CONTENTS. Ch. I. Extracts from the Apocalyptic Discourse of Mr. Fleming, wherein he applies the fourth vial to France; with an inquiry into Ch. II. Farther remarks on the Fourth Vial, and Mr. Fleming's interpretation of it; with some incidental thoughts on the imme- Ch. V. St. John's description of the Ten-horned beast, the representative of Civil tyranny, and of the antichristian princes Ch. VI. His description of the Two-horned beast, the represent- ative of the antichristian priesthood and of ecclesiastical oppression, Ch. VII. Remarks introductory to an examination of that part of the eleventh chapter of the Apocalypse, which is thought to 96 Ch. VIII. Expectations of various prophetical interpreters, which are founded on that eleventh chapter, and respect a revolution in Ch. X. On the concluding part of the eleventh chapter of St. John, and his description of the period of the seventh trumpet; with some short extracts respecting the fifth and sixth trumpets, as Ch. XI. On the Vials in general, and the fifth vial in parti- Ch. XII. Observations and Extracts relative to St. Paul's Pro- App. to ch. XII. Facts and observations designed to prove, that almost every kind of ecclesiastical usurpation was introduced, and almost every species of superstition encouraged, as early as the Fourth Century; and, therefore, that the prediction of the Coming of the Man of Sin ought not to be exclusively applied to the church of Rome, since the man of sin was already come, and fully mani- fested, several centuries before the authority of that church was Ch. XIII. Passages from the Apocalypse, which respect the corruptions and the destruction of the symbolic Babylon, and relate to the antichristian hierarchies in general, and especially to the church of Rome; with a brief statement of early opinions Ch. XIV. Observations of various writers, which serve to shew, that unequivocal marks of antichristianism are impressed not only on the church of Rome, but also on the other national churches of Europe; with some passages intended to prove the bad effects, which their connexion with a hierarchy, and elevation to a bishopric, produced on the mind and the conduct of Dr. New- ton, bishop of Bristol, and of Dr. Hurd, bishop of Worcester, 206 Ch. XV. Daniel's prediction of the Fall of the Papacy concisely noticed; with a digression relative to one of the symbols most fre- Ch. XVI. Thoughts on the course of future events, and parti- cularly on a prediction of St. John, in which he appears to foretell a memorable war, in which a number of combined princes will be Ch. XVII. Remarks on the symbolic harvest and the symbolic vintage, foretold in the fourteenth chapter of the Revelation, and Ch. XVIII. Prophecies in the Apocalypse, which point out the destruction of all the Governments in Europe, which are oppressive Ch. XIX. Extracts from different authors, containing observa. tions on the evidences of prophecy in general, and on the authen- It is proper to inform the reader, that the heads prefixed to the chapters, are more brief than those contained in the preceding table CHAPTER I. ON MR. FLEMING'S INTERPRETATION OF THE FOURTH VIAL. THE desire of penetrating into futurity is a passion congenial to the human mind; and whenever, from a careful inspection of prophecy, the attempt is attended with any share of success, our curiosity is awakened and our attention fixed. This, in the opinion of many, has happened with respect to a Discourse of Mr. Fleming; since, writing at the commencement of the present century, he gave, in the course of his remarks on the book of Revelation, such a representation of events, as, in a considerable degree, has been accomplished near the period of its ter mination. In the sublime scenery of the xvth ch. of that prophecy, seven angels' are represented as having seven vials, which are called the seven last plagues; for, says the prophet (v. 1.) in them is filled up the wrath of God. These plagues, which are successively described in ch. xvi, Mr. Fleming regards as judgments' principally, though not exclusively, upon Rome Papal 2.' The passages which follow are extracted from a Discourse, published, with three others, by Mr. Fleming 3 in 3 1 ' In the style of prophecy, every thing is called an angel, that notifies a message from God, or executes the will of God? Lowman on ch. i. 1. 2 See p. 59, 77. 3 Our author's father, who published a large work, entitled the Fulfilling of Scripture, was one of the 400 ministers of Scotland, who were ejected from their livings soon after the restoration of Charles II. When liberated from his confinement in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, he fled to Holland; and his son, Mr. Robert Fleming, in consequence, carried on his A the year 1701. After endeavoring to shew, that the three first vials pointed out events, which had undermined the power of the Roman pontiff and his adherents; he proceeds to the fourth, as foretelling other events, which would, assuredly, be in a high degree injurious to them. St. John says, ch. xvi. v. 8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire,The chief thing,' says Mr. Fleming, to be taken notice of here, is, that the sun and other luminaries of heaven are the emblems of princes and kingdoms, as we took notice of before. Therefore the pouring out of this vial on the sun MUST denote the humiliation of some eminent potentates of the Romish interest, whose in fluences and countenar.ee cherish and support the Papal cause. And these therefore must be principally understood of the houses of Austria and Bourbon, though not exclusively of other Popish princes. So that there is ground to hope, that, about the beginning of another such century, things may again alter for the better: for I cannot but hope that some new mortification of the chief supporters of Antichrist will then happen; and perhaps the French Monarchy may begin to be considerably humbled about that time that whereas the present French king takes the : studies in the universities of Leyden and Utrecht. After having prosecuted them with diligence, he became successively minister of the English church at Leyden, and the Scotch church at Rotterdam; and he afterwards removed to that of Founder's Hall in Lothbury. The subsequent passage is from a letter of the Rev. Mr. Joshua Toulman of Taunton, communicated by him to the European Magazine, and extracted from Dr. Joshua Oldfield's funeral sermon for Mr. Fleming. He was induced to settle with the congregation in Lothbury; not only at the earnest invitation of the people, but by the desire of king William, who often advised with him on the concerns of his own country. But such were his modesty and prudence, that he requested, whenever he was called to court, it might be with the greatest privacy. He was richly furnished both with ornamental and solid learning; being conversant not only with fathers and councils, and ecclesiastical and civil historians, but with the Oriental languages, the Jewish rabbies, and the polite authors, ancient and modern. He was highly valued by the professors of foreign universities.' See Pref. to his Christology, and Eur. Mag. for March, 1793. |