and the Ostrogoths, nor Bonaparte and the French; but to the hail and fire mingled with blood," and other things expressly foretold by the sacred writers.

THE FIRST TRUMPET.

"The first angel sounded, and there followed hail, and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth; and the third part of the trees, and all green grass was burnt up." This I expect will be literally fulfilled a short time before the second Advent. Is there any thing surprising in this? "Hath the Lord said it, and shall he not do it? hath he spoken it, and shall he not make it good?" He has repeatedly sent fire, and hail, and blood. In the seventh plague of Egypt "the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground, so there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail very grievous." Exod. ix. 22, 24. And why should he not do it again? He has produced blood by miracle, and why should he not do it again! He has formerly caused a part of the trees to be burned or parched up, and green grass to be burnt up, and who will question his power, or his veracity?

THE SECOND TRUMPET.

"And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain," &c. Here let us notice the precision of language adopted by the

inspired writer: it is not said simply, a great mountain, but "as it were a great mountain:" meteors, fire balls, and meteoric stones have been cast upon the earth, and in the sea; and why may not some great burning mass like a great mountain burning with fire, be cast into the sea, and cause it to become blood in the same manner as the waters of the Nile were turned into blood, and the fish that were in the river died. Exod. vii. 20, 21. This trumpet will produce similar effects, only that plague was general, with respect to the waters of Egypt, but this will be partial, so that only a third part of the creatures which are in the sea will die, and a third part of the ships will be destroyed. The Lord did destroy the ships at Ezion-geber and at Tyre, and he did destroy the Spanish Armada-and considering the wickedness of sailors in general, is it passing belief that the third part of the ships shall be destroyed? ver. 9

THE THIRD TRUMPET.

"And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp." ver. 10, 11. By this star, called Wormwood, we are not to understand a fixed star, but a great luminous body at a distance, resembling a star, similar in appearance to that which directed the wise men to the birth place of the Messiah. Why should

it be thought incredible that God should concentrate the electric fluid, and make it appear like a great star, burning as it were a lamp, falling upon the third part of the rivers and fountains of waters, which would cause them to become bitter; and in consequence thereof, the star be denominated Wormwood? Did not God make the waters of Marah and Jericho bitter? Has he not given an unpleasant taste to the various Chalybeates in different parts of the world? and could he not impregnate the Euphrates, the Tiber, or the Thames, and cause many men to die of the waters because they were bitter? The prediction is plain,--the fulfilment will correspond.

THE FOURTH TRUMPET.

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars, so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." ver. 12. God smote the whole of the sun when Christ was crucified, so that there was darkness over all the land from the sixth to the ninth hour, Mat. xxvii. 45, that is, a fourth part of the day, and who will question the power of God to darken it one more hour? Let those who believe in his power, take heed lest they dis

pute his word. Preternatural darkness is not contrary to scripture or reason. There are now frequently seen variable dark spots in the sun, each larger than our earth, and he can extend one of these over the face of it during the space of four hours, and cause something similar to affect the moon and the stars for the appointed period; then the prophecy would be literally fulfilled. But I need not conjecture; the Lord knoweth how to fulfil his word.

The first four trumpets produce judgments on inanimate creatures-the trees and herbage-the sea-the rivers and fountains of waters and the sun, moon, and stars; by which men are only indirectly affected; but the three last trumpets foretell direct judgments upon men. The first hurts them but does not kill any-the next kills the third part of men-and the last destroys them that destroy the earth; and then "the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ." The three last trumpets being of more importance than the former, an angel is commissioned to announce their approach, "I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Wọe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" ver. 13.

The three following trumpets are with great propriety called woe trumpets, because the judgments denounced by them are more severe than the former.

THE FIFTH TRUMPET.

"And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth." The word translated star, does not always signify either a fixed star or planet, but sometimes an extraordinary light of a similar appearance; such as guided the wise men to the place where the young child Jesus was. A star may denote a heavenly messenger, either of mercy or of judgment. The Messiah the chief messenger of mercy was foretold by Balaam, as "a star that should arise out of Jacob." Num. xxiv. 17. This same Jesus saith, “I am the bright and morning star." Rev. xxii. 16. Sometimes angels and inferior messengers such as christian ministers, are denoted by the term stars, "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." Job xxxviii. 7. The pastors of the seven churches are called both stars and angels. chap. i. 20. So the angels who are messengers of vengeance are symbolized by stars, "They fought from heaven, the stars in their courses fought against Sisera." Judges v. 20. Flaming hypocritical professors, who injure the church are called