Chapter VII: Book III: Concerning the CONFLAGRATION (5)

Next to Earthquakes, we may consider the _Roarings of a troubled Sea_. This is another Sign of a dying World. St. _Luke_, (_Chap. xxi. 25, 26, 27._) hath set down a great many of them together: Let us hear his Words: _And there shall be Signs in the Sun, and in the Moon, and in the Stars; and upon the Earth Distress of Nations, with Perplexity; the Sea and the Waves roaring. Mens Hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth; for the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a Cloud, with Power and great Glory, &c._ As some would allegorize these Signs, which we noted before; so others would confine them to the Destruction of _Jerusalem_. But ’tis plain, by this _coming of the Son of Man in the Clouds_, and the _Redemption of the Faithful_, (Verse 28.) and at the same Time the _Sound of the last Trumpet_, (Matt. xxiv. 31) which all relate to the End of the World, that something further is intended than the Destruction of _Jerusalem_. And though there were Prodigies at the Destruction of that City and State, yet not of this Force, nor with these Circumstances. ’Tis true, those partial Destructions and Calamities, as we observ’d before, of _Babylon_, _Jerusalem_, and the _Roman_ Empire, being Types of an universal and final Destruction of all God’s Enemies, have, in the Pictures of them, some of the same Strokes, to shew they are all from the same Hand, decreed by the same Wisdom, foretold by the same Spirit; and the same Power and Providence that have already wrought the one, will also work the other, in due Time, the former being still Pledges, as well as Prefigurations, of the latter.

Let us then proceed in our Explication of this Sign, _the Roaring of the Sea, and the Waves_, applying it to the End of the World. I do not look upon this ominous Noise of the Sea, as the Effect of a Tempest, for then it would not strike such a Terror into the Inhabitants of the Earth, nor make them apprehensive of some great Evil coming upon the World, as this will do; what proceeds from visible Causes, and such as may happen in a common Course of Nature, does not so much amaze us, nor affright us: Therefore ’tis more likely these Disturbances of the Sea proceed from below, partly by Sympathy and Revulsions from the Land; by Earthquakes there, and exhausting the subterraneous Cavities of Waters, which will draw again from the Seas what Supplies they can; and partly by Earthquakes in the very Sea it self, with Exhalations and fiery Eruptions from the Bottom of it: Things indeed that happen at other Times, more or less; but at this Conjuncture, all Causes conspiring, they will break out with more Violence, and put the whole Body of the Waters into a tumultuary Motion. I do not see any Occasion, at this Time, for high Winds; neither can I think a superficial Agitation of the Waves would answer this Phænomenon; but ’tis rather from Contorsions in the Bowels of the Ocean, which make it roar, as it were, for Pain. Some Causes impelling the Waters one Way, and some another, make intestine Strugglings, and contrary Motions; from whence proceed unusual Noises, and such a troubled State of the Waters, as does not only make the Sea innavigable, but also strikes Terror into all the maritime Inhabitants, that live within the View or Sound of it.

So much for the Earth and Sea. The Face of the Heavens also will be changed in divers Respects; the Sun and the Moon darken’d, or of a bloody or pale Countenance; the celestial Powers shaken, and the Stars unsettled in their Orbs. As to the Sun and Moon, their Obscuration or Change of Colour is no more than what happens commonly before the Eruption of a fiery Mountain. _Dion Cassius_, you see, hath taken notice of it in that Eruption of _Ætna_ which he describes; and others upon the like Occasions in _Vesuvius_. And ’tis a Thing of easy Explication; for, according as the Atmosphere is more or less clear or turbid, the Luminaries are more or less conspicuous; and, according to the Nature of those Fumes, or Exhalations that swim in the Air, the Face of the Sun is discolour’d sometimes one Way, sometimes another. You see, in an ordinary Experiment, when we look upon one another through the Fumes of Sulphur, we appear pale like so many Ghosts; and in some foggy Days, the Sun hangs in the Firmament as a Lump of Blood: And both the Sun and Moon, at their Rising, when their Light comes to us through the thick Vapours of the Earth, are red and fiery. These are not Changes wrought in the Substance of the Luminaries, but in the Modifications of their Light, as it flows to us: For Colours are but Light in a Sort of Disguise; as it passes through Mediums of different Qualities, it takes different Forms, but the Matter is still the same, and returns to its Simplicity, when it comes again into a pure Air.

Now the Air may be changed and corrupted to a great Degree, tho’ there appear no visible Change to our Eye. This is manifest from infectious Airs, and the Changes of the Air before Storms and Rains, which we feel commonly sooner than we see, and some other Creatures perceive much sooner than we do. ’Tis no Wonder then, if, before this mighty Storm, the Dispositions of the Air be quite alter’d; especially if we consider, what we have so often noted before, that there will be a great Abundance of Fumes and Exhalations, thro’ the whole Atmosphere of the Earth, before the last Fire breaks out, whereby the Light of the Sun may be tinctur’d in several Ways: And lastly, it may be so order’d providentially that the Body of the Sun may contract at that Time some Spots, or _Maculæ_, far greater than usual, and by that means be really darkened, not to us only, but to all the neighbouring Planets: And this will have a proportionable Effect upon the Moon too, for the Diminution of her Light: So that upon all Suppositions, these Phænomena are very intelligible, if not necessary Forerunners of the Conflagration.

