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on this head; and whilst I aim to establish | days? But he spake of the temple of his

my premises, I may, peradventure, e able to show, that it is better NOT to let the prophecies alone that ALL are encouraged and enjoined to scrutinize the wonders they contain and that, therefore, to leave them alone is an omission of duty culpable in any christian.

In every region of the inhabited globe, the mind of man invariably exhibits a restless solicitude to catch every token that seems to impart a ray of the future: and can the most inveterate of human beings, for a moment, presume to argue that this innate desire would have been so universally and so strongly implanted, had no means been suffered to communicate occasional alleviation and instruction? The Author of that propensity has, then, so provided, that the times which hover over the earth shall not flash upon it without their previous signs and warnings.

By means of appropriate emblems and enigmas, the prophets were commissioned to declare what important changes should affect the progress of Christianity, from its origin to the end of the world. The signs also by which such revolutions were to be prefigured have been divinely communicated and the pure precepts of religion energetically urge an inquisitive care concerning things to come; constantly admonishing us, in language the most familiar, to incessant watchfulness, as faithful servants, for the return of an absent master. But as in some there may be latent scruples with respect to the extent of scrutiny that may be indulged in these speculations, without danger of trespassing upon the province of Omniscience-and as it may be apprehended that the scriptures contain counterclauses to prohibit us from delving into these sacred mysteries, I shall endeavour, by some brief extracts from the inspired writers, and by a few consequent observations, to show how we are fully authorized to proceed therein to any limit to which our faculties are capable of arriving, without risking the offence of Heaven, or without any danger of exceeding human privilege.

body. When, therefore, he was risen from the dead, his disciples REMEMBERED that he had said THIS unto them; and they BELIEVED the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."*

In the midst of those reflections which a case so wonderful is calculated to excite, you will, my good cousin, I am sure, have seen, that the peculiar circumstances of his own death and resurrection, as foretold by Christ, involved matters far too deep for human comprehension. That life once extinguished by shedding the vital fluid, should again return to quicken the same body, was so contrary to nature, and so outstretching to the philosophy of man, that the disciples themselves, notwithstanding they had been previously endued with the gift of prophecy, and with the power of working miracles, could not reconcile it with possibility, upon the authority even of that fore-knowledge which had most unequivocally declared it: but when they saw the prediction confirmed with such precision, both as to circumstance and time, THEY BELIEVED!

Instances innumerable might be adduced of the power of prophecy in captivating the mind: but enough has, I trust, been advanced, to prove that the anticipation of the future is a most essential auxiliary to the promotion of religion in the mind: and that, therefore, it is to be highly regarded and closely looked into by ALL those whose religion is sincere. But, in order to answer certain scruples that may be supposed to interrupt the proper influence of the prophetic writings, I shall proceed to prove, that it is most becoming and conformable to Scripture to employ all the energy of soul with which we may be blessed, in canvassing and applying the signification of these mysterious records: and, to persuade the world that they are dangerous courses to enter upon, will, I expect, be seen to be both unjust and unholy.

I set out on this part of my argument with the persuasion, that "WHATSOEVER things My first object will be, to produce such an were written AFORETIME were written for our instance as, in my opinion, contains in itself learning, that we through patience, and comsufficient testimony of the special efficacy of fort of the scriptures MIGHT HAVE HOPE." prophecy in convicting the mind of man with These words are plain, and can only be taken regard to the validity of the christian co-literally. We are told in them the use and end venant. St. John writes that the Jews, discoursing with Jesus, said unto him, "What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in

of the whole scripture; and they constrain us to believe that every part is for our study.

Chap. ii. 18, St. Luke xxiv. 6, ix. 22, St. Mark ix. 31, St. Matt. xvii. 22, and many other texts.

