that would afford them an afylum Thefe remarkable circurn- ftances are fo obvious to thofe who ftudy the providence of God, that it is aftonifhing they fhould be fo little thought of at the prefent time. Too many, we fear, have reafon to charge » themfelves with guilt for being wholly occupied with the actions of fecond earths , fo as to dr f regard the -work of the Lord , and the op- eration oj his hands .” Evangel. Mag. vol. i. 179d. * L f Delays compenfated. « THE number of the inhabitants of the earth will, doubt- fcfs.then be vaftly multiplied, and the number of redeemed ones much more. If we fhould fuppofe that glorious day to laft no more than a thoufand years, and that at the beginning of that thoufand years the world of mankind fhould be juft as nu- merous as it is now, and that the number fflould be doubled, during that time of great health and peace, and the univerl’al ble fling of heaven, once only in an hundred years, the num- ber at the end of the thoufand years would be more than a thouf- and times greater than it is now ; and if it fhonld be doubled once in fifty years (which probably the number of inhabitants of New England has ordinarilv been in about half that time) then, at trie end of the thoufand years, there would be more than a million of 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 faints will, in ttieir increafe bear a proportion to the increafe of the number 0 " inhabitants We fhail be very moderate in ovir conjectures, if we fay, it is probable that there will be an hun- dred tuoufand tunes more, that will actually be redeemed to t 6* 3 (Sod by Chri (Vs blood, during that period of the Church's profperity, than ever had been before, from the beginning of the world to that time.” Prefduii Edwards 1 “ Attempt to prt mate Agreement in Pfeifer” Lfc. K. > Perfections. The firfferings of the Church during the firfl three centu- ries under the Roman Emperors, were exceedingly fevere. — Chritbans were continually expofedtothe hatred and violence of their Pagan neighbors. Private citizens and fubordinate magiltr^tes leaded them with cal umny, (polled them of their property, an 1 grievoufly harraffed them throughout the whole of that period ; but there were ten wafting perfections iufti- gated and infixed by the exprefs authority of the Emperors. The firfl was by Nero, which began about A. D. 67 ; jecond by D omitian, A. D. 90 ; third by Trajan, A. D. 100 ; fourth by Hadrian and Ant. Pius, A. D 126 ; -fifth by Ant Philos, and I.. A. Verus, A. D. 168; ftxth by Severus, A. D. 208; feventh by Maximinus, A. I). 236 ; eighth by Decius, A D- 251 ; n-th by Gallus and Volulianus, A. D. 258 ; tenth un- der Dioclefian, A. D 300. Some of thefe fucceeded eath o‘^er by very (hort intervals, and were enforced with the moft lavage barbarity. But fierce and dreadful as they proved, they have been greatly exceeded by the deliberate, fyftematic, and protradted cruelty ot papal Rome. During a confiderable portion of the long period in which that idolatrous and apoftate Church has prevailed, (he may betrulv reprefented as drunken with the blood of the faints , and with the blood of. the martyrs of Jehus. Pope Julius, in feven years, was the occalion of the (laughter of 200,000 Chriftians. The maffacre in France cut off 100,000 in three months In the perfccution of the Albigenles and Waldenfes, 1,000.000 1 their lives. From the beginning of the Jefuirs till 1580 — 900,000 peri llied. The duke of Alva put 36,000 to death. 'The inquiiition, in thirty years, deftroyed 1 50,000 — In Ireland, 300,9*00 were deftroyed. And how many have been maflacred in other perfections in France and Piedmont, in the Palatinate and Hungary, none can fully eltimate ; be- fdesthofe that have been in the gallies, or that have fle.l * — Surely the Church of Chrift may (ay, If it had not be n the Lord who was on our fid* when men , actuated by fuch principles, * See Fleming on the rife and full of the Pap, icy. ATTti clothed with fuch power, rcfe up againjl ns, thin they had /wallowed us up quick ; then the waters had overwhelmed ut. Biejpd be the Lord who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth f L. Miffionary Societies. EVERY new fociety we confider as a new additional ally ftirred up in defence of the caufe of God ?.nd in its meetings and ks proceedings we fee a new army raifed for Chrift, and going forth to fight the battles of their Lord. When this fpir- it becomes general (as we trait it will) through the Chriftian Church, there will be a large and nobib army of fpiritual war- riors to carry the conqueits of Immanuel