The next Sign given us, is, that the _Powers of Heaven will be shaken_. By the _Heavens_ in this Place is either understood the Planetary Heavens, or that of the _fix’d Stars_; but this latter being vastly distant from the Earth, cannot be really affected by the Conflagration; nor the Powers of it, that is, its Motion, or the Bodies contained in it, any ways shaken or disorder’d. But, in Appearance, these celestial Bodies may seem to be shaken, and their Motions disorder’d; as in a Tempest by Night, when the Ship is toss’d with contrary and uncertain Motions, the Heavens seem to fluctuate over our Heads, and the Stars to reel to and fro, when the Motion is only in our own Vessel: So possibly the uncertain Motions of the Atmosphere, and sometimes of the Earth it self, may so vary the Sight and Aspect of this starry Canopy, that it may seem to shake and tremble.

But if we understand this of the _planetary Heavens_, they may really be shaken; Providence either ordering some great Changes in the other Planets, previously to the Conflagration of our Planet; as, ’tis probable, there was a great Change in _Venus_ at the Time of our _Deluge_: Or the great Shakings and Concussions of our Globe at that Time, affecting some of the neighbouring Orbs, or at least that of the Moon, may cause Anomalies and Irregularities in their Motions. But the Sense that I should pitch upon chiefly for explaining this Phrase of _Shaking the Powers of Heaven_, comprehends, in a good measure, both these Heavens of the fix’d Stars and of the Planets: ’Tis that Change of Situation in the Axis of the Earth, which we have formerly mention’d, whereby the Stars will seem to change their Places, and the whole Universe to take another Posture. This is sufficiently known to those that know the different Consequences of a strait or oblique Posture of the Earth. And as the Heavens and the Earth were, in this Sense, once shaken, before, namely, at the Deluge, when they lost their first Situation; so now they will be shaken again, and thereby return to the Posture they had before that first Concussion. And this I take to be the true literal Sense of the Prophet _Haggai_, repeated by St. _Paul_, (_Ch. ii. 6._, and _Heb. xii. 26._) _Yet once more I shake not the Earth only, but also Heaven._

The last Sign we shall take Notice of, is that of _falling Stars_. _And the Stars shall fall from Heaven_, says our Saviour, _Matt. xxiv. 29._ We are sure, from the Nature of the Thing, that this cannot be understood either of fix’d Stars, or Planets; for if either of these should tumble from the Skies, and reach the Earth, they would break it all in Pieces or swallow it up, as the Sea does a sinking Ship; and at the same Time would put all the inferior Universe into Confusion. It is necessary therefore, by these Stars, to understand either fiery Meteors falling from the Middle Region of the Air, or Comets and Blazing Stars. No doubt, there will be all sorts of fiery Meteors at that Time; and, amongst others, those that are call’d _falling Stars_; which, tho’ they are not considerable singly, yet if they were multiplied in great Numbers, _falling_ (as the Prophet says, _Isa. xxxiv. 4._) _as Leafs from the Vine, or Figs from the Fig-tree_, they would make an astonishing Sight. But, I think, this Expression does chiefly refer to Comets, which are dead Stars, and may truly be said to fall from Heaven, when they leave their Seats above, and those æthereal Regions wherein they were fix’d, and sink into this lower World; where they wander about with a Blaze in their Tail, or a Flame about their Head, as if they came on purpose to be the Messengers of some fiery Vengeance. If Numbers of these blazing Stars should fall into our Heaven together, they would make a dreadful and formidable Appearance; and, I am apt to think, that Providence hath so contriv’d the Periods of their Motion, that there will be an unusual Concourse of them at that Time, within the View of the Earth, to be a Prelude to this last and most tragical Scene of the sublunary World.

I do not know any more in Scripture relating to the last Fire, that, upon the Grounds laid down in this Discourse, may not receive a satisfactory Explication. It reaches beyond the Signs before-mention’d to the highest Expressions of Scripture: as, _Lakes of Fire and Brimstone_, _a molten Sea mingled with Fire_, _the Liquefaction of Mountains_, and of the Earth it self. We need not now look upon these Things as hyperbolical, and poetical Strains, but as barefac’d Prophesies, and Things that will literally come to pass as they are predicted. One thing more will be expected in a just Hypothesis, or Theory of the Conflagration; namely, that it should answer, not only all the Conditions and Characters belonging to the last Fire, but should also make Way, and lay the Foundation of another World to succeed this, or of _new Heavens_ and a _new Earth_: For St. _Peter_ hath taught this Doctrine of the _Renovation_ of the World, as positively and expresly as that of its _Conflagration_; and therefore they that so explain the Destruction of the present World, as to leave it afterwards in an eternal Rubbish, without any Hopes of Restoration, do not answer the Christian Doctrine concerning it. But as to our Hypothesis, we are willing to stand this farther Trial, and be accountable for the Consequences of the Conflagration, as well as the Antecedents and Manner of it. And we have accordingly, in the following Book, from the Ashes of this, raised a New Earth, which we leave to the Enjoyment of the Readers. In the mean time, to close our Discourse, we will bid farewell to the present World, in a short Review of its last Flames.

CHAP. XII.

_An imperfect Description of the Coming of our Saviour; and of the
World on Fire._

Certainly there is nothing in the whole Course of Nature, or of Human Affairs, so great and so extraordinary, as the two last Scenes of them, THE COMING OF OUR SAVIOUR, and the BURNING OF THE WORLD. If we could draw in our Minds the Pictures of these, in true and lively Colours, we should scarce be able to attend to any thing else, or ever divert our Imagination from these two Objects: For what can more affect us, than the greatest Glory that ever was visible upon Earth, and at the same Time the greatest Terror; a God descending at the Head of an Army of Angels, and a burning World under his Feet?

