THIS prophetic book is entitled, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which he sent and signified to his servant JOHN, by his angel; and which he received when in a state of banishment, in the isle called Patmos, for the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ. It pleased the All-wise and Omniscient God, to give to this his faithful servant, a very full and glorious vision of the things which then were, or of the state of the church at that time; and of the things which should be hereafter, or the then future state and condition of the church, [Page 8] the seasons of its flourishing and prosperity, and of its declension; its trials and sufferings to the end of the world. Which vision he was ordered to write, for the instruction, support, and conso­lation of God's saints, in the wars and conflicts they might have with their enemies, in every age and period of time, till the old serpent, the great dragon should be entirely overcome, and his king­dom compleatly destroyed. "And blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the WORDS of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time," that is, of their accomplishment, "is at hand." The diligent and serious study of this sacred book ought not to be neglected and despised, nor the things it contains be viewed as idle speculations, and vain empty amusements; but every man is bound in duty, to attend to the things contained herein, as to matters of great importance, with all the wisdom, sobriety and reverence he is capable of. It may with propriety be stiled, "The sure word of prophecy." The apostle John was so highly favoured, as to behold a door opened in heaven; so near to which he was brought as to look in, and see the glorious things transacted there, to confirm his saith as to the truth of these won­derful predictions and prophecies to be accom­plished on earth. Chap. iv. 1. and the first voice which he heard, was as of a trumpet talking with him, which said, "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." Ac­cordingly God discovered to him all the most re­markable events that should befal his church, and the nations and kingdoms of the world, even to the closing period when the angel should stand up and swear, that time should be no more: [Page 9] Which things he was ordered to pen down in dark, emblematical, and figurative language, the meaning of which, tho' it cannot be fully com­prehended in the present dark state of the church; yet may be so far understood as to afford much support and encouragement to God's people in times of their greatest distress and suffering, and tend to establish their belief of the truth of this part of divine revelation, and of the ruling pro­vidence of God which is constantly at work to fulfil and accomplish the events herein predicted and foretold.

WITH a view to assist us in forming just con­ceptions of the nature and design of these pro­phecies and predictions, and to lead us to a right improvement of such providences of God by which they are fulfilled, I shall make two or three observations, before I proceed directly to explain the passages that have been read.

1. I WOULD observe with all judicious com­mentators and expositors that have wrote on the subject, that Popery, or the reign and kingdom of the man of sin, the old serpent, the dragon, its rise and progress, and its downfal and over­throw, is the greatest, the most essential, and the most striking part of this revelation of St. John. There has been a mortal enmity between the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpent, ever since the fall of man, and the promise of a Sa­viour for his recovery. The old serpent, who se­duced man by his temptations, to fall, has ever been using his subtility and malice to defeat the purposes of divine grace, and to destroy Christ's kingdom on earth; and has, in all ages of the world, been successful in stirring up agents and [Page 10] instruments to accomplish this diabolical and hell­ish design. Among all his crafty and subtle in­ventions, popery, which exalts the principal lead­ers and abettors of it, high in the honours and emoluments of this world, seems most cunningly devised, and best adapted to answer his purpose; and has proved the most formidable engine of terror and cruelty to the true members of Christ's church. And this has been the chief subject of prophecy since the coming of Christ; and was foretold by some of the prophets under the Jewish dispensation. And whatever difficulty and per­plexity there may be in many of these dark, mysterious passages, yet in this view, the appli­cation of most of them is rendered easy and ob­vious. As popery has been the greatest enemy, and the greatest corrupter of christianity, we may rationally conclude that more prophecies relate to that, than to any other distant event.

BY carefully reading and studying the prophe­cies given forth by Daniel, by St. Paul, and more fully by St. John, it will appear to be clearly and evidently foretold, that such a power as that of the Pope of Rome should be exercised in the Christian church, and should authorise and establish such doctrines and practices as are pub­licly taught and embraced by the wicked, corrupt members of that mother of harlots and abomi­nation. The time also is signified when, and how long it should prevail; and that at last, upon the expiration of this term, it should be destroyed forevermore.

2. THIS popish mysterious leaven of iniquity and absurdity, by which the Christian religion has been so awfully adulterated and corrupted, has [Page 11] not been confined to the boundaries of the Roman empire, nor strictly to the territory of the Pope's usurped authority and jurisdiction; but has spread in a greater or less degree, among almost all the nations of the earth; especially amongst the chief rulers, the princes and noblemen thereof. When this great whore of Babylon, or papal Rome is described, Rev. xvii. 1. her bewitching, infatu­ating enchantments are said to be such, that the kings of the earth have been enticed, and in­flamed in their wicked lusts, to that degree as to have committed fornication with her; and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication or whoredom. They have been so far corrupted and debauched by this mother of harlots, as to sacrifice every dictate of religion and reason, and even common sense, to those alluring arts with which she has been tempting them. The prophet Isaiah had long before this, foretold, "That she should turn to her hire, and commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world, upon the face of the earth." Isaiah xxiii. 17.

