tempted, in the beginning of this section, to prove that the Vials arise out of, and are contained in the seventh Trumpet; and that the events, therefore, which are foretold in them, must be in a great measure future; it is evident, that the opinions of those learned writers, who have looked for them in the events of the French revolution, are not founded in truth. Indeed, awful as these events were at the time they happened, in their effects on the moral and religious interests of the civilized world, which even at this distance of time feels the effect of that tremendous convulsion, they are hardly commensurate to the language which is here employed; which seems to be applicable only to some great convulsions, such as those, which we are led in Scripture to believe, will attend those great changes in the moral and political condition of the world, by which the great religious apostasies will be overthrown, and the Redeemer's kingdom established on their ruins. In the same manner, with regard to the seat of the bestial Empire; which has been fixed by different commentators, in Rome, in Austria', in France, in the first instance in the seventeenth century, and again at a later period, when, at the Revolution, every ancient institution, both political and religious, was overthrown,-all which countries, according to the circumstances of the particular period, have been fixed upon as the seat of the beast; no interpretation seems to be adequate to the symbol which is employed, short of the whole spiritual empire and dominion of the Beast. If it

See Mosheim, Cent. xv11. Sect. II. Chap. I.

2 During the period of the revo

cation of the Edict of Nantes. See Mosheim, Cent. XVII. Sect. II. Chap. 11.

be objected to this view of the prophecies contained in the Vials, that it leaves the particular character of the judgments contained in them involved in darkness; we may answer, that it is impossible, and it would be presumptuous, to attempt the particular explanation of unfulfilled prophecy; and that, amidst all the uncertainty with regard to the particular method, or the particular train of events, by which these things will be brought to pass, the great object of these prophecies is still very clear, namely, the final and total overthrow of the enemies of the truth. The tendency of the events of the world, both political and religious, is evidently favourable to the accomplishment of the events foretold in these prophecies. But it is probable, that we must look for a more extensive propagation of the Gospel, before the character of these judgments will be more visibly displayed: and it is no real objection to this view of the prophecies contained in the Vials, that, instead of attempting to define accurately "the times and the seasons which the Father hath placed in his own power," it rather looks to a gradual accomplishment of the purposes of Almighty God. The rise of these great apostasies was, as we have seen, gradual at first through many ages; though the course of events at length hastened them on rapidly to their height, as was the case particularly with the Mahometan apostasy. We may, therefore, reasonably expect, that the same thing will happen in the case of their decline. Its progress may be slow for a long period, but this will probably be hastened as it advances to its consummation; so as,what appears to be directly intended in the strong language which is employed in this prophecy,-to

give to the world at large the most convincing evidence of divine interference, and of the visible exertion of the power and providence of God.

PART V. SECT. IX.

The Destruction of the spiritual Babylon.

CHAPS. XVII.

XVIII.

1 "AND there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that 2 sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth 3 have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So

he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast, full of names 4 of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her for5 nication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMI6 NATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they 9 behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here

is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven 10 mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; 11 and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is 12 of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the 13 beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and 14 strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and

chosen, and faithful. And he saith unto me, The waters which 15 thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which 16 thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to 17 fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the 18 woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth."

8

"AND after these things I saw another angel come down from 1 heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, 2 Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk 3. of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, 4 saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her 5 sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double 6 unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified 7 herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed 9 fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, 10 that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep 11 and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, 12 and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and 13 frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are 14 departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made 15 rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment,

16 weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and 17 decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many 18 as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this 19 great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her 20 costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God 21 hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a

stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown 22 down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations 24 deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."

WE have already had occasion to remark the peculiarity of structure which belongs to some of the prophecies of the Apocalypse; in which one prophecy often explains and illustrates another; and the earlier prophecies derive light and illustration from those which follow after. The same peculiarity, as was also observed, belongs to many of the ancient prophecies, and particularly to the prophecies of Daniel; which are so intimately connected, both in their subject and their structure, with the prophecies of the Apocalypse: and it is wonderfully adapted to serve one of the main objects of prophecy,-namely, to throw additional light over the different subjects of prophecy, as they advance towards the period of their accomplishment; and thus to add weight. and clearness to those prophecies, which are con