in his Effay upon the Rev. p. 239. That the Authority of the Fathers in this Cafe is not to be regarded, because the particular Time for the Explication of the Doctrines concerning Antichrift was not till these two laft Centuries, Jo famous for the Improvements of Learning; grounding their Opinion on thofe Words of the Angel to the Prophet Daniel, Chap. 12. v. 4. But thou, O Daniel, fhut up the Words, and feal the Book, even to the time of the End. Many fhall run to and fro, and Wisdom fhall be encreased. Unde confequitur, (faith Mr. Mede) Patrum Authoritatem in Negotio Antichrifti, & noviffimorum temporum (utut in aliis multum iis tribuendum fit) omnino nullam effe, utpote quorum ætate Myfterium illud juxta Angeli Prophetiam adhuc claufum & obfignatum foret. Non igitur effe cur hic Patrum opinationibus tantopere moveamur ut nonnulli folent. Vid. App. p. 733

TO this I answer, 1ft. That it may very well bear a Question, whether The Encrease of Knowledge, mentioned by Daniel in this Place, be meant of the Improvements of Mathematical, Philofophical, and Philological Learning, for which these two laft Centuries have been more remarkably famous; which cannot very properly be Suppofed to contribute to the Understanding the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God. May not then the Words Knowledge and Wifdom, the encrease whereof is foretold in this Prophecy, fignifie more emphatically a Divine, Extraordinary Light and Knowledge more fully to be communicated in fucceeding Times, whereof that Rational Learning may be a Forerunner

2dly, IF

2dly, IF it prove that thefe Mysteries could not be known till these last Centuries, then it will follow that none of the Ancients knew them; and. by confequence St. Paul and St. John, who wrote profeffedly of these things, talk'd of what they did not understand: for if they understood them, why. might they not convey them down to after Ages; as we have good reafon to believe they did.

3dly, I am rather of the Opinion of Mr. Whifton in this Point, who makes the great Article of thefe Prophecies, whereof the Ancients were ignorant, to be the understanding of the Prophetical Numbers, and the adjusting the Times of their Completion; and then though we grant that the Apoftles and Ancient Fathers knew not the precife Time of their Completion, yet it does not thence follow, that they knew not whether Antichrift was to be a fingle Perfon, or a collective Body. Let it then be granted that the Ancients knew not the Time of the Completion of thefe Prophefies, because the Time was not yet come; would not an unwary Reader be bence tempted to conclude, that the Time for the understanding of them is not yet come, becaufe fo many unsuccessful Attempts have been made to fix every Event to a particular Time? And may it not poffibly happen that even Mr. Whiston himself may in time be convinced, that he knows as little of the Matter as St. Paul himSelf did? I know not what ufe Mr. Mede might make of the above-cited Obfervation. His fingu lar Modefty and Humility, as well as great Fudgment, perfwade me that he could not make a bad one; but whether others who pretend to tread in his Steps, may not hence be encouraged to defert the

Doctrines

Doctrines, and defpife the Fathers, of the Primitive Church, to fet up new Opinions, and to be wife above that which is Written, ought carefully to be confidered by those whom it may concern.

IV. I do not here take upon me to cenfure the Learned Labours of the many Great Men, who have written in Defence of the contrary Doctrine; much less am I able to unravel their Schemes of Apocalyptical Interpretation. My bufinefs in this place is only to revive the Ancient Doctrines of the Primitive Church, which I cannot easily part with, though I am not able to reconcile every part of the Apocalypfe fo as to draw a coherent System of Prophecy. But if the Doctrine bere contended for, fhall appear to the Learned World a true and juftifiable Doctrine, it may be improved and fet in a clearer Light by fome more able Hand.

V. THE Reader, I hope, will not be offended, if he find up and down in this Effay feveral Myftical Interpretations of Scripture, for most of which I am not without great and good Authorities. How justifiable fuch Allegorical Interpretations of Scripture are in general, to pass over the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, may appear from St. Paul's Allegory of the two Covenants, answering to Mount Agar and Mount Sinai, Gal. 4. and in his Epiftle to the Hebrews, wherein he expoundeth a great part of the Levitical Law in a Myftical and Spiritual Senfe; not to say that the Helleneftick Philofophy, which was that of the New Testament, was chiefly of this fort, which was clofely followed by feveral of the most Ancient Writers, as by Origen, Eufebius, and Athanafius, in their Commentaries on the Pfalms

and

and other Scriptures. Whereas I have also in feveral places offered at a more particular Explication of the Modes of fome Events. The Reader, I hope will not cenfure me as Dogmatical, fince I only propose them as things probable according to the Analogy of Scripture and Nature, not laying any stress upon them, much less propofing them as undoubted Truths.

VI. HOW feasonable a Difcourfe of this nature may be at prefent, is but too evident to any one that will but obferve the prodigious encrease af Antichriftian Principles, more particularly in this finful Nation. For what are all thofe Execrable Clubs and Societies, of Atheists, Deifts, and Free-thinkers, which now Swarm amongst us, but Antichriftian Spirits banded to gether in a Diabolical Confederacy, to propagate Infidelity, and fubvert (if it be poffible) the very Principles of Religion! For this is Antichrift faith St. John) that denyeth the Father and the Son, and whofoever denyeth the Son, the fame hath not the Father. 1 Ep. Chap. 2. v. 22, 23. And this is done without Fear or Reftraint by the Scoffers of this Degenerate Age, who Blafpheme the God of Heaven, Contemn and Deride the Perfon and Doctrines of the Blessed Jefus, and that in fuch a manner, and with fuch Circumstances, as would not even in a Mahometan Country be fuffered with Impunity. But because he is out of their reach they affault him in his Priefts, and in his Spouse the Church, whom with the most implacable Malice they endeavour to Vilify and Destroy; by despifing and affronting her Governors and their Orders, and prophaning her moft Sacred Inftitutions.

2

Thefe

Thefe being Contemners of Religion, and owning no Obligations of Confcience, are by confequence prefumptuous, felfwilled, defpife Government, and are not afraid to fpeak evil of Dignities. But let them know, that though they speak great fwelling Words against God, and their Superiors in Church and State, beguiling unstable Souls, and promifing them Liberty from Prieftcraft and Slavery, they themselves are but the Wretched Slaves of Corruption; and the vileft Advocates and Propagators of the Antichriftian Kingdom. And I pray God forgive me if I am uncharitable in thinking that thefe are the 'Aronnúμero mention'd by St. Paul.

t

VII. MOREOVER I am not a little confirm'd as well in the Truth of this Subject as in the Seafonableness of publishing it to the World at this time, by finding, that no lefs a Perfon than the Primate or Vice-Patriarch of Mufcovy did in the Year 1704, the Year, in which this Effay was Written, Publifh a Book upon the fame Subject, of which, tho I cannot give the Reader a ・full Account, having not feen bis Performance, yet he may meet with fome Satisfaction from the following Letter fent me by a very Learned Gentleman, whofe Name I am obliged to conceal, he being of that Infuperable Modefty, that be could never yet be prevailed on to fix his Name to any one of the many useful Treatifes with which he bas obliged the World. The last of which is his admirable Hiftory of Montanifm, lately Pub lifhed, with fome other Pieces, by the Learned and -Reverend Dr. Hickes. The Letter is as follows.