Dissertations on the Prophecies

thod of interpreting it; p. 7, 8. What helps and affiftances are requifite; p. 8. Hard fate of the beft interpreters of this book; p. 8, 9. Great encouragement however in the divine benediction; p. 9.

CHAP. I. ver. 1, 2, 3: contain the title of the book, the fcope and defign of it, and the bleffing on him that readeth, and on them that attend to it; p. 9. Ver. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8: the dedication to the feven churches of Afia, and a folemn preface to fhow the great authority of the divine revealer, P. 10, 11. Ver. 9-20: the place, the time, and manner of the firft vifion; p. 11-13. The place, Patmos, whither St. John was banished in the reign of Nero more probably than in that of Domitian; p. 13. The arguments for this opinion; P. 14-19. The Revelation given on the Lord's day; p. 19. The manner and circumftances of

the firft vifion; p. 19, 20. CHAP. II. III. contain the feven epiftles to the feven churches of Afia; p. 20-40. Why these seven addreffed particularly; p. 27, 28. Thefe epiftles not prophetical, but peculiar to the church of that age; p. 28, 29. The excellent form and ftructure of these epiftles; p. 29. In what fenfe they may be faid to be prophetical; p. 30. Prefent ftate of the feven churches; p. 30-40. Of Ephefus p. 30, 31. Of Smyrna; p. 31-336 Of Pergamus; p. 33, 34. Of Thyatira; p. 34, 35. Of Sardis; p. 35, 36. Of Philadelphia; p. 36-38. Of Laodicea; p. 38, 39. Ufe that we are to make of thefe judgments; p. 40. CHAP. IV. the preparatory vifion to things which must be hereafter; p. 41, 42. The scenery drawn in allufion to the incampment of the children of

Ifrael in the wilderness, and to the tabernacle or temple; p. 42-44. CHAP. V. a continuation of the preparatory vifion in order to fhow the great importance of the prophecies here delivered; p. 44-46. Future events fuppofed to be written in a book; p. 47. This book fealed with seven feals, fignifying fo many periods of prophecy; p. 47, 48. The Son of God alone qualified to open the feals; p. 48. Whereupon all creatures fing praifes to God and to Chrift; p. 48.

CHAP. VI. ver. 1, 2: contain the first seal or period, memorable for conqueft; p. 48. This period commences with Vefpafian, includes the conqueft of Judea, and continues during the reigns of the Flavian family and the fhort reign of Nerva ; P. 49. Ver. 3, 4: the fecond feal or period noted for war and flaughter; p. 51. This period commences with Trajan; p. 52. Comprehends the horrid wars and naughters of the Jews and Romans in the reigns of Trajan and Adrian; P. 52-54. Continues during the reigns of Trajan and his fucceffors by blood or adoption; P. 54, 55. Ver. 5, 6: the third feal or period, characterized by the ftrict execution of justice, and by the procuration of corn and oil and wine; p. 55-57. This period commences with Septimius Severus; p. 57. He and Alexander Severus juft and fevere emperors, and no lefs celebrated for procuring corn and oil, &c; p. 57, 58. This period continues during the reigns of the Septimian family; p. 58. Ver. 7, 8: the fourth feal or period, diftinguifhed by a concurrence of evils, war, and famin, and peftilence, and wild beafts; p. 59, 60. This period com✩ mençes

A 4

mences with Maximin; p. 6o. The wars of this period; p. 60, 61. The famins; p. 61. The peftilences; p. 61-64. The wild beafts; p. 64. This period from Maximin to Diocletian; p. 64. Ver. 9, 10, 11: the fifth feal or period, remarkable for a dreadful perfecution of the Christians; p. 65. This the tenth and laft general perfecution, begun by Diocletian: p. 66, 67. From hence a memorable æra, called the æra of Diocletian, or æra of martyrs: p. 67. Ver. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17: the fixth feal or period remarkable for great changes and revolutions, expreffed by great commotions in the earth and in the heavens; p. 67, 68. No change greater than the fubverfion of the Heathen, and establishment of the Christian religion; p. 68. The like figures of speech used by other prophets; p. 68-76. The fame thing expreffed afterwards in plainer language; p. 71.

CHAP. VII. a continuation of the fixth feal or period; p. 72-74. A defcription of the peace of the church in Conftantine's time; p. 75, 76. And of the great acceffion of converts to it; P. 77. Not only of Jews, but of all nations; p. 77-79. This period from the reign of Conftantine the great to the death of Theodofius the great; p. 79.

CHAP. VIII. ver. 1, 2, 3, 4. 5, 6: The feventh feal or period comprehends feven periods distinguished by the founding of feven trumpets; P. 79, 80. The filence of half an hour previous to the founding of the trumpets; p. 80, 81. As the feals foretold the ftate of the Roman empire before and till it became Chriftian, fo the trumpets forefhow the fate of it afterwards;

p. 81, 82. The design of the trumpets to rouse

the nations against the Roman empire; p. 82.

Ver. 7 At the founding of the first trumpet

Alaric and his Goths invade the Roman empire,

twice befiege Rome, and fet fire to it in several

places; p. 82-84. Ver. 8, 9: At the founding

of the fecond trumpet Attila and his Huns

waste the Roman provinces, and compel the

eaftern emperor, Theodofius the second, and the

western emperor, Valentinian the third, to fubmit

to fhameful terms; p. 84-87. Ver. 10, II:

At the founding of the third trumpet Genferic and