stage of writing, like the firft ftage of every other art, was not only fimple, but also very rude and limited. This painting and engraving could exprefs material and visible objects only, but was quite unfit for expreffing fpiritual objects or abftract ideas.

In the next stage of writing, the figures or pictures of visible objects were continued: But, then they were used to exprefs not these things themselves, of which they were the pictures; but other things of an invifible nature, and even abftract ideas, between which, and the things of which these characters were the pictures, there was fome kind of resemblance. Thus, for inftance, the picture of the face of man fignified wifdom; because man is the wifeft of all visible creatures which we have feen: The picture of a lion fignified boldness and courage; because a lion is the most couragious of animals And a circle fignified eternity; because it hath neither beginning nor end. This mode of writing was called the fymbolical ; and, because it was continued among heathen priefts, long after the invention of alphabetical characters, in order to conceal the mysteries of their religion from the people, it was alfo called the hieroglyphical manner of writing; that is, the facred engraving or painting. That the symbolical was the mode of writing, before the invention of letters, every one acquainted with the hiftory of writing must know. If any doubt of this, let them confult Diodo

rus

rus Siculus, lib. iii. Servius, in Virgil. Æn. lib. v. 85. Lucan, Pharf. lib. iii. Tacitus, Annal. lib. xi. c. 14. Amm. Marc. lib. xvii.

The inhabitants of America knew nothing of letters until the Europeans discovered that continent. They had only hieroglyphical characters, and they ftill retain the use of them. The Chinese still use the fymbolical characters.

The prophetic parts, or vifions, of this book, are written in the fymbolical language. I have not faid fymbolical characters, but fymbolical language; because, though the characters in which this book was originally written, were the letters of the Greek alphabet, and those in which our tranflation is written are the letters of the Roman alphabet; yet the language itself, though expreffed in these characters, is the fymbolical.To make my meaning more clear, let it be observed, that if a copy of the Old Teftament were all written in Hebrew words, but all these words written in English or Roman characters; and a copy of the New Teftament were all written in Greek words, but all these words written in English or Roman letters; though it could not be faid of fuch a copy of the Old Testament, that it was written in Hebrew characters; or of fuch a copy of the New Teftament, that it was written in Greek letters; yet, with the utmost propriety, it could be faid, that the former was written in the Hebrew

brew language, and the latter in the Greek: And though a perfon, who could read the English language only, might read and pronounce the words of both; yet, because he does not understand the Hebrew language, he could not understand the meaning of the former, and, because he is ignorant of the Greek language, he could not discover the contents of the latter.Exactly fimilar is the cafe with the prophetic parts of this book; because written originally in Greek letters, and tranflated into English letters, they may be read and pronounced by those who can read these letters; but, because written in the fymbolical language, they can be understood by thofe perfons only who are acquainted with that language.

This feems, to me, to be the ordinary language of prophecy. In particular, it runs through the prophecies of Ifaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Many good reafons might be affigned for the propriety of this language, of this kind of univerfal and natural language, in prophecies intended for many ages, and all nations of the world, as many of those of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and John are. To ftate these it is unneceffary. Since, in fact, God hath made choice of this language for this book and other prophecies, we may be certain that he who cannot err did fo for the best reasons.The nature of this language will more clearly appear as I proceed in the explication of this book; when e

very different fymbol fhall be explained as it oc

curs.

Each fymbol has as determinate and diftin&t a meaning, as each word in other languages hath. Every time the fame fymbol occurs in this book, and in all the prophetic writings, it preferves its proper and determinate fenfe, as much as the fame word in other languages preferves its proper meaning, whenever it occurs.

Befides the common fymbols, which, in this and all other fymbolical writings, are used in their common acceptation, fome fymbols in this book are taken from the vifible reprefentations under the Mofaic difpenfation. As that difpenfation was typical of the Chriftian, and as the obfervances under the law were the fhadows of better and more fpiritual things to come under the gofpel; fuch peculiar fymbols were exceedingly proper in a book of prophecies, written under the Christian difpenfation. It is alfo to be obferved, that the prophets, Ezekiel, Daniel, and alfo John in this book, give literal and plain explications of the most myfterious of the symbols which they use; which explications are the proper keys to their prophecies. We fhall meet with feveral of thefe keys in this book, fo plain, when duly confidered, and fo well fitted for opening up the true meaning of this book, that we fhall be apt to be aftonished VOL. I.

F

at our own inattention, in not having clearly perceived them long ago.

Having faid fo much with refpect to the fymbolical language in which this book is written, let us proceed to confider this Introductory Vifion. In it we have an inftance of this language. We are not to fuppofe that John saw, with his bodily eyes, the things described in these verses. The exact fame impreffions were made upon his mind by the Spirit of God, without the use of his bodily eyes, that would have been made upon it, if he had actually feen, with his bodily eyes, the things de*fcribed in these verses. To fpend any time, to explain, in this place, the meaning of this vision, would be unneceffary, because it is particularly explained in the 17th, 18th, and 20th verses of this chapter, as fhall appear in that place.

Verse 17th, 18th.-And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead: And he laid his right hand upon me, faying unto me; Fear not, I am the first and the laft: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

This vifion ftruck John with awe. It had the fame effect upon his mind, as if he had in fact

feen