ravaging countries; but that, as soon as they return, settle, and cease from such excursions, they can no more be represented under the type of locusts. The prophets, therefore, never use this symbol to explain a settled monarchy, be it never so tyrannical and tormenting; nor do authors, who often compare plunderers to locusts, use such comparisons but on account of their ravaging.

Whilst the Saracens, therefore, kept on their way of plundering and ravaging, by making numerous and prodigiously great incursions into Christendom, so long were they like locusts; but when they left off that way, settled and erected monarchies, and endeavoured rather to preserve themselves in a quiet state,, than to annoy Christendom at the old rate, and seek out new conquests and adventures, then they were no more like locusts-and then the work for which they were appointed, in relation to the duration of this plague, was performed.”*

Reckoning from the year 612, when Mahomet fled from Mecca to Medina, and first began to propagate his religion by the sword, as well as publicly to preach it, an hundred and fifty years onwards will bring us to A. D. 762. In this year, the Caliph Almansor laid the foundations of Bagdat, about ten leagues from Babylon, the imperial seat of his posterity, during a period of five hundred years,+ and called it the city of peace. At this time, amidst the

riches of the East, the Saracens ceased from their locust-like devastations, and became a settled, lettered, and civilized people. "The luxury of the Caliphs, so useless to their private happiness, relaxed the nerves, and terminated the progress, of the Arabian empire. Temporal and spiritual conquest had been the sole occupation of the first successors of Mahomet; and after supplying themselves with the necessaries of life, the whole revenue was scrupulously devoted to that necessary work. Instead of pursuing the great object of ambition, their leisure, their affections, the powers of their mind, were diverted by pomp and pleasure; the rewards of valour were embezzled by women and eunuchs, and the royal camp was encumbered by the luxury of the palace. A similar temper was diffused among the subjects of the Caliph. Their stern enthusiasm was softened by time and prosperity; they sought riches in the occupations of industry; fame in the pursuits of literature; and happiness in the tranquillity of domestic life. War was no longer the passion of the Saracens." The testimonies of other historians is to the same effect, that from the building of Bagdad they ceased from their warlike propensities, and only engaged in ordinary wars, like other nations. Mr. Hallam, after giving the outline of Saracenic history, says, that for three centuries after Mahomet, one was that "of glorious conquest; a second, of sta

* Gibbon.

米

stationary, but rather precarious greatness; a third of rapid decline.* Elmacinus divides their history into three books: the first, their origin and increase, from 622 to 746; the second, their declension; the third, their distractions and dissipations. Still more to the point, Mr. Mills, in his History of Mohammedanism, considers the foundation of Bagdad as a marked chronological era in the Saracenic empire; the period which preceded it being that of the undivided Caliphate, or the rise of the Saracenic power; while the period which succeeds it, that of the divided Caliphate, or the decline and fall of the Saracenic power.*

This brings me to the last observation I have to make, which is this, that the very circumstance of a divided caliphate shews they were no longer the prophetic locusts; for they had only one king over them; whereas, after the foundation of Bagdad, the chair of Mahomet was disputed by three caliphs, or commanders of the Faithful, who reigned with almost equal magnificence at Bagdad, Cairo, and Cordova.

* On the Middle Ages, Vol. II. p. 176.

+ Mills' History of Mahommedanism, p. 44, 104, 105, 132.

I

CHAPTER IX.

THE

JUDGMENTS OF GOD UPON THE EMPIRE,

MORE ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST,

ON THE SOUNDING OF THE SIXTH TRUMPET;

OR

THE RISE AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TURKS, OR OTTOMANS.

The four horns of the altar-Second" Woe" comes at some distance of time from the first-Fall of the Saracens― First Turkish Sultan-The Turks a great people before they were restrained or "bound"-Divided into four kingdoms on the Euphrates—Their being bound-By their own divisions—By the Crusades-By the Moguls-Their being loosed-Rise of the Ottoman Power-Work it was to perform-Preparation for it -Time of its continuance-Description of the Turks—Their overthrow of the Eastern Empire-Fall of ConstantinopleEstablishment of Mahometanism on its ruins—Attempts on the West-Western Idolatry and Wickedness.