Constantine: by whom, after his conversion to Christianity, this very palace was assigned as the official residence of the Bishop of Rome. At that time the book would pass unknown and unregarded from the hands of its Pagan to those of its Christian guardian: from this ancient residence of the Popes it would of course be transferred to the modern palace on the Vatican hill and at this day form part of the unexplored and almost countless treasures of the Pontifical library.

On the degree of probability which is attached to this conjecture, different readers will of course entertain different opinions. It may, however, derive some weight from a consideration of the policy which is said to be pursued by the court of Rome. Among other literary treasures contained in the Vatican library, there is commonly reported to be a very voluminous collection of Biblical Manuscripts, which are literally sealed up through the jealousy of the sovereign Pontiffs: which no man is permitted to open, lest they should overthrow the authority of the Vulgate. The eye of the Christian, then, naturally turns to this remarkable circumstance, and sees in it the over-ruling hand of God, guiding and directing all things towards the accomplishment of His own will.

It would be arguing in a circle to urge the probability of this conjecture from the consideration that the Divine Author of the Old Testament, in withdrawing it from the Jewish people, would so order events and circumstances, that the book should be carried at once to that asylum in which it is to remain sealed for its appointed season: because this argument assumes the interpretation of the Apocalypse, which

The writer, therefore,
Yet he cannot but feel

it is our business to prove. will not dwell on this topic. and express his conviction, that if these conjectures be well founded, the secret history of God's counsels, thus opened to our view, is every way worthy of a Divine Author; and that the mighty consummation by which the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea; (Hab. ii. 14.) is proceeding by sure and certain steps to its accomplishment, in a way which man could never have conceived, but which strikingly illustrates the declaration of the inspired Psalmist: The counsel of the Lord shall endure for ever; and the thoughts of His heart from generation to generation. (Psalm xxxiii. 11.)

PART IV.

ON THE UNSEALING OF THE BOOK.

CHAPTER I.

THE OPENING OF THE SEVEN SEALS.

THE Author having in the preceding pages suggested a new interpretation of the sealed book in the Apocalypse, the fundamental symbol of these prophetic visions; it will naturally, perhaps reasonably, be expected, that he should bring his principle to the great practical test of explaining and elucidating those visions, which, notwithstanding all the learning and labour hitherto bestowed upon them, are still confessedly involved in darkness and uncertainty. If the true solution be really discovered, it ought to contain this internal evidence of its truth, the ease and certainty with which it resolves the difficulties of this prophetic revelation, and lays open its most profound mysteries. The author is fully sensible that by this test his interpretation of the sealed book must ultimately be tried; and that, if on a fair application, it fail to accomplish this end, it must be abandoned as a vain and useless speculation. In making this trial, however, one thing must be borne in mind:-the unsealing of the book, and all the visions introduced by this event, are conceived to be yet future. Therefore, even granting that we may be in possession of the true principle, it will not be in our power to apply

it for the complete elucidation of the prophecy. Nothing but the fulfilment of these predictions can remove all obscurity and doubt. For the present, therefore, the writer abstains from offering any thing like a general exposition of the Apocalyptic visions, and confines himself chiefly to the preliminary subject, an inquiry, independent of the visions themselves, into the true foundation on which such an exposition must be constructed. Until the principle of interpretation shall be in some degree settled, it is hopeless to look for success in the investigation of the details. If the Apocalypse be, as it is commonly supposed, a prophetical history of the Christian Church from the first to the second coming of the Messiah, the student must continue to seek for an explanation of it in the past and passing events of the world. But if the views exhibited in the present Essay be correct, this hypothesis of an historical prophecy, must be totally and absolutely abandoned; and the student must be brought to commence his work anew, before any hope can be entertained of his arriving at correct conclusions. Until this effect be produced, it is in vain to proceed further. But, if it be once felt, that the principle of interpretation now proposed is correct, the reader will sit down to an examination of the several visions, with his mind relieved from a cloud of misconception and prejudice, and with new views and expectations with regard to the subject of the prophecy, which he is about to study. He will then look upon the Apocalyptic visions no longer as depicting the struggles of the Christian Church in past ages, but as foreshadowing the features of that mighty religious revolution, which is about to take place on the earth in the latter days. He will perceive, that the one great instru

ment for effecting this work is that which the Almighty has employed in all past ages,-His own revealed word. The leading step is the unsealing of the authentic copies of the books of the Old Testament. Hence the student will conclude that the events foretold as immediately consequent upon this unsealing are such, as, from the natural passions of men, and the jealousies of different religious bodies,— the Jews, the Greek Church, -the Latin Church,Protestant Churches of all denominations,—must unavoidably spring from this beginning. To a mind thus prepared there will be little or no difficulty in the general explanation of the several visions. It will then be evident, that the vision of the white horse and his rider going forth conquering and to conquer, which immediately follows the opening of the first seal, is a symbol of the triumphant progress of the gospel of truth, and of the ardent anticipations of future spiritual conquests, to which the first unsealing of the sacred books will give rise. But those who love darkness rather than light cannot be expected to remain quiet spectators of such a scene. The opening of the second seal, therefore, is the signal of war-war against the light, against the truth, against conscience, against God. Here is the red horse and his rider. These extensive and exterminating wars will naturally produce famines; and famines, pestilences. Here are the next emblems, the black and the pale horses. Still in the midst of all these horrors truth makes its way: yet not without another effort to crush it. For the opening of the fifth seal is followed by a grievous persecution. This, however, is but for a little season. The fury of man is suddenly arrested by signs of awful import;