with his bride, the church, will pro- fuppreffion of Satan's vifible king dom in the world. Although thefe events are diftinctly and feparately related, it is not eafy to decide, whether they will not be combined and united in the fame event. Each fide of the hypothefis poffeffes great plaufibility. It is faid of the kings of the earth who had committed fornication with the great whore, who had patronized and fupported the adulterous, or idolatrous church, that they stood afar off and lamented and bewailed her burning. This moft clearly implies, that they furvived her deftruction, and it fhould feem afterward united with the dragon in his great conflict with God Almighty, when with him they would be overcome and fubdued. This relation clearly implies two fucceffive events; one being the fall or deftruction of fpiritual Babylon, the other, the final victory over Satan and his adherents, which will deftroy his vifible kingdom on earth, and introduce the millenial state of the church. This notwithstanding, it is faid of the ten kings chapter xvii. 14. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb fhall overcome them and kill them; evidently referring to the great battle defcribed, chapter xix, combining the fall of Babylon and the victory over Satan in one event. So the celebration of the marriage of the Lamb with fuch joy and gladnefs, though it be related previous to the great battle, really fucceeds it; as we may rationally fuppofe that it would not be celebrated while it was fo formida-unclean fpirits go to the kings of bly oppofed, nor while the difpute concerning it was pending which was to be terminated by a great and decifive battle. To fuppofe this conflict will precede the nuptial folemnity of the Lamb It would confequently be next in courfe to confider that great and bleffed event expreffed in the text, fo defirable, and happy for the church; but this hath been fo ably described by pious and learned pens, and is fo conftantly the fubject of the meditation, faith, hope and prayer of the benevolent friends of Chrift's kingdom, that the neceffity of it is entirely fuperceded. Let it therefore fuffice only to remark, that as under the fixth vial we saw the the earth, and ftimulate them to wage war with heaven, and were amazed at their impiety, their efforts and fuccefs, as we had the most demonstrative evidence of the accomplishment of this before our eyes in the occurrences of the prefent day; fo we are equally aftonished at the methods of the king of kings to fruftrate their nefarious defigns. How marvellous are the administrations of his providence to vindicate his own caufe, and difconcert the devices of his foes, that wherein the enemy deals proudly he may fhew that he is above them? Was that facred paffage, When the enemy fball break in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him, ever more fignally verified than in this period of agitation and conflict? How wonderful are thofe difpenfations of his providence by which the light of the gofpel is diffufed? How admirable the fpirit which he hath ftirred up in his children, by miffionary inftitutions, contributions and exertions to give extent and ftability to his caufe? How marvellous it is, that amidst all this fmoke of the bottomlefs pit, thefe infernal inftigations, even to rage and madness, against the Lord and againft his anointed, that Chrift should be more extenfively preached and known, and his caufe more deeply riveted in the fouls of men, than at any other period fince the foundation of the world? Surely from this, infidelity muft forever despair of fuccefs; but the spirit of blindnefs and madness is in it. How manifold and wonderful thofe influences of his fpirit (as the dew of Hermon and the dew which defcended upon the mountains of Zion) which he hath communicated to refresh and animate the fouls of his people and collect his chofen, by these making him felf ftrong against the day of battle and war? Thefe though not particularly specified were to have been apprehended from the neceffary nature of the fubject and courfe of events; and by thefe is he who fitteth on the white horse preparing to make fignal difplays of his invincible power, his confummate fkill in war, and his infinite fuperiority over his enemies, and to vanquish them forever. After the expreffions of joy and gladnefs, of thanksgiving and praife in heaven, that the Lord God Almighty had taken to himself his great power and reigned; it is added, And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they fhould be judged, and that thou fhould't give reward unto thy fervants the prophets and to the faints, and to them that fear thy name fmall and great, and that thou shouldeft deftroy them that deftroy the earth; in this very concife and fummary manner including and completing the whole fyftem of divine government, with the folemn retributions of the day of judgment. In a review of the preceding remarks may we not analize and methodize the Revelation of St. John? Upon a critical examination will it not be found to confift of the following subjects, reducible to the subsequent order? The