beth that Protestantism can be said to have gained a permanent establishment in England. The symbol of an earthquake, however, does not at all apply to this gradual course of events, nor can any one year be pointed out as the era in which the "great earthquake," which slew seven thousand men, and overthrew a tenth part of the city, really took place. The quiet accession of the child Edward to the throne of England, bears so little resemblance to the emblems employed, that if it could be admitted as a fulfilment of the prophecy, we might fairly admit any event as a fulfilment of any prediction. And if the falling away of England from its allegiance to Rome be intended, that falling away took place in 1534; which was not "in the same hour" with the supposed death of the witnesses in 1548.

On these various grounds we hesitate to adopt Mr. Cuninghame's view of the fulfilment of this prophecy. And if called upon to suggest a more satisfactory scheme, we should prefer one compounded of Mr. Cuninghame's general interpretation of the symbol, and Messrs. Irving and Frere's chronological arrangement. With the former we consider that the two witnesses symbolize, not the Old and New Testaments, but "a small number of faithful men, a truly spiritual church; witnessing for the truth during the whole period of the 1260 years." With the latter we judge that their predicted death and resuscitation took place at the close of the 1260 years, or about the year 1792.

The leading and essential points of the prediction, seem to be easily recognizable in the events of that period. A few particulars may be mentioned.

I. The year 1792, or we would rather say the end of the last century, is very naturally presented to our mind, as a fit period in which

to search for the two witnesses in the close of their career, both because it is fixed upon by several eminent interpreters,-to wit, Mr. Cuninghame, Mr. Frere, and Mr. Irving, as the era of the termination of the 1260 years; and further, because in the view of these writers, greatly strengthened by the concurrence of Mr. Faber himself, the sounding of the seventh trumpet or third woe-trumpet also took place about this time. Now we have already stated that the close of the labours of the two witnesses appears to us to be clearly fixed at, or about, the termination of the 1260 years; and have also explained that the 14th verse,- The second woe is past; behold the third woe cometh quickly, seems to be a chronological note, fixing their death and resurrection between the second and third woes, but immediately before the third. On these grounds, then, it is clear that the close of the eighteenth century is that period of time to which our search must be first directed, in looking for the events which fulfil this prophecy.

II. But does the page of history present to us any events at all answerable to these remarkable predictions? Assuredly it does, and events far more strikingly marked in their characteristic features, and far more clearly answering the terms of the prophecy, than either the suppression of the Waldenses in 1686, or of the German Protestants in 1548.

During more than twelve centuries had the two witnesses, "the small band of faithful men,-the truly spiritual church," continued to bear their uncompromising testimony for God and his truth, and to protest against the abominations of popery. Confining our attention exclusively to the ten kingdoms of the beast, we find from the sixth century to the tenth or eleventh, the Paulicians in various parts of France and Italy; in the eleventh

and twelfth the Cathari and the Albigenses seem to take their place; then follow the persecutions of Peter Waldo and his adherents; and after the commencement of the reformation we have a continued struggle with the papacy in France, Italy, and Spain, for nearly two centuries. The

Protestants, however, being finally subdued in all these countries, and the best of them migrating to other lands, the " small band of faithful men became, towards the middle and end of the eighteenth century, both very small and very weak, within the limits of the ten papal kingdoms. If we search the church history of the last century, we shall find fewer traces of the existence of the true and spiritual church amidst the darkness which reigns over the kingdoms of the beast, than appear at any period of the previous eleven centuries.

In the year 1530 it was calculated that not less than eight hundred thousand professing the faith of the Waldenses were scattered over France, Italy, Spain, and the other European kingdoms. But of the eighteenth century we have the testimony of Dr. Priestley, that in 1774 so universally had infidelity spread itself over France, that "" one of the best informed men in the country assured him very gravely that he was the first person he had ever met with, of whose understanding he had any opinion, that even pretended to believe in Christianity.' While Voltaire writes, of the same period, that, "from Geneva to Berne, not a Christian is to be found." It was in this state of weakness and decrepitude then, that the two witnesses were found, when exposed to the last attack of "the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit."

It is quite unnecessary, and might prove tedious, to detail the steps by which the people of France proceeded towards the fulfilment of

this prediction. Suffice it to de scribe merely the fulfilment itself, an event perfectly unparalleled in the whole history of mankind, and which might well seem to deserve especial notice in these prophetic descriptions of the perilous times of the last days.

In November of the year 1793, a strumpet was enthroned, in the cathedral church of Notre Dame, as the goddess of reason, and divine honours were paid to her. The same impious farce was repeated in all the principal towns of France. The bishop of Paris, with his grand vicars and a number of other ecclesiastics, publicly abjured Christianity in the hall of the Convention. A decree was passed, that all the churches of the several religious persuasions should be instantly shut, and that every individual who should require the opening of a church, should be put under arrest as a suspected person; which was generally tantamount to a sentence of death. The sabbath itself was abolished, and, to obliterate its very remembrance, time was ordered to be computed by decades instead of weeks, while an inscription was placed over all burial grounds, expressing the awful falsehood, that death is an eternal sleep!' -A persecution of the most dreadful description began shortly after, of which the ministers of Christianity were the principal objects; and in which, according to one calculation, not less than 24,000 of their number were slain.