These Things are truly above Expression; and not only so, but so different and remote from our ordinary Thoughts and Conceptions, that he that comes nearest to a true Description of them, shall be look’d upon as the most extravagant. ’Tis our Unhappiness to be so much used to little trifling Things in this Life, that when any Thing great is represented to us, it appears fantastical, an Idea made by some contemplative or melancholy Person: I will not venture therefrom, without premising Grounds out of Scripture, to say any thing concerning this glorious Appearance. As to the Burning of the World, I think we have already laid a Foundation sufficient to support the highest Description that can be made of it; but the Coming of our Saviour being wholly out of the way of natural Causes, it is reasonable we should take all Directions we can from Scripture, that we may give a more fitting and just Account of that sacred Pomp.

I need not mention those Places of Scripture that prove the second Coming of our Saviour in general, or his Return again to the Earth at the End of the World, (_Matt. xxiv. 30, 31._ _Acts i. 11._ and _iii. 20, 21._ _Apoc. i. 7._ _Heb. ix. 28._) No Christian can doubt of this, ’tis so often repeated in those sacred Writings; but the Manner and Circumstances of this Coming, or of this Appearance, are the Things we now enquire into. And, in the first Place, we may observe, that the Scripture tells us, our Saviour will come in _flaming_ Fire, and with an _Host of mighty Angels_; so says St. _Paul_ to the _Thessalonians_, _The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with mighty Angels, in flaming Fire, taking Vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ_. In the second Place, our Saviour says himself, (_Mat. xvi. 27._) _The Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father, with his Angels._ From which two Places we may learn; First, that the Appearance of our Saviour will be with Flames of Fire. Secondly, with an Host of Angels. Thirdly, in the Glory of his Father: By which Glory of the Father, I think, is understood that Throne of Glory represented by _Daniel_ for the _Antient of Days_. For our Saviour speaks here to the _Jews_, and probably in a Way intelligible to them; and the Glory of the Father, which they were most likely to understand, would be either the Glory wherein God appeared at Mount _Sinai_, upon the giving of the Law, whereof the Apostle speaks largely to the _Hebrews_; or that which _Daniel_ represents Him in at the Day of Judgment, (_Chap. xii. 18, 19, 20, 21._) And this latter being more proper to the Subject of our Saviour’s Discourse, ’tis more likely this Expression refers to it. Give me leave therefore to set down that Description of the Glory of the Father upon his Throne, from the Prophet _Daniel_, ch. vii. 9. _And I beheld ’till the Thrones were set,—and the Antient of Days did sit, whose Garment was white as Snow, and the Hair of his Head like the pure Wooll: His Throne was like the fiery Flame, and his Wheels as burning Fire. A fiery Stream issued and came forth from before him, thousand thousands ministred unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him_. With this Throne of the Glory of the Father, let us, if you please, compare the Throne of the Son of God, as it was seen by St. _John_ in the _Apocalypse, Chap. iv. 2, &c. And immediately I was in the Spirit: and behold a Throne was set in Heaven, and one sat on the Throne. And he that sat, was to look upon like a Jasper, and a Sardine Stone: And there was a Rainbow round about the Throne, in Appearance like unto an Emerald. And out of the Throne proceeded Lightnings, and Thunderings, and Voices, &c. and before the Throne was a Sea of Glass like unto Crystal._

In these Representations you have some Beams of the Glory of the Father, and of the Son; which may be partly a Direction to us, in conceiving the Lustre of our Saviour’s Appearance. Let us further observe, if you please, how external Nature will be affected at the Sight of God, or of this approaching Glory. The Scripture often takes Notice of this, and in Terms very high and eloquent. The _Psalmist_ seems to have lov’d that Subject above others; to set out the Greatness of the Day of the Lord, and the Consternation of all Nature, at that Time. He throws about his Thunder and Lightning, makes the Hills to melt like Wax, at the Presence of the Lord, and the very Foundations of the Earth to tremble, as you may see in the xviiith _Psalm_, and the xcviith, and the civth, and several others which are too long to be here inserted. So the Prophet _Habakkuk_, in his prophetick Prayer, _Chap. iii._ hath many Ejaculations to the like Purpose. And the Prophet _Nahum says, The Mountains quake at him, and the Hills melt, and the Earth is burnt at his Presence: yea, the World, and all that dwell therein._

But more particularly, as to the Face of Nature, just before the coming of our Saviour, that may be best collected from the Signs of his coming, mention’d in the precedent Chapter. Those all meeting together, help to prepare and make ready a Theatre, fit for an angry God to come down upon. The Countenance of the Heavens will be dark and gloomy; and a Veil drawn over the Face of the Sun. The Earth in a Disposition every where to break into open Flames. The Tops of the Mountains smoaking; the Rivers dry, Earthquakes in several Places; the Sea sunk and retir’d into its deepest Channel, and roaring, as against some mighty Storm. These Things will make the Day dead and melancholy; but the Night-Scenes will have more of Horror in them, when the _blazing Stars_ appear, like so many Furies, with their lighted Torches, threatning to set all on Fire. For I do not doubt but the Comets will bear a Part in this Tragedy, and have something extraordinary in them, at that Time; either as to Number, or Bigness, or Nearness to the Earth. Besides, the Air will be full of flaming Meteors, of unusual Forms and Magnitudes; Balls of Fire rowling in the Sky, and pointed Lightnings darted against the Earth; mix’d with Claps of Thunder, and unusual Noises from the Clouds. The Moon and the Stars will be confus’d and irregular, both in their Light and Motions; as if the whole Frame of the Heavens was out of Order, and all the Laws of Nature were broken or expir’d.

