city, and from the things which are written in this book.

20 He which teftifieth these things faith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even fo, Come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift be with you all. Amen.

St. John (ver. 8, 9.) testifieth himself to be the person who faw and heard these things: and in his extafy falling into the fame mistake that he had committed before, (XIX. 10.) he is gently corrected in the fame manner by the angel: Who ordereth him (ver. 10.) not to feal up this prophecy, as Daniel's was, (XII. 4, 9.) for the time is at hand, fome of the particulars would very foon be accomplished, as indeed all would in their due feafon and order: Which he farther inforceth (ver. 11-15.) with promifes and threatnings, of rewards to the righteous, and of vengeance on the wicked. It was not thought fufficient to reprefent the angel fpeaking in the perfon of Chrift, but Chrift himfelf alfo is introduced (ver. 16.) speaking in his own perfon, and confirming the divine authority of this book, and attesting it to be properly his revelation. The Spirit and the bride, (ver. 17.) that is, the fpiritual bride, the true church of Chrift,

}

there

therefore receives it, and ardently wisheth and prayeth for its completion. The book being of this importance and authority, a folemn adjuration is added by Chrift himself, that no man prefume to add any thing to it, or take away any thing from it, (ver. 18, 19.) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto thefe things, God fball add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God fhall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book: Which ought to be seriously confidered by all vifionaries and enthufiafts on the one hand, who boaft their own inventions as divine revelations; and by all sceptics and infidels on the other, who depreciate the value and authority of these predictions. He who teftifieth these things, faith, Surely I come quickly; (ver. 20.) he not only attesteth them to be true, but will alfo come speedily to accomplish them to which St. John answers, and in him the whole church, Amen; Even fo, Come, Lord Jesus. He clofeth all with the ufual apoftolical benediction (ver. 21.) wishing the grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift to the churches of Afia in particular, and to all Christians in

general.

1

general. The conclufion is truly excellent, as well as all other parts of this book: and nothing could be contrived to leave these things with a stronger impreffion upon the mind of the readers. In the whole, from first to last, appears the majefty of the divine revealer, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the author and finisher of every good work, and of this more especially.

A

This, as (Sir Ifaac Newton (7) hath hinted, and as Dr. Warburton hath fully proved in some discourses, which it is hoped will be printed one time or other for the benefit of the public,) is that fure word of prophecy, whereunto Christians as St. Peter faith, do well to take heed and attend. St. Peter (2 Pet. I. 16, &c.) is afferting and establishing the truth of Chrift's fecond coming in power and great glory. For we have not followed cunningly devifed fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jefus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of bis majesty. One illuftrious proof of his coming in power and glory was his appearing in glory and majesty at his transfiguration. (ver. 17, 18.) For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came fuch a voice to him from

1

the

(7) Sir Ifaac Newton's Obferv. upon the Apoc. Chap. 1. P. 240.

the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with bim in the holy mount. His appearing once in power and great glory is a good argument, that he may appear again in like manner: and that he not only may, but will, we have the farther affurance of prophecy. (ver. 19.) We have alfo a more fure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arife in your hearts. St. Peter might mean the prophecies in general which treat of the fecond coming of Chrift, but it appears that the Revelation was principally in his thoughts and intentions. Chrift's fecond coming in power and glory is one principal topic of the Revelation. With this it begins, (I. 7.) Behold, he cometh with clouds: and every eye fhall fee bim. With this it also concludes, (XXII. 20.) He who teftifieth these things, faith, Surely I come quickly. Nothing can better answer the character of the Revelation, efpecially in St. Peter's time when as yet scarce any part of it was fulfilled, than a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-far arife in your hearts. It openeth more and more like the dawning of the day; and the more it is fulfilled, the better

*

it is understood. Afterwards St. Peter proceeds, in the second chapter, to describe, out of this fure word of prophecy, the falfe prophets and false teachers, who should infeft the church; and in the third chapter, the certainty of Christ's coming to judgment, the conflagration of the present heavens and earth, and the ftructure of the new heavens and earth; and all agreeably to the Revelation. Attention therefore to this book is recommended to us, upon the authority of St. Peter as well as of the writer St. John and a double bleffing, as we have seen in the book itself, is pronounced upon those who shall study and observe it; first in the beginning, (I. 3.) Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things, which are written therein; and here again in the end, (XXII. 7.) Bleed is he that keepeth the Sayings of the prophecy of this book. Emboldened by which bleffings I would humbly pray with Nehemiah, (Nehem. XIII. 22.) Remember me, O my God, concerning this alfo, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

VOL. III.

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XXVI.