through every Pagan and Mahometan country. In a word, here is a confirmation of what has been often fuggefted of late, that we behold the dawn of a more gtorious day than the world has yet ieen.” Bvang. Mag. Vtl. viii. Nov. 1800 M. The Church hath feen her Ivorjl Days. HATH the Church furvived her levered trials? Or, are feenes of adverfity, beyond what fhe hath ever experienced, yet in referve for her ? In theie inquiries Chriftians are deeply interefted, and their fentiinents much divided. Many good and great men entertain ferious apprehenlions of approaching evils, and cannot diveft themfelves of anxious fears, that the gloom will actually thicken at the clofe, that the number of believers will be greatly diminifhed, errors over- whelm the Church, and true religion be reduced to an extreme point of depreffion, previous to that enlargement of the Re- deemer’s kingdom we have contemplated. Others, on the contrary, conceive the worft to be paft ; and whatever tempor- al afflictions in the impending difpenfations of Providence may. await individual believers or Churches, that truth and rrghteoufnefs, peace and joy in the Holy Ghoft will more a- bun lantly prevail, and true religion in its purity and power, from this day profper in the world, vaxtly beyond what has ev- er been heretofore known. It would be gratifying to the Lord’s people to fee the argu- ments on both lides of this queftion fairly Rated. The fubjeCt is w . rthy of a minute and impartial difeuflion. If fome pious writer, who is equal to the talk, would carefully inveftigate I. r L S& 3 ^hat appertains to this inquiry, and meet the fears and wifhe> of believers with folid and 1'atisfaCtory arguments he would bring a meflage in feafcm to the Churches. — Should thofe fears be well founded, it is time, indeed, with renewed vigor, to gird dole the gofpel armor, and become fortified with graces fuited to a day of conflict and difcomfiture. But if fuch ap~ prehenfions are the refult of ignorance or unwarrantable im- idity, if they are not fupported by the word of God, efpecially if they contradict the word, and oppofe the evident procedure of Divine Providence, let them be difmifled. They tend to mar the confolation, fupprefs the prayers, and weaken the hands of the faithful in the work, afflgned to tliis genera- tion. 1. Thofe who expeCt' greater calamities to be impending, refer — to the exprefs prediction refpe&ing the flaying of the witnefles — to that declaration of our Lord which implies, that at his coming there will be but little faith, and confequently but little holinefs, the fruit of faith, in the world — to general intimations in the prophetic word ot afflictions, perils, and a- poftacy, which await the Church antecedent to her enlarge- ment, and mark the latter days — and to exifting fads which portend more extenfive evils, and in their train of confequenc-. es, mud inevitably prove ruinous to the interefts of religion. From thefe four arguments the conclulion is principally drawn, that the Church hath not yet feen her word days. In Rev. xi: it is unequivocally and pointedly foretbld, that the faithful witnefles for Jefus during the reign of antichrift would be greatly reduced, and their iituation rendered very diltrelflng. The fird is exprefied by the fymbolical numbed two the lead required to eftablifb an authentic teflimony, The lad is delineated by their prophecying in fackloth, an em- blem of mourning and grief. This was to characterize them during the long period of forty two months, or 1200 prophet- ic years. It is -added, and the bctijl Jhall overcome them and kill them. And they- are defcribed as lying unburieiT for three dap and an half, after which they revive, begin their teflimony a- i ew in an exalted ftation, and with their reiurreCtion the en- largement of the Church commences. The contraction put upon this prophecy in its connected parts, is, — that by the witnefles are meant all true believers at that time in Chrid ; — that the death of the witnefles is a dif- tinCt event, and fomething diflerenr horn, and more than, the reduction of their numbers or their fackcloth habiliment ; — that this is to happen at the- very dole of t lie fullering period ; — that hy their death and unburied date mult be n iderltood the total defect of the power of religion, and the entire ex- tinCtion ot life in the viiible Church, when a mere profeflion may dill prevail, anu the Chiidian name continue, but all tint is obiiei vable of the kingdom of Chrilt will be as a putrid t 67 3 icorpfe, a body without life ; — and, finally, that this deplorably condition has never yet been experienced, but is ftill to be ex- pected, and will molt afluredly be verified From this con- clusion very ferious fears are excited. It is expefted Zion will Soon mourn in deeper Sackcloth, and the interefts of religion wither and expire. Opprefled with thefe gloomy apprehen- sions, many excellent Chriftians fink under the forebodings of greater evils, and their hearU tremble for the ark of God. Our limits reftridt us to a brief examination of the firft article a- lone, and compel us with reluctance to omit what was pre- pared upon each of the other arguments. 