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such a dark scene, and evil time, to take place before the millennium will come, is matter of great discouragement, and tends to damp the spirits and hopes of Christians, and to discourage them from attempting to promote it, or praying for it, especially as it is set so far off from our day, so that none in this or the next generation are like to see it.

To such suggestions it is easy to reply,

1. If it be true, and clearly and abundantly foretold, that such evils are to take place, before the prosperous state of the church comes on, it is proper and desirable that all should know it, and attend to it, and it cannot be of any disadvantage to any to know the truth in this case, but the contrary. This is revealed to the church for the instruction and benefit of Christians, that they may be informed and warned of what is coming, and be prepared for it, and not be disappointed in their expectations, and surprised when it shall take place; but when they see these things coming to pass, their faith may be strengthened, and they lift up their heads and rejoice, knowing that the redemption, the deliverance and prosperity of the church, draweth near.

2. These evils, both natural and moral, however undesirable and dreadful, in themselves, are necessary for the greatest good of the church of Christ, and to introduce the millennium in the best manner, and there will be then, and forever, more holiness, joy, and happiness than if these evils had never taken place. In this view, they are kind and merciful dispensations to the church. The apostles and prophets, and all the inhabitants of heaven, are represented as rejoicing in the evils, the punishments and destruction of the enemies of Christ and his church. (Rev. xviii. 20; xix. 1-6.) The affliction and servitude of the children of Israel in Egypt, and the wickedness, oppression, and cruelty exercised towards them by Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and the successive calamities and punishments brought on them by the hand of God, and their final overthrow and destruction in the Red Sea, were an unspeakable advantage to the former, and afforded matter of joy and praise. Therefore, Christians may now not only acquiesce, by even rejoice in these events, as ordered by God for wise ends, and necessary, in order to the greatest display of his righteousness and goodness, and to promote the best good and greatest happiness of his church.

3. God revealed to Abraham the evils which were coming on his posterity in Egypt, previous to their deliverance and prosperity, and the wickedness and punishment of the Egyptians; not to discourage him, and sink his spirit, but to support and animate him, and strengthen his faith, and this did not

damp his joy, but, in the view of the whole, he rejoiced. And Jesus Christ foretold to his disciples the great evils which were coming on them, upon the Jews, the church, and the world, not to discourage and deject them, but that they might be forewarned, and expect them, so as not to be disappointed when they came, but have their faith confirmed, and possess their souls in patience when the dark scene should come on; and that they might be encouraged and rejoice, considering these events as tokens that their deliverance was at hand. He therefore said unto them, " And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke xxi. 28.) This may be applied to Christians now. While you see the world gathering to the battle of the great day of God Almighty, and view this battle near at hand, lift up your heads and rejoice, that the church has got so near the end of darkness and affliction, and that the happy day of her deliverance and prosperity is so near at hand.

4. As to the distance of that happy day of salvation from this time, two hundred years, or near so many, will pass off before it will arrive, according to the calculation which has been made from Scripture, so that none, now on the stage of life, will live to see and enjoy it on earth. But much may be done by Christians who live in this age to promote its coming on in the proper time, by prayer, and promoting the interest of religion, and the conversion of sinners. For that good day would not come unless the cause of Christ be maintained to that time, and sinners be converted to keep up the church, and prevent the total extinction of it. In order to this, thousands must be converted, and there must be a succession of professing and real Christians down to that day. The doctrines, institutions, and duties of Christianity must be maintained, and there will doubtless be remarkable revivals of religion in many places, and knowledge will increase among true Christians, and there will be advances made in the purity of doctrines and worship, and all holy practice, by bringing all these nearer to the standard of the holy Scriptures. And the churches will be formed into a greater union with each other, being more and more conformed to the divine pattern contained in the Bible. Here then is work enough to do, by those who desire and are looking for such a day, to prepare the way for it, and it may be introduced in the proper time, and there is no want of encouragement to do it, even in this view, to be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as they may know that their labor will not be in vain in the Lord. (1 Cor. xv. 58.)

And Christians may now have a great degree of enjoyment of that day, and joy in it, though they do not expect to live on earth till it shall come. True Christians are disinterested and benevolent to such a degree, that they can enjoy and rejoice in the good of others, even those who may live many ages hence, and in the good and prosperity of the church, and the advancement of the cause and kingdom of Christ in this world, though they should not live to see it. The stronger their faith is that this good day is coming, and the clearer and more constant view they have of it, and the more desirable it appears to them that there should be such a time, the higher enjoyment and greater joy they will have in it, and in the prospect of it. Thus Abraham looked forward by his faith, and saw this day of Christ, when all the nations of the earth should be blessed in him, and derived great comfort and joy in this prospect. "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad." (John viii. 56.) Christians know that it will come on in the best time, as soon as it can be introduced by infinite wisdom and goodness; that there is no delay, but "God will hasten it in his time." In this sense Christ will come quickly to set up his kingdom in the whole. world. He is on his way, coming as fast and as soon as he can, consistent with infinite wisdom. He is preparing the way, and ordering every thing in the best manner, so as in the most proper time to reign with his church on earth, and no time is lost. And what Christian can desire that it should be sooner, or before this time? Is it not enough that Jesus Christ has undertaken it, and will bring it on in the best manner, and the fittest time? And must not this give joy to every real Christian?

