interpretation of the Sealed Book, and to identify it with the authentic copy of the Old Testament, first from the use of the same symbol in the Old Testament itself, and secondly from a regular induction of the comments of those Greek and Latin Fathers, who have either professedly or incidentally mentioned the subject, until the introduction of the modern interpretation of the symbol by Lyranus and Aureolus in the early part of the fourteenth century. Having thus settled the meaning of the Sealed Book, the author proceeds in Part III. to investigate its history. He here shews from Josephus, that, after the destruction of Jerusalem, the Book was certainly sealed up in the hands of Rome, and brings forward the reasons which induce him to believe that it may, possibly, still continue under the seal of that power. In Part IV. he has slightly touched upon those considerations, which tend to shew the probability of the conclusion, to which the preceding inquiries lead, and thereby to confirm the accuracy of the proposed interpretation. Such is the object of the following work. We proceed to state the manner of its execution. A large portion of the book, particularly of the first two Parts of it, consists of a regular chronological exposition of the opinions of the Fathers of the Christian Church. Now, in executing this part of the plan, two modes of proceeding suggested themselves: either to condense into a short Essay the substance of the interpretations of the Fathers, and refer the reader to the original authorities,-or, to cite the Fathers themselves, and by a close translation present their thoughts as much as possible in their own words. Had the authors, to whom reference is made, been familiarly known to the generality of readers, and their works been such, as are commonly to be met with in the private libraries of theological students, the former plan would, perhaps, have been the more proper. But, as comparatively few readers can have access to the volumes, from which the greater part of these citations are taken, and as the interpretations here brought forward are essentially different from those of modern commentators on the Apocalypse; it was conceived that the student would feel more satisfaction in being enabled at once to consult the original passages, and thus form his own judgment, both as to the accuracy with which they are translated, and as to the correctness and importance of the inferences which the present Writer has deduced from them. The Author has therefore endeavoured, by a plain and literal version, to present to the English reader the sentiments of the Fathers, whom he has quoted; and, at the bottom of the page, he has printed at full length the corresponding extract in its original language. Although this mode of proceeding has considerably enhanced the price of the volume, it is hoped that the more judicious and reflecting reader will approve of the Author's judgment in this respect. Nothing now remains but to mention in order the names of the Fathers from whom these extracts are taken. In the following Catalogue those who have only incidentally alluded to the Sealed Book, are distinguished from the commentators on the Apocalypse by an asterisk (*). A CATALOGUE OF THE FATHERS WHO HAVE LEFT COMMENTARIES ON THE APOCALYPSE, OR HAVE INCIDENTALLY ALLUDED TO THE SEALED BOOK. YEAR 230. 1. GREEK WRITERS. * ORIGEN. Opera. Ed. De la Rue. Paris. 1733. 290. 320. * EUSEBIUS. 368. Demonstratio Evangelica. fol. Paris. 1628. * EPHIPHANIUS. Opera. fol. Paris. 1622. 401. * SEVERIANUS. Chrysostomi Opera. Ed. Montfaucon. Paris. 1718. Tom. XII. p. 403. 500. ANDREAS. Ed. Commelini. 1596. 540. ARETHAS. Ecumenii Opera. fol. Lutetiæ Parisiorum. 1631. Tom. II. p. 636. 2. LATIN WRITERS. 290. VICTORINUS. Bibliotheca Maxima Patrum. Lugduni. 1677. Tom. II. p. 414. 354. * HILARY. Opera. fol. Paris. 1693. 374. * AMBROSE. Opera. Ed. Bened. fol. Paris. 1686. 381. TYCHONIUS. Augustini Opera. Ed. Bened. Tom. III. 392. Appendix. * JEROME. Opera. Ed. Vallarsii. 1734. 416. * PAULUS OROSIUS. Biblioth. Patrum. Tom. vi. p. 452. 440. PRIMASIUS. Biblioth. Patrum. Tom. x. p. 287. 550. CASSIODORUS. 12mo. London. 1722. 590. 596. * GREGORY I. Opera. Ed. Bened. Paris. 1705. PSEUDO-AMBROSE. 4to Lutetiæ. 1554. or, Ambrosii YEAR 730. BEDE. Opera. fol. Col. Agrip. 1612. Tom. v. p. 761 830. 840. p. 359. 850. 850. Bibliotheca Patrum. Tom. XIV. * RHABANUS MAURUS. Opera. Col. Agrip. 1626. 1087. BRUNO. Bibliotheca Patrum. Tom. xx. p. 1678. 1103. GLOSSA INTERLINEARIS. Biblia Glossata. 1506. 1230. ANTONIUS. Opera. fol. Paris. 1641. 1240. HUGO. Opera. Venetiis. 1600. 1260. ALBERTUS. Opera. Lugduni. 1651. 1270. THOMAS AQUINAS. 8vo. Florentiæ. 1549. 1305. VITALIS. [Du Pin mentions the commentary of this author: the present writer has not seen it.] 1330. NICOLAS LYRANUS. Biblia Maxima. fol. Paris. 1660. 1345. PETRUS AUREOLUS. 8vo. Paris. 1585. |