2. L'hofe who can difeover light, as well as fhade, enjoy a brighter profpedf. They put a different conftrudtion upon the paflages of Scripture produced, and draw a conclufion from ex- iling facts, diredtly contrary to that advanced by their deG» ponding Bretheren. What is foretold of flaying the witnefles, Rev. xi muff, no doubt, be underflood to indicate a very grievous calamity. As this fuggefis the main argument in the prefent quell ion, it de- ierves a dutindt examination Let us afeertain — who are in- tended by the witnefles — what is meant by their daughter — who is to perpetrate this horrid deed — and whether this be not already accomplifhed. The witnesses are ufually underftood to refer to the Lord’s people, the Spiritual Ifrael in the aggregate. But it deferves coniideraticn, whether this general application of the term be accurate and corresponding wiah the J wnbols and ftyle of this book. All true believers are indeed the Lord’s witnefles. (Ifa. xl. 10, 12.) But in the Apocalvpfe, true believers, dur- ing the reign of antichrift, are particularly defignated by the 1 ■IS, 000 Sealed. So this Symbol is uSed, chap. vii. and again chap. xiv. and this anSwers to the description of his hidden people under the persecution of Ahab, who were Said co be 7000, whom God had referved for him) elf end did not bow the inee to Baal. Thele were diftinguifhed at that time from Eli- jah and afterwards Elitha, who appeared publicly as witnefles for ‘God and true religion. In analogy to this, it may be al- leged, that by the witnefles who were to he {lain are meant, not tfhe whole Church, or Sealed believers, who Served the Lord during the SeaSon of persecution, in Secret, but thofe eminent characters whom God, in Succeffion, raifed up to bear an open •teftimonv againfl the corruption of the Church of Rome. Some Such appeared in every century, and their names are en- rolled in ecclefiaflical hiftorv to their immortal honor. Thofe of John Wickliffe, Walter Lollard, John Hufs, and others of later times, are to us molt familiar. As under the Old Tef- tament many of the prophets and mefl’engers from God, who were emphatically his witnefles, were flain ; So under the New, -it is here predicted, the Same bale and bloody work would be £ 68 3 wpeated. If this explanation be juft, it will remove much of the conclufion built upon this prophecy, and exhibit the fub- jedl in a different point of light. But granting that by the witneffes are meant the Lord ? s peo- ple in general, which is perhaps the mol} natural and coriecft conftru&ion, a fecond queftion arifes — What is intended by their slaughter ? This cannot certainly be taken in a liter : fenfe for real death or total extermination, as it relates to ev ery individual believer, fince that would imply the extinction < l the Church on earth, which never has, nor ever will be rtoii ed. It muft intend their being brought very low, both ?s to numbers and privileges, and applies immediately to the fufftr- ings before mentioned. It is evidently added as explanato: y of the degree of diftrefs or the extreme point of affliction and humiliation to which the Church in the courfe of that period would be reduced. It cannot therefore be a diftindt event, oor is there any thing in the prediction which determines it as taking place exaftly at the clofe of the 1260 years. If it happens at any time within the limits of that fuffering period, the import of the prophecy will be anfwered. Of the perpetrator and author of the calamity there can remain no uncertainty. The whole fcexiebelongs to anticariil. To him this defolation is fpecifically afcribed. He is the tyrant who reduces the number of believers •, he makes them prophe- cy in fackcloth ; and he kills them. From this arifes, at leaft, a probable conclusion, that the witneffes have already been llain a3 much as ever they will be. Turn to antichrift. Look at him. free an old firmer emaciated by a fatal cor.fumption, feeble, defpifed and tottering to his downfal ! Is it