When all Things are in this languishing or dying Posture, and the Inhabitants of the Earth under the Fears of their last End; the Heavens will open on a sudden, and the Glory of God will appear. A Glory surpassing the Sun in its greatest Radiancy; which, tho’ we cannot describe, we may suppose it will bear some Resemblance, or Proportion, with those Representations that are made in Scripture, of _God upon his Throne_. This Wonder in the Heavens, whatsoever its Form may be, will presently attract the Eyes of all the Christian World. Nothing can more affect them than an Object so unusual, and so illustrious; and, that (probably) brings along with it their last Destiny, and will put a Period to all human Affairs.

Some of the Antients have thought, that this coming of our Saviour would be in the dead of the Night, and his first glorious Appearance in the midst of Darkness, _2 Pet. iii. 10._ God is often describ’d in Scripture as Light, or Fire, with Darkness round about him. _He bowed the Heavens, and came down; and Darkness was under his Feet. He made Darkness his secret Place, Psal. xviii. 9, 11, 12. His Pavilion round about him were dark Waters, and thick Clouds of the Skies. At the Brightness that was before him, the thick Clouds passed, Psal. xcvii._ And when God appeared upon Mount _Sinai_, the _Mountain burnt with Fire unto the midst of Heaven, with Darkness, Clouds and thick Darkness, Deut. iv. 11._ Or, as the Apostle expresses it, with _Blackness_, and _Darkness_, and _Tempest, Heb. xii. 18._ Light is never more glorious than when surrounded with Darkness; and, it may be, the Sun, at that Time, will be so obscure, as to make little Distinction of Day and Night. But however, this Divine Light over-bears, and distinguishes itself from common Light, tho’ it be at Mid-day. ’Twas about Noon that the Light shin’d from Heaven, and surrounded St. _Paul_, _Acts xxii. 6._ And ’twas in the Day-time that St. _Stephen_ saw the _Heavens opened; Acts vii. 55, 56. Saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing at the Right Hand of God_. This Light, which flows from a more vital Source, be it Day or Night, will always be predominant.

That Appearance of God upon Mount _Sinai_, which we mention’d, if we reflect upon it, will help us a little to form an Idea of this last Appearance. When God had declar’d, that he would come down in the Sight of the People, the Text says, _There were Thunders and Lightnings, and a thick Cloud upon the Mount, and the Voice of the Trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the People that was in the Camp trembled. And Mount Sinai was altogether on a Smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in Fire. And the Smoke thereof ascended as the Smoke of a Furnace, and the whole Mount quaked greatly._ If we look upon this Mount as an Epitome of the Earth, this Appearance gives us an imperfect Resemblance of that which is to come. Here are the several Parts, or main Strokes of it; first, the Heavens and the Earth in Smoke and Fire; then the Appearance of a Divine Glory, and the Sound of a Trumpet in the Presence of Angels. But as the second Coming of our Saviour, is a Triumph over his Enemies, and an Entrance into his Kingdom, and is acted upon the Theatre of the whole Earth; so we are to suppose, in proportion, all the Parts and Circumstances of it, more great and magnificent.

When, therefore, this mighty God returns again to that Earth, where he had once been ill treated, not Mount _Sinai_ only, but all the Mountains of the Earth, and all the Inhabitants of the World, will tremble at his Presence. At the the opening of the Heavens, the Brightness of his Person will scatter the dark Clouds, and shoot Streams of Light throughout all the Air. But that first Appearance, being far from the Earth, will seem to be only a great Mass of Light, without any distinct Form; till, by nearer Approaches, this bright Body shews it self to be an Army of Angels, with this King of Kings for their Leader. Then you may imagine how guilty Mankind will tremble and be astonished; and while they are gazing at this heavenly Host, the Voice of the _Archangel is heard_, the shrill Sound of the Trumpet reaches their Ears, and this gives the general Alarum to all the World: _For he cometh, for he cometh, they cry, to judge the Earth_. The crucify’d God is return’d in Glory, to take Vengeance upon his Enemies: Not only upon those that pierced his sacred Body, with Nails, and with a Spear, as _Jerusalem_; but those that also pierce him every Day by their Profaneness, and hard Speeches, concerning his Person, and his Religion. Now they see that God, whom they have mock’d, or blasphem’d, laugh’d at his Meanness, or at his vain Threats; they see Him, and are confounded with Shame and Fear; and in the Bitterness of their Anguish and Despair, call for the Mountains to fall upon them, _Isa. ii. 29._ _Fly into the Clefts of the Rocks, and into the Caves of the Earth, for fear of the Lord, Rev. vi. 16, 17. and the Glory of His Majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the Earth_.

As it is not possible for us to express, or conceive the Dread, and Majesty of this Appearance; so neither can we, on the other Hand, express the Passions and Consternation of the People that behold it. These Things exceed the Measures of Human Affairs, and of Human Thoughts; we have neither Words, nor Comparisons, to make them known by. The greatest Pomp and Magnificence of the Emperors of the _East_, in their Armies, in their Triumphs, in their Inaugurations, is but like the Sport and Entertainment of Children, if compar’d with this Solemnity. When God condescends to an external Glory, with a visible Train and Equipage; when, from all the Provinces of his vast and boundless Empire, he summons his Nobles, as I may so say, the several Orders of Angels, and Archangels, to attend his Person; tho’ we cannot tell the Form or Manner of this Appearance, we know there is nothing in our Experience, or in the whole History of this World, that can be a just Representation of the least Part of it. No Armies so numerous as the Host of Heaven; and in the midst of those bright Legions, in a flaming Chariot, will sit the Son of Man, when he comes to be glorified in his Saints, and triumph over his Enemies: And instead of the wild Noises of the Rabble, which makes a great Part of our Worldly State, this blessed Company will breathe their _Hallelujahs_ into the open Air, and repeated Acclamations of _Salvation to God, which sits upon the Throne, and to the Lamb, Apoc. vii. 10. Now is come Salvation and Strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the Power of his Christ, ch. xii. 10._

