Chap. VI. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 387 



as that of the Trinity, with which I fhall fhow that it has a neceflary 

 connection, and that both together make a wonderful chain of beiags, 

 reaching from the firft perfon of the Trinity, the fource of all being, 

 to the loweft beings in the Univerfe. 



But there was one truth, and a truth of great importance, which 

 was revealed by our Saviour to the world, but was not known to 

 the Egyptian or Greek philofophers. It was this : They knew there 

 was to be a future ftate of rewards and punifhments, and a new 

 world, or renovation of things, a TrocAtyyevea-ig^ as they called it ; but 

 when this was to happen, whether foon or in fonie very remote 

 period, they knew not. But our Saviour let his difciples know that 

 it was not far off; and one of the chief purpofes of his miffion ap- 

 pears to have been to give this information to the human race, that 

 they might be prepared for the change in their ftate, which was to 

 happen loon, by repenting and turning from their evil ways. That 

 this was part of the revelation of our Saviour, is clearly proved by 

 many texts both in the apoftles and the epiftles *. 



From the account I have given of the philofophy of the Chriftiaa 

 religion, it is evident that it was a religion fitted for a learned age, 

 fuch as the age of Auguftus C^efar ; but could not have been pro- 

 pagated in an unlearned age. Such an age, the apoftle Paul, in his 

 fpeech to the Areopagus, calls the limes of ignorance f . At thefe 



3 C 2 times, 



* St Math. chap. 16. v. 28. — St Mark, chap. 9. v. i. — St Luke, chap. 9. v. 27. 



Ibid. chap. 21. x. 32. — St John, chap. 21. v. 22. — ift Corinth, chap. 15. v. 51. — ift 

 Theflalon. chap. 4. v. 15. From thefe texts it may feem wonderful, that this areat 

 event has not happened in the fpace of 1800 years. But this is no reafon to make us 

 beheve that it Is never to happen; For a thonf and years in the fight of God' are as one day. 

 That this world, or at leaft the race of man jn it, is drawing to an end, is, as I fhall 

 fhow in the fequel of this work, a truth of philofophy, and to be proved both bv rea- 

 fon and argument, and by faft and obfervation. 



f A(5k of the Apoftles, chap. 17. v. 30. 