probablq that he can now repeat fuch horrid havock, that he can now in- flift ftich deadly blows as marked the prime of his pride and power ? Are not alfo the charafler and relative fituation of the nations which heretofore aided the beaft in Ihedding the blood of the faints efi’entially changed ? May we not then expert that the faltering hierarch will never again attempt the cruel work*, or, whatever may be his impotent enmity or dying llruggles, that he will never be able to difhonor himfelf or difturb the Church any more by perfecution ? But it does not reft upon mere probable conjerture. It is reduced to a certainty. The predirtion has been fully accom- plished, The evils comprehended in this part of the prophe- cy have been experienced. Every thing intended by overcom- ing and Lilli/ig the witneffes is fulfilled. Thofe who are ac- quainted with the hiftory of the church, during the gloomy period which is juftlv denominated the iron age of ignorance and cruelty, can entertain no doubt of this faff. In the twelfth century, the Waldenfes (fo called from Veter Waldo ) and the Alblgenfes (wlio obtained their name from jilby a city of Lawguedoa) became very numerous. Tliefc 'iycrc humble and holy difciples of Jefus Clirift, and therefor? [ 68 3 hated and perfecuted by antichrift. They fled for refuge to dif- ferent nations, and repeated afti of vengeance inceffantiy fol- lowed them. In Germany they were hunted down under th* name of Lollards, and every where purfued with fury and death. r fhe fifteenth century was the worft. Then the bloody work reached its utmofi bounds, and the enemy might inferibe upon his medal, like \'i,oc\eCiAn % fupcr/:itione Chrifi ubique deie- In. J ,hn Hufs and Jerojie of Prague, were burned by order of the Council of Con fiance, in the year Hl(>, after which the definition of the faithful rapidly increalei. The Bohemian Cali tin's were (educed and overpowered, and the Taborites ,* as they were called, with their brethren in Piedmont and France, were, before the clofeof that century, nearly defolated. So low were the humble followers of Jefus, during this period, reduced, that with difficulty fevers ty could be convened to confuit upon meafures for continuing their Churchy fo low, that when the remains of that pious people, in the year 14^7, tent out four men to travel, one through Greece and the eaft, an- other to Rnjfta and the North, a third to Thrace and Bulgaria, and ■jl fourth to Afia, BJ- jV.ne, and Egypt ; they returned with the forrowful tidings, that they found no Church of Chrifi that was free from error, iuaerfiiiion, and idolatry. Two years af- terwards they lent two perlons into Italy and France , to learn if there were any of the old Waldenfes alive. Thefe came back with the fad account, that they could find none, but had heard of a fe w remains, of the Piedmontois fcattered and hid among the * So called from mount Thabor, or rather from a town built and fortified by 'Life a, named Thabor. Of thefe pious and zealous dfcrple; ef John H fi, a very unfavorable view is given by the learned Mo- jheint ; “ C.rudelibus certe fententiis irnbuta tnagna ejtts pars er.it, ct nil nift btllum ac fingainem hod item fuorum fpirabatf To ejlab- lifh this opinion he cites L. B;z:nius, an obfeure author, who rep- refen ts them as a fanatical, fierce, and fangutnary feet. If this cited pafiige be genuine, it only proves, that among a people, ho. -a fid and led asjfosep to the ,7 tughter, there were fome individuals, who, when drives to midriffs by perfection, could not refrain their pa f- fionc. Mofhr.m exhibits an accurate and ehbor/te kifiory of the fiat e of the Church, as far as her fate was connected with political events, or involved in toe hfiory of furrounding na'ions ; but we look in vain to that c lebrated hiilorian for the real date of religion, which conditutes the mofi ejfential part of the hfior-j of the Char. ~; of Chrifi. The account of the Taborites, tranjmitted by th/fe who m/re jtsdly ejlimated the character of the humble followers of Jefus, is very different. The pious prof e for Lampe f peaks in another ft y Is cf them. l< Melior vero Taboritarum , qui non folum Huff dolhin- am, quoad reliquos arficulos, in qtiibus d.ffenjum a Rotnana ecclefa profcjfui ernt, recipiebant, fed etiam purioris Wahlenfum ecclefa auress riliquias inter fe fvebant .” F. A. Lampe Synotfs llf.o - nee Sacra et Fcilfftafiicz. lib. ii. chap, xi.fcJl. 13. C. -0 ] Alps. Not long after this, the remnant of the Taborites were difeovered and perfecuted with fuch unrelenting fury, that few efcaped. The laft of