HISTORY OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA; THEIR RISE, PROGRESS, AND DECLINE; WITH NOTICES OF THE CHURCHES OF TRALLES, MAGNESIA, COLOSSE, DESIGNED TO SHOW THE FULFILMENT OF SCRIPTURE PROPHECY : BY THE REV. T. MILNER, A. M. Ὁ ἔχων οὖς, ἀκεσάτω τί τὸ Πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς Εκκλησίαις. LONDON: HOLDSWORTH AND BALL; THOMAS RICHARDSON, DERBY; WILLIAM WHYTE and co., anD WILLIAM OLIPHANT, EDINBURGH; 1832. 616. PREFACE. IN presenting this volume to the Public, some remarks may be necessary as to its origin. The plan of the following work is among the reminiscences of the writer's earliest years; formed in the first instance with no definite object in view, and afterwards prosecuted as the occasional amusement and occupation of solitary hours. It has assumed its present shape in consequence of the importance of the subject, and from a hope that it will interest the friends of religion, and if so, in some humble degree advance the cause of truth. The course of sacred prophecy has been traced by many able hands, but its exten sion to the apocalyptic churches has been subject to slight and incidental notice. Bishop Newton dismisses it with a few pages in his admirable Dissertations; and Keith in his Manual is necessarily brief and hasty. And yet there cannot be advanced a more striking illustration of the "sure word of prophecy," than in the history of the Asian churches - once brilliant with gospel light, but now, in consequence of a predicted apostacy, the subjects of predicted ruin and desolation. The scenes of the sacred heptarchy have been visited by travellers of various nations; but I am principally indebted to the agents of the Dilettanti Society. The Society of Dilettanti was first formed in the year 1734, and consisted of fifty-four noblemen and gentlemen distinguished for their attainments in classical antiquity. The spirit of discovery which characterises the present day, was then beginning to appear; and in 1764 the society determined to send a mission to travel in Asia Minor and Greece. The individuals selected for this important enterprise, were Mr. Chandler and Nicholas Revett Esq. with Mr. Pars, a young painter. Their instructions were drawn up by Mr. Wood, editor of the Ruins of Palmyra and Balbec, and signed May 17th, 1764, by the Earl of Charlemont and eight other eminent members. The results of this undertaking we have in Chandler's Travels, with Revett's remarks, and two splendid works, "Ionian Antiquities, or Ruins of magnificent and famous Buildings in Ionia," inscribed to his Majesty, London, 1769; and "Inscriptiones antiquæ, pleræque nondum editæ, in Asia Minori et Græcia, præsertim Athenis, collectæ," Oxford, 1774, folio. I regret that I have not been able to avail myself, to a greater extent, of these valuable works; but the size my volume would have been materially of increased. The other travellers whose works I have cited, are mentioned in a list in the Appendix. |