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against all those expounders of His word, who, having "the key of knowledge" in their possession, "would neither enter in themselves, "nor suffer those who were willing to enter ❝in."

I proceed to contemplate the astonishing scene, which the Master of the World has at length begun to reveal, for the consolation and encouragement of His church.

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This stupendous scene unfolds a new evidence, conclusive and complete, of the harmonious correspondence between the prophetical signals, and the actual events which the Christian world is called to witness. We have already seen, in the "Christian's Survey," that it was foreshown by the Holy Spirit, and universally believed by the primitive Christian church, that a new and personal power, or potentate, -a PUISSANT SOVEREIGN, and MIGHTY CONQUEROR, would suddenly arise out of the fourth and last, or ROMAN Empire, in its latest age; which personal power would obtain the most exalted eminence, and most extensive dominion, among the nations of

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the Christian church, even in the very age of his origin or infancy: but, nevertheless, that in that same incipient age he would as suddenly fall from his eminence, and be disastrously and disgracefully stripped of his dominion. This power, the belief of whose eventual arrival in the world the primitive Christian church uniformly entertained as an article of its faith, was characterized by that church with the general 'denomination of ANTICHRIST.

If we now proceed further, and, with a mind freed from every obstructing prejudice or prepossession, compare Revelations,ch.xvii. '11-14, with ch. xix. 11-21, and both of them with ch. xx. 7-9, and if we compare the two last of these passages with Ezekiel, ch. xxxix. 1, 17-20, we shall perceive, that the same new and ultimate power is designed in those two Prophecies by the proper appellation of, гor, GoG, or GOGUE; and that the nations, over which he should exercise his dominion, are distinguished

*The o, in this word is long, as in go; which can only be rendered in English by subjoining the mute vowels, ue.

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by the general proper-name of Maywy, Magog, or Magogue. The afflictions which the church should experience from this power, were to constitute its last persecu tions, previous to its final and proximate triumph; and, as such, they were represented by St. Augustine 1400 years ago; under both the designations of that power, GOGUE, and ANTICHRIST. "The last persecution of "the church," says he, " will be inflicted by "ANTICHRIST." And again: "Satan is to be "loosened to deceive the nations-GOGUE "and MAGOGUE;-this will be the last per"secution." We have already viewed this power under the ecclesiastical denomination of Antichrist; let us now contemplate him under the prophetical appellation of Gog, or Gogue.

*"Novissimam persecutionem, quæ ab Antichristo "futura est, præsentia sua ipse extinguet JESUS."— De Civitate Dei, lib. xviii. c. 53.

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"Solvetur Satanas-ad seducendas nationes-Gog et Magog. Hæc erit novissima persecutio, novissimo "imminente judicio, quam Sancta Ecclesia patietur." -Ib. lib. xx. c. 11.

+"Christian's Survey."

In introducing the names of Gogue and Magogue into the revelation imparted to St. John, the PROPHETIC SPIRIT plainly referred the church to that other great Prophecy, which had been imparted, many ages before, to the Prophet EZEKIEL; wherein a description is circumstantially drawn out, of the transactions, and final fate of that LAST GREAT TYRANT. "It was the particular "care of the Holy Spirit (observed well the "learned Vitringa) to conduct us to a more "distinct knowledge of those foremen*tioned characters, by denominating them "GOGUE and MAGOGUE. He alludes, as "every one must see, to the celebrated Pro"phecy of Ezekiel, concerning those enemies "of the church" "The argument of both "these Prophecies (observed the same com❝mentator upwards of a century ago), is, that "the nations called Gogue and Magogue' " will, in an unexpected manner, go forth

* "Spiritui Sancto ipsi curæ est in eoruni nos ducere "clariorem notitiam, quando eos appellat Gogum et "Magogum. Alludit, ut quisque videt, ad Vaticinium "Ezechielis quod de his hostibus Ecclesiæ extat illus "tre."-In Apocalyps. p. 870.~

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"from their borders with an immense army, "with a design to invade and overwhelm Chris"tian nations who are dwelling securely in their "own homes and lands, and who are flourishing in peace and wealth. Which great "enterprise will nevertheless be without success, inasmuch as God will execute A SIGNAL EXAMPLE of His vengeance against them, for the welfare of His "church. For HE will destroy this great " and formidable ASSEMBLAGE OF NATIONS "by tremendous judgments, and will either

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cause them to be cast down by tempests "with which He will oppose them from hea "ven, or to be consumed by pestilence and "other plagues, or mutually to destroy each "other. This, I say, is the true argument of "this Prophecy of John, compared with "that of EZEKIEL*" In this latter asto

*“Utriusque hujus prophetiæ (St. Johan. et Ezech.) "argumentum est, populos qui Gog et Magog appel"lantur, inopinato cum ingenti exercitu e claustris "suis esse prodituros; hoc consilio, ut populos Chris"tianos, in locis terrisque suis secure degentes et pace

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ac opibus florentes, nec opinato invadant et obruant :

quæ tamen molitura successum habitura non essent,

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