church on earth, and not the state of the blessed in the future life. Lightfoot, doubtless, held the same opinion, in as much as, in the words quoted below, he fixes the time indicated in a preceding verse, to a period then very near at hand, and which had no reference to the end of the world, popularly so called. 2. LIGHTFOOT. 'Heb. x. 37, James v. 9, Rev. i. 7, and xxii. 12, Behold I come quickly; with many other passages of that nature, all which must be understood of Christ's coming in judgment and vengeance against that wicked nation.' Heb. and Talm. Exerc. in John xxi. 22. 3. GROTIUS. Enter in through the gates into the city: such were they who lived in the days of Constantine, and afterwards; they were permitted to witness the splendor of the church, promised to the ancient fathers, and to be rulers in it. • Without are dogs, &c.: such were those who were either not admitted to baptism, or, if formerly admitted, were afterwards excluded from the church.' Annot. in loc. SECTION CXLIII. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in the book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.'-REV. xxii. 18, 19. THAT this relates to judgments to be administered on the earth, is admitted in the following quotations: 1. HAMMOND. 'As for all those to whom this prophecy will come, I conjure them all, that they change not a tittle of it, and withal, that they look upon it as the last authoritative prophecy that is likely to come from heaven, to be a rule of faith to the church. What is here said, is decreed and settled immutable; no man shall be able to avert it; and whosoever shall go about to infuse any other expectations into men than what are agreeable to these visions, God shall bring on him the judgments that are here denounced against God's greatest enemies. And so in like manner, whosoever shall derogate any thing from the authority of this prophecy, or take out any part of it, or occasion men's not receiving the admonition of Christ here contained, in every part thereof, God shall cast him off, throw him out of the church, account him incapable of all the blessings which are here promised to the faithful christians.' Par. in loc. This quotation, taken alone, might not seem, with sufficient clearness, to express the author's opinion, that the judgments denounced belong to this life. But, when taken in connexion with the manner in which he has explained the plagues written in this book,' it is very evident that he did not seek for a fulfilment of this last prophecy in the future existence; but that he believed the denunciation would be executed at the time of which he had had frequent occasion to speak. The remark made on the quotation from Lightfoot, on the passage last quoted, is equally applicable to that which follows. 2. LIGHTFOOT. 'The same things are meant in Heb. x. 37, "Yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come. ." James v. 9, "Behold the judge is at the door:" Rev. i. 7, "He cometh in the clouds." And xxii. 20, Surely I come quickly." And many more of the same kind, all which are to be understood of the coming of Christ in vengeance against the Jewish nation.' Tractatus de Spir. Proph. Sect. v. 66 3. GROTIUS. God shall add unto him the plagues: by the plagues are to be understood, as well those in chap. vii. ix. x. and xi., as those in chap. xvi. xvii. and xviii.; of which one portion relates to the Jews, and the other to the Roman empire. 'And out of the holy city: he shall not be a member of the church, but shall be cast out, as one making a lie.' Annot. in loc, 316 SELECTIONS FROM EMINENT COMMENTATORS. CONCLUSION. In this work, it was my design to notice every passage of scripture, which has been alleged from the New Testament, to prove the doctrine of endless misery. If I have omitted any, the omission was undesigned. On some of the texts, it is true, I have not been able to adduce any orthodox authority in support of the views entertained by Universalists. The number of these, however, is very small. Besides, it should be recollected that my examination, though as extensive as my present resources would permit, has by no means embraced the whole body of orthodox commentators. And I do not despair of being able, hereafter, to complete that which is now lacking. Should my life and health be spared, the examination will be continued; so that, if a second edition of this work should be called for, I may be able to render it more complete, in relation to the New Testament, and perhaps embrace in it the controverted texts contained in the Old Testament also, THE END. |