after the pouring out of the feventh vial, it cannot, without violating the order of time, be referred to the Reformation. But I conceive this earthquake to be a particular judgment upon the great city, or the power of Rome, rather than the effect of the seventh vial. If we compare Rev. xi. 13. we shall find the earthquake that destroyed the tenth part of the city, and 7000 men, took place during the fecond woe. For by the fame hour, is to be understood the time of the fecond woe, or, according to the eastern mode of expreffion, "the reign of the angel of the fecond woe trumpet," alluding to an opinion, common in the Eaft, that different angels, good or bad, were permitted to exercife authority during different portions of the day, and over different regions of the earth £. Now the fecond woe began when the Turkish Empire was established in 1005, or in 1299, and is yet in power; and there is nothing in this expreffion to fix this earthquake at any particular time within the hour. From the

context

f Our Lord, accommodating his language to this popu̟lar opinion, fays, "This is your hour, and the power of darkness."

* In like manner "the three unclean fpirits (Rev. xvi. 13) out of the mouths of the dragon, the beaft, and the

VOL. I.

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context however, or rather from the courfe of events, I fuppofe this earthquake is to be placed near the end of the fecond woe, and after the earthquake which divided the city into three parts. The earthquake mentioned Rev. xi, 19. I apprehend to be distinct from thefe, and to fynchronize with the third woe, and the feventh vial, which is to have univerfal power and effect (being poured into the air, to denote both its extenfive operation, and the utter deftruction of the Antichriftian power the air being reprefented in Scripture, as the feat of the power and authority of Satan), and to bring fudden destruction on all the enemies of Chrift, when the feventh trumpet founds the termination of the days of vengeance. Instead of breaking the order of time, this idea places the earthquakes in regular fucceffion, marking the most striking events in the hiftory of the church; and it will probably be confirmed when we observe further, that when the earthquake, which divides the city into three parts, is mentioned, nothing is faid of the great change

falfe Prophet," muft not be fuppofed to make their first appearance under the fixth vial. They might have been at work for a course of ages, but they would now unite their arts and powers, and be peculiarly active just before "the great day of battle." (Rev. xix. 19)

made from mifery to happiness, by the finish ing of the days of wrath, or the found of the feventh trumpet on the contrary, it is exprefsly declared, " Babylon came up in remembrance before God," as if after having been fuffered to pursue her career for some time unmolefted, fhe was now to become the particular object of punishment, and to receive the first" cup of the wine of the fiercenefs of the wrath of God.". This first earthquake I therefore fuppofe to represent the time of the Reformation, and am inclined to place it as contemporary with the first effect of the fourth vial, poured out upon the fun, or ruling power, which was clearly the Pope, till his city was divided," and then the king of France, who had given him his power and fplendour, arofe as he declined; but the ftorm which followed it, I confider as continuing to beat upon "the men who have the mark of the beaft [or Babylon], and who worship his image," to the present hour. Many of the islands," or petty states in his peculiar territory are already loft, and the mountains of his ftrength are gone The

great hail," the usual symbol of the irruption of a barbarous people, is now the plague of those men, who, having the mark of the beast, by an extraordinary infatuation worship

the image, which is the appointed agent of its deftruction (for this "hail falls from heaven"), and yet blafpheme the name of God, who hath power over these plagues." The Papal fun, though fuffering a very confiderable diminution of its own glory, "had power given it to fcorch men with fire." Of this the history of the Reformation will furnish abundant evidence. The crown of France, which had been a zealous agent in the bufinefs of maffacre. and intolerancewitness St. Bartholomew's day, and many other fcenes of blood-became the acknowledged Sun of the political sphere in the reign of Louis the fourteenth, when it reached the meridian of its glory. This fun did alfo "fcorch men with fire," as the revocation of the edict of Nantz, and the thousand bar. barities which mark this vaunted Auguftan. reign, will amply testify. But the dregs of the cup of retaliation were now to be poured out upon this devoted kingdom -its Regal fun was blotted from the political heavens, and a more tremendous Meteor took poffeffion of the darkened fky. — Then did the second earthquake, "in in which the tenth part of the city," or one of the ten kingdoms

See Fleming, p. 531

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convulse the earth. For I prefume the fecond earthquake to reprefent the Revolution in France, and at that period (that is, still under the fourth vial) I date the commencement of the reign of the image, though I conceive the fifth vial is now poured out, and conjecture that the fixth is near. The confequences of this earthquake will be more generally felt, and excite more general terror than the plagues of the first, so that at last the remnant will be affrighted, and give glory to the God of heaven, and thus they perhaps will find protection from the effects of the third woe, and the feventh vial, which I imagine will fall with peculiar violence" upon them which destroy the earth," by the united powers of Infidelity and Democratic tyranny, or, in other words, the fecond Beaft, and the Image.