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2 dly, Who knows whether there were at that time more than seven confiderable Churches in Afia? The other were fo very much below these, for Dignity, Grandure & Excellency, that the H. Spirit judged it not proper to make any account of them account of them, the Advertisements that he gives to these seven Churches being fufficient for the Disorders which might be in all the others, which Diforders were apparently the fame. For 'tis ufuall enough for little flocks to follow the examples of the greater ones.

Lastly, it doth not appear that the holy Spirit, in what follows, hath divided the duration of the Church fince J. Christ's time to the end of the world, or to the coming of Jefus Chrift's Kingdom into feven Periods. For the feven feals, the feven Trumpets, the feven Vialls, do not each of them take up all time. They fucceed one another. The seventh feal brings forth feven Trumpets, & the fixth Trumpet is fubdivided into feven Vialls. It had been very methodical in a Revelation, after having obfcurely mark'd out the feven Periods of the Church by the seven Epiftles, to defcribe the fame times by feven other Characters more obfervable & more diftinct. This is indeed what fome modern writers do believe that God hath done; pretending that the feven feals & the feven Trumpets are co temporary, & divide the duration of the Chriftian Church into feven Periods, as the feven Epiftles to the feven Churches do.But this opinion will not appear probable to those

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that study the Prophecies & the events with any application of mind.

I look on that as nothing that is faid to fupport the mystery of the feven Churches, viz. that we do not fee that fuch things hap pened in the feven Churches of Afia, which are there named, as have any refemblance with what the H. Spirit faith to them. How should we fee it, feeing we have not the particular Hiftory of thofe Churches in that time? Befides, tho we do not know the particulars of thofe events, yet there is nothing in the feven Epiftles which doth not very well agree with the Estate of the Church that then was; without any neceffity to feek out events myftically meant in future ages.

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The principal thing that hinders me from The ap clofing with the opinion of the Prophetical plications fenfe of the Epiftles, is that I do not find that made of the applications which are made of them to the feven the Ages that have paft fince the Apostles, to the fedo anfwer expectation."Tis true, there are fome ven Periplaces where the applications are not unhape not hap py. But feeing this is not to be met with PY every where, I believe that they have hit luckily by chance. Otherwife the Prophe cy fhould every where agree with the events. To the end one may better judge of the force of this laft reafon, I fhall fet down two or three of the mystical interpretations that are given to these Epiftles. This will pleafe those who cannot or will not go to feek them in their Springs.

I begin with that of Patrick Forbes a Scotch
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The ex- Divine, that lived & died in the beginning of of the my- this age. According to him the Church of Betoven Ephefus fignifies the Primitive Church of the Churches three firit Ages. The Praises which the H. by Forbes. Spirit gives it, I know thy works & thy labour,

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how thou canst not bear them which are evil, &c. These praises I fay may well agree to the Church of the three firft Ages. But those which God gives to the Church of Thyatira afterwards are greater. Yet 'tis certain that the fourth Period of the Church did not come near the Church of the three firft Ages in fervency & purity. The Nicolaitans that are fpoken of in this Epiftle to the Church of Ephefus, may fignifie all the Hereticks, all the kinds being meant by one. But feeing the Church of all Ages hath had its Hereticks, this character can't distinguish this Period from the others.

The fecond Epiftle is to the Church of Smyrna, & Forbes would have this to be the Period in which the Arrians, Macedonians, Neftorians & Eutychians reigned. That is to fay, that this Period will comprehend the fourth, & the fifth Age. But how can these words be applied to thofe Ages, I know thy works thy Tribulation thy poverty (but thou art rich) & I know the blafphemy of thofe that say they are fews but are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan? See here are praifes that are no whit inferiour to thofe that were given to the Church of Ephe fus. Yet 'tis certain that the Church, in these Ages was corrupted, & loft all the beauty

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it had in the three firft Ages of the Church. Its manners were corrupted, & its worship was marred by the invocation of Saints & the worship of Reliques. What will become of that Perfecution of ten days that God predicts to this Church of Smyrna? "Tis true the Church was perfecuted under the Arri an Emperours; but it doth not appear very well why this is defcribed by number of ten days.

The third Epiftle is directed to the Church of Pergamus, & according to Forbes this is the Period of the reign of Antichrift. The foregoing Periods were but of two or three hundred years; this must be above a thoufand years. Here is found fomething that is pretty like this Period. I know where thou dwelleft, even where Satan's feat is. To which may be added that the martyr Antipas (poken of in this Epiftle fignifies Anti-papa, an Enemy oppofing the Pope; & that this fignifies all thofe that have opposed the tyranny of Antichrift. But the reft doth by no means agree to this Period. Iknow thy works, & that thou holdeft fast my name, & haft not denied my faith. Thefe praifes do by no neans belong to a Church,fo corrupt as was that of the third Period under the reign of Antichrift.Thou haft them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the Children of Ifrael, to eat things facrificed unto Idols & to commit fornication. By this must be meant those evil Chriftians that joined in with the Antichrifti

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an Idolatry. Now these people are not well defcribed by thou haft them; for this imports, that it was not the body of the Society. And on the contrary, under the Antichriftian Empire, the greatest part of men did partake of his abominations.

The fourth Epiftle is directed to the Church of Thyatira, to which the H. Spirit gives thefe great praises I know thy works & Charity, & fervice, & Patience; & that thy last works are more than the first. Forbes would have this be that Period of the Church. in which the Church began to reform her felf, & in which the good separated from the evil. i. e. the Church from the Albigenfes to Luthers time. Now I leave every wife man to judge if a small number of Albigenfes & Waldenfes, that feparated from the Church of Rome, & that endured fo fhort a time, could deferve from the whole Chriftian Church, fo generally corrupted, the faireft of all the praifes that the H. Spirit gives to the seven Churches.

Thon fuffereft that woman Jezabel that calleth her felf a Prophetess, to teach & to feduce my Servants to commit fornication. This fezabel I confefs very much resembles the Antichriftian Church. But Why fhould the At bigenfes be blamed for fuffering the Roman Church? How could they deftroy it, who were fo weak? Did they not cry out upon her as Babylon as much as they were able?

Sardis, is the fifth Church to which the H. Spirit writes, & according to Forbes 'tis

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