fulminated its mandates to the world.* That no figure can be too forcible for a just representation of the unlimited power, wherewith the roman church has domineered over the nations, is testified by the thunders of the vatican being a phrase hacknied in every one of the modern languages of the western empire.

and when he had cried

The greek words are not orav EKEKOаKEL, when he had cried--but orε Ekpačev, while he cried-that is to say, during the domination of the papacy -while it roared to the nations with the lion-voice of sovereign authority.

seven thunders uttered their voices.

there occur seven events of interest and importance so great that they attract and occupy the attention of mankind-in other words (to use a figure

of the monarch, to which they would not voluntarily subject themselves."

It is almost needless to add that these merciless orders were horribly executed.

The conduct of the Portuguese in India was precisely similar to that of the Spaniards in America. In the island of Goa, on the coast of Malabar, the Portuguese established, in the sixteenth century, an Inquisition, still subsisting, on the largest scale and of the most terrific form:- -in the number and magnitude of its atrocities it has rivalled the most horrible of its european brethren.

* It may not be beneath notice to observe that the title of lion -LEO-has been assumed by many popes. Whether the name of that voracious beast has been adopted as representing the papal notion of the pastoral office of christian bishops in general, or only as characteristic of the particular use made by the popes of their authority, is not for me to say.

common to all languages, ancient and modern), they make a great noise in the world.

Saint John is commanded not to write those things which the thunders uttered-not to describe those events in ordinary plain language—but to seal them up-to leave them, as he has left them, concealed and locked up in the mystic symbols of the trumpets and vials.

As the thunders, then, only utter things not to be repeated, and consequently appear, like many other vociferous orators, to throw no additional light on the subject under consideration, they contribute to it another difficulty for what purpose do they utter their voices?

The seven thunders utter their voices in accompaniment of the mighty angel's lion-roar-for the purpose of testifying that the seven great dispensations which make so great a noise in the world, and resound trumpet-tongued in the apocalypse, take place during the domination of the latin church, and per tain to its history.

And because the great prophetic period of TWELVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY YEARS relates to the latin church, the mighty angel lifted up his hand to heaven, and swore by Him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven and the things that therein are, and the earth and the things that therein are, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there should be time no longer but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to

his servants the prophets;' and more particularly to Daniel, who was permitted to witness the taking of a similar oath.

"And I heard the man clothed in linen which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever, that it shall be for a time, times, and an half, and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished."* (Dan. xii. 7.)

By the similarity of the oath witnessed by Daniel, to that beheld by Saint John, it is intimated to the latter, that the restoration of the Jews to the divine favour will be contemporaneous with the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which therefore terminates that remarkable period whereof Daniel first records the prediction, and which is hereinafter more particularly noticed.

Saint John is commanded to take the little book -that is to direct his attention to it-to make himself master of it; the angel desires him to eat it up -to carefully reflect upon, or, as we say, to digest

*This solemn declaration relates to the mosaic church, or jewish nation——the same period is (Dan. vii. 25) described as < a time and times, and the dividing of time'—in the latter case it pertains to the christian church.- -I shall hereinafter have occasion to say more of this.- A time means literally the portion of time wherein the earth performs one circuit about the sun, and is called by astronomers its periodic time, and in popular language a year.-Times signify two years—a half or dividing of time is the half of one year. According to the computation of the Jews the year contained 360 days- -consequently each of the periods predicted to Daniel comprises 1260 days, and in the language of prophecy a day always signifies a year.

its contents; and apprises him that the first information which it will communicate to him, namely, the establishment of the christian church on the ruins of its cruel pagan persecutor, will be most joyful to him -sweet as honey in his mouth- -but that the continuation of the history, recording the corruption of the church and the horrible uses to which it will pervert its acquired dominion, will fill him with sorrow —make his belly bitter. He further informs the prophet that the book, which he was commanded to write and to send to the seven Asiatic churches, shall not be confined to them, for that through the instrumentality of him (the angel of the latin church) it shall be promulgated over great portions of the world: And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

In the fourth century St. Jerome translated the apocalypse into latin for the use of the latin church and of all the various nations in communion therewith-and by the protestant churches, which grew out of the latin church, the apocalypse has been translated into many other languages, and diffused over the whole world. The greek church, to which the apocalypse was addressed, and in whose language it was accordingly written, has done little or nothing in disseminating it.

Divine Providence has thus made the latin church the great instrument, or 'mighty angel,' of diffusing among many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings' this wonderful prophecy of her own iniquity and condemnation !

CHAP. XI.

1. "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod; and the angel stood, saying, Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2. "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

3. "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

4. "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5. "And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6. "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will.

7. "And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8. "And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9. "And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10." And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to