the theme. If we examine the | who began to infeft the world title we find it to be, Woe to the inhabiters of the earth; but the grand event predicted is, the univerfal and glorious reign of Chrift, involving in it the most important and defirable bleffings to mankind. How to reconcile these apparent. ly difcordant fubjects may be really difficult. Is any method more fatisfactory than to confider the afflictive fcenes which conftitute this woe, or are confequent upon the founding of this trumpet as implied and understood, not expreffed, and only the ultimate iffue of them exhibited? As if the angel had faid to the apofle, I have now defcribed the calamities with which the inhabiters of the earth shall be afflicted by the second woe, and fhould pro⚫ceed to those of the third, but thefe (which will be disclosed in future vifions) I fhall not parti'cularly fpecify, and only inform you that they will introduce the univerfal and glorious reign of Christ' By this, making use of the preceding gloomy fcene as a fhade to enliven and brighten that moft defirable event, the more deeply to imprefs and affect the mind with it. If we now proceed to the woe itself, we first remark the obvious difference between this and the other as to time. At the conclufion of the firft it is faid, one woe is paft and behold there come two woes more hereafter. But of this, the fecond woe is paft, and behold the third woe cometh quickly; manifeftly implying, that between the first and the other a long term of time would elapfe, but that the third would very foon fucceed the fecond. And is not this interpretation fupported by fact? If the first woe of the locuits be rightly applied to the Saracens, with their delufion and cruelties in the feventh century, and the fecond, of loofing the four angels which were bound by the river Euphrates, to the Turks, who began their conquefts in the thirteenth, there was a term of more than fix hundred years between them. method them. But let us affix what period we may for the commencement of the third woe, it is long fince the judgments which conftitute it began to be inflicted. But what are the calamities comprifed in this woe? By examining and comparing the vifions of this prophecy we may probably obtain a true anfwer to this queftion: And that we may more clearly poffefs the whole fubject let us review the series of the prophecy. In the beginning of it the apoftle had a vifion of a book fealed with feven feals, infolding the defigns of the Most High toward the church and the world. The feals were opened in order by the lamb. The feventh introduced feven angels with feven trumpets, prepared to found. The three lait are diftinguished by the woes affixed to them. The firft is applied to the Saracens, the second to the Turks. Here the feries is interrupted by the vifion of the Gentiles, and the wit neffes prophefying in fackcloth This being related, the prophecy diverts from the locufts and the angelsound by the river Euphrates, to the Gentiles or the beaft and the witneffes. We may call this vifion, in conne& on with thofe which follow, the contents of the chapter, the preface to the subject, or the prologue to the tragedy. The twelfth chapter introduces the actors upon the ftage; the thirteenth deferibes the beaft, with his tyranny and they relate to fubjects very remote from us, and their effects long fince fubfided. But the fifth poured out his vial upon the feat, or throne of the beaft, fignifying that however the other vials might affect his more remote, or extreme parts, this feized his vitals and would be deadly in its operation. This vial, it is fuppofed, was poured out at the reformation from popery. If it was in the events of that period, the vifion of the resurrection and afcent of the witneffes, with the earthquake which shook the city to pieces, and that of this vial, unite and coincide. When this vial was poured upon the throne of the beaft, his kingdom was full of darkness, and they gnawed their tongues with pain. Could a limner with his pencil and his ob perfecution; and the fourteenth the witneffes prophecying in fackcloth, or remonftrating againft them. We then have the feventh trumpet and the third woe. This has peculiar refpect to the beaft, and falls with infupportable weight upon antichrift himself. Of the calamities involved in this woe it is supposed the fifteenth chapter is an introductory vifion, the fixteenth and fubfequent chapters a full defcription. We may accordingly consider the prefent paffage as a fummary of thofe chapters. For though it be not particularly fignified that the feven angels with their feven vials were introduced by the feventh trumpet, yet this is evidently according to the series of the prophecy, and exhibits a pleafing uniformity throughout the whole. So we have the book fealed with feven feals.ject before him, have taken its The opening of the feventh produced feven angels with feven trumpets; and the founding of the feventh introduces feven angels with feven vials; and the feventh vial finishes this mystery of God. In these vials therefore we fhall find the judgments brought upon the earth by this trumpet. This awful scene opens chap. xv. v. 1. And I beheld another fign in heaven, great and marvellous, fev en angels having the feven laft plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God. A direction is given to the angels, chap. xvi. v. 1. Go your ways and pour out your vials ; the first poured his vial upon the earth, the fecond