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After the deftruction of Gog, the church, at leaft that of the Jews, enjoys an uninterrupted calm, till the day of judgment! Compare ver. 10. with Ezek. xxxix. 22.

Another paffage which appears to me to refer to the invasion of Gog is, Zech. xiv. 1, 2, 3. The Prophet having mentioned an attack upon Jerufalem, and the consequences, promises that God fhall interpofe for the deliverance of his people, in the fame manner that he interpofed on a former occafion. "As when he fought in "the day of battle;" the former battle to which the reference is made being likewise future, the Prophet begins to defcribe it, as well as what precedes and follows after it, from 'verse 4. to the close. The circumftances mentioned clearly fhew, that the battle to which he alludes, is that of Armageddon : Now the only battle pofterior to Armageddon, is that of Gog and Magog: therefore the battle first mentioned; and referring to Armageddon as a prior event, muft be that of Gog and Magog.

When we compare thefe paffages, and receive their united light, we have as diftinct a view of this laft perfecution as we could reasonably expect or defire, of an event not accomplished.

The agents in this perfecution are diftin&tly noted. The great invifible adversary is the firft mover of this, as of every former perfecution, while the Sovereign Ruler fees meet to permit

permit this laft effort of the enemy, by taking off the reftraint under which he was laid for a season, (Rev. xx. 7.) not only to try the faith and patience of his people, but likewise to feparate the chaff from the wheat. It appears clearly, that the church had much declined by long continued profperity, and harboured multitudes of hypocritical profeffors in her bofom, for thefe lay hold of the firft opportunity that offers, to throw off the mask, and join the standard of an enemy against her.

As to the visible agents, the leader of the army in this expedition is described by the country in which he refides, and his occupation: "Góg, in the land of Magog, the chief "prince of Meshech and Tubal," Ezek. xxxviii. 2. The inspired writers commonly denominate nations by the names of their progenitors, and countries by the names given them on the firft partition of the earth betwixt the fons of Noah. Now, it appears from Genefis, chap. x. 2. that Magog, as well as Meshech and Tubal, were fons of Japhet an, d all the learned agree, that they originally fettled in the neighbourhood of each other, to the eaft and north-eaft of the Euxine Sea, and that Magog is the father of the Scythians and Tartars. It appears to me, that the intention of the prophecy is to fhow, that fome adventurous Tartar prince refiding near the Euxine Sea, and reigning over

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the neighbouring countries, fhall at the end of the Millennium, fet up the standard of rebellion against the church. But we are carefully to observe, that befides his natural fubjects, he is joined by malcontents, from all the corners of the earth. So the Apostle fays exprefsly, (Rev. xx. 8.) and the prophet Ezekiel fays as much by implication; for he enumerates, not only "Gomer and his bands, Togarmah and his "bands, out of the north quarters ;" but he likewife mentions Perfia, Ethiopia, and Lybia, countries widely diftant from each other, and from the land of Magog, and with respect to Judea, fituated at the four quarters of the earth.

The motives which animate these enemies of the church are various. The grand adverfary, under the influence of the old enmity, endeavours, in this laft effort to fupprefs religion by open violence, not to undermine it as formerly, by the beaft and false prophet'.

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(1) The latest Popish writers on the fubject of Antichrist, apply the prophecy concerning Gog in Ezekiel to Antichrift, and triumph in it, as containing an ample vindication of the Papacy; for Gog appears to be an individual, not a fucceffion of individuals; an Afiatic, not an European prince; an open, not a fecret enemy of religion. But the anfwer is eafy; Antichrift and Gog, though both enemies to religion, are very different powers, rifing in very different ages of the world, the appearance of the laft diftant from the final fall of the first 1000 years.

The leader of this expedition appears to be chiefly under the influence of covetousness. "Thou shalt fay, I will go to them that are at “reft,—to take a spoil, and to take a prey; to "turn thine hand upon the people,-which "have gotten cattle and goods.-The mer"chants of Tarfhifh fhall fay unto thee, Art "thou come to take a spoil? haft thou gathered "thy company to take a prey? to carry away "filver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, "to take a great spoil," Ezek. xxxviii. 11, 12, 13. The multitudes who join his standard from all corners, befides the expectation of booty, feem to be actuated by refentment against the discipline of the church. It would appear, they confider themselves oppreffed by the restraints of religion, and have recourse to him for protection. This is implied in the Prophet's ironical address to the leader, “Be thou "a guard unto them," ver. 7. The holiness and happiness of the Millennial state, cannot permit any species of oppreffion; if therefore the followers of Gog claim his protection to deliver them from the dominion of the church, it must be a defire to be fet free from the reftraints of religion. No oppreffion is so grievous to an unfanctified heart, as that which arises from the purity of Chriftianity. A defire to hake off this yoke, is the true cause of that op

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pofition Christianity has met with from the world in every period, and will, it is most likely, be the chief motive to influence the followers of Gog in his time. It would appear, that all parties joining in this expedition are encouraged, by the hope of obtaining an eafy conqueft; a fentiment they would readily adopt from the ftate of the church a thousand years before: "Swords were beaten to plowfhares, and fpears "to pruning hooks, nation did not lift up fword "againft nation, neither did they learn war." As they felt no injury, and feared no danger, they were ignorant of the art of war, and neglectful of thofe means of defence, which the jealoufy and fear of mankind provided in more perilous times.

The Prophet introduces Gog meditating on this circumftance in his own mind, and then communicating it to his followers, "At the "fame time shall things come into thy mind, "and thou shalt think an evil thought. And "thou fhalt fay, I will go up to the land of un"walled villages, I will go to them that are at "reft, that dwell fafely, all of them dwelling "without walls, and having neither bars nor "gates," Ezek. xxxviii. 10, 11.,

The terror and difmay occafioned by Gog and his formidable army in Judea, is described by the prophet Ifaiah: "Behold, their valiant 3 N.

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