things. As the opening of the seventh seal was to disclose the ruinous effects of the tempest of the four winds, the silence here mentioned must be in allusion to the sullen and portentous calm which usually precedes the bursting of a storm; or rather to the mute anxiety of a multitude of people, when they are waiting the disclosure of deeply-interesting and affecting scenes. The great lines of Providence, between the revolution of the sixth seal and the commencement of the Millennium, were now to be revealed; but, from the intimations already given, it was manifest that the greater part of this long period was to be filled with the most disastrous events which could befall the church. The inhabitants of these symbolical heavens, therefore, waited in a state of silent and anxious expectation till the full disclosure should be made.

This silence has been generally interpreted of that tranquillity which was enjoyed by the church, immediately after Constantine's advancement to the throne. Forfeitures, fines, imprisonments, and all the different modes of persecution, were then laid aside; and the church, after nearly three hundred years of persecution, enjoyed a season of rest. But if we adopt this view of the symbol, we must also suppose that the time of her tranquillity was very short. In the style of prophecy, a day is put for a year; and half an hour being only the forty-eighth part of a day, this season of tranquillity could not amount to more than seven natural days and a half; and even this period may be greater than what the prophetical language will bear, as it is not said to have been a complete half hour, but only about half an hour. If we understand the expression chronologically, it must be interpreted of a period which accords with the time of the restraint of the four winds. So long as the angels continued to hold the winds, all the inhabitants of heaven continued to look on in a state of silent expectation; they knew that the storm was soon to break out; and therefore, in fearful expectations every moment of seeing the barriers give way, there was not so much as a single whisper to be heard among them.

But this expression does not seem intended to mark any period, either of the peace or warfare of the church. If this were the design, it would not be like John's usual definite modes of expression upon chronological subjects. He never says of any given period that it is about a half or a whole; he never leaves his readers to form loose, vague calculations, but states the amount in the most definite terms. The language is rather symbolical and descriptive than chronological; it is intended to impress the mind with fearful apprehensions of the coming storm. As if all heaven had been paralyzed, its inhabitants remained in a state of profound and awful silence, while the seal was opening, which was to disclose the ruinous consequences of the storm.

This seal, like those that had preceded it, was distinguished by characteristic notes and symbols. The principal figures were a select party of angels, all of whom were furnished with trumpets, as in ver. 2.; and I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. The place which these spirits occupied, and the definite way in which they are spoken of, being called the seven angels, have induced the belief that the Holy Spirit is meant, as he is called 'the seven Spirits which are before the throne,' chap. i. 4. and iv. 5. But it is a much more natural supposition, that the ministers of Providence are intended; and that they are called the seven, not in relation to any seven formerly mentioned, but to distinguish them from the angels of the winds, who were only four; and especially from the angels of the vials, who were to succeed them, and whose number was also seven.They were placed in a situation which was both honourable and advantageous; they, stood before God. They were in a state of readiness to be employed in any branch of service that he might see meet to require. They were to sound an alarm; and that this duty, of such high importance to the church, might be performed, they were each of them furnished with the necessary means: To them were given seven trumpets.

As this declaration brings us forward to the prophecy of the

trumpets, it will be necessary, before entering upon the expli cation, first to ascertain the chronology, and then to consider the general character of the signs.

We have formerly seen that the trumpets are not contemporaneous with the seals, but follow them in the order of time. And as the prophecy of the sixth seal brings down the series of events to the time of Constantine, the prophecy of the trumpets could not begin to be fulfilled at any period prior to that date. And as the vials succeed the trumpets, the period of this prophecy must fall in between the time of the seals and that of the vials. The seventh trumpet introduces the vials; could we, therefore, determine the time of the seventh trumpet, we could easily settle the chronology of the prophecy before us; but few points are more difficult to determine. The greater part of modern writers on the Revelation refer it to the time of the French Revolution, and suppose that the first blast was given in the year 1789 or 1792; but the best writers that have preceded them refer it to the time of the Reformation from Popery. After weighing the arguments on both sides of this controversy, I cannot but acquiesce in the opinion of the last-mentioned; but to adduce the arguments by which it may be supported would only anticipate what will come more naturally under consideration in its proper place, when we enter upon that part of the prophecy in which the seventh angel is represented as sounding. At present, we rather assume than establish the principle, that the period of the vials commences with the Reformation in the 16th century; and that the period of the trumpets lies between that remarkable æra and the time of Constantine the Great. It comprehends the greater part of the 1260 days of the reign of the beast, and of the sackcloth state of the witnesses.

