of publishing this treatise under your name and protection; which I hope may not be displeasing to you. It is not that I think any name of renown will screen the faults that may be found in it; but in order that may find unprejudiced minds, and may not be condemned without a reading-especially in those parts, which might be branded with the terrible imputation of novelty. it I have the honour to be, Your attentive fellow servant, in J. GEORGE SCHMUCKER. PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. THE christian world has arrived at a very portentous period, full of great and alarming events. Most persons of reflection will allow, from the interesting and awful scenes carried on in the most civilized countries, that the end of the present form of civil and ecclesiastical economy is near at hand. 1 Pet. iv. 7.-1 Cor. x. 11.Every century has been characterized by a peculiar spirit of its own, modelling every thing, more or less, in a new mould, and often making inroads, even into the sanctuary of the Lord. But the spirit of the present time stands distinguished from all former periods, by a character of peculiar innovation in church and state. No doubt these singular events, so unparralleled in the page of history, are, according to certain prophecies both in the Old and New Testament, yet only the prognostics of a scene of things still more extraordinary, and resolved upon in the councils of the Most High. Behold the spirit of the nineteenth century! It rose up like a lion, in the midst of a grazing flock-displeased with every thing, which did not bear its own image. When it first appeared towards the close of the last century, boasting of reason, philosophy and a discovery of the fatal consequences of superstition, it obtained many votaries; but when it assumed the garb of the rights of man, it was hailed by millions. Its triumph seemed more certain every day, until it was perceived by the wise and considerate, that its final aim was, to establish infidelity, and make the world a general plunder and a wreck. And alas! Their anticipation of ensuing horror proved too true. Every enclos ure was broken down-the stately A edifices of former centuries demolished; all christendom shivered at its approach, as in the presence of a being from the other world. The rulers of the earth began to lose the balance of government, against the internal weight of state; their kingdoms were threatened with destruction, like decayed castles at the approach of a storm. Battles were fought, cities and kingdoms won or lost, kings degraded or restored; and all the splendid ranks and orders. of men, that supported them, extinguished or established. Whole countries were turned into a slaughter house, where the unburied bones of thousands yet lie bleaching, and whiten those fields, so lately smoking with human gore. Millions of souls have rushed from the field of battle, in a few years, into the world of spirits; angels bemoan their untimely end with compassion, and would fain comfort the widow and the fatherless. These awful scenes touch every trembling fibre of sensibility-the heart sickens in contemplating the misery of millions, and the subterraneous waves of this vast ocean of nations, are not yet commanded to rest. The prime cause of all this evil was infidelity, the partizans of which marshalled themselves in the order of the Illuminati. This numerous society first formed and propagated itself in the secret lodges, and under the garb of freemasonry, since the middle of the last century; but soon assumed the names of almost every other society, to carry on its diabolical designs, and extend its banners into all the countries of Europe and America. The dark plans of this order are not even yet fully developed. That murderous revolution in France, was the first fruit of their exertions; whose leaders apostatized from christianity, and unblushingly, in the most public manner, avowed Atheism; whilst the inferior adherents exhibited scenes of contempt and aversion to the very name of Christ. The lurking places of these monsters of unrighteousness, are not yet deserted; they still go on, to poison the sources of education, and to persuade the world, that the restraints of religion and civil government, are but an intolerable imposition; endeavouring thereby to undermine the very pillars of civil society.-To this purpose thousands of books were circulated, written by men of the first talents, in a most subtle and artful manner, to unhinge public opinion, and make it run with loose reins through every field of moral science. Their success was astonishing, even to themselves. So corrupted is the present state of the world; so panting the vitiated heart of man for liberty, to follow its depraved inclinations without restraint or remorse; that in France, no less than twenty thousand new proselytes were made in one year. From this we may guess at their progress in other countries, and know the fountain of that insatiable thirst, in our days, for lawless liberty, as the right of man. Political confusions naturally produce moral corruption. The religious institutions became involved in the fate of the kingdoms and empires, in which they had been established. In France and Germany the Church of God presents little more, than the fragments of a mighty wreck. We may reasonably conclude from this state of the christian world, that peace and happiness cannot be of long duration, where the sunshine of religious hope and comfort has vanished; where truth is controverted with all the charms of wit and elegance; the honour of christianity insulted; and the shadowy path of life made dreary and dismal, by doubt and despair. Its natural course would work the dissolution of all civil society, without a special interference of Providence in behalf of his church. But no, the world was not made to be the prey of infidels; God suffers them to bring judgment on themselves, that they may either turn to their Father, or work their own destruction. Many thousand learned and serious christians this day read the prophecies, to know the probable future prospects of church and state; and to those a treatise on this subject cannot fail to be welcome. A 2 The study of the prophecies and their accomplishments in the signal events of past ages, is, more or less, the duty of every christian. But it is no less incumbent on us also, attentively to consider those predictions, which may now be in a train of fulfilment; particularly when the signs of the times seem very interesting, and indicative of great peril and temptation. The Word of God is an important treasure indeed. We are not only assured by it in general, that the grace and faithfulness of the Lord shall never fail; but we are there also provided with particular instructions, annexed to each prophecy, by which believers may know their duty in every state of trial and discipline to which they may be exposed. In this the provident care and kindness of God, has ever been apparent. The attacks of our enemies are often powerful, concealed, and subtile; and we are in need of superior direction for our defence; here then divine advice straightens our path, and supplies the deficiency. I. It is therefore incumbent on the people of God, with the faithful Boreans, to search the Scriptures, that they may know the signs of the times, and observe the particular instructions given them for each period. To this they are animated and directed in those prophetic declarations, as the most wise and certain rule of conduct for their safety and happiness. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us, and to our children forever, that we may do them: Deut. xxix. 29. When you see these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption is drawing nigh: Luke xxi. 28. 2. Prophecies reach but to the grave; all their contents only affect and concern the living; they are objects of faith, to excite our attention to Providence, and to the Holy Scriptures. For here we walk by faith, and there by sight. II. Cor. v. 7. As all are more deeply interested, it becomes all seriously to consider, and carefully to compare the |