firft chapter contains a very awful vifion of Jefus Chrift, introductory to the directions and vifions contained in the whole book. The fecond and third chapters are epiftles to the feven churches in Afia. The fourth a vifion preparatory to the Revelation itself. The fifth of the book fealed with feven feals, infolding the counfels and defigns of God Almighty relating to the church and world, which are the fubject or matter of the Revelation. The fixth commences the prophetic feries. The feventh, eighth and ninth continue it. The tenth contains nation extended through the next century to zoo. The third vifion of the black horfe and the balances, denoting fcarcity, diftrefs and exactnefs in weights and meafures, contained a term of fifty years to 250. The fourth vifion, of the pale horfe, whofe rider was death, who had power to kill the a vision of the little book, intro | prized a term of about 30 years, ductory to the eleventh chapter, or extended, in round numbers to which exhibits the contents of it, A. D. 100. The fecond feal, or the beaft and the witneffes. The the vifion of the horse that was twelfth chapter verfe 1-13 (ex-red, denoting that scene of war, clufive of the fixth which antici- flaughter and blood in the em pates the fourteenth and feven- pire which was occafioned efpeteenth verfes) refumes the grand cially by the infurrections of the fubject, the church, from the be-jews, and was fo diftrefsful to their ginning. The fixth, fourteenth, feventeenth and nineteenth verfes are a different view of the beaft and the witneffes contained in the eleventhchapter. Chap. thirteenth is a description of the beaft. The fourteenth of the witneffes. The fifteenth is a vifion introductory to the fixteenth, which confifts of the feven vials, or God's judg-fourth part of men, by the fword, ments upon antichrift. The fventeenth is a description of the falfe church. The eighteenth of her deftruction. The nineteenth of the marriage of the Lamb. The twentieth of the happy condition of the church on earth. The twenty first and fecond of its glorified ftate in heaven. According to this analyfis it appears that of the Revelation, the fecond and third chapters are epiftles. The firft, fourth, fifth, twelfth to the twenty fecond inclufive, are introductory and defcriptive vifions of the feveral fubjects to which they relate, and confequently, that the prophecy of this book, or that which is properly Revelation is comprised in the fixth, feventh, eighth, ninth and eleventh chapters. or war, by hunger or famine, by death or the peftilence, and the beafts of the field, denoting a great mortality by these dreadful judgements, extended to 300. The fifth exhibits the fouls of the mar tyrs, as victims under the altar, crying, how long Lord ? referring efpecially to the perfecution of Chriftans raised by Dioclefian, and which from the feverity and extent of it was called the era of the martyrs. When the fixth feal was opened, there was a great earthquake or mighty revolution, the fun became black as fackloth of hair, or was totally eclipfed, the heathen powers and princes were extinguished, and the empire was converted to chriftianity about 320, (this is supposed to be the fame with the war in heaven chap. xii, v. 10,) and the church generally enjoyed profperity to 400. We have next the opening of the feventh feal, upon which feven angels appear with seven trumpets, prepar If we enquire for the fubjects of this prophecy, will they not be found to confift of the following, related in the following manner? Applying the first feal, or the vifion of the white horfe and his victorious rider to Vefpafian, Ti-ed to found. The founding of tus and their conquefts, the pro- the first four typifying the feveral phetic feries commenced about fucceffive irruptions of the northA. D. 70, and the first seal com- ern or barbarous nations upon the its divine inspiration and authori ty? What external, vifible evidence has it received from the difpenfations of divine providence? How full of important inftruction, fupport and comfort to those who are looking for redemption by Chrift Jefus ?-With thefe vifi empire, by which they fubdued, depopulated and diffolved it, when the third part of the fun, moon and ftars, was fmitten, that the day fhone not for one third part of it, or the ruling powers of one third of the world were entirely extinguished, 476. The fifth trumpet and first woe, by the fig-ons before our eyes, and the histoure of a ftar falling from heaven, the opening of the bottomlefs pit and the afcent of locufts out of it, denoting the imposture of Mahomet and the conquefts and cruelties of his followers, the Saracens, or Arabians, 612. The fixth trumpet and second woe, by loofing the four angels which were bound by the river Euphrates, prefiguring the incurfions, depredations and conquefts of the Turks, which commenced 1280. With this we may connect the vifion of the beaft and the witneffes prophefying in fackloth. We have laftly, the feventh trumpet and third woe, or God's judgments upon antichrift fucceffively inflicted under the pouring out of feven vials, of