a nation, even to that same time;" no, not even the day that Noah entered into the ark: then, every one that shall be found written in the book of life shall be delivered." "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." All this is to be accomplished at the end of the days-a date evidently preceding the millennial kingdom. The apostle Paul connects the coming of Christ with the final destruction of Antichrist, which must be before the millennium-2 Thess. ii. 8; and with the sounding of the last trumpet -1 Cor. xv. 52. And the apostle Peter places the conflagration of the world before the new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness-2 Peter iii. 12, 13. But need we proceed farther? If all this be not proof, what can be proved? If I am alone, I must believe that the great day of God's wrath, which shall consume all the wicked, and drive them out from the face of the earth, will precede the millennial kingdom of Christ and the saints under the seventh trumpet. But if there be any, who still think this is not clear, let me ask, can you think the opposite sentiment is clear? If not, we entreat you not to propagate it; for, it is feared, it does infinite mischief to the souls of men. We know we must all die soon; but I appeal to your own feelings, my friends, if the thought, we know not but the great day of God is nigh, even at the doors, and, coming suddenly, Christ may immediately call the world to his bar, be not the most awakening thought to the human mind. And if our thoughts concerning the coming and kingdom of Christ be just, it is now time to watch for the midnight cry-" Behold, the Bridegroom cometh." The sixth trumpet,* and also the sixth *Under the sixth trumpet is this prophecy, Rev. xi. 13: "And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain [of the names] of men seven thousand," &c. Peter Jurieu, a French protestant minister, above an hundred years ago wrote these words: "The tenth part of the city, which here fell, will at some future time appear to be the kingdom of France, where a revolution will take place about the year 1785, and a separation from the papacy follow; when the names of monks and nuns, of Carmelites, Augustines, Dominicans, &c., shall perish forever; and all these vain titles, and armorial bearings, which serve for ornament and pride, shall vanish, and brotherly love make all men equal.""This cannot be brought about without confusion and tumult. The popish empire cannot fall, but it must cause blood and a mighty noise." Dr. Goodwin, in his exposition of the Revelation, written an hundred and fifty years ago, gave this text the following interpretation: By the city is meant, "the extent of the jurisdiction of the city of Rome, which had ten kingdoms by charter allotted unto it, chap. xvii.;" and by the tenth part of the city, "some tenth part of Europe, or one of those ten kingdoms." "By the earthquake (which is said to be a great one) is meant, a great concussion or shaking of states, politic or ecclesiastical, arising from within that kingdom itself, as earthquakes are from inward motions in the bowels of the earth." By this earthquake in a tenth part of the city, "this tenth part of it is so shaken, that it falls, that is, ceaseth to be a part of the city, or to belong unto its jurisdiction any longer-falls off, as we say, from being of the number of those that give their power to the beast." "The effect of this earthquake, and fall of this tenth part of the city, is the killing seven thousand of the names of men, (so it is vial, are now passing over us, as the events of Providence do plainly show, and are drawing towards the close; and the seventh trumpet may daily be expected to begin to sound. Who knows how soon the seventh angel with the voice of the last trump shall proclaim, There shall be time no longer-the mystery of God is finished? O solemn sound! in the original.) Mr. Mede conceives it to be, names of men, for men of names. Now by men of names is meant, men of office, title, and dignity." In Numbers xvi. 2, those two hundred and fifty men in Korah's conspiracy, who were princes of the congregation, are called men of name. Now as those, for their enmity against Moses and Aaron, were consumed by fire, so "these, for having killed the witnesses, themselves are to be killed (haply) by being bereft of their names and titles, which are to be rooted out forever, and condemned to perpetual forgetfulness." "Now which of these ten kingdoms, or of the ten states in Europe, and what tenth part thereof, shall first have this great privilege, as a blessed handful to the rest that follow, is not hard to conjecture." "The saints and churches belonging unto the kingdom of France, God has made a wonder unto me in all his proceedings towards them, first and last; and there would seem some great and special honor reserved for them yet at the last. For it is certain, that the first light of the gospel, by that first and second angel's preaching, (chap. xiv.,) which laid the foundation of Antichrist's ruin, was out from among them; namely, those of Lyons and other places in France. And they bore and underwent the great heat of that morning of persecution; which was as great, if not greater, than any since. And besides, the churches of France have ever since had as great a share in persecutions, yea greater, than any other churches. And though it be well nigh five hundred years since they began first to separate from Antichrist, and they still continue a glorious church unto this day, yet they never had that great honor and privilege (which other churches Set not your hearts upon this world: "for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Shalt thou hear, "O my soul, the sound of the trumpet?" Prepare to meet thy God." What if this night the last trumpet should sound! Wo to the unprepared! but glory, and honor, and immortality to the people of God!So, come Lord Jesus. have been so blest with) as to have a supreme magistrate professing their religion; but either they have been bloody persecutors and oppressors of them, or else they have apostatized from them. May it not, therefore, be hoped and looked for, that as that kingdom had the first great stroke, so now it should have the honor to have the last great stroke in the ruining of Rome?"* The peculiar rage of the wars occasioned by the French revolution, and the remarkable pestilences and famines which have accompanied it, greatly support these interpretations, that it is indeed the sound of the sixth trumpet-the second wo; after which there cometh but one more. And behold, the third wo cometh quickly; which is the battle of that great day of God Almighty, in which the wrath of God is fulfilled, and therefore must necessarily make an end of all Christ's enemies. The same things are said to be done at the sounding of the seventh trumpet (which is the last of woes) that shall be done at the pouring out of the seventh vial (which is the last of plagues:) as upon the pouring forth of the last vial, there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake, such as never was on earth before, and a great hail, so likewise at the sounding of the last trumpet, there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. * Part II., chap. vii., §5 and 6. Let the seventh angel sound on high, Almighty God, thy power assume, The angry nations fret and roar, Now must the rising dead appear, 5* WATTS. |