tion, namely, a locuft-monster, which is partly locuft, partly human, partly leonine, and partly fcorpionic.

Befides the obvious propriety of the above explication of the vial, a further argument may be adduced in confirmation of it. Though the different prophecies of the Apocalypfe are involved in abfcurity, yet one may obferve the infpired writer generally throws in fome glimpfes of light to guide the folicitous enquirer. Thus may be remarked a fixed connection between the trumpets of the different ages and the refpective vials, of which we have already taken fome notice. This confifts in the use of the fame expreffion in the trumpet and vial of the fame age; which naturally leads us to the dif tinguishing of the object on which the vial is poured. This object, if not precifely the fame as mentioned in the trumpet, it has at least a direct relation to it. In general, the vial has for object the guilty part which is to be punished, and which is always pointed out in the trumpet. Examples will elucidate the prefent obfervation. In the firft trumpet it is faid, that hail and fire, mixed with blood, were caft upon the earth. In like manner the firft vial was poured out upon the earth. The fame term, the earth, occurring in both, indicates that, as the trumpet defcribed the perfecutions exercised by the Roman emperors and magiftrates on the Chriftian part of the earth, fo thefe emperors and magiftrates, who are the guilty part of the earth, and plainly alluded to in the trumpet, are the object of punishment on which the vial is poured. After the fame manner, at the founding of the fecond trumpet, a great fiery mountain was caft into the fea and the fecond vial is alfo poured out upon the fea. From whence one may collect that, as Arianifm, fignified by the fiery mountain, infected a third part of the Chriftian fea; fo upon the Arians, who are there exhibited as the guilty part of the sea, the

vial is poured. Again, the third trumpet announced a great ftar, burning like a torch; falling upon the rivers and fountains of waters. In like manner the third vial is poured upon the rivers and fountains of waters. The trumpet here defcribes the defolation carried by the barbarians through the guilty heathen Roman empire; therefore on this fame empire is the vial poured. Laftly, at the founding of the fourth trumpet the fun was fmitten; and the fourth vial was alfo poured out upon the fun. The allegory, ufed here in the trumpet, denotes the schism of the Greeks; upon them, therefore, as the guilty, the vial is poured; or rather, it is poured on the inftrument of the scourge, to fit it for execution. This conftant relation obferved between the above-mentioned trumpets and vials, holds equally between the fifth trumpet and vial. In the trumpet we fee the locufts are ruled by a king, the angel of the bottomlefs pit, whofe name is Abaddon. The vial is poured out upon the throne of the beast, and his kingdom becomes dark. On one fide then we have the king of the locufts on the other fide we have the throne and the kingdom. Hence appears the connexion between the fifth trumpet and fifth vial. This vial therefore is poured out upon the princes and ftates of the locuftkingdom.

In fine, we saw in the firft trumpet the Roman emperors perfecuting the Chriftian religion; and the first vial was poured upon them. In the fecond trumpet we faw the Arians rebelling against the Church; and the fecond vial was poured upon them. In the third trumpet we faw the Roman empire declining on account of its idolatry and enmity to Christianity; and the third vial was poured upon it, to extinguish it. In the fourth trumpet we faw the revolt of the Greeks against the Church; and the fourth vial punished them. In the fifth trum

pet we fee the proteftants revolting against the Church; upon whom then muft the fifth vial fall?

The vial being poured upon the throne of the beaft, it flows down from thence over his whole kingdom, the realm of the reformation. For, his kingdom became dark, and they gnawed their tongues for pain. But with refpect to the nature of this punishment, we fhall be entirely filent, and leave it to be difclofed by the event. We shall only remark that, to judge from the expreffion of the text, the scourge feems to be fevere, and we are extremely forry it will be fo ill received: "And they blafphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and wounds, (or fores,) and did not penance for their works."

We shall here add another remark. The expreffion, they gnawed their tongues for pain, or rather, as it is in the Greek original, they did gnaw their tongues for pain, feems to refer to a time prior to that which follows, and is thus expreffed, they blafphemed, &c. and may therefore relate to the firft part of the punishment imported by this vial, which may be the fcourge inflicted on the French people, and perhaps others, and feems to indicate diftrefs of famine, &c.

CHAPTER X.

The Hiftory of the fixth Age of the Chriftian Church. HITHERTO the account we find in hiftory of the different ages, has contributed to explain the prophecies relating to them: but with refpect to the age we are now entering upon, as it yet remains fealed up in the womb of futurity, we can have no light but what must be drawn from the prophecies themfelves. And becaufe prophecies are generally conceived in few words, and those veiled with obscurity, it cannot be expected we fhould give fo clear and comprehenfive a history of the fixth age as has been done in the preceding periods. We may however acknowledge here an unexpected affiftance, which was not allowed us before, in as much as that part of the Apocalypfe which treats of the fixth age, feems to be expreffed in fomewhat clearer terms than ́any other, at least it appears so to us. The reafon we may conceive to be, that the Almighty revealer of it is willing to give us before hand a tolerable intelligence of tranfactions that will touch us fo nearly, and will be more terrible and trying to human nature, than any that have ever happened. By a previous, though imperfect, knowledge of dreadful calamities, we are warned to prepare for them. An impending evil, even the fentence of death itself, is lefs alarming when foreseen and expected. On that account therefore the divine bounty is pleased to be more copious and explicit in the revelations about the fixth age; and our profpect of it is further enlarged by many particular scenes to be found in the ancient prophets, which concur to throw an additional light over the whole picture. Thefe are helps which, doubtless, ferve in fome measure to promote and facilitate the prefent work; but it must be confeffed, the obscurity that still remains is fuch, and other

pet we fee the proteftants revolting against the Church; upon whom then must the fifth vial fall?

The vial being poured upon the throne of the beaft, it flows down from thence over his whole kingdom, the realm of the reformation. For, his kingdom became dark, and they gnawed their tongues for pain. But with refpect to the nature of this punishment, we fhall be entirely filent, and leave it to be disclosed by the event. We fhall only remark that, to judge from the expreffion of the text, the fcourge feems to be fevere, and we are extremely forry it will be fo ill received: "And they blafphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and wounds, (or fores,) and did not penance for their works."

We shall here add another remark. The expreffion, they gnawed their tongues for pain, or rather, as it is in the Greek original, they did gnaw their tongues for pain, feems to refer to a time prior to that which follows, and is thus expreffed, they blafphemed, &c. and may therefore relate to the firft part of the punishment imported by this vial, which may be the fcourge inflicted on the French people, and perhaps others, and feems to indicate distress of famine, &c.