self speaks, and reafons with Job. | fubjects, the unfearchable ways of God in his works, and the sublimity of the ftyle, obferving also that the fpeakers fometimes digrefs, that by amplifying, they may exhibit the fubject to greater advantage, why is not the book of Job as intelligible and inftructive as any other part of the infpired writings? How emphatically does it impress on our minds the obfervation of the apostle already referred to; Ye have heard of the patience of Fob, and have feen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.

By this divine addrefs Job is convinced, humbled and brought to repent in dust and afhes.-Now the scene begins to change. Recovered to a proper temper, God now expreffes his approbation of Job, and his difpleasure with his friends; directs them to apply to Job to intercede for them, and promifes to accept him.-While Job is executing the honorable office of an interceffor for his friends, the Lord turns his captivity. Now the fcene is completely reversed, and Job comes from this furnace like gold purified and refined; his former honors and comforts are doubled, and

he enjoys them for the extended term of an hundred and forty years, when he gives up the ghoft in a good old age, full of days, riches and honor.

QUESTION.

Is the first refurrection mentioned Rev. xx. 5, 6. to be taken in a literal or figurative sense?

Such is the admirable structure FOR the following reafons I

of this wonderful book. It begins with a relation of events which affect all the tender and sympathetic feelings of our hearts; as it proceeds it interefts and engages us by the gravity and importance of its subjects, till we are anxious for the iffue, and then by an unexpected change diffipates the gloom which it fpread over our minds, and concludes with ufhering in a fcene which fills us with joy and rapture. As hath been obferved, it is a folemn climax, which begins very tenderly and feelingly, as it proceeds becomes more grave and folemn, till it affumes an inexpreffible majefty and grandeur, and then by a fudden reverse and contraft banishes our anxiety and grief, and fills us with pleasure and delight.-If this be the original plan of the book or poem; if we peruse it according to its native form, confidering the depth of its

am induced to believe, that the refurrection in queftion is to be understood in a figurative fenfe.

1. This fenfe beft comports with the general ftrain of the book of the Revelation, and with this chapter in particular. This book is a continued allegory from beginning to end, with very few exceptions. There is no book in all the bible fo replete with figurative representations as this. A train of emblems is a proper characteristic of it: fo that the gene< ral rule, that a literal interpretation of any paffage of fcripture is preferable to a figurative one, is not applicable here; for it would be a departure from the ufual tenor of thefe writings. So that on the first enquiry into the fenfe of any particular paffage in this book, the prefumption is, that it is to be understood in a figurative fenfe; and this fenfe ought to be admitted, unless there are special reafons to the contrary.

The

this priority of refurrection cannot admit of a space of athousand years, between that and the following ref urrection: but the evident meaning is, that at the general refur

This therefore cannot be parallel to the one in queftion, nor afford any additional proof, that the latter is to be understood literally—which may appear more evident,

Revelation is divided into a variety of distinct periods, in each of which a number of interefting events are described. This 20th chapter contains one of thofe periods. The events in the prece-rection, the former faints who ding periods are exhibited by had died before that period, shall ftriking images; fuch as a book rife from their graves, and then with feven feals, the founding of those who fhall be living on the feven trumpets, the pouring out earth, fhall join with them in afof feven vials. Included within cending to meet the Lord in the these general divifions are a great air. variety of particulars, all reprefented by apt figures; the whole of which together conftitute a prediction of future events, reaching to the day of judgment. This very chapter, which speaks of the firft refurrection abounds with these figures. Thus the angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the bottomlefs pit and a chain in his hand, and his laying hold of the dragon, and binding him, and fetting a feal upon him, are to be understood not literally but figuratively. From this view of the matter, unless there be fome extensive reafon for interpreting the firft refurrection in a literal fenfe, the figurative fenfe is the moft natural, as it beft comports with the general ftrain of these writings. But

2. There is nothing in any other part of the scriptures, which fpeaks of a firft refurrection, before the general one, in a literal fenfe. The one in queftion, if that is to be fo taken, is a folitary inftance. It ftands alone in the bible, to teach a doctrine which is taught no where else. This is fufficient to make us doubt whether the literal fense be the true meaning, efpecially if it will eafily bear a different one. Any important doctrine is commonly fupported by more than a fingle text. True, it is elsewhere faid, that "the dead in Chrift fhall rise first." But

3. From a confideration, that in other places in the fcriptures, the term refurrection is fometimes to be taken in a figurative or fpiritual fenfe. Eph. ii. 5, 6. "Even when we were dead in trefpaffes and fins, hath quickened us together with Chrift, and hath raised us up together, and hath made us fit together in heavenly places in Chrift Jefus." Similar to which is Col. iii. 1. "If ye then be rifen with Chrift, feek thofe things which are above,"

&c.

