Lastly it has been shewn, that the fifth vial not only foretells the violent overthrow of the seventh head; but that, extending beyond that overthrow, it comprehends the whole of that intermediate prophetic period, which stretches between the original life of the wild beast and his second term of vital existence subsequent to his announced resurrection from the dead. The wild beast was, and is NOT, and yet Is or SHALL BE. Of these three consecutive periods, the term, expressed by the phrase the wild beast was, is past and gone: the term, expressed by the phrase the wild beast IS NOT, is at present in actual lapse; having commenced at the time, when the seventh head was lopped by the sword of England: but the term, expressed by the phrase the wild beast 18 or SHALL BE, is as yet future; though it will immediately succeed the present term of the wild beast's political death or non-entity.

Thus it appears, that we are now living, under the influence of the fifth vial, and in the intermediate prophetic period during which the wild beast Is NOT *. It further appears too from the far evolved roll of history, thall ALL the seven heads of the Roman wild beast have successively risen and fallen: so that we need only look upon what is actually passing before our eyes, to be fully satisfied that he is now for the first time HEADLESS and therefore DEAD. Five had fallen, when the apostle wrote: the sixth was then in existence: the seventh was not

* I write in the year 1817.

yet

yet come. But we have seen the extinction of the sixth we have witnessed both the rise and the fall of the seventh. At present therefore, we may, with perfect facility, give an exact enumeration of ALL the seven heads: and such an enumeration will use

fully prepare the way for some notice of the third yet future period, or the period described by the phrase the wild beast is or SHALL BE.

The seven heads then of the wild beast, or the seven successive forms of Roman government (for all commentators, whether ancient or modern, whether Protestant or Popish, are agreed, that the wild beast is a symbol of the Roman Empire from its commencement to its termination): these seven heads, or seven political forms, may now be enumerated in the following order.

1. THE KINGSHIP.

2. THE CONSULATE.

DICTATORSHIP. 4. THE DECEMVIRATE.

CONSULAR TRIBUNATE*.

3. THE

5. THE

6. THE ROMAN EMPE

RORSHIP. 7. THE FRANCIC EMPERORSHIP‡

These several heads are all distinct from each other but they agree in what must plainly be a necessary and essential characteristic of a ROMAN head. Each, at one period or other of its rule, obtained and enjoyed the sovereignty of the metropolitan city ROME.

* These five were fallen, when St. John wrote.

This sixth was in actual existence at the time, when the prophecy was delivered.

This seventh was future or not yet come in the days of the apostle.

SECTION

SECTION IV.

Respecting the rise and fall of the eighth form of Roman government.

THOUGH the interpretation of prophecy has no concern with futurity: yet, if we confine ourselves to the strict letter of what has been revealed, we may undoubtedly pronounce, in general terms, what will be hereafter.

Nor does this at all militate against the sound and judicious remark of Sir Isaac Newton, that it is "the folly of interpreters to foretell times and things

દ

by the Apocalypse, as if God designed to make "them prophets *." Such a remark can only, in the very nature of things, relate to a minute expository pre-application: it obviously can have no concern with our confidently declaring, in the words of Scripture, that this or that event will assuredly

Occur.

In fact, if we thus extend the observation beyond what its illustrious author ever meant it to be extended, we do but betray our own gross ignorance, both of the evident purpose of his remark, and of the radically inherent nature of prophecy itself. This assertion will be best both established and understood by the adduction of examples.

* Observ. on the Apoc. p. 251.

Long

Long before the advent of the Messiah, his future manifestation had been announced by the prophets : and various minute characteristic particulars had been laid down, by which he might be infallibly verified whensoever he should appear. Now, had a Jew, previous to the coming of our Saviour, attempted to give a full account of all his actions, such for instance as we find them recorded in any one of the four evangelists: he would doubtless have justly incurred the censure of Sir Isaac Newton's observation; because he would have been dealing with prophecy, as if God had designed to make him a prophet. But, if he had simply declared, through faith in the divine word, that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judea; he plainly would not have made himself at all liable to the censure of our illus trious expositor, notwithstanding he so confidently announced an event as yet future: for, in fact, he would merely have taken up the explicit declaration of the sacred oracle. Accordingly, when Herod demanded of the Sanhedrim WHERE the Christ should be born, they answered without hesitation, notwithstanding the birth of the Redeemer was in their apprehension still future, IN BETHLEHEM JUDEA; and, in giving this answer, they were not vainly playing the part of prophets, which alone is thepresumption so justly reprehended by Sir Isaac Newton; but they were soberly and rationally setting forth an article of faith universally received by their Church, BECAUSE it rested on the authority of revelation. "FOR thus it is written by THE PRO,

OF

"PHET,"

४४.

PHET," as we find them immediately and regularly giving their voucher for their assertion; "And thou, "Bethlehem in the land of Judah, art not the least,

among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shail come the Governor, that shall rule my people "Israel *."

In a similar manner, when we of the present day simply declare, through faith in the divine word; that, in the great day of the Messiah's second advent, there shall be a resurrection both of the just and of the unjust, the former to unceasing happiness, the latter to perpetual misery: we certainly do not become liable to the censure of Sir Isaac Newton; notwithstanding we speak with as much positiveness on the subject, as if we ourselves had received the doctrine from direct personal inspiration. For thus it is foretold by the CHIEF OF PROPHETS, may we say as the Sanhedrim did of old; "The wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righte ous into life eternal f.".

66

It is on this very same principle, if I mistake not, that we may, without any fear of warrantable reprehension, look forward humbly and reverently into the mysterious volume of the Apocalypse; and hence, by mere attention to the naked words of the oracle, deduce, even before the event, the future condition and ultimate fate of the now defunct wild beast.

I. We have seen, that the entire duration of the

* Matt. ii. 3—6.

+ Matt. xxv. 46.