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who is wrong, in the quarrels which distract the nations;
our business, as Christians, who are concerned to obey
that command of our Lord, so often repeated, "WATCH,"
is to inquire whether there are any reasons to conclude
that what is now passing, and what has, for some time,
been passing, in the world, is that series of judgments of
which the inspired prophets have spoken, as appointed for
the utter overthrow of all those civil and ecclesiastical ty-
rannies which stand in the way of the kingdom of Christ,
and of the improvement of mankind. The reader knows
that the author has long suspected that it is so; and there
is one circumstance, which has lately turned up, that
serves very much to strengthen the suspicion, and which
strongly indicates whereabouts we are. When the papal
government was overturned, in February last, attentive
observers of the scripture prophecies, and of events, said,
"Surely this is the beginning of that vial of wrath (Rev.
"xvi. 10.) which was to be poured upon the seat of the
"beast; if so, we must next expect some movement in
"the east.
The Turkish empire will next be attacked,
"and this, again, be quickly followed by a very general
"coalition among the friends of the dragon, the beast and
"the false prophet; for it is said, immediately after the

pouring out of the vial on the seat of the beast, that the "sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river Euphra"tes, and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of

the kings of the east might be prepared, and which (see"ing that rivers, in the style of the prophets, often stand "for the countries which they water and defend; and

seeing, also, that by the Euphratean horsemen, in chap. "ix. the Turks are intended) must doubtless signify the "calamities which are to bring on the overthrow of the "Ottoman empire. And whereas, on the pouring out of

this vial, it is added, (ver. 13.) And I saw three unclean "spirits like frogs (the symbols of cheats and impostors) "come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth "of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For "they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go "forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, "" to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Al"mighty, it is highly probable that a very general gather"ing together for war, among those whom God is about "to destroy, will quickly follow the commencement of this- vial on the Ottoman empire. We must wait.". With expectation our eyes have been turned towards the

But who could guess the methods of Providence, or conjecture in what particular point the storm would gather? But on July the second, to the astonishment of the world, a French army landed in Fgypt, and a bloody conflict is likely to ensue. That general gathering toge ther of the kings of the earth and of the whole world (that is, the papal and other Antichristian ones) to the battle of that great day of God Almighty, has not yet taken placer Let Britons (if it be possible they can be of this party) beware of interposing, either directly or indirectly, for the preservation of Pope or Turk; let them beware of linking their fate with that of those whom Inspiration has doomed to perish!

But, though the attack which has been made on the Ottoman empire, as immediately following the fall of the papal government,* is a circumstance which excites a suspicion that this is the beginning of the sixth vial of wrath; yet it does not, by itself, and detached from other circumstances, afford sufficient evidence to satisfy the mind that it is certainly so; and we are therefore naturally led to inquire whether there are not other circumstances, connected with this, which, by throwing additional light on the subject, may assist us in forming our opinion? There are, and although I may be mistaken, I think they are of such a nature, and so agree with our hypothesis, as to leave on the mind scarcely the shadow of a doubt. At least this is the effect they produce on my mind. Others must judge for themselves. But, let none pass a judgment without due attention. It is an inquiry which involves matters of the highest importance. Unlike to most of the questions which have been agitated among Chris

* Although the pope, as we have before observed, has been again restored to Rome, and the papal government again revived there, yet every one knows that the pope is now but the puppet of the emperor of the French, who allows him the exercise of just as much authority as may forward his own views, and as long as may be judged useful to his ambitious schemes. All this is perfectly consistent with all the effects ascribed to the fifth vial of wrath. The kingdom of the beast was still to subsist, though to be filled with darkness. The darkness continues to increase, and every light of authority we may expect soon to see extinguished for ever. The events of February, 1798, form a remarkable point in the history of the ruin of the papacy, and from it may be dated the beginning of the pouring out of the fifth vial of wrath upon the seat of the beast but its full effects we are not to expect to see till the seventh and last angel pours out his, and their streams unite (with the other five also) in one irresistible torrent. 2d Ed.

tians, it concerns the fate of nations, and all that is interesting to the Christian church.