WHEN the great red dragon, described, Revel. xii. having seven heads, and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads, made his first public ap­pearance, his tail drew a third part of the stars of Heaven, and did cast them to the earth. The apostle, under these symbolical characters and at­tributes of the great red dragon, undoubtedly meant to point our Satan or the Devil with his agents and instruments, who are acting the part of avowed enemies to the church of Christ; and his drawing the stars of Heaven with his tail, must mean his subjecting the princes and potentates of [Page 12] the earth, with great numbers of the clergy, to his tyrannical influence and oppressive scheme of government. The prophets often describe the persecuting enemies of the church, under this emblem and figure. Psalm lxxiv. 13. "Thou breakest the heads of the dragons in the waters, &c." And when God comes to destroy these ene­mies, he is said "to cut Rahab, and to wound the dragon," Isaiah li. 9. see also Ezekial xxix. 3. "Thus saith the Lord God, behold, I am against thee Pharaoh, king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, my river is mine own, and I have made it for myself." When the frightful monster of a beast, in such terrible array, is described, Rev. xiii. The dragon is said to give him his power, and his seat, and great authority; and all the world wondered after the beast; and said, "Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with the beast?" Which expressions denote the great extent of his power and dominion, as well as the blind infatuation of his deluded subjects who made their boast of it. It is added, "And power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations, and all that dwell upon the earth, shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life, of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Now, it can admit of no doubt, but that there are multi­tudes of this character in other nations and king­doms, besides papal Rome. This is further evi­dent from chap. xiv. 8. when the angel comes to proclaim the fall of Babylon, the reason given why God thus proceeded in righteous vengeance and wrath, is this, viz. "Because she made all [Page 13] nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her for­nication." Her's was a kind of Circean cup, as one observes, with poisoned liquor, to intoxicate and inflame mankind to spiritual fornication. The prophet Jeremiah hath assigned much the same reason for her destruction, chap. li. 7. "Ba­bylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunk; the nations hath drunken of her wine, therefore the nations are mad." When the sixth angel poured out his vial, Rev. xvi. Three unclean spirits like frogs, are said to come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, which are said to be spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. These unclean spi­rits here compared to frogs, a very low-lived, inferior kind of animals, who are peeping and croaking in the dark holes and corners of the earth, most probably represent popish, Jesuitical missioners, or the tools and emissaries in general, of anit-christian, tyrannical power, who are the spirits of devils, and have free access to the kings of the earth, and are said to be gone forth through the whole world, and are industriously using all their most artful stratagems, and diabolical craft and subtility, to impose upon mankind, and to engage them in the support and defence of the kingdom of Satan, in opposition to the mighty host marshalled up by the Lord Almighty, for the overthrow and destruction thereof. These scripture prophecies and predictions that have now been cited, to which more might be added, were [Page 14] it necessary, make it abundantly evident and ma­nifest that the anti-christian, tyrannical scheme of popery, in one shape and form, and another, was to have a very extensive spread and influence, not only thro' the territories of papal Rome, but thro' all the nations and kingdoms of the world in general, and that the kings and princes of the earth, as well as their subjects, were to be much intoxicated and infatuated therewith; to the great distress and perplexity of the true chuch of Christ, which, so far as I have been able to observe, has not been suitably noticed and attended to by ex­positors and divines that have wrote on the sub­ject; the want of which has occasioned much per­plexity and obscurity in their comments on some passages, which, in the right view of them, are full of significance and importance. For instance, that passage in the xiii. chap. of this mysterious book, where the image of the beast is spoken of, "I con­fess," says a great expositor, "I know not what the image of the beast is, distinct from the beast itself." The reason of which was, no doubt, his limiting and confining these prophecies to so narrow a cir­cle, as papal Rome. Every man of common sense, knows that the image of a thing is some­thing different from the thing itself. Therefore, to make sense of the language here used, we must suppose that the apostle intended to describe ano­ther persecuting tyrannical power, in some nation or kingdom of the world, which was a lively figure and resemblance of that exercised at Rome, the head-quarters of tyranny and persecution ^*. Whe­ther that persecuting power be intended, that has in years past, been so cruelly and barba­rously [Page 15] exercised in France, and other popish coun­tries, against the humble followers of Christ, to the massacre and destruction of so many thou­sands of protestants ^*; or whether there be a refe­rence to the corrupt system of tyranny and oppres­sion, that has of late been fabricated and adopted by the ministry and parliament of Great-Britain, which appears so favourable to popery and the Roman catholic interest, aiming at the extension and establishment of it, and so awfully threatens the civil and religious liberties of all sound pro­testants; I cannot positively determine. But since the prophesies represent this wicked scheme of anti-christian tyranny, as having such an extensive and universal spread over the earth, like Nebu­chadnezzar's tree which reached unto heaven, and the light thereof to all the ends of the earth, it need not appear strange or shocking to us, to find that our own nation has been, in some degree, in­fected and corrupted therewith, and that some of our princes and chief rulers have had a criminal converse and familiarity with the old mother of harlots; and been sipping of the golden cup of [Page 16] her fornication, so as to be intoxicated, if not whol­ly drunk with her poisonous liquors. Before what is called the reformation, the man of sin reigned triumphant in our mother-country, without much check or controul; which reformation was not set on foot on the purest principles of genuine christi­anity, nor carried to perfection by King HENRY the Eighth, who is so celebrated as the author of it. In the reign of Queen MARY, the doctrine and ceremonies of the catholic religion were re-esta­blished, and the Pope's authority and jurisdiction acknowledged in full; and a very cruel, severe persecution rigorously carried on against the in­nocent, conscientious professors of the protestant religion; and a most tragical scene of bloodshed and slaughter exhibited, as ever England beheld.

