world in connection with the Church of CHRIST, and which shall precede and usher in the kingdom of our LORD.

The next symbol used in the arrangement of the four-fold form of prophecy, is that of "the TRUMPET.” In referring again to the holy Scriptures for the interpretation of this symbol, we shall find both from its origin and use, that it is purely Ecclesiastical, that is, it was an instrument used to indicate the action of the Church as a body, and consequently so far as the Church is in its outward constitution a polity distinct from the State, so far the action represented by the trumpets is distinct from, although it is mixed up with, and follows the analogy of the seals in their outward actions.

The first mention of the Trumpet is in the nineteenth Chapter of the book of Exodus. And the circumstances connected with its introduction as here recorded, claim our attention. In the third month, when the children of Israel were come forth out of the land of Egypt, and were encamped before Mount Sinai, Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now, therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine; and ye shall be unto Me, a kingdom of Priests, and an holy nation. And it came to pass on the morning of the third day after Moses descended from the Mount, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the Mount, and

the voice of the Trumpet exceeding loud, so that all the people that were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with GOD; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire, and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the Voice of the Trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and GOD answered him by a voice. In the next Chapter which records the giving of the law it is said, that "all the people saw the thunderings, and Ex. xx. 18. the lightnings, and the noise of the Trumpet." Now the giving of the law from Mount Sinai, as stated in the twentieth and eleven following chapters, includes the Ten Commandments, and the pattern of the Tabernacle, and all the statutes and ordinances to be observed by the children of Israel. And S. Paul tells us, that all these Heb. iii. 5; were given as a shadow of heavenly things, i.e., of the Church of CHRIST. And referring to the giving of the law from Mount Sinai, as typical of that better covenant which God hath made with us in CHRIST JESUS, he says, "See that ye refuse not Him that Heb. xii. 25 speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth, but now He hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that may be shaken as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve GoD acceptably with

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reverence and godly fear; For our God is a consuming fire." Here the Apostle typically applies the whole transaction of the giving of the law, when the Trumpet was first sounded to the Christian Church, showing most clearly, that the Trumpet must be regarded as an Ecclesiastical emblem. The sounding of the Trumpet on this occasion is strikingly analogous to its first introduction in the Revelation. In the former it is called "the voice of the Trumpet," and it is also said, "the people saw the noise, of the Trumpet." In the latter, John says, that he heard a "great voice as of a Trumpet," and that he turned to see the voice that spake with him.

Moreover, this Trumpet was an instrument appointed to be used in the service and worship of GOD. And among Levit. xxiii the festivals to be observed, was the "Feast of

Trumpets," or "a memorial of the blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation." This feast was kept in "the seventh month," and the day on which it was held was to be a Sabbath-a day of rest. In the tenth chapter of Numbers, we find that the blowing of the trumpet was assigned to the Priests who ministered before the LORD. "And the sons of Aaron, the Priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations." They were blown at the new moon, over their burnt offerings, and over the sacrifice of their peace offerings, and also on the great day of atonement. The language of the Prophets also in relation to the trumpet, gives it an ecclesiastical application. The LORD, Speaking by Isaiah, says, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." Thus also Joel ü. 1 and by Joel, "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an

Isa. 1. 1.

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alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand." And that we may not weary our readers with unnecessary quotations, we will only remark further, that when the LORD appeared to John, and gave him these revelations, it was as the Priest and Bishop of His Church. And S. John describes the voice of the LORD "as the voice of a trumpet talking with him.”

We thus find, by referring to the numerous passages of Scripture in which the trumpet is mentioned, that it was an instrument, not only expressly instituted by GOD, but that its use indicated His special direction as the ruler and guide of His people. We find also that the Priests alone were permitted to use it, even when the Israelites went out to war with the nations; which circumstance of itself appears sufficient to stamp its character as a Church symbol, and the nation as Theocratic. And also, as the trumpet was an instrument used by the Priests in the Jewish worship, and for guidance and direction, so the ministers or priests of the LORD, are used by the inspiration of His HOLY SPIRIT in the guidance and direction of the Church, and in offering her solemn worship unto God.

The only mention of the trumpet in the New Testament, where it is used like the seal figuratively, (except in the Apocalypse,) is in connexion with the Advent of our LORD, when He comes to raise His saints; which figurative allusion is in perfect harmony and analogy with its literal use in the former dispensation. From these considerations, it appears evident that the Ecclesiastical phase of Christian history is revealed to us under the Trumpet series.

The VIALS represent the JUDICIAL phase of Christian

history. The only instance recorded in the Old Testament Scriptures, in which a vial is mentioned as being used for inflicting judgment on a people, is in 1 Sam. x. 1. the case of Saul, when Samuel anointed him to be King of Israel. We are told in the seventh chapter of the first book of Samuel, that the Israelites sinned greatly against GOD in asking a king to be placed over them, when the LORD their GOD was their King. And "the thing displeased Samuel," or as it reads in the margin, "was evil in his eyes," when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed unto the Verses 6-9. LORD, and the LORD said unto Samuel, "Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto

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thee for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected ME, that I should not reign over them.

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cording to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken Mɛ, and served other gods; so do they also unto thee." And Samuel reasoned with them before the LORD concerning their wickedness in asking for a king. And to convince them of their sin, and that they might know how greatly they had provoked the LORD to anger, He confirmed the words of Samuel, and answered his prayer by sending them in the time of wheat harvest thunder and rain. Every departure from GOD, and His holy ways necessarily brings wrath. And that it was so in this case, independently of the circumstances narrated, is revealed to us by the Prophet Hosea. "And after they had had many kings to reign over them, the LORD said, O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in ME is thine help. I will be thy King: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and