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But here let me drop one word of caution to the candid reader. In inquiries about the meaning, and fulfilment, of the sacred prophecies, we are not, from the nature of the subject, to expect unclouded proof, and the utmost possible evidence, no, not even after their fulfilment; for though what Jurieu observes, in his Accomplishment of Scrip. Proph. vol. i. part 2. p. 39. is just, that "there is a particular providence which presides over the under"standing the prophecies, and God would not have them "understood in every age, because this would hinder their "accomplishment; but when they are just ready to be "fulfilled, then God permits them to be penetrated into, "and the things which we see come to pass from day to "day, open men's eyes;" though this observation, I say, is doubtless just, as it respects the general conduct of Providence, in this respect, yet, we are to remember, that the very idea of prophecy is that of a light shining in a dark place. It is objects exhibited through a veil; and such a veil of figurative language, which, even after the accomplishment, must, in some measure, cause obscurity. And, as the bishop of Worcester observes, "Figurative language, from the nature of it, is not so precise and clear, "as literal expressions, even when the event prefigured "has lent its aid to illustrate and explain that language." Let us not then expect unreasonable evidence. It cannot be doubted but that the Author of the Prophecies, for wise purposes, designed to involve them in some obscurity, and that they should not be understood before the proper time of their developement; nor then, but by such as came to the investigation of them with a proper disposition of mind; and who should be willing to bestow upon them considerable attention. Our business, then, is to inquire, not whether there be unclouded proof of the fulfilment of those prophecies, which come under our examination, by such and such events; but whether, on a candid comparison of events with these prophecies, there be any reasonable ground to conclude that there is any real, though not unclouded evidence, of their completion. If the application of events to prophecies be forced and fanciful, and not built upon any rational and certain principles, then, of course, all men of sense will reject such

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• Introduction to the Study of the Prophecies, vol. i. p. 82.

applications; but if an agreement be made out on the well-known principles of prophecy, and without the least violence being offered to the style in which they are delivered, then men of sense and piety will, undoubtedly, be disposed to open their minds to conviction. Let us commence our inquiry.

I. If the war which is commenced against the Turks be that attack on the Ottoman tyranny which is to terminate -whether immediately or in its ultimate consequencesin its overthrow, as the circumstance of its directly following the fall of the papal government seems to intimate; that is, if this be the beginning of the sixth vial of wrath (Rev. xvi. 12 ) then it follows that the seventh angel (Rev. x. 7. xi. xv.) who brings the third woe, has sounded his trumpet; for, as we have heretofore shewn, all these seven last plagues, which are destined for the overthrow of the Antichristian church and kingdoms, are comprehended under this trumpet, and are the judgments which

it is to introduce. But before we can be assured that this woe is commenced, we must have proof of the accomplishment of several other prophecies which precede it ; particularly five. The 1260 years, during which the saints of the Most High were to be given into the hands of the little horn (the papal tyranny) and this monster was to practise and prosper, to open his mouth in blasphemy against God, and make war with the saints, must be brought to a conclusion. Dan. vii. 25. xii. 7. Rev. xi. 3. xiii. 5.-The second woe must also have been brought to a termination. Rev. xi. 14.-The seven thunders must have uttered their voices. Rev. x. 3-7.-The slaying of the witnesses must be past. Rev. xi. 7.-And lastly, the tenth part of the city must have fallen, and the circumstances attending it must have taken place. Rev. xi. 11—13. Our business is to examine whether there be any reasonable grounds for concluding that these prophecies have had their accomplishment?

For the arguments which go to prove that these predictions have had their fulfilment, I must refer the reader, if they have slipt his memory, to those pages where we have investigated these subjects at some considerable length; for it would occasion an unreasonable prolixity to repeat them at much length here. I shall suppose the reader, then, to have attentively considered what has already been advanced. And to all but attentive readers these

subjects must for ever remain, not only enveloped in obscurity, but in utter darkness.

First, The Papal tyranny, as we have seen, was to continue, or rather prosper, for 1260 years. The question is, from what time, or from what event, in the history of this tyranny, are these years to be calculated? Learned commentators, not waiting for their close, have differed ; some fixing their commencement earlier, and others later. According to several they should have terminated early in the present century, or about the middle of it. Some lived to see themselves disappointed; no events turning up to justify their conclusion. And it appears to me that this question is attended with so many difficulties, that it is not possible for any one to say, with any degree of certainty, from what time, or event, God was pleased to reckon these 1260 years, till their accomplishment points it out. But, if we wait till the Papacy be overthrown, or, till some great calamity befals it, which immediately leads to this event, by throwing the whole Babylonish kingdom into confusion; and then, on reckoning back 1260 years, find ourselves cast upon some very important event in the history of religious corruption, usurpation, and tyranny, every reasonable man must acknowledge, that from this time these years are, most likely, to be dated. Now let the reader judge, whether the publication of Justinian's Code, the strong-hold of all ecclesiatical usurpation, and of his edict, containing his confession of faith, which made it confiscation of goods, forfeiture of the dearest civil rights, banishment and death, to dissent from the faith prescribed, and which was approved by Pope John, and with other matters favourable to religious tyranny, inserted into the code of imperial laws, and which has been the model followed by all persecuting governments since; let the reader, I say, judge whether these events, which fell out between the years 529 and 534, are not of sufficient importance to justify the supposition that from this period the 1260 years reign of the papal beast might be reckoned; especially if the French revolution, and its actual and probable consequences, be taken into consideration.

The second important prophecy, of the fulfilment of which we must have proof, before we can conclude the seventh angel to have sounded, is that which respects the second woe in Rev. ix. The reader, I hope, has imparti

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