are yet 137 years to the time of his coming: but we know that this time will be shortened; and according to the opinion of one great and eminent Rabbi, there are only 29 years more to the time of his coming, and when we shall begin to count 5600 all things in this world will be settled.

Thus far goes our observation on this grand point, that Adam was in the beginning, and David in the middle, and the Messiah near the end.

Further, it ought to be observed, that it cannot be said to shorten the beginning, neither can the centre be shortened, but, the end of any thing

may be shortened.

* We also know that Christ was born 910 years after David. This short number will not balance the length of 6000 years: here we shall draw a line of 6000 cubits, ADM. From the letter A to the letter D, is the half or the middle, and from D to M must be the same distance. A and D cannot be shortened, but the M, as it is the end, may be shortened: but if we consider the coming of Christ, the letter M will be a long way from the end. And here again we will bring the length of this word A. D_M ; thus far only

can be brought the distance between David and Christ, and 910 years are no more than a third part of 2854; and, if we only consider well, it must be an equal distance in these three letters ADM: as to the rest I leave it to you to finish.

*THE PLACING OF ADAM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. -Adam and Eve were placed in Paradise; his glory was above an angel; the same his wisdom; *no angel could call names of all living creatures; but Adam could, and whatever he called them so

remained their names until this day. Here Adam enjoyed the blessing of a blessed world; he knew not what sin was; he was made pure, and so he continued until Satan (who was at that time a great angel,) became jealous of the glory of Adam, and was determined to bring him down : down he came with his band; he succeeded; the man fell; Adam, Eve, Satan, all three were found guilty: Satan was cast out; Adam and Eve were driven out: before they left paradise, the Lord made a promise to the man, saying, Near the end of 6000 years thy glory shall be restored unto thee; but thou, O Satan, at that very time thou shalt be destroyed; as it is written, "He will swallow up death for ever." Isaiah xxv. 8.

The Lord said to Satan, Thou hast deceived the man, and thou Adam, thou hast followed his advice; get you both out, march away together, fight it out, and he who shall overcome Satan, him will I make great in the last day. Paradise was shut up, and cherubims were placed at the east of the garden to keep the way of the tree of life. Here ended the first world, and now we shall go to the second world.

Adam began to wander, and Satan at his heels; Eve brought forth Cain and Abel; Satan was bent to make the best use of his profession; he observed that two new men appeared in the world; he immediately went to work, and succeeded again; he helped Cain to slay his innocent brother Abel.

There passed away 1656 years, that is from Adam until Noah; few were those men that* overcame Satan, and at last he destroyed the whole world,

except Noah and his family that were saved. Thus far we have read in the great drawings, intermixed with a few traditions.

FROM THE FLOOD UNTIL THE BUILDING OF THE TOWER OF BABYLON. After the flood, the Lord said to Noah and his family, From hence and further ye may eat flesh. The Lord also gave them a short law, which consisted only of seven commandments.

* THE LAW OF NOAH.-1. Not to commit idolatry. 2. Not to blaspheme. 3. To appoint and constitute just and upright judges, that justice might be maintained, and impartially administered to all. 4. Not to commit incest. 5. Not to com

mit murder. 6. Not to rob or steal. 7. Not to eat a member of a living creature.

These seven commandments are the law given to Noah and his family, to keep and observe them, from that time and further; and every one that is not of Israel is bound to keep this short law, and every one that observes them is entitled to happiness.

THE BUILDING OF THE TOWER. The children of Shem, Ham, and Japhet were seventy families: after they were scattered each of them became a nation. There is a tradition, that of these seventy families twenty-nine were destroyed by a flood, and no more remained than forty-one. Afterwards the number of seventy nations was again completed by the children of Keturah, who were twelve families, and sixteen of Ishmael and Edom.

PROOF THAT THERE WERE NO MORE THAN SEVENTY NATIONS.-1. In page 50, it is already mentioned, that as many as went into Egypt with Jacob, (which were 70 in number,) so many na

tions there were to be in the whole world, and no more. "When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel." Deut. xxxii. 8.

2. "In the fifteenth day of the seventh month," i. e. Tishri, or Ethonim, "ye shall offer unto the Lord thirteen young bullocks. The second day twelve bullocks: the third day ye shall offer eleven bullocks: on the fourth day ten bullocks: on the fifth day nine bullocks: on the sixth day eight bullocks and on the seventh day seven bullocks." Numbers xxix. 12, 13, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32. These offerings were offered at the feast of Tabernacles for all the seventy nations, and here you find also the number of seventy bullocks."But on the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly ye shall do no servile work therein; and ye shall offer only one bullock." ver. 35. Here we observe, when Israel hath finished the offering for all nations, then they were commanded to offer only one bullock for all Israel. All these things we find in the great drawing, or properly, the law.

* ABRAHAM AND HIS FAMILY. Next we find recorded in the drawing, that a man by the name of Abraham was to appear in this world, and that he should be the favourite of God, and above all men; and so it came to pass.-Next is recorded, that God will make a covenant with this man, and that he and his seed after him were chosen to be his peculiar people, not for a time, but for ever; not Ishmael, nor the sons of Keturah, neither

Edom; for so it is recorded in the drawing; "For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special nation unto himself, above all nations that are upon the face of the earth." Deut. vii. 6. In a subdrawing it is also mentioned, "O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen." Psalm ev. 6.-Next we find that the seed of Abraham was to be in bondage in a strange land four hundred years, and after that he would give them a land, and so it came to pass. We also find that his children, when they were only seventy in number, went down into Egypt. Their father Jacob went with them. The good father Jacob fell ill; he assembled his twelve sons to give them his blessing before his departure from this world; he blessed every one, but one of his sons he made Lord over all his brethren, which was Judah. The foundation of all their blessing is depending on one single verse. "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto him shall the gathering of the nations be." Gen. xlix. 10.

The gentiles have laid hold on this passage: they say that this passage is a proof that the Messiah is come already, because the sceptre is departed from Judah :" * but I say, they are mistaken, and here is the proof. "And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession." Genesis xvii. 8. "And I will perform the oath which I swore unto Abraham, thy father." Genesis xxvi. 3. " And I will give this land to thy