by intelligent readers, I have no doubt but it is a judicious, able work, and is entitled to the public patronage.” Albany, July 16, 1835. W. B. SPRAGUE. From Rev. Dr. TUCKER. "Having examined Rev. Mr. Smith's Key to the Revelation, I am prepared to express my approbation of the work. The author, well known by other works, has evinced in this his usual knowledge of the Scriptures; his soundness of judgment, and correctness of sentiment. As a commentary, it is critical and judicious. And as an exposition of this difficult part of the holy Scriptures, it is lucid and convincing." MARK TUCKER. Troy, N. Y., July 17, 1835. A minister, in high repute in his county and State, said, as I lately entered his house, I have been reading your Key to the Revelation; and am highly pleased with it. I have been much prejudiced against writings of this kind; but am now convinced of my error; and am determined to study the prophecies. The evidence of the divinity of the Revelation rests on that of the divinity of the Bible. If the one is true, the other is true. For the Revelation is a mirror, reflecting the glories of the Bible. And the evidence that each is the word of God is full; and should ever rest on every heart. The want of this cripples the Christian's faith; withholding its support. A concise view of the points of evidence that the Bible is the word of God, is as follows: 1. Man's need of such a book; and hence the presumption that God would give it. The immortality of the soul, and salvation for lost man, are learned here only. And as God conversed with Adam in Paradise, he certainly would reveal his will to his children, if he designed salvation for them. Where then, is such a revelation? The Bible has claims to it, as far superior to all other books that make any claims, as the sun is superior to a glow worm. 2. The fulfilments of its prophecies. A line of the great events, most interesting to the church, from the beginning, have been long predicted. And to this day they have been most clearly fulfilled, and fulfilling; which is a kind of constant miracle in evidence of the truth of the Bible. The divinity of the Apocalypse is here most perfectly demonstrated. Its events have been, and are fulfilling as clearly, in the eyes of men skilled in prophecy, as eclipses (previously calculated) evince the truth of our system of astronomy. 3. Miracles; events out of the course of nature, to vindicate God's word. These have been numerous; and before the eyes of both enemies and friends. And they furnish the highest evidence for the Bible. Suppose a voice from heaven should now say to us, I will give you new evidence of the truth of the Bible. The sun shall now stand still for twenty-four hours; and then go on its course! We all watch for the event; and it is fulfilled! Would this be ample evidence? This we have, in Joshua x. 12-14; and many other miracles equally convincing. 4. The history of Christ on earth. Here is evidence perfect in kind and degree. Long was he predicted; and he fulfilled these predictions in all respects, in his person. In the record given of him, the rays of the light of the Bible meet, and demonstrate his divinity, and their own. 5. The testimonies of the Apostles. They testified, not to opinions; but to facts; each one of which evinces the divinity of the Bible: viz., Christ's life with them on earth; his miracles; his death; his resurrection; and his ascension to heaven in their full view! Nothing earthly could induce the Apostles to bear these most unpopular testimonies at the peril of their lives, and to seal the truth of them with their blood. 6. The unity of the Bible. Written by different men, at different times, and places, by men unacquainted with each other, in no preconcerted combination, of different habits; and yet all uniting in the same views of God, of Christ, of the Spirit of God, of fallen man, of the great salvation by Christ, of heaven, of hell, and of the way to each; as well as predicting the same temporal events. This shows that they "wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 7. The excellency of the word of God; its doctrines, duties demanded, and its motives, all being such as are worthy of God, and most happy for his people. 