The history of the two first woe-trumpets is given in a twofold order, as affecting equally both the East and the West: but the history of the third is given only in a single order, inasmuch as some of its vials are poured upon the one branch of the Roman empire, and others upon the other branch; all of them not equally extending to the whole empire, as was the case with the first and second woetrumpets. It may likewise be observed, that the contents of one vial are not represented as being

woe; and teaches us that the last of the three woes, whereof the two first are the woes of the Saracens and the Turks, is the making all the kingdoms of this world the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. But this is a blessing rather than a woe: whence I have been induced to prefer the opinion of Mr. Mede, Bp. Newton, and Sir Isaac Newton, to that of Mr. Whitaker; namely that the woeful part of the seventh trumpet precedes its joyful part, and that it will bring much misery upon the earth ere the nations are converted to Christianity and brought into the pale of the Millennian Church. Since moreover the seventh trumpet is represented as the last woe, and since the seven vials are said to be the last plagues, I conclude with Bp. Newton that they must synchronize: otherwise there will be two last displays of God's wrath. Mr. Whitaker says, that the seven vials are denominated the last plagues because in them is filled up the wrath of God; and thinks, that we ought to be cautious of considering them as termed last merely in point of time. Bp. Newton, on the contrary, argues, that they must be last in point of time; because the wrath of God would not be filled up in them, if there were others beside them. See Mr. Whitaker's Letter to Dr. Ogilvie, p. 33-Comment. p. 445. -Bp. Newton's Dissert. on Rev. xv. I prefer the conclusion of the Bishop. But I have already sufficiently discussed the proper arrangement of the vials in Chap. i. § Iv. (1.) (2.) (3.)

fully

fully poured out before another begins to be emptied; though it is evident, that they commence in regular chronological succession. In this respect there is a striking difference between the vials and the woe-trumpets. We are explicitly informed by the prophet, that the blast of the first woe-trumpet entirely ceases before the second begins to sound; and that of the second, in a similar manner, before the third begins to sound*: but it is no where said, that each vial is emptied, before its successor begins to be poured out. Hence it is not unreasonable to conclude, that two or more of the vials may be pouring out at the same time, though the effusion of one commenced before that of another.

Besides the division of the third woe-trumpet into the seven vials, it is represented as comprẹhending likewise two grand periods of peculiar distress, figuratively termed by St. John the harvest and the vintage. The harvest occupies, I conceive, the beginning of the third woe-trumpet, or the earlier part of the last days of atheistical infidelity. It symbolizes the miseries inflicted upon mankind by the tyranny of Antichrist, and synchronizes with the first half of Daniel's account of the king who magnified himself above every god t. This period comprehends the three first vials. vintage, on the other hand, occupies the termination of the third woe-trumpet, or the time of the end. It relates to the great controversy of God

The

* See Rev. ix. 12, 13. and xi. 14, 15. Dan. xi. 36-39.

with the nations, and the entire overthrow of Popery and Infidelity. This period synchronizes with the second half of Daniel's account of the atheistical king*; and is comprehended under the seventh vial, the vial, as it may be termed, of consummation. The fourth, fifth, and sixth, riuts are poured out in the intermediate space between the vials of the harvest and the vial of the vintage; and the last of these three may be considered as preparing the way for the final manifestation of God's wrath. Thus it appears, that, agreeably to the analogy of the natural harvest and vintage, some time will intervene between the figurative harvest and vintage; that this time will be marked by the pouring out, at certain indefinite periods, of the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth, vials; and that at length, when the mystery of God is fully accomplished, when the waters of the Euphrates are completely dried up, when a way has been prepared for the kings of the East, and when the great confederacy has begun to be put in motion by the secret agency of the three unclean Ispirits, the last tremendous cial of the vintage will be poured out at the close of the 1260 years.

Subsequent to his account of the seven vials, St. John gives us a more enlarged prophetic history of the vintage, prefacing it with a description of the scarlet whore previous to her being overtaken by

Dan, xi. 40-45. xii. 1.

the judgments of God. The events which he particularizes, are the overthrow of Babylon, the battle of the kings of the earth, and the utter destruction of the beast and the false prophet. All these events are to be comprehended under the last cial, as is manifest from this consideration. The seven vials are expressly said to be the last plagues: but, if the events in question be not comprehended under some one of them, the vials certainly are not the last plagues; because, in that case, they will be prior to those events: whence I conclude, that the events must necessarily be comprehended under some one of them. But, since the events are described as terminating the present order of things previous to the Millennium, and since the last vial of the last trumpet of the last seal cannot but be considered as the vial of consummation, the events must unavoidably belong to the last vial.

These preliminary observations being made, İ shall proceed to a particular consideration of each distinct vial.

SECTION I.

Concerning the vials of the harvest.

The two first woe-trumpets described the rise of the twofold Apostasy, Papal and Mohammedan,

and the plenitude of power to which it speedily attained the third introduces the reign of Antichrist; and, after having foretold under the vials of the harvest the miseries with which he should afflict mankind, predicts under the vial of the vintage the downfall of the Apostasy and the total overthrow of all God's enemies,

We have already seen, that the third woe-trumpet began to sound on the 12th of August 1792, immediately after the limited monarchy of France was overthrown, and when the tyrannical reign of liberty and equality commenced. This being the case, we must look for the pouring out of all the seven vials, which form so many distinct periods of the third woe- trumpet, posterior to the 12th of August 1792; obserying however that the harvest itself must be considered as commencing, not merely with the first vial, but with the earliest blast of the trumpet, and that the miseries previously produced by the fall of the tenth part of the Latin city may be esteemed (to make the allegory complete) the first fruits of the

harvest.

1. "And I heard a great voice out of the tem"ple, saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, "and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon "the earth. And the first went, and poured out "his vial upon the earth: and there fell a noisome "and grievous sore upon the men which had the "mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image."

The