But I leave the rest to our silent Devotion and Admiration. Only give me leave, whilst this Object is before our Eyes, to make a short Reflection upon the wonderful History of our Saviour; and the different States which that sacred Person, within the Compass of our Knowledge, hath undergone. We now see him coming in the Clouds, in Glory and Triumph, surrounded with innumerable Angels: This is the same Person, who, so many Hundred Years ago, enter’d _Jerusalem_, with another sort of Equipage, mounted upon an Ass’s Colt, while the little People, and the Multitude cry’d, _Hosanna to the Son of David_. Nay, this is the same Person, that, at his first Coming into this World, was laid in a Manger, instead of a Cradle; a naked Babe dropt in a Crib at _Bethlehem_ (_Luke ii. 12._) his poor Mother not having wherewithal to get her a better Lodging, when she was to be delivered of this sacred Burthen. This helpless Infant, that often wanted a little Milk to refresh it, and support its Weakness; that hath often cry’d for the Breast with Hunger and Tears, now appears to be the Lord of Heaven and Earth. If this Divine Person had fallen from the Clouds in a Mortal Body, cloath’d with Flesh and Blood, and spent his Life here amongst Sinners, that alone had been an infinite Condescension: But, as if it had not been enough to take upon him human Nature, he was content, for many Months, to live the Life of an Animal, or of a Plant, in the dark Cell of a Woman’s Womb. _This is the Lord’s Doing, it is marvellous in our Eyes!_

Neither is this all that is wonderful in the Story of our Saviour. If the Manner of his Death, be compar’d with his present Glory, we shall think either the one or the other incredible. Look up first into the Heavens; see how they bow under him, and receive a new Light from the Glory of his Presence; then look down upon the Earth, and see a naked Body, hanging upon a cursed Tree in _Golgotha_, crucified between two Thieves, wounded, spit upon, mock’d, abus’d. Is it possible to believe, that one, and the same Person can act or suffer such different Parts? That he that is now Lord and Master of all Nature, not only of Death and Hell, and the Powers of Darkness, but of all Principalities in heavenly Places, is the same Infant _Jesus_, the same crucified _Jesus_, of whose Life and Death the Christian Records give us an Account? The History of this Person is the Wonder of this World; and not of this World only, but of the Angels above, that _desire to look into it_ (1 Pet. i. 11, 12.)

Let us now return to our Subject. We left the Earth in a languishing Condition, ready to be made a Burnt Offering, to appease the Wrath of its offended Lord. When _Sodom_ was to be destroy’d (_Gen._ xviii.) _Abraham_ interceded with God, that he would spare it for the Righteous Sake; and _David_ (2 _Sam._ xxiv. 17.) interceded to save his guiltless People, from God’s Judgments, and the destroying Angel: But here is no Intercessor for Mankind in this last Extremity; none to interpose, where the Mediator of our Peace, is the Party offended. Shall then, _the Righteous perish with the Wicked? Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right?_ Or, if the Righteous be translated and deliver’d from this Fire, what shall become of innocent Children and Infants? Must these all be given up to the merciless Flames, as a Sacrifice to _Moloch_? And their tender Flesh, like burnt Incense, send up Fumes to feed the Nostrils of Evil Spirits? Can the God of _Israel_ smell a sweet Savour from such Sacrifices? The greater half of Mankind is made up of Infants and Children; and if the Wicked be destroy’d; _yet these Lambs, what have they done?_ Are there no Bowels of Compassion for such an harmless Multitude? But we leave them to their Guardian Angels, and to that Providence which watches over all Things (_Mat._ xviii. 10.)

It only remains, therefore, to let fall that Fire from Heaven, which is to consume this Holocaust. Imagine all Nature now standing in a silent Expectation to receive its last Doom; the tutelary and destroying Angels to have their Instructions; every Thing to be ready for the fatal Hour; and then, after a little Silence, all the Host of Heaven to raise their Voice, and sing aloud, _LET GOD ARISE, let his Enemies be scattered: As Smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as Wax melteth before the Fire, so LET the Wicked perish at the Presence of God._ And upon this, as upon a Signal given, all the sublunary World breaks into Flames, and all the Treasuries or Fire are open’d in Heaven, and in Earth.

Thus the Conflagration begins. If one should now go about to represent _the World on Fire_, with all the Confusions that necessarily must be in Nature, and in Mankind upon that Occasion, it would seem to most Men a Romantick Scene: Yet we are sure there must be such a Scene; _The Heavens will pass away with a Noise, and the Elements will melt with fervent Heat, and all the Works of the Earth will be burnt up_: And these Things cannot come to pass without the greatest Disorders imaginable, both in the Minds of Men, and in external Nature, and the saddest Spectacles that Eye can behold. We think it a great Matter to see a single Person burnt alive; here are Millions shrieking in the Flames at once. ’Tis frightful to us to look upon a great City in Flames, and to see the Distractions and Misery of the People; here is an universal Fire through all the Cities of the Earth, and an universal Massacre of their Inhabitants. Whatsoever the Prophets foretold of the Desolations of _Judea_, _Jerusalem_, or _Babylon_ (_Isa. xxiv._ _Jer. li._ _Lament._) in the highest Strains, is more than literally accomplish’d in this last and general Calamity; and those only that are Spectators of it, can make its History.

