derftand every thing before its accomplishment, which is fignified by its reprefentations, does it follow that nothing can be known, and that it is unprofitable? By no means. One defign of this book is to give a representation of the character and employment of Chrift, fince his refurrection and afcenfion to glory. In the writings of Matthew, and the other evangelifts, we have the hiftory of Chrift in his ftate of humiliation, when he appeared in the form of a fervant, defpifed, derided and put to an ignominious death. Though his divinity is there brought into view, yet his human nature, confifting of an human foul, and an human body, in low circumftances, make the strongeft impreffions on our minds. His divine nature was not capable of forrow, but his reasonable or human foul is there reprefented, as acquainted with grief, fo that he faid to his friends, My foul is exceeding forrowful, even unto death. But it was important that the church fhould have fome juft reprefentations of him, in his prefent exaltation, when his human foul and body are glorified, his divine perfections more clearly exhibited, and his whole perfon feated on the throne of God, at the right hand of the Father. This is given in the Revelation. In this book he is brought into view, decked with excellent majefty and glory, fiting on the throne of the univerfe, furrounded with an innumerable company of adoring intelligences, all triumphing in his perfections, and awaiting his commands. Thus he appears infinitely more exalted, than when he dwelt in a mortal body. Here we fee him prefiding in heaven, with all power in heaven and on earth given into his hands, in the exercife of an almighty providence over friends and enemies in this world, directing all the fucceffive fcenes and events of it down to the final confumma. tion of all things. In the writings of the evangelifts, he appeared weak and low, but in the Revelation, he appears in power and greatnefs, as being God in very deed. In the former, we have the gofpel of Chrift in his humiliation; the latter may be called the gospel of Chrift in his glory. This revelations is ncceffary to imprefs our minds with a fuitable reverence of his majesty, and a juft fenfe of his infinite condefcenfion, when he gave himself a facrifice for our fins; and is therefore of great use to his people. The Revelation is alfo evidently defigned to fix on our minds a full fenfe of the divine providence and agency, refpecting all events. Thefe are reprefented in the most striking manner, through the whole book. All the bleffings, and profperous days of the world, are reprefented as coming immediately from the hands of God our Saviour, and all the vials of his wrath are poured out upon it at his command, and by the miniftry of his angels.In the firft great period of thefe prophecies, feven feals are opened by Chrift himfelf, that all the events which take place under them may be feen to be effected by his overruling providence.In the next great period, Chrift is reprefented as fending forth feven angels, founding their feven trumpets, intimating that all the events of this period are the effects of his government.-After this, feven angels come forth from Chrift, with feven vials, contain bleffednefs which he engages to fuch as are martyrs in his caufe. None of the vials of his wrath are poured out upon them; but all upon their enemies, and in their favor. And in the issue, every thing appears to have been ordered with reference to their everlafting good. It is alfo one defign of this book, to exhibit the meeknefs, faith, patience, perfeverance and general character of the faints. Thefe are illuftrated by the trials and temptations which they were to endure, and their conduct under them. Perhaps thefe graces of the real Christian are no where in the bible fet forth, in a more striking manner, or in a way better calculated to teach us our duty, and afford us an advantage for felf-examination,,whether or not we have the Christian spirit. ing the feven laft plagues, in which is filled up the wrath of God, that his agency may appear, in thefe difpenfations of vengeance. In the fourth great period, a mighty angel defcends from heaven, and binds Satan a thousand years, and a long feafon of peace, purity and profperity takes place, and earth very much refembles heaven. This alfo is the work of providence, in which the agency of Chrift is very manifeft. After this Chrift will fuffer Satan to be loofed a little while, and fo things will be prepared for our Lord, at the conclufion of the whole, to come to judgment, destroy the very frame of the world, condemn his enemies, and receive his faints into his kingdom and glory. We have, in many parts of the holy fcriptures, declarations of a divine providence in the events which are brought about in our world; but we have no where, in all refpects, fuch ftriking reprefentations of the direct agency of God, in all the affairs of the world, as in thefe prophecies. This is indeed the matter of the whole book. This is an ufeful and important leffon of inftruction; and here Chrift is reprefented as a fover-ings given, and the calamities eign, difpenfing his dealings of brought upon them. This is ftaprovidence as he pleafes. He is ted, as being very univerfal, and, the potter, and men the clay. fuch as nothing but the power of God can reduce. This is certainly