37 He af how seen, how he subdued the dukedom of Rome. But leaving the past, let us now turn our attention a little to the present. Mr. Lowman has well explained the first five vials. He supposes the sixth will be poured out between the year 1700 and 1900. Perhaps it began, and will end much sooner. A particular explanation of it cannot be given till it be wholly past. The following conjectures concerning the na ture of it, and what is already past, seem probable. "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared." Rev. xvi. 12. There is in these words an evident allusion to the taking of old Babylon. The river Euphrates was a source of plenty, commerce, and wealth to that city. By turning the course of this river, Darius, Cyrus, and the princes under them, entered, by its channel, the city, and took it. These kings of the East, though they knew not God. Isa. xlv. 4, 5they were the instruments of executing his vengeance on the Babylonians for the injuries done to his people. Jer. li. 35Dan. v. 31. To understand the meaning of this vial, it is necessary to find something in mystical Babylon that will answer to the river Euphrates. Superstition seems to be the Euphrates of mystical Babylon. What Euphrates was to old Babylon, superstition has been to Babylon the great. It has been an abundant source of plenty and commerce, of wealth and power. Rev. xviii. 9---24. This has been the grand support of Antichrist's power and authority. With this cup, full of VOL. IV. abominations, 2 abominations, he has intoxicated the inhabitants of the earth depriving them of all understanding, and enslaving their minds, so that however heavy and galling his yoke might be, they considered it as sacred, and therefore durst make no effort to shake it off. This obstacle being removed, the way of the kings of the East, the destroyers of Babylon the great, is prepared. This vial, I apprehend, began to be poured out some considerable time before the beginning of this century, when the Deists first began to propagate their opinions. The immediate cause or source of Deism is the natural depravity and unbelief of the human heart. Its remote causes are various. Where Popery is the established religion, its persecuting spirit has made many Deists. When men have neither love to the truth, nor courage and firmness to suffer for it, but, in direct violation of their conscience, conform to the religion of their country, merely to avoid persecution, or procure honours and emoluments in the state, they will use every mode of deception to persuade themselves that all religion is a farce. When Papists have discernment enough to see the fraud that is used to deceive them by pretended miracles, to perceive the ridiculousness of their ceremonious and superstitious worship, and to observe the feigned sanctity, or abandoned wickedness of their monks and clergy, they likewise conclude that the whole of Christianity is either a piece of priestcraft, or a state-trick to enslave the minds of men. Both parties agree to renounce divine revelation and commence Deists. In protestant countries Deism proceeds from other causes. In these men have liberty to read the Scriptures, but being taught by too many of their clergy to believe doctrines that nourish the pride of human understanding, and of human ability and worth, and which they cannot reconcile to the Scriptures, they renounce the latter, as containing a system of doctrines too mysterious, or too mortifying, for men of their enlightened minds to believe. Others, especially in the higher ranks of life, are so immersed in folly and dissipation, in luxury and profaneness, that they hate the Bible, because it is too serious a business for them to read it; they hate it, because they have, somehow or other, learned, that it never speaks good of them, but evil. Hatred always begets aversion, and frequently open hostility. The example of the great, like a plague, has infected multitudes of the lower orders of mankind with profaneness and infidelity. The great design of the Deists is to overturn Christianity; but but Christianity is built on a foundation that can never be moved, viz. The person, the righteousness, the intercession, and the power of Christ. Established forms may be over. turned; Christianity needs them not. It made its way in the world without them; and the same power, which made it prosperous at first, is able to support it, and render it successful still. The prevalence of Deism and irreligion, however, is likely to be fatal to superstitution. This Euphrates of the mysti cal Babylon is in some places quite dry; in others it seems nearly so. The way, therefore, of the kings of the East, the destroyers of mystical Babylon, is prepared. The Deists have now got power into their hands, and appear ready to execute their work. Antichrist is alarmed at the danger that threat ens his existence. His emissaries persuade the supporters of his power, that religion, good order, and the very existence of society, depend on the destruction of this new and formidable adversary. They gather together to support, what appears to them, so good a cause, The two parties enter into war. The battle, however, is not theirs; it is "the battle of that great day of God Almighty," Rev. xvi. 14.; of that great day when God, in the holy and righteous dispensations of his providence, eminently appears avenging the blood of his servants on his adversaries. It is his battle, as the event is in his hand ; and he is disposing it to his glory and to the advantage of his church. The place where the battle is fought, is called Armageddon, signifying either the moun tain of destruction, or the destruction of troops; implying that it will be very terrible and destructive. It is not said what shall be the issue of this battle, nor are we told on which side the