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THE

PROCESS AND EMPIRE

OF

CHRIST;

FROM HIS BIRTH

TO THE END OF

THE MEDIATORIAL KINGDOM;

A POEM,

IN TWELVE BOOKS.

BY ELHANAN WINCHESTER.

BRATTLEBORO',

PRINTED BY WILLIAM

0 029

ESSENDEN.

BT 552 56075 1805 cop, 1

THROUGH the good hand of God upon me I have at length completed this poem, which I beg leave to prefent to you. I first began to plan it out and write it on the 26th of February 1787, the day after I had preached a ferinon from Zech. xiv. 9. I found my heart fo warmed with the glorious fubject, the kingdom of Chrift, on which I had been preaching, that I found an inclination to write upon it; and I immediately took up my pen, and wrote the plan of this poen as it now stands. I had finished three books, and written a confiderable part of the fourth, when we came to England, September 21, 1787.

About the beginning of the year 1788, I read the four first books to a few friends in the Chapel, Chapelcourt, Borough, and I return my fincere and hearty thanks to thofe who attended the reading, for the fupport and encouragement which they gave me on that occafion. About this time I planned out my Lectures on the Prophecies, which I began to deliver the beginning of February 1788 in the fame place. Since which they have been delivered a fecond time, and published in four volumes octavo.

When I fift began this poem, I was ready to imagine it to be the labor of fome years; but experiencecorrects our miflakes. I am now convinced that the whole of it might have been eafily written in much. lefs than a quarter of one year; and as a proof of what I fay, I can affure the Reader, that the whole of the ninth book was written in the leisure hours of fix days, between Mondayrning and Saturday evening, in one week laft winter. I have however great reaíon to blefs God, that in the midst of many labors and infirmities, and after many delays, he has enabled me to finish it; and hath preferved my life to fee it publifhed. I return my thanks to the fubfcribers who have encour

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aged this publication, and by whofe favor it now fees the light. I truft in their friendship and candor to excule any defects they may fee in the execution, as I have never copied it off from the firft draught, and have made but a very few alterations fince it was first written. Neither has it had the friendly affiftauce of any other hand; for that I only am aníwerable for all its faults. The fubjeét is indeed the grande ft and moft extensive that can be imagined; and the delight I have had in the labor has been great : but I must confels the execution is far beneath the defign. But fuch as it is, with all its defe&s, I venture it into the world, and commit it to the bleifing and protection of Provi. dence, the candor of my friends, and the generosity of the Public, and subscribe myself, a well wisher to all the human race.

ELHANAN WINCHESTER.

London, January 12, 1793.

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