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it is by the appointment of God; for their voice is like the noife of thunder, which is the fymbol of the voice of God, chap. i. 3. "Bleffed is "he that readeth, and they that hear the words of "this prophecy, and keep thofe things which are "written therein."

When Chrift opened this firft feal, that part of the book or roll which occupied the space between the first and the fecond feal was opened up, and John faw upon it the following hieroglyphic; the picture of a white horse, with a rider upon him, which rider had a bow in his hand, and a crown upon his head. This picture was drawn in fuch a manner, according to the rules of the fymbolical language, as plainly to fhew that this rider was conquering his enemies not only at the time of the opening of that feal; but that he fhall alfo conquer them more completely in a future and diftant period.

In the fymbolical language, a horfe and his rider fignifies a difpenfation of divine providence. A horfe is powerful, fwift, and majeftic; and though irrational, and an inferior inftrument, is conducted by the rider to accomplish his wife and ufeful purpofes, without any intention or plan of his own. In like manner, the difpenfations of divine providence are not only irrefiftible, but have a peculiar dignity and majefty in them, to which the greateft plans of men bear no proportion. And in them

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inferior agents and inftruments are employed, used, and directed, by the invisible hand of God, which holds the reins of the government of this world, to accomplish his great, wife, and good purposes, without any intention of their own. The particular nature of the difpenfation is specified, by the colour of the horse, and the drefs, armour, and appearance of the rider. This obfervation fhall be illuftrated in the commentary on the opening of this and the three following feals, by which four different horfes and riders are exhibited.

The hieroglyphic now under our view fignifies the difpenfation of divine providence, with refpect to the gospel of Jefus, in its pureft and moft profperous ftates on earth. For whitenefs is the fymbol of purity, and the bow and the crown that of war and victory. Hence the rider on the white horfe is faid to have gone forth conquering and to conquer. This hieroglyphic fignifies that, in that age in which John faw the vifion, even the apoftolic age, the church of Chrift fhould appear in great purity, and dignity, that, in a particular manner, it fhould be under the guidance of Chrift; that it fhould then make great conquefts and extend its fpiritual dominion far and wide in spite of all its enemies. It farther fignifies that, in a future and diftant period, it fhould appear again in its original purity under the direction of Chrift, and ma e ftill greater conquefts and obtain greater triumphs; for

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the rider on the white horse went forth, not only conquering in the prefent, but also that he fhall conquer in future. Accordingly chap. xix. 11, -16. the rider on the white horfe is again introduced in a moft triumphant ftate over all his enemies. Having before that time conquered all his enemies he hath, on his head, many crowns, as the fymbol that he is then King of kings and Lord of lords. That by the white horse and his rider is meant the purity and triumph of the church of Chrift, fhall fully appear in the commentary on that paffage.

The prophecy under this first feal was exactly fulfilled, in that purity of doctrine, holiness of life, and fimplicity of manners, for which Chriftians were distinguished during the first century of the church; and in that rapid progrefs, with which, even in fo fhort a period, Chritianity fpread over almoft the whole then known world, not only without the aid of worldly power, rank, riches, or intereft, but even in oppofition to all thefe, and alfo to the religious prejudices of both Jews and Gentiles. In the apoftolic age the gofpel was preached in Judea, Arabia, Pontus, Afia, Capadocia, Bythinia, Parthia, Media, Mefopotamia, Athens, Macedonia, Galatia, Rome, Antioch, and many other parts of the world as appears from facred fcripture. And it very foon fpread to Africa, Spain, and Bri

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Language

Language can scarcely give a more minute, and diftinct account of the fulfillment of this prophecy, than what is faid by Mofheim in his Church History, vol. i. p. 27, 28. "When we confider the rapid progrefs of Chriftianity among the Gentile

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nations, and the poor and feeble inftruments, "by which this great and amazing event was im"mediately effected, we muft naturally have re"course to an omnipotent and invifible hand, as "its true and proper caufe. For, unless we fuppofe "here a divine interpofition, how was it poffible "that men deftitute of all human aid, without cre

dit, or riches, learning or eloquence could, in fo "short a time, perfuade a confiderable part of man"kind to abandon the religion of their ancestors? "How was it poffible that a handful of apoftles "who, as fishermen and publicans, must have been

contemned by their own nation, and as Jews "must have been odious to all others, could engage "the learned and the mighty; as well as the fim

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ple and those of low degree, to forfake their fa"vourite prejudices, and to embrace religion which "was an enemy to their corrupt paffions? And in

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deed, there were undoubted marks of a celestial

power perpetually attending their ministry. "There was in their very language an incredible energy, and amazing power of fending light un"to the understanding, and conviction unto the heart. To this were added the commanding influence

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"influence of ftupenduous miracles, the fortelling of future events, the power of difcerning "the fecret thoughts and intentions of the heart, "a magnanimity fuperior to all difficulties, a con"tempt of riches and honours, a ferene tranquilli"ty in the face of death, and an invincible pa"tience under torments ftill more dreadful than. "death itfelf; and all this accompanied with lives "free from all ftain, and adorned with the con"ftant practice of fublime virtue. Thus were the meffengers of the Divine Saviour, the heralds of "his fpiritual and immortal kingdom, furnished "for their glorious work, as the unanimous voice "of antient hiftory fo loudly teftifies. The event fufficiently declares this; for without these re"markable and extraordinary circumftances, no "rational account can be given of the rapid propagation of the gospel throughout the world."

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Verfes 3d, 4th.-And when he had opened the fecond feal, I heard the fecond beaft fay,' Come and fee. And there went out another horfe that was red: and power was given to him that fat thereon, to take peace from the carth, and that they fhould kill one another : and there was given unto him a great great fword.

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