accounts of Scripture, and the records of the primitive Church. Prophecy keeps the attention of Chriftians alive to the truth and importance of their holy Religion to its truth, because Prophecy and Christianity had one and the fame origin, both being derived from the fame Fountain of perfection;-it keeps them alive to its importance, because Prophecy fhews that the Supreme Being has vouchfafed through a long fucceffion of ages to prepare mankind, by gradual revelations of his will, for future bleffings; and has proved, by sending chofen meffengers to ufher in this final dispensation, that "the teftimony of Jesus is the spirit of Prophecy."-It confirms the general belief of a God, and points out to a careless world the plain traces of his watchful providence. It displays the counsels of infpiration inceffantly directing the course of events, without violating the order of reafon and of human action.-Such knowledge is too wonderful for us! fuch power is above our comprehenfion! But the fact is placed before our eyes. We fee, or may fee, a regular train of Prophecies tending towards one declared end, accurately fulfilled and fulfilling - amidft all the confufion and oppofition of this tumultuous world: and we fee that these Prophecies are clear, both in prediction and accomplishment, in proportion to their importance in fixing our belief in the providence of God, and in the great truths of divine Revelation. Thus it appears, that the chief defign of Prophecy is to bear conftant witness to religious truth-But though to convince gainfayers of this truth, is juftly confidered as its principal use, it has another very important object, to which it well becomes us to pay attention, from motives of gratitude, as well as from fear of incurring the blame, which Scripture invariably imputes to those who neglect to take advantage of the light afforded them.-It is defigned to protect believers in the word of God from the dangers arifing from the prevalent corruptions, errors, and vices of the age in which they live. The due confideration of Prophecy will adminifter confolation amidst present distress, and enliven faith and elevate hope, whilst passing through those dark depreffing fcenes, which, without this gracious aid, might lead through the intricacies of doubt to the gloom of despair. That prophecy was intended to be a particular guard to the Church in these latter days, as well as a general light to the world, we have, I think, abundant evidence: but as this view of the fubject relates more particularly to the Second Part of this work, I shall only now observe, that we have the authority of our Lord himself to confider it as a duty to study the Prophecies, with a view to present and to future times; as well as for the purpose of confirming our faith by a retrofpect of the past.-Our Saviour reproved his Difciples and the Jews for "not difcerning the figns of the times" then prefentcommanded them to "fearch the Scriptures" for information concerning them, and to "watch" for the events which fhould fulfil the divine predictions.-He guarded his difciples from fharing in the impending diftreffes of their country, by express declarations concerning the time and nature of that day of vengeance, which they fully underftood, and therefore avoided the danger-and he directed St. John to warn all fucceeding generations of the trials to which his Church was to be subjected in the different ages of the world. This Chapter has run to a greater length than could have been wished: but it is hoped that the importance of its object will be a fufficient juftification; and I fhall conclude it with reminding the reader, that the Prophecies, which will come under our confideration, are of that kind which may be called direct. They relate immediately to particular perfons, events, or revolutions; and cannot, without the most evident perverfion of meaning, be understood in any other fenfe, or be explained in any other manner, than what is applicable to thofe events, perfons, and revolutions, to which they have been conftantly referred for their firft and fecondary accomplishment. FIRST CLASS OF THE PROPHECIES, WHICH FORM THE SUBJECT OF THIS WORK. PROPHECIES WHICH HAVE BEEN FULFILLED, -DOWN TO THE SUBVERSION OF THE JEWISH GOVERNMENT. I. The Promife made to Adam,-confidered as a Prophecy of general falvation by the Meffiah, the Saviour of the world, II. The Promise to Abraham of a numerous pofterity from his fon Ifaac, who were to become a great nation, distinguished from the rest of the world by their religious polity, and to be the appointed guardians of the promifes of God, till the appearance of the Meffiah; who was to be born of the race of Ifaac, and in whom all the nations of the earth were to be bleffed. III. The promise of another Lawgiver made at the establishment of the particular difpenfation of the Law by Mofes :-considered as a renewal of the promise of general falvation. IV. The |