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INTRODUCTION.

THE design of the following treatise, is to detail, on the authority of Scripture, the remarkable events which take, place

in the church in the world, as far as

it is connected with the church, from the present period to the last judgment.

No doubt the attempt will appear to some fruitless. But they who revere the authority of the Scriptures, should recollect, "that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy;" that the completion of prophecy is the great argument for the truth of Christianity in the latter days, by which the prejudices of the Jews, and the enmity of the Gentiles, shall be finally overcome. It is reasonable, therefore, to infer, that the view given in the prophecies, of the events which shall take place in the latter days, is clearer than that given of any other period; and that as the time of their completion draws near, we

may

may expect that God will be pleased to remove, in some measure, the obscurity which veiled them, in order to prepare the minds of men for the from their completion.

argument arising Whether the au

thor has succeeded, in drawing aside the veil in any degree, time only can determine with absolute certainty. In the mean time, let the reader carefully examine, and then judge. "He that answereth a mat

ter before he heareth it, it is folly and "shame unto him."

Perhaps the attempt will appear to others unprofitable, even though it should be in some measure successful; because the argument from prophecy is founded on the coincidence of the dispensations of Providence with the representations of prophecy, which can only be seen after their completion. It will be readily allowed that a detail of events previous to their accomplishment, cannot be the ground of the general argument arising from prophecy; but the previous detail effectually removes an objection, repeatedly urged

(1) Prov. xviii. 13.

by

by infidels, against the argument.

" If

(say they) so much is to be seen in the "prophecies after their accomplishment, "why do we not see any thing at all be"fore it?" I answer: Examine the following treatise, and you will find a great many events minutely described before their accomplishment.

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. There are some persons well affected to religion, who allow themselves to think that the progress of infidelity and vice shall overwhelm the interests of righteousness and truth; while others entertain false notions of the kingdom of Christ, though they expect that it shall finally prevail. If the detail given in the following treatise has a tendency to remove the fears of the one, and to rectify the opinions of the other, the attempt of the author is not altogether unprofitable.

There are several passages in the prophecies, which, by consent of all, are so obscure, that no commentator has hitherto attempted to illustrate their literal meaning. If the interpretation offered in the following pages shall throw light on those dark

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passages, or the rules given shall suggest to persons of superior abilities and greater op portunies, a mode of investigating their genuine meaning, the apology of the author, for offering this treatise to the public, will be sustained, by those who desire va farther knowledge of the sacred oracles. I

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The prophecies concerning the Jewish nation in the latter days, have not been hitherto properly investigated. The comments of Christians on these prophecies have a tendency to confirm the Jewi their prejudices against Christianity Prophecies which are exclusively applica ble to the Jewish nation, are commonly applied to the Christian church in general, Prophecies which relate to the Millenni um, when the kingdom of Christ shall be established in the world, are frequently applied to the first propagation of the Gos pel. Important events respecting the Jewish nation, which the Jews themselves see in the prophecies, are treated by Chris tians as extravagant fancies. The Jews discern the misapplication, in these instances, and therefore hastily conclude,

that

that the prophecies concerning the Messiah are equally misapplied by Christians, But in the following treatise, the prophecies which relate to the Jewish nation in the latter days, are separated from such as respect the Christain church in general, arranged in their proper order, and represented under one view. In them we see, that events expected by the Jews, are not altogether without Scripture authority; such as a glorious manifestation of the Messiah to their na tion; and that they shall be employed, as the instruments in his hand, for subdu ing idolatry and irreligion on earth, as well by the temporal as by the spiritual sword; while these events are so blended with the prevous ill treatment and long rejection of the Messiah by their nation, that he appears to be no other than JESUS OF NAZARETH. If the detail given has a tendency to soften the prejudices of the Jews, and procure from them a patient hearing to the truth, it will be allowed that the author's attempt may prove of service to the interests of religion.

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