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against Papal Rome, and wounded her deeply. Ever fince that time, those who have remained in communion with her have greatly checked her power over them in ecclefiaftical concerns; and have almost totally deftroyed it in civil matters. In the course of providence, they will gradually go on more and more curtailing her power and abandoning her altogether, fo that before the end of the year 1999 there will be very few Roman Catholic kingdoms in the world. The progrefs of commerce, learning, and liberty, will, under the guidance and bleffing of divine providence and grace, teach men the most valuable of all liberty, liberty of conscience, and will raife man to the true dignity of his nature, the worfhip, obedience, and enjoyment of God in that way which God himself hath prescribed. In the year 1999, feveral of thefe kingdoms fhall be engaged against Papal Rome in the war in which the fhall be finally overthrown, along with the other parties mentioned under the fixth vial.

Verse 17th.-For God hath put it in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beaft, until the words of God fhall be fulfilled.

This verfe aligns the reason why these kingdoms fhall fupport Papal Rome for a confiderable time, and fhall afterwards exert themselves with fuccefs to destroy her. The pointed and precife meaning of this verfe is in a great degree loft by our tranflation. The original is as follows. O yaz Θεος ἔδωκεν εἰς τας καρδίας αύτων ποιησαι την γνώμην αύτα, και ποισαι μιαν γνώμην, και δέναι την βασιλειαν αύτων τῳ θηριῳ, ἀχρε Tereodų тa gnuarα 78 Ots: which is thus exactly translated, "For God hath put it into their hearts to exe"cute his own fentence, to execute one fentence,

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even to give their kingdom unto the beaft, until "the words of God fhall be fulfilled." The plain meaning of this most pointed reason for their conduct is, that that God who governs the world; in whose hand the king's heart is; and who turns it as the rivers of water whitherfoever he will, without any restraint upon his moral powers, hath fo difpofed things in the courfe of his providence, that these kings fhall even with a willing mind act as the executioners of the fentence of God against Papal Rome, even of this one fentence, that they hall give the power of their kingdoms to Papal Rome, until the words of God fhall be fulfilled; but no longer.

The words of God fignify not one, but several predictions of God concerning Papal Rome. Some of these predictions referred to, and were fulfilled at the Reformation. There were to be

wars

wars and a revolution then, as in chap. xi. 13. Some of thefe kings were then neceffary to execute that part of the fentence againft Rome; for that word of prediction was then fulfilled. Others of these predictions, fuch as the fixth and seventh vials, chap. xvi. 12,-21. foretel wars, a revolution, and the total overthrow of Papal Rome. Some of thefe kings fhall be neceffary to affift in executing this part of the sentence, and they shall as certainly step forward as executioners of it as fome of their number did at the Reformation.

Let us here admire, adore, and confide in the fuperintendency of divine providence over the world. In the view given of divine providence in this verse, and verified in the history of the European kingdoms, we behold individuals and kingdoms, with the most minute exactnefs, executing the sentences which God had long before pronounced and published by the mouth of his prophets. We may behold them ftrictly executing the fentence of God, without knowing or intending it; acting freely from the natural impreffions of furrounding circumftances, and yet not deviating a fingle iota from the fentence of God in the execution of it. This is that divine fuperintendency which governs the world properly, in spite of devils and wicked men; which is never at a lofs for the fittest executioners of its fentences, whether they be good or bad men, individuals or VOL. II. collective

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collective bodies; without taking away the moral liberty of men, or destroying the virtue of the good, or the vice of the bad. To the men of Ifrael who crucified Jefus, Peter fays, Acts ii. 23. "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel "and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and "by wicked hands have crucified and flain.”

Let us admire and adore that divine wisdom, which not in mere fpeculation, but in fact, reconciles the foreknowledge and pre-determination of God with the moral agency of men in the adminiftration of divine providence. Let no man fear, that the excellency of his good conduct will be diminished, because he is only executing the purpofes of God; for the highest excellency of an intelligent and accountable creature is to conform to the unerring will-of his Creator. Let no wicked man imagine, that his conduct in any particular inftance hath not been criminal, because he hath acted as an executioner of the fentences of God. No wicked man ever did a wicked action from the intention of executing the will of God; no wicked man ever did a finful action but from an evil intention, in forming which he acted freely; no wicked man, therefore, can plead, as an apology for a bad action, what was not in his intention at the time of acting. Thofe perfons who apprehended and crucified Chrift executed a fentence of God, in crucifying him who was delivered by the determinate

counfel

counsel and foreknowledge of God; but they did it not from the intention of executing the will of God; they did it not as mere machines from external conftraint; but they did it voluntarily from a wicked intention, and therefore they did it with wicked hands.

Let wife and good men, in an honeft endeavour, by the bleffing of God, to do their duty, repose themselves and all their concerns, public and private, with a calm and firm trust in divine providence. Let them never defpair of the church of Chrift, nor of the fuccefs of truth, righteousness, peace, and joy in the world. The wifeft, the best, and the most powerful of beings governs and judges the world. His fentences are always the very best, and he is never at a lofs for proper executioners of them. The kingdoms of Europe fupported Papal Rome until it was raised to the greateft height, and the fame kingdoms have for a long time paft been pulling her down; and whenever the fecret but effectual command of God fhall be given, they shall aflift in totally overthrowing her. We cannot always fee the wifdom of the divine adminiftration, not because it is unwife at any time, but because it is often too high for our limited faculties to perceive it clearly. But we may always reft in this as a never failing maxim in the divine adminiftration, that all God's works are done in wifdom, and that the Judge of all the earth ever does that G g 2 which

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