But although the greater part of the two firft chapters is occupied in confidering the import of Mr. Fleming's interpretation of a fingle prophecy in the Apocalypfe; yet, as a crowd of paffages, more or lefs interefting, were in a fhort time difcovered by me in the commentators, and as my own knowledge of the fubject was gradually augmented by reading and reflexion, I was induced, imperceptibly, to extend my plan, and at length to enter on an extenfive examination of many of the unaccomplished prophecies of fcripture3. Thus the elucidation of Mr. Fleming became an object of very inferior moment; and I long hefitated, whether all which I had written refpecting him fhould not be omitted.

If there be unaccomplished prophecies in different parts of Holy Writ, as there certainly are; and if the general meaning of many among them be capable of being penetrated; no man, who regards himself as a member of civil fociety, earnefly folicitous for the moral and religious welfare of mankind, can be warranted in treat

3 After coming to a refolution of publifhing my thoughts in a feparate pamphlet, I fully purposed to comprise the whole within a fingle sheet. By gradual acceffions it has, however, branched out into three diftinct works, and of these one confifts of two octavo volumes. Of the two unpublished works the one is mentioned in the advertisement: the other, which would form a bulky pamphlet, relates to the caufes of infidelity, and to the effects which the French revolution is likely ultimately to produce with refpect to Chriflianity.

ing

ing them with a carelefs indifference. Neither can any well-intended endeavour to illuftrate them, however imperfect, be justly viewed as in any degree cenfurable. If,' fays a late writer, the words of prophecy really have their 'completion near our own times, we ought with integrity to fpeak out, when we can at all apprehend their interpretation; and that, without fear and reserve. Certain, indeed, it is, that he, who is animated with an inflexible zeal for the interefts of mankind, will not be intimidated from uttering what he believes to be important truths, from his knowledge of their being diftafteful to the rulers of nations. In fuch a fituation, he is not without authoritative examples to direct his conduct. The prophet Jeremiah, the apostle Paul, and the great founder of Chriftianity, were not deterred from the publication of bold and falutary truths, though they plainly forefaw, that they fhould, in confequence, encounter the charge of fedition, and excite the determined hoftility and cruel perfecution of their infatuated countrymen, and of the unprincipled governors under whofe jurifdiction they lived.

Amid thofe fcenes of defolation and carnage, which have recently occurred in fo many different parts of the European world; in the midst of a war, during the profecution of which the multiplied outrages of the continental defpots,

4 Morfels of Criticifm, by Edward King, Efq. p. 442.

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and the circumstances of danger in which France has been placed, have provoked many individuals in that country to a long feries of the moft criminal exceffes, and have furnished others among them with pretexts for ufurping a degree of authority, decidedly detrimental to the interefts of freedom, and calculated to generate a defire of changes; the friend of peace and li berty

It was,' faid Mr. Sheridan, the infamous club of Pilnitz, the affociated fociety of defpots, that, in the unprovoked * attack on the infant liberty of a people, awakened terror, diftruft, and cruelty. They trembled for their freedom, and they thought every moment that treachery was about to rob 'them of it. Nothing is fo cowardly as fear and panic; no6 thing fo humane as courage. When the French were under 'the influence of this, terror, cruelty and oppreffion rofe. To 'what other cause than this can the change be attributed? In the beginning of the revolution, a system, mild and lenient to a degree perhaps of extravagant refinement, was embraced, but was quickly superceded by the fears which external danger and domeftic diftruft infpired. Terror was only to be allayed. by fpreading terror, and fufpicions by fufpicion.' To the preceding paffage, which is from a speech of Mr. Sheridan (Woodfall's Parliam. Reports, vol. II. p. 183.), I add the following extract. The numerous executions and repeated massacres in Paris and the departments have excited univerfal indignation, ' and thrown an odium on the whole French nation. It is neceffary, however, to make fome allowance for fituation and 'circumstances; to calculate the degree of degeneracy and even 'cruelty, fuperinduced by ages of flavery and oppreffion; to recollect the horrors of a foreign war, new in its kind, and ❝ unheard of before in point of extent; to keep in mind the 'enormities always engendered by civil commotions, and the 'madness neceffarily excited by the temporary deprivation and

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'the

berty cannot but lament much that, is paffing in the world, and may perhaps, occafionally, feel unwelcome apprehenfions refpecting the final iffue of events.

The following volumes, it is prefumed, are not altogether unadapted, to mollify fuch uneafiness, and to quiet fuch fears.

Of many perfons it is undoubtedly the belief, that the fame Great Ruler of the universe, who has conducted events fo as to terminate in the French revolution, has also, in the prophetic visions of St. John, in fome degree given previous notice of the accomplishment of this revolution. But fhould it be thought, that the book of Revelation affords not the flendereft clue for tracing out thofe events, which were formerly pointed out by the commentators, and which are now become historically true; ftill will fome of the paffages, which were published. by them a number of years ago, and which remarkably coincide with the important changes that have recently taken place, be probably conceived not undeferving of prefervation, as literary curiosities. It may be added, that many

the dread of approaching famine. After all, these must only be confidered as tending to alleviate, rather than to juftify, the exceffes that have been committed; but, upon due inveftigation, it will perhaps be difcovered, that the guilt and difgrace attach folely to a bloody and triumphant faction, now laid in the duft, and that the crimes, which have ftained the annals of France, have been perpetrated by a few individuals, ' rather than the whole nation.'

I particularly refer to the paffages contained in ch. VIII.

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of the volumes, to which I have had recourse, are scarce; and that the prefent work would never have appeared at all, had not the writer of it happened to poffefs uncommon opportunities of access to treatifes and to commentaries, illuftrative of the prophetic parts of the facred volume. But, when in poffeffion of these opportunities, to have made no attempt for ferving the cause of truth and freedom, would perhaps have been a culpable omiffion.

It is remarked by bishop Newton, that the prophecies, though written by different men in different ages, have yet a vifible connexion and dependency, an entire harmony and agreement "one with another. At the fame time that there is fuch perfect harmony, there is alfo great variety; and the fame things are foretold by different prophets in a different man'ner, and with different circumstances'.' Upon these observations, it is hoped, the following fheets may serve to throw fome additional rays of light and evidence.

Nor am I altogether without the hope, that they may lead fome individuals to bend a fhare of their attention to the prophetic writings, who have hitherto treated them with levity and with neglect; and that it may thus, perhaps, be the occafion of their feeing the evidences of Chriftianity placed in fo ftrong a light, as to corroborate their belief, or to diffipate their Difs. on the Proph. vol. III. p. 421.

fcru