poured his vial upon the fea, the third upon the rivers and fountains, and the fourth poured his vial upon the fun. What thefe vials imported, or what evils were brought upon the earth confequent upon them, it is not very interefting for us to know, as likeness with greater exactness than this vifion represents the effects of this vial at the reformation? Then God began to draw near to him in judgment, and to afflict him with incurable plagues. That fo many and fuch able reformers, patronized by powerful princes, fhould expofe and remonftrate against his impious ufurpations and corruptions, his pride, avarice and cruelty, with fuch for titude, frankness and zeal, must have given him a terrible fhock, and filled him with mighty confternation! How gloomy the afpect of this upon his refpectability, his revenues and his influence? Well might he doubt with fear and trembling, as did his predeceffors, whereunto this would grow-gnafhing his teeth with chagrin and rage, and gnawing his tongue with pain. Verse 12. And the fixth angel poured his vial, upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the eaft | kings of the earth hating the might be prepared. The city of whore and making her defolate Babylon and the captivity of and naked, by plundering her ter-God's ancient people in it, in this ritories of their pomp and wealth; -book, are frequently referred to and eating her flesh, by emptying as a type to denote antichrift and her coffers of their treasures and his perfecutions, and the fuffer- and jewels?-How pertinent to ings of the church from them. this fubject, (to which they proThe river Euphrates was the great bably are to be ultimately appli natural barrier of this city, and ed) are the words of the prophet?* peculiarly obftructed the progrefs How hath the oppreffor ceafed ! of its enemies against it; and was The Lord hath broken the faff of alfo the grand channel of convey- the wicked-he who fmote the peoing its fupplies. By the drying ple in wrath is perfecuted and none up of this river, the way was pre- hindereth-The fir trees rejoice at pared for Cyrus and his princes, thee, faying, fince thou art laid the kings of the caft, to deftroy down, no feller is come up against this city, and fet at liberty God's us. chofen people. To that great event there is an evident allufion in this paffage. The Euphrates of ancient Babylon is a lively figure to represent thofe ftreams of wealth and power, which are the great defence and ftrength of antichrift. By the drying up of thefe, antichrift will be expofed to deftruction by Chrift and the inftruments used in his providence. And is it not evident from the prefent ftate of antichriftianifm that this vial has been poured out almoft to its very bottom? The fifth vial fhook the throne of the beat to its very centre. But the fpecial effect of the fixth in the vifion, was the deftruction of his wealth and power. And how greatly are the fources of them diminished and reduced? It is long fince he refigned many of his claims and prerogatives. It is long fince he abandoned many of thofe artifices by which he replenifhed his coffers. Have we not indeed feen that very character, whofe menaces once filled kings and emperors with terror and difmay, fleeing for his life, going into exile, and fupported by royal bounty! Have we not feen the Hell from beneath is moved for thee-it fiirreth the dead for theeAll they fhall Speak and say unto thee, art thou become weak as we, art thou become like unto us-How art thou fallen, O Lucifer they that fee thee fhall narrowly look upon thee and confider thee, faying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did Shake kingdoms By this diminution of the opulence and power of the beaft, the way is rapidly preparing for his complete and final destruction. But another fcene is opened under this vial which demands particular confideration. Ver. 13, 14. faw three unclean fpirits, like I frogs, come out of the mouth of the dragon, and ut of the mouth of the beaft, and out of the mouth of the falje prophet--for they are the Spirits of devils which go out unto the kings of the earth, and the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Satan, perceiving that his kingdom and influence in antichrift are drawing to a close, and defpairing of fuccefs by artifice and intrigue, inflated with malice and refentment, now makes a violent * Ifaiah xiv. 4-16. effort, waging open war with heaven. To obtain fuccefs in this enterprise, he diffufes the impious and profane spirit of atheism and infidelity, inftigating the kings of the earth, &c. to deny the exiftence and government of God, to extirpate the religion of Chrift; by this to extricate themselves from the control of the one, and the restraints of the other, that they may walk in the way of their hearts without remorfe and with out fear. That this vifion of the unclean spirits like frogs, denotes the profane fpirit of infidelity which now rages in Europe, and is diffeminated through the nations of the earth, hath been demonftrated, I fuppofe, to the entire fatisfaction of the public, by a very learned and elegant pen.t With the vifion of the fixth vial drying up the river Euphrates, exhaufting the wealth and diminishing the power of antichrift, and that of the unclean fpirits like frogs, denoting the impure spirit of atheism and impiety, with the events of the present times before our eyes, are we not filled with amazement at the coincidence between this prediction and its fulfilment Satan, having formed the horrid defign of affailing heaven, and compelling Chrift to abdicate his throne, now ftimulates the nations by these impure fpirits, to unite in the nefarious plot. We see his emiffaries every where, compaffing fea and land to make profelytes, enlifting troops, marfhalling their army, and challenging heaven to the combat. To what fevere conflicts does and will, this call the witneffes ? and to what arduous exertions to refift the horrid combination ?