IF we pass from this dark and bloody period of English history, and come down to the reign of the STUART family, we shall find three or four of our kings successively, seduced and infatuated by the enticing and bewitching inchantments of the old whore of Babylon, to that degree, as to drink deep of the intoxicating wine of her fornica­tion, to the entire destruction of two of them; and to the great distress of the nation in general. How far the present ministry have walked in this enchanting road, and how fond they are of the kind embraces of this old filthy harlot, the world will judge from their open attempts to propagate and establish popery, that exotic plant, in these northern regions; which is not a native of our be­nign soil, nor of our heavenly Father's planting; and their gathering up of armies professedly Ro­man catholics to dragoon us into slavery and bon­dage, or massacre and butcher us and our fami­lies, [Page 17] and lay our pleasant country in desolation and ruin.

3. SINCE these prophecies and predictions, re­lating to the trials and sufferings, the wars and conflicts of the church with her anti-christian enemies and adversaries, may be justly taken in such a large, extensive sense and latitude; we may rationally conclude that many of them have re­ference to the state of Christ's church, in this American quarter of the globe; and will sooner or later, have their fulfilment and accomplish­ment among us. The providences of God in first planting his church in this, then howling wilderness, and in delivering and preserving of it to this day, are in a manner unequalled, and mar­velous; and are reckoned among the most glori­ous events that are to be found in history, in these latter ages of the world. And there are doubt­less yet more glorious events in the womb of providence, which the present commotion thro' the nation and land may (however unlikely in the view of some) be the means of bringing to pass. There is no part of this terraqueous globe better fitted and furnished in all essential articles and ad­vantages, to make a great and flourishing empire; no part of the earth, where learning, religion, and liberty have flourished more for the time. And as to the rapid increase of its inhabitants, and swift population, it cannot be paralleled in all history. There is no part of the world where its inhabitants, through such a large extent of territory, are under such bonds and obligations, from self-interest, to keep in the strictest union and harmony together. They have every motive and inducement to this, that can well be conceived [Page 18] of. And this union, by the blessing of Heaven, is become as general, perfect and complete, as could well be expected in such a corrupt disorder­ed world as this in which we live.

THESE United Colonies have arisen to such a height as to become the object of public atten­tion thro' all Europe, and of envy to the mother from whence they derived; whose unprovoked attack upon them in such a furious hostile man­ner, threatening their entire ruin, is an event that will make such a black and dark period in history, and does so deeply affect, not only the liberty of the church here in the wilderness, but the pro­testant cause in general, thro' the christian world, and is big with such consequences of glory or terror, that we may conjecture at least, without a spirit of vanity and enthusiasm, that some of those prophecies of St. John may, not unaptly, be applied to our case, and receive their fulfil­ment in such providences as are passing over us.

I DO not mean to undertake a nice, exact cal­culation of the periods pointed out in this pro­phetic book; nor to range thro' the history of the world for events to find their accomplishment. I am of opinion, that the church of Christ in every age, may find something in this book applicable to her case and circumstances; and all such passages that are so, may lawfully be applied and improved by us accordingly. There are many cases which happen, that bear a near likeness and resemblance to each other, and which the same prophecy may well suit, in the most material parts of it. It has pleased that God who exercises a universal providence over all things, so to dispose and order events, that the calamities and afflictions [Page 19] of the church, in some measure, run parallel one to another; and all the former efforts of that tyrannical persecuting power, called the beast, may be the types and figures, as it were, of his last and general effort against the faithful witnesses of Christ, and the true members of his church.

THESE preliminary observations may assist us in explaining and improving these prophecies of St. John; particularly the passages that have been read, to the consideration of which I now pro­ceed.

VERSE 14. "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."

