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have another view of the progrefs of the gofpel, Rev. xiv. 6, 7. "And I faw another angel fly "in the midst of heaven, having the everlast"ing gofpel to preach unto them that dwell on "the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, "and tongue, and people, faying with a loud "voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for "the hour of his judgment is come: and worfhip him that made heaven, and earth, and "the fea, and the fountains of water'."

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verfe 17. is taken from Ifa. xxv. 8.

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"God will wipe away tears from off all faces, and the "rebuke of his people fhall he take away from off all the "earth." 4th, It appears more confiftent with the general defign of the Apocalypfe, to confider the multitude, with palms in their hands, as the church militant iffuing from a ftorm; for the general defign is to fhew, that the church fhall continue, in defiance of all oppofition, and fhall at length become triumphant on the earth, previous to the general judgment.

(1) The opinion of the excellent Mede, in which he is followed by B. Newton and others, is, that the ministry of this angel was fulfilled, in the public and strenuous oppofition made to the worship of images, by the Emperors of the Eaft, as well as by Charlemagne and the bishops of France in the eighth century. But neither the time nor the circumftances of this angel's miniftry can accord with that interpretation; while, on the other hand, the time

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This angel represents the minifters of the word, for the miniftry of reconciliation is committed to earthen veffels. He flies in the midst of heaven to represent the support of civil authority, and the great fuccess of his ministry. His commiffion to preach, extends to all that dwell on the earth; and accordingly he propagates with celerity a knowledge of the truth to

every

and the circumstances coincide with the founding of the feventh trumpet. 1, The miniftry of this angel muft coincide with the palm bearing multitude: For, as Mede argues, the immediate confequents of the fame antecedents must be contemporary. Now, the 144,000 sealed ones immediately precede the multitude with palms in their hands, chap. vii. The fame 144,000 fealed ones immediately precede the voice of this angel, chap. xiv.; therefore the multitude with palms in their hands, and the voice of this angel must be contemporary. 2d, The voice of this angel must coincide with the refurrection of the witneffes; for the 144,000 fealed contemporate with the witneffes mourning prophecy, their mourning prophecy is followed by their refurrection and afcenfion to heaven; fo here the 144,000 fealed ones are followed by the voice of an angel flying through the midft of heaven; therefore the refurrection of the witneffes, and the voice of this angel must coincide. 3d, The fame argument proves that the voice of this angel coincides with the fall of the Pope's temporal fovereignty, or the tenth part of the city; for the 144,000 fealed ones are contemporary with the 42 months of the beast; the immediate confequent

every nation, and tongue, and people. The fubject of his miniftry is the gofpel, the glad tidings of a Saviour, containing the whole counsel of God, refpecting the falvation of men. The gofpel was at all times everlasting, in as far as the plan of it was laid before the foundations of the world. The Author of it is the Everlafting God, and the bleffing conferred on those that receive

it,

confequent of thefe 42 months is the fall of the tenth part of the city; and here the immediate confequent of the fame 144,000 fealed ones is the voice of this angel, which is further confirmed by the expreffions of the angel, "the

hour of his judgment is come," exprefsly referring to the judgment then recently inflicted on the beaft. 4th, However fpecious the application of Mede may be, we fhall find, that the circumstances of the event to which he alludes, if minutely examined, will not fuit the voice of this angel. This angel preaches the gofpel, but the oppofition of the eastern Emperors, as well as of Charlemagne and the bishops of France, was too limited to justify this expreffion, that they preached the gofpel. They joined iffue with the degenerate church in many tenets and practices, though they oppofed her in fome of the groffeft and most recent corruptions. Again, the term Everlasting here, feems to intimate the perpetual fuccefs of the gospel, from the period of its publication by this angel. Now, the attempt of the Emperors of the East, and Charlemagne, were as ineffectual as they were partial; whereas it is obvious from the prophecies,

it is eternal life; but at this time it may be termed everlasting, in regard it shall never be again obfcured by the fubtilty of the dragon, and his emiffary the beaft. This angel preaches the gospel so as to counteract the poison of Babylon's doctrine. The doctrines of Popery imprefs the mind with the fears of purgatory, and of devils, together with an exceffive reverence of faints and angels, which have a tendency to banifh from the mind the fear of God. But this angel recals the attention of mankind to that principle which is the fource of every duty we owe to God, and to mankind; faying with a loud voice, Fear God. He adds, Give glory to him. God is glorified by obedience to his commandments, but the church of Rome requires of her votaries implicit fubmiffion to her authority. So that it may be faid of them, as of the apoftate Jews, "Ye reject the command"ments of God, that ye may keep your own "traditions.

phecies, that after the fall of the beast, the gospel shall be propagated, fo as never to be again obfcured. Farther, the argument by which this angel enforces his preaching, cannot apply to the oppofition made by the Emperors of the Eaft, and Charlemagne. There was no Judgment at that time inflicted on the beaft: on the contrary, he was then haftily advancing to the zenith of his glory.

"traditions. In vain ye worship me, teaching "for doctrines the commandments of men." But this angel directs men to the true rule of obedience, the divine precepts: " And worship

"him that made heaven and earth, the fea, and "the fountains of waters." The worship of God is the great mean by which obedience of heart and life is maintained. And in this likewife the church of Rome grofsly misleads the members of her communion, by enjoining the worship of angels and faints, and even of images and relicts; but this angel exhorts men in the language of God's law, "Thou shall worship the "Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou ferve;" because, to him alone worship is due, who is the great Creator and Preferver of all things, the bountiful Benefactor, from whom every bleffing, temporal and fpiritual, flows; while he urges these truths with fuccefs, from the completion of prophecy, made manifest in the judgment of God fo recently inflicted on the beaft, by depriving him of his temporal fovereignty.

A third view, reprefenting the efficacy of the gospel in these times, is laid before us, Rev. xi. 19. "And the temple of God was opened in hea"ven, and there was feen in his temple the ark "of his teftament." This took place immediately

after

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