them fuffered in 1512. Then the witnefies were Cain, the delolation was complete. Then the blood thirfiy adverfary had killed all .upon whom he was permitted to lay his cruel hands. Any thing beyond thfs would, literally, have been a total extirpation. For the fpace of three days and an half, this is, three and an half prophetic years, the Church was to continue in this low eftate. How obferv- abie, that juft that fpace of timeelapfed from that -laft martyr- dom to the preaching of Zwinglius, who then openly began to teftify againll antichrift. The next year,* 1517, Luther, the great Boanerges, came forward, and was foon joined by a cloud of zealous adherents, who nobly withftood the rage of the enemy, and boldly defied all the thunder of the Vatican. Then the witnefies began to arife, and the fpitit of life fron. God entered into them. In the year 1529, when many Chriftian princes and chiefs of the feveral nations prot«*fted againft the edift of Worms and Spires, it might be laid that the witnefies food upon their feet . And after the victory .obtained over Charles by Maurice of Saxony, in the year 1552, the witnefies afeended and their enemies beheld them ; they attained a high fiation, and were publicly protected in the fymbolicai language, they alcend- cd up to heaven ; J and they have, in fome degree, ever lince main- tained that elevated ftation, and been greudy honored and ex- ienfively blefied Whatever partial injuries they have fufiained^ whatever retrograde fteps may have been taken, and Ioffes ful- tained by the church lince the reformation j or whatever may be the troubles with which fhe may be called yet to ftruggle, they never have been, nor ever will be brought fo low again. The witnefies have been killed, and their.refurredtion has commenc- ed. Their defolation was gradual, and their refulcitation wiW be gradual. It has began, and will incrcafe. The prediction refpe&ing their death is already accomplished. Nothing can, therefore, be alleged from this prophecy to authorize the expectation of any future low eftateof the Church, but rather a certain proof of her increafeand profperity. The remaining arguments to prove that the interells of true religion will decline, and the Church fee worfe days, which are drawn from scripture, may be all anlwered, by aliening, ■without the leaft hefitation, that there is nothing in the word of God to fupport fuch conclusions. The pafiages which are adduced, when corredtly explained, will be found either to re- fer to what has already been fulfilled ; or to exprefs a low ftate * That 'Zwinglius began ore year before Luther , fee fob. Hen. Hettinger i Hi for ire Reformationis Helvetia;, tom. ii. lib. 6. Ato- Jbeim aeknotoledges “ Zwinglius, quod deffiteri nolumus veritatis partem quamdam jam perfpexerat anteepuam Luther am publics cum pontifee congrcdcretitr , w L 71 ] of feligion, without deciding the degree of apcft'acy, and to which the prefent ilate fufficientlv anfwers •, or, finally, to announce conflidts and trials arifing from the difpeniations of providence, in which the real interells of religion will not be injured, but afhially increai’ed and made ultimately to triumph. The •wall has been, and will again bt built , even in troublous tunes. Arguments from exifting facts are more alarming. The three principal clafles to which thefe are reduced, which can- not here be even enmnerated,are,each of them formidable, and in their infeperable confequences, if permitted to prevail j- and become univerfal, would inevitably prove ruinous to the Church f Whoever blasphemes the Redeemer , blasphemes the Creator l He that honour eth not the Sen cannot honor the Father. In oppof- ing revealed religion , it is impofftble to avoid oppofition to the religion of nature. Deifm in theory has its fixed limits ; but the fptrit of infidelity is as much at enmity againfi natural religion as revealed ; and •when once engaged in oppofition to the latter , it unavoidly over - / leaps the boundaries of the former Infidels may begin againfi the Bible , but they •will end againfi the light f nature. This unhappy contefi always militates againfi the fir (I principles of moral obliga- tion , and what was fitmple deifm at fir d, with all its fair preten- tions , becomes , when vigoroufiy maintained , aElual atheifm in the fequel. This accounts for what many ccnfider as a phenomenon in the charaEler which dogmatizes infidels ; and this cinfirms , con- trary to their intention , the divine origin of that holy fydem of re- vealed truths , and duties , againfi which they Wage fitch wicked and fruitlefs