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is hid with Chrift in God. When Chrift, who

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is our life, fhall appear, then fhall ye alfo ap66 pear with him in glory." The fame fentiment feems alfo to be couched under, and an attention to it throws a beautiful and strong light on, that otherwife obfcure paffage, 1 Thef. iv. 14. "Even "fo them alfo which fleep in Jefus, will God "bring with him;" intimating, that they are already committed to him by God as a depofit or truft, and that God will then bring them with him, that he may accomplish the purposes of the truft.

The apostle feems to have borrowed thefe fentiments and modes of expreffion, on the fubject of the fecurity of dead chriftians, as referved in the hands, and under the protection of Chrift unto a glorious refurrection, from the words of Chrift himself, John vi. 39. "This is the Father's will "which hath fent me, that of all which he hath "given me I should lofe nothing, but should raise "it up again at the last day;" and ch. x. 28, 29. "I give unto them eternal life, and they fhall "never perish, neither fhall any pluck them out "of my hand. My father which gave them me, " is greater than all; and none is able to pluck "them out of my Father's hand." Hence we see the reafon and propriety of dying Stephen's invocation, Acts vii. 59. "Lord Jefus, receive my " fpirit."

Upon

Upon the whole, by being with Chrift, the apoftle seems to me to mean being in a state of security with him, under the protection of divine power, and the fanction of his faithful promise, reserved as a truft or depofit committed to them both by God and ourselves, in order to be restored to life, and made completely happy by him at the resurrection of the just.

SECTION V.

Of the future condition of the world in general.

ΤΗ

HE great events of the refurrection of the dead, the day of judgment, and a state of retribution afterwards, are fuch as all mankind are moft nearly interested in, as individuals. But there are, likewise, other intermediate events, which are foretold with fufficient clearness in the scriptures, in which we are interested as members of civil focieties, or, at leaft, as well wifhers to the cause of christianity and virtue in the world. Of these I fhall briefly mention a few, that are the moft confiderable.

The power of antichrift, mentioned by different names in feveral parts of the scriptures, by which almost all interpreters understand the ufurpations

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of the pope of Rome, is to be finally overthrown. Several different fteps are to be taken in order to the reduction of this enormous power, as is most probably the meaning of the feven vials, which are faid, in the book of Revelation, to be poured, in fucceffion, upon the beast, which is fynonymous to antichrift. And fince it is evident, from the state of the world, that the papal power has long been upon the decline, we may conclude, that feveral of thefe vials are already poured out.

But the utter deftruction of antichrift feems to be referved for a more remarkable period, which is often denominated in the fcriptures by the coming of Chrift, as was alfo perhaps the period in which Jerufalem was deftroyed; fo that probably this coming also will not be a literal one, but figurative, representing a moft eminent judicial proceeding, in the exertion of that power in heaven and in earth, which was given to Chrift after his resurrection. The apoftle fays, of this man of fin (by which there can be no doubt of the fame antichrift power being intended) that the Lord fhall" con"fume him with the spirit of his mouth, and de"ftroy him with the brightness of his coming." 2 Theff. ii. 8.

The fame coming of Chrift feems to be defcribed by the apostle John, in the book of the Revelation, in fuch a manner, as to lead us to conclude, that the powers of this world will make

a violent, but ineffectual oppofition to this event; and that when it has taken place, christianity, then reftored to a state of great purity, by the deftruction of the power which had introduced and fupported the corruptions of it, will prevail through the whole world, for a space which in the prophetic language, is called a thousand years.

Nothing less than this can be denoted by the reign of Christ upon earth, and the refurrection of the martyrs, and others who opposed the antichriftian corruptions of the gospel, to live and reign with him, in the following paffage. Rev. xix. II. "And I faw heaven opened, and behold, a white "horfe; and he that fat upon him was called

faithful and true, and in righteoufnefs he doth "judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame "of fire, and on his head were many crowns; " and he had a name written that no man knew "but he himself: And he was clothed with a vef"ture dipped in blood: and his name is called,

The Word of God. And the armies which "were in heaven followed him upon white horses, "clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And "out of his mouth goeth a sharp fword, that with "it he should fmite the nations: and he shall rule "them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the "wineprefs of the fiercenefs and wrath of Almighty God. And I faw the beast, and the

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kings of the earth, and their armies gathered to"gether to make war against him that fat on the "horse, and against his army. And the beaft "was taken, and with him the falfe prophet that "wrought miracles before him, with which he "deceived them that had received the mark of the "beast, and them that worshipped his image. "These both were caft alive into a lake of fire "burning with brimstone. And I saw an angel "come down from heaven, having the key of the "bottomlefs pit, and a great chain in his hand. "And he laid hold on the dragon, that old fer"pent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound "him a thousand years. And cast him into the "bottomlefs pit, and fhut him up, and fet a feal "upon him, that he fhould deceive the nations no 66 more till the thousand years should be fulfilled: " and after that he must be loofed a little season. "And I faw thrones, and they fat upon them: "and judgment was given unto them: and I saw "the fouls of them that were beheaded for the "witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and "who had not worshipped the beaft, neither his "image, neither had received his mark upon their "foreheads, or in their hands: and they lived and "reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the "reft of the dead lived not again until the thou"fand years were finished. This is the first re

furrection. Bleffed and holy is he that hath part

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