The Disorders in Nature, and the inanimate World, will be no less, nor less strange and unaccountable, than those in Mankind. Every Element, and every Region, so far as the Bounds of this Fire extend, will be in a Tumult and a Fury, and the whole habitable World running into Confusion. A World is sooner destroyed than made; and Nature relapses hastily into that Chaos-State, out of which she came by slow and leisurely Motions: As an Army advances into the Field by just and regular Marches; but when it is broken and routed, it flies with Precipitation, and one cannot describe its Posture. Fire is a barbarous Enemy, it gives no Mercy; there is nothing but Fury, and Rage, and Ruin, and Destruction, wheresoever it prevails. A Storm, or _Hurricano_, tho’ it be but the Force of Air, makes a strange Havock where it comes; but devouring Flames, or Exhalations set on Fire, have still a far greater Violence, and carry more Terror along with them. Thunder and Earthquakes are the Sons of Fire; and we know nothing in all Nature more impetuous, or more irresistibly destructive than these two. And accordingly in this last War of the Elements, we may be sure, they will bear their Parts, and do great Execution in the several Regions of the World. Earthquakes and subterraneous Eruptions will tear the Body and Bowels of the Earth; and Thunders and convulsive Motions of the Air rend the Skies. The Waters of the Sea will boil and struggle with Streams of Sulphur that run into them; which will make them fume, and smoke, and roar, beyond all Storms and Tempests; and these Noises of the Sea will be answer’d again from the Land, by falling Rocks and Mountains. This is a small Part of the Disorders of that Day.

But ’tis not possible, from any Station, to have a full Prospect of this last Scene of the Earth; for ’tis a Mixture of Fire and Darkness. This new Temple is fill’d with Smoke, while it is consecrating, and none can enter into it. But I am apt to think, if we could look down upon this burning World from above the Clouds, and have a full View of it, in all its Parts, we should think it a lively Representation of _Hell_ it self. For Fire and Darkness are the two chief Things by which that State, or that Place, uses to be described; and they are both here mingled together, with all other Ingredients that make that _Tophet_ that is prepared of old, (_Isa. xxx._) Here are Lakes of Fire and Brimstone; Rivers of melted glowing Matter; ten thousand _Vulcano’s_ vomiting Flames all at once; thick Darkness, and Pillars of Smoke twisted about with Wreaths of Flame, like fiery Snakes; Mountains of Earth thrown up into the Air, and the Heavens dropping down in Lumps of Fire. These Things will all be literally true, concerning that Day, and that State of the Earth. And if we suppose _Beelzebub_, and his apostate Crew, in the midst of this fiery Furnace (and I know not where they can be else;) it will be hard to find any Part of the Universe, or any State of Things, that answers to so many of the Properties and Characters of _Hell_, as this which is now before us.

But if we suppose the Storm over, and that the Fire hath got an entire Victory over all other Bodies, and subdued every Thing to itself; the Conflagration will end in a Deluge of Fire, or in a Sea of Fire, covering the whole Globe of the Earth: For, when the exterior Region of the Earth is melted into a Fluor, like molten Glass, or running Metal, it will, according to the Nature of other Fluids, fill all Vacuities and Depressions, and fall into a regular Surface, at an equal Distance every where, from its Center. This Sea of Fire, like the first Abyss, will cover the Face of the whole Earth, make a kind of second Chaos, and leave a Capacity for another World to rise from it. But that is not our present Business. Let us only, if you please, to take Leave of this Subject, reflect, upon this Occasion, on the Vanity and transient Glory of all this habitable World; how, by the Force of one Element breaking loose upon the rest, all the Varieties of Nature, all the Works of Art, all the Labours of Men, are reduc’d to nothing; all that we admir’d and ador’d before, as great and magnificent, is obliterated or vanish’d; and another Form and Face of Things, plain, simple, and every where the same, overspreads the whole Earth. Where are now the great Empires of the World, and their great Imperial Cities? Their Pillars, Trophies, and Monuments of Glory? Shew me where they stood, read the Inscription, tell me the Victor’s Name. What Remains, what Impressions, what Difference or Distinction do you see in this Mass of Fire? _Rome_ itself, _eternal Rome_, the great City, the Empress of the World, whole Domination and Superstition, _antient_ and _modern_, make a great Part of the History of this Earth; what is become of her now? She laid her Foundations deep, and her Palaces were strong and sumptuous: _She glorified herself, and liv’d deliciously; and said in her Heart, I sit a Queen, and shall see no Sorrow_. But her Hour is come, she is wip’d away from the Face of the Earth, and buried in perpetual Oblivion. But ’tis not Cities only, and Works of Mens Hands, but the everlasting Hills, the Mountains and Rocks of the Earth, are melted as Wax before the Sun; and _their Place is no where found_. Here stood the _Alps_, a prodigious Range of Stone, the Load of the Earth, that covered many Countries, and reach’d their Arms from the _Ocean_ to the _Black Sea_; this huge Mass of Stone is soften’d and dissolv’d, as a tender Cloud, into Rain. Here stood the _African_ Mountains, and _Atlas_ with his Top above the Clouds. There was frozen _Caucasus_, and _Taurus_, and _Imaus_, and the Mountains of _Asia_. And yonder, towards the North, stood the _Riphæan_ Hills, cloath’d in Ice and Snow. All these are vanish’d, dropt away as the Snow upon their Heads, and swallow’d up in a red Sea of Fire, (_Revel. xv. 3._) _Great and marvellous are thy Works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy Ways, thou King of Saints._ Hallelujah.

