But now let us consider what is the prevalent opinion, with respect to the future fulfil ment of prophecy? As I understand it, the Jews are to be gathered together, and they consider them only to be " Jews which are of the circumcision made by hands;" and then we (answering to the gentiles) are to be joined with them, to form what is called the Millennial Kingdom, wherein Christ is to reign for a thousand years; and then follows, of course, the last day, when the tares are to be separated from the wheat-the former to everlasting punishment, and the latter to eternal felicity. But how all this is satisfactorily made out, as in application also to the preceding generations, I have not been able to divine: there is nothing in the books which have been written upon the subject that teaches. It is true, there is some allusion to what is called (in the twentieth chapter of Revelations) the first resurrection, and to what is called, also,

the last and general resurrection; but it is not pointed out how these resurrections apply to the scheme as related above, indeed they are scarcely hinted at; and it is not very reasonable to conclude that the last day will come about without any previous restitution of former things, and without a full and entire accomplishment of all the words of scripture; nor without a previous restoration, and mani, festation of God's power; which will not be found to take place until the time come for "the redemption of the purchased possession* unto the praise of the glory" of God...

It is not my intention in this place to enter much upon the subject of the resurrection. I shall merely observe that, as St. Paul informs us, there is a resurrection of the just, and a resurrection also of the unjust, and that, in either case, it is not all at once, but by distance of time. "Christ, the first-fruits †,

* See Eph. i. 14 and 1 Peter ii. 9, and Acts xx. 28.

See General Epistle of James 1 and 18, and Heb. xii.

afterwards, all that are Christ's, at his coming*." The twentieth chapter and 6th versé of Revelations saith, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ †, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

These thousand years mentioned after the seventh angel hath sounded, and that "the mystery of God is finished, as he hath declared by his servants the prophets;" and that "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ:" These thousand years, I say, mentioned after all these things, foregoing expositors have taken literally, without considering that they may apply to when "there shall be time no longer," (Rev. x. 6,) when "a thousand years (as regarding an immortal state) is as one day,

Note 1 Thess. iv. 15, 17, altogether answering to the first resurrection, though at different intervals of time. Luke xviii. 8.

+ See Rev. v. 10. 1 Peter ii. 9.

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and one day as a thousand years;" whilst the 150 days and the 396 days in time, mentioned in the ninth chapter, and the 1260 which are expressed in the twelfth chapter, and the 1279 pointed out in the thirteenth chapter, they either take no notice of, or do what is worse, they call them years, and calculate them as such, though the word saith they are days. The thousand years I conceive only to apply when "the mystery of God is finished," and "the kingdoms are gathered together to serve the Lord," and when "there shall be time no longer;" though with regard to Satan's being bound a thousand years, there may be time as regarding him. It is pretty evident that, as the prophets have spoken of almost all the things which are mentioned in the chapters which follow after the sounding of the seventh angel, all that is said in them is comprehended in the space of time pointed out to the sounding of the seventh or last trumpet *.

It has been stated in opinion, that it is scarcely safe for us to enter deeply into the mysteries of the prophecies: and indeed if we take the words otherwise than in their plain significations, I hold that it is so; or if we give interpretations of our own, which are not borne out by other scriptures, particularly of the book of Revelation, then I do hold that it is extremely dangerous; but no harm can possibly come, if we ascribe all power to God, and expound, believing the words to mean what they say. Like Festus, the wicked may tremble, but the upright will be more assured and comforted: "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings," saith the Psalmist: no, it is certain, that all that we find in this sense is knowledge that is good for us. It was the aim of our Lord and of the apostles to expound the prophecies; and though we cannot perhaps at present arrive at any perfect knowledge of them, yet the seeking to comprehend