PREFACE. IN the attempt contained in the following pages to explain so much of the prophetic portion of the Apocalypse as I believe to have been fulfilled by the occurrence of the predicted events, I have adhered to the version of the Holy Scriptures authorized by the established church, except in some few passages which, on careful reference to the most approved greek text, seem to be inaccurately translated. Of the many similar attempts that have been already given to the world I have seen some, and have gleaned from them whatever appeared suitable to my purpose. But the writers of whose knowledge I have thus availed myself I have generally abstained from mentioning; not with any hope, equally fraudulent and vain, that I might appropriate their labours or usurp their honours,' but that in the study of a subject requiring, as well by its awful interest as by the difficulty 6 in which it is apparently involved, all the most stedfast and uninterrupted consideration that can be applied to it, the names of individuals may not divert the attention of my reader from the matter that is submitted to his candid judgment; and that the fairest exercise of that judgment may not be repressed by the imposing influence of justly respected authorities. For the same reasons I have also refrained from encumbering my pages with controversial argumentation concerning the numerous and important particulars wherein I have presumed to dissent from every commentary that has fallen into my hands. But, among those of my predecessors to whose talents, learning, and piety, I am the most deeply indebted for precious instruction, one luminous expositor, for a work that must ever constitute an era in the history of prophetical elucidation, is entitled to a portion of my gratitude too great to be merged in an indiscriminate acknowledgment of general obligation; and my reader will accordingly be pleased to find that I have enriched my treatise with several of the opinions, and some of them in the words (no others could do them justice) of 'A new Interpretation of the Apocalypse by the Reverend GEORGE CROLY.' The Third Trumpet and Third Vial....... The Fourth Trumpet and Fourth Vial...... Three Woes inflicted by the French Revolution... The Fifth Trumpet and Fifth Vial......... The First Stage of the French Revolution ........... 3, note. For Chalcedon, a city in Bithynia, read Constantinople. 12, note. 8, read αχροος. |