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an invitation to all his disciples, to come and behold his glory, and sit down in his presence. To all such the result is peace: and "to them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin unto salvation," (Heb. ix. 28.) "Then, when the Son of Man shall come again shall he sit upon the throne of his glory," (Mat. xxv. 31-4.) "And it shall be said in that day, lo, this is our God: we have waited for him, and he will save us this is the Lord -we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation," | (Isa. xxv. 9.)

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The gladness and joy last mentioned accord with Isa. lii. 8, "They (Zion's) watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing for they (the watchmen) shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion." Zion refers to the people of God, who are the children of faithful Abraham. This is the era of their scattering (Gen. xxviii. 14-15.) and not until Christ's second coming will they be brought again, or gathered together, according to the prophetic word (Mat. xxiv. 30-31.) It is THEN the watchmen shall see eye to eye in the fulness of the promise. Now they know but in part (1 Cor. xiii. 8-12.)

Also, the 9th and the 10th verses of Isaiah lii. remain to receive a fuller accomplishment than has yet been realized. The whole chapter needs perhaps to be considered together. It manifestly relates to the last days to the days of this age, and to the last day; and the transition from this present age to that which is to come, needs to be ascertained by a careful comparison of scripture. We find, then, that the joy and singing together of the waste places of Jerusalem, and the visible manifestation of the grace, mercy, and salvation of God before and unto all the ends of the earth, mentioned in the above two verses, whilst they have an undoubted spiritual application to, and fulfilment

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in, this age, the same things are spoken of, or applied to, the age to come, (or the millennium, which is the day of the Lord-the last day); and that not spiritually and partially, but as to be realized literally, fully, universally, and eternally-without mixture, interruption, or end. proof of this, we shall adduce but the one following scripture as a specimen of many others, spoken of the last day "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to * * * to proclaim * *the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations," &c. (Isa lxi. 1-11.) That which here is written after the day of vengeance in this chapter, belongs partly, and spiritually, to this agebut fully and literally to the age to come. We conclude from hence, as from the whole tenor of scripture, that the fulness of knowledge, and unity of judgment among the watchmen of Zion, is not now, nor to be anticipated fully, until "when the Lord shall bring again Zion" when he shall appear in his glory.

The same train of argument is applicable to, and the like conclusion is to be drawn upon, the second instance, or Jer. xxxi. 31-4. We cannot, however, now enlarge upon it. The knowledge of God, promised in the covenant, we may observe, is limited to Judah and Israel in the context. It is applicable, in part, to this age, as appears from Heb. viii. and 1 John ii. 12-57. But the fulness of that knowledge is reserved to the future, when the Lord shall re

turn to his people, and he shall dwell in their midst, and they shall reign together for ever. Then "shall the earth be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea," (Isa. xi. 8.) Then, indeed, shall all (Israel and Judah) know the Lord, from the least even unto the greatest, (Jer. xxxi. 34.) Then shall that which is perfect be come, and that which is in part shall be done away. We shall behold the Saviour face to face, (we shall see eye to eye) and know even as we are known, (1 Cor. xiii. 9-12.)

Your question and remarks, Mr. Editor, have thwarted my intended course, and caused my reply to be more lengthy than was intended. You may, perhaps, object to what I have stated in this article, and you might object to every article. We

cannot see eye to eye at present-I hope we shall soon. I shall be pleased to pursue my intended course in the next article, with your permission. MINIMUM.

FLEMING ON PROPHECY.

(Continued from page 444.)

THE third and last septenary, there fore, is that of the vials, or last plagues and judgments upon Rome papalwhich, as far as I can, I shall explain, by a distinct account of such of them as I reckon to be fulfilled, and by some few conjectures upon the remaining ones.

But before I proceed to the particular consideration of these, there are two things which I would premise. The first is, that as the trumpets did raise Antichrist up, and the vials must pull him down, so there is a wonderful relation that the last bear to the former, especially the four first ones. For the first trumpet and first vial bring judgments on the earth, the second trumpet and vial on the sea, the third trumpet and vial on the sun. The second is this, that seeing the vials do suppose a struggle and war

between the popish and reformed parties, every vial is to be looked upon as the event and conclusion of some new periodical attack of that first party upon this other; the issue of which, proves at length, favourable to the latter against the former. Which seeing it is the most noble and remarkable part of the period that the vial relates to, is, therefore, that which denominates the period itself; even as the conquest of Pompey by Cæsar, and of Antony by Augustus, suppose their wars before, and give the denomination of their governments. These things being premised, I now proceed.