THE woman in this passage, is represented in verse 2. as in a pregnant state, travailing in birth, and in violent pangs to be delivered, which is doubtless designed as an emblem of the true church of Christ. She is elsewhere spoken of as the spouse of Christ, who owns himself to be her head and husband. A woman, we know, is the weaker sex, and looks to her husband for support and protection. So the church has always been the weakest part of the world, in herself consider­ed, and had her dependence on Christ her head, for preservation and safety in times of peril and danger. This woman, the church, being in such a near relation to Christ, the brightness of the Father's glory, and express image of his person, amidst all her own natural weakness and infirmity, has never appeared contemptible; but the most glorious society that ever existed in our world. She is the king's daughter, all glorious within. She [Page 20] is spoken of, verse 1. as being cloathed with the sun, and having the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars; which is a magnificent description of her comeliness, beauty and lustre. She is enlightened, invested and adorned with the rays of Jesus Christ, the great Sun of righteousness, which makes her form illustriously bright and majestic. She is in such a state of dignity and triumph, as to have the moon, with all sublunary enjoyments and ter­rors, under her feet. And on her head, to com­pleat her glory, a crown of twelve stars, an em­blem of her being under the light and guidance of the twelve inspired apostles, who had been im­proved as master-builders under Christ, in laying the foundation of this honourable society, and were such useful and distinguishing ornaments to it. One would think that such a society as this, would have nothing to fear from all the combined powers of earth and hell; and indeed, they have not in reality, since stronger is he that is for them, than those that are against them. How­ever, they are not exempted from trials and suf­ferings in this world. We find, when the great red dragon appeared with his seven heads and ten horns, that frightful monster the devil instigated the tyrannical persecuting powers of the earth, against this harmless and innocent woman, the amiable spouse of Christ. He had impudence and boldness enough to make an unprovoked at­tack upon her, which occasioned her to leave the imperial and wealthy abodes of earthly grandeur and magnificence, the courts and palaces of em­perors and princes, and retired to some obscure, solitary condition, for the sweets of liberty and [Page 21] peace. This furious attack of the great dragon on the woman, was an event of such importance, as to produce war in Heaven between the angels of light, and the angels of darkness. See verse 7. "Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought, and his angels." This Michael was the tutelar angel and protector of the Jewish church. Daniel x. 12. And he performs here the same office of champion for the Christian church.

He, and the good angels who are sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation, were the invisi­ble agents on one side, as the devil and his evil angels were on the other. The visible actors in the cause of christianity, were believers, whether in a civil or ecclesiastical character, with the glo­rious martyrs and confessors. And in support of the opposite side, were the persecuting powers of the world, with the whole dark train of the artillery of hell. In this great conflict and war, let it re­late to what period of the church it will, which I am not anxious to determine with mathematical certainty; we find that those on the side of God and true religion, overcame their formidable ene­my, with all his confederate powers, by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. They were of such a brave, heroic spirit, as to cheerfully expose themselves to the greatest dan­gers in this glorious cause; and many of them actually met death in the terrible conflict. But they fell, as one observes, to rise, and triumph, and reign. The dragon being thus defeated and vanquished at his head-quarters, pagan or papal Rome: He takes a wider scope and range, thro' [Page 22] the other nations and kingdoms of the earth. He was doubtless greatly enraged at the ill success of his first encounter, and marshals up all his forces abroad, and proceeds with violence, to persecute the woman which brought forth the man-child. Upon this the woman has a second flight into a more distant and solitary wilderness, "unto her place;" to prepare her for which, two wings of a great eagle were given her, which is not men­tioned in her first flight; and probably she did not then need them. There seems an evident al­lusion here, to what God said to the children of Israel, Exod. xix. 4. after their deliverance from cruel oppressive slavery in Egypt, when encamp'd before Sinai, and on their way to the good land of Canaan, "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles wings, and brought you unto myself." He was not con­ducting them from a land of liberty, peace, and tranquillity, into a state of bondage, persecution and distress; but on the contrary, had wrought out a very glorious deliverance for them, and set them free from the cruel hand of tyranny and op­pression, by executing his judgments in a most terrible and awful manner, on the Egyptians, their enemies; and was now, by his kind provi­dence, leading them to the good land of Canaan, which he gave them by promise, for an everlast­ing inheritance. Hence, as the trials and suffer­ings of the Christian church were parallel in some measure, with those of the Jewish, and there is a great similarity and likeness in the manner of God's dealings with the one to the other; it must be evident, that expositors have been mistaken, when they represent this flight of the woman into [Page 23] the wilderness, as denoting the church's going into greater peril, danger and affliction, where she was to be more violently distressed and persecuted, for a long time. The word WILDERNESS might pos­sibly suggest to their delicate, but inattentive minds, this frightful and shocking idea. It is true, our fathers had the difficulties of an uncul­tivated wilderness to encounter; but it soon, by the blessing of Heaven on their labour and in­dustry, became a pleasant field or garden, and has been made to blossom like the rose. The passage, in its most natural, genuine construction, contains as full and absolute a promise of this land, to the Christian church, as ever was made to the Jewish, of the land of Canaan. It is, in an appropriated sense, "her place;" where she is nourished, from the face of the serpent. And the dealings of God in his providence, in bringing his church from a state of oppression and persecution, into this good land, are very parallel and similar to his dealings with the Israelites, in delivering them from the tyrannical power of the haughty, cruel monarch of Egypt, and conducting them to the good land of promise in Canaan. Thus, they that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings, as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

