History testifies the completion of this trumpet, during the period of time from A. D. 372-to 422. It commenced with the improvident act of the Roman emperor Valens, in permitting the Goths to pass the Danube, and to settle themselves in Dacia, Morsia, and Thrace. By this impolitic step, he admitted a powerful enemy into the bosom of the empire, which endangered its security, and invited the other Barbarian nations. Soon after this, the white Huns invaded Mesopotamia, and carried their victorious arms up to the very walls of Edessa, whilst the Europian Huns made incursions into the provinces along the Danube. In the year 578, the Goths in Thrace advanced from that province into Macedon and Thessaly, where they committed dreadful ravages. They afterwards blocked up the city of Constantinople, plundered the suburbs, and at last totally defeated and killed the emperor himself. Thus these Barbarian hordes daily increased their ranks around the empire; and though the following emperors opposed them with their whole power, the Romans suffered much. They fought most terrible battles, and the advantages gained in the end, were rarely worth the blood of a single soldier.

This was the state of Europe when Theodosius died, and divided the empire between his two sons, Arcadius and Honorious; who both held the reins of government with unsteady hands, and governed by their ministers, who were often unfaithful. Especially Honorious, who resided at Ravenna, and reigned over the Western provinces, appeared to be little better than an idiot. Theodosius died in January A. D. 395, and early in the spring the Goths were in arms. The German auxiliaries in the Roman armies, declared their independence, went over to their countrymen, and assailed the declining empire with great success. The Westgoths, issued forth out of Pannonia, and invaded Greece and Italy. So great was the consternation, that the emperor took refuge in the town of Ista in Piedmont, where he almost fell a prisoner into the hands of

the victorious Alaric. Another German king, Rudagais, marched an immense army from the northern extremities of Germany, almost to the gates of Rome. It consisted of Vandals, Sueves, Burgundians, Alans and other northern tribes, and is computed, with the accession of women, children and slaves, to 400,000 persons. Gainas, another. Gothic commander in the Roman service, revolted and turned his arms against the Eastern provinces, and had almost gained the capital of Constantinople.

In 400, the victorious Alaric at the head of his warlike Goths, entered Italy again, and took the city of Rome at three different times; which he at last plundered, and reduced many magnificent buildings to ashes. His successor Ataulph, pillaged and ravaged the city and country a second time, and then invaded the south of France; where he established a kingdom, which soon extended its limits over all Spain and Portugal. About this time, also the Franks passed the Rhine, and established A. D. 420, a new kingdom in Gaul, under their king Pharamond. All these invading armies, took possession of the most fertile, and fairest of all the European provinces; and Odoacer, at the head of his Goths and Heruli, conquered Augustulus, the last Roman emperor, and thus gave the mortal blow to the imperial dignity in the West.

This tremendous tempest is said to have burnt up the third part of trees, and all green grass on the continent of the Roman empire. Trees may denote the principal personages, both civil and ecclesiastical; which is a trope, common with the prophets. Isa. ii. 13. Zech. xi. 1. 2. Isaiah lv. 12. Grass, may signify the common people, as being a multitude, in a flourishing condition, though of no power against such an enemy. Job v. 25. Ps. lxxii. 16. Ps. ciii. 15. 1 Pet. i. 24. Isa. xl. 6. 7. There can be no doubt of the great sufferings of all ranks and orders by these calamities, during this period. The higher classes lost their offices, all their possessions in the world, and

one third of them their lives. But the common people are represented by this prophecy, as having fallen altogether, an entire pray to the ravages of these Barbarians, with all their estates; except those who had been sealed, by the seal of the living God. Rev. vii. 3. 4.

The blowing of this trumpet was of import to the Church of Christ; for we may venture to assert, that the Christians were the principal sufferers under these calamities. Though these fierce and warlike nations were for the most part strangers to Christianity, and only intent to acquire wealth and dominion, yet they were often excited by the Pagans, who still remained in the empire, to treat the followers of Christ with inexpressible cruelty and violence. However, their expectations were finally disappointed. The eternal sun of righteousness illuminated the hearts of these usurpers; they at last embraced Christianity, and resigned their sceptres to the Lord.

