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ifing regenerating grace to finners, because it promifes grace, and the exercifes of divine power, to train up thofe for heaven, who attend to means in a manner which the unregenerate never do! Nothing can be inferred in favor of unregenerate exercises, as connecting with regenerating grace, from promifes of grace and of the interpofition of divine power being connected with perfonal exercifes; for thofe perfonal exercises are peculiar to the regenerate; and the bleffings promised, are abfolutely neceffary to their being trained up for falva tion. An attendance on means, in a peculiar and qualified fenfe, being connected with, and abfolutely neceffary to complete falvation, is perfectly confiftent with there being no promifes to or connection, between regeneration and the doings of the unregenerate.

TH

EUSEBIUS.

An attempt to establish the literal fenfe of the prediction relating to the army and deftruction of Gog, recorded in the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth chapters of Ezekiel. HE arguments of Benevolus to to prove the future glory of the Jewish nation, are judiciously noted and arranged. If the fcripture prophecies adduced by him to prove that they will return to the inheritance of their fathers, are to be understood literally, the argument for this important event, is equally conclufive. If the prediction relating to the army and deftruction of Gog, recorded in the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth chapters of Ezekiel, can be fhewn to require a literal fenfe, the meaning of the other prophecies brought for this end will not be difputed.

For this purpose the following obfervations are fubmitted.

• Connecticut Magazine, No. 3, 4,5.

1. We are to understand scripture prophecy in a plain and literal fenfe, unless there is an obvious reafon to apply it figuratively; which reafon will not apply to language in general.

The primary and common fig. nification of words will always be literal. A metaphorical fenfe is introduced from a fuppofed likenefs in the subject to something already named, and from the inconvenience attending the invention and ufe of new words. Thence we must take words in their literal fenfe, unless a particular reason offer for a departure from it.

But no reafon can be given for departing from the literal sense in fixing the meaning of this prophecy. It is confiftent, intelligible, and agreeable to the analogy of faith. It predicts an event, credible in itself, agreeable to the ftate of human nature, of fociety, and of the Jewish nation at the time expreffed in the prediction, and the final iffue, in the destruction of Gog, is agreeable to the analogy of divine difpenfations, and the general fcheme of divine government, in difappointing the devices the enemies of the Church; just of the wicked, and overthrowing when they feem to be feizing their prey, and ready to triumph in their fuccefs.

2. This prophecy, in a literal conftruction, is harmonious in all its parts, with itself, with history, and with other fcripture prophecy.

Agreeably to the general opin ion of expofitors, I fuppofe Gog, or Magog, the son of Japheth, to be the ancestor of the ancient Scy. thians, and that from those laft defcended the Ottoman race, o the Turks; who in this predic tion, as is common, are name from their ancestor. Confeque a ly, the name of Gog, with o

defcendants of Noah by Japheth, in this prediction, reprefents the Ottoman power with its connections of allied and conquered nations.

to the confirmation of their faith in it.

Being affured that Jefus of Nazareth is their promifed Messiah, and perceiving the providential preparation for their return, in the state of the land of their ancestorstheir movable property, and commodious fituation, they will judge the time of their long defired return to be arrived, and confiding in the guidance and protection of their God and Redeemer, while they

The land of Ifrael has, for ages, been poffeffed by the Turks. But from the oppreffion of the government, and from other caufes, it is thinly inhabited, in a fenfe defolate, and comparatively barren. The Turkish empire has been de clining already for more than a century; and from fcripture proph-follow the dictates of his word and

ecy, as well as from other fources of evidence, we are taught to expect its overthrow, about the time of the fall of the papal hierarchy, the converfion of the Jews, and commencement of the happy millennium.

er.

Previous to this event it will, probably, be reduced much below its prefent ftate of wealth and powIn confequence of this, its diftant provinces will be reduced to a more defenceless state than at prefent, and be in na condition to oppofe an invading army; and will probably have no inclination to prevent the fettlement of a people among them who come in a peaceable manner.

The Jews are well known to entertain the ftrongest expectation of a return to the inheritance of their fathers, when their Meffiah fhall appear.

