above arrangement is also entirely agreeable to the enigmatical form of the Apocalyptic prophecies, and yet introduces no confusion into them and if the vials be synchronical, there is no solid argument against it.

I shall now offer one or two arguments to show that the vials certainly are synchronical.

The seven vials are the constituent parts of the third woe, or the seventh trumpet, and contain all the remarkable events of that woe. But these vials contain only one earthquake (or revolution), viz. that of the seventh vial; and likewise only one symbolical storm, with its concomitant effects, which is also mentioned in the seventh vial: therefore the seventh trumpet contains only one symbolical earthquake and storm; and it follows, that the lightnings, voices, thunderings, earthquake, and great hail, seen by the apostle in Rev. xi. 19. are precisely the

arrangement. In order to show how little foundation there is for this charge, I shall here give a short analysis of my own theory. Instead of dividing the third woe into seven successive periods, I suppose all its seven vials to be cotemporaneously poured out, on the different component parts of the same symbolical world.

The first vial affects the political, religious, and moral principles of the inhabitants of the empire.

The second and third vials, represent the slaughter of its inhabitants. The fourth vial affects the imperial power, in its influencial effects upon human happiness.

The fifth, affects the same power, in its intrinsic authority and stability.

The sixth, destroys the Ottoman power.

The seventh, dissolves the whole frame of the political and ecclesiastical government of the empire.

Now whether the above arrangement be true, or false, must be established by arguments, drawn from the prophecy itself compared with events. But even if it were proved to be false, I see not, how it can be justly said to be confused or indistinct.

same with those of the seventh vial.* But the symbolical tempest and earthquake of Rev. xi. 19. (which are the same with those of the seventh vial) immediately succeed the opening of the temple of God in heaven, which had previously been shut; and the effusion of the first vial also immediately

* In this inference, I have the support both of Mede and Vitringa, two of the greatest authorities on prophecy; and their agreement on this point, is the more remarkable, because in their general arrangement of the seals and trumpets they differ. The only objection to the foregoing conclusion, which I have met with deserving of notice, is to the following effect: It is alleged, that Rev. xi. 19, indicates the convulsions in France about 1792, not as a part of the vials, but introductory to them, and therefore, the earthquakes, in xi. 19. and xvi. 19, are totally different. Now in answer to this argument, I observe, 1st. That it seems evident, if the earthquake of chap. xi. 19. had been introductory to the vials, it would have been again mentioned in chap. xv. 5-7. before the vials were delivered to the angels, and thus the narrative in that place would have been connected with xi. 19, and the possibility of a mistake in confounding two different earthquakes prevented. 2nd. If the events in France in the year 1792, were an earthquake, it is unphilosophical to say, that the earthquake was limited to the first convulsions of the revolution. All that followed till the dethronement of Bonaparte, was evidently a continuation of the earthquake. Nay, if the revolution shall hereafter break out again, it will still be the same earthquake. In this conclusion, I shall at least, I presume, have the concurrence of Mr. Faber, who agrees with me in assigning to the earthquake in Rev. xi. 13, a duration of a century and a half. It is very remarkable, that an author of the present day, in a pamphlet which has no relation to the interpretation of prophecy, has termed the French revolution and its consequences to a late period, a continued earthquake. "To say that either the church or the state is free from danger, would in times like the present, be an empty and presump"tuous boast. The earthquake, by which so many churches, and so many "states have been shattered into ruin, still continues to heave the “ground, and it appears evident, that these dreadful convulsions of "the moral and political world, are by the unseen councils of pro"vidence, directed to bring about some great renovation in the religious state of man." Three Letters on the British and Foreign Bible Society, by the Right Hon. N. Vansittart, 1812.

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follows the opening of the temple in heaven : therefore the earthquake of the seventh vial, which is the same with that of Rev, xi. 19. must be synchronical with the effusion of the first vial, since they both equally happen immediately after the opening of the temple. And the first and seventh vials being thus shown to be synchronical, all the rest must be so likewise.

I observe further, that according to the fifth general rule of interpretation laid down in the preface, we must conclude that Rev. xvi. 16. where the gathering together of the beast and the kings of the earth at Armageddon is first mentioned, corresponds inf time with xix. 19, where John again sees them gathered together. But the first of these passages comes in at the end of the sixth vial, and the last at the close of the seventh vial; therefore the end of both these vials corresponds in point of time, and consequently their effusion must also be parallel. Now if these two vials are synchronical, no good reason can be offered against the whole being so.

Having thus endeavoured to show, from the internal marks contained in the Apocalypse itself, that the vials are synchronical, I now proceed to draw the same inference, from the application of the vials to the awful events of our own times. It is now generally admitted by interpreters, that the vials began to be poured out not later than the year 1792. But exactly at the same time a symbolical earthquake began to heave the ground, which for twenty-three years continued to convulse and agonize every part of Europe. In its awful progress it has been com

*Rev. xv. 5; xvi. 1.

puted, that ten millions of our species have been destroyed by the sword or by violence. The expenditure of Europe in the contest has probably been at least three thousand millions sterling. When we add to these things the dreadful destruction of life by disease, the consequence of war; the dissolution of morals, introduced by excess of misery on the one hand, and on the other by an unlimited intercourse with the largest and most profligate armies ever known in history,* and also the terrible destruction of property, by plunder, confiscation, and fire, a mass of evil is presented to our imagination, of which the extent can only be known to that Omniscient Being, who sent this awful woe as a visitation for the sins of the world.

Now it seems utterly incredible, that the earthquake or political tempest, which was the moving cause, the volcanic crater of all this evil, should be no where mentioned in the vials of wrath, while its effects are so fully detailed.

But it is not mentioned

in them, unless it be the earthquake of the seventh vial: therefore the conclusion is, that it is that very earthquake, and that the seventh vial began to be poured out in 1792; and as the effusion of the first

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* A very able and enlightened foreigner, with whom I had many conversations on the state of the continent before the overthrow of Bonaparte, observed to me, that "the corruption of manners, and 'depravation of character, is still such on the continent, that "however melancholy is the conclusion, we cannot avoid forming it, "that mankind have not yet suffered enough." Speaking of the slaughter of men in the late wars, he said, "The lives of men are now "thought nothing of. 50,000 men are sacrificed in a day, 10,000 in

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an affair of advanced posts. One of the dreadful consequences of "the present system of war is, that nearly all the wounded die. It is "impossible to provide hospitals for such prodigious multitudes."

vial took place in the same year, these two and all the other vials must be synchronical.

I have said above, that the eighteenth and nineteenth chapters of the Apocalypse also belong to the seventh vial. The first of these chapters contains a sublime description of the overthrow of Babylon. The nineteenth chapter begins with a song of praise for her destruction. It next proclaims the approach of the marriage of the Lamb, and announces that his wife, the church, hath made herself ready; and declares the blessedness of those who are called to the marriage-supper. The marriage of the Lamb is the commencement of that glorious state of rest of the church, which is the subject of so great a portion of the writings of the prophets. It is then that they who are the elect of Christ, at his second advent, shall enter into the temple, or holy of holies, into which it is before said that no man could enter, until the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.* This event seems

precisely to synchronize with the destruction of the beast and false prophet, and their armies, at Armageddon, which is the last great event mentioned in the nineteenth chapter.

Having now endeavoured to explain the Apocalyptic vials, so far as events seem already to have reflected light upon them, it may be proper, before I close the subject, to take a short view of those great events, which the prophecies both of the Old and New Testament lead us to expect, previous to the consummation of the vials, at the great day of the Lord. The first of these events is the conversion

* Rev. xv. 8.