11. TRUMPET ACCOMPLISHED FROM A. D. 422-To 472.

Verse 8. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire, was cast into

the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood:

9. And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

This trumpet must be explained in connexion with the first, as being of the same nature, and having the Roman empire for its object; and yet as sufficiently distinguished, in regard to time and place. Hence it cannot refer to the Macedonian heresy, nor to the taking and sacking of Rome, by the victorious Alaric, at the head of his fierce

and warlike Goths, as Dr. Gill, and other expositors have explained. The sea here denotes, the countries on the sea coast of the Mediterranean; and the burning mountain, that terrible invasion of Africa, by the Vandals and Alans under their king Genserick, who during this period, desolated all those countries with fire and sword, in a most cruel and savage manner. This mountain was cast; that is, it came from another region, and fell with sudden violence on this devoted third part of the Roman empire, which had hitherto escaped the calamities of the first trumpet.

During the accomplishment of the prophecy under this trumpet, the Christian Church in Africa was almost crushed by violence, and the cruel oppression of her enemies. Genserick, that savage and inhuman tyrant, set sail from Spain A. D. 427, at the head of 80,000 Vandals, and invaded Africa by the treachery of Bonifacius, the Ro-man governor, who had been offended by his Court. This fierce people had no sooner arrived, than they carried on a most dreadful war of desolation and plunder against the inhabitants for twelve years, took the province out of the hands of the Romans, and established a kingdom for themselves, which continued a whole century. Genserick him self was a monster of cruelty, and his Vandals without mercy. They committed inexpressible cruelties, without remorse, during a period of fifty years, in which they waged a continual war of carnage and rapine, against the Romans on the European sea coast, and the islands in the Mediterranean; which is said, by Procopius, an author of those days, to have almost depopulated Africa, and to have cost five millions of souls. Their known savage cruelty, and the glory of a number of victories which they gained in rapid succession, almost disarmed the power of the Romans. They conquered Hippo A. D. 437, Carthage A. D. 439, and in a few years the islands of

Sicily, Sardiana, Corsica, Eberjus and Majorca. A. D. 455, they invaded Italy with an army of 300,000 men, and far surpassed the West Goths in their terrible cruelties. They pillaged Naples, Capua, and many other cities and towns on the continent; and their fleet ravaged every place within its reach on the sea coast. Rome, which had submitted to their victorious arms, lost all its treasures, and not even retaining its ornaments, which other Barbarians had as yet permitted it to enjoy.

The Vandals, for the most part, were Arians. Amidst their constant wars, they also carried on a bloody persecution against the Catholics, who professed their adherence to the Nicene doctrine, concerning the divinity of Christ. Genserick and his son Hunerick in particular, razed their churches, exiled their bishops, and tormented by the most violent methods, such as remained inflexible against their wicked importunities. They even exceeded, if possible, Pagan Rome, in injustice, and devising various means of torture; under which many thousands were either maimed in their bodies, or honoured the Lord by martyrdom.

The whole nation is here compared to a burning mountain, consuming itself, and every combustible matter in contact with it. By this figure are indicated their rage, fury, and savage cruelties in all their invasions of the Roman empire; and the barbarous persecutions, which they carried on against the Catholics in their own country. The Christian Churches in Africa, under the government of the Vandals, truly dwelled, as it were in contact with a consuming fire. For, we are informed by credible historians, that before their invasion of that country, they counted seven hundred bishoprics in it, (i. e. congregations, according to the meaning of this word at that time,) which these cruel tyrants almost totally destroyed. Just as the sea would be agitated, if a burning mountain was. thrown into its bosom; such was the turbulence and confusion of the ocean of nations along the Mediterranean,