so used in the Scriptures *. The progress of the Gospel was assisted by sudden and unexpected and miraculous aid and deliverance. Ib. And a crown was given unto him.] This is the crown of life, described in ch. ii. 10. (see the note): our Lord's kingdom was not of this world. The crown is the reward of the faithful martyrs, who in the three first centuries fought and conquered in the cause of Christ. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give "thee a crown of life t." Ver. 2. He went forth conquering, and for to conquer.] Two periods of time seem to be here designated. The first, when the Christian religion, preached in its purity by the Apostles, succeeded against human opposition, overcame the powers of darkness, and established itself in the world; "he "went forth conquering :" The second, when, after a long period of warfare, during which this religion is corrupted, deformed, and almost annihilated by the arts and machinations of the enemy, it is at length seen to regain its primitive freedom and purity, and its "crown is established in righteousness," in an everlasting kingdom §." These two periods are plainly distinguished in the visions of Daniel. The first is that of the stone, representing the Church of Christ in its infantine state; when it begins to conquer, by smiting the idolatrous kingdoms which are established in worldly power. The second is that of the mountain, when this "stone becomes a great "mountain, and fills the whole earth ¶." The latter period is represented in the sequel of the Apocalypse **. In the present passage it is only alluded to; for the * Psalms, passim. Lam. ii. 4. iii. 12. Heb. iii. 9. + Rev. ch. ii. 10. | Dan. ii. 34. Is. xxxii. i. ¶ Ver. 35. § Dan. ii. 44. vii. 27. ** Ch. xix. 11, &c. principal principal object is, to represent the religion of Christ as going forth in its original purity. Its heavenly colour is as yet unstained by worldly corruption. It appears pure now, and pure it must be, when it shall conquer at the last *. 66 "So long, and so far, as Christianity was planted "according to this standard of its great Author; in plainness and simplicity of inc orrupt doctrine; and "in meekness and humility, love and charity, in practice when Christians continued stedfastly in "the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship;- when the "multitude of them that believed, were of one heart "and of one soul, and great grace was upon "all, (Acts iv. 32, 33); then did their light shine "forth indeed before men, and cause them to glorify "the God of heaven. Then was the Gospel truly "and conspicuously, like a city upon an hill, a light "to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of God's them people. It was the praise and wonder of those who "beheld its blessed effects, and might have been the "joy of the whole earth. Had Christians continued to walk worthily of the vocation wherewith they were "called, the Christian church established upon this "foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus "Christ himself being the chief corner stone, might "in its whole building, fitly framed together, have grown up into one holy temple in the Lordt." I have thus quoted from a learned and accurate writer, well versed in the history of the Christian Church, a draft or picture, (given nearly in the words of Scripture,) of what I conceive to be the period represented under the first seal. * Chap. xix. + Clarke's Sermons, vol. iii. p. 312. Its commencement is to be dated from our Saviour's Ascension, when he gave his final commission to the disciples, to go forth with his doctrines to the world. The time of its duration cannot be so precisely ascertained; because the change in the church from original purity to corrupt morals, worship, and doctrine, was gradual. But it may be affirmed, at least as a general position, that the Christians of the three first centuries, exclusive of the heretics, were of this character, although too many exceptions may be found in their history to this general description. PART II. SECTION IV. The opening of the second Seal. 3 Καὶ ὅτι ἤνοιξε την δευτέραν σφραγίδα, ἤκεσα τη δευτέρα ζώα λέοντος • Ερχε 4 Καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἄλλα ἵππα πυρρός· καὶ τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπ ̓ αὐτὸν ἐδόθη αὐτῷ λαβεῖν τὴν εἰρήνην Cả Tô gis gs, ἵνα ἀλλήλες σφά ξωσι καὶ εδόθη αὐτῷ μάχαιρα μεγάλη. CHAP. VI. VER. 3-4. 3 And when he opened the 3 And when he had second seal, I heard ture saying, "Come!" another horse, fire- opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come, 4 and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon, to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another and there was given unto him a great sword. Ver. 4. Another horse.] The second seal being broken, another sheet, or roll, unfolds, and another representation of a horse and rider appears; but the colour, and consequently the character, is changed. Ib. Fire-coloured.] In the Greek, Tuggos, from wuç, fire. This colour is said to be compounded of the yellow-red, avos, mixed with the dusky, Ozios*. is applied to horses by the classical writers: Αδιςα Γοργοῖ τὶ γενοίμεθα ; τοι πτολεμιςαι ἵπποι τὸ βασιληος ανερ φίλε, μη με ποίησης It The angel who leads the host to war among the nations, is mounted on a horse of the same colour ‡. This is also the colour of the dragon, the ancient serpent, the devil, who comes wrathfully to war against the saints §. Ib. To take the peace of the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.] Our Lord established his religion in peacefulness, and commissioned it to conquer, or prosper in the world, by peace. And yet he foretold, very remarkably, that peace should not altogether Think not," says he, " that I am come to ensue. * Plato, Timæus, ad finem. + Theocriti Idyll. 15. 1. 51.—This kind of colour in horses, if that which we now denominate bright or golden-bay, would be properly expressed by the term flame-coloured: but, as aug signifies fire itself, rather than the flame of fire, the word wuggos may be thought to denote a deeper tinge, somewhat like our bright chesnut. And I prefer the word fire-coloured, as agreeing best with the vengeful character which pervades this seal, and which is commonly expressed in prophetical language under the image of fire. "send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace, "but a sword*;" which Saint Luke, in the parallel passage, calls "division." In which sense also he declares that he is "come to send fire on the earth ‡.” Not that it was his wish or intention, as the commentators have observed, that such direful and antichristian consequences should arise; but he foreknew such effects necessarily arising from the corrupt passions and prejudices of sinful men. Such a scene was to follow the first age of Christianity distinguished by the pure practice of the Christian virtues, when a fiery zeal, without knowledge, or at least without charity, should instigate the professors of this peaceful religion to destroy peace; and Christians, divided among themselves, should persecute and slay each other. Such a scene, it is well known, did follow. And the prophecy of the second seal, under this firecoloured horse, according with that of our Lord, in the use of the same figures, (fire, sword, take peace from the earth, men divided so as to kill each other,) seems plainly to point to the same period of time; a time, when the heavenly religion, which, under the first seal, had proceeded ev λeunois, in white array, became so degenerate, as no longer to appear white. She assumed the angry, intolerant, persecuting hue of the fire-coloured dragon. Neglecting charity, "which is the bond of peace," from dissentions and controversies she was hurried into tumults and wars, in which (horrid to relate!) Christians were known to murder each other. But whence are we to date this disgraceful change? May we fix its commencement from the end of the second century; when the western rulers of the church, and the wise and moderate IreLuke xii. 49. Matt. x. 34. ↑ Luke xii. 51. næus, |