_The CONCLUSION._

If the Conflagration of the World be a Reality, as, both by Scripture and Antiquity we are assur’d it is; if we be fully persuaded and convinc’d of this; ’Tis a Thing of that Nature, that we cannot keep it long in our Thoughts, without making some moral Reflections upon it. ’Tis both great in itself, and of universal Concern to all Mankind. Who can look upon such an Object, _a World in Flames_, without thinking with himself, Whether shall I be in the midst of these Flames, or no? What is my Security that I shall not fall under this fiery Vengeance, which is the Wrath of an angry God? St. _Peter_, when he had delivered the Doctrine of the Conflagration, makes this pious Reflection upon it: _2 Ep. iii. 11._ _Seeing then, that all these Things shall be dissolved, what manner of Persons ought you to be, in all holy Conversation and Godliness?_ The Strength of his Argument depends chiefly upon what he had said before in _ver. 7._ where he told us, that the _present Heavens and Earth were reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment, and the Perdition of irreligious Men_. We must avoid the Crime then, if we would escape the Punishment. But this Expression of _irreligious_ or _ungodly Men_, is still very general. St. _Paul_, when he speaks of this fiery Indignation, and the Persons it is to fall upon, is more distinct in their Characters. He seems to mark out for this Destruction, three Sorts of Men chiefly; _The Atheists, Infidels, and the Tribe of Antichrist_: These are his Words, _2 Thess. i. 7, 8._ _When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven, with his mighty Angels, in flaming Fire, taking Vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ._ Then as for Antichrist and his Adherents, he says in the 2d Chapter, and viiith Verse, _The Lord shall consume that wicked One, with the Spirit of his Mouth, and shall destroy him with the Brightness of his Coming_, or of his Presence. These, you see, all refer to the same Time with St. _Peter_: Namely, to the Coming of our Saviour, at the Conflagration; and three Sorts of Persons are characteriz’d as his Enemies, and set out for Destruction at that Time. _First_, Those that know not God; that is, that acknowledge not God, that will not own the Deity. _Secondly_, Those that hearken not to the Gospel; that is, that reject the Gospel, and Christian Religion, when they are preach’d and made known to them: For you must not think, that it is the poor barbarous and ignorant Heathens, that scarce ever heard of God, or the Gospel, that are threatned with this fiery Vengeance; no, ’tis the Heathens that live amongst Christians; those that are Infidels, as to the Existence of God, or the Truth of Christian Religion, tho they have had a full Manifestation of both: These are properly the Adversaries of God and Christ. And such Adversaries, St. _Paul_ says in another Place, _A fearful Judgment, and fiery Indignation shall devour_: (_Heb. x. 27._) Which still refers to the same Time, and the same Persons we are speaking of. Then as to the third Sort of Men, Antichrist, and his Followers; besides, this Text of St. _Paul_ to the _Thessalonians_, ’tis plain to me in the _Apocalypse_, that _Mystical Babylon_ is to be consum’d by Fire; and the _Beast_ and _False Prophet_, to be thrown into the _Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone_. Which Lake is no where to be found till the Conflagration.

You see then, for whom _Tophet_ is prepar’d of Old; for Atheists, Infidels, and Antichristian Persecutors: And they will have for their Companions, the Devil and his Angels, the Heads of the Apostasy. These are all in open Rebellion against God and Christ, and at Defiance, as it were, with Heaven; excepting Antichrist, who is rather in a secret Conspiracy, than an open Rebellion: For, under a pretended Commission from Jesus Christ, he persecutes his Servants, dishonours his Person, corrupts his Laws and his Government, and makes War against his Saints. And this is a greater Affront and Provocation, if possible, than a barefac’d Opposition would be.

There are other Men, besides these, that are unacceptable to God, all Sorts of Sinners and wicked Persons; but they are not so properly the Enemies of God, as these we have mentioned. An intemperate Man is an Enemy to himself; and an unjust Man is an Enemy to his Neighbour; but those that deny God, or Christ, or persecute their Servants, are directly, and immediately Enemies to God: And, therefore, when the Lord comes in Flames of Fire, to triumph over his Enemies, to take Vengeance upon all that are Rebels or Conspirators against Him, and his Christ; these Monsters of Men will be the first, and most exemplary Objects of the Divine Wrath and Indignation.

To undertake to speak to these three Orders of Men, and convince them of their Error, and the Danger of it, would be too much for the Conclusion of a short Treatise. And as for the third Sort, the Subjects of Antichrist, none but the Learned amongst them are allow’d to be inquisitive, or to read such Things as condemn their Church, or the Governors of it; therefore, I do not not expect that this _English_ Translation should fall into many of their Hands. But those of them, that are pleas’d to look into the _Latin_, will find, in the Conclusion of it, a full and fair Warning to come out of _Babylon_; which is there proved to be the Church of _Rome_. Then as to those that are Atheistically inclin’d, which I am willing to believe are not many; I desire them to consider, how mean a Thing it is, to have Hopes only in this Life; and how uneasy a Thing, to have nothing but Fears, as to the Future. Those, sure, must be little, narrow Souls, that can make themselves a Portion, and a Sufficiency, out of what they enjoy here; that think of no more; that desire no more: For, what is this Life, but a Circulation of little, mean Actions? We lie down and rise again; dress and undress; feed and wax hungry; work, or play, and are weary; and then we lie down again, and the Circle returns. We spend the Day in Trifles, and when the Night comes, we throw our selves into the Bed of Folly, among Dreams, and broken Thoughts, and wild Imaginations. Our Reason lies asleep by us; and we are, for the Time, as arrant Brutes, as those that sleep in the Stalls, or in the Field. Are not the Capacities of Man higher than these? And ought not his Ambition and Expectations to be greater? Let us be Adventurers for another World; ’tis, at least, a fair and noble Chance; and there is nothing in this, worth our Thoughts, or our Passions. If we should be disappointed, we are still no worse than the rest of our Fellow-Mortals; and if we succeed in our Expectations, we are eternally happy.

