1798.) 
2. The matter of the Apocalypfe is al- 
moft entirely taken from the prophetical 
parts of the Old Teftament. As an ex- 
ample, compare the fublime picture of 
the ruin of Tyre, given by Ezekiel, with 
the copy contained in the Kevelations. 
“The fubitance ot the goifpel is almoft en- 
tirely different from that oi any book, 
either in the Old or New Teftament, and 
appears to me to contain the quinteilence 
of chriftian philotuphy, dreffed in the 
apoftle’s own language. Would a writer, 
fo rich in his own {ftores as 5st. John ap- 
pears to, have been, nave condefcended to 
ufe the feniiments, defcriptions, and lan- 
guage of Daniel and Ezekiel, aimoit 
without alteration ? 
3. The prophecies of the Anocalypfe 
have never been applied to.correiponding 
events with a futhcient degree of cer- 
tainty: every ftriking feature in’ the 
hiftory of the ehriftian church has been 
fought, and found (by thofe who find 
whatever they ieeck) in this inexplicable 
prophecy. But the interpretations of one 
fect are contradicted by the explanations 
of another, and the myftic Babylon, the 
ferpent and the prophet, the trumpets and 
the phial, are driven from one fide of 
the theological tennis-court to the other, 
according to the ftrength or dexterity of 
the contending champions. 
4. Is the whole appearance of this 
writing accordant to the fimplicity of the 
chriftian Scriptures? Does it dgree well 
with the refit of that comely and facred 
edifice, of which it has flowly, very 
flowly, become a conitituent part? Does 
it not rather reiemble the legends and fic- 
tions of the third and rourth century, of 
which, one, which is ulually bound up 
with our Bibles, although neither con- 
tained in our, nor in any other canon, 
may afford a futficient fpecimen. [I al- 
lude to that marvellous work called the 
fourth book of Efdras. 
5. Has the objection to its anthenti- 
city, recorded by Epiphanius,. I mean 
the non-exiftence of the church of Thy- 
atira in the apoftolic age, ever been pal- 
liated by modern commentators? I think 
not; they deny the truth of the fact, 
which the ancient defenders of this book 
were forced to allow. They fuppofe the 
apoftle to {peak prophetically, which our 
modern critics will hardly venture to do, 
6. Upon the whole, is it not moft pro- 
bable, that the Revelation of St. John, 
le Theologien (a proper title for the apoftle 
whom Jefus loved) was compiled in the 
fecond century, by fome ingenious per-_ 
fon, who thought, like Ste Aumbrole, 
Authenticity of the Apocalypfe examined. 
what fuccefs I know not. 
345 
that truth was beftdefended by fiftion, ag 
an encouragement to thofe of the chriftian 
church who were {marting under the lafh 
of a heathen proconful, in fome remote 
province of the empire. Any perfon who — 
will carefully read it, without prepoileffion, 
as TL hope I have done, will eafily fee that 
the {cope of it is, the decay and fall of 
the Roman religion and empire, and the 
confequent rife and eftablifhment of the 
chriftian church. Accordingly, we fee 
the evils of war, famine, peltilence, and 
death, the invafion of barbarous nations, 
and the defection of lawful fubje&ts in- 
troduced by turns, until at laft the creat 
city, under the character of a proftitute, 
is finally deftroyed by the immediate in- 
terpofition of providence. Immediately 
the reign of the faints commences, which 
is to endure till death and hell break 
leofe from their infernal captivity. But 
the progrefs of thefe rebels is foon ar- 
refted by almighty power; they and their 
adherents, inciuding nine-tenths of man- 
kind, are caftunto the lakes of everlafting 
fire, there to dwell for ever and ever. 
The iaints- triumphantly take poffeffion 
of their heavenly city, and enjoy a glo- 
rious immortality, in the vivifying pre- 
fence of their Almighty Father. 
Such is the fubfance, and fuch ‘the 
promifes, of this ancient fétion, perhaps, 
the parent of all thofe which have fince 
darkened the face of chriitian antiquity. 
Zeal tor the honour of God and his apof- 
tle, has induced me to add my feeble 
voice to the number of its enemies: witla 
I,am_ your 
humble fervant, PIAINANNHE. 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE POEMS OF 
J. W. GLEIM, 
OHANNES Ludwig Wilhelm Gleim, 
was born in 1719, at Ermfleben, and 
yrogreflively became fecretary to the 
cirépter fh the cathedral city of Halber- 
ftzdt, and canon at Walbeck. He is one 
of the earlieft German poets,whofe works 
attained aclaffical rank, andowes, perhaps, 
much of his reputation to the priftine ab- 
fence of competitors. He has endeavour- 
ed to become both the Anacreon and the 
Tyrtzus of hiscountry. Three volumes 
of trailing, though fhort ditties, chiefly 
confecrated to love and wine, publifhed 
between 1753 and 1758, difplay occa 
fionally, a grace and a naivety feldom fur- 
paffed, but lefs originality perhaps than 
a poet attentive to avail himfelf of the 
elegant features of modern manners might 
dave 

