"fur ce Livre divin. C'eft un fcayant et edifi"ant ouvrage, ou la Theologie et l'Histoire Ecclefiaftique repandent des lumieres precieu❝fes fur le plus myfterieux des livres Saints; " ou les Prophetics admirables, realisées par des "faits averés publics, eclatans, repandent dans "l'ame des Chretiens l'efperance et le courage, "en meme tems qu'elles rendent un temoignage "folemnel à la puiffance et à la verité de Dieu. "Ce qui refte fous le voile, s'annonc dejà d'une "maniere fenfible, et le tableau des tems ou "nous vivons n'est pas celui qui brille le moins par les traits de charactere, par les couleurs "vives et vraies.". -Tranflated:

"The work of Signior Paftorini is the only good Comment, which England has produced "upon the Apocalypfe. The Nation has obli

gations to the Author for having contributed "to caufe to be forgotten the extravagant noti"ons of James the First and the celebrated "Newton refpecting this divine Book. It is a "learned and edifying performance. The Theo

logical and Ecclefiaftical matter interspersed "throughout it, fhed valuable lights upon the "most mysterious of the moft facred Writings. "The wonderful Prophecies contained in it, being established upon authentic, ftriking and

public facts, infpire the Chriftian Soul with "Chriftian Hope and Fortitude, and afford a "folemn teftimony to the power and veracity "of God. What remains as yet undisclosed "manifefts itself already in a fenfible manner: "and, the times we live in furnish a faithful "and lively picture."

The

The first Edition was foon brought up; andthough a fecond was earnestly wifhed for, the Author for various reafons declined to undertake

it. The experience of nearly thirty years, the latter part of which has been fo eventful, convinced him more than ever that he had not been deceived in his general view of things. To his intimate acquaintance He was often heard to repeat in the language of Mofes in his celebrated Canticle, Adeffe feftinant Tempora: the Times are faft approaching. At length a friend

of his who had known him from his earliest days, and been witnefs to his virtues for many years, offering his fervice to prepare a second Edition; the Author accepted his propofal, and furnished him with fome additional remarks, which will be found in their proper places.

Soon after the Author had favoured the Editor with his additional materials, he clofed a well fpent life by an happy Exit. His death, it may confidently be hoped precious in the fight of God! and, his virtues and zealous exertions in the cause' of Religion will be long remembered, particularly by the members of the Roman Catholic Communion in this Kingdom.

INTRO

INTRODUCTION.

THE Book of the Apocalypfe according to that learned interpreter of the Scriptures, St. Jerom, " contains an infinite number of mys"teries relating to future times." Lib. 1. con"tra Jovin. "The Apocalypfe," fays St. Austin," is a prophecy of what is to happen "from the first coming of Chrift upon earth "to his fecond coming at the last day." De civ. Dei. 1. 2. c. 8. Some modern Writers hold the fame opinion. Befides these authorities, our own study of that mysterious book, diligently purfued, has entirely prevailed on us to efpoufe the fame fentiment. The Apocalypfe exhibits, in general, a fummary of the whole hiftory of the Chriftian Church from the date of its birth to its triumphant and glorious state in Heaven after the close of time. This is the foundation of the prefent work, and we hope the attentive Reader, when he has confidered the whole, will approve our fentiments and applaud our endeavours. He may perhaps then join us in thinking, that the celebrated Commentators, Boffuet and Calmet, have too much contracted this admirable Prophecy by confining the contents to fo fhort a period as the four first centuries of the Chriftian æra, and applying the whole, except the two last chapters, to b.

the

2

the perfecutions which the Church fuffered from the pagan Roman Emperors, and to the deftruction of the Roman Empire. For this reafon the two abovementioned Authors have often been obliged to wreft the text and give it a forced and improbable explication, to bring it within their fyftem. On the fame account they have derogated from the dignity and precifion of that prophecy, by applying feveral texts to the fame event; whereas, whoever looks attentively into the tenour of the Apocalypfe, will perceive that St. John's precision and brevity are fuch, that he never repeats the fame thing.

For the unfolding of the different parts of the Apocalypfe, we have followed, in general, the plan laid down by Mr. De la Chetardie towards the clofe of the laft century, as it has been fince improved by a late French Commentator on the Scripture. It confifts in a divifion of the whole Chriftian æra to the end of time, into seven Ages, correfponding to the feven Seals, seven Trumpets, and seven Vials mentioned in the Apocalypse; fo that to each belong a Seal, Trumpet, and Vial. But in the application of the Prophecies contained under these Seals, Trumpets, and Vials, as well as in other parts of the Apocalypfe, we have frequently deviated from the above named Writers, to fubstitute what we thought a more genuine explication. It must then be obferved, that an age and a century muft not here be taken for fynonymous terms; but by an age in this history we shall understand one of the feven divifions

of

of time abovementioned: neither are thefe divifions of time equal.

From the preceding obfervations it follows, that Christ divides the history of his Church into feven periods, in each of which he describes three different forts of transactions under the refpective Seal, Trumpet, and Vial. The Lamb holds a Book fealed with feven Seals, which he opens one after another. This book contains the hiftory of the formation and propagation of Christ's Church, together with the oppofition made to the establishment of it; and a part of this account is disclosed at the opening of each Seal. To every Seal correfponds a Trumpet, which is founded by an Angel. The found of a trumpet naturally indicates an alarm; and fuch is the nature of the Trumpets in the Apocalypfe. They always announce events that are alarming to the Church, fuch as perfecutions, inteftine convulfions occafioned by herefies, &c. After the Trumpets follow the Vials of the wrath of God. Thefe convey the punishments which Chrift inflicts on the enemies of his people. Hence it appears that the Seals, Trumpets, and Vials, unfold the three kinds of events, which diftinguish each age of the Christian Church.One may remark in the history of the Jews, that nearly the fame fort of œconomy was observed in the divine difpenfations towards that people. They were favoured with the special affiftance of God, but they had also their trials, their perfecutions, &c. and at other times they faw their enemies laid proftrate by the divine hand before them.