heaven, there is a connexion between the crimes which were perpetrated at the revocation of the edict of Nantes, and the calamities by which such multitudes have been so severely chastised in the course of the late Revolution? Have not the very same description of persons, who engaged with activity in the persecutions of the former period, been those, who in the latter epoch, have been as it were singled out to be the greatest sufferers? Is it not remarkable, that they were, in both instances, the royal family, the courtiers and ministers of state, the noblesse, the officers of the army, and the intendants of provinces, the monastic orders, and all the different ranks of the clergy32?

The verses of St. John I now proceed to explain, clause by clause. After three days and a half the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet33. After three prophetic months and a half, i. e. just 105 years after tyranny had been brought to maturity by Louis XIV. (during which exact period the witnesses as well of religious as of civil liberty had been completely suppressed); the witnesses, who appeared to have fallen never again to rise, were raised from a state of inaction and civil debility to political life and energy34. And great fears fell

32 Long has it been foreseen, and often foretold by pious and good men, that the innocent blood of the faithful followers of Jesus, poured out for many ages on the altars of antichristian idolatry and persecution, would at last be repaid by the just Governor of the world, if not upon the persecutors themselves, yet at least upon their posterity; and this seems to be the case at the present æra.' Disc. by Robert Miln, A. M. p. 21.

The Rise and Fatal Effects of War, a

33 And they stood upon their feet. That is, they were put into a condition to act, and resist their enemies; for so that posture imports, as hath been shewn before.' Daubuz.

34 France,' says an ingenious political writer, started from the dead repose of despotism, like another Lazarus from the tomb, and glowed with animated life and invigorating freedom.'

35 This fear,' says Daubuz (in loc.), consists in some measure in astonishment; for the word oos signifies both and certainly few events have happened in the world, which have excited more astonishment than the Revolution in France.

upon them which saw them. A large and active part of mankind, interested in the support of ancient abuses, and especially the privileged orders of France and the other European countries, saw the rise and progress of the French Revolution with astonishment and with alarm.

And they heard a great voice from heaven, saying unto them, Come up hither. The supreme power, by abolishing the laws under which they suffered political death, invited them to quit their state of bondage.' WHATSOEVER is set up on high to overrule the rest in power and authority, is,' says Daubuz,' the heavens thereof "." Accordingly by heaven many will probably here understand, in opposition to the opinion of Jurieu and the anonymous French commentator, not the prince on the throne, but the general assembly of the nation, saying unto the advocates of civil and religious liberty, and unto the people in general, come up hither; rise to the rank of citizenship; and assume your share in the administration of government. In truth, this does appear to be the purport of this short invitation; and to whom, in the European world, has it ever been given, but to the French? And they ascended up to heaven38. Accepting the invitation which was given them, they were elevated to a high degree of power

36 These are the words of Mr. Bicheno upon this clause. 37 P. 293. To the same purpose he elsewhere says (p. 160), Heaven signifies symbolically the ruling power, the Government, wherever the scene is laid.'

38 Daubuz on this verse says, to ascend into heaven, signifies to be in full power, to obtain rule, and dominion.' That this interpretation may not be doubted, this distinguished commentator appeals, in proof of it, to the prophetic scriptures; and to the ancient oneirocritics of Persia, of Egypt, and of India. After observing that these observations are adopted by Sir Isaac Newton and Dr. Lancaster, I cite the words of Isaiah (xiv. 12, 13,): How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning ! How art thou cut down to the 'ground, which didst weaken the nations. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven: i. e. how art thou fallen, O Babylon, from a state of prosperity and power; thou, who hast declared in the pride of thy heart, I will rise to the greatest height of authority and success. In the same manner does our Lord himself (Luke x. 15) apply the expression to Capernaum, thou which art exalted to heaven.

and political consequence; and this happened, not to a few, but to all the witnesses for Civil and Religious Liberty, and to the great body of the nation. And, to use the emblematic language of prophecy, they did not merely ascend up to heaven, but they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; which implies still more. For a cloud,' says Mr. Pyle, is an emblem of prosperity. To come, with, or ride on clouds, is to rule, conquer, &c.' To the same purpose Dr. Lancaster. A cloud, without any tokens shewing it to be like a storm, ALWAYS denotes what is good, and implies The import of the whole clause appears then to be this after the revolution of some years, they were raised not only to a participation of power, but were very prosperous and successful. It can then be regarded as only in part fulfilled. Those who bear testimony in France against civil and spiritual tyranny have been raised to great power; but their great prosperity is an event yet to be accomplished.

success.

