ligion, and the papifts as much boast and glory in it, and for this reafon proudly denominate theirs the catholic religion. But it will abate all confidence on the one hand, and banish all fcruples on the other; if we confider that this is nothing more than what was fignified beforehand by the Spirit of prophecy. It is directly foretold, that there fhould be fuch a power, as that of the Pope of Rome, exercised in the . Chriftian church, and that it should prevail for a long feafon, but at laft fhould have a fall. Several clear and express prophecies to this pur pofe have been produced out of Daniel and St. Paul in the courfe of thefe differtations: but others clearer ftill, and more copious and particular, may be found in the Apocalyps or Revelation of St. John, who was the greatest as he was the last prophet of the Chriftian difpenfation, and hath comprehended in this book, and pointed out the most memorable events and revolutions in the church, from the apoftles days to the confummation of the mystery of God. But to this book of the Apocalyps or Revelation it is ufually objected, that it is so wrapt and involved in figures and allegories, is so wild and vifionary, is fo dark and obfcure, that any thing or nothing, at least nothing clear and certain, can be proved or collected from it. So B 2. learned 4 learned a man as Scaliger is noted for faying (1) that Calvin was wife, because he wrote no comment upon the Revelation. A celebrated (2) wit and divine of our own church hath not fcrupled to affert, that that book either finds a man mad, or makes him fo. Whitby, though an ufeful commentator on the other books of the New Teftament, would not yet adventure upon the Revelation. "I confess I do it not (3) (fays he,) "for want of wisdom; that is because I neither "have sufficient reading nor judgment, tô difcern the intendment of the prophecies contained in that book." Voltaire is pleafed to fay, that Sir Ifaac Newton wrote his comment upon the Revelation, to confole mankind for the great fuperiority that he had over them in other refpects but Voltaire, though a very agreeable, is yet a very fuperficial writer, and often miftaken in his judgment of men and things. He never was more mistaken, than in affirming that Sir Ifaac Newton has explained the Revelation in the fame manner with all thofe who went before him; a moft evident proof that he had (1) Calvinus fapit, quod in Apocalypfin non fcripfit. Vide Scaligerana fecunda. p. 41. But Scaliger was not very confiftent in his opinion of the Revelation. For as the Bishop of Rochefter re * never marks, he fays in another place, Hoc poffum gloriari me nihil ignorare eorum quæ in Apocalypfi, Canonico vere libro, prophetice fcribuntur, præter illud caput in quo va fepties repeti never read either the one or the others, for if ever he had read them, he must have perceived. the difference. However it is undeniable that even the most learned men have mifcarried in nothing more than in their comments and explanations of this book. To explain this book perfectly is not the work of one man or of one age; and probably it will never all be clearly underftood, till it is all fulfilled. It is a memorable thing, that Bishop Burnet (4) relates to this purpofe of his friend the most learned Bishop Lloyd of Worcester. He fays that that excellent perfon was employed above twenty years in ftudying the Revelation with an amazing diligence and exactness, and that he had foretold and proved from the Revelation the peace made between the Turk and the Emperor in the year 1698 long before it was made, and that after this he faid the time of the Turks hurting the papal Chriftians was at an end: and he was fo pofitive in this, that he confented that all his fcheme should be laid aside, if (5) ever the Turk engaged in a new war with them. But it is very well 7 known, that the Turk and the Emperor have engaged in a new war fince that time, and probably may engage again, fo that by his own confent all bis fcheme is to be laid afide: And if fo great a master of learning, fo nice a critic in chronology and hiftory, one who perhaps understood the prophetic writings better than any man of his time, was fo grofsly mistaken in the moft pofitive of his calculations, it may ferve at leaft as an admonition to others of inferior abilities to beware how they meddle with thefe matters, and rather to avoid the rocks and shelves about which they fee fo many fhipwracks. Not that this book is therefore to be de fpifed or neglected. They who cenfure and diffuade the study of it, do it for the most part because they have not ftudied it themselves, and imagin the difficulties to be greater than they are in reality. It is ftill the fure word of prophecy; and men of learning and leisure cannot better employ their time and abilities than in studying and explaining this book, provided they do it, as Lord (6) Bacon adviseth, with might misreprefent Bishop Lloyd's meaning. If he faid indeed, that the Turks would never engage in a new war with the papal Chriftians, he was plainly in the wrong, the event great hath fhown that he was in the wrong. If he faid only that the Turks would no more hurt the papal Chriftians, would no◄ more fubdue any Christian state or potentate, he was probably great wisdom, fobriety, and reverence.' Lord Bacon adviseth it with regard to all the prophecies, but fuch caution and reverence are more especially due to this of St. John. "folly of interpreters has been, as Sir Ifaac "Newton (7) obferves, to foretel times and "The things by this prophecy, as if God defigned "to make them prophets. By this rafhnets they have not only expofed themselves, but "brought the prophecy alfo into contempt. "The defign of God was much otherwife. "He gave this and the prophecies of the "Old Teftament, not to gratify men's curio"fities by enabling them to foreknow things, but that after they were fulfilled they might be interpreted by the event, and his own "providence, not the interpreters, be then ma"nifested thereby to the world." If therefore we would confine ourselves to the rules of just criticism, and not indulge lawless and extravagant fancies; if we would be content with fober and genuin interpretation, and not pretend to be prophets, nor prefume to be wife above what in the right, the prophet feem- B 4 is the quotation prefixed to the Introduction. (7) Sir Ifaac Newton's Obfervations upon the Apocalyps. Chap. 1. p. 251. (8) Six |