void; and intimated that although the use of the title in question might not be expedient, yet, as a matter of strict right, the Roman Pontiff was entitled to adopt it.”

Gregory was succeeded by Sabinian, but the new Pontiff held the see only five months. His successor was Boniface III, and instead of imitating the example of Gregory, in repudiating the title of Universal Bishop, he actually sought it from the hands of the civil power. His request was granted and a decree was issued by the Emperor Phocas ordaining "the Apostolic See of Rome to be the head of all churches." Platina, a papal biographer of the fifteenth century-probably deriving his information from the Vatican Library-adds, that upon the arrival of this decree, Boniface hastened to assemble a synod, consisting of sixty-two Italian prelates, and that in conformity with, its tenor he solemnly proclaimed the holy see to be the "head of all churches," and the Pope "Universal Bishop." [Greenwood ii. p. 241.]

It is worthy of notice, too, that writers on Ecclesiastical History speak of this identical period as that in which the Papal system attained that form in which it afterwards subsisted." The principles which gave to Romanism a lasting and definite form, and which had long been

* One of the ablest and most thorough works on the history of the Papacy is a work now in course of publication, entitled "Cathedra Petri, a Political History of the Great Latin Patriarchate," by THOMAS GREENWOOD, M.A. In the second volume of this masterly work, the author thus writes :-"Every principle of an unlimited religious autocracy had been avowed and adopted (during the sixth century) by or on behalf of the Holy See; and these principles had been to a considerable extent practically established. The outward machinery of this spiritual absolutism had been put in motion, yet many impediments to the smooth working of the system still existed. But the commencement of the seventh century marks a new period in the History of the Latin Patriarchate" (p. 244).

collecting strength, were developed under the splendid Pontificate of Gregory the Great. Yet, strange to say, the Pontiff who claimed and exercised all the exorbitant powers involved in the title of Universal Bishop and head of the Church, repudiated the title. Under the reign of Boniface, this title, the only thing wanting to complete the full assumption of spiritual supremacy, was granted to that Pontiff by Imperial manifesto. And then, as we believe, and the "times and laws," and probably the saints of God-were "given into his hand," and the great period of "twelve hundred and sixty years," took their commencement.

We think then, there is the strongest ground for believing that the year 1866 or 1867 will prove, as Dr. CUMMING states, a great prophetical era-inasmuch as it clearly appears to be the end of the "time, times, and a half time." If this be true-for we would not express ourselves dogmatically on such a point-that year will be marked by some very great and decisive changes in the moral and political horizon of Europe. The great earthquake mentioned in Rev. xi. 13, will then take place the church of God come forth from her place of refuge-all persecution for conscience sake cease-and the two witnesses of God "ascend to heaven in a cloud." But as for being, as Dr CUMMING states, the period of the coming of Christ, and the commencement of millennial blessedness, there is not the slightest evidence of anything like this, and the language of Scripture is altogether opposed to such a notion. "Of that day and of that hour knoweth no man, no not the angels in heaven, but my Father only."

CHAPTER V.

"The Great Tribulation," as described in Scripture.

"THE GREAT TRIBULATION" is the title under which Dr. CUMMING's new work on Prophecy has just been ushered into the world. We venture to say, however, that if the author had carefully studied the accounts given of that period of trouble in the Scriptures of truth, he would never have published the book. The very idea of this terrible visitation being future is altogether fatal to his theory of the near approach of the coming of Christ. It will be the object of the following pages to make this evident to the reader's apprehension.

"THE GREAT TRIBULATION," as it is called (Matt. xxiv. 21), denotes a period of trouble and distress, yet future, the intensity of which is such as to render it altogether unparalleled-In the language of Scripture, it will be such as never was, and never will be (Matt xxiv. 21). There are altogether four passages of Scripture which speak of this visitation as altogether unparalleled. The first occurs in Jeremiah xxx. 6—7 : "Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with

his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so THAT NONE IS LIKE IT; it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it."

The second occurs Dan xii. 7 :-" And there shall be a time of trouble, SUCH AS NEVER WAS since there was a nation even to that same time and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.".

The third is found in Joel ii. 2- “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong THERE HATH NOT BEEN EVER THE LIKE, NEITHER SHALL BE ANY MORE AFTER IT, even to the years of many generations."

The last passage is in Matt. xxiv. 21 :— "For then shall be great tribulation, SUCH AS WAS NOT since the beginning of the world to this time, NO, NOR EVER SHALL BE."

Now as these passages all agree in representing this period of trouble as altogether unparalleled in its character, there can be no doubt that they refer to the same visitation, since, in the very nature of things, the fact of a tribulation being such as never was and never will be again, can only apply to one and the same event.

Let us now ask Dr. CUMMING what are his views respecting this period of trouble? Strange to say, the only specific mention of the "Great Tribulation" which he has given occurs in the Preface to the work. This the reader will probably agree with us is somewhat remarkable— considering that it professes to be the subject of the book.

The following are Dr. CUMMING's remarks on this important topic :

"No ordinary events are looming up from every point of the European horizon, like strange birds of evil omen. All the ten years that have passed away, and the seven that still remain of the Great Tribulation,' will cover a time of trouble unprecedented, since there was a nation. It is the time when there 'shall be great distress of nations, with perplexity,' political, social, commercial, and moral-the disintegration of political party, the distrust of trade, the dereliction of moral obligations, confusion of principles, and collision of passions; 'the sea and the waves roaring.' There shall also be fulfilled and felt what is written in Luke:- Men's hearts failing for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken "" (pp. viii, ix).

Now, if the reader will examine for himself the inspired Prophecies from which the quotations in the previous page are taken, we think he will allow that Dr. CUMMING is altogether mistaken in his view of the "Great Tribulation." He will find the most unquestionable evidence that

(1.) This period of unparalleled trouble, instead of describing as Dr. CUMMING represents, a period of general suffering coming upon the Christian church and the world at large, denotes a judgment upon THE JEWISH NATION -(2.) Instead of "ten years" of this Great Tribulation, having "passed away" and "seven more years "still remaining," the event is altogether FUTURE-(3.) Instead of consisting in "perplexity, political, social, commercial and moral—the disintegration of political party, the dereliction of moral obligations," &c., &c., it will evidently arise from a tremendous ATTACK UPON THE JEWISH NATION— after their restoration to the land of their fathers, by a countless host of invaders.