and obvious Interpretation will not better affift us through these Trumpets than any other has hitherto done. But before I come to the application I muft proceed a little farther, and premife,

"IV. That the Objects of the Trumpets, do determin us "to diftinct parts of Europe in the different Trumpets; and "confine the firft to the Inland parts of Europe, I still mean "within the Roman Empire; the fecondto the Maritim Parts "of it; the third to the parts most abounding with Rivers and "Fountains of Water; and the fourth to the Supream and Sub"ordinate Magiftrates therein.

This Obfervation, of fo great moment, and, as we shall fee, fo exprefs in the Text, has been hitherto overlooked by all: and 'tis therefore no wonder if this part of the Revelation has been but imperfectly understood. Attempts have been made for diftinguishing the T Te every where, and for ascertaining the Third Parts: But the principal things, which are the Objects themselves to which the third parts do belong in these Trumpets,have never been diftinguifb'd. In the First Trumpet we havethe Third Part of the Earth,and the Third Part of the Trees, and the Green Grass for its Object: and we know that the Trees and Grafs grows upon the Earth, or dry Land: so that the whole Object is of the fame Nature, and belongs to the Continent or Inland Parts. In the Second we have the Third Part of the Sea, and of fuch things as evidently belong to the Sea, its Inhabitans and Ships. So that its whole Object is of the fame Nature, and belongs to the Maritim or Infular Parts encompass'd with Waters. In the Third we.have the Third Part of the Rivers,and the Fountains of Waters, and the Third Part of the Waters for its Object, all of the fame kind, and belonging to the parts moft abounding with Springs, Lakes and Rivers. In the fourth we have the Third Part of the Sun, and of the Moon, and of the Stars, or of the Hoft of Heaven for its Object; and all evidently of the fame Nature; belonging, according to the known Images in the Prophets, to the Supream and Subordinate Governors And fhall we overlook all these Objects themselves, and yet hope for a full understanding of thefe Trumpets, fo directly and particularly relating to them? This feems to me not at all to be expected; and in the nature of things next to

im

impoffible. Since therefore we have above found reason to fuppole that the To Te refers to that third part of the Earth which we call Europe; or rather to fo much of it as was formerly a part of the Roman Empire; let us fee whether it may not be naturally divided into three parts, the Inland, and the Maritim, and that abounding with Rivers, Lakes and Fountains of Water and I think no divifion could be fitter for it. For first we have Thrace and Greece, and all the Countries from thence to the Alps, between the Danube and the Adriatick for the Inland third part: We have fecondly Portugal, Spain and France, with the adjoining Illands; from the Rhine and Rhone to the Western Ocean, and the Peninfula of Italy till we come to Lombardy, almost wholly incompafs'd with the Sea and Mighty Rivers, for the Maritim or Infular third part. We have thirdly Lombardy, with the adjoining parts near the Fountains of all the four Principal Rivers of Europe, the Danube, the Rhine, the Rhofne, and the Po, with not a few Fountains, Lakes, and Rivers, for which above all Europe Lombardy is famous, for that third part which abounds with Rivers, Lakes and Fountains of Waters. And Then, we had, at the Times related to in thefe Trumpets, fourthly, the European or Weftern Empire; exactly according to the Object of the fourth Trumpet, of Supream and Subordinate Governors therein concern'd. Since therefore Europe is here esteemed the ThirdPart of the Earth or Roman Empire; and fince every part of the Earth must be in common fuppos'd to contain dry Land, and Seas, and Rivers, and in common to partake of the benefit of the Sun, Moon, and Stars; . . in the Prophetick Language, is equally under the Power and Protection of Supream and Subordinate Magiftrates and Rulers; I fuppofe that the European Inland Countries must be denoted by the Third Part of the Earth, and by the Third Part of the Trees, and by the Grass growing thereon: that the European Maritim or Infular Countries, muft be denoted by the Third Part of the Sea, and of its Inhabitants and Ships: that the European Countries abounding with Rivers, Fountains and Lakes must be denoted by the third part of the Rivers and of the Waters, and by the Fountains of water; and that the European or Western Empire, while

it continu'd, muft be denoted by the third part of the Sun, and of the Moon, and of the Stars. And as this Interpretation feems to me moft literal, and agreeable to the Text; fa, as we fhall fee prefently, does it not less agree with the Hiftories of the Times refer'd to by thefe Trumpets. And that theReader may the more easily apprehend what follows,ifhall in few words tell him my Opinion of thefe four Trumpets,viz. That they defcribe the four famous Inundations of the Gaths, the Vandals, the Huns, and the Heruli: whereby the Inland Parts of Europe, the Maritim Parts, and the Parts abounding with Rivers were so overrun and afflicted, that atlength theWestern Empire it felf was intirely deftroyed. But to come at laft to the Particulars.

TRUMPET I.

AND the foven angels which had the seven trumpets, prepared

felves to found.

7. The firft angel founded; and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood: and they were caft upon the third part of the earth, and the third part of trees was burnt up, and allg green grass

was burnt up.

