A D Almans, Vandals, Burgundians, &c. 412 Religious war of the East, Gibb. xlvii. Third Trumpet, Rev. viii, 10 431 Council of Ephesus 451 Council of Chalcedon 476 Fall of Western Empire, Gibb. xxxvi. Second trumpet ending Odoacer, King of Italy, Dan. vii, 493 Ostrogoths in Italy Second King. Dan. vii, 8 Second Council of Constantinople Second King uprooted, Dan. vii, 8 565 Death of Justinian Fourth Trumpet, Rev. viii, 12, 565-622 568 Lombards conquer Italy, Gibb. xlviii. Third King, Dan. vii, 8 602 Phocas, Persian War, Gibb. xlvi. Darkening of East, Gibb. xlviii. 608 Pantheon dedicated; Mahomet's preaching Fifth Trumpet. Rev. ix, 1, 2; Ten Kingdoms; Beast from the 612 Islamism begins, Gibb. 1. Locust, or Saracen woe, Rev. ix,3 647 Saracens invade Africa 660 Paulicians, Gibb. xlix; Rev. viii, 13? AD 666 Papal authority in Britain Latin service in the churches pressed by Vitalian 680 Third Council of Constantinople 698 Carthage falls 710 Saracens in Spain 728 Greg. II, Revolt of Rome, Gibb. xlix Little horn risen, Dan. vii, 8 762 Bagdad founded, City of Peace 774 Lombards overthrown Third King uprooted, Dan. vii, 8 Rise of second beast, Rev. xiii, 11 786 Harun Al Rashed, 2 Saracen Empire at height Five months end, Rev. ix, 5 787 Second Council of Nice 800 Charlemagne crowned, Gibb. xlix Seventh Head revives, Rev. xiii, 3 869 Fourth Council of Constantinople, and last Eastern General Council 936 Fall of Caliphate End of Locust woe, Rev. ix, 12 988 Conversion of Russia, Gibb. lv Christendom complete, A м, 4994 Height of visible church SIXTH EVENING. Living Creatures of the earthChristian Polities established Depression of true Church 997 The Turks, Mahmud the Gaznevide first Sultan, A M 5003, Gibb. lvii Angel of the East? Rev. ix, 14 1009 Jerusalem raised, Fatimite Caliphs Angel of the South? Rev. ix, 14 1016 Normans in Italy, Gibb. lvi 1060 Normans conquer Sicily 1066 Normans conquer England Angel of the North? 1063 Alp Arslan crosses Euphrates Armenia and Georgia lost Sixth Trumpet, Rev. ix, 13 Month and year, or 390 days? 1073 Hildebrand Power of second Beast, Rev. xiii, 11 Fourth Seal, Rev. 6, 7 1081 Normans invade East 1095 Council of Clermont First Crusade, Franks and Normans against the Saracens and Turks 1098 Jerusalem won from Saracens Days of Chivalry, Rev. ix, 14, 16 1123 First Lateran Council A D 1139 Second Lateran Council 1147 Second Crusade 1179 Third Lateran Council 1189 Third Crusade. Richard I, Lionhearted 1198 Innocent III. John in England Fourth Crusade. Height of second Beast 1203 Latins take Constantinople 1206 Mogul Empire begins 1207 Crusades against Albigenses, Rev. xiii, 12? 1209 Interdict on England, xiii, 13 1215 Fourth Lateran Council 1243 Close of Albigensian Crusades 1245 Council of Lyons 1261 Greek Empire restored 1274 Second Council of Lyons 1299 Othman invades the East 1311 Council of Vienna 1326 Prusa taken 1353 Ottomans in Europe 1370 Timour reigns 1378 Great Schism of the West 1396 Last Crusade 1409 Council of Pisa 1414 Council of Constance Jerome and Huss burnt, Rev. xiii, 15 1431 Council of Basil Re-union of Eastern Church, ix, 1453 Fall of Eastern Empire, May 29 1492 Discovery of America by Co lumbus MORNING. Exaltation of true Church, Gen. Revival of learning, 1453-1517; 1514 Fifth Lateran Council, 9th Ses sion Exposure of witnesses, Rev. xi, 9 Embassies, Indulgences, &c. xi, 10 III. A LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT OF PROPHECY. [377] God has given, through the deep and prolonged researches of his servants, much insight in the prophetic writings. The most valuable truth has been attained by increased investigation in the track of the older writers, with the farther light that history has afforded. Even the Jewish Rabbis, as well as the early writers of the Christian church, assisted Mede, the father of modern interpretation. More, Cressener, Sir Isaac Newton, Bishop Newton, Woodhouse, &c. all followed, asking for the old ways, and walking in them. Jer. vi. 16. Some modern works have too much, however, disregarded what previous writers have said, and others have set them wholly aside, as groundless interpretations. But even by the most defective works, men's minds have been exercised the more to find out the truth, and a hint in a very erroneous general interpretation, has sometimes led to a valuable discovery; so that no candid, diligent student, need be discouraged by failures in times past. The author has given a much fuller list of writers on prophecy than he intended; but it may have its advantages. Any knowledge of the writings of such varied authors is calculated to lead us to CAUTION AND MODESTY, in the explanation of unfulfilled prophecy. The great lessons taught by so many varied interpretations, have already been noticed. Would there were more of a holy awe on all our minds, of intruding on the glories of him, who takes it as his peculiar character, to declare things to come, (Isaiah xli. 22,) and to shew the things that are coming, and shall come. Isaiah xliv. 7. We cannot and should not go a step farther than the scripture leads us, and in the interpretations of that scripture, it is very needful to keep everything within that scriptural limit which the comparing spiritual things with spiritual marks out. The different interpretations of the servants of Christ are calculated [378] also to guard against a