CHAPTER VII.

THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD UPON THE

ROMAN EMPIRE;

PARTICULARLY

UPON THE WESTERN EMPIRE,

BY THE

TERRIBLE INVASIONS OF THE GOTHS, VANDALS, HUNS, AND OTHER BARBARIANS.

THE FOUR FIRST TRUMPETS.

New Series of Events-Judgments for Sin-Explanation of the Master Symbol-Prayers of the Righteous heard-Infliction of horrid Wars-Connection of the first four Trumpets-They are all Symbolical-The third part, meaning of— Barbarous Nations-Destruction they caused-Unanimity of Commentators respecting the Interpretation of the Trumpets — First Trumpet, the Invasions of Alaric king of the Goths, and others -Second Trumpet, those of Attila king of the Huns-Third Trumpet, the devastation of Genseric king of the Vandals Fourth Trumpet, the extinction of the Imperial authority in the West.

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CHAPTER VII.

THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD UPON THE WESTERN EMPIRE,

BY THE

GOTHS, VANDALS, AND OTHER BARBARIANS.

HAVING Contemplated the history of the church, and the church's enemies, to the extent which the series of events symbolized by the seven seals can carry us; and having shewn that the seven epochas thus signified, give a faithful picture of the colour and complexion of the scenes it has exhibited, as far as its own volutions and acts have brought them to pass we now proceed to a different series of events, brought about by extrinsic causes, and by enemies to the empire. And it deserves to be particularly noticed, in what a very great degree the confused mass of events of regular history is brought to order and simplicity by this arrangement-that is, by keeping the different classes of events, thus distinct and separate, and particularly when this is done, as in the present instance, by a wisdom that

cannot err.

In the series which has already passed before us,

we have seen a mournful spectacle of unparalleled backsliding, an utter perversion of the truth, and a rank corruption in morals, presented throughout the whole surface of society. We now come to another portion of history connected with "the fates and fortunes" of the church, where we shall behold the natural consequence of such an awful departure from the truth, and such abounding wickedness. And it is another lesson, if we would but attend to it, written in the largest characters, that sin and a rejection of God's most blessed Gospel, is, and that in the most intense sense, followed by punishment in nations as well as in individuals. God, as the righteous governor of the universe, has ever displayed the unutterable holiness of his character, and his hatred to sin by this course of procedure. We see it in the judgment of the Deluge, in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the judgments upon Israel and Judah; but we especially see it in the infliction of Divine wrath upon the Son of God for the sins of others. "He spared not," also, "the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them unto chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment."*

We have now to contemplate, in the new class of events before us, the predicted vengeance on the fearful backsliding, apostacy, and persecutions that have been detailed in the events of the seven seals. These are likewise divided into seven parts, or a

* 2 Peter ii. 4.

full and perfect number; and the dreadful history is thus introduced to our notice :

"And I saw the seven angels who stood before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer with the prayer of all saints upon the golden altar, which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense ascended with the prayers of the saints, from the hand of the angel before God. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire from the altar, and cast it to the earth; and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” (Rev. viii. 2—5.)

With respect to this introduction, I would first draw attention to the master-symbol here employed -it is expressive of war. When the host of Israel was to go forth to battle, the TRUMPET was to give the signal, and sound the alarm.* It was likewise the fearful signal of hostile invasion: and in this sense we are here to understand it; "Shall the trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?" The nature of the events, signified by the sounding of the seven trumpets, may therefore be summed up in the following particulars :

1st. They have been produced, not by means of nternal wars, nor by any means which had, like the former series of events, the seals of empire, but by the instrumentality of barbarous nations situated beyond the bounds of the Roman earth.

2d. They have been caused by great external violence, in the way of invasions, rapid conquests, and complete overthrows.

*Numb. x. 5.

+ Amos iii. 6; Jer. iv. 19.

3d. They have uniformly been characterized by the very worst evils attendant on war; such as indiscriminate slaughter, rapine, devastation, and

ruin.

In the second place, I would observe, that in this introduction there is an assurance given to the "saints," that their prayers shall be accepted, and that they shall be taken care of during the continuance of these horrible catastrophes. The altar before which the angel stood was "the golden altar before the throne," which stood before the mercy-seat, and upon which was to be offered no strange incense ;* no strange fire ;t by no strange priest: but ircense, offered thereon by the legal priests, was an atonement for the people,§ who accompanied this offering with their prayers. It is therefore beautifully symbolical of the efficacy and acceptance of the prayers offered in these hours of danger; and as we stand upon the verge of the last, the greatest, the consummating of these stupendous inflictions of Divine wrath, it affords one of the greatest encouragements to us to pray much, and to pray fervently, and to sigh, and without ceasing to cry for the abominations of the land.

Thirdly. After "the smoke of the incense had ascended with the prayers of the saints, from the hand of the angel before God," the angel took the censer, and filled it with FIRE.

In Psalm

+ Num. xvi.

G