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Papacy, how it happens that there are within the sphere of its influence unconverted men who are not Papists? for it is written, that all shall worship the beast whose names are not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that has been slain. Have all wicked men worshipped the Pope? We might ask how, if the ten-horned beast represent the Pope, who is ecclesiastical, another beast, ecclesiastical in character, is in the same chapter (Rev. xiii.) said to minister in his presence, and what the image is which speaks, and is worshipped, and commands that whosoever will not worship it should be killed? Has the world ever yet seen such an image? We might ask how a beast, which wears throughout the whole of the 1260 days the crowns of all the kingdoms of the Roman world, can represent the Pope, who has never worn these crowns? and how, if the harlot represents the Papacy, can she be destroyed by the ten horns of the beast, (Rev. xvii. 16, 17,) who is supposed to represent the Pope? How is it that during the whole of the 1260 days, the beast is represented as having authority in the holy city, even "the city where our Lord was crucified," (see Rev. xi. 7, 8,) whereas the Pope has never exercised authority in Jerusalem at all? How can it be, that all who shall worship the beast or receive his mark are certainly doomed to everlasting wrath, (Rev. xiv. 9,) whereas it is possible for Papists to believe and be saved? Many a question of this kind might be multiplied, difficult indeed to be answered by those who seem to speak as if all evil were concentrated in the Pope alone.

God does not think so. He sees in the corrupt churches of the East, in Mahomedanism, in Judaism, and in worldly or infidel Protestantism, evil as great, and, in the latter instance, greater than in Popery itself; and He has not delineated in his Word the final climax of evil, without including in that delinea

tion all the channels of evil which unite in that final meeting point. The Old Testament, in many of its prophecies, describes the same period as that of which the Revelation treats, that is to say, the period which immediately precedes the appearing of the Lord. It speaks abundantly of the antichristianism of Israel in Jerusalem, and of the antichristianism of the great Gentile nations (the nations of the Roman earth) at the closing hour. Does the Revelation contradict these testimonies of the Old Testament Scriptures, or is it silent respecting these great events of the latter day, which are to knit the east and the west together in a confederacy of evil, the like to which has never yet been seen-silent, therefore, respecting the very events which give to the period of which the Revelation professes to treat its most distinguishing and characteristic features? It must be silent about these things if it only speaks of Popery, for neither the Jews nor half of the Gentile nations are Papists, and therefore never could be included in the warnings respecting the beast nor his image, if Popery be that which is designated thereby.

And is this really to be the tendency of our teaching? Are we to teach the Jew, the Mahomedan, the Protestant infidel that he is in no danger of the greatest of all delusions and the most fearful of all judgments that have as yet visited the earth ?—an hour which is said by the Lord Jesus himself to be an hour of temptation that shall come on all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth, (Rev. iii. 10.) Are we to teach them that Popery so concentrates all evil, that they who are not Papists are safe from the fearful denunciations of the closing book of the Scripture? Are we thus to nullify the Word of God-to turn the course of the sword of the Spirit, and to blunt its edge?

This no doubt is the desire of Satan. To lead into such vagueness of thought and interpretation as takes

all definiteness from the symbols and expressions of Scripture to confine the most solemn of its warnings and denunciations within a circle too narrow to include half of those for whom they are intended to persuade us that that is past which is not only future but near, and so to hide from men the gulph which is yawning almost before their feet-this no doubt is one of the chief anxieties of the great enemy of souls. And he has fearfully succeeded. He has succeeded in perverting, when he has not been able to hide, the very light which is set to guide us through the night until the day-star arise.

No one, I suppose, who believes in the personal existence of Satan will doubt that he is able to tempt and to put evil thoughts into the heart. And if able on other subjects to deceive, he is able also to lead into wrong interpretations of the Word of God. He is acquainted with the facts that Scripture reveals as about to be, and he is frequently himself permitted (as when he was allowed to afflict Job) to conduct the train of circumstances which is to lead on the series of events to their appointed issue. It is not therefore to be wondered at, that, after having turned our minds into a wrong channel of thought, he should suggest such anticipations as should receive confirmation from the events which he knows are about to happen.

If, for example, we could now be persuaded to believe that the pouring out of the sixth vial on the river Euphrates indicates the weakening of the Turkish power, and that the way of the kings from the East being prepared refers to the return of Israel to their own land, and that the solemn reference to the appearing of the Lord is to be understood figuratively, and refers not to his personal advent, but some other manifestation of his power,-if we could be persuaded into such false expositions of the Word of God, we should find in events which are soon about to occur an apparent verification of our interpretations. It is true

that an apparent weakening of the Turkish power will take place by the separation of Syria from Turkey just as Egypt and Greece have been separated, and that might be esteemed the action of the vial on the Euphrates; it is true that Israel will return in unbelief to their own land, and that might be regarded as the return of the kings of the East; and the false prosperity which for a season will attend them after their return might easily be represented as the figurative coming of the Lord. We might even venture to predict the periods (for they are not far off) when these things are likely to be, and yet all would be delusion. The events are not the events which God has intended to indicate, and the very fulfilment of our anticipations would only lead into deeper darkness as to the real meaning of his word. Is it otherwise in the case before us?

There are many other grave and serious objections that might be urged against this work. It might be shown how entirely it fails in rightly dividing the Scriptures. It is really written as if God had made no distinctions in his word between the Jews, the Gentile nations, and the Church. The history of Christianity is confounded with that of the Gentile nations and the coming prospects of Israel, both when they return to their land in unbelief, and also after they are restored under the blessing of the Lord; all that they are to be in sin, and all that they are to be in millennial blessedness appears to have been unnoticed and unknown. And yet Israel is the very centre of the earthly arrangements of God-the turning point on which his dispensations hinge.

But I have said enough. He who, after considering the practical effects of this work, its failure in the very first principles of prophetic interpretation, and above all its rejection of the personal advent of the LORD, can yet consent to regard it with complacency, will be little affected by any accumulation of further evidence.

But I trust, that many will escape the snare; and that the very publication of this book may tend to excite an enquiry that may end in the attainment of truth. The

very perplexities in which this subject has been so industriously involved may teach us its importance, for in a world like this, that which is most precious is likely to be most hidden. But if there be a little patience a little honest perseverance in using the Scripture, these mists of darkness will disappear, and truth will be seen in the clearness and simplicity which might be supposed to belong to a subject which the Word of GOD professes to REVEAL.

nies are sure, making wise the simple."

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