A fpiritual and myftical refurrection is defigned to be reprefented, by the vifion which Ezekiel had of the valley of dry bones, raifed and brought to life, chap. xxxvii. Agreeably to the analo. gy of fcripture therefore, the refurrection in Rev. xx. may be conftrued in a figurative fenfe. A univerfal revival of religion, confequent upon an antecedent fpiritual death, may be compared to the refurrection of the ancient martyrs, and celebrated faints. And

4. Correfponding with the idea of a firft refurrection, "this living of the reft of the dead", will aptly harmonize. The first refur

5. According to fcripture there is not to be a proper literal refur rection till the day of judgment. See 1 Cor. xv. 23, 24. compared with verfes 51, 52. But every

I

rection being mentioned, a fecond of in this chapter, Firft, Thofe is implied. Who are the reft who had been beheaded for the wits of the dead", who lived not tillness of Jefus, who rife at the bethe thousand years were finished"?ginning of the millennium. SecThe fubjects of these are manifeft-ondly, Thofe of the rest of the dead, ly put in contraft with thofe of who fhall rife at the close of the the firft refurrection; and there millennium. Thirdly, Those who are a thousand years diftance be- ball rife at the end of the world. tween these several refurrections. The two firft of these are figu It is urged, I think, by the advo- rative; the laft is the general refcates of the literal first resurrec-urrection, when Chrift fhall come tion, that if the faid refurrection to judgment. That the two first be figurative, the fecond muft be are figurative, is apparent from fo alfo. This I am ready to al- the reafons already given, and low, and fuppofe, that by "the which may ftill be given. The reft of the dead, who lived not laft is literal because the scriptures till the thousand years were fin- abundantly speak of fuch a refur ished”, means, that at the clofe of rection at the end of the world, the term, the perfecuting enemies exactly answering to the account of the church, of whom we have here given. an account, that they were flain, at the end of the preceding chapter, fhall revive or come to life again; i. e. their fpirit fhall revive in their fucceffors, as the fouls of the martyrs revived in their fucceffors: fo that both the first and fecond refurrections are figurative, and perfectly correfpond one with the other. That by "the reft of the dead" are meant, those nations in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, whom Satan is permitted to deceive, is very probable. These shall, as it were, rife again after they had been once flain, and act their old part over again. It is not to be fuppofed that there will be nations in the world at this time under the literal name of Gog and Magog, but fuch as refemble them in their fpirit and conduct. The reft of the dead reviving at the end of the thousand years, is to be taken in a figurative fenfe; which adds weight to the argument, that the firft refurrection is alfo to be taken in a figurative sense. There are three refurrections taken notice VOL. IV. No. 2.

man in his own order; Chrift the first fruits, afterwards they that are Chrift's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he fhall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he fhall have put down all rule and all authority and power-Behold I fhew you a mystery, we shall not all fleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the laft trump, (for the trumpet fhall found) and the dead shall be raif ed, incorruptible, and we shall be changed." If we look through this chapter it will appear, that the apoftle has his eye principally to the refurrection of the faints, and it will not take place till Chrift fhall deliver up the king dom to the Father, and shall put down all rule, &c. which is inconfiftent with his reigning with them a thousand years on earth. From these words too, it appears, that H

no more reafon to expect a literal | refurrection of the faints at the commencement of the millennium, than the Jews had to expect the real coming of Elijah in his own perfon, before the appearance of the Meffiah. The coming of John the Baptift, in the power and spirit of Elias, anfwers the prediction concerning that event: but not more fo than a figuratively confider and thoroughly exrefurrection anfwers to the account of the martyrs living and reigning with Chrift in the mil