a truth very important to be established in the confciences of men. The defperate depravity of the human heart, in its natural ftate, is alfo fet forth in a striking way in this book. This is taught us by reprefentations of the oppofition made both by Pagans and Antichrift, and at last by Gog and Magog, against God and his church; and by their impenitence and blafphemies, under the warn Another important truth, which the Revelation is defigned to imprefs on the minds of men, is the great love of Christ to his church. When he was in his The Revelation is alfo eviftate of humiliation, he manifefted dently defigned as a warning to the tendereft affection for his peo- the wicked. No part of the word ple; and this book fhows, that it of God fets forth his wrath against is not at all diminished fince he is the impenitent, and the certainty fo highly exalted. This is evi- of their final deftruction, more fordent by the provifion he makes forcibly than this. The whole book his followers, under the perfecu- reprefents them as accurfed of tions that they endure, and by the God, and the denunciations of his No. 2. VOL. III. H anger against them are delivered in determinate language, fitted to faften upon their minds the neceffity of being reconciled to God, that they may escape the great day of his wrath. It is difficult to conceive, how any thing could be written more forcibly to difcourage iniquity, and to urge finners to fly to Chrift, and efcape from the wrath to come, than what we here find. They are shown how all their oppofition to the government of God, and their devices against the being and profperity of his church, fhall be totally defeated, and only ferve in the iffue, to add to the triumph and profperity of the cause and people of God, and fink themfelves into utter perdition. This book is alfo full of fupport, confolation and encouragement to the faints, and brings the beft motives to incite them to hope, patience and fidelity in the fervice of God. Many parts of it are particularly defigned to comfort the church, under the long ftate of trial and depreffion which is foretold. The faints are reminded, that all events are in the hands of their Lord, that he has promised them the victory, and that even in this world, the church fhall enjoy his protection, and the profperity of the millennial state; and hall hereafter be received into his prefence, and fee the everlasting profperity of Chrift and his people, when all their enemies fhall be receiving the rewards of their ungodlinefs. The motives which this book furnishes to holinefs, render it a precious and profitable portion of holy writ. Further: The book of the Revelation is of ufe to confirm our belief in the whole word of God. It continually gives increafing evidence of it from age to age, by the accom plishment of its prophecies. Many of thefe have been already accomplifhed. The church has been perfecuted, and yet preserved,— the heathen Roman empire overturned,--Antichrist has arisen, and is far advanced on the decline. The ftate of the church, and of the world, has exactly answered the reprefentations given in the Revelation. The accomplishment of the prophecies has explained them. The evidence arifing from this, ferves to confirm the directions, promises, threatnings and other inftructions of the whole bible, and increases their force and influence. This book therefore is worthy of serious attention, as it bears an increafing teftimony to the truth and importance of Chriftianity. In addition to the uses of this book, which have been mentioned, we may notice the warnings of Chrift to his churches, in the three first chapters, the evidence it gives, that in this life we are in a flate of probation, and that a day of general judgment is draw ing near, when the univerfe fhall be affembled, and men fhall be judged, and rewarded, according to their deeds done here in the body. It affures us that the concerns which are going on in our world, on account of their amazing importance, engage the attention and exertions of heaven and hell. All thefe confiderations are ferious motives, to perfuade us to attend to the things which belong to our peace, before they are hid from our eyes. It ought by no means to be fuppofed that the Revelation has no other ufes, but thofe which have now been mentioned; for in reality, there is fcarce a doctrine taught in the fcripturce, a command given in the new tef object of people to pry into myf teries, and develope the fecret defigns of the moft High, they are ready to difregard every thing plain, however excellent and im tament, or a motive urged to enforce our duty, but what is one way or other illuftrated, confirmed and impreffed upon us, with diftinguished advantage, in this facred book. Therefore howev-portant, as fomething vulgar, and er mysterious and unintelligible it below their aim, their imagination may be in fome things, efpecially becomes heated, their fancy is fet when confulted with a view to at work, and there have been maexplore future events, yet refpect- ny fad examples of the most mifing the ufes and inftructions now chievous effects; men have run noticed, it is as plain, and as well mad in this way of studying the adapted to the lowest capacities, prophecies. But if we will dilias any part of the holy fcriptures. gently read them, that our hearts Finally: If we would read