+ Rom. xv. 4, (on whom the ends of the

In the next place I observe, that it is related by St. Luke, that at their final interview, a few moments previous to their receiving the parting blessing of their Lord, the disciples were assured from his lips, "That ALL things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms concerning him. Then opened he their understandings that they might understand the scriptures." And the same Evangelist has, in another place, most familiarly and amply shown how every one, who is desirous to have his understanding thus opened may obtain the same divine favour. "Which of you?" said Christ to his disciples "shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he from within shall answer and say, 'Trouble me not the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.' I say unto you, though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity will he rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, ASK, and it shall be given YOU; SEEK and YE shall find; KNOCK, and it shall be opened unto YOU. For EVERY ONE that ASKETH RECEIVETH; and HE that SEEKETH FINDETH; and to HIM that KNOCKETH IT SHALL BE OPENED. If A SON shall ask BREAD of any of you that is a FATHER will HE give him A STONE? Or, if HE ask a fish, will HE for A FISH give him A SERPENT? Or if HE shall ask AN EGG will he offer him A SCORPION? If YE then, being evil, know how to offer good gifts to YOUR CHILDREN, how much more shall YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER give the HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM that ASK HIM!" Those who wish to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, are, I think, plainly enough told how it may be obtained: and the efficacy of it is, I think, as plainly set forth by the same divine authority; "Howbeit," said Jesus, at another time, to his disciples, "when HE, the Spirit of Truth is come, BE will guide you into ALL TRUTH-and HE will SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME."‡ No comment on simple words such as these can be required; all therefore that I request is, as you' read them, and digest them, remember well WHO spoke them. St. Paul, 1 recollect too, speaking upon the same subject,

* Luke xxiv. 44.

+ Luke xi. 5. Mat. vii. 7. St. John, xvi. 13.

hath told us that God by his Spirit hath revealed things which the eye hath not seen, nor the ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived; for THE SPIRIT searcheth ALL THINGS; yea, THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD! And in order to determine whether the searching of which the apostle speaks is a free privilege of Christianity, it is only necessary to look at the continuation of his discourse. "But the natural man," says he, "knoweth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."+ The lesson conveyed by which severe reproach is, That not to strive to know as much of the mysteries of God as our faculties, piously employed, are able to reach, is to live in that unregenerate state, which renders us unworthy of the Gospel communion.

To some who enter very superficially upon these subjects it may appear that the operations of the Holy Spirit were confined to Christ's ministry, and that of his chosen apostles and disciples-that, moreover, some very extraordinary stroke of divine inspiration must be experienced-or, that a person must work himself into a state of holiness greater than human nature is really capable of admitting, before the study of the holy mysteries can be attended with success: but such ideas appear to me altogether fallacious and irrational. Our natural capacities are, to be sure, very contracted and defective; but how they are to be enlarged and improved has been taught from authority that none can dispute: and therefore diffidence, which is the very first step to true discipleship, ought not to deter any one from exercising his soul in researches so congenial, so exalted, so interesting. It is, nevertheless, quite necessary to proceed with pure humility ---to stifle all self-conceit when subjects of such dazzling magnificence engage our thoughts---and to subdue every disposition to impute to human penetration a species of knowledge which can only be derived by the means of spiritual favour.

As the scriptural signification of the term "disciple" may be considered to imply something super-human, I shall attempt to rectify so false an idea wherever it may exist. The inquiry necessary for this purpose, will likewise afford me an opportunity of reconciling a contradiction concerning the qualifications of discipleship which appears in our transla tion of the Gospels.

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Let us first recollect that though, from amongst his disciples, those twelve which were chosen to apostleships, were particularly honoured as the immediate companions of Christ, and certainly the best instructed of his followers, yet there was no reserve on the part of our Saviour towards any of the multitude of proselytes which surrounded him, as we find by his commissioning seventy disciples at once "to go forth into every city and place."

With regard to the standard of true discipleship, St. John, it appears, gives these as Christ's words; "By THIS shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have LOVE one to another :"+ and our version of St. Luke makes Christ to have said, If any man come to me, and HATE not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he CANNOT BE my disciple.

Now do you, Sir Willon, think that any common reader could take these two passages as they stand in the English Testament without uneasy feelings?-By one, moral love is the declared test of a Christian; by the other moral hate. But love, or benevolence, or charity- that affection of the heart which is diametrically opposed to hate, is, throughout the Code of Salvation, declared to be its primary essence. Hate has the most malignant sense attached to it, and admits of no qualification. The verb po is not so limited in its construction, but may be comparatively used to signify a different degree of love or regard; ou o might just as faithfully be expressed by the phrases love not less, or regard not less, as by the unchristian word hate. Rendered thus, it would read, "If any man come to me, and love not his father, and mother, &c. less than me, he cannot be my disciple." Here the Author of the New Covenant, placing before his followers the most engaging mirror of affection, declares that love more fervent yet, than that displayed, must pervade the hearts of his disciples; in which demand there is nothing to embarrass human nature: for all worthy Christians are, I believe, agreed, that God has the highest claim upon their hearts: and that the pathos suffused over the soul by pure religion is of a quality more refined than the most genuine and tender zeal of natural love. Admitting the construction here proposed, the seeming contradiction becomes reconciled, and the terms of initiation to discipleship appear satisfactorily defined.