THUS the church, in this difficult, distressed season, whenever it happened, was supported and carried, as it were, on eagles wings, to a distant remote wilderness, for safety and protection. And what period or event is there in all the history of her trials and persecutions, which these expressions more exactly describe, and to which they can be [Page 24] applied with more truth and propriety, than to the flight of our fore-fathers into this then howling wilderness, which was a land not sown nor occu­pied by any ruling power on earth, except by savages and wild beasts? It is an indisputable fact, that the cruel hand of oppression, tyranny and persecution drove them out from their plea­sant seats and habitations, in the land of their nativity; and that the purest principles of religi­on and liberty, led them to make the bold adven­ture across the wide Atlantic ocean; for which they surely needed the two wings of the great eagle, to speed their flight, and to shelter and co­ver them from danger, while seeking a safe re­treat from the relentless fury and shocking cruelty of the persecuting dragon; and a secure abode for unadulterated christianity, liberty and peace. It is remarked by the inspired penman of this pro­phecy, and is worthy of notice, that when the woman fled into the wilderness, she came INTO HER PLACE. This American quarter of the globe seemed to be reserved in providence, as a fixed and settled habitation for God's church, where she might have property of her own, and the right of rule and government, so as not to be controul'd and oppress'd in her civil and religious liberties, by the tyrannical and persecuting pow­ers of the earth, represented by the great red dragon. The church never before this, had prime occupancy, or first possession of any part of this terraqueous globe, in any great extent of territo­ry. In all countries and kingdoms wherever Christianity had been planted, before its intro­duction into this American wilderness, the ruling powers in possession of the property, and right [Page 25] of jurisdiction and dominion, were in opposition to this benevolent institution; and the church had to make her way through the greatest possible dif­ficulties and dangers. While thus in an enemy's land, her persecutions and oppressions, her bloody trials and sufferings furnish out the chief subject of her history from her beginning to the present day, in other parts of the world, from which she is not wholly exempted in this. However, her degree of peace and quiet rest has been greater than she has ever known since she has had existance and being. When that God, to whom the earth be­longs, and the fulness thereof, brought his church into this wilderness, as on eagles wings, by his kind, protecting providence, he gave this good land to her, to be her own lot and inheritance for ever. He planted her as a pleasant and choice vine; and drove out the Heathen before her. He has tenderly nourished and cherished her in her infant state, and protected and preserved her amidst innumerable dangers. He has done won­ders in his providence for our fathers; and for us their sinful posterity: They, and we have many a time, stood still, and seen the salvation of the Lord. The woman, the church of Christ, has such a gift and grant from Heaven, of this part of God's world, for the quiet enjoyment of her liberties and privileges, civil and religious, that no power on earth can have any right to invade, much less to dispossess her of them. And every attempt of this kind to oppress and enslave her; must be absolutely unrighteous, and a gross viola­tion of justice and truth. He that has all power in heaven and on earth, who will soon destroy [Page 26] the man of sin, and all his confederate powers, by the spirit of his mouth, and brightness of his coming, declares in this prophecy, that the "wo­man" shall be nourished and preserved in her place here described, "from the face of the serpent." The serpent spoken of, is the great dragon, called the Devil and Satan; the chief directing agent in all the dark plots of tyranny, persecution and op­pression; from whose malignant rage, the church has a promise of future protection. This old serpent shall never be permitted to shew his de­formed face, much less to lift up his monstrous head, and frightful horns in this place here given to the woman for a safe retreat and secure abode, "for a time, and times, and half a time;" which probably means, "to the end of the world," or till all the times and periods spoken of in this prophetic book are fulfilled and accomplished. I know that expositors take these expressions, "for a time, and times, and half a time," to include only the period of one thousand two hundred and sixty days, mentioned verse 6, and so understood the phrase "for a time," to mean one propheti­cal year, and "times," to mean two years, and "half a time," an half year; in the whole, three years and a half: But it seems more natural, and more agreeable to the phraseology of scripture, as well as the connection of these prophecies, in the events foretold, to interpret this passage as signi­fying all future time indefinitely. Or, if we apply it to distinct periods, the first expression, "for a time," I should think, might, with great propri­ety, be taken for the time or period, that hath al­ready been mentioned. This construction appears natural, and not in the least forced or strained. [Page 27] Then the "times" will mean such times or periods as follow after the fulfilment of the above; and the "half time," must signify the closing period, when time is near run out, and just come to an end. Taking the passage in its proper connection, and plainest and most obvious sense, we may well understand it as containing a prophetic promise to the church, of safety and preservation, during the period that had been described above, and thro' all succeeding times, even to the end of the world. Not but what the old dragon, with his black train of tyrannical persecuting powers, might greatly afflict and distress her: Yet, with all his cunning, art, policy and power, shall never be able to establish his enslaving doctrines, nor to erect his head and horns, to exercise his usurped authority and uncontrouled dominion, as in papal Rome. We may expect, however, that he will be putting forth most violent struggles and efforts for this base, malignant purpose.

