of ignorant and profligate monks, which abounded in every part of Europe before the reformation, might be called "names of men ; because, though. they possessed the name, they were without the

character of men, and sunk into the lowest degrees, men, of vice and immorality. Jurieu, understood the chit. 15. phrase, as denoting the utter destruction of the a orders of monks and nuns.

The reformation was not only attended with the consequences above mentioned, but with effects of a most important nature upon the general state of religion and morals. The remnant were af

frighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven." In the kingdom of England, which acted so conspicuous a part in the important events of that time, a great reformation took place both in religion and morals; Romish idolatry was abolished, and the worship of God established upon pure and scriptural principles. But the beneficial effects of the reformation were not confined to that part of Christendom which embraced the protestant religion. Even the popes and their clergy felt its influence: they also were affrighted, and gave unwilling glory to the God of heaven. A great reformation of manners took place in the church of Rome itself; and since the age of the reformation, the Romish clergy, and even the popes, have assumed a decorum of conduct, and decency of morals, less unbecoming the character of those who profess to be the ministers of Christ.*

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*" Une portion si considérable des richesses et du crédit de Rome en ayant disparu, le luxe excessif, les flatteurs, les parasites, dis parurent aussi peu-à-peu dans la même proportion. Cela donna “jour à une réforme de mœurs, à un changement de vie devenu

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Though the fall of the tenth part of the city by the earthquake was, in the main, accomplished in the same period as the war of the beast with the witnesses; yet it was not till the revolution in England in 1688, the abdication of James the Second, and the accession of William the Third, that the final shock of the earthquake, occasioned by the reformation, may be considered to have taken place. England was then finally lost to Rome. The last attempt to regain her, ended in the expulsion from the throne of the papal royal family.*

The destruction of the papal power, and the reformation in the kingdom of England, were certainly events, which, from their great and important consequences-consequences which continue to operate, even with increasing energy in the present periodseem to be highly worthy of finding a place in the prophecies of the Apocalypse; as much so, to say the least, as the events that followed the dissolution of the league of Smalcalde. The church of Eng

"tout-à-fait indispensable au clergé Romain. Celui de l'église protestante était en général pauvre, savant, et exemplaire. Tant d'yeux "ouverts sur le contraste, des deux corps faisaient une loi impérieuse "de l'adoucir, et même de le faire disparaître.”—“ Il est donc très"vrai que cette église (l'église Romaine) s'est imposé une réforme; "comme aussi il est vrai que cette réforme n'est qu'une suite immé"diate, et peut-être forcée de celle operée par Luther, lequel d'après "cette considération doit étre regardé comme le réformateur même "du clergé catholique."-Essai, &c. par Charles Villers, p. 90, 91. -See also Robertson's Charles V. Book xii.

* Mr. Faber, in the fifth edition of his work on the 1260 years, has adopted the interpretation of the earthquake, and the fall of the tenth part of the city, which is here given.-1 take this opportunity of acknowledging my obligations to a writer, under the signature of Philo, in the Christian Observer for the year 1810, for the interpretation of this passage which I have adopted...

land has always been one of the props and bulwarks of the reformation. In the important period in which we live, she acts a conspicuous part in the great exertions now making to extend the kingdom of the Redeemer, and to make known the name of Christ both to Jews and to Gentiles, throughout the habitable world. In England also, true religion has owed much to the zeal, piety, and learning of the dissenters, who have flourished under the protection of those principles of toleration which owe their existence to the reformation.

The earthquake being over, it is immediately declared, that "the second woe is past, and behold "the third woe cometh quickly." This annunciation may be considered as a chronological mark, to distinguish the period in which the death and resurrection of the witnesses took place. The first woe, or the irruption of the Saracens, commenced about the year 612; and at whatever period its end may be supposed to have taken place, whether in the year 762, as Bishop Newton supposes, or a century or two later, a very considerable interval, not less than three or four centuries, intervened before the sounding of the second woe trumpet. This event took place about the year 1302, when I find, by consulting the Modern Universal History, that the Turks under Othman first invaded the Greek empire. They continued to be a woe or plague till a cen the year 1697, when they were defeated by Prince Eugene in the memorable battle of Zenta. This battle was followed by the peace of Carlowitz, in the year 1698; since when the Turkish empire has ma been on the decline, and the Christian states have

rather been a woe to them than they to the Christians. I am of opinion, therefore, with many able interpreters, that the Turkish woe ceased in the

1698.

year It is added, " Behold the third woe cometh quickly.' The word "quickly" seems to have a relative signification in this passage; and, as we have seen, that an interval of some centuries intervened between the end of the first and the beginning of the second woe, and also that the second woe continued for a space of three hundred and ninety-six years, if the third woe happens only one hundred years after the termination of the second, then it may be said to come quickly, inasmuch as it happens after an interval much shorter than that which separated the second woe from the first. The expression, "Be"hold the third woe cometh quickly," may further be intended to keep our attention and expectations awake, and to mark the third woe (when it shall come), from its proximity to the second.

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CHAPTER X.

THE SOUNDING OF THE SEVENTH TRUMPET.

"AND the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of "this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord "and his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and "ever. And the four-and-twenty elders which sat "before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, " and worshipped God, saying, We give thee thanks, i O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and "art to come, because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations "were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time "of the dead that they should be judged, and that "thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the

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prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy "name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them "which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his "temple the ark of his testament; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."*

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It is justly remarked by Mede, that “the SACRED "KALENDAR and GREAT ALMANACK OF PROPHECY "consists of the four kingdoms of Daniel, which "are a prophetical chronology of times, measured

by the succession of four principal kingdoms, "from the beginning of the captivity of Israel "until the mystery of God should be finished;

* Rev. xi. 15-19.

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