— † See Dr. Dwight's independence fermon, July fourth. We fee alfo the king and head of the church, in his government of the world, making signal displays of his power and grace for the defence of his own caufe, to difconcert the devices of his grand adverfary, and render all his designs abortive. Thefe events defcribe to us clearly the period in which we live, in the last part of the fixth vial, and how near the end of it we know not. Should not this fill us with high expectation for the approaching event-the pouring out of the seventh vial, which will conclude this fcene of woe and wonder, and introduce the latter day glory of the church! It may be proper to remark, that as the little book defcribes the witnesses in fackcloth, or the afflicted ftate of the church, and fays very little of the rife, progrefs and power of the beast, but these are to be conceived by implication; fo when the scene changes and the remaining part of the chapter, by anticipation, defcribes the profperity of the church, or the glory of Chrift's kingdom, the depreffion of the beaft is not expreffed, but implied and understood. So when the divine judgments upon him are detailed in fubfequent vifions, the trials of the witneffes are paffed in filence-but if we confider how great his humiliation, eventually produced by their teftimony, we may naturally conceive how exafperated his feelings toward them would be, and the evils they would fuffer from his vengeance and intrigue-and the fevere trials of their fortitude and patience must fenfibly exercise and affect our minds. We have now come to the feventh vial. This was poured into the air, the feat of Satan's kingdom, by which we may confe port of chap. xviii. verse 9—20, which fuggeft, that many kings and great men who had been af-. fectionately attached to the idol. atrous worship of the false church, would be the astonished spectators of her conflagration, and be grievoufly afflicted that her deftruction had come like a whirlwind? Is it not rather unreasonable to conclude, that such an horrid fcene of impiety fhould be terminated in fo abrupt a manner ? Is it not reasonable to suppose, that as there were lamentable corruptions in the church before the twelve hundred fixty years com quently expect it will be overturned, and his intereft vifibly deftroyed, in its operation and effects. Upon the pouring out of this vial, there were voices and thunders and lightning, the ufual attendants and fymbols of divine majef ty in the execution of judgment; and a great earthquake, the common fymbol of convulfions and revolutions on earth, with this mark of diftin&tion, that it exceeded all that were before it. Such as was not fince men were upon earth. We may confequently expect that of all the convulfions which ever fhook the world this will be the greatest, as it may be the laft.menced, fo there will be great reAs this fcene is future, we cannot affirm any thing pofitively concerning it, except that which is clearly expreffed by the fpirit of prophecy. In the diftreffing scene which will exift under this vial there will be two capital events. Firft, The deftruction of the beaft or popish antichrift. This is denominated the Fall of Babylon. The way of the kings of the eaft having been prepared by the fixth, under this vial they will enter and deftroy the city. Then this fpiritual Babylon will fink, as a mill stone into the fea, and never rise any more. The holy city will no longer be trodden under foot of the gentiles, nor will the witneffes prophefy in fackcloth. The woman will return from her retirement in the wilderness, obtain joy and gladnefs, and forrow and fighing fhall flee away. Though this be the proper period of antichrift's deftruction, and that great event to which the prophecies primarily and chiefly relate, yet may it not be expected that after it fhall be confummated, there will exift great remains of antichriftian fuperftition? Is not this the im mains of them after that term fhall expire? Agreeably to this hypothefis may we not confider the taking of the beaft and false prophet, chap. xix, verse 20, as denoting the total and ultimate extirpation of all popish idolatry. The other great event is, Secondly,-The victory over the kings of the earth and all the world who had been inftigated by the fpirit of devils to wage war with God Almighty. We faw them under the fixth vial entering the palaces of kings and pervading the world, to excite high and low, rich and poor,bond and free,fmall and great, to an open and decifive conteft with heaven. They were gathered to a place called Armageddon, the mountain of deftruction. And here we fee the king of kings with his glorious army going forth to meet them. But no fooner does the battle commence than the victory is won. They are given to be meat for the beafts of the field, and all the fowls of the air are filled with their flesh. Here the extended contest between the feed of the woman and the ferpent, which began at an early period, termimates in the |