and there allowed, by act of parliament, to those dissenters who are styled Seceders *.

Ver. 7. That time shall be no more, &c.] The original language as used in the writings of the Old and New Testament, will not admit of the transla tion given by Daubuz, Lowman, &c.; viz. “the "time should not be as yet;" which would otherwise tend greatly to clear the obscurity of this passage. I will cast upon it what scattered light I can collect.

The whole passage, expressed in the seventh verse, taken together, has a plain reference to happy times, which are expected with the seventh Trumpet, and which have been promised with glad tidings under the Gospel. These times are mentioned as the napo αναψύξεως, “ the times of refreshing;” χρονοι ἀποκαταςασews wavlwv, "times of restitution of all things, which σεως παντων, "God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy Prophets since the world began t." There is a great similarity in the two passages. The same times are likewise mentioned in Acts i. 7. and in both these places, as in this of the Apocalypse, the word xpovos is used without that prepositive article which expresses a particular designation of time. And yet our translators have found it necessary to give that article in the English, (the times, the seasons,) as the sense seemed to require it. It may be questioned then, whether xpovos, in this passage of the Revelation, without the article, may not be so translated and understood: and whether the time, which is not to be under the sixth Trumpet, may not be expected under the seventh. The attempt

* Paley's Moral and Political Philosophy, 4to. p. 159. The solemn league and covenant in the time of Charles I. had been taken after this

manner.

+ Acts iii. 19. 20.

to

to interpret the passage in this manner will be assisted by considering what the "mystery of God is;" is;”—compare it with 2 Thess. ii. 7;-the "mystery of iniquity," which appears plainly, from the context, to be the triumphant working of Satan. And therefore the mystery of God appears to be, (that which arrives also under the seventh Trumpet,) the triumphant reign of godliness. Compare also Dan. xii. 6-13; where the angel takes the same kind of solemn oath, referring to the same period of time which is named by the angel under this Seal, "a time, times, and half," reaching "to the time of the end." There was an obscurity then; Daniel "understood not:" and the passage before us is yet obscure: but we see enough, to fix our attention on the final establishment of the Messiah's reign. At the same time, it seems to be intimated, that there will intervene a long and busy scene of action, under the remainder of the sixth Trumpet, before this can be completed †.

Ver. 8-11. Go, take the little book;-take and eat it; &c.] In this passage, Saint John receives commission as a prophet, in a form nearly resembling that by which Ezekiel was commissioned as a prophet to the Jews. The roll, or book, (for it is the same thing, upon which the prophecy is written, is delivered to each prophet, with a command to eat it.

* Dan. xii. 7. 9.

I have translated iron by the English was finished; and yet, I question whether we might not be authorized to translate it as if it were expressed by the other reading Then, which is rejected by Griesbach, and is properly rendered by the old translators should be finished; because I find iron in ch. xv. 1, clearly, from its context, expressive of time yet to come; and in this instance also now before us, it appears so; and therefore seems to be used as tλon.

See note, ch, v. i,

To

To eat it, that the contents may be completely possessed by him internally, that, by digesting them, he may become as "the living oracle of God." Both these prophecies contained "woe," and were unpleasing to both prophets; yet had seemed pleasant to the mouth on the first reception. To gratify curiosity with what is contained in the womb of time, has its delights: but so many bitter things are found written. therein, that we must confess that it is by a kind dispensation of Providence, that man is ignorant of futurity. But why this new commission to the prophet? He was sent originally to the seven Churches in Asia wherefore this new designation, designation, "Thou "must prophesy again before many people, and na"tions, and languages, and kings?" Observe then, that, before the conquests of the Mahometan invaders, the seven Churches were situated near the centre of the Christian world. From the period of the Mahometan apostacy, they were no longer central in any sense. They lost their consequence; “repented not "of their idolatry and wickedness;" and in succeeding irruptions, they fell a prey to the victorious enemy. "Their lamp-bearer was removed," according to the threatening of their Lord †. But as Christianity receded in the East, before the arms and doctrines of the Mahometans, it spread and enlarged in the West. A new scene, and a new audience, have now therefore their commencement. The Gentile nations of Europe, (the sea, on which the angel places his first foot,) come into view; those ten kingdoms, into which the remains of the western Roman empire were divided. And the period of this prophecy will be seen, in the next chapter, to be 1260 years.

*

Compare Ezek. ii. 6—10. iii. 1—4, 14. xxi. 6. Eccl'us xl. 50.

† Ch. ii. 5.

SECTION VII.

The Measuring of the Temple; and the Witnesses.

city shall they tread "forty-two months.

τοῖς δυσὶ μάλλυσί | 3 " And I will give un