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CHAPTER XVIII.

IN the seventeenth chapter, the harlot church of Rome is described in such a variety of ways, and with such distinctness, that none, unless they are wilfully ignorant, or grossly prejudiced, can mistake the application. In this eighteenth chapter, the inspired favorite of the Most High shows us the utter destruction of Antichrist's kingdom, and the causes of its fall.

Verse 1: "And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory." These words plainly allude to the art of printing, which was discovered immediately after the events recorded in the last chapter, by which the gospel has been spread, and all kinds of useful knowledge increased, and such great light shed upon mankind that the earth is lightened with its glory. While Christendom is yet filled with violence and blood, and evil principles of darker ages are yet working ruin and despair among the children of men, light and knowledge are on the increase. Wicked as mankind are, they can see now, with comparative clearness of vision, the devices of priestcraft, by which they have for ages been enslaved. With the advance of light Antichrist has been exposed, and many of his former worshippers now detest him. The lovers of popery are beginning to hate it. France, the first of its converts, has given it the most

deadly wound that it ever received. And it is evident that other nations will ere long follow the example.

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Verse 2: " And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird."

Verse 6: "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies."

In these verses are revealed three causes of the ruin of Rome :

First, its false and impious doctrines, growing with each age in atrocity.

Second, the union with it of regal power, by which the subjects of the latter were over-burdened and ruined, and thus soon rendered unable to support the double govern

ment.

Third, her clergy, who made merchandize of men's souls, growing rich by the oppressive burdens laid by them on the laity.

These are the outward or worldly causes of Rome's dissolution. In the five following verses, the prophet shows the spiritual wickedness that led to her punishment.

Verse 4: "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.'

Verse 5: "For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."

Verse 6: "Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works; in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double."

Verse 7: "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her; for

she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow."

Verse 8: "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her."

These verses show that man may be instrumental in the ruin of the Romish church, but the true cause of her annihilation is of God.

Verse 9: "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,"

Verse 10: 66 'Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas! that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come."

From these words we may perceive the terror and confusion that will prevail among those kings who have espoused the cause of popery.

Second, their grief and anguish on account of its fall from power.

Third, they must stand afar off, and mourn, because relief is impossible in this hour of extremity.

Fourth, they fear the same torment.

Is not this exactly the case now in Europe?

Verse 11: "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandize any more.

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Verse 12: "The merchandize of gold, and of silver, and of precious stones, and of pearls, and of fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,"

Verse 13: "And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and

wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men."

The clergy of the Romish church were emphatically merchants. They sold for money all that men could desire, in earth and heaven, and even exemption from hell. From the long list of merchandize given by the prophet in these verses, it is evident that he alludes to this sale of pardons, absolutions, indulgences, masses, collections of tithes, small dues, christening and anointing fees, and all the traffic in crucifixes, beads, relics, and revenues from confessions, intercessions, with the greatest of all, the ransom of souls from purgatory.

The tendency of the revelation of John in this place is so clear, that little need be said in the way of application. All the features he ascribes to Babylon are distinctly impressed upon Rome. A glance at the history of the apostate church is all that is needed to unfold the prophet's meaning.

Verse 14: "And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all." These words assure us that the Romish church will be deserted by mankind, and its revenues taken from it. How surely is the prediction being fulfilled! That corrupt city has already been deprived at one shock, of a tenth of its power; since which time, little by little, it has been crumbling to the dust. Its revenues, once the wealth of an hundred nations, are now vastly attenuated.

Verse 15: "The merchants of these things which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off, for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing.”

Verse 16: "And saying, Alas, alas! that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls !”

From these words, we may observe,

First, the grief and lamentation of the clergy, and all

others concerned in the wealthy traffic of the apostate church.

Second, the mournful outcry of the superior and inferior clergy, for the loss of church power and riches.

Third, that all hope is departed, and that the wealth and splendor of Rome shall never return.

Showing this still more clearly in the following verses, the prophet says,

Verse 18: "For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every ship-master, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,"

Verse 17: "And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

Verse 19: "And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas! that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate."

These three verses show the consternation of all who live by the ships, or temples, of Rome, at her dissolution. In the language of prophecy, as I before remarked, a ship is a temple. When the gospel was spread by the apostles and their brethren, as John informs us, it destroyed a third of the ships of the sea, that is, of the heathen temples. And in the present passage, the prophet shows the panic of those who lived by the altar service, when the church by which they have been enriched has perished.

The scene again changes. The long looked for day of deliverance arrives at last. Prelacy, with all its sinful offspring, is become extinct, in consequence of which, the saints, both living and dead, are represented as in an extasy of joy on the happy occasion. The prophet's words are remarkable:

Verse 20: "Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy

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