enemies, fing a song of triumph for the manifestation of the divine judgments; which is called the fong of Mofes and the Song of the Lamb, the words in great measure being taken from the fong of Mofes and other parts of the Old Testament, and applied in a christian sense. After this the most holy place of the temple is opened, (ver. 5.) and the feven angels come out of the temple, (ver. 6.) to denote that their commiffion is immediately from God, clothed like the high priest but in a more august manner, in pure and white linen, to fignify the righteoufness of these judgments, and having their breafts girded, to how their readiness to execute the divine commands, with golden girdles, as emblems of their power and majefty. A vial then is given unto each of the feven angels (ver. 7.) by one of the four living creatures, the representatives of the church; by which it is intimated, that it is in vindication of the church and true religion that thefe plagues are inflicted. Moreover the temple is filled with fioke from the glory of God and from his power, so that no man is able to enter into it; (ver. 8.) in the fame manner as the tabernacle, when it was confecrated by Mofes, and the temple when it was dedicated by Solomon, (Exod. XL. 34, 35. 1 Kings VIII. 10, 11.) were both filled with a VOL. III. T cloud

cloud and the glory of the Lord, so that neither Mofes nor the priests could enter therein; a farther proof of the majeftic prefence and extraordinary interpofition of God in the execution of thefe judgments.

I

CHA P. XVI.

AND I heard a great voice out of the temple, faying to the feven angels, your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Go

In obedience to the divine command (ver. 1.) the feven angels come forth to pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth: and as the trumpets were fo many fteps and degrees of the ruin of the Roman empire, so the vials are of the ruin of the Roman church. The one in polity and government is the image of the other; the one is compared to the system of the world, and hath her earth, and fea, and rivers, and fun, as well as the other; and this is the reafon of the fimilitude and refemblance of the judgments in both cafes. Some resemblance too there is between thefe plagues, and those of Egypt. Rome papal hath already (XI. 8.) been diftinguished by the title of Spiritual Egypt, and refembles Egypt in her punishments as well as in her crimes, tyranny, idolatry, and wickedness.

2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noifome and grievous fore upon the men which had the mark of the beaft, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Vial the first (ver. 2.) is poured out upon the earth; and fo the hail and fire of the first trumpet (VIII. 7.) were cast upon the earth. It produceth a noisome and grievous fore; and in this respect refembleth the fixth plague of Egypt, (Exod. IX. 10.) which was boils breaking forth with blains. This plague is inflicted upon the men who had the mark of the beast, and upon them who worshipped his image; which is to be understood of the others alfo, where it is not expreffed. Whether thefe fores and ulcers are natural or moral, the event must show.

3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the fea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living foul died in the fea.

4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

5 And I heard the angel of the waters fay, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which T 2

art,

art, and waft, and fhalt be, because thou haft judged thus:

6 For they have fhed the blood of faints and prophets, and thou haft given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 7 And I heard another out of the altar fay, Even fo, Lord God almighty, true, and righteous are thy judgments.

Vial the fecond (ver. 3.) is poured out upon the fea, and the fea becomes as the blood of a dead man, or as congealed blood: and in like manner under the second trumpet (VIII. 8.) the burning mountain was caft into the fea, and the fea became blood. Vial the third (ver. 4 4.) is poured out upon the rivers and fountains of waters, and they became blood: and in like manner under the third trumpet (VIII. 10.) the burning ftar fell upon the rivers and fountains of waters. There is a close connexion between thefe two

vials; and the effects are fimilar to the first plague of Egypt, (Exod. VII. 19.) when the waters of Egypt, and their fireams, and their rivers, and their ponds, and their pools of water became blood. Seas and rivers of blood manifeftly denote great flaughter and devastation: and hereupon (ver.

5,

(9) Imò Perfæ exiftimant effe tueri aquas, &c. Hyde de peculiari angelo demandatum Relig. Vet. Perfarum. Cap. 6.

P. 139.

5, 6.) the angel of the waters, for it was a prevailing opinion in the east, that a (9) particular angel prefided over the waters, as others did over other elements and parts of nature, and mention was made before (XIV. 18.) of the angel who had power over fire; this angel of the waters celebrates the righteous judgments of God in adapting and, proportioning the punishment of the followers of the beaft to their crime; for no law is more just and equitable, than that they who have been guilty of shed-. ding the blood of faints and prophets, should be punished in the effufion of their own blood. Another angel out of the altar, (ver. 7.) for (VI. 9.) under the altar were the fouls of them who were flain for the word of God and for the tef timony which they held, declares his affent in the most folemn manner, Even fo, Lord God almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the fun; and power was given unto him to fcorch men with fire.

9 And men were fcorched with great heat, and blafphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and

p. 139. Vide etiam Cap. 19.

T 3

(1) The