Page images
PDF
EPUB

before. The earth where he took | drank deep of their poison, through

out a great part of Europe, and indeed of the whole Roman earth where the dragon, had taken his station. Here he has vomited a flood, of mock philosophers, Germen and French,illuminated and masonic, of philanthropic cut-throats, civic thieves, humane anarchists, and candid atheists, with all the sweepings of all the streets of the great city Babylon. But the earth helped the woman. Congregated

his new station was the secular Roman empire. No longer arrayed like an angel of light, he assumed the garb of humanity, liberality, candor and philosophy, and vomited forth a flood of atheism and infidelity, with which he hoped to swallow up the woman. The war of Michael and his followers with the dragon, in its predominant character was spiritual; they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony: it is commen-Europe met the infidels in arms, surate with the whole period of and notwithstanding the successes 1260 years; the great victory over of the latter, at the peace which the dragon was atchieved at the era took place in the year 1801, the of the reformation; then the accu- earth had swallowed up the flood. ser of the brethren was cast down; Atheism was dethroned, and papal and thence forward he has taken Christianity, at least nominally, rehis new station on the earth: a wce, stored. Britain, because she stayed even the third woe was proleptically herself upon her God, has wonderdenounced against the inhabiters fully withstood this raging flood; of the earth and of the sea, for the here Christianity maintains its devil had come down to them, havthrone; and here, as also in some other Protestant countries, the woman is nourished in her place prepared of God, in the midst of a wilderness of Popery, Mohammedism and infidelity. The war of the dragon against the remnant of the woman's seed, being at the close of the 1260 years, seems to be yet future, and will take place at the time of the end. It will most like

ing great wrath, because he knew that he had but a short time. He was cast from Heaven under the second woe, but his peculiar time, the short time, commenced with the sounding of the third woe trumpet, which began in the year 1792, and will end in the year 1866, at the close of the period of 1260 years, being only 74 years, a very short time, when compared with the preceding centuries of his sway in thely be a sort of crusade or holy war church of Rome. The revival of England, as at present, will doubtletters in Europe discovered the absurdities maintained by the church of Rome. The mummeries of popery were charged upon the gospel, and hence arose scepticism, infidelity and atheism. These at first were The author now proceeds to unconfined to the higher and the lite-fold the contents of the third chaprary orders, but of late years Satan has taken a wider range; and sceptical publications, adapted to the comprehension of the lower orders, have been zealously distributed, and the mass of the people have VOL. I. No. 8.

less be a principal object; and it will end probably in Palestine, in the fatal battle of Armageddon, in the utter destruction of the combined enemies of God.

ter of the little book, in developing the character of the seven-headed and ten-horned beast of the sea, and of the two-horned beast of the earth, of which the following is the great out-line. The beast first menNn

tioned, using the words of Bishop I saw him as revived, and he was to

practise and prosper from his revival 1260 years, and then to go into perdition; accordingly, he is mentioned as the beast that was, and is

of Daniel's fourth beast, to wit, for
a time, times, and half a time. In
order to see how this beast can be
said to be, not to be and again to
be, it will be proper to observe, that
a beast, in prophetic style, is a ty-
rannical, idolatrous empire. Such
an empire is a beast so long as it
is tyrannical and idolatrous; when
it puts away its tyranny and idola-
try it is no longer a beast, though it
may still continue an empire; and
when it resumes its tyranny and
idolatry, it again becomes a beast.
The Roman empire has been all
this. It was originally a beast, it
was professedly idolatrous, and it
persecuted the first men of under-
standing mentioned by Daniel; it
ceased to be a beast under Constan-

Newton, is designed to represent the Roman empire, for thus far ancients and moderns,papists and protestants, are agreed. The Bishop further pronounces truly this beast to be anot, and yet is, and his reign is comsecular beast: still, however, incon-mensurate with that of the little horn sistently with this, he maintains that this beast is the same with the little horn of Daniel's fourth beast, which he proves to be the papacy, a power merely spiritual, and as St. John identifies the beast with his last head, so according to the Bishop the papacy, a spiritual power is the same as a secular empire; this difficulty cannot be obviated, otherwise than by saying, the pope is the head of the state, as well as of the church, king of kings, as well as bishop of bishops. But though the popes have claimed, they never have really possessed, temporal supremacy. Had they succeeded in establishing such a claim, they might have been the last head of the secular beast; but history decidedly proves the contrary. Apart from this, no doubt istine the Great, when it became entertained that Daniel's fourth beast is the Roman empire; by the Bishop's proposition, St. John's first beast is the Roman empire; therefore, they symbolize the same pow-derstanding; this he did in the year er; now if the little horn of Danicl's fourth beast, be the papacy as is clear, and the head of St. John's first beast, which is the same as the beast itself, it must be the same as Daniel's last beast, that is, the beast and his little horn are the same, which is absurd. St. John's first beast; then is the secular Ro-heathen Pantheon, then the dragon man empire. But here will arise gave him his power, and his seal, the question, how could St. John and great authority. prophetically see this beast arise from the sea, when it had existed ages before he was born? To which the answer is, the beast which existed at the time of this vision, was to cease to exist as a beast, and was afterwards to revive and St. John

