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CHAP. XIII.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

THE Conclusion at which we arrived at the close of the preceding chapter, namely, that the standing up of Michael in behalf of the Jews took place in the year 1822, obviously suggests a very pertinent and interesting question. What, it may be asked, was the event in that year, which corresponded with the one thus predicted in the vision? But to this question the writer cannot undertake, with any precision, to reply. The first link in the chain of those events, which are to terminate in such momentous consequences, may be very minute in itself, either beyond the reach of our sight, or at present escaping our notice. It is not

at all necessary, in proof of Michael's standing up, that we should immediately perceive either the manner or the place in which he is beginning his operations. He is an invisible agent; and it is against invisible enemies that his agency may at first be employed; while the overt and practical results of his interference may not for a season be apparent. It will be sufficient for our present purpose, and even far more analogous to the usual. tenor of prophecy, if some little interval: should occur before these things are perceived. At the same time, it may be remarked, that in the year 1822, the year in question, two events did take place, either of which may hereafter prove to have been an incipient step in the workings of Providence towards the deliverance of the Jews. These were the memorable congress at Verona, and the matured state of the Greek insurrection. From the former emanated more distinctly than had before appeared that

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spirit of despotism, which, among other consequences, led to the unjustifiable invasion of Spain by the French government. And who can venture to predict what may yet be the ultimate consequences of that particular enterprize; and still less, what may be the results of the general principles then avowed and promulgated by the allied sovereigns? Who can say, how far these things may hereafter be found to have accelerated the fall of the anti-christian Babylon; an event which both the analogy of pro-> phetical history and the plain predictions of Scripture represent as closely connected with the restoration of Israel?: And as to the Greek insurrection, is it an improbable supposition, that it may be a most efficacious instrument in promoting the exhaustion of the symbolical Euphrates; and thus of opening a passage in the mysterious, but appointed, dispensations of Providence, for the return

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of the Jews to their own land?* possible, indeed, that both these conjec

* It may be necessary here to remark, that while

the writer considers the effusion of the sixth vial of wrath (Rev. xvi. 12.) upon the great river Euphrates as synchronising with the standing up of Michael for the Jews, and as symbolising the destruction of the Turkish empire, yet he is by no means of an opinion that the effect of this vial in drying up the river will be produced immediately on the vial being poured out. The complete ex

haustion of the waters will doubtless be the ultimate consequence of this dispensation; but the consummation of it may be gradually accomplished, and probably will not be completed till during the effusion of the seventh vial. In the same manner as the three unclean spirits, under the same vial, are said to gather the kings of the earth (ver. 16.) to the battle of Armageddon; that is, they are busily occupied in disseminating those principles, which, in their consequences, tend to produce this event, though the battle itself, the battle of the great day of God Almighty,-does not actually take place till the end of the succeeding vial. So that the sixth vial may not improperly be considered the vial of preparation, by the effusion of which, G 2

tures may prove, in the end, to be erroneous but this possibility does not, in any degree, invalidate, for the reasons before assigned, the interpretation in question. Michael may be standing up for the Jews; though at present we may not discern the particular way in which this prediction is fulfilling; and if the preceding positions be correct, he certainly is standing up.

It may be objected, indeed, to the view which has been taken of this subject, that efforts for the conversion of the Jews had been made for several years be

during the respite granted to the papal earth, the different instruments are secretly set at work, which, at the time appointed, will break forth into open and active operation, and produce the predicted results.

N. B. When this note was written, the writer had not seen Mr. Fry's work on the Prophecies; in which the same view is taken of this vial, and the same designation given to it.