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We expect opposition, but know of but one way of successfully opposing our doctrine of the millennium, that is, the way of troping and allegorizing the Scriptures; by which, for a long time, too successful an opposition has been made, not only to this, but to almost every doctrine of divine revelation. By such means chiefly Universalism has been introduced, and old arianism has been revived; as, that eternity does not mean eternity, nor everlasting everlasting-the mighty God does not mean the mighty God, nor the everlasting Father the everlasting Father; and them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years, does not mean that those that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Jews, which appears to be the glorious event of this era 1290, there would be so many years to the most glorious event of 1335, which is the first resurrection and completion of the new Jerusalem. And it is thought by some that Christ intimated that about so much time should elapse from the beginning to the end of these things, in his observation, This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled. Caleb and Joshua, who saw the beginning of the work of redemption from Egypt, saw it perfected in the settlement of the tribes in Canaan, which was about forty-five years; and they who heard the gospel of the kingdom first preached, saw this dispensation, in the militant church state, perfected by the descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost and by the settlement of the gospel among the Gentiles; which settlement of the gospel in the organization of the Gentile churches, from the preaching of John, was about the same length of time, forty-five years.

Doctor Goodwin understood these two periods "set as two posts, the one at the beginning, and the other at the

This way of turning the Scriptures into tropes and figures is called explaining them; but it ought rather to be called a way of contradicting the Scriptures. They will tell you, however, for their justification, that Christ spake parables; that some things the apostle Paul mentioned he called an allegory; and that John in the Revelation often introduced, as it were, similitudes. But does this warrant them to make any part of Scripture a parable, or allegory, at discretion, and to insert their own as it were at pleasure? We have a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye will do well to take heed, and never leave the literal sense, when the subject-matter will bear it without absurdity or incongruity.

ending of that whole stage of time, which is allotted for the despatch of these great things prophesied of, to fall out afore the kingdom of Christ. The first, twelve hundred and ninety years, shows when the first turning of the course of things for the accomplishment of all should begin. The other, thirteen hundred and thirty-five years, shows the time of the full and final end, and complete accomplishment of all that the angel had foretold:" which end, said he, "shall be the great resurrection, and the thousand years of Christ's kingdom. So that this interim of forty-five years is a time which begins with a resurrection," [the resurrection of the witnesses, in which glorious grace he expected both Jews and Gentiles would share,] and also ends with a resurrection, and that an infi nitely more glorious one; and in the middle course of which time the greatest things are accomplished that ever were done upon the earth, even the ruin both of the Turk and the pope, the enemies of both, [Jew and Gentile,] which is to be completed by the new Jerusalem, as the accomplishment of all."

And Doctor Mather had the same thought, and expected the time of the end, when Daniel and every other good man is to rise and stand up in his lot, within one century from the fall of the papal empire.

I have written these things with great trem blin; not so much because I know they must be unpopular, and must be considered by this earthlyminded generation as the height of fanaticism and the most consummate folly; and that to all careless, unbelieving, busy worldlings I must seem like Lot to his sons-in-law, as one that mocketh; but fearing most of all lest I should add unto or take from the word of prophecy. Yet I dared not be silent, and see the world slumbering until the day of God break.

I have also experienced great discouragement in thinking to attempt something of this kind, from the consideration that if I am right I shall not be believed; on the contrary, the songs of peace-peace-happy times yet in this worldwill still prevail, and prevail until the end. Deceived the world must be, for the Scriptures must be fulfilled. But the further considerations have engaged me to proceed, that possibly some few may be benefitted, and also what I owed myself to some attempts of this kind by others, which were the means of opening my eyes, that had been held in errors, as I now think them, for a number of years of adult age.

Committing therefore all to the Lord, I shall only add my Amen. So come, Lord Jesus.

APPENDIX.

No. I.

MANY people have a veneration for antiquity, and have strong prejudices against doctrines which are new, which should seem favorable to truth; for perhaps it is not without reason that, next to the inspired writers, the sense and testimony of the primitive fathers have been accounted of good authority. But, unfortunately, it has often happened, that an old, venerable doctrine, having for a while been rejected, has to encounter all the same prejudices as if it were really new. It may therefore be proper, and a satisfaction to some, to show briefly the sense and testimony of the primitive Christian church concerning the millennium, or future kingdom of Christ.

Papias, bishop of Hierapolis, and martyr, taught the doctrine of the millennium, and "that Jesus Christ was to appear on earth, and there to reign with his saints in great glory, for the space of a thousand years.

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*Nisbet's Church History, page 46.

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