ONE objection of weight, I have against the current opinion of expositors, who interpret the passage, "a time, and times, and half a time," to signify the same period as the thousand two hundred and three-score days, is, that this is dis­honourable to the sacred writer, and shews that he rather meant to puzzle and perplex his readers, than to enlighten and instruct them. I believe that all will allow, that the language used in the 6th verse, is more plain and intelligible, and has a more fixed and determinate meaning, than that in the 14th verse. Now, to suppose the same period of time, is described in the one, as in the other, is to suppose, that the Apostle, after he [Page 28] had described a thing in a plain, easy way to be understood, proceeds on to involve the same sub­ject in a cloud of mysticism, darkness and obscu­rity, which could not tend, very much, to the improvement and edification of Christ's church. It is usual with all good writers, as they advance on their subject, to elucidate and illustrate their meaning more and more, to set it in a plainer and more intelligible point of light. And this is, especially, the tone of all inspired writers, and of St. John in particular. The light of revela­tion is like the path of the just, shining brighter and brighter in every page, till we come to the close of it.

BUT should my explanation of this passage, after all, be disputed, and the time, times, and half time, allowed to include no more, altoge­ther, than the period of twelve hundred and sixty years, which I have taken to be included in that expression only, "a time," yet it will not mate­rially affect my scheme. For, on the old plan of exposition, it is supposed, that after the expira­tion of these twelve hundred and sixty years, the trials and sufferings of the church will be chiefly over; and that a scene of great peace, prosperity and happiness will open and commence. Hence, if the prophetic promise in the text, extends no further than to that happy and blessed period, the church will safely get through the long storm and tempest, raised by the dragon; and so, be ready for a share in the blessings of that glorious and happy period to succeed; during which, we need not be very anxious about her safety, considering other precious promises that are made in her favour.

[Page 29] THE serpent is said, verse 15, "to cast out of his mouth, water, as a flood, after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood." This, perhaps, is one of the artifices, says a learned expositor, which these enormous creatures make use of, "to beat down their prey," when flying from them. The common significa­tion of a flood is an inundation of water, &c. The Psalmist sets forth extreme dangers, under the notion of a flood. Psalm lxix. 15. "Let not the water-flood overflow me." And the violent as­saults, and subtle temptations, and sudden incur­sions of the Devil and his instruments against the church, are compared to a flood, Isaiah lix. 19. "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard a­gainst him." Which prophecy may refer to, and have its accomplishments in the present state of the church, about which we are treating. The oppressive and persecuting power here figuratively described, under the emblem of the serpent, which occasioned the flight of the woman, the church, into this wilderness, whenever it has prevailed, has been full of the most inveterate malice and envy against her; and used every art and strata­gem to extirpate and destroy her from the earth. Hence, the flood which the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman, may very naturally and properly be interpreted to signify all the subtle temptations, artful schemes, and machinations of our enemies and adversaries, to ensnare and cor­rupt us, and to destroy our liberties and privileges, that we might be embarrassed again under the old tyrant, the dragon, and patiently submit to the iron yoke, and galling chains of cruel oppression [Page 30] and bondage; which machinations and contriv­ances have been too many to be enumerated in a short, concise discourse. Every one acquainted with the history of our country, of the New-Eng­land colonies in particular, must know, that there have been floods issued from the mouth of the old serpent, after the woman, to effect her destruction and overthrow. Whenever a spirit of despotism has run high, and a lusting ambition after arbitra­ry power and lawless dominion has prevailed; when the dragon dare venture to put on and wear his long horns; the woman in the wilderness has felt the grievous distressing effects. At such sea­sons, jesuitical emissaries, the tools of tyrannical power, have been employed to corrupt her doc­trines, and lead her into the belief of the darling doctrines of arbitrary power, passive obedience and non­resistance; who, like the frogs that issued out of the mouth of the false prophet, who are said to have the spirit of devils, have been slyly creeping into all the holes and corners of the land, and using their enchanting art and bewitching policy, to lead aside, the simple and unwary, from the truth, to prepare them for the shackles of slavery and bondage. Thousands and millions of money, have, at one time and another, been expended for the purposes of bribery and corruption, to accomplish this malignant design. Evil, wicked men have been entrusted with the chief command in one province and another, where the door has been open, to act as tools of a corrupt admini­stration and tyrannical power, in forwarding and ripening their deep-laid schemes, for the destruc­tion of the woman. The colonies in America will not soon forget the cruel and tyrannical admi­nistration [Page 31] of Sir Edmond Andross, at Boston, and his evil designs against them in general; and Lord Cornbury, at New-York; the late insidious and traiterous conduct of Bernard and Hutchinson, is still more fresh in every one's mind; and like­wise of Gage, Carlton, and Dunmore, who, by their base, perfidious and cruel behaviour, have rendered themselves universally odious and detest­able to the American colonies. In these and such like ways, not to mention the unrighteous sta­tutes restricting and interdicting our trade and commerce, the stamp-act, &c. we have had floods poured forth from the mouth of the ser­pent, which at length, have brought on a civil war. The dragon finding his artful temptations on the one hand, and his cruel menaces and threatenings on the other, ineffectual to gain the woman to a compliance with his terms, has at length become wroth with her, and brought over his troops and armies to make war with the rem­nant of her seed. But, blessed be God! all his efforts and struggles have hitherto been unsuccess­ful; for the earth helped the woman. Verse 16. "And the earth opened her mouth, and swal­lowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth."

