power and coming of our Lord must needs mean his SECOND COMING.

Yet amongst the Interpreters just before cenfured, there are fome more eminently abfurd* than the reft. One of thefe is even defirous to have it believed, that by this more fure word of Prophecy is to be underftood the Prophecy of ISAIAH, chap. xlii. ver. 1. although the Apostle has characterifed this to be a light shining in a dark place, &c. i. e. not as convictive evidence at prefent, yet being a LIGHT, though Shining in a dark place, it deserved our attention, till greater lights fhould arife, which would afford full conviction.

Now, could this be the Character of a Prophecy of the Old Testament; especially one of ISAIAH's, most of whose predictions referred to, and had their completion in, JESUS, their great object? The dawn and day-ftar, here fpoken of by the Apostle, as of a very distant light, was, in the time of that Prophet, already rifen in the hearts of his countrymen, or it would never rife.

See Mr. M.

Let

Let us, therefore, look out for fome more reasonable Paraphrafe of the facred Text.

66

—“That you may be affured (fays the Apostle) we have not followed cunningly devifed fables, when we described to you "the power of our Lord at his SECOND "COMING, you should recollect what we "have frequently told you, of his FIRST;

having been eye-witneffes of the Majesty "and Miracles attending it, when there. "came a voice to him from the exceed

ing glory, &c.-Now, the MIRACLES, "which accompanied, and confirmed his "miffion, on his FIRST COMING, are fure

66

ly fufficient to gain credit to what we

have, as often, told you, of his SECOND. "And, of this capital Truth, God hath "been graciously pleased to add still stronger " evidence; by giving us A MORE SURE "WORD OF PROPHECY.'

-But the general subject of the EPISTLE will further fupport the truth of this Paraphrase.

-It is a farewel addrefs to the CHURCHEs, on his having received intimation, from

the

the holy Spirit, of his approaching Martyrdom.

The Apostle begins with repeating to them [from ver. 3d to the 15th] that elegant fummary of Chriftian Religion *, as was his wont, on all occafions, to inculcate. But, at this juncture, CONSOLATION being what the afflicted Church most needed, he takes his topic from the REWARDS, now supposed to be approaching, at the fecond coming of our Lord in the confummation of all things. PERSECUTION had foothed the Sufferers into this flattering error, which was now become general, and not likely to be foon redreffed, while they continued unable (as they yet were) to dif tinguish the two parts of which this PREDICTION, Concerning the fecond coming of our Lord, was compofed. Each part had its diftinct completion, commencing at different periods. The firft, when our Lord came to judgement, on the JEWISH PEOPLE, in putting a complete period to their OECONOMY, by the deftruction of their TEMPLE;

* See the Sermon on this text,

The

The other, when he was to pafs judgement on the whole race of mankind, and make at final end of the MUNDANE SYSTEM.

Or rather, to speak with more exactnefs, this prediction of the SECOND COMING was delivered in two Prophecies joined together; and, in imitation of the Jewish mode, mixed and interwoven with one another; generally as little understood, at the time of the delivery, as all thofe of a like import were, which had either a fecondary fenfe, or included a double fubject. But for a larger account of these, and particularly of the fort now in question, I beg leave to refer the Reader to the fixth Section of the fixth Book of this Work.

Such was the Error, which (as we fay) gave birth to the confolatory Epifle here explained. But as all ERRORS, together with the accidental good, which, by the directing hand of Providence, they are made to produce, are eafily attended with much evil; fo it was here.

At first, the Error produced fobriety, vigilance, and perfeverance in the FAITH. But afterwards, it had a contrary effect.

I

There

There hall come in the last days (fays this Apoftle) fcoffers, working after their own lufts, and faying, WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING? For fince the Fathers fell afleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation*.

;

After the cenfure of this Impiety, the Apostle proceeds to upbraid their ignorance of the natural conftitution of the Earth which is phyfically ordained to bring on its own destruction, by FIRE, in fome future period; as heretofore, by the deftruction of WATER: and that the delay of this dreadful Catastrophe, which affords these scoffs of Impiety, is not owing to the Lord's flackness in the performance of his promife ; but to his long-fuffering; that all might come to repentance. He then describes this final diffolution of all things, by fire 1. Out of which (he tells them) fhall arife (according to the promise of PROPHECY) a new heaven and a new earth, wherein shall dwell righteousness §. And with this the FAREWEL EPISTLE concludes.

* Chap. iii. 3, &feq.

↑ Ver. 10, 11, 12.

+ Ver. 9.

§ Ver. 13.

U

Such