A disciple then, is no supernatural being,

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but one subject to all human infirmitles, yet ready to accept the gospel, as the basis of his creed, and the surety of his hopes-that is to say, a voluntary and steady scholar of Christ. In short, the appellations Disciple and Christian are the same, for we are informed that "the Disciples were first called Christians at Antioch" in the Apostolic age.

Having had occasion to notice the foregoing perplexity caused by our translators, I cannot omit to express my hope of soon seeing a judicious revision of the English New Testament, persuaded, as I feel, that the prevalence of infidelity, so deeply to be lamented, is chiefly owing to the errors in our versions: and I hope to hear of many of those great men disposed to incredulity on account of finding here and there a text bordering on paradox, becoming less and less rigid, on finding so many stumbling blocks removed by the labours of Mr. Bellamy, who has applied a rational, and I believe a right construction to numerous passages, hitherto unintel|ligible, of the Old Testament.

The points already proved, you will recollect, are, First, That prophecy is a most invincible ally of the gospel. Secondly, That Christ himself urges us to entreat for such a portion of divine influence as may enable us to prosecute all our reasonable inquiries concerning things to come. Thirdly, That it is enormous to imagine that a few of the primitive disciples were exclusively endued with spiritual favour, for that EVERY ONE that devoutly asketh, RECEIVETH. And Fourthly, That the immediate attendants upon Christ, and the real disciples of the Gospel now-adays, are not to be considered in any respect different beings: for though the visible presence of their Lord, and being eye-witnesses of his manifold miracles, must have operated to effect sudden and numerous conversions; yet a sober study of the evangelical and apostolical records, is capable of producing in any supple and ingenuous mind equal emotion and equal faith.-These are the points that it has been thought necessary to discuss, preparatory to a review of such of the scripture prophecies as remain yet to be fulfilled; and having dispensed with preliminary questions, I shall conclude my preamble, by recalling to your recollection the following passages from St. Paul.+ "But the manifestation of the Spirit," says the apostle, "is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to an

* Acts xi. 26.

world by the diffusion of the Gospel.Rev. x.

other, the word of knowledge by the same | Seventhly, The illumination of the whole spirit; to another, faith, by the same spirit ; to another, the gifts of healing by the same spirit; to another, working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the discerning of spirits, (spiritual things;) to another, divers kinds of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues. But all these worketh that ONE and the SELF-SAME SPIRIT, dividing to every man severally as he will." Therefore, with the emphasis of the apostle, I say, DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS, AND QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT !

In any remarks that I have made, or may have occasion to make, disclaiming so much

Eighthly, The perpetual subjugation of the Infidel king and his host.-Daniel xi. 36. Ninthly, The gathering of the Jews; their peaceful occupation of the Holy Land, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.-Deut. xxx. 3. Isaiah xi. 11. Ezek. xx.; xxxiv. ; xxxvii xl. to the end, Psal. cxlvii. 2, and numerous other places.

Tenthly, The Millenium; or, a long reign of peace, by means of the universality of Gospel discipline.-Dan. vii. 27. Acts iii. 18. Rev. xx.; &c.

his own immortal magnificence and power,
to call the dead from their graves to judg-
ment with the living.-Dan. vii. 13. Matt.
xxiv. 29. John v. Mark xiii. 26.
xxi. 25. Acts x. 1 Cor. xv. Rev. xiv.
14, &c.

Luke

as an allusion to impostors of every denomi-Eleventhly, The second coming of Christ in nation, whether magicians, soothsayers, sorcerers, enchanters, witches, wizards, necromancers, dealers in familiar spirits, or any kind of diabolical art or incantation whatsoever, yea, and those prophets who daub the walls with untempered mortar, leaving them to be dealt with according to the curse that has been denounced against them, I come now to observe whatevents, amongst those predicted in scripture, remain yet to be fulfilled —what signs were to indicate their approach -and to compare the Second Vision of Daniel with the reign of the Ottomans, and the present conflicts in Turkey.

The visitations still impending, which seem to have been strikingly predicted in the Books of the Holy Seers, are First, The total annihilation of Ecclesiastical Despotism, Spiritual hypocrisy, and heretical doctrine throughout all nations, -Dan. xi. 2 Thes. ii. Rev. xiii. &c. Secondly, The fulfilling of the times of the Gentiles, or that maturing of the conversion of all Ethnic nations which is fore-ordained. -Isaiah xi.; lx.; lxv. Luke xxi. 24. Rom. xi. 25. Rev. vii. 9, &c. Thirdly, The entire overthrow which the Ottoman empire, and all Mohammedan nations, are destined to experience.-Dan. viii. Obadiah, &c.