The first vial which fell upon the earth, to the tormenting of the subjects of the beast, (chap. xvi. 2) doth denote God's judgments upon the foundations of the Papal power; the earth being that on which we walk and build our houses, and out of whose womb we are maintained. So that by this I understand the popish clergy and the papal dominions and revenues, as they are upheld by them. This, therefore, began with the reformation, and continued until the time that the popish factors and trumpery were thrown out of as many countries of Europe as embraced the reformation. And we may easily conceive what a mortification this was to that party, when the pretended sanctity of their priests, monks, and nuns, was found to be mere cheat, and their miracles nothing else but lies or legerdemain ; and when their tales of purgatory were exposed to public contempt, and their pardons and indulgences would sell no longer; and consequently, when the Pope and his red-hatted and mitred officers saw themselves driven out of so great a part of their dominions- - their seminaries for breeding their motley soldiers, of all denominations and orders, pulled down-and so much of their yearly revenues lost. Whence they are said to fall under a noisome and grievous ulcer, or sore; being this

way pained and vexed inwardly, and rendered contemptible to the whole world, that looked upon them as no better than vermin, and the plagues of mankind. So that this vial began with the rise of Zuinglius and Luther, and the other reformers, in the year 1516-17, and continued to the year 1566, i e. about forty years: for by that time all the reformed churches were settled, and had published their creeds and confessions against Rome, in opposition to the determination of the popish council of Trent, published 1563, and the creed of Pope Pius the Fourth, which added twelve antichristian articles to the twelve primitive ones, which was put out A.D. 1564.

The 2nd vial, (verse 3) must, therefore, begin where the other ended, as to the period of time that commences from thence. Now, I find that in the year 1566, the wars between the King of Spain and the States of the Netherlands began, when the latter got the nickname of Geuse. And though the Spaniards were often victorious at first, yet they were at length forced to declare them free states. It was then that the sea became blood to the Romanists, their votaries being miserably defeated in their expectations; for, after their cruelties under the Duke of Alva in the Low Countries, and their massacres of the Protestants in France and other places, the scene was changed very quickly. So that A.D. 1588, the Spaniards lost their vast Armada, and did ever after decline in their power. And the Duke of Guise, the inveterate enemy of the Protestants, was killed the same year; and A.D. 1598 died Philip II. of Spain, being eaten up of lice-the edict of Nantes being given out the same year in France in favor of the Protestants. So that as the reformed interest was in peace everywhere, and conquered in Holland and England, the Popish party, on the other hand, saw Spain, the late terror of the Protestants, brought

to a languishing condition, and all their allies weary of wars and persecutions. And as in the year 1609, the truce was made between the Spaniards and the Dutch, so the war, though renewed and carried on afterwards, became languid and faint, so as hardly to be felt or minded by either party, especially the Dutch, who were for the most victorious and successful. So that as the period of this vial began 1566, so we may reckon it continued about fifty years, viz. to the year 1617, seeing we shall find that the third vial did begin then. For,

The 3rd vial (verse 4-7) was poured out upon the rivers and fountains of water, or those territories of the Papacy which were as necessary to it as rivers and fountains are to a country, being as it were, the former vial continued, as to the kind of the plague; for, as the former destroyed the living creatures or living souls that were in or upon the sea, viz. the Spaniards, the great mariners of the world at that time as to their marine power, who, after the year 1588, lost their former sovereignty of the seas to the English and Dutchso this latter plague makes it difficult for the Popish party to subsist and keep their ground even in the inland country and several dominions of Germany and the neighbouring places. For in the year 1617, Ferdinand being forced upon the Bohemians by the Emperor Matthias, and crowned king, the foundation of new quarrels were laid this way; for a little while after another most bloody religious war ensued, which shook all the empire, and frightened Europe. And though the Protestants lost Bohemia, the Palatinate in part, and were driven out of Moravia, Austria, and Silesia, at this time, and were not only persecuted in many places, but like to be extirpated and rooted out universally, yet the tide turned all on a sudden. For after the Emperor had ruled Germany with a veteran army for a considera

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one another. But, as to the expiration | of this vial, I do fear it will not be until the year 1794.

able time, Gustavus Adolphus enters Germany in the year 1630, and conquers everywhere. And though he was killed about two years after, yet The fifth vial, (ver. 10, 11,) which his army continued victorious, until is to be poured out on the seat of at length all things were accommo- the beast, or the dominions that dated at the peace of Munster, A.D. more immediately belong to, and de1648 ; with which therefore the period | pend upon the Roman See; that, I of the 3rd vial must be supposed to end, say, this judgment will probably begin which consists of thirty-one years. | about the year 1794, and expire about Now as this began with persecutions | 1848. So that the duration of it, against, and cruelties upon the Pro- upon this supposition, will be for the testants, so at length the angel of the space of fifty-four years. For, I do waters is heard to give thanks for suppose, that seeing the Pope received making the papists drink of their own the title of supreme bishop no sooner blood at last. Which song of praise than 606, he cannot be supposed to another angel falls in with, and says have any vial poured upon his seat Amen to. All which seems to denote immediately (so as to ruin his authority the joy both of the Protestant state so signally as this judgment must be and church upon the success of the supposed to do, until the year 1848, Swedish arms against the emperor. which is the date of the 1260 years, in prophetical account, when they are reckoned from 606. But yet we are not to imagine, that this vial will totally destroy the papacy (though it will exceedingly weaken it); for we find this still in being, and alive, when the next vial is poured out.