Christian; and it again became a beast, when it adopted the worship of saints and martyrs, and persecuted the second set of men of un

606, when he made the pope universal bishop, so delivering the saints into his hand. Then it was, that the beast arose out of the sea, or the tumult of Gothic invasion, and he took his station firmly on the shore, in the year 607, when idolatry was openly set up in the old

The seven heads of the beast! lude to the seven hills on which: city of Rome was founded, they are also seven different forms of go ernment, which had arisen, or shoul arise, in the Roman empire. With respect to the six first of these,

[ocr errors]

seems agreed, they were kings, consuls, dictators, decemvirs, military tribunes with consular authority, and emperors. The first five had fallen in St. John's days; the imperial head was then existing, and was idolatrous; it ceased to be so,

Gentiles will continue through the Millennium, and will constitute the Gog and Magog which, without success, shall attack the Christian Church, towards the end of that period, when they will be consigned to the same perdition with the Roman beast. Bp. Newton adopts the same general idea of the existence, death and revival of the Roman beast, but after all, wholly departs from it; for he maintains, that the death of the beast under his sixth head means the subversion of the Wes

rise of the Carlovingian empire: but this cannot be true, for the sixth head of the Roman empire was alive in the East until the days of the Turkish horsemen under the second voe.

in the days of Constantine, and in the year 606 became so again, when it constituted the bishop of Rome tyrant over the church. Thus the beast was, and is not, and yet is, under the same sixth head. This seventh head, in point of chronology, had not arisen, when the beast revi-tern empire, and his revival, the ved, still he was represented as complete in all his members. The seventh head is represented as a double head, or the seventh melting, as it were, into the eighth; and also, as the beast which was and is not; so powerful as to be identified with the whole beast himself. What power is intended, history must determine. In the year 313, when Constantine published his famous edict for the advancement of Chris-sixth head was then seated in the tianity the beast was wounded to death in his sixth head, and ceased to be a beast and in the year €06, when the emperor Phocas made the pope a spiritual tyrant, to wear outline of the Western emperors and the saints, the beast revived; this the eighth head to be the papacy. period of 293 years the beast was But this plan gives the beast appadead, or was not. This interpreta-rently eight heads and really only tion of the death and revival of the

beast accords with the general tenor of symbolical language. At the end of the 1260 years this beast is to be

slain, never to revive; but we have no warrant for supposing that all government, within the precincts of the Roman empire, is to be at an end; thrones will remain, but they will be occupied by the saints, and after the Roman beast has gone into perdition, the lives of the other three beasts, seen by Daniel, will be prolonged for a season and time, though their dominion be taken away. In other words, nations which adhere to the vanities of the

With respect to the rise of the last head of the beast, it must be evidently subsequent to his revival in the year 606, because the beast revived under his sixth head; the

East; consequently his seventh head must rise in the West. But to go still further back, Mr. Mede supposes the seventh head to be the

seven; because the line of Western emperors was in fact a branch of the sixth or imperial head. On this plan, in order to reduce eight heads to

seven, he must suppose the sixth and seventh to constitute one imperial head, while the eighth remains distinct: but the prophet says, that the eighth head should be one of the preceding seven. Bp. Newton thinks, the Exarchate of Ravenna is the seventh head, and the Papacy the eighth, but neither can this be true; because the Bishop makes the Exarchate one of the ten horns of the beast; but it cannot be both a horn

after, in the year 800, Charlemagne assumed the imperial dignity, which dignity has ever since been borne by a prince within the limits of the old Roman empire; and has ever since given him precedence over the ten

and a head; at least on his own plan, because, while the emperor of Constantinople was the sixth head, his viceroy, the Exarch of Ravenna, could not be the seventh; and because, the prophet makes the seventh and eighth heads to be one sep-horns by constituting him in a mantimo-octave head, but the Bishop makes them in fact two.

