Mahomet, without a rival or a son, is invoked in the moschs of Thyatira and Pergamus; and the populousness of Smyrna is fupported by the foreign trade of the Franks and Armenians. Philadelphia ALONE has been faved by Prophecy, or courage. At a distance from the sea, forgotten by the emperors, encompassed on all fides by the Turks, her valiant citizens defended their religion and freedom above fourfcore years; and at length capitulated with the proudest of the Ottomans. Among the

Greek colonies and churches of Afia, Philadelphia is ftill erect; a column in a scene of ruins; a pleafing example, that the paths of honour and fafety may fometimes be the fame"

But though the Greek or Eaftern Roman Empire, and the Eastern churches, with this fingle exception, were thus fignally overthrown, yet the rest of men who were not killed by these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold and fil

Mahuzzim, Saiova, demons, or mediating gads, faints, and angels.

ver, and brass and ftone, and wood, which can neither fee, nor hear, nor walk; neither repented they of their murders, nor of their forceries, nor of their fornications, nor of their thefts. The Latin or Western churches, which had fuffered but little from these plagues, perfifted in the worship of faints and images, in their perfecutions and inquifitions, pretended miracles, and revelations, in fornication and every fpecies of profligacy, in exactions, impofitions, and frauds. But hiftory has recorded their predicted punishment connected with the increase and decline of the Papal powera fubject shortly stated in the preceding Chapter. The Greek or Eastern churches continuing funk in fuperftition, idolatry, and wickedness, have, with little exception, been more vifibly oppreffed by the yoke of Mahometan defpotism.

We have seen the exactnefs with which history has verified the prophetic defcription of this destroyer, and traced its rise and progrefs to the meridian of its power. The various and extraordinary marks of decline, fince the period affigned by Prophecy for the height of its elevation, will appear equally

H 3

equally ftriking, from a fhort account of the later history, and of the prefent state, of the Turkish Empire, for which the Reader is principally indebted to a recent publication, of great value on account of the illustrations it fupplies to many parts of this prophecy.

Since the conqueft of Crete and Cameniec in the year 1672, the sword of Apollyon, a term applicable to every Turkish. Sultan as well as to Mahomet, has not been permitted to fubject any other Chriftian ftate. The Turks have met with many loffes fince that memorable period, and have shewn evident figns of the decay: of their empire, if not of its approaching diffolution. Muftapha II. endeavoured to revive the military ardour of his fubjects, by. taking the field in perfon against the Ger

The Survey of the Turkish Empire, by Mr. Eton, many years refident in Turkey, 1798. This work is written with fingular energy, and reflects the highest credit on its author; on account of the ftrong, accurate, and clear views which he gives of the manners and cuftoms of a degenerate and cruel people.

a Eton, c. v. p. 129.

mans ;

mans; but he was defeated in 1699, by the great Eugene; and the peace of Carlowitz gave to the Emperor the whole province of Tranfylvania. The inordinate ambition of Achmet III. gained him fome advantage over the Ruffians; but he was reduced, by repeated defeats, to the neceffity of concluding a disgraceful peace with the Venetians, and other Chriftian powers. His war with Kouli Khan, the Perfian Ufurper, proved equally unfuccessful, and terminated in the lofs of his crown, as he was depofed by Mahomet V. in 1730. This prince engaged in a war against the Ruffians and Germans; but the former advanced against him with fo much rapidity, as to threaten his capital, and he was therefore compelled to conclude a hafty peace. In the year 1769, Muftapha III.

burning with revenge against the Ruffians, roused the numerous and favage hordes of Tartars to carry fire and fword into their territories. This was the commencement of a moft bloody war, which was diftinguished by the exploits of Prince Gallitzin. He repeatedly attacked the Turkish armies at Choczim, and gained several victories over them; and his career of martial fame was followed by his fucceffor in

command, General Romanzoff, who overran Moldavia and Walachia, and received the oaths of allegiance readily offered by their inhabitants. Soon after a fleet of Ruffians was fent into the Mediterranean, the Turkish Empire was attacked on both fides, and the inhabitants of the Morea, the oppreffed defcendants of the antient Greeks, eager to throw off the yoke of Mahometan defpotifm, flew to arms on the approach of the Ruffians, their Chriftian allies. The naval victory of Tchefmè, a harbour on the coaft of Natolia, added to other fucceffes of the Ruffians, compelled the Porte to conclude a dishonourable peace. This blow was effectually followed up by the fucceeding war, which was terminated in the year 1790, in a manner ftill more favourable to Ruffia. The mar

• "It is scarcely to be doubted that another war, conducted upon fimilar principles, muft totally extinguifh the Turkish power in Europe-an event defirable to moft Chriftian nations, and particularly to Great Britain. The Ruffian fleet at Sebaftopolis in the Black Sea is now ftrong enough to rifk the lofs of half its numbers in an attack on Conftantinople, and the re mainder alone might be more than a match for the Sultan's navy." In the last war the grand fleet of the Turks confifted of only feventeen or eighteen fhips of the line, and they have not now near fo many. Eton, p. 81, 193.