Such being the state of France, we may without doubt affirm of that kingdom that the profession of the Christian faith was extinguished, and its professors slain or rooted out, in a manner far more answerable to the terms of the prediction now before us, than was the case at any former period. Not only had the nation at large entirely cast off its allegiance to its God, but even that small number of faithful witnesses which had ever

been found in the worst periods of the papal persecutions, were now no longer to be discovered. Nor among the other kingdoms of the beast was there a single voice lifted up for God, but rather were the ninth and tenth verses of the prophecy fulfilled, in the felicitations of the disciples of atheism all over Europe.

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III. But the sequel is not less wonderful. After impiety had ran riot, as it were, for the allotted space of three years and a half, a sudden and supernatural change came over the minds of men. ligion, which had been publicly and constantly declared to be inimical to the well-being of society, was now once again thought worthy of protection and encouragement, and in June 1797, the "Revision of the Laws relative to Religious Worship" appeared,"containing provisions for the protection of the worship of God, such France had never before enjoyed." Not less extraordinary, not less out of the common course of events, was this sudden return to a profession of religion, at the close of the predicted period of three years and a half, than was their former career of atheism and, impiety.

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IV. Nor is the exact fulfilment of the remaining circumstances of the prophecy less striking. Those circumstances are, a great earthquake, in which the tenth part of the city fell, and in which there were slain seven thousand men, or

names of men." And lastly, the sounding of the seventh trumpet,

by which the seven vials of wrath are introduced.

Thata revolution is the event constantly prefigured by an earthquake is doubted by no one; and consequently the mighty revolution which took place in France at the period in question, furnishes the fittest possible fulfilment of this part of the prediction. That the French monarchy, one of the ten kingdoms of the beast, and one of the ten parts of the papal city, was overthrown by this earthquake, and its allegiance to Rome withdrawn, is equally clear. The terrific massacres of that Revolution fully answer to the slaughter of the seven thousand men; which, judging from other prophetic numbers, must be meant to set forth an immense loss of life: and the expression, names of men," is singularly applicable to the events in question ;-in that the aristocracy of France, the men of title, the men of name, the men of note, the heads of noble families, were peculiarly the objects of the popular rage, and were nearly extirpated in the course of its bloody career.

On the whole, then, we are brought to these two conclusions: 1st. That we seem compelled to look for the fulfilment of these predictions to the close of the last century; and 2nd. That events are easily distinguishable in the history of that period, which furnish a clear and wonderful fulfilment of the predictions in question; and which answer more exactly than either of the interpretations which we have had under consideration.

We live in a very remarkable period of the Christian Church, although iniquity abounds, there is every reason to hope that vital godliness is spreading throughout the land; and that in very many

families one or more members are subjects of divine grace; the prediction, or rather the promise is thus verified, I will take one of a city, and two of a family, and bring you to Zion." Jer. iii. 14.

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The work of grace is indeed a marvellous work, it is deeper than our finite reason can fathom, and higher than human wisdom can scan. Lord, what is man that thou hast thus visited him? thou mightest justly have left him to perish in the abyss of misery into which sin had plunged him, but thou who art rich in mercy, hast declared, "Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom."

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Every redeemed soul is taken out of nature's quarry, and by an act of sovereign grace is made a lively stone in God's spiritual building in the removal, many stones around are shaken, which may here form part of this building; for alas! temporary convictions pass away like the morning cloud, and as the early dew. The Church of God may likewise be compared to a garden; trees growing in this wilderness world are transplanted by a divine hand, aud made trees of righteousness, every plant taking root, and bearing fruit to the praise and glory of the heavenly husbandman. God sets a special mark upon his own, they are a distinct and peculiar people, he pours his Spirit upon them, and makes them shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation: Satan may be permitted for a season to hold their souls in bondage but eventually they shall be delivered from the snare and thraldom of worldly influence, and brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God. The time is not far distant, when they shall be more openly manifested as such, before an ungodly world: at present the tares and the wheat grow together, but at length a separation shall surely take place. See Mal. iii. 18. O that each may consider, To what class do I belong?

It is a delightful truth, that wherever the Lord has a people, he reveals himself to them as a God of love pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin; the sceptre

of mercy is held out, they touch it, and live. The gospel trumpet sounds, Ho, every one that thirsteth" "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." It is a free salvation to all who feel their need of a Saviour: the invitation is not to this, or to that individual, but it extends to all within the reach of the outward call, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth;" Isa. xlv. 22.

The ministers of God are no where directed to preach an exclusive doctrine; they have nothing to do with His secret purposes, the banner of the everlasting gospel is to be extended far and wide, and while duty is theirs, events are with Him who alone can prosper the work, in the accomplishment of his own purposes; God, however, condescends to use means, and the preaching of the gospel is still the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth.

While this subject affords comfort and encouragement to true believers, it is no less appalling to the hypocrites in Zion, when the mark of a hollow profession drops off, and they are about to stand at the judgment-seat of Christ, unclothed with the spotless robe of his righteousness, consequently with the weight of unpardoned guilt upon their defenceless heads. Surely fearfulness and trembling will overtake them, and they will cry vehemently to the rocks and mountains to fall on them, and hide them from the wrath of that Saviour whom they have grievously dishonoured; and before an assembled world will he appoint them their portion with idolaters, and unbelievers, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.-Rev. xxi. 8.

When our Lord was upon earth, he said, with reference to his disciples, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." In a world