And their enemies beheld them3. Their old oppressors and their abettors contemplated the change which was taking place, both with astonishment and malice.' And the same hour there was a great Earthquake, and a Tenth Part of the city fell. But to state more particularly what was the cause of their fears and their astonishment, it may be added, that the Revolution was great and sudden. The French monarchy, which is one of the Ten Horns of the Beast, or one of the Ten Streets of the antichristian city, fell, and its abominable oppressions issued in its utter ruin; and that as in one hour. The progress of liberty, in the destruction of established systems, is generally slow; and that which was ages in erecting is ages also in pulling down; but the change of things here is not according to the common course of events; the witnesses awake, the conflict commences, and the tyranny falls as in one houra°?

39 To see signifies to rejoice, or to be grieved, according to the circumstances of the person affected.' Daubuz in loc.

40 The three sentences, in this paragraph, marked with inverted commas, belong to Mr. Bicheno.

The symbolic earthquake involved likewise in it the overthrow of the ecclesiastical as well as civil governors. The Tenth Part of Babylon, or of the antichristian church, fell.

And in this Earthquake the titles of men being seven thousand were destroyed. After what has happened in France, these words need no elucidation. And the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The remainder, those others who did not originally belong to the party of the witnesses, were at length completely intimidated by the events which occurred; and discerning the necessity of uniting with the advocates of freedom, and of acquiescing in the new system which was erected, they did, in fact, glorify God, though not intentionally, by promoting his grand and good designs in this change of things, which he was now effecting, in the overthrow of antichristian despotism43. But it is observed by Mr. Cooke, late professor of Greek at the university of Cambridge, that the proper sense of oi 201701, both in the Apocalypse and the gospels, is the vulgar,' or 'the

41 Though the Greek word cos is usually translated an earthquake, yet it is of so large a signification, as that it is often used---of the Heavens, as well as of the Earth.---An earthquake, when great, overturns and quite changes the surface of the earth; overturning mountains, hills, and rocks ;---and is therefore a proper symbol of GREAT REVOLUTIONS or changes in the government or Political world. It is thus used in the prophets;---and to the same purpose explained by Artemidorus, lib. ii. c. 46; and by the Oriental interpreters, c. 144, who there also explain it of a change, in the state, occasioned by new laws.' Dr. Lancaster. See similar comments on the word us by Vitringa, in Apoċ. VI. 12.

42 Jurieu on these words says, This is the total conversion and refor mation of the Tenth Part of the city, i. e. of the kingdom of France.' Vol. II. p. 269.

43 From Mr. Bicheno this last clause also is taken. The whole of his explication of St. John's words runs thus. After a violent conflict, for some time, between the witnesses and their opposers, the former prevailed, and those, who had been rather spectators of the contest than ac tors in it, united themselves in their cause; and thus, though at least, many of them, might not be actuated by these views, they glorified God in promoting his grand and good designs in this change of things, which he was now effecting, in the overthrow of antichristian despotism and persecution.'

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generality";' and then a different turn may be givento the passage, as will appear from the following explication of it by an interpreter of this verse. 'The unprivileged part of the community, affrighted at the progress of atheism (the imputation of which, and its studious propagation by counter-revolutionists, will appear portentous to their cause) shall give glory to the God, not of our Lord Jesus Christ, but of heaven; the creator, the supreme, the eternal.' As the prophet indeed had been speaking of the privileged orders in the preceding clause, it is natural enough, that in the succeeding part of the verse he should pass on to the unprivileged classes, that is to say, to the generality. That the people of France in general, in their several districts, and the Convention in particular, at Paris, have publicly and solemnly expressed their belief in the being, and their reverence for the attributes, of Almighty God; and that they have acknowleged his benevolent interference in their behalf; are facts well known to those, who are acquainted with the recent transactions of the rising republic.

The preceding extract I have inserted from a small pamphlet, written by a graduate of Cambridge, and entitled, an outline of a Commentary on Revelations xi. 1-14; though that pamphlet was published after the present chapter, and indeed the whole of the work, was prepared for publication. The two witnesses,' says this writer, who is a man of talents and learning, I apprehend to be two symbolical persons, the opposites of the woman of the xviith chapter, and of the Wild Beast, which supports her, and is mentioned in the xiiith chap. and in the 7th verse of the xith. I understand them to mean, the Principles of Civil and Religious Freedom, of genuine Government and Re

44 Revelations Translated and Explained, &c. 1789, p. 186.

45 The 1st and the 8th articles of the Decree, passed by the Convention May 7, 1794, are as follow. 1. The French nation acknowleges the existence of a Supreme Being, and the immortality of the soul.-8. The freedom of religious worship is maintained.’