12. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city..

15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16. I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17. And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst, come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

18. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

20. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen: Even so, Come, Lord Jesus.

21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

St. John, ver. 8, 9, testifieth himself to be the person who saw and heard these things:' and in his ecstacy, falling into the same mistake that he had committed before, xix. 10, he is gently corrected in the same manner by the angel: Who ordereth him, ver. 10, not to seal up this prophecy,' as Daniel's was, xii. 4, 9, for the time is at hand;' some of the particulars would very soon be accomplished, as indeed all would in their due season and order: Which he farther enforceth, ver. 11-15, with promises and threatenings, of rewards to the righteous, and of vengeance on the wicked It was not thought sufficient to represent the angel speaking in the person of Christ, but Christ himself also is introduced, ver. 16, speaking in his own person, and confirming the divine authority of this book, and attesting it to be properly his revelation. The

spirit and the bride,' ver. 17, that is, the spiritual bride,' the true church of Christ, therefore receives it, and ardently wisheth and prayeth for its completion. The book being of this importance and authority, a solemn adjuration is added by Christ himself, that no man presume to add any thing to it, or take away any thing from it, ver. 18, 19,—For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book:' which ought to be seriously considered by all visionaries and enthusiasts on the one hand, who boast their own inventions as divine revelations; and by all sceptics and infidels on the other, who depreciate the value and authority of these predictions. He who testifieth these things, saith, Surely, I come quickly,'-ver. 20; he not only attesteth them to be true, but will also come speedily to accomplish them: to which St. John answers, and in him the whole church, Amen : Even so, Come, Lord Jesus.' He closeth all with the usual apostolical benedictions, ver. 21, wishing the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ' to the churches of Asia in particular, and to all Christians in general. The conclusion is truly excellent, as well as all other parts of this book: and nothing could be contrived to leave these things with a stronger impression upon the mind of the readers. In the whole from first to last, appears the majesty of the divine Revealer, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the author and finisher' of every good work, and of this more especially.

This, (as Sir Isaac Newton hath hinted, and as Dr. Warburton nath fully proved in some discourses, which it is hoped will be printed at one time or other for the benefit of the public,*) is that 'sure word of prophecy, whereunto Christians, as St. Peter saith, 'do well to take heed' and attend. St. Peter, (2 Pet. i. 16, &c.) is asserting and establishing the truth of Christ's second coming in power and great glory. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty." One illustrious proof of his coming in power and glory, was his

Sir Isaac Newton's Observ. upon the Apoc. chap. 1, p. 240. The Bishop has since published a discourse upon this subject in the third volume of his sermons; but his second lecturer, (Dr. Hallifax) contradicts him hercin, and maintains the Revelation to De written after the death of St. Peter in the reign of Domitian.

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appearing in glory and majesty at his transfiguration, ver. 17, 18, For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.' His appearing once in power and great glory is a good argument, that he may appear again in like manner; and that he not only may, but will, we have the farther assurance of prophecy; ver. 19,- We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.' St. Peter might mean the prophecies in general which treat of the second coming of Christ, but it appears that the Revelation was principally in his thoughts and intentions. Christ's second coming in power and glory is one principal topic of the Revelation. With this it begins, i. 7,- Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him.' With this it also concludes, xxii. 20,- he who testifieth these things, saith, Surely I come quickly.' Nothing can better answer the character of the Revelation, especially in St. Peter's time, when as yet scarcely any part of it was fulfilled, than a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.' It openeth more and more like the dawning of the day; and the more it is fulfilled, the better it is understood. Afterwards St. Peter proceeds, in the second chapter, to describe, out of this sure word of prophecy,' the false prophets and false teachers, who should infest the church; and in the third chapter, the certainty of Christ's coming to judgment, the conflagration of the present heavens and earth, and the structure of the new heavens and earth; and all agreeably to the Revelation. Attention therefore to this book is recommended to us, upon the authority of St. Peter as well as of the writer, St. John and a double blessing, as we have seen in the book itself, is pronounced upon those who shall study and observe it; first in the beginning, i. 3,—' Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein;' and here again in the end, xxii, 7,-Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.' Emboldened by which blessing, I would humbly pray with Nehemiah, Nehem. xiii. 22,- Remember me, O my God, concerning this also; and spare me, according to the greatness of thy mercy.'

