determine. However this may be, there are several circumstances in the present time, to which the prediction may be accommodated, and which point it out to us as a subject of our attention and im-, provement.

This correspondence I shall first illustrate; and then shall lead your thoughts to a practical use of the passage.

The correspondence of this prediction with the present time, I shall illustrate in several circum

stances.

The three preceding vials were poured out upon the earth, upon the sea, and upon the rivers and fountains of water. This fourth is poured out upon the SUN. It must therefore portend some events more important and interesting than the former.

The luminaries of heaven, in prophetick stile, denote kingdoms and empires. In the prophecy of Balaam, it is said, "There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel.' In Daniel's vision of the he goat, it is said, "His horn waxed great, even to the host of heaven, and did cast down some of the stars to the ground." The downfall of Babylon is expressed by "the falling of the morning star." The sun then, being the greatest and most illustrious of the heavenly luminaries, must, in this prophecy, intend some of the principal kingdoms and powers of the world.

Farther: As the sun is a body of the most extensive influence in the system, and that which gives light to other bodies, so the vial poured on the sun naturally denotes a general war among the most respectable nations; a war so vehement and extensive, that its malignant fury is felt in all the enlightened parts of the world.

It is said, "Men were scorched with great heat." This probably intends some distinguishing circum

stances of cruelty and zeal in the manner of prosecuting the war.

The moral effect of it is a visible increase of impiety and irreligion. "Men blasphemed the name of God, who had power over these plagues, and repented not to give him glory."

Keeping these circumstances of the prophecy in view, let us inquire, whether we cannot see them, at this period, remarkably verified.

The present European war is, with little intermission, a continuation of the late American war. It evidently originated from our long and bloody contest with Britain for the rights of independence. The principles of republicanism, here asserted and defended both by the pen of the politician, and the sword of the soldier, were, with a kind of electrical stroke, transfused through the army and navy of France, which had been sent to our assistance. By them these principles were disseminated through that mighty kingdom. There they immediately began to operate with vigour, and soon they effected a complete revolution. Alarmed at this great event, the ruling powers of neighboring nations combined to restore and support the exploded system of monarchy. The house of Austria, from its near connexion with the royal family of France, took the lead, and other nations followed the example. The war is become general. The powers which remain neutral, may perhaps find themselves under a necessity of taking part in the war, or of combining in force to preserve their neutrality. If any particular nations are designated, in the prophecy, by the SUN, on account of their power, influence, or enlightened state, these are certainly engaged in the contro

versy.

And they are scorched with great heat. Never has a war been conducted with fiercer zeal and keener animosity. In ordinary wars, the object is some

point of honour, tract of territory, or privilege of trade. And after a few millions of treasure, and a few hundred thousands of lives have been sacrificed, the contending parties, wearied out and exhausted, open a treaty of peace, make mutual concessions, and sit down nearly in the same place, from whence they arose. But in this war the object is different. France is contending for her republican government: Kings are contending for their crowns. France ex

pects, that, if she is overpowered, she must see her territory dismembered, her exploded monarchy restored, her citizens enslaved, and her liberties trampled in the dirt. The confederated kings expect, that if France supports her revolution, they shall feel convulsions in their own dominions, and see one revolution following another, till the crowns of monarchs are tossed from their heads, and the sceptres wrested from their hands.

These apprehensions fire the zeal, and urge the exertions of the parties in support of their respective objects. They view the controversy, as embracing every thing great and important; and as not to end, like former wars, in mutual restitution, and a friendly accommodation; but either in the total subversion, or in the general establishment of absolute monarchy.

The war is prosecuted with uncommon severity. For many years past the manners of mankind have, by the increase of knowledge, been gradually softening. Even war had begun to divest itself of its horrors, and to assume a milder form. But now we see the barbarity of uncivilized ages, which had been retiring, called back again on the stage.

But what most signally marks the coincidence of the prophecy with the aspects of the times,, is the prevailing impiety.

*

Look through Europe; What symptoms of a reformation can you see? Is there any increase of piety?--Any amendment of morals-any special, attention to the interests of religion? Even in France, which has experienced a variety of interesting events, Have there been any national acknowledgments of a governing Providence? On the contrary, Are not the forms of religion derid- « ed, the principles of piety exploded, atheism avowed, and the entrance of their churchyards marked with this awful sentiment, that "Death is an eternal sleep'?"

It may be useful to inquire, What can be the cause of this apparent growth of irreligion among a people, who have long enjoyed the gospel, and are now under such severe calamities?

This is, in some degree, the usual effect of war; especially of intestine and civil convulsions. These, when they rise high, and operate with violence, engross the thoughts and conversation, awaken malignant passions and bitter criminations, dissipate serious sentiments, and vitiate the manners.

In France, the established religion, for ages, has been popery, with its, grossest absurdities. The: revolution has suddenly torn off the mask of igno. rance, and broken the fetters of bigotry, People are now at liberty to see with their own eyes, to speak what they think, and act what they please. In a zeal against the newly discovered absurdities of ancient superstitions, many have rushed to the opposite extreme, and discarded even rational christianity.

Infidels, of whom there have long been numbers among the men of learning and influence, taking advantage of the times, have industriously, and too successfully, disseminated their licentious opinions.

It may farther be observed, that the civil and ecclesiastical establishments were intimately incorporated; and the forms of religion made the tools of state policy. The church and the nobility possessed a great part of the most valuable lands, and engrossed a large share of the publick revenues. As religion, in the hands of tyrants, has been made an instrument of oppression, the people, on a sudden discovery of the sacrilegious fraud, have, in their surprise, conceived an indiscriminate prejudice against the very name of religion; and, without waiting to distinguish the precious from the vile, and to separate the rational from the absurd, they have almost exploded the substance of Christianity. We must believe, however, that the seeds of truth are latent in the soil, and when this inclement season is past, they will be cultivated with wiser attention, and spring up under a more smiling sky.

From what has taken place in France, we have cause to fear, what may be the general state of religion, for a time, before the introduction of the happy period which the scriptures foretel...

In most of the nations of Europe the government is similar to the late government of France; especially in respect of the union of the civil and religious establishments; and in respect of the despotism exercised over the body of the people. Before that happy period commences, there will be revolutions in favour of liberty. For civil liberty is a necessary preparative to the progress of truth, and a discriminating circumstance of that time. Human nature is the same in other nations, as in France; and we may expect, that political revolutions will have the same effect on the state of religion elsewhere, as they have had there.

The reasons why the American revolution did not, with the ancient forms of government, subvert the forms of religion, were, because religion