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most genuine copies : its meaning explained in dogmatical, pro- phetical, historical, and chronological matters: the form of evangelical doctrine religiously adhered to : all things connected together by one consistent course of rules and arguments. There are five materials employed in particular : the critical Apparatus annexed to the text itself, the Harmony of the Evangelists, the German exegesis of the Apocalypse , the Order of the Times, and lastly, this Gnomon : but there is only one web. Nor have my Defences had any other subject : I have only re-written and digested again what I had before written. This indeed is wearisome, and it seems uninteresting : but those acquainted with the subject will pardon me ; for, on account of the weightiness of the subject and the weakness of certain persons, thus it must be. It has long since been evident how the world receives the Word of God: if I have treated it as the Word of God, as I trust that I have, I ask that I may be received in no other way. Even they who reverence the truth, are often rather slow in receiving those things to which they have not been accustomed. When they have long ago heard, This is so ; they at length ask, What is it ? and when the Demonstration has come to an end, they complain that the Postulates are set before them. Some only with their death cease to obstruct the truth in a case which they do not understand. But still the labour is not in vain : while some are unexpectedly wanting, others unexpectedly give themselves up, or will give them- selves up. The light increases from day to day ; through difficulties truth struggles forth to the victory : posterity will form a different judgment concerning many things. O God, whatever stands or falls, stands or falls by Thy judgment : maintain what Thou hast condescended to perform by my instrumentality : have mercy on my readers and myself. Thine is the Glory, and be it Thine for ever !