Chap. IX. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 31^ 



But though we be told in fcripture that this world is drawing to 

 an end, we are not informed of the precife time when it is to end. 

 And, indeed, it would have been improper that we fhould have bee'i 

 fo informed; for then men might have delayed repentiny and turjiin^ 

 from their -evil ivays^ till that period ihould be near at hand: Whore- 

 as, it was the intention of our Saviour and his Apoitles, that men 

 ihould immediately repeat and be prepared for the laft dav, vv'hich 

 we are told in feveral paflages of the New Teftament vvas to come 

 unexpededly, and like a thief in the flight. 



I have been at more pains, than the reader would expecl in a, 

 work of this kind, to collect the paiiages from fcripture, by wliicli, 

 I think, it is clearly proved that this world is drawing to an end :. 

 But I have great delight in ihowing that the Chriftian revelation 

 agrees with the hiftory and philolophy of man. Now, as 1 have 

 fhown from hiftory, that tlie numbers of men have very much de- 

 creafed in antient times, and are continuing now to decreafe ftill 

 more and more, I think I have proved, both from hiftory and reve- 

 lation, that the human fpecies is to end in not very many generations 

 and that then it will end in a very proper time : For I think 1 have 

 ihown both in the preceedi ng and in this volume *, that our Saviour 

 came to this world in the fulnefs of time, that is, when it was pro- 

 per he fhould have .':ome ; and, I ihink, in this volume I have prov- 

 ed that the Ipecies man is in fuch a ftatc of decline in mind, in body, 

 and in numbers, tha*- it would be irreconcilable with the wifdom and 

 goodnefs of God, thac man fhould continue in the wretched ftate he 

 is in for any very much longer time. 



Homer has faid, and from the mouth of Jupiter too, that man is 

 the moft miferablc of all animals upon this. earth : And if then he 

 was fo miferable, how much more miferable muft he be now. His 

 prefent mifery is not fo much the fhortncfs of his life, as the leno-th 



of 

 * Vol. 4. p. 393, 397. 'And p. 2<5i, 262, of this yd. 