victory shall fall, One reason, perhaps, may be, that the event is reserved to the next vial, which will follow immediately, and which will accomplish the final destruction of Antichrist. Another reason may, perhaps, be this, that neither of the contending parties will get the victory. Another party may arise, viz. the witnesses---to them the victory may be given, and they shall reap the benefit of it. The Jews enjoyed the benefit of Cyrus's conquest of Babylon. The fall of Antichrist, and the resurrection of the witnes ses, are events which are to happen about the same time. The witnesses prophecy in sackcloth, 1260 days. Rev. xi, 2. Power is given to the beast to continue 42 months, the same as 1260 days. Rev. xiii. 5. An event is foretold to happen about the time that the witnesses are to arise. This is given as a signal of their rising, so that when we see this come to pass, we may know that the time of their rising, and consequently the time of Antichrist's fall is near at hand. "And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand; and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven." Rev. xi. 13. An earthquake, in the language of prophecy, signi fies a revolution. The city, in this text, is not to be restricted to the city of Rome literally understood; it signifies the whole extent of Rome's dominion. In this sense it is used in the eighth verse of this chapter: And their dead bodies, (viz. of the witnesses) shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. The witnesses were not slain in Rome only, but in every country to which Rome's power or influence extended. The tenth part of the city falling, therefore, evidently means, that when this great revolution should take place, then one of the ten kingdoms under the dominion of Rome would fall off, or revolt from her jurisdiction. And in the earthquake were slain of men (ovoμaτα avlрwwv, names of men) seven thousand. Had this expression, names of men, been an Hebraism, it would have been, avρotos óvoμatos men of name that is, men of renown, men famous for great atchievements; but names of men can only signify titles of men, or men distinguished only by mere titles. Of these seven thousand were to be slain. Seven is a complete number. And have we not seen, in one of the ten kingdoms, a most astonishing revolution? Have we not also seen that kingdom fall off from the papal jurisdiction? And what is a peculiar character of this revolution, are not all titles in church and state politically slain or abolished? Has not the slaughter, literally considered, fallen chiefly on titled men? Are not they still particularly aimed at? How amazingly characteristic is this prophecy of the revolution in a neighbouring nation! It is true we do not yet see the latter part of the prophecy fulfilled. The reason is, the slaughter is not yet over, the remnant are not yet affrighted; and the witnesses are not yet risen. When these events take place, then the remnant, instead of worshipping angels, saints, and images, will give glory to the God of heaven. From what we have seen, have we not good ground to hope, that the accomplishment of the prophecies, respecting the rising of the witnesses, and the fall of Antichrist, is Near at hand? If this should be the case, it nearly concerns us to discern the signs of the times. The Jews rejected Jesus Christ, by not not discerning that all things foretold by the prophets concerning the Messiah were fulfilled in him. Though we may not fall after the same example of unbelief, yet if we do not discern the signs of Christ's coming to destroy Antichrist, we may fall to the wounding of our peace and comfort. If this be the time of the sixth vial, as it very probably is, then we who live in such a time ought to pay a particular attention to the following words of Christ, for he is speaking them to us; "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." Rev. xvi. 15. Jesus Christ will come suddenly and unexpectedly to the destruction of his Antichristian enemies. But his coming to accomplish this event will be a time of great distress to the nations, as appears from the contents of this and the following vial; so will it be a time of great trial to his people; and therefore it is our interest, as well as duty, to watch. Luke, xii. 37, There are some of God's chosen people in mystical Baby, lon, even at the time when her destruction is very near; hence, when her fall is foretold, we hear also his gracious call, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Rev. xviii. 4, We are Protestants, may some say, and have separated from her communion; we have therefore come out of her long ago, and we see not what concern we have in these words, as they cannot be spoken to us. There is certainly a distinction to be made between the power and spirit of Antichrist. Men may revolt from the former, while they are entirely under the influence of the latter. Are there not many, who profess to be Protestants, become Papists in several of their leading principles? Are there not many who are now aiding aud supporting the cause and interest of Rome, when they may see her destruction fast hastening. We should beware, therefore, of being led away with error, lest we be found running to give her assistance, when we are called to come out of her. Having now laid before you what appears to me the most probable meaning of the prophecies relating to the time of Antichrist's rise and fall, I submit the whole to your examination, requesting your sentiments on what is here written. On this subject every one is liable to mistakes; and I consider myself as much so as any, This, however, is certain, that Antichrist will fall at the time which God has appointed; and whenever that time comes, it will be seen and acknowledged by his people to be the best. The vision is yet for an |