Infani fapiens nomen ferat, æquus iniqui, Ultrà quàm fatis eft, virtutem fi petat ipfam [ƒ].

The iffue of his general scheme was what might easily be foreseen: and of his arguments, I fhall only fay thus much, That the Romish writers themselves, for whofe ufe they might feem to be invented, though they continue to object his name to us, are too wife to venture the stress of their cause upon them.

To conclude this head of authority, let me just observe,

3. In the last place, that, if any regard be due to it, the advantage will clearly be on our fide. For, though the name of Grotius made an impreffion on fome Protestant interpreters of fcripture, not inconfiderable for their parts and learning, yet, when the grounds of his opinion came to be examined, the most and the ableft of them have generally declared against him : and among thefe, let it be no offence to

[f] Hor. 1 Ep. vi, 15.

the

the manes of this great [g] man, if we particularly mention Two, and prefer even to his authority that of Newton and Clarke; the one, the ableft philofopher, and the other, the coolest and most rational divine, that any age has produced.

IV. " Another, and fourth prejudice may have been entertained on this fubject from observing that many curious perfons, who have employed themfeves much and long in the study of the prophecies, especially of those concerning Antichrift, have been led (on their authority, as they pretend) to fix the time and other circumstances of great events, which yet have not fallen out agreeable to their expectations. Whence it is inferred, that no folid information can

[g] Grotius was more than a great, he was a fashionable man. No wonder therefore that, under the influence of two fuch prejudices, his opinions fhould find followers; which yet they would scarce have found with us, if the political state of that tine had not been a third prejudice in their favour. See the Bishop of Gloucester's Sermon, On the rife of Antichrift. VOL II F

be

be derived from the prophecies, and that all our reasonings upon them are no better than fancy and conjecture."

Now, though the indiferetion of these curious perfons, who would needs prophecy when their bufinefs was only to interpret [b], be injurious enough to their own character, I do not fee how it affects that of the prophets; unless whatever may be abused (as every thing may) be answerable for the abuses made of it. But to reply more directly to this charge.

The ill fuccefs of men in explaining prophecies of events, not yet come to pass, can in no degree difcredit those prophecies, unless it be effential to this fort of revelation to be fo clearly propofed, as that it may and must be perfectly understood, before thofe events happen; the contrary of which I have already fhewn, in a preceding

[b]"The folly of interpreters has been, to fore*tel times and things by this prophecy, as if God "defigned to make them prophets." Sir I. Newton, P. 251.

difcourfe.

difcourfe. The very idea of prophecy is that of a light shining in a dark place: and a place is not dark, if we have light enough to difcern diftinctly and fully every remote corner of it. But the thing speaks itself. For to what end is the prediction delivered in obfcure and enigmatic terms, if the purpose of the infpirer was that the fubject of the prediction fhould be immediately, and in all its circumftances, precifely apprehended? Why, then, is any distinction made between Prophecy, and History? The mode of writing clearly demonstrates, that fomething, for a time at least, was meant to be concealed from us: and then, if men will attempt, out of season, to penetrate this mystery, what wonder if mistake be the fruit of their prefumption?

Again: the declared end of prophecy is, not that we may be enabled by it to forefee things before they come to pass, but when they come to pafs, that we may acknowledge the divine author of the prophecy []. What difhonour, then, can it

"God gave this, and the prophecies of the Old

be to the prophet, that he is not perfectly understood, till we be expected to make ufe of his information? Nay, in the cafe before us, it would dishonour him, if he was. For, of the prophecies concerning Antichrift we are exprefsly told, that they are shut up and fealed, till the time of the end; that is, till Time brings the key along with him. So that, if men could open them, by their own wit and fagacity only, they would give the lye to the prophet. And thus we fee, that the very mistakes of interpreters attempting prematurely to unfold the fealed prophecies concerning Antichrift, far from fubverting, fupport the credit of thofe prophecies [k].

"Testament, not to gratify men's curiosities by ena"bling them to foreknow things; but that, after they « were fulfilled, they might be interpreted by the " event; and his own providence, not the intepreter's, "be then manifested thereby to the world." Sir I. Newton, p. 251.

[*]" "Tis a part of this prophecy, that it should not be understood before the laft age of the world; and

But