powers, till his overthrow by the combined forces of Europe, it successively fertilized the soil of every country from the banks of the Tagus to the deserts of Poland and European Russia, in the series of dreadful wars carried on to glut the ambition of a ferocious usurper. In particular, during the late awful campaigns in Russia, Germany, and France, this and the following vial have received a fearful accomplishment, in a destruction of the human race without example in the annals of modern times.

The third vial was poured out upon the rivers and fountains of water. As the sea, the great body of the waters, symbolizes the greatest nation of the Roman earth; in like manner, the rivers and fountains of waters, must signify the other nations, viz. Germany divided into many states, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, &c. All these nations have since the French revolution drank deeply of the cup of blood put into their hands by the third angel. Spain only, as I have heard from an officer who served some years in the Spanish armies, lost two millions of her inhabitants in her contest with Bonaparte. How dreadful also has been the effusion of blood in the different wars between France and Austria and Prussia, in the late contests between France and Russia, and in the campaigns which led to the liberation of Europe! Our own happy country has likewise expended much of her best blood in the long protracted struggle in which we have been engaged.

The fourth vial was poured out upon the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. The sun is usually the symbol of the imperial or

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sovereign power; but in "an empire split into many "kingdoms, like the Roman empire, the sun is the "government of that state which, from its superi"ority of power, resembles the bright orb of day " in the midst of the stars, or independent kings of "the imperial firmament." France was certainly the state in the Roman empire, at the period of the seventh trumpet, which possessed that superiority of power. The symbolical sun therefore denotes the government of France. The limited monarchy of that country was overthrown in the year 1792, and was succeeded by the revolutionary government, which, in every stage of its existence, whether republican or imperial, has tormented the men of the Roman earth with a most grinding tyranny.

From the dreadful nature of the late contest, so long protracted by the ruthless ambition of the French rulers, have also proceeded those severe measures of military preparation and finance, to which all the governments of Europe have resorted since the commencement of the revolutionary war. Thus the symbolical sun of France has not only exercised a scorching tyranny over its subjects and vassals, but has indirectly become the source of oppression to the inhabitants of every corner of Europe. That sun has now however set in blood, and a pause is afforded to the afflicted nations. Happy would it be for them, if this interval were to

* Faber's Dissertation, vol. i. p. 90.-Mr. Granville Sharp, following Sir Isaac Newton, thinks the sun is put for the whole species and race of kings, shining with regal glory; and that this vial is fulfilled by the boundless increase, throughout all nations, of standing armies, martial law, unlimited regal will, and the ruinous expense of supporting their armies.

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be employed in averting the wrath of God by timely repentance. Of this however there are no appearances. The sure word of prophecy is evidently receiving its accomplishment, that the men who under this vial "were scorched with great heat, blasphemed the name of God and repented not "to give him glory." Every account we receive of the state of the continental nations, especially of Catholic Europe, agrees in representing them to have given themselves up to commit iniquity with greediness. In this country true religion has, as already observed, made very great progress within the last twenty years; but still there are no indications of general repentance and reformation; indeed there is growing and melancholy evidence, that the reverse is the case, and that the body of the nation is becoming more depraved.* With respect to us also

* It may to some appear a paradox to assert, that true religion is growing in a nation, and at the same time general depravity is increasing. But let it be considered, that this was actually the case with the Jewish nation, before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; for we read on the one hand, in Acts vi. 7, that "the word "of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in "Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests was obedient "to the faith;" and in chap. xxi. 20, “Thou seest, brother, how 66 many thousands of Jews there are which believe:" but on the other hand we know, both from the New Testament and Josephus, that the body of the Jewish nation became more and more corrupted, until they at length reached a pitch of wickedness which can scarcely be exceeded by human nature, and they thereby drew down upon themselves utter destruction.

