ward thofe events which are to precede the coming of that "kingdom," for which we are directed to offer up our daily prayers. Of this we may be confident, however erroneous may be our opinions concerning the operation of these changes; for "the Lord will haften it in his time." I readily confefs, however, that the extraordinary circumstances of the prefent times indicate, in my judgment, the approach of fome fignal difplay of Divine power, to justify Divine truth" in the fight of men.' And, as we are commanded to "watch the figns of the times,” as we are expressly told, that " in that day, which shall be neither light nor dark, in the evening it shall be light," I trust I shall stand acquitted of prefumption, though I venture to state some conjectures respecting the probable course of some of these great events, which appear to be now fulfilling the regular courfe of Prophecy ↳.

Zech. xiv. 6, 7.

If a fketch of the prefent ftate of Europe, with reference to the fulfilment of Prophecy, were to be drawn by fimply bringing together, and arranging in their proper order acknowledged facts that have happened within the last fifty years, unconnected with political opinions as much as the nature of the fubject will allow, how ftriking would be the effect! Such a collection of indifputable facts, leT3 lected

"

"The many and clear Prophecies (fays Sir Ifaac Newton) concerning the things to be done' at Chrift's fecond coming, are not only for predicting, but alfo for effecting a recovery and re-establishment of the long-lost truth, and fetting up a kingdom wherein dwells righteousness.' The event will prove the Apocalypfe: and this Prophecy, thus proved and understood, will open the old Prophets, and all together will make known the true Religion, and establish it. For he that will understand the old Prophets [relative to the last days] must begin with this: but the time is not yet come for understanding them perfectly, because the main revolution, predicted in them, is not yet come to pass. In the days of the voice of the feventh angel, when he shall begin to found, the mystery of God fhall be finished,

lected from different kingdoms, and arifing from various causes, confidered collectively, would appear to be directed by the hand of Providence to one point, and as affifting in the execution of the one great scheme, which the whole train of Prophecies and events, from the beginning of the world to the present hour, has gradually developed, and uniformly promoted: by means, however, fo confiftent with man's free will (fee the Bishop of Lincoln's Thanksgiving Sermon, 1797, p. 23.) that unless " his eyes are opened" by Revelation, he never looks beyond his own free-agency, and the fuppofed effects of chance, to account for the fuccefs or failure of thofe plans, which continually feed or difap. point his hopes.

as

"

as he hath declared unto his fervants the Prophets,' and then the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord, and his Christ, and he fhall reign for ever.' There is already fo much of the Prophecy fulfilled, that as many as will take pains in this study may fee fufficient inftances of God's Providence. But then the fignal revolutions predicted by all the holy Prophets, will at once both turn men's eyes upon confidering the predictions, and plainly interpret them.”

8

The restoration of the Jews to their own land, and their converfion to the church of Chrift-the triumph of our Lord over all his enemies, and the univerfal happiness of his glorious reign, are the fignal revolutions to which this truly great Chriftian Philofopher alludes. All these awful and interefting fubjects appear to be fo blended in the Prophetic writings, and fo connected in point of time, that they ought to be confidered together; but the predictions are far too numerous to be inferted in this work, already fwelled fo much beyond the Author's original defign. Having felected more than would fill a hundred pages; as the beft fecurity against the wanderings of imagination, I must reluctantly confine myfelf to references to the principal of them. But I

intreat

T4

intreat the Reader to confult his Bible, that he may judge how far the obfervations, which are offered for his confideration, are founded on Scripture and probability: for be it ever remembered, that the most perfect confidence that fuch events are clearly predicted, and will certainly happen, is perfectly confiftent with doubt and uncertainty relative to the circumftances attending their accomplishment.

Prophecies to be confidered together.

I

I

Zephaniah iii. ii. 2, 3. Haggai ii. 21, 22. Zechariah ii. 10—13. xiv. 1—21. Micah vii. 15-20. Amos ix. 11-15. Zechariah viii. 20-23. ix. 8-17. xii. 6-14. Zephaniah ii. 1-3. Malachi i. 11. iii. iv. 1—3. [Compare Daniel and the Revelations.] Ifaiah ii. 5. 10—22. V. 20—30. viii. 9—18. xi. xii. xiv. After the destruction of Babylon, it is written, v. 29. Rejoice not thou, whole Paleftina, because the rod of him that fmote thee is broken: for out of the ferpent's root fhall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit fhall be a fiery flying ferpent. Isaiah xxiv. xxvi. 11—21. xxvii. 1. xxv. 6—8. xxix. 17-24. xxx. 18 −33. xxxiv. xxxv. [compare Rev. and our Lord's

Lord's Prophecy concerning the end of the world] Ifaiah xliii. 1-21. xliv. 1-8. xlv. 17—25. xlix. li. lii. liv. Iv. lx. lxi. Ixii. lxiii. lxiv. lxv. lxvi. [compare Rev. and Daniel] Joel ii. iii. [compare Daniel and the Rev.] Jeremiah iii. 12-19. xii. 14-17. xxiii. 1—20. xxv. 8— 38. xxx. xxxi. xxxiii. Ezekiel ix. 4-ro. xi. 15-25. xvi. 60-63. xx. 33-44. xxxiv. 11—31. xxxvi. xxxvii. xxxviii. xxxix. Compare the last ten chapters with the Revelations. -Deuteronomy xxxii. 41-43. Pfalm ii. Daniel xii. Matthew xxiv. Mark xiii. Luke xxi. Rev. xiv. 13—20. xvi. 13-21. xix. xx. xxi. xxii. xi. Philippians iii. 20, 21. Romans ii. 5

II. xi. 12 -36. 1 Corinthians xv. 2 Corinthians iv. 11-18. v. 1-11. Ephefians i. 20 -23. Philippians ii. 5-11. Coloffians i. 12 -20. iii. 3, 4. 1 Theffalonians i. 10. ii. 19, 20. iv. 13—18. v. 2-11. 2 Theffalonians i. 5-12. ii. 1 Timothy iv. 1-10. 2 Timothy iii. iv. 1-8. Titus ii. 13, 14. Hebrews i. ii. iii. iv. vii. viii. ix. x. xi. xii. 1 Peter iv. 1719. 2 Peter i. ii. iii. 1 John iii. 2. St. Matthew xiii. 30, 37-43, 49, 50. xvi. 27, 28. xvii. 2. xix. 28-30. xxii. 29-32. xxiii. 39. xxv. 31-34, 46. St. Mark xii. 24-27. xvi. 19. St. Luke i. 30-33. ix. 25, 26, 29-36. xi. 29—32. xii. 4—10. xiii. 28-30, 34, 35. xiv. 14. xviii. 8. xx. 34-38, St. John v. 21