N04757:202
An humble attempt to promote explicit agreement and visible union of God's people in…
An humble attempt to promote explicit agreement and visible union of God's people in extraordinary prayer for the revival of religion and the advancement of Christ's Kingdom on earth, pursuant to Scripture-promises and prophecies concerning the last time. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Minister of the Gospel at Northampton. ; With a preface by several ministers.
printed for D. Henchman, 1748
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Ans. 3. Tho' it is not for us to know the precise Time of the Fall of Antichrist, ye• I humbly conceive that we have no Reason to suppose the Event principally intended in the Prophecies of Antichrist's Destruction to be at so great a Distance, as Mr. Lowman places it; but have reason to think it to be much nearer. Not that I would set up my self as a Person of equal Judgment with Mr. Lowman in Matters of this Nature. As he differs from most others of the most approved Expositors of the Apocalypse, in this Matter, so I hope it will not appear Vanity and Presumption in me, to differ from this particular Expositor, and to agree with the greater Number. And since his Opinion stands so much in the Way of that great and important Affair, to promote which is the very End of this whole Discourse, I hope it will not look as tho' I affected to appear considerable among the Interpreters of Prophecy, and as a Person of Skill in these mysterious Matters, that I offer some Reasons against Mr. Lowman's Opinion. 'Tis surely great Pity, that it should be received as a Thing clear and abundantly confirmed, that the glorious Day of Antichrist's Fall is at so great a Distance (so directly tending to damp and discourage all earnest Prayers for, or Endeavours after its speedy Accomplishment) unless there be good and plain Ground for it. I would therefore offer some Things to Consideration, which I think may justly make us look upon the Opinion of this learned Interpreter, of this happy Event's ⟨p. 133⟩being at so great a Distance, not so certain and indubitable, as to hinder our praying and hoping for its being fulfilled much sooner.
The Period of Antichrist's Reign, as this Author has fixed it, seems to be the main Point insisted on in his Exposition of the Revelation; which he supposes a great many Things in the Scheme of Prophecies delivered in that Book do concur to establish. And indeed it is so, with Respect to the Scheme of Interpretation of these Prophecies, which he goes into, and finds it requisite to maintain, in order to confirm this Point. But there are several Things in that Scheme, that appear to me justly liable to Exception.