as easily as the rest, nothing could withstand the authority which informed them of their mistake; and assured them that this demonianism, like the rest, was altogether a natural distemper. On the contrary, many favourable prejudices would soon arise on the side of so authentic an Instructor.

From the whole, therefore, of what hath been here offered in favour of the obvious sense of my Text, the attentive hearer will, I presume, be inclined to acquiesce in the antient interpretation of this part of the Gospel-History; and be ready to agree with the first Disciples of Christ, in their pious exultation, when they returned, from their Mission, with joy; saying, Lord, through thy name, even the DEVILS are subject unto us*.

Luke x. 17.

DISCOURSE XXVIII.

THE RISE OF ANTICHRIST.

2 PETER i. 16-21.

WE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED CUNNINGLY-DEVISED FABLES, WHEN WE MADE KNOWN UNTO YOU THE POWER AND COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BUT

MAJESTY.

WERE

EYE-WITNESSES OF HIS

FOR HE RECEIVED FROM GOD THE FATHER HONOUR AND GLORY, WHEN THERE CAME SUCH A VOICE TO HIM FROM THE EXCELLENT GLORY, THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.

AND THIS VOICE WHICH CAME FROM HEAVEN WE HEARD, WHEN WE WERE WITH HIM IN THE HOLY MOUNT.

WE HAVE ALSO A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY; WHEREUNTO YE DO WELL THAT YE TAKE HEED, AS UNTO A LIGHT THAT SHINETH IN A DARK PLACE, UNTIL THE DAY DAWN, AND THE DAY-STAR ARISE IN YOUR HEARTS: KNOWING THIS FIRST, THAT NO PROPHECY OF THE SCRIPTURE IS OF ANY PRIVATE INTER

PRETATION.

M 3

FOR

FOR THE PROPHECY CAME NOT IN OLD TIME BY

THE WILL OF MAN: BUT HOLY MEN OF GOD SPAKE AS THEY WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST.

THERE are few places in the New Testament plainer than this; as containing only matter of admonition and instruction: and yet there are none which have occasioned more contest, or greater variety of interpretation *.

This hath been chiefly owing to a mistake held in common concerning the Apostle's subject; namely, that he is here speaking of the personal Character of Jesus; and consequently, that the MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY, with which he strengthens his argument, is the Prophecies of the Old Testament, establishing that character: Whereas the subject, he is upon, is very different, viz. the general truth of the Gospel; and, consequently, the more sure word of Prophecy is the Prophecies of the New Testament.

Such a mistake was necessarily productive of another; For if the personal Character of Jesus were the subject of the discourse, it would follow, that the POWER AND COMING of our Lord-is to be understood of his FIRST COMING; and that the word of Prophecy refers to a Prophecy already fulfilled. But if here he be speaking of the SECOND COMING of Jesus; and that, consequently, the word of Prophecy refers to a long series of events to be fulfilled; this puts a fair end to a controversy, supported only * See the writings of Bishop Sherlock and Dr. Middleton, and their respective followers, on this subject.

by

by the absurd and embarrassed reasonings of the Controversialists.

1. First then, it is to be observed, that the Epistle from whence the passage in question is taken, is a farewell Epistle to the Churches: The writer knowing (as he tells them *) that shortly he must put off this his Tabernacle. Now the great topic of consolation urged by these departing Saints to the widowed Churches, was the SECOND COMING of their Lord and Master. And of this coming it is that St. Peter speaks, for we have not followed cunningly-devised fables, when we made known unto you the POWER AND COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ. He subjoins the reason of his confidence in this SECOND COMING, that he, and the rest of the Disciples, had been eye-witnesses of the MAJESTY of the FIRST.

This appears still plainer, from the recapitulation, in the concluding part of the Epistle, where he reproves those Scoffers of the last days, who would say, Where is the promise of his cOMING? for since the Fathers fell asleep all things continue as they weret. For the primitive Christians had entertained an Opinion, that the SECOND COMING of their Master was at hand. These Scoffers, therefore, the Apostle confutes at large, from the fifth to the thirteenth verse of this last Chapter §.

Chap. i. ver. 14.

+ Chap. iii. ver. 3, 4. See Div. Leg. Book VI. § 6.

If

§ But not only the general subject of the Epistle, but the expression used in the text, shews, that this power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is to be understood