For this reafon in particular, they place their interest in money and other property, easily removable, and but very little in houfes and lands; and inhabit in great trading towns and feaport places, from whence they can remove themfelves and their property to Paleftine, with the greatest convenience, and on the shortest notice

Admitting that fcripture prophecy really infures this event, their converfion to Chriftianity will tend

Providence, they will haffen their return to the land of their fathers; and," The ranfomed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with fongs, and everlasting joy upon their heads, they fhall obtain joy and gladnefs, and forrow and fighing fhall flee away."

poffefs very great wealth in money The Jews are well known to and movables. This they will carry with them; as they are very numerous, they will bring immenfe could be collected in the richest wealth, much more, probably, than empire upon earth.

As they are a people unused to war, and will go under the efpecial protection of their Redeemer, they will not poffefs the common means of defence against an invading enemy.

The Turkish government, redu. ced by that time, as we may reasonably expect, to extreme neceffity, and acquainted with the wealth, and, apparently, defenceless flate of the Jews, whom it will confider as intruders on its dominions, may be reafonably expected to exert its utmoft ftrength in a moft ftrenuous effort to cut off the whole nation, and poffefs their property, and by this means to regain its ancient grandeur.

To effect this a numerous army

must be raised and vaft preparations made.

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The prediction before us in its literal conftruction, exactly agrees to this view, in every particular, and affures us, that when the army of Gog has entered the land of Ifrael, 66 to take the prey and fpoil," divine providence fhall appear for the prefervation of God's people, and the army thall fall and perish upon the mountains of Ifrael," and "the Lord will, furely, fet his glory among the heathen, and all the heathen fhall fee his judgment which he hath executed, and his hand which he hath laid upon them. And the houfe of Ifrael fhall know that he is the Lord their God, from that day and forward."* Can ftronger evidence, in favor of the literal construction of fcripture prophecy, be defired than appears in the pref. ent cafe?

3. Should it be fuppofed, after all, that the prediction before us refpects the conflict of the redeemed church with its enemies and victory over them, which fhall introduce the happy millennium of its profperity; the application of it which we have adopted will be rather confirmed than otherwise.

It is a well known truth, which the careful and intelligent students of fcripture prophecy muft have noticed, that the divine predictions refpecting the profperous and adverse events relating to the redeemed church, are not predictions of one event, exclufively, but of a feries of events of one kind.

This obfervation is fupported by most of the divine predictions in the holy fcriptures, refpecting the Church.

The first intimation of divine mercy, to apoftate man, is of this

• Ezekiel xxxix. 21, 22.

import. "I will put enmity," faid the Lord, to the Serpent, "between thee and the woman, and between thy feed and her feed. It fhall bruife thy head, and thou fhalt bruife his heel." This prediction evidently refpects the whole series of events in the conflict, between Chrift and Satan, and the final victory of the Redeemer.

The prophecy of Enoch, preferved by Jude, must be understood in like manner. The deftruction of the old world by the deluge, was, undoubtedly the primary fubject of this prediction. Jude applies it to the apoftates of his own time, and no one will question its ultimate refpect to the general judgment.

The fame obfervation applies to the predictions mentioned in the preceding article, and to many others. The prophetic defcription given by our divine Saviour in the 24th chapter of Matthew, is to be thus explained.

The deftruction of Jerufalem and the Jewish ftate, by the Romans, with its antecedents and concomitants, is clearly the primary fubject of prophecy. But whoever hesitated to admit that the awful events of the laft great day, are ultimately defigned?

Elucidations of the argument might be multiplied, but thefe, it is apprehended are fufficient. In every view of the fubject, additional evidence appears in favor of the future glory of the Jewish nation.

CONCLUSION.

1. The literal construction of this divine prediction is eminently adapted to confirm our faith in the truth and divinity ofthe holy fcrip

tures.

† Gen. iii. 15. ‡ Jude 14, 15.

The Apostle Paul seems to confider thefe fucceffive changes in the difpenfation of grace, to Jews and Gentiles, as a most edifying difplay of divine fovereignty, and clofes his difcourfe on the subject with this adoring exclamation, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfearchable are his judgments and his ways paft finding out!"*

When the events predicted fhall | ple to fhew forth his praise, and be accomplished, it will appear accomplishing in them, the many with abundant evidence, that God gracious promises made to their fahas" remembered his covenant thers. with Abraham," and that he hath not failed in any of the good things of which he hath spoken concerning Ifrael, but all are come to pafs. This event will be confpicuous to the Gentile nations, in all parts of the world. As the Jews are difperfed over the earth in places of commerce, and the greatest intercourse of society, their converfion to Chriftianity, and removal to the land of their fathers will be events of the most extenfive notoriety; and the wonderful deliverance from the power of their encmies after their arrival, will undoubtedly be the fubject of information and wonder to all nations.