IF this is taken in the literal sense, to signify that gross terrestrial element which sustains and nourishes us, it is strictly true; in which sense some of the prophecies have been, and yet will, no doubt, be accomplished. The earth has ever helped the woman since her arrival to these shores, with every article necessary to her comfortable support. She has never wanted for nourishing food, and good raiment; has never known the [Page 32] distresses arising from scarcity of bread, pinching hunger and famine; has always, from the first settlement and cultivation of the country, had things convenient for her, and, as I trust, been contented with her lot and condition. The earth has, in a very remarkable manner, thro' the bles­sing of Heaven, been profuse and liberal in her precious fruits and productions, the year past, when the dragon has been wroth with the woman, and using all possible schemes and contrivances to distress her, and starve her into a compliance to his despotic and arbitrary rule, by shutting up her ports and harbours, and interdicting her trade and commerce, and cutting her off from all sup­plies from her fishery, a very useful and necessary branch of her trade and livelihood, by which thousands were maintained. I say, when the wo­man has, in these, and in such like ways, been distressed, she has been helped in a very extraor­dinary way, by the earth. Our crops of all kinds have been plentiful. Our fruit-trees loaded with fruit, and pressed down with their burdens. Our granaries are full. There is such an uncommon plenty of all kinds of good provisions for man and beast, that some inconsiderate persons are rea­dy to esteem it rather a curse, than a blessing; as we know not how to dispense with, or dispose of it. But not to enlarge here.

SHOULD we take the expression in a figurative sense, to mean the men of the earth, and earthly powers, it may still, with truth and propriety be applied to our present case. For as the oppres­sive measures pursued by the British parliament, strike at our temporal interest and property, as well as our civil and religious privileges, it will [Page 33] engage those of an earthly temper to exert them­selves in the present struggles; by which means the earth helpeth the woman. And besides, the vast advantage of these American plantations, in point of traffic and merchandise, to all such as trade in ships, will doubtless, if the present sys­tem is pursued, engage the kingdoms of the world, and the merchants of the earth, to espouse the cause of the colonies, to such purposes as will, in their operation, greatly help the woman against the flood cast out of the dragon's mouth.

AND not only the earth, but the God that made it, nourisheth the woman in the wilderness, a­midst the most violent and cruel attempts of a tyrannical and persecuting power, and has raised up persons of a martial, heroic spirit, and endow­ed them with skill, courage and fortitude, to de­fend and protect his church. The flood of the dragon that has been poured forth to the north­ward, in the Quebec bill, for the establishment of popery, and other engines and instruments that have been set to work, to bring the savages down upon us, to our utter destruction, have been chiefly swallowed up by our late successful enter­prizes against them; and the woman has received a great addition of strength from this quarter, as a door is opened for breaking up the seat of the dragon in Canada; and for bringing in the Hea­then tribes, perhaps, the fulness of the Gentiles, into firm league and friendship with her, for her future defence and protection. So that instead of being carried away with this flood, she stands on more firm ground, and is better established than ever. Should we extend the meaning of the phrase, so as to take in other neighbouring powers [Page 34] of the earth, they have likewise helped the wo­man in her distresses and troubles, by affording a competent supply of military instruments and war­like stores for her defence and protection; when all possible precaution had been used by her ene­mies, to deprive her of these useful articles, so necessary for self-preservation; and these other powers seem so friendly disposed, that it is highly probable, should the serpent continue to perse­cute and distress the woman, that they will soon open their mouth, and swallow up the whole flood, even all the fleets and armies which the dragon may cast out of his mouth.

