the first period of Christianity, designated by this seal, were very powerful, bold, and magnanimous.

2. And I saw, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.-The opening of the first roll disclosed a white horse, with a rider having a bow, and a crown was given to him. His appearance was that of a conqueror, achieving conquest after conquest. As I understand it, this emblem was drawn on the inside of the roll, and was all that was exhibited on the opening of it. No writing was seen,-the emblem contained in itself the whole prediction intended to be expressed. What this was, is the thing to be ascertained. Similar emblems were shown in a vision to Zechariah, and describe events which preceded the incarnation of Christ. There were four chariots; the first was drawn by red horses, the second by black horses, the third by white, the fourth by grizzled and bay horses. Zech. 6:1, 3. The white horse is the emblem of a bloodless joyous victory, 19: 11, 14. or emblematically Christianity itself. ment used for shooting arrows, and these together were chief implements of ancient warfare. The meaning is that the victories of Christianity are won by the instrumentality of truth, the arrow which pierces the heart, as on the day of Pentecost when multitudes were pricked in their hearts, and exclaimed, What shall we do?—A crown given to the rider, signifies, that Christ, or Christianity would be victorious. and have ruling authority. This is explained, as is usual with John, in an additional clause. He went forth conquering and to conquer. Many were to be the conflicts-certain and joyous the victories. Through the labors of the apostles and their coadjutors, the Christian religion spread over a large portion of the known world, so that, as Paul

The rider is Christ, A bow is an instru

said, "the gospel was preached in all the world." The period of this seal may be considered as extending from the day of Pentecost to about the year 67 or 68, when the

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wars and rumors of wars" began which preceded the destruction of Jerusalem.

3 and 4. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red; and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.— At the opening of the second seal, the second living creature, whose appearance was that of a young ox, indicating, perhaps, that at this period the faith and patience of ministers would be greatly tried, gave the same call to attention. The emblem disclosed was a red horse, by which is signified a time of war and bloodshed in an eminent degree. This is shown to be its meaning by what follows. Power was given to the rider to take peace from the land, and that they should kill one another, and there was given to him a great sword. These expressions and this symbolic act, predict uncommon slaughter. This seal had its fulfillment in the incessant civil wars in the short reigns of Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, and especially in the destruction of Jerusalem, and of more than a million of the Jews. This capture of the holy city, and immense sacrifice of human life, was attended with the demolition of the temple, and the overthrow of the Jewish commonwealth. In the language of the Saviour, it was such a time of tribulation, as never had been, and never should be again. In addition to these, were the wars of Domitian in repelling the invasions of the surrounding barbarous nations, and the formidable insurrection in Germany. This was a period, which fully justified the expression, that men should kill

one another, and gave a terrible illustration of the emblems employed. Domitian was slain in the year 96, and this may be considered as the termination of this seal.

5 and 6. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.-The third seal introduced a different state of things; and the third living creature which had a face like a man, indicating perhaps, that intelligence and wisdom would characterize this period, said, Come and see. A black horse is emblematic of calamities and mourning. The rider with balances signifies, that the ruling power would be marked with justice and equity. Seemingly contradictory as is the import of these symbols, we find, that the history of the time fully sustains their appropriateness.

Nerva, who succeeded Domitian, was a prince of great moderation and generosity. Goldsmith informs us, that "the people, being accustomed to tyranny, regarded his gentle reign with rapture." It was, however, very brief. Trajan succeeded to the throne and was distinguished for his diligence, his moderation to his enemies, his modest bearing, his liberality to the deserving, and economy in his expenses." He was induced, however, to look with suspicion upon Christians, and great numbers of them were put to death. These cruelties were suspended by order of the emperor, when he was informed by Pliny of the innocence and harmlessness of their lives.

After his death Adrian was elected emperor in A.D. 117. He was distinguished for personal and mental accomplishments, and equally so, for his moral virtues.

"He was affable to his friends, and gentle toward those of inferior stations; he relieved their wants, and visited them in sickness, it being his constant maxim, that he was an emperor, not elected for his own good, but for the benefit of mankind." Yet with these virtues there was a strange mingling of vices.

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re

He made a tour through France, Germany, and Holland, to Great Britain, and thence through Spain to Rome, forming many abuses, and doing much for the public welfare." He traveled through the eastern part of the empire, and mitigated the severity of the persecution of the Christians. He went twice into Africa, corrected disorders, reformed the governments there, erected magnificent edifices, and ordered the rebuilding of Carthage and Jerusalem. "He forbade masters to kill their slaves, as had been before allowed; but ordained that they should be tried by laws enacted against capital offenses." All these things show the truthfulness of the emblem of the balances in the hand of the imperial rider.

Equally true to fact is the emblem of the black horse on which he rode. For when Adrian was in Athens, another insurrection was made by the Jews, who massacred Romans and Christians throughout Judea. A powerful army was sent to subdue them, and in the course of two years more than a thousand of their best towns were destroyed, and nearly six hundred thousand men were slain in battle. Adrian reigned about twenty-two years.

Antoninus succeeded him in the year 138. were so correct, he was surnamed the Pius.

His morals His reign for

a period of nearly twenty-three years, was distinguished for the encouragement of learning, and efforts for the welfare and happiness of the people. Some earthquakes having occurred, the Christians were accused by their inveterate enemies, the heathen, of being the cause of those calamities,

and were subjected to injurious and cruel treatment accordingly. Mosheim states, that "the emperor, being informed of these unjust and barbarous proceedings, addressed an edict to the whole province of Asia, in which he denounced capital punishment against such as should accuse the Christians without being able to prove them guilty of any crime." Thus, in this reign was the emblem of the balances verified. I cannot agree with those writers who make that emblem to signify a yoke of oppression, or of burdensome ordinances, and superstitious observances. Such fancies are unworthy of the subject.

The other part of this seal seems to refer to events relating more particularly to the church. A measure of wheat for a penny, &c. Wheat and barley being chief articles of food, are emblems of Christian privileges which nourish piety in the soul. Being carefully measured out for a definite sum indicates, that there would be a great diminution of these privileges, and the enjoyment of them would be attended with great difficulties. The wine and the oil signify spiritual comforts and refreshings which result from those privileges; and the command not to hurt these, is prophetic of the protection which the emperors endeavored to extend to the Christians, assailed and maltreated by their enemies.

Trajan, whose reign is included under this seal, issued an edict to this effect, "That the Christians were not to be officiously sought after, but that such as were accused and convicted of an adherence to Christianity, were to be put to death as wicked citizens, if they did not return to the religion of their ancestors.". This made an adherence to Christianity a capital crime. The only alternative for the accused was apostasy or death. None, therefore, could be known openly as Christians, and as a consequence, public worship could not be enjoyed without incurring the peril