answer, that four is one of the mystical numbers of the Apocalypse, denoting what is complete, or entire. In chap. viii. 1, a period of universal peace in the midst of the earthquake of the sixth seal, is represented by four angels, holding the four winds of the earth. The overthrow of the western empire is also signified, in chap. viii., by the four angels with the four first trumpets. In a similar manner, as the eastern empire was to be completely subverted by the Turks, their power is represented, under the symbol of four destroying angels. The four angels were "prepared for the hour, “and day, and month, and year, for to slay the "third part of men." I have seen no explanation of this note of time, which satisfies my mind. Mede, Bishop Newton, and others, suppose, that it marks a prophetical period of 391 years, during which the conquests of the Ottomans were to be carried *«Quaternarius enim numerus in Apocalypsi sæpe est mysticus, estque inter numeros plenitudinis, sive perfectos, qui dicuntur, respiciens quatuor climata coeli." Vitringa, in loco. "This number is used frequently in Scripture to denote universality, or completion. It has this force naturally from the figure or formation of the human body, which is so fashioned as to occasion a fourfold division of the objects which surround it; so that under the number four they are comprehended. For instance: a man faces one quarter of the horizon, the south, he has the north behind him; his hands extended point to the east and west. Hence is derived in Scripture the determination of these four cardinal points, and their corresponding winds, the four winds of heaven.' And thus the four corners of the 'land,' are used to signify all the land; whence Philo says, Havra ev in Tergadi. So Pythagoras: Tetras omnium perfectissimus, radix omnium." Archdeacon Woodhouse on Rev. iv. 4. on.* But in every other passage of the Scriptures where a mysterious number is given signifying a particular prophetical period, it will be found that the number has in the original Greek no article prefixed to it. In the passage now under consideration, on the contrary, the definite article is prefixed to the first number of the series, ἡτοιμασμενοι εἰς τὴν gav, &c., and the expression ought accordingly to have been rendered in our English version, "prepared for the hour, &c." I think that this circumstance overthrows the interpretation of Mede, and I am inclined to believe, that nothing more is denoted by the expression, than that the precise period, when the angels were to begin their devastations, and also the term of their continuance, were minutely fixed in the divine counsels.t I think with Bishop Newton, Mr. Faber, and others, that the slaughter of the third part of the men, by the four angels, signifies, the overthrow of the eastern empire. The western empire had al * A Jewish year is 360 days, and a month 30 days; these two numbers being added to the one day, make 391 prophetical days; and each day being reckoned for a year, in this way a period of 391 years is made out. + Mr. Faber, in the first editions of his work, followed the explanation of the hour, day, month, and year, offered by Mede; but in his fifth edition he has given it up as untenable, and supposes that it alludes to the circumstance of the precise day of the assault of the city of Constantinople having been fixed by Mahummud II., according to the rules of astrology. In his Sacred Calendar he has, however, returned to his original opinion, and computes the duration of the Turkish Woe as having been a period of 396 years and three months, from the accession of Othman to the Turkish throne, on 9th June, 1301, to the battle of Zenta, in 11th Sept., 1697. ready been exhibited, in the first four trumpets, under the figure of a symbolical universe, and its subversion by the Gothic arms was denoted, by the destruction of a third part of that universe. The eastern empire is now placed before us as a political community, under the generic appellation of "the "men ;" and its overthrow is in a similar manner signified, by the slaughter of a third part of " the "men." The forces of the angels are afterwards described as consisting of two hundred thousand thousand horsemen, by which an indefinitely great multitude is intended; and it is well known that the Turkish armies chiefly consisted of horse, particularly in the earlier part of their history. It is said that they had breastplates of fire, and hyacinth, and brim. stone; or in other words, red, blue, and yellow. This, says Bishop Newton, (from Daubuz) "had a literal accomplishment, for the Ottomans from their first appearance have affected to wear such warlike apparel of scarlet, blue, and yellow." "The heads of their horses were as the heads of lions."This may denote the fierceness and impetuosity of their onset. "Out of their mouths issued fire, and "smoke, and brimstone."-Here there seems to be an allusion to the enormous artillery used by Mahummud II., in the siege of Constantinople, "by the instrumentality of which he chiefly succeeded in taking that city, and in thus slaying the apocalyptic third part of men.”* It is added that "their power is in their mouth * Mr. Faber, in loco. "and their tails: for their tails were like unto ser 66 pents, and had heads, and with them they do "hurt." The power in the mouths of the horses, seems to indicate the power of inflicting temporal ill. The power in their tails, is, however, certainly indicative of the spiritual venom of the false religion of Mahummud, which every where followed their conquests. These heads in their tails, are the seat of their poison, in the same manner as were the stings in the tails of the locusts of the preceding vision, and must therefore be interpreted on a like principle. I have thus endeavoured to trace the accomplishment of the first six trumpets, in the subversion of the Roman empire of the west, and its ruin in the east, by a series of events, whereof the mighty consequences continue even now to operate, upon the political, the intellectual and religious destinies of the human race, and which seem, therefore, every way worthy of finding a place in this mysterious prophecy. The narrative being thus brought down to a very important era in history, new and no less important subjects are introduced in the following chapters, which will call for our most earnest attention. CHAPTER VIII. THE VISION OF THE ANGEL WITH AN OPEN BOOK. AFTER the sounding of the sixth trumpet, relating to the fall of the eastern empire by the sword of the Turks, a prophetic intimation is given, that the plagues of the preceding trumpets did not produce the effects of repentance on those men who were not destroyed by them. In this notice there is probably a peculiar allusion to the corruptions of the Latin Church, and to those more awful judgments which they should at length bring down upon the inhabitants of the western empire. A new and august object afterwards exhibited itself to the eyes of the Apostle. "And I saw "another mighty angel coming down from heaven, "clothed with a cloud," to veil the effulgent brightness of his glory; "a rainbow on his head," the same emblem which surrounds the throne of God,t and denotes the covenant of peace; "his "face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of "fire;" which particulars agree with the description given of our Lord in the first chapter. "He "had in his hand a little book open," or "having "been opened." It is easy to see from the above most sublime description, that this angel is our Lord himself; for |