Since the present supposed false principles of interpreting the Prophecies to their injury, have neither been written nor openly known, as by any distinct names, or forms of expression, but rather suffered to hold a quiet place in the mind, as the hidden and unsuspected suggestions of darkness, the best manner now in attempting to repel them, will not be directly and violently to assail them, as heresies, really maintained by any, but rather, if possible, to lay down, establish and illustrate, some principles of truth in connexion with the subject, by which, indirectly to sweep them away. These principles must be simple, reasonable, scriptural, and easy to be understood and applied, even by the unlearned, who in the spirit shall diligently search the Prophecies to find out their true and full meaning. Such principles, surely, can always be safely trusted; and if such, indeed, shall now be presented, the interpretations to which they shall naturally lead, in studying the Prophecies, must, of course, and of necessity, be admitted, whether harmonizing or conflicting with our own, or others' former opinions on the same Prophecies.

Should there appear various repetitions of the same Principle in the different illustrations of this work, it may be considered that there is such an affinity between them all, that their being divided into twenty-four parts, is rather as a matter of convenience in the investigation, than to denote a positive distinction among them; so that in many instances the arguments and illustrations under one head, would be equally appropriate under another. As in the Bible, so it needs be under present circumstances of Principles in its interpretation; we must have "precept upon precept, precept upon precept," &c., which, with the Almighty, is far from resembling the vain repetitions of the heathen and the hypocrite in their prayers.

With regard to the general correctness of these Principles and their illustrations, the spiritually-minded and others are left to form their own opinions, on carefully examining and trying them, by the excellent rules of a holy life, the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Scriptures, which are to be severally recommended. After much humiliation, prayer, and patient labor to throw them into the best shape, whether they shall prove

useful or not, the work is now affectionately submitted to the christian public; and especially to those of every name and order among the dear children of God, who mean to act on the gospel principle of seeking to be great in heaven, by first becoming small on the earth. From critics of this character, who are fixed on having the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, in their study of the Prophecies, the author, with all his imperfections, has nothing to fear, and would only ask of others who may read the work, that they would do it candidly and fairly, without misconstruction, and by all means to try the Proofs by the unerring standard of truth, rather than the positions merely by their own, or other men's preconceived opinions on the subject.

New-York, November, 1837.

H. J.

INDEX.

Page.

Prin. I.-Jacob-Israel-Judah, &c.,- representing the flock of

God,

13

II.-Babylon-Sodom-Egypt, &c.—representing Satan's

kingdom,

III. All divine promises-the saint's portion for ever,
IV. All divine threatenings-sinners portion for ever,
V.-Distance of the judgment-unforetold by prophets,
VI.-Days, weeks, months, &c.-representing indefinite pe-

riods,

VII.-Invisible realities, &c.-represented figuratively
VIII. The prophecies are mostly spiritual—rather than secu-
lar,

20

27

37

41

47

IX.-Prophets wrote predictions-rather than history,
X.-Christ's two comings-not distinguished by prophets,
XI.--Realities of the judgment--not mingled with trifles by
the prophets,

XII.—Realities of the judgment—not prefiguring trifles in the
Prophecies,

81

XIII. The enlightening of the Divine Spirit-necessary to un-

derstand,

XIV.-A Godly obedience—necessary to understand the Pro-

phecies,

XV.-Interpretations are suspicious-which sooth the un-
XVI. Interpretations inadmissible-which make the righteous
sad,

XVII.-True interpretations-harmonizing with the great end
of the gospel,
102

53

57

68

74

77

88

91

94

98

Page

XVIII. No scriptural prophecy-of any private interpretation, 105
XIX.-Everlasting, for ever, forevermore, &c.-representing
endless duration,

110

XX. True interpretations-harmonizing with the reason of
the godly,

114

118

XXI.-Preconceived opinion-an unsafe rule of interpretation, 115
XXII.-Profane history-an unsafe rule of interpretation,
XXIII-Prophecies now fulfilling--to be considered, &c.
XXIV. The Bible its own interpreter in all cases,

124
144

FIRST PRINCIPLES

ILLUSTRATED.

PRINCIPLE I.

THE words Jacob-Israel-Judah-JosephJoshua-Jerusalem-House of the Lord-Temple of the Lord, &c., in the Prophets, are usually given to represent the flock of God on earth; sometimes including both the saints and sinners of his vineyard; sometimes limited to the one class, and sometimes to the other; while some of them occasionally signify the church in glory. Some other words in the Prophets, such as David, Solomon, and Zerubbabel, may be understood as representing Christ, the church, or both; all of which must be determined by a careful examination of the connexion.