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Fourthly, The effectual extermination of the vast armies of Gog and Magog, probably of Russia, Prussia, and some other northern nations.-Ezek. xxxviii. xxxix. Fifthly, The universal extinction of all those several powers which will combine to arrest the replanting of the kingdom of Israel. Joel iii. Isaiah xxxiv. Ezek. xxxix. 17. Rev. xix. &c.

Sixthly, The fate of Great Britain probably typified by the prophetic threatenings which foretold the downfall of ancient Tyre. Ezek. xxvii, xxviii.

. Ezek. xiii.

Twelfthly, The release of Satan, after the
Millenium, with power to deceive and ex-
cite many nations to wage war with the
Christian hosts.-Rev. xx.

Thirteenthly, The total dissolution of the
whole system of nature, and conflagration
of the earth.- Isaiah li. 6. 2 Pet. iii. 10.
Rev. x. 6; xx. 11 ; &c.

Though I may have enumerated these as the events to which we are now looking forward, yet is the catalogue, no doubt, very imperfect; and it is not to be supposed that the events and scenes are to succeed one another in the order in which they are here numbered, Some of them seem now to be in progress; and, from all the means afforded us of judging, the time is near when most of them are to be forthcoming. It is fallacious to suppose that one is to terminate before another commences, in all cases; and many may be in progress at the same time. Scripture points to the latter days as the period of all of them; and we are constantly admonished TO WATCH! -to watch for certain signs and tokens which are to appear; and to be received, as SIGNALS of the LATTER DAYS. The command to Daniel was, "Shut up the words and seal the book, even to the TIME OF THE END! many shall run to and fro, and KNOWLEDGE shall be ENCREASED-none of the wicked shall understand, but THE WISE shall understand.”

By the increase then of religious knowledge, some, as the times of fulfilment approach, will be permitted to remove the mysterious veilings and to decypher the full application of these profound enigmas. Solutions of many obscure allusions have already

Dan. xii.-410.

been effected by the pious labours of lord
Napier, Dr. More, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Hales,
sir Isaac Newton, Bishop Newton, Faber,
Clarke, Bicheno, and others; and as every
day draws nearer to the reality, so is the al-
legorical raiment gradually taken off, and the
momentous secret tremblingly discovered.
I shall just now glance at the most conspicu-

ous of

The Scriptural Signs of the Latter Days. "Little Children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even Now there are many Antichrists, WHEREBY we know that it is THE LAST TIME."-1St. John ii. 18.

"But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles,how they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts: these be they who separate themselves, SENSUAL, having not THE SPIRIT." ---Jude 17.

"This know also that in THE LAST DAYS perilous times SHALL come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."--2 Tim. iii. 1.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, That in THE LATTER TIMES some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils."---2 Tim. iv. Í.

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?"---2 Peter iii. 3.

of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE the great and terrible day of the Lord come."--Joel ii. 30.

"And I beheld, when he had opened the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake ;--and every mountain and island were moved out of their places; and the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb! for THE GREAT DAY of his wrath IS COME, and who shall be able to stand ?'"-Rev. vi. 12.

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken; and THEN shall appear THE SIGN of the Son of Man in Heaven.”—St. Matt. xxiv. 29.

"But now hath he promised saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.' And this word YET ONCE MORE, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken."- Heb. xii. 26.

"And there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon, and in the stars, and in the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; mens' hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth.”—St. Luke xxi. 25.

Micah vii. 3.

"That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward, and the great man he uttereth his mischievous desire, and so they "He answered me then and said. Measure wrap it up. The best of them is a brier, the thou the time diligently in itself, and when most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge; thou seest part of the signs past, which I the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation have told thee before, then shalt thou under-cometh; Now shall be THEIR perplexity.”— stand that it is the very same time, wherein the Highest will begin to visit the world which he made. Therefore, when there shall be seen earthquakes, and uproars of the people in the world, then shalt thou well understand that the Most High spake of those things from the days that were before thee, even from the beginning: for like as all that is made in this world hath a beginning and an end, and the end is manifest; even so the times also of the Highest have plain BEGINNINGS in wonders and powerful works, and ENDINGS in EFFECTS AND SIGNS."---2 Esdras, ix. 1.

"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you; for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night: for when they shall say 6 peace and safety,' then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and THEY shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that THAT DAY should overtake you as a thief: ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day :-therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us WATCH, and BE SOBER."-1 Thes. v. 1. "And I will show wonders in THE HEAVENS "For the Son of Man is as a man taking a

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