fcruples. To those who are examining these evidences, bishop Butler recommends, that they fhould fet down every thing, which they think may be of be of any real weight at all in proof of it, and particularly the many feeming comple⚫tions of prophecy: and they will find,' adds the prelate, that, judging by the natural rules, by which we judge of probable evidence in com'mon matters, they amount to a much higher degree of proof, upon fuch a joint review, than 'could be supposed upon confidering them sepa'rately, at different times; how ftrong foever 'the proof might before appear to them, upon 'fuch feparate views of it. For probable proofs,

by being added, not only encrease the evidence, "but multiply it'. If this reasoning be solid, any work, by which perfons may be incited to infpect with care a number of the principal fcriptural predictions, cannot but be of service.

Another paffage from the fame fagacious prelate may alfo deferve to be cited, as it ferves to display the great importance of the fubject, which is treated of throughout a large part of the prefent work. After obferving, that it requires a good degree of knowledge, and great calmnefs and 'confi

I have ever thought', fays bishop Warburton, the prophecies relating to Antichrift, interfperfed up and down the New and Old Teftament, the moft convincing proof of the 'truth of the Christian religion, that any moral matter is сара'ble of receiving.' Warburton's Works, 4to, vol. VI. p. 383.

• Analogy of Rel. Nat. and Rev. 1750, p. 399.

confideration, to be able to judge, thoroughly, "of the evidence for the truth of Chriflianity, from that part of the prophetic hiftory, which relates to the fituation of the kingdoms of the world,

and to the state of the church, from the establish'ment of Christianity to the present time;' he fays, but it appears, from a general view of it,

to be very material. And thofe perfons, who 'have thoroughly examined it, and fome of them "were men of the coolest tempers, greatest capacities, and leaft liable to imputations of prejudice, infift upon it as determinately conclu• five10'

By interfperfing among the interpretations of prophecy fome political truths, I likewife indulged the expectation, that there might be a probable chance of their falling into the hands of a class of perfons, who are indeed to the facred oracles fedulously attentive, but are altogether negligent of political inquiries. Strongly impreffed as I am with the importance of difcuffions on the fubje&t of government, unalterably convinced as I am of the mighty influence of freedom on the virtue and the felicity of mankind, I could not but think myfelf usefully employed, in cafe I were able, by any incidental observations, in any degree to augment the thirft for political knowledge, or to heighten the love of liberty.

I had alfo a farther end in view. Such a statement of the probable course of future events I

defigned to exhibit, as would furnish a new motive for obedience to the precepts of Chriftianity, and powerfully difpofe the mind to ferioufnefs and felf-examination. If we discover, by an attention to prophecy,, and an infpection of the actual ftate of affairs among the nations of Europe, that the period is arrived, or is probably about to arrive, when many of them are to undergo mighty changes, or are to be vifited with fignal calamities; what is the conclufion which this profpect into futurity fhould lead every man to form, and what is the conduct which it ought to produce? Surely it ought to operate as a new and preffing ftimulus to the practice of virtue. The mind of the Englishman in particular it fhould influence. Whilft Great Britain has feen the flames of war blazing in the towns and provinces of the nations that furround her, and, after fhort intervals, repeatedly lighted up afrefh; fhe herself, during a period of an hundred and forty years, has experienced a fingular prolongation of good fortune, and has almost entirely escaped from thofe cruel ravages, which hoftile armies would have committed upon her territories. Now if this be an accurate statement: and what has been afferted be moreover true, that, during a large portion of this time, fhe has taken a very active and criminal part in kindling the torch of difcord, and in extending the devaftations of war, either in the provinces of North America, or the islands of the West Indies, in the peninfula of Hindoftan, on the

continent of Europe, or in the wide-spreading regions of Africa; is there not reason to fear, that the time may not be far diftant, when fhe will in her turn fuffer those calamities, which her government has been fo induftrious to inflict upon other nations; and which, when inflicted, so many of her people have viewed with acquiefcence, if not with approbation and triumph? Does not facred, and does not profane hiftory, inform us, that it has ever been the plan of divine providence at length to chaftife and humble thofe nations, which are fwelled with pride, corrupted by luxury, and difgraced by any fignal and multiplied acts of oppreffion or rapine? Are we not apprized, that the guilt of nations, as well as of individuals, is enhanced in proportion to the degree of light and knowledge, which heaven has vouchafed to them? To the inhabitant of Great Britain reflections of this description may be unacceptable. But they are not unfeasonable. They ought to stimulate every man strenuously to endeavour, as far the influence of his individual efforts will extend, to lead fuch a moral and religious life, as will be calculated to avert from his country the impending punishment of an offended Deity. Then, whatever may be the characters of other men, and however dark the complexion of external events, he will feel the consciousness of having acted well, and the approbation of Almighty God he will affuredly obtain. The more there are, fays a celebrated writer,

who

who cultivate a fenfe of piety to God, (which ⚫ will always lead to fupprefs refentment, and to promote good will towards men,) the more fa6 vour, in the righteous administration of providence, will be fhewn to the country in which 6 they fhall be found","

Of the inhabitants of Europe fo large a proportion are corrupt, in confequence of the very defective state of education, and the exifting fyftems of religion and government, that, I fear, it is to be apprehended, many of them muft, in order to be purified, pass through very confiderable diftreffes. The obfervations, that follow, the mind contemplates with a degree of timorous folicitude, and yields to them a tardy and reluctant acquiefcence. For the reformation of a whole people, and especially of the higher claffes, nothing,' fays Dr. Aikin, can be relied upon but one of thofe grand remedial proceffes, which are probably within the moral plan of providence. Nations, whom a long courfe of profperity has ❝ rendered vain, arrogant, and luxurious, in whom ' increasing opulence has generated increased wants

6

and defires, for the gratification of which all 'barriers of honour and jufticę are broken down, "who are arrived at that state in which, accord'ing to the energetic expreffion of the Roman hif

torian, they can neither bear their vices nor the remedies of them; are only to be brought back to a right fenfe of things by fome fignal cataf

11 Dr. Priestley's Fast Ser. for Feb. 28, 1794; P. 32.

trophe,