The Third Book.

CHAP. I.

The Introduction; with the Contents and Order of this Treatise ... 1

CHAP. II.

The true State of the Question is propos’d. ’Tis the general Doctrine of the Antients, That the present World, or the present Frame of Nature, is mutable and perishable; to which the sacred Books agree: And natural Reason can alledge nothing against it ... 7

CHAP. III.

That the World will be destroyed by Fire, is the Doctrine of the Antients; especially of the Stoicks. That the same Doctrine is more antient than the Greeks, and deriv’d from the Barbarick Philosophy; and that probably from Noah, the Father of all traditionary Learning. The same Doctrine expresly authorized by Revelation, and inrolled into the Sacred Canon ... 19

CHAP. IV.

Concerning the time of the Conflagration, and the End of the World. What the Astronomers say upon this Subject, and upon what they ground their Calculations. The true Notion of the Great Year, or of the Platonick Year, stated and explain’d ... 35

CHAP. V.

Concerning Prophecies that determine the End of the World; Of what Order soever, Prophane or Sacred, Jewish or Christian. That no certain Judgment can be made from any of them, at what Distance we are from the Conflagration ... 45

CHAP. VI.

Concerning the Causes of the Conflagration. The Difficulty of conceiving how this Earth can be set on Fire. With a general Answer to that Difficulty. Two suppos’d Causes of the Conflagration, by the Sun’s drawing nearer to the Earth, or the Earth’s throwing out the central Fire, examin’d and rejected ... 60

CHAP. VII.

The true Bounds of the last Fire, and how far it is Fatal. The natural Causes and Materials of it, cast into three Ranks. First, Such as are exterior and visible upon Earth, where the Volcano’s of this Earth, and their Effects, are consider’d. Secondly, Such Materials as are within the Earth. Thirdly, Such as are in the Air ... 73

CHAP. VIII.

Some new Dispositions towards the Conflagration, as to the Matter, Form, and Situation of the Earth. Concerning miraculous Causes, and how far the Ministry of Angels may be engaged in this Work ... 92

CHAP. IX.

How the Sea will be diminish’d and consum’d. How the Rocks and Mountains will be thrown down and melted, and the whole exterior Frame of the Earth dissolv’d into a Deluge of Fire ... 104

CHAP. X.

Concerning the Beginning and Progress of the Conflagration, what Part of the Earth will first be burnt. The Manner of the future Destruction of Rome, according to the Prophetical Indications. The last State and Consummation of the general Fire ... 117

CHAP. XI.

An Account of these extraordinary Phænomena and Wonders in Nature, that, according to Scripture, will precede the Coming of Christ, and the Conflagration of the World ... 130

CHAP. XII.

An imperfect Description of the Coming of our Saviour, and of the World on Fire ... 143

The Conclusion ... 160

The FOURTH BOOK.

CHAP. I.

The Introduction; that the World will not be annihilated in the last Fire. That we are to expect, according to Scripture, and the Christian Doctrine, new Heavens and a new Earth, when these are dissolved or burnt up ... 184

CHAP. II.

The Birth of the new Heavens and the new Earth, from the second Chaos, or the Remains of the old World. The Form, Order, and Qualities of the new Earth, according to Reason and Scripture ... 191

CHAP. III.

Concerning the Inhabitants of the new Earth. That natural Reason cannot determine this Point. That, according to Scripture, the Sons of the first Resurrection, or the Heirs of the Millennium, are to be the Inhabitants of the new Earth: The Testimony of the Philosophers, and of the Christian Fathers, for the Renovation of the World. The first Proposition laid down ... 201

CHAP. IV.

The Proof of a Millennium, or of a blessed Age to come, from Scripture. A View of the Apocalypse, and of the Prophecies of Daniel, in reference to this Kingdom of Christ, and of his Saints ... 213

CHAP. V.

A View of other Places of Scripture, concerning the Millennium, or future Kingdom of Christ. In what Sense all the Prophets have born Testimony concerning it ... 229

CHAP. VI.

The Sense and Testimony of the Primitive Church, concerning the Millennium, or future Kingdom of Christ; from the Times of the Apostles, to the Nicene Council. The second Proposition laid down, when, by what Means, and for what Reasons, that Doctrine was afterwards neglected or discountenanc’d ... 246

CHAP. VII.

The true State of the Millennium, according to Characters taken from Scripture. Some Mistakes concerning it rectified ... 260

CHAP. VIII.

The third Proposition laid down, concerning the Time and Place of the Millennium. Several Arguments us’d to prove, that it cannot be till after the Conflagration; and that the new Heavens and new Earth, are the true Seat of the blessed Millennium ... 269

CHAP. IX.

The chief Employment of the Millennium DEVOTION and CONTEMPLATION ... 287

CHAP. X.

Objections against the Millennium answer’d. With some Conjectures concerning the State of Things after the Millennium: And what will be the final Consummation of this World ... 305