2. There is another thing which prevents attending to the prophecies in a right manner, and that is, people have a kind of general fyftem concerning what is to be hereafter, and thinking their fyftem is right, they fup. pofe the fcriptures must mean their fyltems, let it fay what it will. This is a very great difadvantage to people. We are in general taught, that all men are guilty of Adam's fin, that fome are made to be faved and fome to be damned, that after a few years, the fun moon and ftars will be annihilated and that after this, in fome part of God's dominion, there is a wonderful place, called HEAVEN, and in fome part of immenfity, a place called Hell, where the wicked will be tormented without end, and be eternally raging, and blafpheming God, being in the prefence of the faints and angels forever. Some fuppofe that after all the torments they endure, they will at laft be delivered and enter into Paradife. While people are taught these things, which differ from each other, and from the fcriptures, it is not ftrange that they do not take heed to the PROPHECIES as a fure word. The fmall knowledge which people in general have of the fcriptures, is ufed to fupport what they are taught to call divinity.

So long as people believe that the plain declarations. of fcripture do not mean as they fay; fo long they will remain ignorant of the real beauty and 'excellency of the fure word of prophecy.

In order to take heed to the prophecies as a light fhining in a dark place, we ought to diftinguish between that part of the fcriptures which is a PROPHECY, and that which is hiftory, parables, or the rule of conduct in this prefent life. To know the truth of the PROPHECIES, which are yet to be accomplished, we ought to confider, how thofe prophecies were fulfilled, which the history of their accomplishment contains. The prophecies which fpake of the Birth of Chrift, the fon of a Virgin, were fulfilled, exactly according to the prediction, and fo were those which foretold his life, his death, and the things which took place immediately after his being received up into glory.

As all these things are faid to take place exactly as they are stated, we may fafely conclude that what is yet to take place, will hereafter come to pafs as it is laid down in the fcriptures of truth. Viewing the prophecies in this way, as a light unto us in this world, whatever things this light difcovers, we ought to believe, and confider true.

With this belief of the prophecies, what a glorious fcene is prefented to our minds by the light of PROPHCIEES, when we confider that the things mentioned in the foregoing fermons will take place as they are recorded in the fcriptures of truth! How must every believing heart grow warm while he views the promises made to Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, and when he confiders that God will ere long perform all he promised these men, as it refpects themselves, their land, and their children!

How glorious do the prophecies appear which fpeak of the new covenant with the Jews, which fhall hereafter be made with that long neglected people, when they fhall come from different parts of the earth where they are now scattered, and be fettled in the land of their Fathers, according to their old eftates, never more to be scattered abroad among all nations! Confider this to be the meaLing of the new covenant, and it appears worthy of a God of truth.

While we read that Jefus fhall return to the mount of Olives to overcome his foes, deliver the Jews, reign over Jerufalem, and be the King over all the earth, caufing wars to cease to the ends of the earth! How glorious is the profpect before every believer! Especially, when he reads in the prophecy of this glorious event, that all the dead faints fhall rife to reign with him one thousand years, before the wicked rife, and though we are fhewn by the light of prophecy, that after this, fatan will for a fhort time deceive the nations; and that at the laft judg ment, fatan with all the enemies of Jefus, will be deftroyed; yet what glory is there fhewn us by the prophecy, in the new heaven and earth, and new Jerufalem, where

changes, troubles, forrow, and death are no more. Thefe things I believe in, rejoice in, look, and long for.

2. The apoftles tells us that taking heed to the prophecies as they are laid down, is, doing well.

In feveral particulars we do well to attend to the prophecies, as they are recorded."

1. It is honoring God our Creator. There cannot be a greater dishonor done to a fuperior, than to fay that he does not mean as he fays; for it makes him a deceiver ; the perfon who believes the prophecies, and believes they mean as they fay,has a much greater idea,than those who do not, of what God will do hereafter, as the man has greater ideas of creation, who believes the fun, moon, and ftars, are worlds as great or greater than this, has above the man who confiders the heavenly bodies as only fmall fpecks in the firmament, to afford light to this earth.

How amazing muft our thoughts of God be, when we believe that he knew of all thefe great and glorious things from the beginning! And when we consider that his power is as great to perform, as his knowledge is to foretell !

2. It is doing well, because it gives us an exalted idea of what Chrift,under God, will do before he gives up the kingdom, and what he will have when he reigns in the new Jerufalem with all his faints forever.

3. To take heed to the prophecies is doing well for ourselves, in this way, we have a light all the journey through life, in whatfoever fituation we are in, if pover ty, affliction, pain, or lofs attend us, the prophecy of future glory, will lead us to glory in tribulation, knowing that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom, where the righteous fhall fhine as the fun forever, in that day which will dawn at the refurrection of the juft, a day without night, forrow, death, or crying.

I now clofe this fubject fo glorious, believing in the prophecies, and feeling confcious that I have written according to the understanding God has given me by his word and fpirit, which taught me to know and love the truth as it is in Jesus.

To the bleffing of God I commend this feeble attempt to increase the knowledge of the fure word of prophecy. It is poffible, that many who read this work may never fee my face in time, and it is likely that fome at least will read it when I am laid away in duft.

Dear reader, I have one request to make, that is, not to believe, or difbelieve what is ftated in this book, on my teftimony barely; but fearch the fcriptures whether thefe things are fo. If you are unbelievers, repent, and believe the gofpel. If you are believers, pray for me, for yourselves, live as pilgrims, and long for glory; fuch, through grace, I hope to meet in the New JERUSALEM,where Jefus fhall be our light, our glory, and our joy forever.... To him be glory in the church, throughout all ages, world without end, Amen and Amen.

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WILLIAM ALBEY, Wiscasset, Maine,
Andrew W. Adams, Durham, Maine,
Alexander Alexander, Portland,

Catherine Atwood, Haverhill, Massachusetts,
Reuben Atkins, Cabbot, Vermont,
Asa Ayers, New-Gloucester, Maine,

Joseph Ayers, Portland,

James Anderson, Salem, Massachusetts,

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Daniel Buswell, Bradford, Massachusetts,

Thomas H. Burnham, Ipswich, Massachusetts,
Joseph Y. Burgin, Portsmouth,

Hall Burgin, Allenstown, New-Hampshire,

Amos Braley, Freetown, Massachusetts,

Mrs. Bailey, Wiscasset, Maine,

William Babb, do.

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Enoch Blake, Billymeade, Vermont,
Willard Bartlett, Barnston, Vermont,

Moses Baker, Somersworth, New-Hampshire,
Zera Beebe, Stanstead, Canada,

Henry Butler, Notingham, New-Hampshire,
James Burley, Exeter, New-Hampshire,
James W. Brand, Portland,

J. P. Bartlett,

Sally Butts,

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Lewis Bailey, Haverhill, Massachusetts,

Joshua Bangs, Wheelock, Vermont,

Joseph C. Boyd, Portland,

William Becket,

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