the accomplishment of divine purposes and promifes. Now furely, to be admitted to such a state of fecurity, is a proper object of defire to a good mind, even preferably to the continuance of an ufeful life, but exposed to fears, dangers, and sufferings, both from within and without.

This alfo feems conformable to the apoftles fentiments and expreffions on other occafions, 2 Tim. iv. 6-8.

"I am now ready to be offered, and "the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I "have kept the faith. Henceforth," he does not fay, I fhall be happy with Chrift, but "there

is laid up (àñónɛilai) for me a crown of " righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous 66 judge, fhall give me at that day;" and chap. i. 12. of the fame Epiftle, "I know whom I have

believed, and I am perfuaded that he is able" (not to make me happy with himself immediately, but) "to keep that which I have committed unto "him against that day.". I conceive, that the apostle means to convey the fame sentiment, that the lives and happiness of his disciples are intrufted to the care and protection of Chrift, to be by him restored and perfected at the last day, in those words, Colof. iii. 3. 4. "For ye are dead,” (a figure by no means too ftrong to denote, not only the fpiritual profeffions, but the hazardous circumftances of chriftians at that time) and your life

" is hid with Chrift in God. When Chrift, who "is our life, fhall appear, then shall ye alfo ap

pear with him in glory." The fame fentiment feems alfo to be couched under, and an attention to it throws a beautiful and ftrong 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 fhould lofe nothing, but fhould 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 "spirit." spirit.”

Upon

Upon the whole, by being with Christ, the apoftle feems to me to mean being in a state of fecurity with him, under the protection of divine power, and the fanction of his faithful promife, referved 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 refurrection of the juft.

SECTION V.

Of the future condition of the world in general.

THE great events of the refurrection of the

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

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

of

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 scriptures 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 most eminent judicial proceeding, in the exertion of that power in heaven and in earth, which was given to Chrift after his refurrection. The apostle says, of this man of fin (by which there can be no doubt of the fame antichrist power being intended) that the Lord fhall "con"fume him with the spirit of his mouth, and de"stroy him with the brightness of his coming." 2 Theff. ii. 8.

The fame coming of Chrift seems 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, chriftianity, then restored 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 antichrif, tian corruptions of the gofpel, to live and reign with him, in the following paffage. Rev. xix. 11. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white "horse; and he that fat upon him was called "faithful and true, and in righteousness he doth

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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 fharp fword, that with "it he should fmite the nations: and he shall rule "them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the "winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And I faw the beast, and the