| THE ruin of Satan's miserable kingdom, and the advancement of the universal
and happy reign of Christ on the earth, were included, and hinted at, in
the sentence denounced on the serpent, that the seed of the woman should
bruise his head. What was a terrible threatening to Satan, in the surprised
ears of our first guilty parents, implied a joyful prophecy, to keep them
from despair, and enliven their hopes, for themselves and their descendants,
of obtaining by this seed of hers an eternal triumph over him who had so
sadly foiled them. And it is likely, that their hope and faith immediately
arose, laid hold on the reviving prophecy, earnestly desired its happy accomplishment,
and transmitted it to their posterity.
But though this prophecy was at first only delivered in the form of a threatening
to Satan, it was afterwards directly given in the form of a promise to Abraham,
though still in general terms, that in his seed should all the nations of
the earth he blessed. Yet this general promise was more clearly by degrees
explained in the following ages, to mean a DIVINE KING, no other than the
SON OF GOD assuming human nature of the seed of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and
David; that should be born of a virgin in Bethlehem of Judah; and at first
despised, abused, rejected, and put to death; but should rise to immortal
life, ascend to heaven, and thence extend his blessed kingdom over all nations,
not by outward force, but inward overcoming influence, by his word and Spirit
making them his willing people in the day of his power; and reigning in
glorious light and holiness, love and peace, for ever: and the advancement
of this universal and happy reign has been the earnest desire and prayer
of the saints in all ages to the present day.
But how great the honour, and how lively the encouragement, given in Scripture
to those their prayers, by representing them as offered by CHRIST himself
with the fragrant incense of his own merits and intercession, on the golden
altar before the throne, and ascending together in one grateful perfume
to GOD! And how cheering to every saint is that promise, from the rising
of the sun, even to the going down of the same, my name shall be great among
the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name,
and a pure offering! How pleasing to GOD and all the heavenly hosts to see,
as the sun goes round the globe; this grateful incense rising from every
part on high! and the more extensive and incessant are these prayers, ascending
from the circle of the earth, the more does this blessed promise go into
its desired fulfillment, and the holy GOD is more pleased and glorified.
To promote the increase and constancy of these acceptable prayers, is the
great intention both of the pious memorial of our reverend and dear brethren,
in Scotland, and of the worthy author of this exciting essay. And this design
we cannot but recommend to all who desire the coming of this blissful kingdom
in its promised extent and glory, in this wretched world.
As to the authors ingenious observation on the prophecies, we entirely leave
them to the reader's judgment; with only observing, though it is the apprehension
of many learned men, that their is to be a very general slaughter of the
witnesses of CHRIST, when about finishing their testimony to the pure worship
and truths of the gospel, about three or four years before the seventh angel
sounds his trumpet for the ruin of antichrist; yet we cannot see that this
is any just objection against our joint and earnest prayers for the glorious
ages succeeding, or for the hastening of it.
For if such a terrible time is coming in Europe, which we in depending America
are likely to share in; the more need we have of joining in earnest and
constant prayers for extraordinary suffering graces for ourselves and others.
And that such a time is coming on the members of CHRIST, is no more an objection
against their prayers for the hastening of the following glory, than it
was before the incarnation of him their head, that his most bitter sufferings
were to precede the spreading of this joyous kingdom among nations. And
the nearer the day approaches, the more need we have to be awakened to continual
watchfulness and prayer.
May GOD pour out on all his people abundantly the Spirit of grace and supplications,
and prepare them for the amazing changes hastening on the earth, both for
previous trials and for following glories.
Boston, New England, January 12th, 1748.
This preface was signed by Joseph Sewell, Thomas Prince, John Webb, Thomas
Foxcroft and Joshua Gee |