8. Its height and sublimity: being as much above created wisdom, as heaven is above the earth. As well might the infidel tell us, that the sun is but a dark body, produced by some designing man, and is a curse to the world; as to say the same thing of our Bible. 9. Its power on the human soul:— being sharper than any two edged sword." "He that believeth hath the witness in himself." The vilest sinners have been tortured by its stings on their consciences. 10. The wonders God has wrought by it :-in the Apostles' days; in the destruction of paganism in the Roman empire; in ancient Britain with our heathen fathers; in all Christian lands, turning them from paganism; in the mission stations of our day; and in salvations wrought among us. The Bible must have been written by good or bad But bad ones would not have written such a book, if they had been able; for they have ever hated it. And good men would tell the truth concerning their inspiration. 12. All objections worthy of note have been often refuted. Thus the Bible is the word of God. And thus the Revelation,-its finishing touch and the reflecting glass of the whole,-is worthy of a very different attention than what it has hitherto received! 66 men. August 16, 1837. INDEX. LECTURE I. Introduction, p. 13.-Origin and Nature of Figurative Lan- guage. Divisions of the Revelation, 22.-Benefits and Encour- agement of a devout Study of the Revelation, 22.-Objections LECT. II. CHAP. 1.—Design of the Revelation. Person of Christ, 30. LECT. III. CHAP. 2.-Four of seven Epistles to seven Churches, 41. CHAP. 4.-A door opened in Heaven, 65.—Symbolic view of God. Twenty-four Elders. Four beasts. A sea of glass, 68. CHAP. 5.-Sealed book in the right hand of God. No creature could open it. The Lion of the tribe of Judah was found able. Joy and praise on the occasion, 72. LECT. VI. CHAP.6.-Six of seven Seals. Seal 1 opened, 79,—a white horse, the rider Christ,-destruction of Jerusalem, and propaga- tion of the gospel, 80.-Seal 2, a red horse, &c., slaughters by insurrection of the Jews, 82.-Seal 3, a black horse, &c., famines, terrors, &c., 83.-Seal 4, a pale horse, &c., death by pestilence, sword, beasts, &c., 85.-Seal 5, blood of the martyrs under the altar crying, &c., 86.-premonition of the tenth persecution, and of inquisition for blood, 87.-Seal 6, earthquake, &c., the revo- lution by Constantine from paganism. Concise details of it, 89. LECT. VII. CHAP. 7.-Four angels holding the four winds, 92. CHAP. 8.-Seal 7 opened. Silence for half an hour, 97.— Incense on the golden altar, 98.-Seven angels with seven trum- pets presented. Trumpet 1, hail and fire; or the invasions from LECT. VIII. CHAP. 8 continued.-Trumpet 2, a burning mountain cast into the sea; or the city of Rome taken and plundered, 103.— LECT. IX. CHAP. 9.-Two of the three wo trumpets. Trumpet 5, a LECT X. CHAP. 10. Notable descent of Christ; or infidel France in the LECT. XI. CHAP. 10 continued.-Seven thunders;-sense of their being LECT. XII. CHAP. 11.-Unmeasurable sin of popery, 141.-The two LECT. XIII. CHAP. 11 continued.-Witnesses slain, 149.-Arguments LECT. XIV. CHAP. 12.-Second general division of the book. Object LECT. XV. CHAP. 12, continued.-New persecutions, 180.-Second LECT. XVI. CHAP. 12 continued.-Floods by the serpent, 195.-Floods LECT. XVII. CHAP. 13.-Healed head of the Roman beast, 204.- LECT. XVIII. CHAP. 13 continued. The papal beast, 217.-His image LECT. XIX. CHAP. 14.-The Lamb on mount Zion, 223.-Missionary LECT. XX. CHAP. 14 continued. The deep trials of the Church, 238. LECT. XXI. CHAP. 15. The seven angels of the vials, 246.—The vic- Old CHAP. 16 introduced, 251.-The vials commence. LECT. XXII. CHAP. 16 continued, 257. LECT. XXIII. CHAP. 16 continued.-Vial 2, Fifty years war in Italy, 265. LECT. XXIV. CHAP. 16 continued.-Vial 3, Papal nations involved in wars, LECT. XXV. CHAP. 16 continued.-Kings scorching the pope, by pro- LECT. XXVI. CHAP. 16 continued.-Vial 5, on the seat (throne) of the LECT. XXVII. CHAP. 16 continued.-Vial 6, Subversion of the Turkish LECT. XXVIII. CHAP. 16 continued.-Three unclean spirits, like frogs, LECT. XXIX. CHAP. 16 continued.-Vial 7, the battle of the great day LECT. XXX. CHAP. 17.-The papal harlot on the back of the new LECT. XXXI. CHAP. 17 continued.-Enormities of the beast, 323.- LECT. XXXII. CHAP. 17 continued.-Enormities of the beast continued, LECT. XXXIV. CHAP. 19.-The marriage of the Lamb, 341.-Battle LECT. XXXV. CHAP. 20.-Satan bound; the Millennium, 349.-Length |