own flesh, and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am thy Sa viour, and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob." (Isai. xlix. 26.)

In the above prophecy (Isai. xix,) of the judgments of God upon the mystical Egypt, God threatens that he "will destroy the counsel thereof," and "they shall seek to their idols" in vain, and find no relief in the mummery of a system of superstition, in all respects more allied to necromancy and witchcraft, than to the spirit of the gospel of Christ. And St John (Rev. ix. 20,) describes the impenitency and fatuity superinduced upon the mind, by that monstrous superstition, to be such, that even while the fiery indignation is falling around and destroying them, yet→ "the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and

* See note *, sect. vii. p. 194. The demon worship of popery and paganism is the very same. In Rome it is performed

brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk. Neither repent→ ed they of their murders, nor of their sércéries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts."

The prophet adds, that God will give these worse than egyptian idolators "over into the band of a cruel lord; and that a fierce king shall rule over them."And St John in consistency with several prophecies, says that Christ will "rule his apostate subjects, and bruise them with a rod of iron."* The instrument of Providence (who is to be proxy for Christ, in this hour of judgment, as the emperor Titus was in his wrath upon the jews) has a plain and legible commission madę

in the same temples, on the same altars, and before the same images with changed names. This description of St John relates to the eastern empire, and the apostacy of the church there; which has been nearly destroyed by the plagues of the Saracens and Turks. But the drawing is equally true if applied to the latin, or western church; whose judgment is described afterwards. Their murders and sorceries have been the same.

Ps. ii, 9-Rev. xii. 5: xix. 15.

out for him in prophecy, with a suitable preamble, (Isai. x,) setting forth the causes for which this power is intrusted into his hands; and the extent to which it may be carried. The prophet begins with reciting the corrupt practices of that civil power, or spiritual and political hierarchy, against which the divine war is denounced." Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed."To say nothing here of the pope's management of the decrees of general councils, or of his own wicked bulls, or other impious papal constitutions; the anathemas he has pronounced unjustly, the laying interdicts upon whole kingdoms, deposing of kings, and selling of thrones, at the evil suggestion of his own malice, or pride, or avarice, have been numerous and grievous enough to make up a heavy article in the charge against him."To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless." -Nothing can be more notorious, than that

in every contention the popes always took the side that was the strongest, not the most just; and made a handle of every thing to draw advantage to themselves. No modern instrument could well convey a better idea of the rapacious extortion, and iniquitous policy and practices of the Holy See." And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? To whom will ye flee for help, and where will ye leave your glory? Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain."*-God says, there shall be scarcely any need of a divine interposition for their destruction, at the time when this judgment shall be executed. The harvest is so dead ripe that it will fall almost without a reaper." For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. Ho!

* There seems an obscurity in this place. Lowth translates it much the same;" they shall bow down under the bounden,” and explains it by his note ;-" without my aid they shall be taken captive by the captives."-If the people of Israel, in their struggle for emancipation, shall be made the instrument of punishment, then this will be literally verified. Yet it does not seen well to consist with what follows.

to the Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in whose hand is the instrument of mine

indignation.* I will send him against an hypocritical nation; and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire in the streets." The confederate powers (the objects of the divine wrath) have filled up the measure of their in

*Ho! to the Assyrian, &c.] So this awkward passage is rendered by Bishop Lowth, to the great improvement of the sense; for thus understood, it is a call from Providence to the man ordained to execute the purpose of heaven, to come and receive his commission, to destroy the unjust and determined enemy of all truth and righteousness; against whom the charges in the preamble above cited are made out. The events of late years agree so well with the following part of this prophecy, that it seems probable that Bishop Lowth, in applying it to Sennacherib and his conquests, has been mistaken. Many more of the prophecies, so applied to ancient transactions of a comparatively small importance, have since shewn themselves in another light. Time and events are the best interpreters of these prophecies of very extensive reach; and when they are found to be corroborated by many other prophecies, all bearing upon the same object, and illustrating each other, such application will not be deemed rash or injudicious, by those who admit that God is able thus still to prophesy, even to us, “upon whom THE ENDS OF THE WORLD ARE COME."