phet, will advocate the doctrines of political licentiousness, and endeavour to flatter the multitude with seducing words; that they will countenance them in rebellion, against lawful authority, human and divine, as the Egyptian Magicians encouraged Pharaoh and his people in their resistance to God; that they will extol crimes which the Gospel condemns; that they will eulogize Insurrection, and invoke benedictions on Rebellion, and be Hierarchs of Revolution.

An important observation arises here.

The History of the Egyptian Plagues narrates that Aaron's rod was changed into a Serpent: so were those of the Egyptian Magicians. Then Aaron turned the water into blood: so did the Magicians. Then Aaron brought up Frogs: so did the Magicians. But with the Frogs their power ceased. Aaron's rod smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice. The Magicians attempted to do the same, but could not; and they exclaimed*, This is the finger of God!

The Plague of the Frogs, then, was the final effort of the False Prophets of Pharaoh †.

circumstances mentioned in the " Sequel" to the Author's Letters on the Church of Rome, p. 162, 163, and p. 295-299, Second Edition.

* Exod. viii.

+ Lightfoot, Harmony, ad loc. "The frogs are named between the sixth and seventh vial, because of the judgment now coming; though the acting of the delusion by miracles were all the time. of the Beast and False Prophet: yet as he is here speaking of

We must speak with caution of the future.

Pro

bably the like will be the case with the mystical Egypt. The Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet will send forth their plague of the Frogs; and it may be that this will be their last struggle,— a fierce one, doubtless, it will be,-perhaps an omen of their extinction *.

St. Paul appears to intimate this. This know, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Here the Apostle describes a league of corrupt Religion with Lawlessness, Blasphemy, and Infidelity.

the last judgments of Antichrist, they are all summed together. He is called the False Prophet, as being the great deluder of all. The fruit of all these delusions is to set men to fight against God."

* Haymo ad loc. Fecit Moses ascendere ranas, quod et Ægyptii malefici facere suis magicis artibus permissi sunt. Ubi verò terræ pulvere virgâ percusso cyniphes processerunt, incantationes evanuerunt. Unde et superati dixerunt, Digitus Dei est hic. Ita et isti ad signum ranarum pervenient, ibique deficient: et insipientia eorum sc. damnati Hominis et Pseudoprophetarum manifesta erit, unde et Apostolus dicit, Quemadmodum Jannes et Jambres restiterunt Moysi, &c. (2 Tim. iii. 8.)

† 2 Tim. iii. 1.

He then compares its acts with those of the Magicians of Egypt. As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Next he announces their defeat. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.

These emissaries thus leagued together will endeavour to enlist the World in a wild and fiendish campaign against true Religion. They will draw out their forces in terrible array; and while Christ is marshalling His royal legions from the bright dayspring under His heavenly banner, they will come forth from the realms of darkness, and muster their forces for the conflict.

The scene of this great encounter is called ARMA

GEDDON.

The mention of ARMAGEDDON, in this place, is an anticipation. Preparations for the conflict are made under this, the sixth, Vial; but the conflict itself is not decided till the Seventh *.

The Seventh Vial is now poured forth into the Air-the domain of Satan, the Prince of the power of the Air-and a voice is heard from the Sanctuary, It is done; and Babylon falls and there is a great Earthquake, and a storm of Hail; and the great city is divided into three parts.

See xvi. 19, describing the Seventh Vial, when Babylon falls; and then see xix. 2, 3—19, where the issue of the conflict - after that fall-is described.

† Eph. ii. 2. vi. 12.

Still men do not repent, but blaspheme God.

Thus we find ourselves, again, at the period of the Sixth Seal when the great Earthquake shakes the World, and at the Sixth Trumpet, or Second Woe *.

The fall of Babylon is then described. The description is very full and clear t. Its destruction will be very sudden and unexpected ‡: it will be effected by some powers who were once subservient to her § it will be complete || and, what is very strange, some of those powers, who will be instruments in God's hand for destroying her, will afterwards weep over her **.

A caution is required here.

We are not to imagine that the fall of Rome will be the extinction of Romanism. Babylon falls; but the Beast and False Prophet still survive ft.

It is indeed said that the great city, that is, the mystical Babylon, will be divided into three parts ‡‡ ; and, God be thanked! we are thence permitted to cherish the delightful hope, that many will hear the heavenly warning, Come out of her, and be not partakers of her sins, and will so escape her plagues §§.

No greater blessing can be imagined for us than that we should be in any degree instrumental in res

* Rev. vi. 12—17. ix. 13–24. Cp. xi. 11–14.

Rev. xvii. xviii. xix.

§ Rev. xvii. 16. xviii. 19.

** Rev. xviii. 9, 10.

Rev. xviii. 8.

Rev. xviii. 1—3. 21.

+ Rev. xix. 1, 2, compared with Rev. xix. 19. 21.

Rev. xvi. 19.

§§ Rev. xviii. 4.

cuing some from the fire. Brethren, if any do err from the truth, and one convert him: let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins *.

Many, alas! however, of the promoters and adherents of Romanism will see the awful doom of Rome, and will not be warned by it. Their hearts, like Pharaoh's, will be hardened by God's judgments; they will go on in their infatuated career. Many, also, of the Powers of Earth will be leagued with the Beast and the False Prophet against Christ †, and will march on in a frantic career to the great conflict of ARMAGEDDON .

The circumstances of this dread encounter can only be pourtrayed in the language of St. John himself.

First, the preparation for it is described: I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. And they gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon §. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is LORD OF LORDS, and

* James v. 19.

Rev. xvi. 14. xix. 19.

+ Rev. xvii. 14.

§ Rev. xvi. 13, 14. 16.