CHA P. X. The Hiftory of the Sixth age of the Chriftian Church, HITHERTO the account we find in history of the different ages, has contributed to explain the Prophecies relating to them: but with refpect to the age we are now entering upon, as it yet remains fealed up in the womb of futurity, we can have no light but what must be drawn from the Prophecies themselves. And because prophecies are generally conceived in few words, and those veiled with obfcurity, it cannot be expected we fhould give fo clear and comprehenfive a history of the fixth age as has been done in the preceding periods. We may however acknowledge here an unexpected affiftance, which was not allowed us before, in as much as that part of the Apocalypfe which treats of the fixth age, feems to be expreffed in fomewhat clearer terms than any other, at least it appears fo to us. The reafon we may conceive to be, that the Almighty revealer of it is willing to give us before hand a tolerable intelligence of tranfactions that will touch us fo nearly, and will be more terrible and trying to human nature, than any that have ever happened. By a previous, though imperfect, knowledge of dreadful calamities, we are warned to prepare for them. An impending evil, even the fentence of death itself, is lefs alarming when foreseen and expected. On that account therefore the Divine bounty is pleafed to be more copious and explicit in the Revelations about the fixth age; and our profpect of it is further enlarged by many particular fcenes to be found in the ancient Prophets, which concur to throw an addi tional light over the whole picture. These are helps which, doubtlefs, ferve in fome measure to promote and facilitate the prefent work; but it Hh muft must be confessed, the obfcurity that still remains is fuch, and other difficulties fo numerous, as neceffa, rily to demand the indulgence of the critic. The preceding five ages opened with the tranfactions contained under their refpective Seals. In like manner we fhall now begin the epocha of the Sixth and laft age of the Church in this world, with the events announced at the opening of the Sixth Seal. The Opening of the Sixth Seal. APOC. Chap. VI. v. 12. And I faw, fays St. John, when he, the Lamb, had opened the fixth feal: and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the fun became black as fackcloth of hair: and the whole moon became as blood. V. 13. And the fiars from heaven fell upon the earth, as the fig-tree cafleth its green figs when it is fbaken by a great wind: V. 14. And the heaven departed as a book folded up: and every mountain and the islands were moved out of their places. V. 15. And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and tribunes, and the rich, and the ftrong, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themfelves in the dens and in the rocks of mountains. V. 16. And they fay to the mountains and the rocks: fall upon us, and hide us from the face of him that fitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. V. 17. For the great day of their wrath is come, and who fhall be able to fland? Here are ftupendous prodigies and dreadful difafters announced, many of which cannot be now clearly explained, but will be very confpicuous to thofe who fhall exift at that time. They are the forerunners of the approaching general diffolution of the world, and are employed to announce the laft terrible judgment, and to admonish mankind * In the Greek, his wrath. to to prepare for it. If the idea, which is conveyed to us by the fimple defcription of these wonders, ftrikes us with terror, how dreadful muft they appear when they really happen! Great earthquakes; the fun darkened to fuch a degree as if covered with a black hair-cloth, and the moon reddening like blood: the stars seeming to fall from the Heavens as thick as green figs are fhaken from the trees in a hurricane of wind: the Sky appearing to fold up like a roll of parchment; and all the mountains and iflands moved out of their places, perhaps by earthquakes and extremely vehement agitations of the fea. These tremendous phænomena, fome real, others appearing to the human eye, fhew the violent convulfions nature will fuftain, and the general confufion of the whole created fyftem. At the fight of fuch events, what wonder if the wicked of every rank and denomination run to hide themfelves for fear, as St. John tells us, and from the confcioufnefs of their guilt fufpect the great day is arrived, and that the Almighty is coming to judgment, which will make them wish that the mountains and rocks would fall upon them to fhelter them from the face of their angry God, and from the wrath of the Lamb. The defcription here given by our Chriftian Prophet feems to fpecify only the principal and moft terrible of the figus and calamities that will happen in the laft period of the world and in them one may understand are comprehended those that are of a lefs deftructive and terrifying nature. Some or other of these alarms we may fuppofe will open the fixth age, and will ferve to fix the date of that epocha. They will continue to alarm mankind at different times during the courfe of that period, to remind them of the approaching end of the world. We may also observe that fome of thefe ftriking events are likewife announced by the Hh2 ancient ancient Prophets, and fhall be taken notice of in proper places. The extraordinary figns and prodigies both in the heavens and on the earth here described, evidently speak the majesty and power of him, whofe approaching coming they are defigned to announce. They therefore neceffarily tend to reflect that glory on the Lamb, which was faid to be his due. Apoc. v. 12. fee p. 20. The nature of the fubject feems to require we fhould fubjoin to the preceding account that other, which our Saviour himfelf gives of the fame or fimiliar prodigies. The affemblage of both will contribute to enlarge our knowledge of that interesting subject; and the comparifon of them may ferve as a proof, that the expreffions used by St. John are to be taken in their natural acceptation, and not in a metaphorical fenfe as fome might imagine; many of his expreffions being fimilar to thofe of our Saviour, which have. been generally understood in their natural fenfe. The account which Christ delivered of the prodigies we are speaking of, is to be found in St. Matthew, chap. 24. St. Mark, chap. 13. and St Luke, chap. 21. His Difciples having asked him by what figns they fhould know the approaching ruin of Jerufalem, and alfo what figns would precede the general diffolution of the world, Christ anfwers both queftions. But in the first part of his answer he seems to affign the fame prodigies for announcing both thofe events; as the deftruction of Jerufalem may be a very expreffive figure of the deftruction of the world. And in this fenfe the Holy Fathers have explained his difcourfe. the latter part of his aufwer Chrift feems to confine himfelf folely to the pointing out of the figns, which will be the prefages of the approaching end of all things. In He thus begins his discourse: Take heed that no man feduce you. For many will come in my name, *Saying faying; I am he, I am Chrift; and the time is at hand; and they will feduce many: go you not therefore after them. The appearance of falfe Chrifts or falfe Meffiahs was then the firft fign mentioned by our Saviour, and firft warning of the approaching fate of Jerufalem. That many fuch impoftors rofe up in Judea before the demolition of Jerufalem by the Romans, we learn from Jofephus in his hiftory of the Jewish wars. It is here the opinion of the Holy Fathers, that Chrift intended alfo to intimate by the preceding words, that falfe Chrifts will arife in a fimilar manner in the laft age of the world, and be a fign of its approaching end. Our Saviour proceeds: You shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: See that you be not troubled. For these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be peftilences, and famines, and great earthquakes in divers places, and terrors from Heaven, and there shall be great figns. These calamities happened before the ruin of Jerufalem, as the abovementioned Jewifh hiftorian teftifies. The fame will likewife be experienced, it is fuppofed, in the laft age. But Chrift adds: Now all these things are the beginnings of forrows. Though great evils, they are only to be deemed the prelude of greater. Then he goes on But before all these things they will lay their hands on you, and perfecute you, and put you to death, &c. Here are the perfecutions foretold, which fell upon the Apoftles and first Christians. The fame will likewife rage in a more fierce manner hereafter under Antichrift, And many falfe Prophets fhall rife, and shall feduce many: and because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold. From this rife of falfe prophets or teachers of falfe doctrine, and the abounding |