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The 4th vial comes now to be considered. And as this is poured out upon the sun of the papal kingdom, (ver. 8,) so the effect of it is men's being scorched or burned with fire, which yet does not make them to turn to God, but blaspheme his name the more, as we may see, (ver. 9.) Now as this vial must begin where the other ends, viz. at, or a little after, the year 1648; so I cannot see but it must denote the wars that followed the peace of Munster, with other incidental occurrences. Now we find that the French hostilities and wars in Flanders began about this time. But the chief thing 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 influences and countenances 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. Now, it is not unusual with God, to make his enemies crush and weaken

The sixth vial, (ver. 12, &c.) will be poured out upon the Mahometan Antichrist, as the former on the papacy. And seeing the sixth trumpet brought the Turks from beyond the Euphrates, from crossing which river, they date their rise, this sixth vial dries up their waves, and exhausts their power, as the means and way to prepare and dispose the Eastern kings and kingdoms to renounce their Heathenish and Mahometan errors, in order to their receiving and embracing Christianity. For I think this is the native import of the text, and not that the Jews are to be understood under this denomination of the kings of the East, which is such an odd straining of it, to serve a turn, as I cannot admit of Now, seeing this vial is to destroy the Turks, we hear of three unclean spirits like frogs or toads, that were sent out by Satan, and the remains of the polity and church of Rome, called the beast and the false

prophet, in order to insinuate upon of the whole. There is no need to the Eastern nations, upon their desert- give you any conjectures about the ing Mahometism, to fall in with their conclusion of the sixth vial, or the idolatrous and spurious Christianity, beginning of the last; only you may rather than with the true reformed observe, that the first of these will doctrine. And these messengers shall probably take up most of the time be so successful, as to draw these between the year 1848, and the year Eastern kings and their subjects, and, 2000, because such long messages with them, the greatest part of man- and intrigues (besides the time spent kind, to take part with them. So before, in destroying the Turkish emthat, by the assistance of these, their pire), and preparations for so universal agents and missionaries, they shall a war, must needs take up a great engage the whole world, in some many years, whereas, our blessed manner, to join with them in rooting Lord seems to tell us, that the destrucout the saints. (And here, in a pa- tion of all those his enemies, will be renthesis, Christ gives a watch-word accomplished speedily, and in a little to his servants, to be upon their guard time, in comparison of the other vial. in this hour of trial, ver. 15.) But, Supposing, then, that the Turkish when the Pope has got himself at the monarchy should be totally destroyed head of this vast army, and has between 1848 and 1900, we may brought them to the place of battle, | justly assign seventy or eighty years called Armageddon (i. e. the place longer to the end of the sixth seal, where there will be a most diabolical, and but twenty or thirty, at most, to cunning, and powerful conspiracy the last. Now, how great and reagainst Christ's followers); then, im-markable this last destruction of the mediately, doth the seventh angel pour out his vial, to their ruin and destruction.

The seventh vial, therefore, being poured out on the air, (ver. 17,) brings down thunder, lightning, hail, and storms; which, together with a terrible earthquake, destroys all the Antichristian nations, and particularly Rome, or mystical Babylon. And as Christ concluded his sufferings on the cross with this voice, "It is finished," so the church's sufferings are concluded with a voice out of the temple of heaven, and from the throne of God and Christ there, saying, "It is done." And, therefore, with this doth the blessed millennium of Christ's spiritual reign on earth begin, of which, and what may be supposed to follow, we took some notice above.

Now, seeing these two vials are, as it were, one continued, the first running into the second, and the second completing the first; the one giving us an account of the beast's preparations for warring against the saints, and the other showing the event

papal Antichrist will be, we may guess by that representation of it, (chap. xiv. 19, 20,) where it is set forth under the emblem and character of the great wine-press of the wrath of God (which can refer to nothing properly but the event of the seventh vial, as I might show at large, had I time.) Now, this wine-press is said to be trodden without the city (viz. of Jerusalem, or the church, seeing this is called the city, in scripture style, as Rome is called the Great City) in Armageddon (Rev. xvi. 16,) which may bear allusion to the valley of Decision (Joel iii. 2, 12, 14.) However, the greatness of this slaughter appears in this, that the blood is represented to flow in such a current as to reach even to the horse-bridles, viz. of the servants of God, employed in this execution; for, without doubt, this relates to what we have in chap. xix. 14, which I beseech you to compare with this place. For ye will find that a large account is given of the fall of Babylon, (chap. xviii.) and of the triumph of the church, upon

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