destroy the monasteries, and appropriate to themselves the revenues? Such was the case in Germany, in Holland, in France, in Switzerland, in Scotland, as we have seen in relating the Protestant wars in those countries. In England likewise, what a scene of rapine! Without descending to a detail of particulars, it may be sufficient to say, that in the reign of Henry VIII. were suppressed no less than 645 monasteries, 90 colleges, 110 hospitals, and of chantries and free chapels 2374, Baker's Chron. the lands and revenues of all which were confiscated to the king. Is not this, to devour with lions teeth? The same course of rapine was carried on under Edward VI. which swept away what remained from the preceding reign. Dr. Heylin, in the preface to his history of the reformation, speaking of this prince and his reign, says: "Such was the rapacity of the times, and the unfortu"nateness of his condition, that his minority was abused "to many acts of spoil and rapine, even to an high degree of sacrilege, to the raising of some, and the "enriching of others, without any manner of improve"ment to his own estate The hungry courtiers began their sacrilegious rapine, by plundering the images and shrines of the saints, and seizing upon the ornaments, plate, and jewels, of the churches These spoils not being sufficient to glut their leonine avidity, they invaded the bishoprics, which they stripped of many of their possessions. The detail of all which may be seen in the above-mentioned history of Dr. Heylin.

In Sweden, Gustavus Erickson introduced the Lutheran reformation, and seized the Church-lands and revenues, leaving the clergy but a slender maintenance. The same did Christiern III. king of Denmark, in his dominions. Thus, robbing people of their property, demolishing their habitations, public buildings, &c. which violences in all civilized countries are punished with death, were in the course of the reformation practised with impunity; and the perpretators gratified their avarice, which they masked with the pretended vindication of religion. The testaments of the dead, which even among heathens are sacred, were in these times contemptuously violated, and the donations, which the

testators had dedicated to the service of God and to the relief of the sick and distressed, were scandalously diverted to other purposes.

And they had, the locusts had, breast-plates, as breastplates of iron, v. 9. In the two last articles we saw the spirit of incontinency and avarice of the reformers, and their societies; here we are presented with a picture of their obstinacy, under the figure of iron breast-plates. Whoever is not joined with the Protestants in their persuasion, knows full well that their obstinacy is incredible in defending their doctrine; that for that purpose they are not ashamed to make use of any arguments, though ever so frivolous, inconsistent, or absurd, and to asperse the Catholic communion with slanders, misrepresentations, and calumnies. It also appears from the account we have before given of the wars of the Reformation, that the protestants were always ready to maintain their new adopted religion at any rate, even with arms, and at the risk of their lives. In that view the protestant princes of Germany entered into a league offensive and defensive against the emperor Charles V. rose up in arms, nor could they be prevailed upon to sit down quiet, till they had established the reformation. Thus they carried breast-plates of iron. Many other wars succeeded in Germany, between the Catholics and protestants. After a similar manner in other countries, where the Reformation got footing, its abettors so obstinately supported it by sedition, disturbance, and war, that no peace could be purchased from them, till their religion was admitted and ratified by the laws of the respective kingdoms. Such was the case not only in Germany, but in Holland, in several provinces of France, in Scotland, &c. And I believe every one presumes such would be more or less the case at this day, if any danger threatened the Reformation.

And the noise of their wings, the wings of the locusts, was as the noise of chariots of many horses running to battle, v. 9. Here the prophet points at the turbulent, murmuring, clamorous disposition of the reformed, properly expressed by the noise of the wings of the locust, which was as loud as the noise of chariots of many

horses running to war. Did not that inflammatory spirit of uneasiness, loud murmur, and sedition, appear in all those kingdoms where the reformation was received? How often has the public tranquillity been convulsed by that baleful poison? What fatal disturbances have been raised, and what troubles have princes sustained to quell them? Some of the sects are inspired with a relentless hatred to government; their complaints are clamorous and unceasing, and they brood upon mischief, devising how to destroy superior power, and reduce all mankind to a level. What intestine murmurs have been heard; what tumultuous scenes have been seen, in England, Scotland, and France !

On another hand, the unhappy effects of this uneasy and ungenerous disposition, have been severely felt by those of the Catholic communion, living in protestant countries. Though all the reformed sects agreed in preaching up "christian liberty," the Catholics have seemed to be envied the least share of that invaluable blessing. Without any just provocation, alarming out. cries have been often thrown out against them: they have been threatened with the rigour of the laws, and persecution even has sometimes been set on foot. see then that the loud noise of the wings of the locusts, like the loud rumbling noise of chariots of many horses running to battle, very fitly represents that restless turbulent spirit, which continued in the reformed societies, and banished peace from governments, as well as from the Church of Christ.

We

Here terminates the period of five months or 150 years, mentioned above in verse 5th; within which space of time is comprehended, as we have seen, one share of the history of the Reformation, and in reality the principal part of it. During this period, which commenced, as we have said, about the year 1525, and consequently ended 1675, the reformed religion was - forcibly introduced, took its full growth, and was finally settled. In Germany, Holland, and Switzerland, borne upon the shoulders of sedition and rebellion, it became so far victorious a to procure its establishment by the celebrated treaty of Munster in Westphalia, in 1648.

The Calvinists or Huguenots in France made their way by detestable plots and dreadful civil wars, till they procured from Henry IV. the edict of Nantes, for the toleration of their religion in 1598; which edict was confirmed by Lewis XIII. in 1622, though afterwards repealed in 1685 by Lewis XIV. In other countries where the sovereigns received the Reformation, it was settled more early.

CHAPTER IX.

The continuation of the History of the fifth Age.

APOC. Chap. IX. v. 10.

IX. v. 10. And they, the locusts, had* tails like to scorpions, and there were stings in their tails, and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had over them,

V. 11. A king, the angel of the bottomless pit; whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon: in Latin, Exterminans, that is, Destroyer.

We shall now proceed to the second period of time, which begins with the above 10th verse, and is of equal duration with the first, that is, consists of 150 years.

That here begins a new period of five months, or 150 years, different from that mentioned in verse the 5th, is not a groundless supposition, but is proved by the following reasons. First, the expression of five months being twice used, namely, in verse 5th and verse 10th, sufficiently argues a double period. For whoever studies the Apocalypse, will find in it such extreme precision, that the same thing is never repeated in the same circumstances; that every word expresses some particular object, and is so necessary in its place, that it cannot be taken away without maiming the sense One may therefore conclude, from the nature of this divine Revelation, that the repeated mention of five months indicates the distinction of a double period. Sir Isaac Newton acknowledged the same distinction, but applied it to a different subject. Secondly, the Greek text shows the same very plainly, and even the place where the first period expires and the second begins. In the verses 8th, 9th, the description proceeds by the repeatIn the Greek, have.

* In the Greek text, have.