N04757:230
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.
And therefore 'tis natural to suppose, that by drying up the Waters of the River Euphrates, in the Prophecies of the Destruction of the new Babylon, to prepare the Way of her Enemies, is meant the drying up her Incomes and Supplies; and the Removal of those Things that hitherto have been the chief Obstacles in the Way of those that in this Book are represented as at War with her and seeking her Destruction, (spoken of Rev. xix.11 to the End, and Chap. xii.7.) that have hindered their Progress and Success, or that have been the chief Impediments in the Way of the Protestant Religion. The first Thing is the drying the Streams of the Wealth of the new Babylon, the temporal Supplies, Revenues and vast Incomes of the Romish Church, and Riches of the Popish Dominions. Waters in Scripture Language very often signify Provision and Supplies, both temporal and spiritual; as in Prov. ix.17. Isai. xxxiii.16.—xliii.20.—lv.1.—and lviii.11. Jer. ii.13, and 18.—xvii.8, and 13▪ and in other Places innumerable. The temporal Supplies of a People are very often in Scripture called Waters; as Isai. v.13. Therefore my People is gone into Captivity, and their honourable Men are famished, and their Multitude dried up with Thirst. i. e. deprived of the Supports and Supplies ⟨p. 157⟩of Life. And the drying up the Waters of a City or Kingdom, is often used in Scripture Prophecy, for the depriving them of their Wealth, as the Scripture explains it self, Hos. xiii.15. His Spring shall become dry, and his Fountain shall be dried up; He shall spoil the Treasure of all pleasant Vessels. Isai. xv.6, 7. The Waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; for the Hay is withered; the Grass faileth; there is no green Thing. Therefore the Abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the Brook of the Willows. By the Brook of the Willows there seems to be a Reference to the Waters of Assyria or Chaldea, whose Streams abounded with Willows (compare