there himself grounds the expectation, not only that 'fhall be great Commotions in the world,' but that the Tenth Part of the city hall fall, as an omen and earnest ' of A STILL GREATER FALL 42' With this declaration Jurieu completely harmonizes; speaking of it as a Grand Event, which must come to pafs before the laft fall of the antichriftian kingdom 43. Indeed this celebrated French divine fays in a former page: this 'period shall make greater changes in the world, than were ever seen. Nay, if we should interpret thefe changes which ought to happen, only by those which fell out in the last age; furely we may fay, that never were greater and more furprizing alterations. In lefs than 20 or 30 years, a great part of the Chriftian world was reformed. And at the fame time there were dreadful wars, troubles, and sheddings of blood, in Germany, ⚫in Flanders, in Holland, in England, and in France**.* Since many persons have been taught to believe, that Jurieu has been extraordinarily happy in pointing out the period, near which the French Revolution was to happen; I shall probably be regarded as chargeable with neglect for having omitted the mention of fo important a circumftance. It is therefore incumbent on me to explain the reafon of this omiffion. Mr. Winchester, after obferving that Jurieu had foretold this Revolution and the abolition of titles, adds, and what is more extraordinary ftill, he predicted the Time, when it would hap'pen, allowing himself a latitude of ten years, from * 1780 to 179045. The editor of a pamphlet, entitled Prophetic Conjectures, fays, that Jurieu had specified, that a Revolution would be accomplished in France, between 1785 and 179546. And in a third pamphlet 42 Vol. III. p. 126, 131. 44 P. 219. 46 P. 57. 43 Vol. II. p. 240. by by Mr. Bicheno, this gentleman marks the following paffage as a quotation from Jurieu. The Tenth Part of the city which here fell, will, at fome future time, appear to be the kingdom of France, where a Revolution 'will take place about the year 1785. But, whatever be the cause, thefe ftatements, though they agree tolerably well with each other, are completely erroneous; and no fuch paffage, as that quoted by Mr. Bicheno, is to be found in Jurieu. The fact is, that this Proteftant divine was altogether miftaken as to the time. This is evident, even from what is printed in the title both of the French original and of the English tranflation of his work, as well as from numberless paffages which are scattered through the body of it. Instead of having correct notions on the period of the French Revolution, he believed, that it would be accomplished before the expiration of the last century. Perfuaded that it would happen three years and a half after a certain fixed date, he fays, when fpeaking of this date, I ftrongly hope, that God intends to begin it at the time of the revocation of the Edict of 'Nantes 49; an event, which had taken place in 1685. He fuppofed, that in about 20 or 25 years after France should have ceased to constitute a part of the antichristian empire, that empire would totally fall49; and he pronounced it to be certain, that, in the beginning of the next age, this empire MUST fee its end.' If,' fays he, I fhould be mistaken 9 or 10 years, and that this empire 'fhould (instead of ending in the year 1710, or thereabouts) run on until the year 1720, I do not think that 'any could justly treat me as a falfe prophet 5o.—I sup'pofe 30 years fhall pafs for the reuniting of all Chrif 6 47 The Signs of the Times, p. 41. 49 P. 20, 244, 276. 48 Vol. II. p. 229, 278. 5. P. 279. tians in the fame communion, and that this union fhall 'be effected about the year 1740.-45 years will be re quifite to run over all the earth, and convert the nations 'that are ftrangers to the covenant.' Then, fays he, 'add 45 to 1740, that will fall on the year 1785, in which fhall come the glorious Reign of Chrift on the ' earth 51.' Wild as these computations may appear, they were not framed at random. It is true, that in fixing his firft date Jurieu committed a radical error. But, fuppofing him to have been right in the foundation of his reckoning, he would not have been altogether unauthorised in afferting, that at the close of 30 years, and again at the conclufion of 45, fome fignal and glorious events might be expected to happen. This will be seen in ch. xx. The work of a countryman and a contemporary of Jurieu ought not here to be paffed over in filence. It was 'written in 1685; and in 1688 a translation of it, now become extremely fcarce, was published at London, entitled A NEW SYSTEME OF THE APOCALYPSE 52. The fame paffages in the Revelation, which in England had been regarded by Dr. Goodwin, and in Holland by Jurieu, as capable of being referred to the future ftate of France, received also in France itself a similar application from this anonymous divine; though we are asfured in his preface, that, in the compofition of his own work, he had made no use of that of Jurieu. The inter 51 P. 58, 59. 