2. The fovereign power and grace of God will be eminently difplayed in this event.

After the prevalence of idolatry in the world, God chofe the anceftor of the Jews to himself, with a view to preserve and perpetuate the true religion in his family, till the appearance of the promifed feed, and of this family, as concerning the flesh, Chrift came.

By the time of his incarnation, the Jews had generally become greatly corrupted in their principles and practice, and oppofed his mediatorial character and work, and thus rejected the counfel of God against themselves.

They were then forfaken of God, and the falvation of the gofpel was given to the Gentiles. The long abufe of gofpel grace by us Gentiles, and our prefent increafing oppofition to the divine Saviour, are preparing the way for the fovereign power and grace of God to be eminently difplayed in recalling the long forfaken children of Abraham, and making them a peo

In reviewing the wonders of redeeming grace as fet forth in thofe divine prophecies, let us unite with this holy Apostle, and all the redeemed from among men in thankful acknowledgments to the fountain of mercy, and prefent our humble fupplications, that he will foon appear in his glory to build up Zion.

Some thoughts and obfervations on the Prophecy of St. Paul, 2 Tim. iii. 1—9.

Ta time when great events

AT

are taking place in the world, and the minds of men are greatly agitated about the iffue, and what will be the confequence of fo much exertion, to establish oppofite interefts; it is natural to enquire for light and inftruction in fo critical a period, and to wifh to know as far as poffible how far and to what height the evil is to extend. The holy fcriptures are the only fource of truth and information in fuch cafes; in that facred volume of truth are found many declarations and prophecies refpecting things that were to come to pafs among which the prophecies of St. Paul hold a

Rom. xi. 33.

diftinguished place. I would take particular notice of that in his fecond letter to Timothy chapter 3d. from the beginning to the 9th verfe, where the Apoftle fays,

order, government and law, civil and divine. The things that feem to be implied in the prophecy that will make times perilous, are the increased numbers of fuch characters, aad the formidable appearance they will make, in the union and combinations, that will take place among them; the degree of power they will affume and put on, and the unceasing exertions they will make, to carry their defigns into effect. These things are peculiar to the prefent time.

"This know alfo, that in the last 'days perilous times fhall come. For men fhall be lovers of their ' ownselves, covetous, boafters, proud, blafphemers, difobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ' without natural affection, truce breakers, falfe accufers, incontiment, fierce, defpifers of thofe that are good, traitors, heady, 'highminded, lovers of pleafures 'more than lovers of God; ha'ving a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof; from 'fuch turn away. For of this fort ' are they which creep into houses, and lead captive filly women la'den with fins, led away with di-pear to increase and grow more and

The characters delineated by the apoftle are now on the stage in Europe, have increased in numbers and power to an astonishing degree, and are well known to be influenced by all thofe pernicious principles which form fuch characters as the apoftle defcribes. They ap

' vers lufts, ever learning and nev- more formidable, and their baneer able to come to the knowledge ful influence has spread almost of the truth. Now as Jan- throughout the whole world, and 'nes and Jambres withstood Mofes feems to threaten the total defo do these alfo refift the truth: struction of all religion, law and 'men of corrupt minds, reprobate government. We in this country concerning the faith; but they are greatly alarmed and threatened 'fhall proceed no farther; for their by the progrefs that men of licenfolly fhall be manifeft unto all mentious characters make among us as theirs alfo was." whofe aim appears to be to fubvert all the foundations of fociety, to break every human tie and let eve

is to be indulged to the highest degree; covetoufnefs alfo is to reign uncontroled; boasting is to be free in every one's mouth; pride is to have its full run; blafphemy too may be freely uttered by any man; children may then disobey their parents; gratitude for benefits received is then not to be binding; impurities of all kinds are to be indulged, for in such a state of liber

Upon this prophecy the following obfervations are fubmitted to confideration, viz. that the prefentry man act as he pleafes. Self-love day is the particular period pointed out in the prophecy, as it bears every mark and ftamp of it, with the greatest exactnefs; none but the true fpirit of prophecy could have fo perfectly defcribed it. It may be faid that fuch characters have always been in the world, in every period of it; but it may be replied, that the times, on that account, have not been confidered as uncommonly perilous, as fuchty men have been checked and controled by ruling authorities, fo as not to threaten the fubversion of all

there is to be no holiness among men; natural affections are to be done away, which now are a check upon the burning lufts of fome;

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