3i8 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book VIL 



manv generations, it is fo clearly revealed in our New Teftament, 

 that it is an article of the Chriflian faith, and, indeed, I think a 

 -moil impoitaiit article ; for it appears to have heen the chief end of 

 the miffion of Jefus Chrift, as I have elfcwhere faid *, to reveal to 

 men this truth, and to perfuade them to repent and turn from their 

 -evil ways, fo that they might be happy in the New World that was 

 to come. If that was not to happen, then the purpofe of our Savi- 

 our's coming, and the prediction of the end of the world in fo 

 fhort a time, would have been a delufion, and without any foun- 

 dation in truth. ' Ibat the end of all things is at hand^ is ex- 

 prefsly told us by the Apoflle Peter in his firft epiftle f. And what 

 is faid by our Saviour of St. John, and is related in the end of 

 his gofpel, about * his tarrying till Jc/us come^ that is till the 

 end of the world, was underftood, by the other difciples, to mean 

 that John (hould be then alive : And, accordingly, we are told that 

 feveral of the early Chriftians believed he was ftill living ; nor is 

 there any certain record of his death, as we have of that of the reft of 

 the Apoftles. We are exprefsly told by our Saviour, ' That this 



* generation' fmeaning the then generation) * fhould not pafs away 



* till all thefe things be fulfilled \\ and * That there be fome ftanding 

 ^ here, who fliall not tafte of death till they fee the Son of man com- 

 ' ing in his kingdom ||.' It is evident, therefore, from thefe and feveral 



* other paffiiges in the New Teftament, that xh^fecond comings that is 

 the end of the world, was believed by the Apoftles to be near at hand. 

 But we are told, that looo years are, in the fight of God, but as one 

 day \, We are, therefore, not to infer from thefe texts, that the 

 Apoftles believed tliat the laft day was to come immediately, but 

 ihat, in procefs of time, it would certainly come, and not at a very 



diftant time. 



But 

 * Vol. 4. of this work, p- 387. f Chap. 4. v. 7. 



± Math. chap. 24. v. 34. [j Ibid. chap. 16. v. 28. Mark, chap. 9 v. i. — 



Lukr, cliap. <?- v. 27. and chap. 21. v. 37. — § II Peter, chap. 3. v. 8. 



