I have already observed that the precise time when all these mighty revolutions will happen is doubtful; however, there is no doubt but we are arrived near to the time of their manifestation, and when the scene of affairs, both in Asia and Europe, will be very much changed: of this we are assured from computation of Scripture Prophecy, and the concurrent testimonies of the Sybils and other heathen oracles, the signs whereby you may know when will be the end of all these things that shall happen on the earth; (viz.) when (the likeness of) swords shall be seen in the heavens towards sun-rising or sun-setting; and the prophet Joel says (chap. ii. verse 30,) “The LORD will shew wonders in the heavens, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.” Every body knows that upon the first appearance of the Northern Lights, {7} they were by all sorts of people compared to swords, lances, and other military weapons, or else to blood, fire, and pillars of smoke, in the very expressions of the prophet Joel; and indeed they do greatly resemble all these things; and in fact are fires and pillars of smoke, or vapour, which do frequently in their colour represent blood, and by their form and motion, swords, lances, and other military ensigns; but these appearances, (as also Comets) you will say, may be accounted for, from natural causes—Allowed, they may so; yet as their appearances are so universal, and uncommon (except of late years) and are exactly such as we see were to happen some short time before the commencement of these extraordinary revolutions, preparatory to the Millennium, we may and ought to look upon them as ominous, and sent in a peculiar and wonderful manner, to presage the approach of those wonderful and tremendous times. Let us then not be ignorant of the signs of the times, but look suddenly for that great and fearful earthquake mentioned in the Revelations; for it will come, and cannot be far off; but I fear it is with us as with the Jews when our Saviour came into the world, or with the Christians when Antichrist stept upon the stage. Christ was both come and gone before the Jews knew that he was the Messias; and Antichrist was grown old in the world before the world took any notice of him; so it may be, that Antichrist is going apace to perdition, before the people of God begin to discern it.