5 Not two days had it been finished, before a number of French dragoons entered the refidence of the author; and plundering him of all that he poffeffed, excepting this treatise, obliged him to flee for refuge to a foreign country. Of our perfecuted author his English translator declares, that he knew no man, who has been more happy in his explication of the prophecies which are yet unfulfilled, or who has accompanied what he fays on futurity with more probable reasons. nal nal marks of originality in this performance are indeed abundantly fatisfactory 53. 6 To the witneffes, who have appeared in France, he applies, like Jurieu, the principal part of the xith chapter; and, in the course of his remarks upon it, observes that St. John speaks not of places, but of one-place;' and that place or street, which the text doth design,feems beyond all contradiction to be FRANCE 54.' And in a fubfequent page, he not only declares, that he fhall be much deceived, if there is not A REVOLU TION IN FRANCE;' but adds that it is not to be queftioned, that there will be a furprizing change in that country, not merely with respect to religion, but in ' reference TO JUSTICE, TO POLICY, TO THE FI'NANCES, AND TO WAR 55.' Indeed the fymbol of an earthquake is a political one; and as the prophet declares it to be a Great earthquake, our anonymous author might, with reason, expect, that it would shake the whole fabric of the Gallic government, and extend its alterations through every part of it. 6 From the words already quoted, that a great voice from heaven was heard, faying, come up hither, he infers, like Jurieu, that the French revolution would originate from the prince on the throne. He afterwards likewise obferves, that as it is the king of France who contri'buteth moft to the glory of the papacy; fo it fhall be 'the king of France, that fhall contribute moft to its * ruin.' Poffibly it may be asked, is not this at variance with fact? On the contrary, it may be replied, it exactly corresponds with it, and the words of our divine have been literally accomplished. Did not Louis 53 So widely did Jurieu and our anonymous divine differ, with refpect to certain parts of the apocalypfe, that they engaged in an amicable controversy on the subject. 54 P. 226. $6 P. 232. 55 P. 232, 233. XVI. powerfully contribute, in various ways, to the progrefs, as well as the commencement, of the French revolution; and will it not be ultimately found, that the whole of his conduct, however it might have been intended to operate, has in fact fubftantially contributed, not only to the ruin of popery in France, but of the papacy itself? 6 But, in confining myself merely to the expectations of our anonymous divine, I should not do him juftice. Of his reafons an extenfive fpecimen fhall therefore be given. Some,' fays he, will doubtless ask, what reafon I have to understand FRANCE, rather than any ⚫ other kingdom, by this Tenth Part of the city, which is, • to fall after the earthquake? My reasons are these, 1. I presuppose that the city here spoken of is Babylon, or the papal empire, or the Romish church, which is the empire of Antichrift. This truth we have already proved. 2. I prefuppofe that France is one of the Ten Kingdoms that were to be formed out of the ruins of 'the Roman empire.-3. I prefuppofe France is one 'Street, and one part of the city, i. e. of the papal king'dom. Nor can any one deny but that the. Gallican church, or the church of France, ftyles itfelf by the ' title of the catholic apoftolic Roman church; that the 'pope reigns there over what is called fpirituals; that he hath there his ministers and agents; that he receiveth annates from thence; and that there is no arch-bifhop or bishop in France, but who receives his miffion and authority from the pope. 4. I fuppofe that France is the most beautiful and glorious kingdom of all those kingdoms which are tributary to the pope. They do 'fo account it, by calling the king of France, the moft · Christian king, and the eldest son of the church. And it is worthy of remark, that, even in St. John's time, France was by way of excellency ftyled the Province; 6 6 becaufe |
