PREFACE

About ten years ago I became deeply interested in those prophecies of the Bible which relate to the history of this world. As on the sacred page I read and pondered over the outlines of the great events of earth, both past and yet to be, I determined to make a thorough study of human histories, for the double purpose of satisfying myself as to the truthfulness of the Bible concerning what had already transpired, and that through these things I might better understand what was yet to come.PRUS 3.1

In 1891 my friend and fellow worker, Alonzo T. Jones, wrote his “Two Republics, or Rome and the United States of America.” It was my privilege to read this remarkable work in the proof; and, from the general field of the annals of mankind, my attention was specifically turned to the prophetical and philosophical history of the Republic of Rome and the Republic of the United States. During the past nine years, having occupied the chair of history in the College at this place, my duties have accorded me abundant opportunity to pursue my cherished theme.PRUS 3.2

With me the study of the great events of the present has been with the one desire that, guided by the Word of God, I might, through the things transpiring around me, read correctly the events which are yet to take place. The matters touched upon in this little book were long ago recorded in sacred, prophetic Writ. They vitally concern the welfare and peace of the United States, and are intimately connected with the deeds which will ultimately bring to a close the long and tragic history of the world. We are apt to believe that we live in better times than those with which others have been favored; but those wonderful words of James Russell Lowell apply just as much to the present time as to any time in past history:—PRUS 3.3

“Careless seems the great Avenger: history’s pages but record One death-grapple in the darkness ‘twixt false systems and the Word. Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne; yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.”PRUS 3.4

Firmly believing that it is my duty as a minister of the gospel, as an ambassador of Jesus Christ, to warn men and women what these things will be, I have written that which follows, that in life and spirit they may transfer their allegiance and citizenship from the kingdoms of this world to the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ; which kingdom, according to the seer, shall never be removed, but shall stand forever and ever.PRUS 4.1

In writing this little work I have not sought to bring hidden facts to light, but rather to make plain the meaning, philosophy, and results of facts already well known, generally accredited, and universally acknowledged by thinking men. I have drawn freely from the books and speeches of others. Many times I have quoted their words rather than to write my own. I have done this for the reason that their thoughts were my thoughts, and that in giving their language I could at once give their ideas and my own without danger of injustice to them. I wish to acknowledge the assistance I have received in making these things plain from the speeches of Senators Hoar, of Massachusetts; Mason, of Illinois; Baker of Georgia, and Daniells, of West Virginia; also from Mr. Chas. F. Adams, of Boston, and Prof. Carl Schurz, of New York. The deep thought and careful study which these eminent men have given this subject, although perhaps only from the standpoint of political and philosophical, in contradistinction to prophetical, history, has been of great help to me in many ways.PRUS 4.2

In commending my work to the public, I have only to say that what I have written has been written with an earnest desire to do good, that souls may escape the ruin which is surely to come upon the world. It has been written with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God has given me to see the right.PRUS 4.3

Percy T. Magan.
Battle Creek, Mich.,
Sept. 11, 1899.