Christ, that he may not "find them sleeping," and "appoint them a portion with the hyppocrites."

It is well observed by Mr. Lowth in his Comment on Dan. xii. 4: The nearer the time approaches for the final accomplishment of the prophecy, the more light shall men have for understanding it; for the gradual completion of this, and other prophecies, shall direct observing readers to form a judgment concerning those particulars, which are yet to be ❝ fulfilled From hence we may observe the reason of the obscurity of several prophecies in Scripture; and it may be 'observed, that, generally, those prophecies are most obscure, 'the time of whose completion is farthest off. For the same reason, in interpreting the prophecies relating to the latter times of the world, the judgment of the latter writers is to 'be preferred before that of the ancients, because the moderns living nearer the times when the events were to be fulfilled had surer marks to guide them in their expositions.' And, according as we gather up the prophecies of the Apocalypse, in a successive completion,' says Dr. Burnet, we see how, by degrees, we draw nearer and nearer to the conclusion of 'all. But till some of these enlightening prophecies be accomplished, we are as a man that awakes in the night; all is dark about him, and he knows not how far the night is spent ; but if he watch till the light appears, the first glimpses of that will resolve his doubts. We must have a little patience, and, 'I think, but a little, still eyeing those prophecies of the re'surrection of the witnesses, and the depression of Antichrist; till, by their accomplishment, the day dawn, and the clouds begin to change their colour. Then we shall be able 'to make a near guess, when the sun of righteousness will ' arise. So much for prophecies. There are also signs, which ' are looked upon as forerunners of the coming of our Saviour, ' and may therefore give us some direction how to judge of the distance, or approach, of that great day.' It is the duty of Christians to endeavour to understand the writings of the prophets, and carefully to observe the signs of the times; and there is some ground to hope, that the result of attention to this duty, will be such as to promote the glory of God, and the edification of the Christian Church.

That the opinions and explanations of those who undertake to illustrate the prophecies, are various, is nothing more than what might be expected from the nature of the subjects, the different degrees of ability employed, and the variety of lights in which objects are viewed; but, where men engage in these inquiries from pious motives, and, apparently, with good intentions, observing the rules of modesty and fair argument, they are entitled to respect; and how much soever we may dissent from their opinions, and disapprove of their expla

nations; yet, to censure severely would be a violation of the candour which is due from one erring mortal to another. So, to despair of ever being " able to come to the knowledge of the "truth," because opinions are discordant, would betray ignorance of the history of knowledge of every kind, and as it respects the greatest and most interesting concerns. Even when God said. "Let there be light;" meridian brightness did not at once spring forth from eternal night, but the light was still mingled with darkness." And God saw the light "that it was good, and God divided the light from the darkness."-Let us look back to former times. As it respects religious knowledge in general, and the knowledge of the meaning of the inspired prophecies, in particular, "darkness covered "the earth, and thick darkness the people;" but "God said, “ Let there be lLIGHT!" And though much darkness is still mingled with the light, yet it has been separating, and accumulating, and shining, more and more-and, during the last three hundred years, with an accelerating rapidity; nor can we doubt that Hɛ, who gave to the world the word of prophecy, will make the light shine, for its full illustration, to the perfect day.

We are not, therefore, of the number of those, who wish to 'frown down' all attempts to explain the sacred prophecies, by comparing them with passing events, especially with such as have lately surprised the world. For though we pretend to no great skill in the lore of prophecy, yet, as Christians, we are bound to believe, that those which have reference to the great consummation, will be realized; but whether in this age, or in another, it is not for us to know with certainty. It is neither strange, nor censurable, that men, in such times as the present, if they "believe with the heart," should turn their attention, with unusual seriousness, to the study of the prophecies, and be expecting some extraordinary result. Although the merciful abatement of the rage of war, and the sudden and unexpected attitude which the man of sin has assumed; the efforts that are making to restore to vigour his declining power, and that part which the restored monarchs are again taking in favour of superstition and spiritual despotism, may seem to nullify those expectations of good, which have been entertained; yet, we must acknowledge, that we are not prepared to controvert the opinion, which, in despite of some appearances, is held fast by many, that the time is come, when there will be no permanent peace for the nations, while the Usurper holds up his head, and is suffered to domineer over conscience; -no settled rest, till "the abomination that maketh desolate "be taken away." It is impossible to deny that there are still in the political horizon of many of the kingdoms of Europe,

threatening appearances: Christendom in general presents so varied a scene of unusual good, and of fermenting evil, that that Christian must reflect but little, who has no apprehension that the lapse of a few years may bring about very extraordinary changes. If there were reasons, seventy or eighty years ago, for Dr. Hartley to say, that some glimmerings of the day of 'Christ's second coming began then to shine in the hearts of all 'those who studied and delighted in the word and works of 'God;' there are surely stronger reasons to induce the Christians of this age to conclude, that "the night is far spent, that "the day is at hand."

But, although we are far from being inclined to discountenance attempts to illustrate the prophecies, and not at all predisposed to hunt after something to censure; particularly in a work like that before us, which treats on subjects, that, while they possess considerable interest, are among the most difficult, satisfactorily to illustrate ;-yet censure, how painful soever it may be, is sometimes a duty. When writers on the Prophecies appear to have taken no care to guard their minds against the unhallowed and perverting influence of political opinions and prejudices, and seem to labour more for the support of a party cause than faithfully to illustrate the word of God-whatever side they may take, even though the betterthey merit rebuke. When such a production comes under our consideration, or others that may evidently appear to be not only the mere illusions of fancy, but calculated at once both to lead astray, and to excite prejudice against the sacred prophecies themselves-and especially when calculated to provoke unchristian war;- to express our opinion, without reserve, is a duty which the public have a right to expect us to discharge to the best of our abilities.

