nently present with their nation'. When the account given of the Millennial church is viewed

(1) When the conduct of Divine Providence to the Jewish nation in paft ages, is viewed in conjunction with the promised fuperiority of their church in future times, fome may be led to charge the Deity with partiality. In order to remove that prejudice, obferve, that the Jews were originally separated from the other nations of the world, as being the progenitors of the Saviour of mankind, and the trustees of the oracles of God, containing the knowledge of that Saviour. Their feparation until the appearance of Chrift, was abfolutely neceffary, to afford rational and convincing evidence to the other nations of the world, as to the person of the Saviour, and the truths they ought to believe concerning him. It was therefore no lefs beneficial to us, than to them. The conduct of Divine Providence to their nation, during the period that elapfes betwixt the appearance of Chrift and their future restoration, does by no means favour of partial kindness. They are expelled from their land, difperfed among the nations, perfecuted and defpifed every where, retaining their infidelity, yet preferved a feparate people. But all this is intended as much for the benefit of the other nations, as for their own inftruction. Their calamities, their prefervation, and their obftinate infidelity, are all foretold in the prophecies; their state being according to the reprefentation given, affords a direct demonftration of the truth of God's word! and this demonftration afcertains to the rational mind the reality. of those things revealed in the same word, which are beyond the reach of our bodily fenfes. Their infidelity, in a particular manner, gives force to our application of the 3 L prophecies

ed in the fcriptural light, it furnishes no pretext for the dangerous errors which enthufiafts

prophecies concerning the Meffiah. Had the Jews, as a nation, believed on Chrift, when he first appeared, infidels would have cried out, Collufion; and afferted, that the prophecies were penned after the event: But in regard they then were, and fill are his bitterest enemies, and at the fame time were the trustees of the oracles concerning him, we may be affured they would permit nothing to be afferted favourable to his caufe. These oracles, therefore, have to us all the force of the evidence given by an enemy, in favour of the cause he opposes.

Their future converfion and restoration is calculated as much for the benefit of the other nations of the world, as for their own advantage. Thefe events, when accomplifhed, fhall not only give additional force to the evidence arifing from prophecy, but fhall likewise animate their love more abundantly, and raife their zeal to a pitch beyond other nations, while the defign of this is to qualify them for propagating the gofpel throughout the world. They are now in the furnace of affliction; hereafter they fhall enjoy a far greater profperity than their fathers, and dwell together in the love of God. Thefe changes are intended to temper them, as inftruments for the work to which God has appointed them; and in thefe changes, therefore, God difcovers as great a regard for the work, as for the inftrument, for the other nations of the world, as for them. When we view the matter thus, inftead of fufpecting partiality, we have reafon to admire the evidences of infinite wisdom and paternal love, which God manifefts to us, in his dealings with them. "O the depth of the riches both of the wif"dom and knowledge of God! How unfearchable are his "judgments, and his ways paft finding out!" Rom. xi. 33.

afts have grafted upon it; nor does it contain any thing contrary to the analogy of faith, but rather affords a folid ground of confolation, for those who are interested in the fuccefs and profperity of the church of Christ. For the prefent, as in times past, men of wit may employ their talents to ridicule,-men of power, their influence to oppofe,-corrupt churchmen may pervert, and profligate Chriftians difgrace the religion of Jefus Chrift. But the time is faft approaching, when God himself shall fet all to rights. Religion fhall be had in honour. Truth and righteousness shall prevail, in defiance of the oppofition of earth and hell. Such as are faithful witnefles to the truth, however unsuccessful in their day and generation, have the confolation to think, that when they shall be reaping the reward of their fidelity, in the higher House, the doctrines they taught, and the prayers they offered, fhall have their full effect on generations yet unborn.

As this view of the Millennium, unfolds the feveral representations of fcripture concerning it; fo there is nothing in it improbable, or beyond what we may reasonably expect from the demonftrations of divine power, already manifested in the difpenfations of grace, and the conduct of providence. If we confider the powerful effect produced by means feemingly inadequate

quate, in the firft ages of Chriftianty; if we reflect that a few illiterate fishermen, teaching naked truths, without eloquence to perfuade, or power to oblige men to receive them, triumphed over the prejudices of the Jews, and the enmity of the Gentiles; broke down the bulwarks of fuperftition and prieftcraft; refifted the utmost force of a warlike empire exerted to suppress them, and induced multitudes to receive the truth in the remoteft corners of the earth; it cannot appear improbable, that by a greater exertion of the fame divine power, at the period which God hath appointed, the truth fhall spread more extenfively, and operate more effectually on those who receive it. Again, if we reflect, that the greateft empires have had their fall; particularly, that the laft and most powerful, which fondly vaunted itself to be eternal, has been diffolved by his command, "who hiffeth "from afar, and the nations of the earth obey "him." Is there any thing unreasonable in faying, that the mightieft empires now on earth, whether Pagan, Mahometan, or Popish, are feeble barriers against the power of that stone cut out without hands, which fhall reduce them to duft, and become a mountain to fill the whole earth.

CHAP.

CHAPTER VIII.

Of the Events which fhall take place, from the clofe of the Millennium, to the great Day of Judgment.

SECTION I.

The Invafion of the Church by Gog.

THE happiness of the church, after the union of Jews and Gentiles into one body, continues a thousand years uninterrupted. There is notwithstanding reason to fuppofe, that certain countries, or at any rate, individuals remain all along ftrangers, to the vital influence of the truth. These are, “ the miry places not healed by the "river that iffued from the fanctuary," Ezek. lxvii. 11. It may happen too, that the long continued profperity of that period, fhall, towards the close, multiply worldly minded perfons, within the pale of the church; for it is certain, that of fuch the army of Gog confifts, as we shall presently fee" and when the thousand years "are expired, Satan fhall be loofed out of his "prison, and shall go out to deceive the na❝tions which are in the four quarters of the "earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them toge"ther to battle; the number of whom is as the

"fand