This firft Trumpet we fee brings a terrible Storm from the North, the Region of Hail; and the nature of the Storm fhews the nature of the Judgment; Hail and fire mingled with blood, can certainly denote nothing but fuch Irruptions from the North, as fhould caufe terrible Blood-fhedding and Slaughter; and this confin'd to the third part of the Earth, with its Contents, the Trees and Grafs. i. e. On the Continent part of Europe, in contradiftinction from the Maritim parts, and from those abounding with Rivers and Waters. So that this most naturally refers to that terrible t Inundation of the Goths, who A. D. 376. entred Thrace with great Fury, and there beat, and as moft fay, burnt the Emperor Valens; and after a little time, under the famous Alaricus their Leader, they deftroy'd, and overrun all

✦ And indeed this feemed, as by fome later Chriftians is held, to be one of the Soundings of the Trumpet to the Diffolution of the Western Empire. Howel Hist. p. 291.

thofe

cid.

6

thofe Regions which belong'd to the Continent of Europe, without being able to prevail on the reft of it; exactly agreeably to the Limits of this Trumpet. Take the Hiftory firftin De Imper. Oc- the words of Sigonius, and then of a Coeval Witness St. Jerom, • Annus Domini 376.inquit Sigonius,magnarum atqu: infignium calamitatum initium introduxit: quas primum Orientale, deinde "Occidentale Imperium pertulit. Hoc enim primum Gotthi atque Alani ab Hunnis exagitati in Thraciam ac finitimas provincias (quod millies ante, fed irrito femper conatu tentaverant,) penetrarunt: unde multa, eaque acerbiffima clades; ac prope quo'tidiane offenfiones manarunt. Ut vere hic Annus notari poffit tanquam univerfo Terrarum orbi, qui deinde barbarica rabie affidue laceratus eft, funeftiffimus. And afterwards, Annus Domini 400. Omnium quos Occidens vidit maxime memorandus 'extitit: namque initium irruptionum barbaricarum, quibus In.` dies magis favientibus Occidentale Imperium eft ufque ad extremam internecionem afflictum. Neque enim ullum five bellica calamitatis, five barbarica feritatis, five vefana cujufdam libidinis excogitari exemplum potuit, quod non in ipfas provincias, civitates, agros, hominefque paffim cum maxima atrocitate fit editum. And now let us hear St. Jerom himself, who then liv'd and wrote; Viginti, inquit ille, & eo amplius anni funt cum inter Apud Sigon. Conftantinopolin (N. B.) & Alpes Julias, quotidie Romanus fan'guis effunditur. Scythiam, Thraciam, Macedoniam, Dardaniam, Daciam, Theffaliam, Achaiam, Epiros, Dalmatiam, cunctafque Pannonias Gothus, Sarmata, Quadus, Alanus, · Hunni, Vandali, Marcomanni, Inftant, Rapiunt. Quot Matrona, Quot Virgines Dei, & ingenua nobiliaque corpora his belluis fuere ludibrio? Capti Epifcopi, Interfecti Presbyteri, & diverforum Officia Clericorum, fubverfa Ecclefia, ad Altaria Chrifti ftabulati Equi, Martyrum effoffa reliquia; Romanus Orbis "Ruit. Quid putas nunc habere animi Corinthios, Athenienfes, Lacedemonios, Arcadas, cunctamque Graciam quibus impe'rant Barbari? And this was the fad State of the Continent of Europe under the first Trumpet. But, what is here principally Remarkable, is, that when ever the Goths attempted any Places beyond the Limits of the Continent of Europe, during this Trumpet, they were miserably Beaten and Destroy'd; as go

.

ing beyond thofe Bounds which Providence had allotted to them by this Trumpet. Thus, not to infift upon their vain Attempts on Afia, Peloponnefus, Conftantinople, Athens and See Howel Pt. Thebes, which were properly beyond the Bounds of all thofe 2. p. 308, 310, Trumpets; when A. D. 402. or thereabout, Alaricus with his 475,476,477, Goths attempted the Conqueft of what we now call Lombardy, See Pt. 3.Schol. 526,527,529. belonging to the third Trumpet, he was fadly worfted, and dri- 2. poft Vif. 5. ven away by Stilicho. Of which Defeat hear the above named infra. Sigonius. Pugnatum eft inde magno utrinque ftudio, aquo • Marte, per multas horas. Tandem Gotthi pulfi Campo cefferunt, palatique paffim varia ftrage concifi funt. Nec prælium atrocius aliud per multos ante Annos eft editum. Captivi Italici omnes * recepti; & Caftra Gotthorum opulentiffima capta: tantaque præ'da parta, ut damna farcire a Gotthis per multos ante annos illata potuerit,-Ita Alaricus cum dimidio copiarum, earumque iner'mium ac paventium fe recepit. In like manner, when about A. D. 405. another famous Irruption of the fame Goths, under Radagaifus the Scythian, attempted Lombardy again; he alfo was again miferably Beaten by the fame Stilicho, and put to Death. Of which hear St. Auftin himself, who then liv'd Apud Sigon. and wrote. Cum Radagaifus agmine ingenti & immani jam in Urbis vicinia conftitutus Romanis cervicibus immineret, uno 'die tauta celeritate victus eft, ut ne uno quidem non dicam extinEto, fed nec vulnerato Romanorum, multo amplius quam 100000 profternerenter ejus exercitus; atque ipfe cum filiis mox captus pœna debita necaretur. De Civit. Dei l. 5. So exactly did the Providence of God confine the Inftruments of this Trumpet to the Object therein specify'd: and whenever, during the space particularly allotted to this Trumpet, they ventur'd beyond their Bounds, they were ftill Difcourag'd, Repuls'd," and Beaten, and fo oblig'd to content themfelves with the Proportion allotted to them: which Circumftance both here, and afterward seems to me highly worthy of our Confideration.