ferred to by the Holy Spirit in this sacred riddle has been not a little contested; but from what has been stated, it will be seen to agree well with both. It has, however, been the most prevailing opinion that it is the former beast which is numbered. On this side the question are Lord Napier, Whiston, Bishop Newton, Faber, and others. Among those who have supposed the second beast to be the one which is numbered, are Dr. Henry More, Pyle, Kershaw, Galloway, Bicheno, Dr. Hales, &c. Dr. Gill and Reader assert that both beasts have the same number, and that the name is Latinus. One of the beasts, however, must be specifically intended in the enigmatical proposition; and as the latter beast, or the ecclesiastical power, is the prime subject of the prophecy in the second part of the chapter, there can, in my opinion, be no doubt but that this is the power especially represented by this mystical number.

From the intimate connexion that subsisted between the ecclesiastical power and the secular empire of Rome, we are reminded that ungodly priests and tyrannical rulers support each other's usurpations, iniquities, exactions, and oppressions. The latter, by war or cruel executions, destroy all opposers: the former deceive or terrify men by lying miracles, false doctrines, anathemas, and ecclesiastical censures. This consideration ought to make us thankful for our civil and religious liberties. We are exposed to no interdicts, no prisons, no cruel tortures or death, for worshipping God after the dictates of our own consciences. Having, therefore, this religious liberty, we shall be awfully inexcusable if we do not embrace and profess the truth of Christ, and if we do not pray for the peace and happiness of

be found by chance sufficiently explicit to solve the riddle. Upon this hypothesis, it is a million of millions, or a billion, to one, that two such words cannot be discovered; and a million times more, or a trillion to one, that three do not exist. Surely an Euclidian Q. E. D. may be placed upon the interpretation given to this passage.

those under whose mild government we enjoy so many privileges. Let us then observe the rule of the wise man, to "fear God and the king, and not to "meddle with those who are given to change."-It ought not to be a subject of offence to the disciples. of Christ, when they discern the usurpations predicted in this chapter actually prevailing in the world. The prophecy itself justly removes all offence which might be taken at the event. Observing the accomplishment of the prediction in this respect, we may confidently anticipate that the triumphs of divine justice over all antichristian powers whether ecclesiastical or civil, will be as faithfully fulfilled as they are punctually foretold.-Those who have wisdom; will see that all the enemics of God are numbered and marked out for destruction; and that the term of their power will soon expire. Though the confederacies of antichristian princes and priests "against the Lord and his anointed," may appear to be so strong as to mock all human opposition; yet they shall at length melt away as snow before the sun, when the time " to remember Sion, yea, the set "time is come." May that period soon arrive when the Saviour of men " shall have dominion from "sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the "earth; and when all kings shall fall down before him, and all nations shall serve him!" Amen.

SECTION VI.

The Lamb on Mount Sion, with his holy Assembly. Chap. xiv. 1-5.

AND I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their

foreheads. 2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the er ers and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

In the preceding vision, the Apostle had been shewn the afflictions and persecutions of the Church, in connexion with the idolatry and tyranny of papal Rome; but he is immediately afterwards favoured with another vision of a most delightful and encouraging nature, representing the true Church in the wilderness during the period of twelve hundred and sixty years, so repeatedly alluded to in the prophecy. He looked, and behold a Lamb, the emblem of Christ, stood on Mount Sion; where the temple was built, which was a type of the true Church, and of heaven itself. The beast which he had lately seen, was like a lamb in respect to its horns, but it had nothing of the lamb in its nature. Here, however, he has a sight of the true Lamb of God, who had been slain as a sacrifice for sin, standing on Mount Sion, the city of the living God, where Jesus the Mediator dwells. With the Lamb were "an "hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Fa"ther's name written in their foreheads. Many manuscripts and translations read this clause, "Having His name and his Father's name written on "their foreheads." This reading is received by Griesbach, and is probably genuine. This holy company denoted the true Israel of God, and formed the

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same contrast to an apostate church, which the twelve tribes, that served God day and night, formed to an apostate world. The number, which is mystical, seems to represent, that there was a vast multitude of true Christians who held the doctrine of the Apostles, and marched under their banner, in the most degenerate times. The followers of the beast were designated by his mark and seal; and the followers of the Lamb, the true disciples of Christ, had his name and that of his Father marked in legible characters upon their foreheads. They were the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, the image of God was stamped upon their character, they made an open and honourable profession of the Gospel in the worst of times; and thus they evidently shewed that they belonged to God, and were a part of his family. This was the same holy company as that symbolized by the two witnesses, and by the woman that fled into the wilderness; but they are here represented under a different emblem. In the darkest ages of the Church, there have been great numbers of true worshippers who have been ready to lay down their lives for the truth and worship of the Gospel. This multitude is represented as singing a new song before the throne, with a voice loud as that of mighty rushing waters, or of thunder; but, at the same time, exquisitely melodious, and accompanied with the music of harpers, harping on their harps with consummate skill. The new song which they sung was, no doubt, the same for substance with those which have before been considered *. It was sung in the presence of the emblematical representatives of the Church and its ministers. Nor could any learn to sing that song, but those who were represented by the hundred and forty-four thousand, who were redeemed from the

*See chap. v. 9–14; vii. 9 -12.

earth by the blood of Christ, and sanctified by his power and grace. For, as the subject of it was the redemption of Christ, the proud, the impenitent, the unbelieving, the idolatrous, the self-righteous, the profane, and the carnal, could neither understand its meaning nor enjoy its blessedness. This holy company is described by some farther particulars which it may be proper briefly to notice.

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The

First, they are exhibited in a negative character, by what they had been preserved from. They "were not defiled with women; for they were virgins."-The antichristian papal church soon discouraged and reviled marriage, enjoined celibacy on priests, immured numbers of both sexes in convents, extolled virginity as almost essential to piety and purity, and ranked its virgins with the saints and martyrs of primitive times. But these restrictions only made way for the most exorbitant spiritual pride, and opened a door to the most detestable licentiousness, and for crimes too horrible to be named. But the true Christians, of whom the Apostle speaks, were not defiled with women; for "marriage is ho"nourable in all, and the bed undefiled." clause, therefore, may be understood in a measure and degree in its literal sense. Real Christians, after becoming such, are undefiled, and like virgins for purity. But most assuredly the spiritual sense is principally intended. Idolatry and superstition are frequently expressed, in symbolical language, by fornication and adultery, both in the Old Testament and the New, and especially in this book of Revelation. But the Romish church, that great whore of Babylon and mother of harlots, was polluted with the most manifest idolatry or spiritual fornication. It is, however, an undoubted fact, that this assembly of the redeemed, who sung a new song which none could learn but themselves, were not defiled with this spiritual uncleanness; for they were pure and