DISSERTATION XXVI.

RECAPITULATION OF THE PROPHECIES RELATING TO POPERY.

UPON the whole, it appears that the prophecies relating to popery are the greatest, and most essential, and the most striking part of he Revelation. Whatever difficulty and perplexity there may be in other passages, yet here the application is obvious and easy. Popery being the great corruption of Christianity, there are indeed more prophecies relating to that than to almost any other distant event. It is a great object of Daniel's, and the principal object of St. Paul's, as well as of St. John's prophecies; and these, considered and compared together, will mutually receive and reflect light from and upon each other. It will appear to be clearly foretold, that such a power as that of the pope should be exercised in the Christian church, and should authorise and establish such doctrines and practices, as are publicly taught and approved in the church of Rome. It is not only foretold that such a power should be exercised, but the place and the persons likewise are pointed out, where and by whom it should be exercised. Besides the place and the persons, the time also is signified when it should prevail, and how long it should prevail; and at last upon the expiration of this term it shall be destroyed for evermore. It is thought proper to represent the prophecies relating to popery in one view, that, like the rays of the sun collected in a glass, they may appear with the greater lustre, and have the stronger effect.

1. I say, the Spirit of prophecy hath signified beforehand, that there should be such a power as that of the pope and church of Rome usurped in the Christian world and these predictions are so plain and express, that, was not the contrary evident and undeniable, they might seem to be penned after the event, and to describe things past rather than to foretell things to come. For instanceHath there now for many ages subsisted, and doth there still subsist a tyrannical, and idolatrous, and blasphemous power, in pretence Christian, but in reality Antichristian? It is the very same power that is pourtrayed in the little horn' and 'the blasphemous king,' by Daniel, in the man of sin the son of perdition,' by St. Paul, and in the ten-horned beast' and the two-horned beast, or the false prophet,' by St. John. Hath the church apostatized or departed greatly from the purity of Christian faith and worship? It is the very same thing that St. Paul hath foretold, 2 Thess. ii. 3,-- The day of the Lord shall not come except there come a falling away

or the apostacy 'first;' and he saith moreover in another place, I Tiu.. iv. 1, that the Spirit of prophecy (meaning Daniel) had in express words testified the same thing before: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,' or rather apostatize from the faith' and St. John foresaw the church so far degenerated, as to become, Rev. xvii. 5, the mother of harlots' or whoredoms, and abominations of the earth.' Doth this apostacy consist chiefly in the worshipping of 'demons' angels and departed saints, and in honoring them with costly shrines, and rich offerings, instead of the worship of the one true God' through the one true mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus?' Nothing can better agree with the prophecy of St. Paul, Some shall apostatize from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines concerning demons,'-I Tim. iv, 1; and with the prophecy of Daniel, that the blasphemous king, xi, 38, in his estate shall honor Mahuzzim,' gods-protectors or saints-protectors, and the god whom his fathers knew not, shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.' Is the same church, that is guilty of this idolatry, notorious also for enjoining celibacy to her clergy, and engaging her nuns to enter into vows of leading a single life? Doth she make a vain distinction of meats, and command and institute certain times and days of fasting, wherein to taste flesh is judged a mortal sin? Nothing can more fully accomplish the prediction of Daniel, xi. 37, that the blasphemous king, who shall worship Mahuzzim, shall also not regard the desire of wives;' and the prediction of St. Paul, 1 Tim. iv. 3, that those who shall apostatize from the faith by worshipping of demons, shall no less distinguish themselves by forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them who believe and know the truth.' Doth the pope make himself equal and even superior to God, in affecting divine titles, attributes, and honors; in assuming a power of dispensing with the immutable laws of nature and the gospel; in substituting for the commandments of God the tradi tions of men; in treading upon the altar of God at his inauguration, and making the table of the Lord his footstool, and in that posture receiving the adoration of his cardinals? It is foretold by Daniel, that the little horn shall speak great words against the most High, and think to change times and laws,'-vii. 25; and 'the king shall do according to his will, and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every God, and speak marvellous things against the God of gods,'-xi. 36; and in like manner by St. Paul. The