THE probability or conjecture of neighbour­ing nations continuing to help the woman, the church, to that degree, as to swallow up all the floods, the serpent may cast out of his mouth after her, is founded, not only on their present friendly appearance, and the part which their in­terested views may lead them to take in the pre­sent controversy, but on the sure word of prophe­cy. See Rev. xvii. 16, 17. "And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore; and shall make her desolate and naked; and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will." These ten horns, doubtless mean some of the kingdoms and princes of the earth, that have, for a long time, been under the influence of the beast, the great whore of Babylon, and had a great share with her, in the cruel and bloody work of tyranny, persecution and oppression. But the time is coming, and perhaps near at hand, when their league and friendship with her, will be dissolved and broken; and their love turned [Page 35] into hatred and a spirit of revenge. They will turn with warm zeal and violence against her; and use all their strength and power for her de­struction and overthrow. These shall hate the whore to a degree beyond what they ever loved her, and shall make her desolate and naked. They shall strip her of all her costly ornaments which they have lavished away upon her, and ef­fectually humble her insolence and pride, and ex­pose her to public shame and disgrace; in the heat of their indignation and zeal, shall eat her very flesh, and burn her with fire. They will do the most thorough execution upon this old harlot, by whom they had been so long infatuated and de­ceived; and wholly break up the stupid schemes of idolatry, with all the monuments of it, and bring the abettors and instruments of tyranny and persecution to their condign punishment. This God will put into their hearts, by a strong and powerful impression, to fulfil his will; and they shall agree in it, to perform his purpose and de­sign. This prediction or prophecy, it is thought by judicious expositors, refers to the destruction of papal Rome, or to the demolishing of the Popish hierarchy in general; and that the kings of France are pointed out, as the principal in­struments to effect it. They have, in years past, contributed greatly to her growth and advance­ment; and done much at the cruel work of per­secution. It is not impossible, nor improbable, that the time is coming, when their hearts will be turned against her, and be improved by Heaven, as the principal authors of her overthrow and ruin. France has been satiated with the blood of Protestants, and 'tis to be hoped, will never thirst [Page 36] after it any more. She has already shewn some tendency towards a reformation; and therefore may be judged very likely to effect such a revolu­tion. It appears from verse 17, that the infatu­ation of Popish princes will be permitted by di­vine providence, only for a certain limited period, till the words of God be fulfilled. And then their minds shall be turned and their eyes opened; and they shall ruin and destroy all oppressive, ty­rannical combinations, more eagerly than they established them. Should our honourable Conti­nental CONGRESS, see fit, in their great wisdom, at this difficult juncture, to open a free trade, and correspond with that nation, in a way in which our threatened rights and liberties might have such security and indemnification, as to be in no hazard or danger of any future encroach­ment on them, the spirit of liberty might spread and circulate with commerce; and from small sparks, kindle up into a bright and inextinguisha­ble flame, in that, and in other kingdoms of the earth; and so hasten the fulfilment of this pro­phecy, in the entire destruction of the beast, or man of sin, and in the complete and glorious sal­vation of God's afflicted church.

THE dragon, in this situation, is represented as much embarrassed in his black system of politics, in a state of great perplexity, and high paroxism of passion. Verse 17. "He was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Which may refer to the present war that is carry­ing on with such heat and fury against us; which seems chiefly levelled against those who most [Page 37] strictly and conscientiously adhere to the pure, uncorrupted doctrine and worship of our pious forefathers; and have not been seduced nor per­verted from the right ways of the Lord, but still keep God's commandments, and have the testi­mony of Jesus Christ, in his pure gospel. A­midst all our declensions and back-slidings, our divisions and heresies, our contentions and sepa­rations, there remain yet in the land a godly rem­nant of the true seed of the woman, who have not been enticed away to worship the beast, nor prevailed upon to receive his mark; who have never apostatised nor departed from the faith and practice of the church, as first planted in the wil­derness; but have continued stedfast and immove­able amidst all the storms of temptation, and vi­olent assaults of the adversary. And these seem the principal objects which excite the wrath and resentment of the dragon, and against which, the whole artillery of his indignation and vengeance has been pointed and aimed. Who, tho' few in number, yet with such other helps and advantages as they are furnished with, will overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. Their fidelity, courage and zeal is such, that should it come to a case of extremity, they will not love their lives unto the death. But this part of the prophecy will admit of a different interpretation, and as well suit the present times.

BY the "remnant of her seed," we may under­stand those worthy, true members of the church, staunch friends to liberty and the protestant reli­gion, who remained still in the mother-country, and did not come over with her when she took her flight into this wilderness. There has, ever since [Page 38] the settlement of these colonies, been numbers of pious, godly persons, on the other side of the water, who have been friendly and well-disposed towards us, and have used all their power and in­fluence to promote our growth, our wealth and prosperity. This remnant of the seed of the wo­man, since our troubles have begun in America, have exerted themselves to their utmost in our fa­vour, to divert the impending storm of vengeance from lighting on us; have made most moving and affecting speeches in parliament, on the sub­ject; have published many useful pieces in vindi­cation of the colonies; and have been, to the last degree, faithful in corresponding with their friends on this side of the Atlantic, to inform of the in­trigues and dark plots that were contriving against us. These things, together with the disappoint­ment, shame and disgrace that have attended the enterprizes of the dragon against us, have roused his wrath against them likewise, which appears by a very severe and extraordinary proclamation, published to forbid this correspondence between them and us, on the highest penalty. And from the commotions that began to be raised among them therefor, should this civil war continue, it is highly probable, that within the term of another year, it may flame forth from the very bowels of the kingdom, where it seems to be already kindling up, and where our brethren, which keep the com­mandments of God, will unavoidably be distressed. But in the issue hereof, it is to be hoped, that the dragon will be wholly consumed and destroy­ed; that the seat and foundation of all tyranny, persecution and oppression, may be for ever de­molished; that the horns, whether civil or eccle­siastical, [Page 39] may be knocked off from the beast, and his head receive a deadly wound, and his jaws be effectually broken; that peace, liberty and righte­ousness might universally prevail; that salvation and strength might come to Zion; and the king­dom of our God, and the power of his Christ might be established to all the ends of the earth.