deferts, bears witnefs to the truth of the memorable prediction pronounced 4000 years ago.

Egypt remains "a bafe kingdom" according to the Prophetic word P; "It fhall not exalt itself any more above the nations." The Babylonians, the Perfians, the Macedonians, the Romans, the Saracens, the Mamalukes, and the Turks, have held it in conftant fubjection for near 2000 years fince this Prophecy was uttered.

The Mahometan Antichrift ftill rears its proud crefcent in the Eaft, though its avenging fword, having done its appointed office, has been long put up into the scabbard.

The corruptions and fuperftition of Antichriftian Rome continue, though the time of her tyranny is past-" The decree is gone forth, who fhall difannul it?" The exact time of its full accomplishment it is not given to us to know; "the one day in which her plagues fhall come upon her,

when she shall be thrown down with vio

P Ezek. xxix. 14, 15.

lence,

lence, and found no more at all," cannot be yet difcovered with certainty; but the time is declared with fufficient accuracy to explain the wonderful events now paffing in the world. Some of "the kings," or nations who gave her their strength and power, "have begun to take away her dominion," and others" ftand afar off, and bewail and lament for her, faying, Alas! alas! that great city Babylon, that mighty city 9!"

The confutation of her Falfe Doctrines -the detection of her Impoftures-the abolition of her Spiritual Tyranny-the deftruction of her Monaftic inftitutions— the panic of her Adherents, and above all, the progrefs of a Power which feems peculiarly fitted to execute the wrath of God, point to her fate with more than common clearness.

Scepticifm, Infidelity, and Atheism, throwing off the mafk of diffimulation which they wore in former times, now boldly avow their principles, and fhow themselves. to the world in all their horrors, for the

9 Rev. xviii. 10.

day

upon

day of their power is come."-They call. the world to worship the Image they have fet up; and whilft herefies divide the Church, they attack its foundations with infernal art and fury.

"The controverfy with the Nations" feems to be begun, "the facrifice in Bofrah" is preparing-" the time of trouble is at hand."

Thus we appeal to the PRESENT STATE OF THE WORLD for the confirmation of Prophetic truth.-We point to a wide difplay of permanent and confpicuous miracles, not confined to a few witneffes who lived in diftant times, but open to the view of the men of our own generation, even to as many as have eyes to see what is immediately paffing before them, and curiofity to enquire into what is at this instant tranfacting in the more diftant parts of the globe.

ཐ

By the comprehensive study of the Prophecies we are enabled to find a standard of reference to the different parts of the vast design which now are paffing before us in too rapid fucceffion to be otherwise under

understood; and the aggregate teftimony of facts thus linked together will afford fresh evidence to the truth and order of the mighty Scheme.

We see that many great and extraordinary plans of Providence remain still to be executed; but the certainty of their accomplishment refts upon the foundation of Eternal Truth." Hath he faid, and will he not do it?" The Ages as they roll are. charged to execute the high commiffion; and the past afford a certain pledge for the accomplishment of thofe future events, which are as clearly predicted, as those already fulfilled.

The multitudes, who fit in the darkness of ignorance and fuperftition, fhall fee the light of Truth-the delufions of Mahometanism, and the corruptions of Popery, fhall vanifh before the glorious light of Christianity, when it fhall fhine forth in perfect day. Infidelity and Atheism fhall fink into annihilation before the prefence of the Lord and of his Chrift, when he cometh to take poffeffion of his promifed kingdom. For the Religion of Christ fhall be extended over all the world ;

"The

"The Heathen fhall be his inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of the earth his poffeffion." "His dominion fhall be from fea to fea, and from the rifing of the fun unto the going down thereof." When the times of the Gentile Church are fulfilled, the Jews fhall be collected with the Chriftian Church into one fold, under one Shepherd, "which is Chrift the Lord;" and the whole Ifrael of God fhall enter with joy and triumph into the New Jerufalem. Then shall "all flesh fee the falvation of God"-" All nations fhall do him honour"-for "the earth fhall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the fea."-And then will PROPHECY have completed its full and final work, and fhine forth in all the fplendour of perfect accomplishment.

It is thus that the CHRISTIAN, from his enlarged views of Scripture and of mankind, fees in their full and proper light, the fublimity, the extent, and the importance of Prophecy and it may be with truth, afferted, that the study of Religion is abfolutely neceffary to the understanding univerfal hiftory. The pretenfions of the modern Philofopher to enlarged and impar

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