But I have fomething more to say on this fubject. Though we cannot fee every thing in the prophecies, which we are impatient to fee, it is not to be supposed that we can see nothing in them. If this were the cafe, we should scarce regard them as prophecies at all; at least, we should hardly be prevailed upon to read and confider them. For, it is on the fuppofition that fome light is communicated to us, that we are difpofed, as well as required, to take beed to it. In fhort, if we faw nothing, we should expect nothing: fuch prophecies would not engage our curiosity, or fo much as take our attention. In one word, they would be utterly loft upon us.

This seems to have been, in some meafure, the cafe with regard to this very book of the Revelations. The early Chriftians faw fo little in this prophecy, that they were led by degrees to neglect the ftudy of it. Otherwife, the little

"therefore it makes for the credit of the prophecy, that it is not yet understood." Sir I, Newton, p. 251. they

F 3

they did fee, might have given them a glimpse, at least, of many things, that intimately concerned both their faith and conduct.

It being then neceffary, as I faid, that prophecy fhould, from the firft, convey fome light to us, and time having now very much increafed that light, it follows, that men may excufeably employ themselves in studying and contemplating even unfulfilled prophecies. They may conjecture modeftly of points which time has not yet revealed: but they should, in no cafe, pronounce confidently, or decide dogmatically upon them.

It seems therefore to be going too far, to pass an indifcriminate cenfure on all thofe, who have proposed their thoughts on the fenfe of prophecies, not yet com pleted, though it be ever fo clear that a wrong conftruction has been made of them. Nay, it is worth confidering whether they may not even have conjectured right, when they have been thought to

mistake

miftake the most widely. I fay this, chiefly, with regard to the time, which fome writers have beforehand affigned for the accomplishment of certain prophecies, and that, on principles apparently contained in thofe prophecies; but fo unhappily, as to draw much fcorn and ridicule upon themselves.

I explain myfelf by a famous instance. Nothing has been more cenfured in Protestant divines, than their temerity in fixing the fall of Antichrift; though there are certain data in the prophecies, from which very probable conclufions on that fubject may be drawn. Experience, it is faid, contradicts their calculation. But it is not confidered, that the fall of Antichrift, is not a fingle event, to happen all at once ; but a state of things, to continue through a long tract of time, and to be gradually accomplished. Hence, the interpretation of the prophecy might be rightly formed, though the expectations of most men are disappointed.

It is visible, I fuppofe, that the papal power (if we agree to call that, Antichrift) is now on the decline; whenfoever that declension began, or how long foever it may be, before it will be finished. And therefore interpreters may have aimed right, though they feemed to others, and perhaps to themselves, to be mistaken.

Suppofe, the ruin of the Western Em, pire had been the subject of a prediction, and fome had collected, beforehand, from the terms of the prophecy, that it would happen at a particular time; when yet nothing more, in fact, camé to pass, than the first irruption of the barbarous nations. Would it be certain that this collection was groundless and ill made, because the empire fubfifted in à good degree of vigour for fome centuries after? Might it not be faid, that the empire was falling [1] from that æra,

[7] St. Jerom, who lived in this time, speaks in the very terms, here supposed, Romanus orbis RUIT. Ep. iii.

or

or perhaps before; though, in the event, it fell not, till its fovereignty was fhaken by the rude hands of Attila, or rather, till it was laid flat by the well-directed force of Theodoric?

But we have an inftance in point, recorded in facred fcripture. It had been gathered from the old prophecies [m], that, in the last times (that is, when the Meffiah was come), a new earth and new heavens fhould be created. The ftyle is fymbolical; but the meaning is, and was fo understood to be, that a new Law fhould be given to mankind and prevail over the whole world. This Law was accordingly promulged and began to prevail in the days of the Apostles. Yet there were fome who faid, Where is the promife of his coming? for, fince the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the creation of the world. It was taken for granted, we fee, that this great and glorious work, equivalent to the produc tion of a new world, would take place

{m} Ifai. lṣv. 17.—2 Pẹt. iii. 4. 13.

fuddenly