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refpondence, with the catastrophe of this part of the prophecy, be fuppofed to pafs alfo among thofe governing powers, being defcribed as attending different, fucceffions, not of perfons, but of periods, each marked by its own moft pro-, minent characteristic, wherever we may,. from the discordant teftimony of writers, suppose the time of the evangelift's receiving this vifion is to be really placed, the first fucceffion prefigured in it must commence, after the ceafing of the family of Vefpafian. Because if the apoftle was favoured with the revelation, while Jerufalem was yet ftanding, the words tranflated in our bibles; "Here"after, ch. 4, V. I. (gr. μila Taula) after μετα ταυ]α) these things, must be applied to the time after the removal of that city, which event the apostles seem ever to have considered as a particular æra; and consequently if we take what alone the text juftifies, the

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beginning of a fucceffion, for the opening of the firft feal, it must be the commencement of that, which immediately followed the family, under whofe reign. Jerufalem was deftroyed.* Our way thus far cleared, let us next turn to the revelation made by opening the first seal, and difplaying the first page of the roll; and which evidently defcribes a period of conqueft; And I faw," faith the evangelift. (ch. 6, v. 2.) " and behold a

It is of confiderable importance, to afcertain the period, at which the vifion commences; becaufe the prophetick hiftory given by St. John though it comprize the representations of feveral cotemporary courfes, yet fupplies us too with a regular feries of events, extending to the confummation of all things; by fixing therefore the æra of its commencement, we gain a line highly useful to prevent our adopting any interpretation inconfiftent with the regular order of the history given in this wonderful difclofure,

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rophe of this • fuppofed to erning powers, nding different ns, but of peri

is own moft pro-, wherever we may,. flimony of writers, fuppose the time the evangelift's receiving this vision is to be really placed, the first fucceffion prefigured in it must commence, after the ceafing of the family of Vefpafian. Because if the apostle was favoured with the revelation, while Jerufalem was yet ftanding, the words tranflated in our bibles; "Here"after, ch. 4, v. I. (gr. pila taula) after these things, must be applied to the time after the removal of that city, which event the apostles seem ever to have considered as a particular æra; and confequently if we take what alone the text juftifies, the

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beginning

beginning of a fucceffion, for the opening of the firft feal, it must be the commencement of that, which immediately followed the family, under whofe reign Jerufalem was deftroyed.*

Our way

thus far cleared, let us next turn to the revelation made by opening the first seal, and displaying the first page of the roll; and which evidently defcribes a period of conqueft; " And I faw," faith the evangelift. (ch. 6, v. 2.)" and behold a

It is of confiderable importance, to afcertain the period, at which the vifion commences; becaufe the prophetick hiftory given by St. John though it comprize the reprefentations of feveral cotemporary courfes, yet fupplies us too with a regular feries of events, extending to the confummation of all things; by fixing therefore the æra of its commencement, we gain a line highly useful to prevent our adopting any interpretation inconfiftent with the regular order of the history given in this wonderful difclofure,

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"white horse, and he that fat on him "had a bow; and a crown was given. " unto him: and he went forth con"quering, and to conquer."* In coincidence with this prediction, there ap peared after the death of Domitian, a fucceffion of emperours, under whom the Roman empire was carried to its greatest extent: beginning indeed, with the fhort reign of Nerva, but quickly proceeding to the triumphant one of Trajan, (whofe pillar in commemoration of his extensive victories yet remains a monu. ment of the accuracy with which this period is defcribed,) and ending with that of Marcus Aurelius. An hiftorian

* For an accurate interpretation of the particular fymbols employed in this prophecy, the reader may confult Bp. Newton, and the other writers on the apocalypfe, as it comes not within the compafs of the prefent treatife to enter minutely into their meaning.

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