" that these things are not yet come to pass; and "it is as plain, that all those who foretold, that

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they would be fulfilled long ago, were not, at " least at that time, under the influence of divine " inspiration †.”

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The passages which the Author has referred to, as proofs of this charge, are-1 Cor. x. 11. -Rom. xiii. 11. 12.-Heb. ix. 26.-James v. 7, 8.-1 John ii. 18.- 2 Peter iii. 11, 13. - But though he has referred to these places at the bottom of the page, as so many predictions of the Authors of these books, that CHRIST's coming to judge the world was an event which they at that time expected very speedily to take place, he has not actually produced the passages themselves; or entered into confideration of any one of them; or urged any reason, or any authority, but his own bare affertion, to prove it. But to shew at once the falfehood of this groundless accufation, I shall produce the passages themselves; when it will plainly appear, that only one of them can relate to the final coming of CHRIST to judge the world; and that That one, so interpreted, assigns no period whatever for the arrival of that event.

In the first of them ‡ St. Paul, after enumerating several judgments which the Ifraelites brought upon themselves; by their idolatry and rebellions in the wilderness; in order to deter the Corinthians from frequenting the idol feafts; immediately adds, Now all these things are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. -And it is an agreed point, among all those who are at all qualified to pass any judgment upon the matter, that the words of the original which are here rendered the ends of the world; should be translated-the ends of the ages; i. e. the concluding age; That in which all the several ages of this world will end; the Gospel Dispensation. So that here the phrase signifies, the abolition of the Jewish, and establishment of the Chriftian Dispensation. ing that St. Peter is here speaking of the final judgment of the world, what he has faid cannot afford room for the Author's objection founded upon it. Though we should grant St. Peter here meant to exhort them to prepare for the day of judgment; because they knew certainly that there would be fuch a day; he here says not a fyllable to imply, that the day of judgment would arrive, while that generation was still living; not a syllable relative to the time when it would arrive. He only alleges the certainty, not the time of its coming, as a fufficient reason; and furely a fufficient one it was; for their diligence and care in preaching the duties of their Christian Profession.

In the next passage the Author has alleged St. Paul exhorts the Romans to the practice of all the duties of true benevolence, by telling them; And this we should do, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of fleep; for now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour (rather the dress) of light *. - The meaning of which appears plainly to be no other than this, That as they were now farther advanced in life, and consequently had less time to live, than when they first embraced the faith in CHRIST; so it was every day more and more incumbent upon them to fulfil the duties of their Christian Profeffion.

The passage of James which the Author has referred to is as follows: - Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the bufbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and bath long patience for it, until he receive the early and the letter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your bearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh 十一

* Rom xiii. 11. 12.

James v. 7.

And

And here the Apostle is exhorting his Christian Brethren to bear the perfecutions they then fuffered from the Jews with steadiness and resolution; from this confideration more especially; that the coming of the Lord (That Coming which we have already fo fully enquired into,) to put an end to the Jewish Polity, and free them by that means from their Jewish perfecutors, was just at hand, when he wrote this epiftle.

The passage of John called into question isLittle children, it is the last time : and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time *. To which nothing more can be necessary to be faid, than that it is so immediate and express a reference to our Saviour's Predictions of the Signs that would forerun the destruction of Jerufalem, and the overthrow of the Jewish state ; feveral of which were actually taking place, and this of the Appearance of Antichrifts among the rest, at the very time, when John wrote this epistle; that the passage will not admit of being applied to any other event.

The last of those places to which the Author has referred is as follows: - Seeing then that all these things (the heavens and the earth) shall be diffolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be, in all boly conversation and godliness? (12) Looking for and bafting unto the coming of the day of God; wherein the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. (13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (14) Wherefore beloved brethren, seeing that ye look after fuch things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless †. - Now grant

* 1 John ii. 18.
2 Pet. iii. 11-14.

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Not one of these passages therefore to which the Author has referred, as so many self evident instances of false predictions delivered by the Apostles, concerning the time of the final judgment of the world, can afford the least real ground for fuch a charge; as even the mere repetition of the passages themselves is almost sufficient to shew. However, for his further fatisfaction with regard to the true meaning of the places he has referred to; and to convince him, that the Apostles both knew and taught, that the final judgment of the world was not an event then near at hand; let him, if he has concern enough for the truth to be inclined to do it, confult Hammond, Whitby, Locke, Lightfoot, Benfon, and Taylor, upon the passages in que stion; and besides, let him confider particularly the passages referred to in the note *. -And till he shall attempt at least to shew, that what these

admirable expositors have fo well proved is all delufion and mistake, which I will venture to suppose neither he, nor any one for him, will be very ready to attempt; I shall lay it down, as an established truth, that the interpretation which the Author would fain put upon these passages of the New Testament, is utterly groundless and unwarrantable, and his charge built upon it, against the divine inspiration of the Apostles, absolutely false.

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SECT. X.

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The Author's Argument founded on what passed between St. PETER and St. PAUL at Antioch, confidered.

ed on what happened between the Apostles Peter and Paul at Antioch: St. Paul's Relation of it is as follows.

When Peter was come to Antioch I withstood him to the face (i. e. openly) because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, be did eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come, be withdrew, and separated himself; fearing them which were of the circumcifion. And the other Jews dissembled likewife with him, infomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their diffimulation. -But when I faw, that they walked not uprightly, according to the truth of the Gospel; I said unto Peter before them all; - If thou, being a Jew, livest in the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews; why compellest * thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? &c. t.

* That is, Why INDUCEST thou the Gentiles, by thy example misunderstood?

+ Gal. ii. 11, &c.