y That 15, the Devil being got from under the Reſtraint of Divine Providence, ſhall tall upon his old Work, going about to deceive Men over all the World, either tempting them to Idolatry, or He- refie, or Lewdneſs of Life, or (which ſeemeth moſt probable) ſtir- ring them up to one Attempt more to ruine the Church. 7 Theſe People are.called Gog and Magog, about the meaning of which there are various Opinions. VVe read of Magog, Gen. 1o. 2. he was one of the Sons of Faphet, ſee alfo 1 Chron. 1. 5, he inhabited that Coun- try called Syria, and from thence, his Poſterity being multiplicd, {as ſome think) tranſplanted ſome Colonies into America. V Ve read of Gog no where in Scripture, but in Ezekel, ch. 38. 39. where bot Gog and Magog are mentioned as the great Enemies of God's ancient Tjrael. Gog there, ch. 38. 2. 1s named as the chief Prince of Meſhech and Tubal. There are Diſputes who are meant by Gog and Magog in thoſe two Chapters. * The Fewiſh Rabbies apply the Terms to ſome Nations whom the Meſtah (expetted by them) ſhall encounter and overcome ; but if we confider that Prophecy, as made in Baby/n, and to comfort the People in that Captivity, we can hardly think the Enemies there intended, were to appear at ſuch a diſtance of time, as more than 2000 Years (for ſo many and more are elapſed already, fince Ezekie!'s Prophecy.) The beſt Interpreters therefore rather think, that Antzochus, and the Race of Selucrs, (a King of *Syzria, who in thoſe Quarters of the VVorld ſucceeded Alexander, of whom we read in the Book of Maccabees) is there intended, whoſe ruine 15 there forctold, as being a great Enemy to the 7ews, after their return trom Babylon; yet ſome think that in both theſe Chap- ters, Ezekiel propheſieth of the ſame Gog and Magog here intended, which ſhould be the laſt Enemies of the Church. The Pajiſts, who {according to their Intereſt) contend for Antichriſt as yet to come, make Gog and Magog here to ſignifte ſome King or Kings that ſhell
join with Antichriſt when he appeareth. Others think that Gog
and agog 1n this place, ſignifies more generally, a Colluties or mixt Company of all wicked Men, a very great Multitude who ſhall come trom 21 Parts, only typified by the Gog and Magrg in Ezebiel, as being like them, 1. For Number. 2. In their defign to ruine the C:1urch, upon 1ts Reſtauration to a. more quiet peaceable State. 3- Ard who ſhall be ruined like them, by the more than ordinary Providence of God : For the Gog and Magog mentioned in Ezehiel,are deſcribed 1n three Texts of that Prophecy as coming from the Worth but theſe are deſcribed as coming from the four Quarters of the Vvorld, This ſeemeth a much more probable Opinion than theirs who will have them ſome particular Nations, whether Americans, Turks, or Indians. a Theſe Enemies ſhall make a vaſt number, there- fore compared to the Sand of the Sea ; and in this they hold a pro- portion alfo with the Gog and Magrg mentioned in Ezekiel,who were a great Company, <<. 38. 4. many People, v.6. covering the Land, v. 9.
9 And they went up on the hreadth of the earth 5, and compalled the camp of the ſaints about, and the beloved city c, and fire came down from God out of
heaven, and devoured them d. b That is, in all parts of it, where the Church of Chriſt was. c The Church of God (typified by old Hieruſalem, which was God's beloved City) they encompaſſed 1n a Military order and manner, de- ſigning to deſtroy it, or make it ſubject to their Luſts. d But Fire came down, &c. Thus Ezek/el prophetied of the iſſue of the Gag and Magng by him mentioned, Zzek. 38. 18, 19, 20,21, 22, v. 22, And I will plead againſt him with Peſtilence, and with Blood, and I will rain upmn him, and upon his hands, and upon the many People that are with h'm, an overflowing rain, and great hailſtones, fire, and brimS$one, The meaning is, that God would deſtroy them with a quick and terrible Deſtru&ion ; ſuch as 1s that Deſtruion of Perſons and Pla- ces which 1s by Fire. 10 And the devil that deceived them. was caſt into the lake of fire and brimſtone, * where the heaſt and *Ch.15.20 the falſe prophet are, and Þ ſhall be tormented day T1419
and night, for ever and ever e. |
e After this ſhall be the end of the VVorld, when the Devil ſhall be reſtrained to Hell the place of Torments, where he ſhall have a!l Heathens, and all the Rabble of Antichriſt, who ſhall be there tor- mented conſtantly, and for ever and ever,
11 And I ſaw a great white throne f, and him thar ſat on it g, from whole face the earth and rhe heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them h.
f God now giveth his Prophet a Viſion of the laft Day, [the Day of Judgment.) He ſecth a Throne, a place of Judicature ; ſaid to be great, to denote its Gloriouſneſs ; wh:te, to ſignifie Chriſt's Pu- rity and Holineſs in his Judging the VVorld. g And he fav Chriſt ſitting upon it. þ And all old things pafſiing away. Peter thus deſcribes this flying away of the Earth and Heavens, 2 Pet, 3.
Ch. 1.5, Power /, but they ſhall be || prieſts of God, and & <.19.
10. The Heavens ſhall paſs away with a greet noi':, and the Ele- ments
4 bead þ FR ys 2445 Feds EN -- BL. 3: S Ta (8 Eg KEY A -
Chap. XXI.
ments ſhall melt with fervent heat, the Earth al 0, and he war in __ be burnt Up, -—— ver. k 1, I2, All Vie Frm ſhall ul 12 AndI faw the dead, ſmall and great, ſtanding *Dan.7.10 fore God 7 *; and the hooks were opened +, and + + Ch.3.5. another book was opened, which is the book of life / : & 13. 8. and the dead were judged out of thoſe things which & 21: 27- were written in the books mm, * according to their
ng works 2. I9. . , neck. 16.27 Dþ The former Verſes gave us an account of Chriſt the great Judge