this may be folemnly impreffed with book to advantage, we must not the plain truths, ferious warnings, be too anxious to understand those and other useful things which they things which are not revealed in afford, we fhall find abundant it, which infinite wifdom did not matter for Christian edification intend we should know, before and comfort. G. their accomplishment. Some general views of future events God intended we should learn, particularly that the church should be for a long time perfecuted and depreffed, that great judgments fhould be poured out on the earth, that Satan fhould be. bound, the knowledge of the The labor of perfons, divinely enlightened, illuftrated, and the subject applied to the confcience, in four letters, from VIATOR to CHRISTIANUS. LETTER I. DEAR CHRISTIAN FRIEND, sefs again take place, and final. A it especially becomes us to ly that Chrift fhould come to judgment. So much knowledge of futurity is ufeful, and fo much is very plain before its accomplishment. But there are things myfteriously predicted, not to gratify our curiofity, but that their accomplishment may be an increafing evidence to the holy fcrip tures. fill up our time in the most useful manner, and to give, or to receive inftruction, as opportunity may prefent. You will not think me too affuming, as I have paffed the middle period of life, and have travelled, confiderably, to point out fome of the failings of the profeffors of religion at this day, and to remind you, with myself, of our covenant vows that it is our du Let us then fearch this book, for profit; and it efpecially concerns us not to be fo eager to un-ty, and will be for our highest inderstand what the author did not defign to reveal, as to overlock and difregard the rich inftructions which are plainly taught, and which it is evidently the will of Christ that we fhould principally regard. When it is the leading tercft, often to reflect upon the mutability of this prefent world, and of the vaft importance of the one to which we are haftening--. to reflect upon our obligation, perfeveringly to " run the race fet before us," and to make it our conftant bufinefs to please the di'vine Redeemer. The great apostle to the Gentiles, addreffed his Chriftian friends at Corinth, in the following words. 2 Corinthians v. 8, 9. We are confident, I fay and willing rather to be abfent from the body to be prefent with the Lord. Wherefore Wherefore we labor that whether prefent or abfent we may be accepted of him." Thefe words evidently refpected the apoftles primarily, concerning whom it is faid in the preceding chapter, "God who commanded the light to fhine out of darknefs, hath fhined into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jefus Chrift." But they no doubt fecondarily refpect all perfons, who are actually renewed by the Holy Ghost in every age of the world-all perfons who are a&tually, "created in Chrift Jefus unto good works," whether they be Jews or Gentiles, public minifters or private Chriftians. Notwithstanding the attachment in all men, naturally, to this world, and their great inattention to every thing of a ferious nature, thofe perfons into whofe hearts, "God hath fhined," are often "willing to be abfent from the body to be prefent with the Lord:" and fo far as they are fanctified, they "labor whether prefent or abfent to be accepted of him." as this spirit prevails in them, they realize that they, "are bought with a price,", and feel difpofed to please him, "who hath fo loved the world that he gave his only be. gotten fon that whofoever believeth in him fhould not perish, but have everlafting life." They are equally difpofed to please him, "who was wounded for their tranfgreffions, and bruised for their iniquities." They are indeed. dead unto fin, but alive unto God through Jefus Chrift." Their language is like that of the fweet finger of Ifrael, "I delight to do thy will O my God.; yea thy law is in my heart." As the affectionate wife, with refpect to her perfon, and the management of all her concerns, feeks to please her husband, whether fhe is in, or out of his prefence, fo perfons enlightened into the truth, and allied to Chrift, who is "the chiefeft among ten thou faid and altogether lovely," much *more, "labor whether prefent or abfent to be accepted of him." They labor to please him, not merely in fome tranfient warmth of affection, or upon fome public occafion, but uniformly, and even in the moft retired fituation. Moft fincerely they adopt the following prayer, made by the man after God's own heart, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. Perfons divinely illuminated, in- And fee if there be any wicked to whofe hearts "God hath fhi-way in me, and lead me in the way ned" to fhow his glory" in the everlasting." face of Jefus Chrift," have a new nature; fo far therefore as they act under its influence, or act in character as Chriftians, they endeavor to meet the approbation of him, who hath graciously quickened them, and accepted their perfons in Chrift; and given them The "fpirit of adoption." So far I am far from fuppofing, that thofe enlightened from above, are perfect in the love of God and man; but imagine nevertheless, that it is the governing defire of their hearts to love and ferve the Lord-that they are difpofed to watch-pray-fight the good fight of faith-t: lay hold upon eternal life |