Now there are many circumstances in this nation, which seem to assimilate our case to that of the Jews. Like them we have, in an unexampled degree, enjoyed the light of divine truth. Many thousands have in consequence become truly religious, and there is a manifest increase of real scriptural piety, evincing itself by its most genuine fruits, love to God and man. While however these things

as a nation, it is but too true, that we have not repented to give glory to God. How common is it to

afford ground of consolation, it is necessary to view also the other side of the picture. The general increase of crimes among the lower orders of the community, and the deterioration of their morals, are unfortunately matters of notoriety, and have lately been stated in evidence before a Committee of the House of Commons. One magistrate (P. Colquhoun, Esq.) says, in his examination before the Police Committee on the morals of the metropolis, "With regard to the lower "orders of society, I think there has been a progressive retrograde from "the commencement of the revolutionary French war, particularly “in all large towns." J. Gifford, Esq. says, in answer to a question whether the morals of the lower orders are stationary or are on the decline, “Woefully on the decline.”—“ Has the number of juvenile depredators increased of late years? Certainly; I am speaking as "far as my own experience and observation go.-Can you state to "the Committee any cause for that circumstance? The increased profligacy of the lower classes of the people."

W. Fielding, Esq.-" I really think that, from the increasing wick❝edness of the times, from the increasing gin-drinking, from the dirt "and overpowering multitude of children that are in every part of "the town, without our being able to clear the streets of a thousandth part of them, that there must be a vast increase of immorality "most assuredly.-Do you then consider, that the increase of crime, "which according to the different returns that have been laid before "Parliament seems at present to be an established fact, proceeds from

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a positive diminution of public morals, or from an increase of "population? Most assuredly from the profaneness of the times, "and from the increase of a very profligate population, which has "met with no impediment, nothing to correct it. It is now going on as it was before, notwithstanding all our vigilance and particular

"care."

"This alarming increase of immorality is indeed marked with something of a peculiar character. It partakes of a certain portion "of what may be termed the tinge of civilization: it is less atrocious " than formerly; the crimes are not generally of so brutal a descrip"tion. But the extent of irreligion is much greater, and is now "combined with an increased organized hostility to subordination " and good order.

"The

The preceding extracts are taken from. a volume, entitled, "Basis of National Welfare, in a Letter to the Earl of Liverpool, by "the Rev. R. Yates." Surely the melancholy facts which they

hear all our sufferings imputed to the corruptions of our Government, and how rarely do we witness the language of Christian humiliation and sorrow, for the sins, national and individual, which have been the real sources of those calamities, with which we have been visited. But to refuse to see the hand of God in the inflictions of his wrath, and to impute them to man, is in effect blaspheming him.

The fifth vial was poured out upon the seat or throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness, and they gnawed their tongues for pain. A throne is the symbol denoting the power,

disclose afford room for the most serious apprehensions. It is with nations as with individuals, there is a state in which they become ripe for divine judgment, and when they arrive at it nothing can avert the blow. As it has been energetically said by a writer of the present day, "When the hour comes, it must strike.”—The reader will find a very able view of the present moral state of the lower classes in this country, in the Quarterly Review for December, 1812, p. 319-356. If similar evidence could be procured of the state of the higher classes as to morals and religion, it would probably not in any degree remove the mournful impressions, produced by the contemplation of the 1 condition of the lower orders. There is in the highest circles of society less of the grossness and deformity of vice; but their moral and religious state may probably be justly summed up in a few words,

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They live without God in the world." It must also be considered, that the knowledge and light of the higher classes are greater, and therefore they are more criminal. Indeed they are responsible for much of the depravity of those below them, especially of their domestics and immediate dependents, who are corrupted by their evil example, and manifest disregard of the ordinances of religion and the Day of the Lord, which they habitually profane by making it a day of pleasure or recreation, or selecting it for the performance of journeys; so that in the lives of those who conform to the fashions of high life, all distinction between the Sunday and other days is obliterated, with the exception perhaps of a formal attendance on the morning service of the Church.