ner their head. Here then we behold the rise of the septimo-octave head of the beast. As king of France, Charlemagne was but a horn of the beast: as emperor of the Romans, he was its last head:

nor is it absurd, that he should be both a head and a horn of the beast in different capacities. This power in the days of Charlemagne was commensurate, either by actual sovreignty, or acknowledged supremacy, with the whole beast; and he,

ineffectually claimed; and this powthe head of the beast, as truly as the er though now diminished, is still head, was in the days of Augustulus, imperial power, under the sixth

The truth is, the septimo-octave head must be one power, existing in a two fold capacity; and it must cease to be in one capacity, when it begins to be in the other. The seventh head must continue a short space, and is not to co-exist with the eighth, but to give place to him. The pope is thought by many to be the septimo-octave head of the beast, By some, that he is one head in his temporal, and another in his spirit-really possessed, what the popes only ual, capacity: by others, that he is one head as the sovereign of his own dominions, and another, as king of the whole world. But in addition to what has been said of the incongru-The beast was to practise and prosity of a spiritual head to a secular per forty and two months, the same beast, it is sufficient to observe, that period as the dragon had to perse these plans make the twofold domin- cute the woman; the persecution ion of the popes to co-exist through is the same: the dragon is the au the whole period of their reign, and thor, the beast the instrument. The the prophet makes the eighth head Roman world worshipped the drato succeed the short dominion of gon and the beast by obeying them the seventh, and in reality to be one rather than God. The beast blaswith it, so as to constitute one septi- phemed God and his people, by sup mo-active head. The power, which porting idolatry and persecution; alone will fully satisfy this descrip- and would prevail against the Saints, tion, is the Carlovingian empire. during the whole period. The RoThe subversion of the kingdom of man beast still retains all the characLombardy, in the year 774, made teristics of a beast, and in this state Charlemagne king of France, mashe will finally go into perdition, on acter of Italy, under the title of Patri-count of the great words of the little cian of Rome. Here then, after the death and revival of the beast under his sixth head, we behold the rise of the Carlovingian patriciate, the seventh independent temporal head of the beast: this head however, was to continue but a short space; accordingly we find that 26 years

[ocr errors]

horn. The prophet concludes the account of this great enemy of God and his church, with words of comfort: He that leadeth into cap tivity shall go into captivity, he that killeth with the sword, shall be killed with the sword," which in

time, God will verify, in the salva- | And it is the advice of your tion of his people, and in the de- Creator and Benefactor. Into struction of his enemies.

[To be continued.]

Advice to Youth.

(Continued from p. 155.)

G

OD so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. From this passage of inspiration it is very evident that all believers in Christ shall have everlasting life: and it is as evident that all unbelievers shall perish. It is also written, He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. It is therefore, precious youths, of infinite consequence that you believe in Christ. If you do not, you will lose eternal life, and must suffer unutterable wo, for ever. Think, of the boundless love of God in giving his only begotten Son to die for the world; to die for your precious souls and let the thought thereof, put you upon seeking that which will secure to you the favor and enjoyment of his Son Jesus Christ. mit me

Per

4. To advise you to read the Bible much. This book was given by inspiration, and contains what is of the highest importance for men to know. It makes known the true character of God, and his dispensations of mercy to the world. From it we learn what we are, and what we must be, to be saved. In it you will find the best advice that can be given you.

this volume, you are to look that you may find the path to heaven for it is a map pointing out to wandering sinners the direct way to the celestial Canaan, to the Zion above. It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. It has been the means of opening the eyes of blind sinners and of enlightening their minds: and accompanied with the influences of the Holy Spirit, it has been quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, and made millions to rejoice in hope of the glory of God. You are to read it, that you may be better neighbors, citizens and companions than those ever can be, who are ignorant of its contents.

When you open this volume, remember by all means that it is the word of that Being who created and will soon judge you -whose voice causes the pillars of the earth to tremble-whose Son died that sinners might live and to whom you are amenable for all your conduct. You must take care that you do not read it with the same indifference with which too many youths, look over a novel or an idle story; that you do not think and speak of its contents, with indecent levity and familiarity, nor suffer your attention to be diverted by every trifle which intrudes itself; because this would be to offer insult to him whose mind it declares and of whose awful majesty and glory it bears manifest signatures. But when you take it

« PreviousContinue »