derings, and an earthquake, and great hail." This is properly the subject matter of the trumpet itself, as a trumpet. All the rest are its concomitant circumstances, although circumstances of such magnitude that they overpower the event round which they concentrated. With regard to the symbols which represent it, they have all been already so particularly explained, that it must strike the mind of the reader at once, that they refer to the most dreadful wars and overturnings. An earthquake is again mentioned, which must be another great Revolution, distinct from the one which was said to happen just before the ceasing of the sixth trumpet, and which appears to have been confined to one of the ten kingdoms alone. To this, however, there is no such limitation; and it is undoubtedly that which is described in such fearful terms on the pouring out of the seventh vial-the time being the same; for this also happens immediately after the drying up of the Euphrates, or the gradual dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, described under the former vial.

The mention of this great earthquake is in both places followed by that of GREAT HAIL. In the latter instance (Rev. xvi. 21) it is thus expressed, "And there fell upon them a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great."

Now HAIL, as was explained in what was said under the first trumpet, signifies a furious invasion from the north, where natural hail is generated;

and, accordingly, that trumpet signified such an invasion, or rather invasions, from the Goths, and other barbarous tribes who inhabit the cold regions of the North. Therefore the mention of hail, and great hail, signifies the same thing in this instance;—it signifies the most furious and dreadful invasion from the same quarter! We will throw the whole into a connection, one part with another, and it will suffice. to shew to the intelligent reader, from what human power the tremendous ruin will most probably come. On the fall of Constantinople, and the consequent extinction of the Turkish Empire, the second woe will be past. The third woe will come quickly after, and this will consist of an invasion from the Northern powers, in comparison, like the most dreadful hailstorm, the weight of each stone being a talent; so that men will blaspheme God on account thereof. In other words: "At the time of the end, the King of the North shall come like a whirlwind with a very great army both of horse and foot; and with many ships, and shall enter into the countries, and overflow, and pass over!" (Dan. xi. 40.)*

The following warning from Gibbon it would be well if our rulers and all of us would attend to, in connection with this most alarming prospect. Speaking of the overturning of the Western Empire by the Goths and Vandals, he says most truly, that the "awful Revolution which was the consequence, may be usefully applied to the present age." And after

*Diss. ch. xiii.

some observations on the then present state of the great nations of Europe, he adds, "Yet this apparent security should not tempt us to forget, that new enemies, and unknown dangers, may possibly arise from some obscure people, scarcely visible in the map of the world. The Arabs, or Saracens, who spread their conquests from India to Spain, had languished in poverty and contempt, till Mahomet breathed into their savage bodies the soul of enthusiasm ;"* and, it may be added, accomplished the purposes of God in becoming the first woe. But enough has been hinted on this part of the subject. It is sufficient for us to know that God will not want instruments to perform His own work; and that those instruments shall answer to the symbol which he has said they shall-viz., that of a great hail storm!

Thus will the seventh angel sound! and its most dire effects will he found recorded in the three last verses of the 14th chapter; in the contents of the seventh vials; and in the 18th and 19th chapters of Revelation; which include unspared vengeance alike upon the conquered and the conquerors-all being alike destitute of the seal of the living God upon their forehead!

"And there were great voices in heaven, saying, THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD IS BECOME THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD, AND OF HIS CHRIST; AND HE SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER!"

* General Observations at the end of Chap. xxxviii.

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