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LECTURE XLVI.

THE STORM OF THE FOUR WINDS.

REV. vii. 1. And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

THE chapter immediately preceding was concluded with the history of the sixth seal; and as the different seals follow one another in the strictest chronological order, and as the account of those we have considered is given in an unbroken narrative of events, it was natural to expect, that the chapter now before us would have been introduced by the history of the seventh. But of this last seal we have no intimation whatever, till we come forward to chap. viii. 1, where we are told, that upon the seventh seal being opened, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.' The place, therefore, which this chapter occupies in the general series of the prophecies, is the first thing which claims our attention.

Many interpreters consider this chapter as wholly retrospective, and suppose that it is intended to give additional information respecting the events which preceded the times of the sixth seal. Such of them as apply the prophecy of the sixth seal to the general judgment, consider this chapter as a continuation of the history of that seal; and suppose, that it is intended to describe the condition of the righteous, as the conclusion of the preceding chapter, they conceive, describes the condition of the wicked in the day of judgment. But the greater part of interpreters consider this chapter as introductory to the history of the trumpets; and this will appear to be the most correct view of the chapter, if you consider,-First,

Its connexion with the preceding, as marked by the introductory expression, And after these things I saw four angels. If the prophet meant to give only some additional information respecting the times and seasons he had already described, it can hardly be supposed, that he would have adopted this mode of expression. But if he intended to carry forward the series of the predictions, and to make us acquainted with events which were posterior to the times of the sixth seal, he could not have adopted any phraseology which would have been better fitted to impress our minds with his design.-Secondly, This view of the chapter harmonizes with the design of similar sections in the prophecies of the Revelations. Before any new and painful disclosure was made to the prophet, his mind was uniformly strengthened and prepared by a previous consolatory vision. In this manner he was fitted to contemplate the calamitous events of the seals; in the same manner he was prepared to witness the judgments of the vials. And as the very worst times of the Christian church were to be under the trumpets, this method of preparation was not less necessary when their evils were to be disclosed. We have only to read over the history of this vision, to see how he might contemplate the different symbolical representations with the greatest tranquillity of mind. He was hereby assured, that whatever winds of error and delusion might blow, or whatever storms of persecution might rage, a competent number of witnesses for the truth would be preserved. He was likewise assured, that when these times of great apostacy and tribulation were come to an end, the interests of pure and undefiled religion would revive, and the church would enjoy the greatest measure of prosperity.

We therefore propose to consider this chapter as introductory to the trumpets. It consists of two parts; of which the one is an account of a sealed company, and the other is a description of an innumerable multitude. Previous, however, to the consideration of these, it will be necessary that we explain the statement of circumstances with which the prophecy is in

troduced. chapter.

This is given in the first three verses of the

The violent concussions of the earthquake of the sixth seal had no sooner subsided, than John was favoured with a vision of four angels.-It has been frequently supposed, that Constantine and his three sons are meant by the four angels; because it was by the vigour of their administration, that the barbarous nations were kept under restraint, and the destinies of the Roman state seemed to be prolonged. But this application cannot be admitted; because Constantine never assumed any of his sons into partnership with him in the throne; and, after his decease, the empire was divided into three, and not

into four parts, among his successors. The word angel must

be understood in the same sense here as in verse 11, where it is obviously intended of angels, properly so called. And as these spirits are continually employed about the interests of the church, it is natural to suppose, that their agency was to be employed in the way of imposing restraints upon the winds, till the servants of God were sealed in their foreheads.

According to the impression on the mind of the prophet, four of these friendly spirits were standing on the four corners of the earth.-Few of the ancients had any idea of the rotundity, or globular form of the earth: they generally supposed it to be a flat surface; and therefore spoke of the extremities of the earth, under the idea of angles or corners of the earth. But, as the term earth is the symbolical name of the Roman empire, it is extremely probable, that in this vision John was presented with something like a map of the territorial possessions of the Romans. And as the provinces lay pretty contiguous, and the most remote upon the east and west were nearly at equal distances from Rome as the centre, they must have presented something like the appearance of a large spacious square. Four different angels appeared to be standing like sentinels upon the corners of this landscape, holding the reins of the storm with such a steady hand, that though the clouds were impregnated with every thing that was pesti

lential and destructive, they could not discharge their contents within any part of the limits which these ministers of Providence were appointed to guard.

The special service assigned them was, to hold the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow.—When we have reviewed the history of the trumpets, we will be better able to form a judgment respecting what is symbolized by the winds; because while the winds were restrained, none of the trumpets were blown; and as this destructive tempest continued to expend its rage during the whole period of the trumpets, the judgments of the four winds and those of the seven trumpets must be the very same calamities. The storm of hail and fire mingled with blood of the first trumpet, the volcano or burning mountain of the second, the judgment of the falling star of the third, the preternatural and fearful eclipse of the fourth, and the other evils included in the fifth and sixth, are all represented here under one general emblem of a storm, which four angels were appointed to restrain till they should be ordered in the righteous judgment of God to withdraw, and then it would spread desolation wherever it came.

Different storms of persecution had blown with fury against the church in the period of the seals, from which she was now happily delivered. The earthquake of the sixth seal, like the eruption of a volcano or the bursting of a tempest, might be supposed to have cleansed the atmosphere; and, therefore, times of greater rest and tranquillity might be expected. But the tremulations of the mystical shock had no sooner subsided, than the evils of her condition appeared to be augmented. The attention of John was called away from the changes produced by the earthquake, to the mighty efforts of four angels who were standing upon the four corners of the earth. Blackness, and darkness, and tempest, seemed to cover the whole region of the heavens. He had never seen such forebodings of a storm. The clouds were so much charged with it, that nothing but the power of angels could prevent its eruption. But, as a short interval was to take place between the events of

the sixth seal and the storm of the four winds, John had the satisfaction to see the ministers of Providence keep them under sufficient restraint, till the servants of God were sealed, and secured against the merciless fury of this tempest.

The angels were commanded to hold the winds that they should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. -Sea and land take in all the different parts of the Roman empire, the Asiatic and African as well as the European provinces. The text appears to contain a geographical description of the scene of judgment. But as trees are particularly mentioned, and as the sea and the land are spoken of by way of distinction from each other, it seems intended also to describe the general character, or moral condition, of those that were to be affected by the storm. I could not fix upon any classes of persons more likely to be intended by the figures, than those mentioned by the judicious DURHAM, in his commentary upon the text.-By the earth, he understands worldly-minded professors. And wherever the love of the world is a predominant principle, there is no opinion so corrupt, that a mind under the influence of such a principle will not embrace it; especially, if the reception and avowal of that opinion appear to be any way connected with temporal advantages. They that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows,' 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10. By the sea, he understands unstable professors, who, like Reuben, may be compared to water for their instability, and can never prevail. Hence, those tribes of heretics mentioned by Jude are called 'raging waves of the sea, and clouds carried about of winds,' ver. 13.—And by trees, he understands heady, high-minded professors, or persons filled with a dangerous conceit of their own talents and attainments. No class of persons are in greater danger of being blown away by the winds of error and delusion, than such as are stuffed with a conceit of