The general symbol of the former prophecy was a Seal; in this it is a Trumpet. This instrument is well known, and therefore does not require to be described. Its principal use is to give strength to the human voice, that warnings or invitations may be more extensively heard. No sort of wind in

strument was in more general use among the Jews; and therefore no symbol could have been selected with which they were more familiarly acquainted. All the solemn assemblies were convened by the sound of trumpet. The new moon, the year of release, the year of jubilee, and all the solemn seasons, were announced in this way: by the same instrument the militia were called out, and by the variation of its tones they were instructed when to advance and when to retreat. It was likewise used on any sudden emergency to give warning. In allusion to this use of the trumpet, Joel was commanded to blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in the holy mountain, chap. ii. 1. It is manifestly in allusion to this use of the instrument that these mystical trumpets were ordered to be blown. The whole period of the prophecy is a time of alarm. It is a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains; it is the worst season that ever passed over the church. But even then she was not to be without certain intimations of the danger to which she was exposed. The general emblem of the first prophecy being a Seal, it was fitted to impress the mind with the absolute certainty of the predictions. The general emblem of this prophecy being a Trumpet, it was equally fitted to impress the mind with the idea of danger; especially as it was blown by an angel, and the blast so loud, that it might be heard in every region of the earth.

As the symbol of this prophecy is widely different from that of the preceding, it leaves room for a coincidence of events, which the former could not admit of. The structure of the book rendered it impossible to take off any of the undermost rolls, till those above them were removed; hence it was natural to expect, that the greater part of the events of one seal would be realized before another was opened. But there is nothing in the nature of the thing itself to prevent the sounding of different trumpets at once. An order is noticeable; first, one angel begins to sound, and then another; but there is no absurdity in supposing, that the distant sound of one may begin to be heard before the full blast of another has

died away; or in supposing, that, in different regions, the sound of different trumpets may be so distinctly heard at one and the same time, it may be difficult to say, which of them is giving the loudest blast. How far these remarks may be justified, will best appear from the separate consideration of the prophecies of the trumpets.

The object of these interesting predictions is the church. But as, in this mournful period, the visible profession of Christianity was incorporated with the state, and rendered an essential part of the civil constitutions of the different kingdoms of Europe, the affairs of the church came to be so completely blended with the intrigues and measures of the state, that, without some knowledge of the condition of the one, we can hardly form any distinct apprehension of the state of the other. Hence, the varied conditions of the Roman empire, as affecting the circumstances of those that were at least nominally Christian, are detailed in this prophecy. And from the statements which we shall have occasion to bring forward, it will appear, how the Man of Sin rose to such power in the West, while the errors and delusions of the Mahometan system were spreading over the East.-Having offered these general remarks, we now resume the consideration of the circumstances preparatory to the sounding of the trumpets, as stated in the four following verses.

When John was contemplating the ministers of Providence whom he had seen furnished with trumpets, his attention was called to a very majestic and godlike personage, whom he calls another angel. It is manifest, however, from the work in which he was engaged, that though he might be an angel by office, his nature and excellencies were infinitely superior to those which belong to that order of intelligences. What spirit, but the Angel of the Divine presence, could offer the prayers the saints with much incense before the throne? He only knows the groans of their hearts and their secret desires, and he only can present them, as a grateful sacrifice, before the

throne of the Father.

of

Of this adorable person we are told, that he came and stood