which we live in the conclufion of the fixth, or the beginning of the feventh and laft, under which divine judgment upon antichrift will be confummated in his complete and final deftruction, and Satan be difpoffeffed of his vifible kingdom in the world, which will be fucceeded by the happy condition of the church on earth and its glorified ftate in heaven. What a won derful fyftem of vifions is the Revelation, containing a prophetic feries of events which commenced about the time of the apostle, and will extend to the end of the world! How appofite the figures to fignify their various events? How admirably connected and harmonious? What evidence does the Revelation involve in itself of ry of divine providence in our hands, we begin with the first feal of the divine volume. We examine all the fubfequent vifions, comparing the event with the prediction, and are surprised at their connection, their concert and exact fulfilment. We arrive at the period in which we live. We fee the fpiritual Euphrates dried to its lees, the refources of Popish antichrift exhausted to their very dregs. We perceive from their tenets and infinuations, that the unclean fpirits, like frogs, are gone out into all the world. We fee them every where, in the palaces of kings and the cottages of peafants, and we hear them croaking from every corner. Filled with confternation at finding the events and circumstances of the times in which we live fo accurately defcribed, we demand, how can these things be? We reflect that known unto God are all his works from the beginning. Our doubts are refolved and our faith confirmed. This is the revelation of Jefus Chrift which God gave unto him. Convinced from the paft we anxiously enquire for the future. We are informed that the conteft will progrefs. We fee the combatants marfhalling under their respective leaders. We look to the captain of our falvation and fee his name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. We are affured that he will vanquish, confound and put all his foes to shame, and triumph and to feel rightly, they are most ftudious to err; and with refpe&t to their relations and obligations to God, to refort to fhifts and excufes which they will not for a moment admit in their intercourfe with each other. Thus the exiftence of fin.in our world is fometimes confidered as an excufe or juftification for the committing of fin; and the implantation of a principle of grace in the heart, as an abridgement of the liberty of It is admitted that we are man. wholly paffive in what is termed and reign gloriously. We look around and fee ourselves compaffed about with a great cloud of witneffes which are earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the faints. Infpired with holy fortitude, our zeal kindles to engage in the arduous conflict and fupport the bleffed caufe. Senfible that we are inefficient, yet purfuaded that we fhall be more than conquerors, through him who hath loved us, we gird up the loins of our minds, and as we wreftle not with flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the dark-regeneration, but not that we are nefs of this world, against fpiritual wickednefs in high places, we put on the whole armour of God, the fhield of faith, the helmet of hope, and the breaft plate of righteousnefs, and the fword of the fpirit, having our feet fhod with the preparation of the gof pel of peace, and praying always with all prayer and fupplication, come Lord Jefus, come quickly.bers. To fome is given the PEREGRINUS. er to obtain wealth and honors, while to others this power is deni ed. Some are healthy and robuft, while others are fickly and deformed. Some are bleffed with all the good things of this life, while others are deprived of them. We have no influence or agency in natural caufes and effects. We have no power to change the feafons, or to arreft the courfe of nature. Winds and ftorms which often produce diftreffing calamities neither come or go at our com TO THE EDITORS OF THE CON- GAZINE. GENTLEMEN, IF the following remarks are worthy of a place in your Magazine, you are at liberty to infert them. If you judge them not to be fo, you will not difoblige the author. T has often been a matter of to the writer, that men fhould reafon fo differently on the fubject of religion, from what they do on all other subjects: that they should there deny principles and fentiments, which they avow, and adopt in common life.-On queftions where it is of the laft importance to reafon correctly, thereby deprived of moral liberty, or that any constraint is laid upon our wishes or our wills. We are paffive as to many or most of our concerns. We are paffive in our creation-in the place of our birth-in the formation of our bodies-in the capacity of our understandings-and as to the families of which we are mem pow the cold of winter, or the scorching heat of fummer. The blaft, the mildew and the hail, lay wafte our fields against our defires and our tears. We are condemned to perpetual toil-to ficknefs, and to death in confequence of the commiffion of a fin, in which we were not the actors. In all these |