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and supcrali- tion, — while, upon the other, kmgfi andpric&Uarwe to preserve their anciejit glory, and to contend for their very existence, against tin enlightened, va- lorous, but irreligious and disloyal people^ All observers^ prophetical, fipirituaK and political, do thus consent and agree, with one accord, tiiat the present is a pauac of preparation, filled np with the utmost activity ; and that wc stand upon the eve of a last and awful struggle for the ancient thinc^s, a struggle which wisdom may ]>08t<- pone, but which no power earthly can prevent. PcrcciTing thi3 harmony of conviction and feel- ing which upon all hands prevailcth. concerning the character and prospect of the times wherein we live, and having an earnest desire to wir» the Lord's favour tuwitrds ihi^ houie, by some mini- strations of a kind the most widely concerning and highly useful to the church and nation of Bri- tain, and indeed to the whole state of Christen* dom, 1 have, after mature deliberation, made choice, for the ground arid basis of a targe dU- courac, of this sixth vial which, with the rest of M6 riti: P11Y1KG up or THE KUrHHATCB. [Dit. prophetical students, 1 makfi rd doubt bath been pourcti u«l6ir>.t^ventl yt;ir«,aDd Unuvr working tip andcongreirMingthv materials of that terrible day of God Almighty which » at hand. Artd being minded to give tfaia subject do slight and pa^siaf glance, but to s^itt it thoroug:hly, and treat it largelfi according to tlie imporlanceof themattervtbefeiD contaiDed, and the awful erenta thereon about lo i«3ue, I da the more eanieitOy pray and bptecct the ot^mal Faiher and Fountain of truths and Jgmi Chriat tho tnie light which lightelh erery mat that ia enlightened, t6 send forth into my hc«t the Spirit of truth, " which shewcth things to coiue," that I may ^ee afar off the coining uigfa and the curning dsty, und acquit me of my charge as a watchman upon the walU of Zion: for well do 1 know that it ia not given to human sagacity to interpret, as to human sagacity it was not givet to indite thcac Uoly Oracles; especially those parts of them which eye hatb not seen, nor ear beard, nor the heart of man conceived; but God revealeth them unto tiit by hi« f^pirit. for the Spirit scarchcth all thin^, yea the deep thin^ of God- And I further pray the Lord God Almi^ty, that he would keep away all obstructions of passion, and prejudice, and error, all interruptions of worldly buaine^H, and visitalionti of orerwbetm* ing distre!js, and especiaUy deft^nd my kouI frooi tl>e»« three spirits concerning which I