It is further to be observed, that though the Christians who live at this day will not see the millennium come while they are in the body on earth, yet they will see and enjoy it, when it shall come, in a much higher degree than they could do were they living on earth, or than those who will live on earth at that day. The powers, knowledge, and views of the spirits of the just made perfect are greatly enlarged in heaven, and they have a more clear and comprehensive view of the works of God, and a more particular knowledge of what is done in this world, especially of what relates to the work of redemption, the salvation of sinners, and the prosperity of the church and cause of Christ. There is joy in the presence of the angels over one sinner that repenteth. The spirits of the just made perfect are with the angels, and must know all that passes in their presence, and must rejoice in such an event, as much or more than they. How great must be their joy then,

when whole nations, yea, all the world, become true penitents, and they see and know this, and what is implied in it, unspeakably to better advantage, and more clearly than any can do who shall be then on earth!

The more Christians labor and suffer on earth in the cause of Christ, and the more they desire, pray for, and promote his coming and kingdom in this world, the more they will enjoy it in heaven when it shall take place, and the greater will be their joy and happiness. And it will be unspeakably more and greater in heaven than if they were in bodies on earth. Who, then, can reasonably desire to live in this world merely to see and enjoy the happy day of the millennium?

On the whole, it is hoped that it does appear from what has been said in this dissertation, that there will be a thousand years of prosperity of the church of Christ in this world; that this is abundantly foretold and held up to view in the Bible; that this will be about the seventh millenary of the world; that it will be a most happy and glorious day, in which the Christian dispensation shall have its proper and full effect on earth, in the salvation of men, to which all the preceding times and events are preparatory; that the degeneracy and increasing prevalence of ignorance, error, and wickedness now in the world, especially in Christendom, is preparing for and hastening on the battle of that great day of God Almighty, in which mankind will be punished, and the greatest part then on earth destroyed, and then the millennium will be introduced; that this is an important and pleasing subject, suited to support and comfort Christians in all the dark and evil days which precede it, and to excite them to earnest, constant, united prayer for this coming of Christ, and patient waiting for him, and to constant exertions in all proper ways, to promote his interest and kingdom in the world.

After the thousand years of the reign of Christ and his church on earth, "Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." (Rev. xx. 7-9.) In these words there is reference to what is said of Gog and Magog, in the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth chapters of Ezekiel, which prophecy there is reason to think is not to be understood literally, but in a figurative sense; as no events have ever taken place answerable to this representation, if

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taken in a literal sense. The prophecy of Gog and Magog may be considered as having reference to two events which are to take place at different times, and are similar in some respects, and differ in others, viz., the great and general corruption and wickedness of mankind, and their punishment and destruction, which will precede the millennium which has been described in this section; and the apostasy and wickedness of mankind at the end of the millennium, and the remarkable overthrow and destruction of them when Christ shall come to judgment, predicted in the words which have been now transcribed. Some things said of Gog and Magog, of their designs, doings, and their punishment, and a number of expressions in that prophecy, are more applicable to the former of these events than to the latter, and some more applicable to the latter than to the former, and the whole cannot be well applied to one, exclusive of the other; but in both the prophecy is completely fulfilled. Both these events respect wicked men, who have arrived to a great degree of obstinacy and wickedness; and they are both gathered together by the agency and deception of Satan, let loose for that end; and they are both gathered together to battle against Christ and his church, and are destroyed in the battle.

This prophecy is figurative. It is not to be supposed that all this great multitude will be gathered together into one place, or that the church will be encamped together in one spot on earth, or collected in one city; but the gathering of the wicked means their being abandoned to infidelity and a very great degree of wickedness, in opposition to the church of Christ and true religion, and being disposed to extirpate these from the face of the earth. In this sense, the wicked will be gathered together to battle before the millennium, by the spirits of devils, or Satan, who will go forth to the whole world for that end, as has been explained. The church will become small, and surrounded and assaulted by the wicked on every side, and ready to be swallowed up, and totally de'stroyed by them.

It has been a question from whence this multitude of people here called Gog and Magog should come, after the church of Christ and true religion had prevailed in the world a thousand years. Some have supposed that a number of people, and perhaps whole nations, would live in some corner of the earth, during the time of the millennium, without partaking of any of the blessings of it; but will continue in a state of heathenism and wickedness all that time, till at length they will multiply so much as to be able to rise in opposition to the church, and destroy it, were they not prevented by the miraculous interposition of Heaven. And many have supposed that this