Upon the GENTILE Apoftatized Church. AGAINST THE Modern Hypothesis of some In Four Parts. To which is prefix'd, A PREFACE fuited to these Present Times : AND A Difcourfe of St. Ephrem Syrus concerning NOTES. Together with with Dr. GRABE's Opinion of the SCRIPTURE- LONDON: Printed for R. Knaplock at the Bishop's Head, R. and ADVERTISEMENT BY The PUBLISHER. T HE Judgments of God upon Chriftendom, by the SWORD, the PESTILENCE, and FAMINE or Dearth, which have fucceffively ravaged the most populous and flourishing Parts of it for fome Years last past, though in part to be accounted for by the Agency of Second Caufes, both Natural and Political; are yet fo very remarkable and extraordinary in their Circumftances, as evidently fhew the Superintendency and Direction of a Firft Mover, that is at once Wife, Juft and Good; and may fairly Challenge fuch a ferious Confideration of all Thinking Perfons, as is the Defign of the following Treatife to recommend and excite. For whatever may become of the Hypothefis which is bere advanced, there can be no Doubt of the Facts which are every Day feen, and felt; and by which it is fupported. And if thefe be but allowed, and reflected upon as they deferve, the Defign is fufficiently answer'd. There are feveral Particular Hypothefes of Divines for the Explication of the Subject here treated on, fome of which may be plaufible enough to take with many, but none of them without infuperable Difficulties; forafmuch as the Matter is not yet clearly Revealed: nevertheless it will appear that This, upon a free and fair Examination, doth as well or better than any other folve the Phanomena of Providence, leading to the Confummation of all Things. * A 2 The The very Learned and Pious Dr. Grabe was fully convinc'd hereof, when be first encouraged the Author to profecute this Defign, who had acquainted him with it: And though the Doctor was fenfible that there are feveral Exceptionable Paffages, and many Rhetorical Flights, to be found in the Antient Writers, when they have occafion to make mention of that Great Cataftrophe bere pointed at, which is to conclude the most wonderful Drama of the Divine Dramatist Acted upon this Grand Theatre, fet forth to us under Prophetical Schemes; yet he was fatisfied enough, that the Foundations and Principles which they proceed upon are not overthrown by what any of the Moderns, in their new Schemes and Notions have hitherto been able to fet up against them. This will appear from the following Extract digefted out of fome Manufcript Papers and Letters of this excellent Perfon: by which the Reader may fee what his Opinion was concerning God's Judgments upon the Church of Rome, and the Preparatory Scenes to the Finishing of Evil in this World, and the introducing into it fuch a New and Heavenly State of Things, as by Scripture and Primitive Tradition he thought himself warranted to expect and pray for. The Reafons for his Opinion would have been more fully explained, but that he was prevented from finishing what he had begun upon this Subject in the Latin Tongue. This however is in good measure Supplied by the Learned Author of this Treatife,who was honoured with his Friendship, and knew his Sentiments in this matter exactly. It was written about Nine Years ago, when the State of Affairs both at Home and Abroad had a different View, from that which they at prefent have: But there remaining the Jame Natural and Moral Caufes of the the Publick Evils, which then were most justly apprehended and foretold, there is reafon more than enough to enquire into those Causes, as the Author hath done,and to examine well the Signs and Characterefticks of this Prefent Time, and among thefe more particularly the Overflowing Scourge of Antichriftianism. It must by no Means bere be denied that before the Deftruction of Jerufalem by the Romans there were most or all of thefe Signs and Characterifticks, even as they had been exactly predicted: and that nothing could ever be more punctually verified than the Prophecies both of CHRIST and bis Apoftles concerning the Great Evils which were to fall upon the whole Jewish Nation within the Limits of One Generation; and that both the forerunning Tokens, and the concomitant and fubSequent Circumstances of the Total Deftruction of their Temple and Polity, are defcribed by them with that Accuracy, fome Twenty, fome Thirty, others Forty Years before the Completion; as no more evident and more amazing Proof can be given of the Truth of the Prophetick Spirit, if duly and nicely confider'd, as to all the feveral Particulars, as recorded in our Gospels and the Apoftolical Epiftles, and in the correfponding Relations of the Jewish Hiftorian, befides the corroborating Teftimonies of other profeffed Enemies to the Chriftian Name, as might easily be fhewn. But we are always to remember that the fame or like Caufes must neceffarily produce the fame or like Effects, according to the stated Laws both of Nature and Providence; and that fo the fame Scriptures may be feveral times fulfilled, both as to Judgments threatned and Mercies promis'd, by the fame Caufes recurring, whether they be with Respect to one or to the other: And |