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"to the

of the earth”—that is, the kings of the prophetic earth-and likewise "of the whole world,' battle of that great day of God Almighty."

There is something inexpressibly solemn in this annunciation,-to gather together the kings of the "whole world"-to gather them together to "a battle"-and to gather them together to the battle of that "great day of God Almighty." And this annunciation being followed up with an idea of its EXTREME SUDDENNESS, and an earnest admonition for all to be ON THEIR WATCH; and, further, to name THE PLACE where this great gathering is to be; surely implies that something of a most awful nature is to take place! But these events, of which such alarming intimation is here given, evidently belong not to the silent and quiet operations, now going forward, of the seventh seal and sixth vial; they must, therefore, relate to the seventh and last trumpet, and to the seventh and last vial.

Before, however, proceeding to their consideration, I would just give the extract from a speech made by the late Mr. Canning in the House of Commons, December 12, 1826; and that at a time when the collision of the above

three " spirits" was by no means so apparent as at present. "I dread war," was his acute and penetrating remark, "from an apprehension of the tremendous consequences which might arise

from any hostilities in which we are now engaged." He then goes on to say, that his dread arose, not "from contending nations, but from contending PRINCIPLES;" that "he feared the next war which should be kindled in Europe, would be a war not so much of armies as of OPINIONS"—"the more fatal conflict of opinions.” "It is the contemplation of this new power,” he adds, “in any future war, which excites my most serious apprehensions." "The consequences of letting loose the PASSIONS, at present chained and confined, would be to produce a scene of desolation which no man can contemplate WITHOUT HORROR!"

SEVENTH TRUMPET.

The first direct announcement that is given of this "woe," is in Rev. x. 7, in these words: "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, THE MYSTERY OF GOD SHOULD BE FINISHED, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."

In the following chapter it is then said, verse 15, "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We

give thee thanks, Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name small and great; and shouldst destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there were seen in the temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an EARTHQUAKE, and GREAT HAIL."

The sounding of this trumpet I consider, as above noticed, will commence when, at the moment of the extinction of the Turkish empire, the way is prepared for "the kings of the East;" and we can have no reason for supposing that it will be of a character less terrific than those already accomplished, of which series it forms the termination. Indeed, the most correct idea we are enabled to form of what we may expect from it, must be drawn from the analogy it will bear to the former sir trumpets, and to the application of the axioms which uniformly mark prophetical eras. Accordingly, as one of the latter, we may with certainty conclude that the seventh trumpet will form an important epoch in the world; that it will be identified with the

affairs of the church of Christ; and that it will be attended with permanent changes. As a trumpet, we may with equal certainty conclude, that, like all the former ones, it will be produced by the instrumentality of strange and less civilized nations; that it will be characterized by invasion, rapid conquests, and overthrows; and that it will be attended with the horrors of war in their most dreadful forms. And, finally, as a woe trumpet, we have, I fear, too much reason to conclude that it will form the dreadful counterpart of the Saracenic and Turkish conquests! Producing, however, such an important consummation, as "the kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ," we are sure it must be attended with the overthrow of every existing kingdom; and likewise, from the last verse, in which it is said there shall be "lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail," that there will be dreadful COMMOTIONS, a REVOLUTION, and a NORTHERN INVASION. We are likewise sure, from the language of the elders in their adoration before the "Lord God Almighty," that it is a time of extreme "WRATH" and vengeance; and also that, with whatever indifference it is viewed by men, it is the theme of the highest interest in the invisible world!

We will, however, proceed to the contents of the seventh vial.

"And the seventh angel poured his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great."

This vial I consider performs the same office to the seventh trumpet, as the former six vials have done to the sixth and seventh seals; that is, it amplifies the events, and arranges them in a methodical order. After the universality and final nature of this plague are first asserted, the effects of the warring of the three unclean spirits of the former vial are then represented. It is said, first, there will be great commotions-"voices, thunders, and lightnings; "-that these will be followed by a GREAT REVOLUTION, SO "great

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