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This feeling of duty has been partly excited by the perusal of Mr. Penn's book, concerning Gog, or Gogue, as he writes it. For though there are some things in his Illustrations, which, if they do not prejudice us in favour of his judgement in the use and application of his materials, do credit to his reading and diligence, and may be perused with advantage by those, who know how to separate "the chaff from the wheat ;" yet we think the Author altogether wrong in his application of the prophecy which he attempts to illustrate, and that his book is calculated to mislead in a matter of more consequence than may at first appear. We think that an eager desire to establish a favourite notion, has impelled him to break through, or leap over, all the mounds of sober interpretation and common sense, and induced him so to explain and apply the prophecy, as to furnish infidels with weapons of offence, and sap the foundations of the principal pillar that supports the proof of

the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures in general. For if the prophecies possess such ductility, they may mean any thing or nothing, just as ingenuity may please to treat them.

The idea that has been entertained respecting Gog, and the land of Magog, by judicious interpreters, is, that Gog is the prince of the country called the land of Magog; that this land lies far to the north of Palestine; and that the country, which the associated nations are to invade, is Palestine. Magog is, by the testimony of Josephus, Eustathius, St. Jerom, and Theodoret, placed far in the north, and esteemed the father of the Scythians, that dwelt on the east or north-east of the Euxine sea. It is probable, according to the notion of the Arabians, that Gog and Magog, formerly inhabited the mountains of the Hyperboreans, and that they were known to the ancients by this name. This nation is unquestionably famous in antiquity; and there is reason for imagining, that they were some of the Scythians, and confounded among the Great and Little Tartars, and perhaps among the Moscovites, and other northen people. See Wells's Geog. of the Old and New Test. vol. I. p. 160. Rees's Cyclop. and Calmet's Dict, Art. GoG.

That by the Gog of Ezekiel, the Prince of the land of Magog is intended, and not a people, seems plain; as it does also that this land of Magog comprehended Ros, Meshech, and Tubal. And if we might hazard a conjecture on this subject, we should suppose that, in very ancient times, Gog was the common name of the leaders or kings, of some very numerous, powerful, and warlike horde or hordes of Scythians, descendants of Magog, the second son of Japhet, who were the terror of their more southern neighbours, as Pharaoh was the common name of the kings of Egypt, and Cæsar, of the Roman emperors. And as there is reason to believe that what is now read Agag in Numb. xxiv. 7. is a corruption, and should be read Gog, as in the Septuagint Version, the Samaritan Text, and the Greek Text of Symmachus, (see Poli. Synop. in loc.) it is likely that, in the days of Moses, this was the common name of the princes of some powerful people,-so powerful, that to say the King of Israel (David, or rather, the Messiah) should be higher than Goo, or, exalted over GoG, was to say every thing expressive of power and of extensive dominion. Hence, the chief of the host, who, in the latter days, is to come from the same quarter against the land of Israel, is thus denominated. The very name also might become proverbial: and thus, possibly, in Rev. xx. Gog and Magog are to be taken allegorically, for such princes and powers as are, in the last days, to unite to persecute the Church of God, and to oppose the new order of things which is to follow the destruction of the Beast and the

False-prophet. We say, possibly; for it is not at all improbable, that these enemies will proceed from the same regions;Ros, Mosc, Tobol, Gomer, &c.; i. e. Russia, Moscovy, Tobolski, Germany, &c. And if the Gog of John be the same as the Gog of Ezekiel, which seems probable from the place which his invasion occupies in the two series of prophecy, it must be so; for Ezekiel certainly determines that this tyrant is to come from the north quarter.

But we must return to Mr. Penn's book. His ideas of Gog and his company are peculiar. According to him, Buonaparte, is Gogue; France, is the land of Magogue; Russia, lately the scene of invasion, is the land of srael; and the Russians and Moscovites, God's people Israel, whom he sent into captivity for their iniquity, and again gathered to their own land, and poured his Spirit upon them!!-The reader may well be surprised. And what must greatly increase the surprise, is, that this wonderful discovery was not made by " one of his 'Majesty's Preachers, at Whitehall,' but by Granville Penn, Esq.-Yet, as it was in that quarter that the discovery was made, that the French Republic was the Antichrist and the Beast with ten horns, which all good Christians ought to unite to destroy, we fear that Mr. P. will not be considered as entitled to enjoy, exclusively, the whole honour of the discovery.

The Author, in his Preface, very properly endeavours to impress the readers with the idea that the long time, (Matt. xxv. 10.) which was to elapse between the first appearance of our Lord to found his Church, and his second and final appearing, to bring it to its conclusion upon earth, may reasonably be concluded to be approaching its close. But what was signified,' he says, or implied to us by a long time, or how were we to "understand the character of long or short, with reference to the 'duration of this present dispensation ?'

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The

To satisfy this most natural and reasonable inquiry, we are supplied with the only rule of judgment which the case can receive; yet it is a rule pregnant with the most weighty instruction: viz. the entire measure of ONE dispensation of God in the affairs of religion. By this rule our reason is not only authorized, but directed, to form a probable, that is, the best judgment, of what is long or short, with respect to the measure of God's dispensations of religion to man. dispensation of the Law, which immediately preceded this under which we now submit, continued about 1500 years, from first to last; at the conclusion of which measure of time, it was pronounced by the HOLY SPIRIT to be antiquated, and ending through age. (Heb. viii. 13.) Since that period, the dispensation of the Gospel has subsisted above 1200 years. If, therefore, we had no other indication whereby to form a probable judgment of the present age of the Christian dis