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prophecy seems well ascertained: for, although doubts may arise concerning the exact commencement, and consequently the close of its period; yet the main part of it is plainly seen to occupy many centuries of the most degenerate and idolatrous periods of the Christian Church; at a time when the Gentile world, the European nations, professed the Christian Religion, but not in purity; a time cotemporary with the reign of the wild-beast; a period of 1260 years; a considerable part of which, at least, is now past. Yet, during this period, we cannot remark in history, that any such literal accomplishment has taken place. Nor, (fourthly,) can we expect such literal accomplishment: because in other instances, the acknowledged types under the Old Testament have not been thus literally fulfilled in the Gospel. John the Baptist is said to come "in the spirit and power of "Elias" nay, to be that very prophet; yet, conformably to the spirit of meekness which belongs to the Gospel, he performed no avenging miracles; he called down no fire from heaven to consume his enemies. He knew by the Holy Ghost, and better than those disciples who intreated their Master for this fires, "what manner of Spirit he was of." He knew, that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but "mighty, through God, to the pulling down strong "holds .

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Thus, in a spiritual sense, the prophecy may be accomplished in the witnesses, without (1.) literal fire; without (2.) the hindrance of literal rain; or (5.) the conversion of the waters literally into blood.

* Ch. xiii.
§ Luke ix. 54-57.

+ Luke i. 17.

Matt. xi. 4. Mark ix. 13.

|| 2 Cor. x. 4.

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The first may be deemed essentially fulfilled, if their enemies, the enemies of pure Religion, are in many instances dismayed, confounded, frustrated, and subdued by the heavenly words of their mouth. The second, if the rain from heaven, which, spiritually interpreted, is the blessing from heaven upon the growth of true Religion, is evidently suspended during their prophecy. The third, if in the contest, their enemies, instead of the peaceful enjoyment, expected to accrue from the overthrow of the witnesses, be found to have that peace troubled and discomfited, and blood and slaughter to be poured on their own heads. Add to this, that the death of the witnesses is also to be taken in a spiritual sense. Such interpretation agrees best with the succession of witnesses, which, as before observed, must necessarily take place in so long a duration of time. They do not all die, and again arise from the dead; but if their religion and the power thereof be first extinguished, and then raised again, the prophecy seems to be accomplished t.

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- We are then to look beyond the literal sense; and fixing our attention on the period of history, to

Psalms lxviii. 9; lxxii. 6. Isa, lv. 10. Hos, vi. 3. 10)ZSD The prophets Moses and Elijah typify, in their history, that of the two witnesses. These two prophets fled to the wilderness before the face of idolatrous kings. In a time of general depravity, they preserved, and at length miraculously restored, the light and prevalence of true Religion. They seem, both of them in their own' persons, to have been exempt from death, or to have been raised immediately beyond its dominion. They both appeared at the transe figuration,-types of a glorious resurrection. Whatever is attributed to the witnesses, may be found prefigured in one, or other, or both, of these eminent prophets. But that which the prophets did literally, the witnesses perform ouly in a borrowed and spiritual sense.

which we seem directed, we cannot but remark á long succession of ages, commencing with the times when the western Gentiles flowed into the Church, and possessed the outer courts of the temple; when on their ignorance and superstition a corrupt and ambitious clergy began to raise the papal hierarchy, substituting pagan ceremonies and unauthorised obşervanees in the room of primitive Religion. These, in history are called the middle ages; intervening be→ tween the bright period of Grecian and Roman literature, and the restoration of learning in the fourteenth century; between the days of primitive Christian knowledge, and the return of it at the Reforma¬ tion. They are marked in ecclesiastical history, by increasing ignorance, superstition, corruption, and by papal usurpation. But the progress of these foes to true Religion, and to the happiness of mankind, was opposed and retarded by the professors of a "God did not leave himself without purer faith. "a witness." There arose in various parts of the great Christian republic, and at various periods, professors, and preachers of a purer religion; of al religion formed upon the precepts and promises revealed in that Sacred Book, which it was the constant endeavour of the ecclesiastical usurpers to keep out of sight. A successive train of these, though thinly scattered, was seen steadfastly to profess pure Religion, and, in defiance of the papal thunder, to hold up to admiring Christians the light of the Gospel, . and the true worship of the Temple. Although beset with difficulties and dangers, from the civil and ecclesiastical powers, now united to suppress them, they stood their ground with a confidence and energy, which could arise only from such a cause; the cause.

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of truth, cherished and supported by the Spirit and power of God. If they suffered, their enemies suffer ed also, were frequently discomfited in the conflict, and enjoyed at last a dear-bought and only temporary victory.

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Of the witnesses, in the early part of this history, we have received but imperfect accounts: and these come down to us in a very suspicious form, being transmitted chiefly in the writings of their enemies. What therefore is said in their praise, we may admit; of other parts we may doubt. It appears probable, that the Valdenses, so early as in the seventh century, had retreated to the valleys of Piedmont; there to profess and exercise a purer religion than was permitted to them elsewhere. the eighth and ninth and tenth centuries, the progress of popery was vigorously opposed; and private masses and pilgrimages, and the adoration of images and pictures, and other superstitions, and the doctrine of transubstantiation (now first broached), were clearly shewn, by many learned writers, to be contrary to true Christianity †. From the time of Pope Gregory VII., in the eleventh century, we see this light of Truth more frequently beaming forth, and with increasing lustre. In the twelfth century, it was widely spread by the zeal of Peter Waldus and of his followers. In the thirteenth century, the Inquisition was established to extinguish it, and crusades

See Mosheim's Hist. cent, vii. part 2. ch. ii. sect. 2; also cent, xii. part 2. ch. v. sect. ii. note; and the authorities there produced.

Usserius de Christianæ Ecclesiæ successione et statu. Allix's Remarks on the Ancient Churches of the Albigenses, and of Piedmont. Bp. Newton's Dissertations on Prophecy, vol. iii. pp. 150-160, of the octavo edition,

Mosheim, cent. xiii. part ii. ch. v.

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were levied against those who received it. In the fourteenth century, our Wickliffe caught the light, and delivered it to many followers. John Huss and Jerome of Prague died martyrs to the cause in the succeeding century; and it shone forth among their disciples, in many parts of Europe, till the Inquisition, with fire and fagot, and by obstinate perseverance, seemed at length to have obtained the object of so much bloody persecution; to have extinguished the light of pure Religion: so that at the commencement of the next century, the Roman pontiff appeared to enjoy his usurpation in tranquil security. The witnesses were heard no more; pure Religion appeared dead with them; their enemies enjoyed a temporary triumph. But suddenly, to the astonishment and confusion of the papal world, they behold this heresy (as they termed it) revive, "a spirit of life from "God enters into it,-it stands upon its feet;"→→→ it becomes immortal, and leads the way to heaven. Thus the revival of pure Religion in spirit and in power, placed by the Reformation beyond the reach of its enemies, seems expressed by the resurrection of the witnesses. Thus, in more early times, our Lord's Religion had appeared extinct and buried with him; but after three days, with him it rose again; was rekindled in the faint and sunken hearts of his disciples; by whose preaching it was spread rapidly through the nations, disclosing universally, and in its purity, a knowledge of the true God and of a heavenly Redeemer.

The 1260 years preceding the Reformation, were strongly marked by a gradual corruption, and by the darkened face of Christianity: but the light of

* Mosheim's Hist. cent. xvi. ch. 1. sect. 1; ch. ii. sect. 1.

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