Constantine, he justly attributes the rise of those two most pernicious maxims in the Church; 1st, that her interests may be laudably served by deceit and lying; and 2dly, that heretics are to be punished with civil penalties, and corporal punishments. By such steps, not Christianity, but Antichristianity was advanced. "The number of immoral and un"worthy Christians," continues this author, "began so' "to increase, that the examples of real piety and vir"tue became extremely rare."

Spanheim's observations on this part of ecclesiastical history are to the same effect: "Luxus glis"cens in ecclesiam cum opibus, dignitatibus, ambitione, superbiâ clericorum, et requie à persecu"tionibus, sub Christianis jam principibus, unde morum, corruptio; &c."

Mosheim, having produced some strong facts, as specimens of the degenerate state of Christianity in this century, adds; "the discerning reader will easily perceive what detriment the church received from

86

"the peace and prosperity procured by Constantinet." Joseph Mede, speaking of this century, says;

"Alas!

now began the seço nago, or latter times; this was "the fatal time, and thus was the Christian apostacy “to be ushered in: if they had known this, it would "have turned their joyous shoutings and triumphs "into mourning." "Alas! (says an eloquent and "learned writer of our own times) from the very "æra of the security, prosperity, and splendour of "the Christian Church, we must date the decay "of the true spirit of Christianity! Honour, wealth, "and power, soon excited pride, avarice, ambition:

"and the contests for these worldly advantages were but too often carried on with the greatest animosity, under pretence of contending for the "faith."

The six first seals having been now opened, and their contents exposed, and appearing to contain an unity within themselves; before we proceed to new matter, let us review them. They contain, according to this our interpretation, a short, rapid, and general sketch of the progress of Christianity, from its establishment to the end of time; from the first, to the final, coming of our Lord. (1.) We see this Religion setting forth in purity, with primitive piety and charity, in which array we are assured it shall prosper, both at its first outset, and at the last. But between these two periods, of commencement, and of final victory and prosperity, there are intermediate ages: and in the progress of the Church through these, the form of Christianity changes; she is no longer the same; for, (.) a fire-coloured hue succeeds to white. Unchristian animosities and contentions, then becoming general, proceed even to mutual bloodshed and slaughter. (3.) The form changes again, and for the worse. Under the cover of dark ignorance and superstition, the agents of the enemy fix a yoke of unauthorized observances on the necks of the disciples, and thereby make the passage easy for (4.) another and still more fatal change, when true Religion is so completely banished from that which bears the name of the Christian Church, that they, who continue to practise it in its purity, become objects of hatred, and of persecution

Bishop Lowth's Visitation Sermon, 1758.

to

to the powers ruling under the Christian name. (5.) Then comes the cry of the Martyrs, bursting forth from this persecution, and continuing through a long period. (6.) But the day of Divine vengeance, although delayed, will come; when they, who have the mark of true Christian faith and purity, shall be saved triumphantly from the never-ending calamities which shall overwhelm their enemies, the enemies of Christ.

༣ ་

Such appears to be this general outline of the Christian history. Many important intervals remain yet to be filled up, under the seventh seal, which will be found to contain all the prophecies remaining; and, by tracing the history over again, to supply many events which were only touched upon before. This method of Divine prediction, presenting, at first, a general sketch or outline, and afterwards a more complete and finished colouring of events, is not peculiar to this prophetical book. It is the just observation of Sir Isaac Newton, that the Prophecies of Daniel are "all of them related to each other;" and that " every "following prophecy adds something new to the "former *." We may add to this observation, that the same empires in Daniel are represented by various types and symbols. The four parts of the Image, and the four Beasts, are varied symbols of the same Empires. The Bear and the He-Goat, in different visions, represent the same original: and so do the Ram and the Leopard. We are not therefore to be surprised, when : we find the same history of the Church beginning anew, and appearing under other, yet corresponding types; thus filling up the outlines which had been traced before.

* On Daniel, Part I. c. iii.

1

THE

APOCALYPSE, &c.

The opening of the seventh Seal, and the Commission to the Angels with the seven Trumpets.

μάτων ταῖς προς σευχαῖς τῶν ἁγίων ἐκ χειρὸς τῇ ἀγγέ λε, ἐνώπιον τὸ Θεό. 5 Καὶ εἴληφεν ὁ ἄγ γελάς τον λιβανω τὸν, καὶ ἐγέμισεν αὐτ τὸν ἐκ τῶ πυρὸς τῶ θυσιατηρίε, καὶ ἔβαλεν εἰς τὴν γῆν· καὶ ἐγένοντο φωναὶ καὶ Beorlain άsganai

καὶ σεισμός.

the angel, before God. 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast to the earth; and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquake.

ascended up before

God, out of the an5 gel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

Ver. 1. There was silence in heaven, as it were half an hour.] Upon the opening of each of the former seals, a significant action had immediately commenced. Under the four first seals, voices from heaven, from the place of representation, had invited the Prophet to come and see." With the fifth seal, the voices of the Martyrs had been heard. The opening of the sixth seal had been directly followed by a representation of action the most tremendous, ac companied and explained by voices, during which the prophecy seemed to extend even to the great and last day of recompense. Now, upon the opening of this seventh and last seal, no voice is heard, no representation immediately ensues. An aweful silence suspends the gratification of curiosity. After a solemn pause, preparation is made for a new kind of exhibition; the seven angels come forth.

This silence in heaven has been supposed to express, or at least to allude to, that custom of the Jews, whereby they joined their silent prayers to the offering of the incense. But this silence takes place before the time of incense; before the angel takes his station at the

altar.