vertheless, as to the time in which they are to be accomplished, they stand in the same relation to the seals and trumpets, as Joshua's taking the city of Jericho, chap. vi. 3, 4, 5. He compassed the city six days, each day once, and on the seventh day seven times, and took the city by a general shout. It is also manifest from the resemblance of the vials to the trumpets, and the different effects which they produce, that they do not comprise equal periods of time. The three last trumpets take up much more time in their accomplishments, than the four first; and this also is the case with the vials; however the great events, which have occurred in Europe these last twenty-five years, made it appear, that the duration of each of the three last vials, will not be more than fifteen years. Certain it is, that they are not yet poured out, if it has not been done since the beginning of the revolution in France; and in that case they would comprise a shorter time still, than above expressed.

The fifth vial of wrath has probably been poured out A. D. 1798, and the kingdom of the beast has already stood in a state of darkness during fifteen years. The great whore mounted and curbed it, as she pleased. During the time in which the sixth vial is poured out, on the nations upon the river Euphrates. Popery will probably revive by the assistance of the second beast, and regain in some measure, its first power and grandeur. This second beast will bring all the horrors of persecution on the Protestants; first in Roman Catholic countries, and afterwards in those places of security, to which they shall have fled. And a bloody one it will be, indeed. During the sixth vial it also changes its character, and appears on the stage of action as the false prophet for the first time;. and like the dragon, and the first beast, breathes out of its mouth one of those three unclean spirits like frogs, which go forth to gather the kings of the earth to the bats tle of the great day of God Almighty.

year of the destruction of Jerusalem, A. D. '72, the prophetic chronology of the Apocalypse affixes its commencement.

I have no reason to fear a clashing of history with the dates of my computation-I only apprehend, my first principle will be found too simple, and artless with those, who perhaps have all this time been expecting, to meet with a concealed and profound system. But this simplicity and plainness ought not to be considered a defect, it should induce us more readilyto receive it; for it is, no doubt, the will of God, that this important Revelation should be of benefit to all, as it imports all to know it; and that this calculation of prophetic time should be intelligible, even to the weakest capacity.

The seventh number has been consecrated as sacred, from the beginning of the world. And although infidelity has levelled many a sneer at it, yet in that measure of time, God finished the creation of heaven and earth. Moses and the prophets make a frequent use of it; and here in the Apocalypse, the frequent occurrence of this number, is even remarkable and striking. There can be no doubt, but it is a very secret, profound and important measure of time, since the whole economy of the Old Testament dispensation, both in its civil and ecclesiastical departments, was thereby regulated. The great Creator measures it out by the motions of the heavenly bodies; since this is the general valid measure of time in our solar system, by which, according to Bengelius, all their revolutions are determined without a fraction; from all of which we may safely conclude, that it has its sure foundation in the eternal councils of Heaven. The prophet Daniel has it in his seventy prophetic weeks, by which he determines the duration, and destinies of the Jewish church: and we have reason to believe, that it may also be the keynumber to the times of the New Testament church, and that it may run on even to the consummation of all things.

An attentive reader of the Apocalypse, must at least, find it striking and remarkable, to meet so frequently with this number here. We read of seven spirits before the throne of God; of a Lamb, having seven horns and seven eyes; of seven Thunders; of a Dragon with seven heads; a beast, with seven heads, and one with the same number from the bottomless pit. But still more remarkable are the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven vials, by which this series of prophecies is evidently arranged into a methodical order of time and periods. All these terms are surely founded on a certain measure of time, by which the prosperous and calamitous events of the church are limited to numbers and periods; and whoever discovers that measure, has found the key to a full assurance and certainty, in the exposition of this prophecy.

With this key I will acquaint my indulgent reader; though with all due deference to the judgment of the wise, the abilities of the able, and the labours of the learned. It consists in a peculiar application of the (Hebdomadæ) prophetic weeks of Daniel, to the Apocalypse. There are seven seals, and the seventh contains the seven trumpets. Every seal and every trumpet, comprises a period of seven prophetic weeks, or forty-nine years; and the prophecy under these seals, discloses the most interesting and remarkable events, which are to happen to the church of Christ during that time. This is signified by the seventh number. But since the Revelation contains the history of the triumphs of the Son of God, over the powers of darkness, the fiftieth year, or the year of Jubilee, should every time be counted in; which caused such remarkable Epochas in the Jewish church and state, Leviticus xxv. 27. The seventh seal however cannot, consistently with the order of the prophecy, be taken into the computation, for itself, as it comprises the seven trumpets; which are a new continuation of periods and events, of the same length with