tion; notwithstanding the extensive and splendid talents for which he was distinguished and admired, beyond most other men of his own time; and notwithstanding his great liberality, his respect for the Senate, and his other excellent qualities; "it was given to him to take peace from the Earth." As the ROMAN Empire, before the retrenchments above mentioned, had comprehended by far the greatest part of what was then known of the habitable world, so we shall find, that, throughout this series of Revelation, it is generally denominated "The EARTH'" This, then, was to be the scene of the disasters which he would be empowered to inflict; and that both in a private and public point of view.

He is generally held forth by the writers of those times, as being too inquisitive, and prying into the secrets of others, though they in no degree concerned him. And his cruel and suspicious temper was the cause of the most serious mischiefs; and of such as his friends, more than any others, had reason to deplore. "He was courteous and affable to persons of all ranks," but with respect to these, “he frequently entertained "them at his table, and honoured them with his company at their houses, without being invited,

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conversing with them more like a private per66 son than a prince. He refused them nothing, "which he thought reasonable to grant them;

I See Introduction, Sect. V. iv. pages 44-46.

" and enriched some, who had never asked him "the least favour: but, at the same time, he gave "ear to slanderers, and believed every tale that "was whispered against them; whence, all those, “whom he had most favoured, were, in the end, disgraced, treated by him as enemies, and either put to death, or banished"."

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But his indulgence of this unworthy propensity was only "the taking of peace from the earth” on a small scale, compared with the effects of his determinations, with regard both to the Christians and the Jews.

He himself was abandoned to all manner of superstition; which was the chief cause of his persecuting the Christians, whom he regarded as enemies to the idolatrous worship of his gods, and, so far, hostile to his government'. From this severity, however, he was induced in some degree to relax, upon a remonstrance from Serenus Granianus, proconsul of Asia; who represented to him, how barbarous and unjust it was, to sacrifice, to the fury of a lawless multitude, persons, who had been convicted of no crime. He published an edict, on this occasion, which appears to have been little else than a solemn renewal of the law of Trajan,-prohibiting the magistrates from putting the Christians to death, unless they were regularly accused and convicted

s Anc. Univer. Hist. Vol. XV. p. 156.

158. and Mosheim's Eccles, Hist. Cent. II. Part I.

of crimes committed against the laws. But, as impiety and atheism were such crimes; and as the Christians might have been plausibly accused of both, inasmuch as they acknowledged not the gods of the empire; it will appear, that this edict afforded them, in fact, but little shelter from persecution. It was not till the edict published by Antoninus Pius upon the subject, that this matter was properly decided, and the term "crime" duly restricted in its import.

Adrian's enmity to the Jews appeared by the most offensive treatment of them. He thought proper to send a Roman colony to Jerusalem; to call that city, after the name of his own family, Ælia Capitolina; to erect a temple to Jupiter Capitolinus on the very spot, where the temple of the God of Israel had formerly stood; and, at last, to publish an edict, forbidding the Jews to circumcise their children". These obnoxious measures exasperated them to the last degree; and impelled them to a revolt, which occasioned one of the bloodiest, and most vindictive wars, that ever was waged. Five hundred and eighty thousand were slain on the side of the Jews; besides vast multitudes who perished by fire, famine, and other calamities. And the loss of the Romans was in proportion. So truly, for the sins of these enemies of Christianity, was power given,

u Anc. Univer. Hist. Vol. XV. p. 170.

* Mod. Univer. Hist. Vol. XIII. p. 149-156. Edit. 1759.

during this interval, " to take peace from the earth;" and that, with the most inveterate malice, and the most inhuman ferocity," they should kill one another."

III. Yet still the period, denoted under this Seal, was to be marked by a signal adherence to the Laws, and observance of the forms of public Justice. To him that sat on the horse" there was given a great Sword;" indicating, most particularly, his great attention to the administration of them. And, in accordance with this, Adrian is said to have been generally a very impartial executor of justice; to have spent much of his time in visiting the provinces of his empire, in order to secure its more equal distribution; and to have narrowly inquired into the conduct of his officers, discharging them, when found guilty of the least injustice or misdemeanour. And, consistently with this love of justice, he shewed, on all occasions, a high respect for the Senate, the Consuls, and other Magistrates, adopting no measure of civil polity without their concurrence. And that there might be one universal Standard for reference, and such as should be of perpetual obligation, he ordered a collection to be made of all the Laws which had been annually pub

Anc. Univer. Hist. Vol. XV. p. 162-172, where an account of his travels, and of the just and liberal conduct, and various improvements, which commonly attended his movements, is given at large.

z Ibid. p. 157.

lished by the Prætors in their edicts. This compilation, which was called, by way of distinction, "EDICTUM PERPETUUM "," has justly rendered his name famous; and proves, in connexion with the preceding circumstances, how mindful he was, in the performance of his public functions, of the awful charge with which he was invested.

This Emperor died in the month of July, 139; and with his reign closed the period, the emblematical representation of which is included under the second Seal.

Ver. 5.-And when he opened the THIRD SEAL, I heard the third Living creature, saying, "Come and see." And I beheld, and lo, a black Horse, and he that sat upon him having a Balance in his hand.

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Ver. 6.—And I heard a voice in the midst of the four Living creatures, saying, “ a measure of "wheat for a penny, and three measures of

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barley for a penny: and the oil and the "wine shalt thou not injure."

Upon the opening of THIS SEAL, the scene became greatly changed again; and changed still for the worse. This new disclosure of events was announced by the third Living creature, with the same requisition of the Prophet's attention, as at the opening of the two former Seals.

a Anc. Univer. Hist. Vol. XV. page 167.