tury. It appears by thofe CriticsComments, they did not understand the Subject of thefe Prophefies; and it was impoffible that they could, fo long as they apply'd them to the Hiftories before the fecond Century, whereas most of them belong to the changes in the Chriftian Church and Roman Empire, which happen'd after the fecond Century.

My Lord, I here present to you in thefe Oracles the old Antediluvian Religion, and all the Moral Precepts communicated to Japhet's Family, which also contain many Prophefies concerning the Changes which would happen in the Kingdoms of Japhet's Pofterity; fo that we do not wholly derive all our Religion and Learning from the Jews, who convers'd formerly very rarely with the Gentiles, among whom they were but little known before their Captivity. When the Chaldeans, Egyptians and Greeks had corrupted the Noachic Traditions of Religion, by applying their Sacrifices and Prayers to the Sun, Moon, and Heroes, which were appointed for God's Service, it pleas'd God to infpire the Sibyls, that they might restore the true ancient Worship to God alone, and correct all the Errors from the old moral Precepts by thefe Oracles: The Jewish Men-Prophets, near the fame time, reform'd the Corrupti

ons

ons which Idolatry had introduc'd among them; but Women-Propheteffes were fent to the Gentiles, because they ufed Women in their Heathen Oracles; and they could be leaft fufpected by them for fetting up any new Sect in Philofophy, or Religion.

My Lord, I have given you a fhort Scheme of the Defign of thefe Oracles; and that I may obtain your Lordship's better Opinion of them, I will add a few Obfervations concerning the Use that made of them.

may

be

In thefe Oracles we have a clear Proof of the Chriftian Religion; and both the Greek and Latin Fathers, in all their Disputes with the Gentiles, and their Apologies for the Chriftian Religion for four hundred Tears, quoted thefe Oracles; therefore I think the Critics have unjustly rejected them in this Age. Since we believe the fame Fathers Testimony concerning the Canon of Scripture, we cannot disbelieve 'em, when they unanimously fay, that thefe Oracles had a divine Inspiration; and fince they particularly defcrib'd the Changes in the Roman Empire, they could not omit the Coming of Christ, and the Changes his Doctrin made in their Idolatrous Worship. But I will give this farther Reafon of my good Opinion of thefe Oracles; the fame A 3

Hi

Hiftory will interpret both the Oracles and Revelations, for they plainly relate those things which St. John exprefs'd in Prophetic Figures. This is the old Key the Fathers used, by which they interpreted the Revelations, as far as they could carry it; but fince their Time Antichrift is come in the East, and the Chriftian Church is corrupted in the Weft, and both these will have their Falls in that manner as is defcrib'd in thefe Oracles; and this is the Subject of them, which has hitherto not been underftood.

Because I am none of your Lordship's Clergy, I will give you this Account how I was led into this Study of Prophefies: I had long confider'd the Chinese Symbols, by which their Obfervations on the Pulfes are reprefented; and this difpos'd my Thoughts to an eafy Apprehenfion of the Symbols us'd in the Revelations and Old Prophets; and when I had compar'd St. John's Symbols with the civil Hiftory of the Romans and that of the Church, I found thofe Events which the Visions reprefented; and after I had compar'd the fame Hiftory with thefe Oracles, that gave me a true notion of them. And the agreement of both the Revelations and Oracles in the fame HiStory, prove, that I am not mistaken in my

Interpretation of them: But, without the help of thefe Oracles, we cannot fo certainly find the Hiftories which we must apply to the Predictions in the Revelations; and all Interpretations of the Revelations that are made without the help of thefe Oracles, will be but uncertain Conjectures. Since both the Revelations and thefe Oracles came by the Infpiration of the fame Spirit, they were defign'd to explain one another; and they must needs agree, becaufe both were to reprefent the Civil and Ecclefiaftical State of the Roman Empire, which must end in the Kingdom of Saints in the Millennium.

I have here purfued the old Method of the firft Chriftians in comparing and interpreting the Revelations, by the help of thefe Oracles; and fo far as past Events have directed me, I have endeavour'd to improve it; but because many things are yet to come, they can only be understood when future Events hall explain them. The great defign of all Prophefies is, to confirm fome holy Doctrin, and to bear witnefs to its divine Inspiration, in thofe Ages when the Events fhall come to pass. If then the Oracles defcribe the Turks Conquefts of Afia, Greece, and Egypt, and the Reformation, as I shall plainly prove; A 4

the

Litchfield, Octob. 16. 7713.

the Worship of One GOD, the Hiftory and Worship of CHRIST, the Return of the Jews, the Doctrin of CHRIST'S réign in the Millennium,are divine Truths reveal'd to us in thefe Oracles. And fince the Reformation is foretold in thefe Prophefies, all Proteftants ought to endeavour to vindicate the Credit of them, and to adhere to the Doctrin of the Reform'd Churches, here approv'd of by a Prophetic Spirit. Your Lordship's Learning makes you a proper Fudge of this Subject, and fince that is divine, it ought to be prefented by me to your Patronage; which I beg of your Lordship, who am

Your most obedient

and humble Servant,

JOHN FLOYER.

THE