THE VISION OF THE FOUR CHARIOTS.

"AND I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass." Horses and chariots are the usual emblems of conquerors in this prophecy. The four chariots denote "the four great empires," which, subdued the greatest part of the known world; and they are represented as coming from between two mountains, because mountains are the natural barriers which divide kingdoms, which are here, though they be strong as brass, supposed to be broken through by those who invade and conquer their neighbours. And it is observable that some of the mighty conquerors owed the beginning of their greatness to their successful passage through the straits of mountains, where a small force might have maintained the passes against a powerful army. So the beginning of Alexander's success against the Persians was his passing through the Porta Cilicia without any opposition; and a like success the Roman emperor Severus had against Pescenuinus Niger at the same place. Also the great incursion the Turks made through the Porta Caspiæ, was the first step towards making them appear formidable in the world. "In the first chariot were red horses;" to signify the bloody persecutions of the Babylonian empire, especially towards the Jews. "And in the second chariot were black horses; " this denotes the mournful state of the Jews under the successors of Cyrus in the Persian empire, when the whole nation was in danger of being destroyed by the interest of Haman at the Persian court. "And in the third chariot were white horses;" signifying the victories of Alexander, the third great monarch, and his kindness to the Jews in confirming their religion, laws, and liberties. Conquerors used to ride on white horses in the day of triumph. "And in the fourth chariot were grisled and bay horses." These may denote the various forms of the Roman governments, the fourth great empire. (See Louth on the

Prophecies, ad loc.)