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of DANIEL chap, 8, to signify nothing more, than that a certain ram would afterwards be seen, with two horns, &c. and that a he-goat would come from the west, and fight the ram, and destroy him, &e. Or to understand the vision of St. Peter, Acts 10th chapter, to signify nothing more, than that afterwards, there would be seen a sheet let down from Heaven, knit at the four corners, wherein would be all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air, and that men ought to kill and eat them, and not call any of them unclean or common. I say, this would be the same understanding of St. Peter's vision, which many people have of much of the vision called "Revelation." And as St. Peter said, concerning his vision, "God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean," Acts X, 28. So we see, that while beasts and fowls were the things seen in the vision, men were the real things signified by the vision, and, as the book of Revelation is the contents of the greatest vision (perhaps) that was ever seen by man; and as it was a revelation of things which then existed which were invisible; such as, the Almighty sitting upon his throne, &c. and of things which were to be accomplished in the gospel dispensation, under the reign of Jesus Christ, which is wholly spiritual. We may be assured that those things which were seen in this vision, were only figures, similitudes, or signs of spiritual things, both good things and bad things, (if it be proper to call any of them bad,) which were to take place; and as much as this may be seen in various passages throughout the book. As 1st, in xv, 1," And I "saw another sign," &c. Showing that the things he had seen were signs, and that this was a sign also.

In the second place observe, that he, in divers, or several passages, gives such cautions as the

following: Chap. xi, 18, "Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding, count the number of the beast," &c. XVII, 9, " And here is the mind that hath wisdom." i, 3, and xx11, 7, " Blessed he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand." Which evidently shows that he meant to be understood, 4hat there was danger of misunderstanding what the things signified which he had seen of the which there would not be such danger, if the things signified nothing more than what appeared in the vision.

Another incontestible evidence, that the book of revelation is figurative, is that a great part of it would appear to be nonsense, if it must be understood literally; as for instance, ix, 17, 19: Horses with breastplates of fire, and jacinth, and brimstone, with tails like serpents, and had heads, &c. Now this, as well as a great many other passages, cannot be understood literally by any person, let their particular sentiments be what they may.— And from these considerations, as well as others, which I have not mentioned, it is evident that this book is a representation of spiritual things, by figures, or similitudes, seen in a vision. And now, the point in question is, what do they represent? And, to ascertain this, I have for many years read this book through and through, at the same time making use of my little concordance, by the help of which, I have turned to other more ancient Scriptures and prophecies, which made use of the same figures, or similitudes, which are used in this book, to see what spiritual things were represented by them in other parts of the Bible. And this is the way I have obtained what instruction I have (if indeed I have any) on the book of Revelation; and I now offer the same, hoping it will be a means of instruction to others who have not labored so much to obtain such instruction.

And as the principal difficulties in understanding this book, are, first, what the similitudes represent. And secondly, the times of their accomplishment: I had proposed to go through the book twice, first, to explain the figures, which I call the "Key." And secondly, to show the times of their accomplishment, which I call the "Notes." But on mature deliberation, as I think it must necessarily make my book quite long, to go through twice, and as I conclude it would not be so readily intelligible, I shall, therefore, divide my work into Sections, by the chapters of the book, and shall explain the figures, or similitudes, and show the times when (in my opinion) they were accomplished, as I pass along through the book, up to the present time, and shall notice things which are yet future; but I shall not pretend to fix the times of the accomplishment of future events, but only show what things are to be accomplished according to the language of other Holy Scriptures.

And let every reader observe, that I do not claim infallibility in these explanations, for al though I am confident that the principle is right, on which I have explained the vision, viz.: that the vision gave a view of numerous things and creatures, causes and effects in the literal world, to signify numerous things and creatures, causes and effects in the moral world through the whole time of the everlasting reign of Jesus Christ. Yet as the figures are so numerous, it would be strange if a man of so small claims as myself, should, at first setting out, explain them all precisely corresponding with each other, and with the rest of the Holy Scriptures. However, as I have not committed any mistake intentionally, I hope, if the reader should discover any, it will only lead bin to search for more correct ideas.

K

A KEY

TO THE BOOK OF

REVELATION;

WITH SHORT NOTES ON THE SAME.

CHAPTER I.

Verse 7, "Behold he cometh with clouds." Means that Christ's spiritual coming is with his servants, who pour out the name of the Lord in their testimony, as clouds pour rain upon the ground, and therefore they are called, "A cloud of witnesses," Heb. XII, 1.

Verse 13, "He (Christ) was girt about the paps with a golden girdle." Signifies, that as the curious girdle of the ephod of the highpriest, Aaron, on which he bore the names of the children of Israel before God, when he went into the holy place, was on with the ephod, and was made of the same as the ephod.

So Jesus, in his love and goodness, bears all men before God. And righteousness and faithfulness are his girdle, Isaiah XI, 5; and whereas his girdle is called "A golden girdle." If a man has much gold, it affords him the privileges of obtaining food, raiment, an inheritance, or if he was in. bondage to procure his redemption. So that love, goodness, righteousness, and faithfulness, which binds all men to Jesus. before God, is their rich privilege of obtaining spiritual food, raiment, eternal redemption, and an incorrutible inheritance.

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