war. In falling upon that done they break themfclves. Ah / i when that filone fhall fall upon them, it will grind them to powder. After all the writings , labors, and vaunting! on one fide, and the alarms and fears on the other, what has infidelity gained ? Are the deifts multiplied? Arethey honored? Is their caufe becoming mote popular ? Is it patronized by many men of information > Whatever may be the unfair, as it refpeEls Eu- rope, it is a decided fill, that deifm is declining in America . — That impious philofophy, which, by its novelty and impudence in - pcfed upon the public mind > is fo deflitute 9f found principle, and its abettors are detected in fo much ignorance or wilful mifreprefen- tation , that not only the wife and good dcfpije and abhor it, but evert the young and unexperienced have learned to Jhun a fydem replete with biafphemy end ftupidity Many who once inclined towards infidelity, have obtained clearer views. Itifiead of finding a belter religion , they there found none at all. They have penetrated through * the e'eud , and begin to love their Bible. Bookfelltrs declcrc this to be the book, of all others, now mo ft railed for, and of readiefi /ale. This is not a favor able fymtorn jor infidelity. Let men read and underfund the Bible, and they will be fortified againfi the fophifms and fnares of the ungodly. Lit parents recommend this befit of all books to their children, and the rifing generation will frown irfidels and their writings into defer red contempt and oblivion.. t 72 j of Chnft. Bab the)' will not prevail. They can never become univerfal. "Zion looks for her enlargement to the fovereign ^race and power of her divine Redeemer. In him are all her firings. The Lord is her help and fhield.yir vain is the h ip of wan. There is nothing on the part of fmners which can fuggeft en- Srourgement or juftify defpair. Sinners will never fubrnit to Jefus as the Lord their righteousness, or be willing to be faved by him from their fins, except they are regenered by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God gives life to all that live. He renews and fandifies ; he teaches and guides into all truth ; he convinces and reproves of fin, of righteoufnefs, and of judg- ment. By his gracious influences accompanying the word, by his fpecial and effedual operations upon their fouls, finnfirs are enabled to repent and believe. Where the Spirit breathes, whether in the thronged city or the lonely cottage, there re- ligion profpers ; without him, names and forms are fall'e and hollow, mere founding brafs or tinkling fymbfo s. How loon the Lord can make a way in the nvildtrnefs , and open rivers in the defer t ; how foon the Spirit can raife a ftandard, plant his fear and love in hearts which were hardened in pro- fanenefs and infidelity, and in the fymbolical language ot I- faiah make the dragons and the owls honor him, have been evinced in the late aftonifhing revivals of religion in marry places, and particularly in fome of the Weftern and Southern States; a work attended with many fingular occurances, but which has been pronounced, Upon the moll impartial and accurate exam- ination, to be a fignal dif play of the power of divine grace. Thefo fads refute the fears of defponding believers, and are fplendid tokens for good to the interells of religion. But the moft illuftrious pledge is found in the miffionary fpirit which has pervaded tne Churches. This has already proved a fource of precious blefiings to thofe who have hearti- ly engaged in it, and is an undeniable earned for the enlarge- 'ment cf the Redeemer’s kingdom. It is the greateft event that has happened fince the Reformation, and as it (lands con- nected with proximate and remote confcquences, is far fuperior to it. A new era. is formed in the Church, and with it a new argument to prove that fhe is rifing to higher profperity. This is another Ih-p in the gradual plan to bring her out of the wild- ernefs. Tuts is another advancement in the refurredion of the witnefles. This inlures acquifittons abroad which willa- burtdantly compcnf ite for defedion and lofles at home. If thofe who have often been called refufe to come, the ma th (ball give up, the faith no longer keep rack, and the heathen from the uttermoit parts of the earth will f.y to Jel'us, as the doves to their windows. If Churches which have long enjoyed miniflers and ordinances, abufe jheir privileges, depart from the dodrines of grace, and fink, intu formality, the Hottentots and Hindoos, the Tartars and the Indians will take up the crofs , and fliout their Saviour’s p raife.