PREFACE. THE HE Author of the following Effay does not apologize for his appearing in public, by pretending thefe common excufes, the importunity of friends, or the fear of having his fentiments mifreprefented; but, as he is a Proteftant, and free Briton, he judges it his duty to contribute his mite for promoting the public good, and honeftly declares, that the following are the genuine reafons of publishing his hypothefis. J. To incite others who have more time, and greater advantages, to a more accurate ftudy of the pro. phetical ftile, and of the hiftory of the Chriftian church, that fo, that much neglected book of the Revelation may be refcued from contempt; and that a new and ftriking argument of the truth of Christianity, and of the over-ruling providence of God, may be laid before the world: Which he fuppofes may be done to great advantage by men of true judgement, learning, and piety; as he is fully convinced, that this facred book contains in it all the grand revolutions of the Chriftian church, from the apoftles time to the prefent, and from this to the end of the world; the unfolding of which, in a diftinct and regular manner, at least to the present times, would not fail to give a glorious difplay of the divine perfections, and poffibly might be a key to the disclosing of many future and interefting events. II. To ftir up all ranks to a serious reformation of heart and life. Since God feems to be bringing about about fome great revolution in the world, and that fuddenly; and that he always measures out his mercies or judgements to nations and kingdoms according to their moral or fpiritual ftate; this awful confideration fhould engage each of us to humble ourselves before God, to put away the evil of our doings from before his eyes, and to bring forth fruit meet for repentance. Surely, if we have a juft regard to ourselves, to our country, and pofterity, if we fincerely wish well to the proteflant intereft both at home and abroad, this will be our practice. However bad we are at prefent, yet it is hoped there are many good perfons amongst us; and if, upon this occafion, they fhould vigorously exert themselves according to their influence and opportunities, great and good effects, through God's bleffing, might be expected. III. To engage all ferious and well difpofed people to be frequent and fervent in their prayers to almighty God, that, by his over-ruling providence, the delufions of Mahomet, the tyranny, fuperftition, and idolatry of the church of Rome, may be perfectly abolished, and that the Chriftian religion, in its purity, fpirituality, and efficacy, may be diffeminated to the moft diftant corners of the world. When God's judgments are abroad in the earth, and public matters are feemingly drawing nigh to fome remarkable criiis, the faints fhould not be filent. Never was there any fignal deliverance granted, nor any fpecial bleffing conferred, without the fervent prayers of his people. But poffibly it may be faid, If God had defigned to reveal the ftate of the Chriftian church, and all its grand revolutions from the apoftle John's time to the end of the world, then it might have been expected that he would have published this reve lation in a clear and intelligible ftile, and not have wrapt it up in fuch dark and mysterious phrases, which, even after the fuppofed accomplishment, the learned and judicious can fcarcely unravel, and muft be a fealed and ufelefs book to the bulk of mankind: And fince an infinitely wife and good God muft, by every revelation of his will, have always fome end in view, worthy of himself, and conducive to the happinefs of his creatures; and, as no fuch important end appears to be ferved by this; therefore it is highly probable that the Apocalypfe is not of divine inspiration. But the objectors ought to confider, that, befides the evidence whereby the infpiration of this book is equally proved with that of the other books of the New Teftament, there were two important ends to be gained by this manner of revelation. 1, That thereby we have an occafion offered, to exercise our mental faculties in the fearch of truth, about the most glorious objects in the universe, namely, the divine perfections, and the fu perintending providence of God, which, when difcovered, cannot fail to awaken every pious fentiment in well-difpofed minds. Whereas, if this revelation had been plain and obvious, our knowledge of these things would have been as natural as refpiration. And it is evident, that, in this prefent ftate of the church, where there is no difficulty in the acquiring, there is commonly as little value set upon the enjoyment; and therefore, as they are pronounced bleffed who read this book, fo this bleffing is not prostituted to the lazy and indolent, but beftowed as the reward of industry and application. edly 2dly, If God had revealed the future various re volutions of the church in a perfpicuous manner, then human liberty, or the freedom of the will, would have been greatly limited; fo that there could not have been fuch a proper trial of the worth of human actions as in the prefent cafe. For example, If God had in fo many words pointed out the church of Rome to be the fpiritual Babylon of the Apocalypfe, Who then would have chofen to continue in her communion? or wherein would the remarkable virtue of our reformers have appeared? Befides, fuch a clear revelation, without a conftant fucceffion of miracles, would have prevented the accomplishment. This is plain from the behaviour of king Herod, who being informed by the eaftern Magi of the birth of the Meffiah, and by the chief priests of the Jews, that he was to be born at Bethlehem, would have put him to death, if this had not been prevented by the miflion of an angel to Jofeph, or fome fuch miraculous interpofition. Upon these accounts, it was infinitely worthy of God, to give us fuch a revelation as we have by the apostle John; whereby he hath dealt with us exactly according to our nature and condition, neither encroaching upon our liberty, nor fuperfeding our diligence, but giving us both a proper trial, and a proper exercife. Though, after all, we have reafon to think, nay, we may certainly believe it, that againft, or immediately before, the happy millennium, when this fort of trial fhall be finished, every cloud of myftery fhall then be scattered, and this revelation, in all its parts, will be perfectly understood; and, fince the fcene begins to open more and more, we have ground ground to conclude that thefe happy days are at no great diftance. I find, indeed, that fome pious per fons, who greatly with the speedy accomplishment of the events mentioned in the effay, are of opinion that they must be at a great diftance; because they imagine it to be highly improbable that fuch events fhould take place in an age fo much funk into infidelity and wickedness. But here I would obferve, that, ever fince miracles ceased, men have been fo much accustomed to look to outward appearances, that they have often forgot the power of God. Even Mofes at the Red fea defired the people to ftand ftill,' untill God fhould open a paffage for them; but the Lord faid unto Mofes, Wherefore crieft thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Ifracl, that they go forward.' The infidelity and wickedness of this age is, no doubt, very great; but, whileft a freedom of inquiry is allowed, and the voice of reafon may be heard, they cannot be deemed fuch great obftacles to the fuccefs of the gospel, as the fpiritual tyranny and idolatry which univerfally prevailed before the reformation. It was then death to affert the truth. But, on the other hand, it must be allowed, that the prevalence of deism and fcepticism, hath, by the over-ruling providence of God, occafioned the nobleft defences of natural and revealed religion that have appeared fince the days of the apoftles. And it highly deferves our ferious attention, that in no part of the apocalypfe is deifm pointed out as a caufe of the fubverfion of true religion, or of the oppreffion of God's people. These are wholly afcribed to papal tyranny and idolatry. And as there is reafon to think, that the propenfion of the age to deiim, arifes not from any fettled principles, but from the love of vice; fọ it is highly probable that public danger, and fomewhat of the difcipline of the rod (which indeed we have ground to expect) will incline men to fober and |