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is past, and behold, the third woe cometh quickly.' At the sounding of the seventh trumpet therefore, xi. 15. &c. one would naturally expect the description of the third woe' to succeed: but as it was before observed there follows only a short and summary account of the seventh trumpet, and of the joyful rather than of the woeful part of it. A general intimation indeed is given of God's taking unto him his great power, and destroying them who destroy the earth' but the particulars are reserved for this place; and if these last plagues coincide not with the last woe, there are other plagues, and other woes after the last; and how can it be said that 'the wrath of God is filled up in them,' if there are others besides them? If then these seven last plagues synchronize with the seventh and last trumpet, they are all yet to come; for the sixth trumpet is not yet past, nor the woe of the Turkish or Othman empire yet ended: and consequently there is no possibility of explaining them in such a manner as when the prophecies may be parallel with histories, or evinced by ocular demonstration. The many fruitless attempts which have hitherto been made to explain them, are a farther proof that they cannot well be explained, the best interpreters having failed and floundered in this part more than any other. before the vials are poured out, the scene opens with a preparatory vision, which is the subject of this chapter.

But

As seven angels sounded the seven trumpets, so seven angels are appointed to pour out the seven vials, angels being always the ministers of providence; and in order to shew that these judgments are to fall upon

the kingdom of the beast, the true worshippers of God and faithful servants of Jesus, who had escaped 'victors from the beast,' tous nikontas ek tou theriou, and had never submitted to his tyranny or religion, are described, ver. 2, 3, 4. like unto the children of Israel after their deliverance and escape out of Egypt. For as the children of Israel, Exod. xv. having passed through the Red sea, stood on the shore, and seeing their enemies overwhelmed with the waters, sung the triumphant song of Moses: so these having passed through the fiery trials of this world, stand on the sea of glass mingled with fire,' which was mentioned before, iv. 6. and seeing the vials ready to be poured out upon their enemies, sing a song of triumph for the manifestation of the divine judgments; which is called "the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb,' the words in great measure being taken from the song Moses and other parts of the Old Testament, and apAfter this the most holy plied in a Christian sense. place of the temple is opened,' ver. 5. and 'the seven angels come out of the temple,' ver. 6. to denote that their commission is immediately from God, clothed like the high priest but in a more august manner, 'in pure and white linen,' to signify the righteousness of these judgments, and having their breasts girded,' to show their readiness to execute the divine commands, 'with golden girdles,' as emblems of their power and majesty. A vial then is given unto each of the seven angels, ver. 7. by one of the four living creatures,' the representatives of the church; by which it is intimated, that it is in vindication of the church and true religion that these plagues are inflicted. Moreover

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of

'the temple is filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power,' so that no man is able to enter into it ;' ver. 8. in the same manner as the tabernacle, when it was consecrated by Moses, and the temple when it was dedicated by Solomon, Exod. xl. 34, 35. i Kings viii. 10, 11. were both filled with a cloud and the glory of the Lord, so that neither Moses nor the priests could enter therein: a farther proof of the majestic presence and extraordinary interposition of God in the execution of these judgments.

CHAPTER XVI.

In obedience to the divine command, ver. 1. the seven angels come forth to pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth; and as the trumpets were so many steps and degrees of the ruin of the Roman empire, so the vials are of the ruin of the Roman church. The one in polity and government is the image of the other; the one is compared to the system of the world, and hath her earth, and sea, and rivers, and sun, as well as the other; and this is the reason of the similitude and resemblance of the judgment in both cases. Some resemblance too there is between these plagues, and those of Egypt. Rome papal hath already, xi. 8. been distinguished by the title of spiritual Egypt,' and resembles Egypt in her punishments as well as in her crimes, tyranny, idolatry and wickedness.

Vial the first, ver. 2. is 'poured out upon the earth;' and so the hail and fire of the first trumpet, viii. 7. 'were cast upon the earth.' It produceth 'a noisome

and grievous sore;' and in this respect resembleth the sixth plague of Egypt, Exod. ix. 10. which was boils breaking forth with blains.' This plague is inflicted upon the men who had the mark of the beast, and upon them who worshipped his image;' which is to be understood of the others also, where it is not expressed. Whether these sores and ulcers are natural or moral, the event must show.

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Vial the second, ver. 3. is poured upon the sea,' and the sea becomes " as the blood of a dead man," or as congealed blood: and in like manner under the second trumpet, viii. 8. the burning mountain was cast into the sea, and the sea became blood.' Vial the third, ver. 4. is poured out upon the rivers and fountains of waters, and they became blood:' and in like manner under the third trumpet, viii. 10. the burning star fell upon the rivers and fountains of waters.'-There is a close connection between these two vials; and the effects are similar to the first plague of Egypt, Exod. vii. 19. when the waters of Egypt, and their streams, and their rivers, and their ponds, and their pools of water became blood.' Seas and rivers of blood,' manifestly denote great slaughter and devastation: and hereupon, ver. 5. 6. the angel of the waters,' for it was a prevailing opinion in the east that a particular angel presided over the waters, as others did over other elements and parts of nature, and mention was made before, xiv. 18. of 'the angel who had power over fire;' this angel of the waters celebrates the righteous judgments of God in adapting and proportioning the punishment of the followers of the beast to their crime; for no law is

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more just and equitable, than that they who have been guilty of shedding the blood of saints and prophets,' should be punished in the effusion of their own blood. 'Another angel out of the altar,' ver. 7. for, vi. 9.under the altar were the souls of them who were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held,' declares his assent in the most solemn manner, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.'

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As the fourth trumpet affected the sun;' viii. 12 so likewise the fourth vial, ver. 8, 9. is poured out the sun. upon An intense heat ensues; 6 and men blaspheme the name of God, and repent not to give him glory.' Whether by this intense heat of the sun, be meant literally uncommon sultry seasons, scorching and withering the fruits of the earth, and producing pestilential fevers and inflammations; or figuratively, a most tyrannical and exorbitant exercise of arbitrary power by those who may be called the sun' in the firmament, by the beast, the pope or emperor; time must discover. Men shall be tormented, and complain grievously; they shall, like the rebellious Jews, Isa. viii. 21. fret themselves, and curse their king, and their God, and look upward,' look upward not to pray, but only to blaspheme; they shall not have the sense or courage to repent, and forsake their idolatry and wickedness. When the events shall take place, and these things shall all be fulfilled, not only these prophecies of the vials shall be better understood, but also those of the trumpets, to which they bear some analogy and resemblance.

Vial the fifth, ver. 10, 11. is poured out upon the