PRECIPITATE JUDGMENT, and a hasty public expression of such a judgment. The first impression of fresh views are as if a new light had been almost supernaturally given to us; but a little time for waiting may greatly modify these views. No one can look at the names of these authors in the follow ing List without seeing, that questions of CHURCH GOVERNMENT and DOCTRINAL VIEWS are unconnected with any particular interpretation of prophecy. Though, generally, sound scriptural principles are connected with the most valuable views of prophecy, yet it must be admitted that members of the most opposite denominations, and Christians holding very opposite sentiments in doctrine, often concur in the same views; and persons who are of the same denomination, or the same sentiments in doctrine, hold very opposing views of the same prophecy. It is hoped that this may dispel the alarm which some have felt, as if an attention to the subject was necessarily connected with serious mistake in doctrines. The error likely to arise from the great apparent plausibility of some interpretations may be checked by the similar plausibility of opposite interpretations, and we may be sure nothing but the true counterpart of history will meet all the lines drawn in the original Document of Prophecy. It It is by no means recommended to readers in general to attempt to procure, or to read all the books here mentioned. would only tend to confuse and distract the mind. A few of the most really useful have already been mentioned, and some notices are given of others in the following list. Providence often graciously puts us in the way of books, and of guides really useful to us; only let us not follow a vain curiosity, or self-will, but look upward for divine direction. Those who have most usefully and successfully written on Prophecy have, as it has been noticed, availed themselves of the expositions given by their predecessors. Dean Woodhouse, who began simply by studying it on his own resources, unaided except by Bishop Hurd's introduction, found it valuable afterwards to make free use of the stores provided by others. is the remark of another not unsuccessful writer, "In almost all authors on this subject, I have met with something that appeared to me excellent; [379] though differing in numerous instances from all, yet I have gathered a little from one and a little from another." It The variety of new systems of the Apocalypse is a serious evil, and it is hoped that the present List of Books may help to check this evil. Men of talents, and imagination, and piety, are in danger of forming to themselves a system of the Apocalypse, without any careful study of even leading writers, who have gone before them. With great ingenuity they turn the figures of this book to their own views, and build up a beautiful theory; parts of which may indeed be true; but not having cautiously gone over the ground, nor duly considered the researches of their predecessors, they lose the benefit of length ened experience, and the church loses that full benefit, which their ability and piety, directed to the elucidation of this book, might have imparted. The warning against false prophets (Matt. xxiv. 21-24) may teach both authors and readers, the danger of a false interpretation of prophecy, calculated to deceive the very elect. It was the just remark of Sir Isaac Newton, a century back, "If the last age, the age of opening these things, be now approaching (as by the great success of the late interpreters it seems to be) we have more encouragement than ever to look into these things. If the general preaching of the gospel be approaching, it is to us and our posterity that these words mainly belong: In the time of the end the wise shall understand." Dan. xii. 9, 10. The preaching of the gospel has taken place: "The main revolution," which Newton mentions "as not yet come to pass," many believe has come to pass; and the following List of Books will shew how extensively the servants of Christ, in the last half century, have turned their attention to prophecy. The Book is sealed to the time of the end, but then it is predicted, Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased, (Dan. xii. 4;) and this list may show that these things are now taking place, and encourage every reader to a diligent study of prophecy. GENERAL WORKS ON PROPHECY. The principal JEWISH COMMENTATORS are Kimchi, Aben Ezra, Aberbanel, R. S. Jarchi, &c. Schoetgen, Stehelin's Rabbinical [380] Literature (2 vols. 8vo. 1748), and Wotton's Discourses, give information on the religious notions of the Jews. The views of THE FATHERS generally, on the subject of the Prophecies, must be sought for in the Commentaries which they have left on the various books of Scripture, and in incidental remarks in the earlier Fathers, who left no Commentaries, as Justin, Irenæus, Tertullian, Clemens, &c. The principal Commentators among the Fathers are Origen, Chrysostom, Eusebius, Jerom, Cyril, Ephraim Syrus, Gregory, Hilary, Augustine, Theodoret, Theophylact, &c. In Origen's work against Celsus, he illustrates the prophecies concerning Christ. The incidental testimonies of the early Fathers, Latin and Greek, especially those of the three first centuries, to the personal coming and reign of Christ, are quoted by Homes on the Millennium, Burnet, in his Theory of the Earth, Greswell, in |