For my Part, I cannot be persuaded, that any Man, of atheistical Inclinations, can have a great and generous Soul; for there is nothing great in the World, if you take God out of it: Therefore, such a Person can have no great Thought, can have no great Aims, or Expectations, or Designs: For all must lie within the Compass of this Life, and of this dull Body. Neither can he have any great Instincts or noble Passions; for if he had, they would naturally excite in him greater Ideas, inspire him with higher Notions, and open the Scenes of the intellectual World. Lastly, he cannot have any great Sense of Order, Wisdom, Goodness, Providence, or any of the divine Perfections: And these are the greatest Things that can enter into the Thoughts of Man, and that do most enlarge and ennoble his Mind. And therefore I say again, that he that is naturally inclined to Atheism, being also naturally destitute of all these, must have a little and narrow Soul.

But you’ll say, it may be, this is to expostulate, rather than to prove: or to upbraid us with our Make and Temper, rather than to convince us of an Error in Speculation. ’Tis an Error, it may be, in Practice, or in Point of Prudence; but we seek Truth, whether it make for us, or against us: Convince us therefore by just Reasoning and direct Arguments, that there is a God, and then we’ll endeavour to correct these Defects in our natural Complexion. You say well, and therefore I have endeavour’d to do this before, in another Part of this Theory, in the _Second Book_, _ch. II._ concerning the _Author of Nature_: Where you may see, that the Powers of Nature, or of the material World, cannot answer all the Phænomena of the Universe, which are there represented. This you may consult at Leisure: But in the mean Time, ’tis a good Persuasive why we should not easily give our selves up to such Inclinations or Opinions, as have neither Generosity nor Prudence on their Side. And it cannot be amiss, that these Persons should often take into their Thoughts this last Scene of Things, the _Conflagration_ of the World: Seeing if there be a God, they will certainly be found in the Number of his Enemies, and of those that will have their Portion in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone.

The third Sort of Persons that we are to speak to, are the Incredulous, or such as do not believe the Truth of _Christian Religion_, though they believe there is a God. There are commonly Men of Wit and Pleasure, that have not Patience enough to consider, cooly and in due Order, the Grounds upon which it appears that Christian Religion is from Heaven, and of divine Authority. They ought, in the first Place, to examine _Matter of Fact_, and the History of our Saviour: That there was such a Person, in the Reigns of _Augustus_ and _Tiberius_, that wrought such and such Miracles in _Judea_; taught such a Doctrine; was crucified at _Jerusalem_; rose from the Dead the third Day, and visibly ascended into Heaven. If these Matters of Fact be denied, then the Controversy turns only to an historical Question, _Whether_ the Evangelical History be a fabulous, or true History? which it would not be proper to examine in this Place. But if Matter of Fact recorded there, and in the Acts of the Apostles, and the first Ages of Christianity, be acknowledged, as I suppose it is, then the Question that remains is this, _Whether_ such Matter of Fact does not sufficiently prove the divine Authority of Jesus Christ and of his Doctrine? We suppose it possible, for a Person to have such Testimonials of divine Authority, as may be sufficient to convince Mankind, or the more reasonable Part of Mankind; and if that be possible, what, pray, is wanting in the Testimonies of Jesus Christ? The Prophecies of the old Testament bear Witness to him: His Birth was a Miracle, and his Life a Train of Miracles; not wrought out of Levity and vain Ostentation, but for useful and charitable Purposes: His Doctrine and Morality not only blameless, but noble; designed to remove out of the World the imperfect Religion of the _Jews_, and the false Religion of the _Gentiles_; all Idolatry and Superstition, and thereby improve Mankind, under a better and more perfect Dispensation. He gave an Example of a spotless Innocency in all his Conversation, free from Vice or any Evil; and liv’d in a Neglect of all the Pomp or Pleasures of this Life, referring his Happiness wholly to another World. He prophesied concerning his own Death, and his Resurrection; and concerning the Destruction of _Jerusalem_; which all came to pass in a signal Manner: He also prophesied of the Success of his Gospel; which, after his Death, immediately took Root, and spread itself every Way throughout the World, maugre all Opposition or Persecution from _Jews_ or _Heathens_. It was not supported by any temporal Power for above three hundred Years: nor were any Arts used, or Measures taken, according to human Prudence, for the Conservation of it. But, to omit other Things, that grand Article of his rising from the Dead, ascending visibly into Heaven, and pouring down the miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghost, (according as he had promis’d) upon his Apostles and their Followers; this alone is to me a Demonstration of his divine Authority. To conquer Death, to mount, like an Eagle, into the Skies, and to inspire his Followers with inimitable Gifts and Faculties, are Things, without Controversy, beyond all human Power; and may and ought to be esteem’d sure Credentials of a Person sent from Heaven.

From these Matters of Fact we have all possible Assurance, that Jesus Christ was no Impostor or deluded Person; (one of which two Characters all Unbelievers must fix upon him) but commission’d by Heaven to introduce a new Religion; to reform the World, to remove _Judaism_ and Idolatry; the beloved Son of God, the great Prophet of the later Ages, the true Messiah that was to come.