THE

AUTHOR'S

INTRODUCTION.

THE Book of the Apocalypse, according to that learned interpreter of the Scriptures, St. Jerom, ❝contains an infinite number of mysteries "re

lating to future times." Lib. 1. contra Jovin. "The Apocalypse," says St. Austin, " is a prophecy of what is to happen from the first coming of Christ upon earth, to his second coming at the last day." De. Civ. Dei. 1. 2. c. 8. Some modern Writers hold the same opinion. Besides these authorities, our own study of that mysterious book, diligently pursued, has entirely prevailed on us to espouse the same sentiment. The Apocalypse exhibits, in general, a summary of the whole history of the Christian Church, from the date of its birth to its triumphant and glorious state in Heaven after the close of time. This is the foundation of the present Work, and we hope the attentive Reader, when he has considered the whole, will approve our sentiments and applaud our endeavours. He may perhaps then join us in thinking, that the celebrated Commentators, Bossuet and Calmet, have too much contracted this admirable Prophecy by confining the contents to so short a period as the four

whole, except the two last chapters, to the persecutions which the Church suffered from the pagan Roman Emperors, and to the destruction of the Roman empire. For this reason, the two abovementioned Authors have often been obliged to wrest the text, and give it a forced and improbable explication, to bring it within their system. On the same account, they have derogated from the dignity and precision of that prophecy, by applying several texts to the same event; whereas, whoever looks attentively into the tenour of the Apocalypse will perceive that St. John's precision and brevity are such, that he never repeats the same thing.

For the unfolding of the different parts of the Apocalypse, we have followed, in general, the plan laid down by Mr. De la Chetardie towards the close of the last century, as it has since been improved by a late French Commentator on the scripture. It consists in a division of the whole Christian æra to the end of time, into seven Ages, corresponding to the seven Seals, seven Trumpets, and seven Vials mentioned in the Apocalypse; so that to each belong a 'Seal, Trumpet, and Vial. But in the application of the Prophecies contained under these Seals, Trumpets, and Vials, as well as in other parts of the Apocalypse, we have frequently deviated from the above-named Writers, to substitute what we thought a more genuine explication. It must then be observed, that an age and a century must not here be taken for synonimous terms; but by an age in this history we shall understand one of the seven divisions of time above-mentioned; neither are these divisions of time equal,

From the preceding observations it follows, that Christ divides the history of his Church into seven periods, in each of which he describes three different sorts of transactions under the respective Seal, Trumpet, and Vial. The Lamb holds a book sealed with seven Seals, which he opens one after another. This book contains the history of the formation and propagation of Christ's Church, together with the opposition made to the establishment of it; and a part of this account is disclosed at the opening of each Seal. To every Seal corresponds a Trumpet, which is sounded by an angel. The sound of a trumpet naturally indicates an alarm; and such is the nature of the Trumpets in the Apocalypse. They always announce events that are alarming to the Church, such as persecutions, intestine convulsions occasioned by heretics, &c. After the Trumpets follow the Vials of the wrath of God. These convey the punishments which Christ inflicts on the enemies of his people. Hence it appears that the Seals, Trumpets, and Vials, unfold the three kinds of events, which distinguish each age of the Christian Church. One may remark in the history of the Jews, that nearly the same sort of economy was observed in the divine dispensations towards that people. They were favoured with the special assistance of God; but they had also their trials, persecutions, &c. and at other times they saw. their enemies laid. prostrate by the divine hand before them..

When almighty God thinks fit to reveal future events, he generally expresses them in obscure

whole, except the two last chapters, to the persecutions which the Church suffered from the pagan Roman Emperors, and to the destruction of the Roman empire. For this reason, the two abovementioned Authors have often been obliged to wrest the text, and give it a forced and improbable explication, to bring it within their system. On the same account, they have derogated from the dignity and precision of that prophecy, by applying several texts to the same event; whereas, whoever looks attentively into the tenour of the Apocalypse will perceive that St. John's precision and brevity are such, that he never repeats the same thing.

For the unfolding of the different parts of the Apocalypse, we have followed, in general, the plan laid down by Mr. De la Chetardie towards the close of the last century, as it has since been improved by a late French Commentator on the scripture. It consists in a division of the whole Christian æra to the end of time, into seven Ages, corresponding to the seven Seals, seven Trumpets, and seven Vials mentioned in the Apocalypse; so that to each belong a Seal, Trumpet, and Vial. But in the application of the Prophecies contained under these Seals, Trumpets, and Vials, as well as in other parts of the Apocalypse, we have frequently deviated from the above-named Writers, to substitute what we thought a more genuine explication. It must then be observed, that an age and a century must not here be taken for synonimous terms; but by an age in this history we shall understand one of the seven divisions of time above-mentioned; neither are these divisions of time equal,