history, also, of the Western Empire, after it became Christian, up to the period of its extinction altogether; and finally the downfall of the Eastern Empire under the two first woes, viz., by the Saracen and Ottoman invasions. The general concurrence of commentators in this view, whether they believe the seals and trumpets to be parallel or consecutive-always excepting the Preterists and Futurists-is comfortable, and makes us feel surer of our ground.

The seventh and fourteenth chapters are evidently connected; showing the existence and preservation of a true church-of a sealed people-during the dismal period of the 1260 years, and previously; a people separated unto God on earth; suffering there but holding fast their integrity; and glorified in heaven. They declare their proceedings in the times of their depression. This people are they who maintain truth, and extend the knowledge of it, who are trodden down, and endure death, but who are always blessed in their end.

The 144,000 thus spoken of consist of all, under whatever name, who have been taught of God in those dark times. In chap. xi. 1, 2, they and their worship are described, when John is commanded to "measure (seal') the temple, and the altar, and them that worship therein." A "holy city" or community they are, set apart specially unto God-of every tribe-yet all of them his people; unknown to each other but well known to God. They are precious; for to them the promises belong-the saints to whom the kingdom shall at length be given; and to whatever exposed in the mean time, preserved, a complete body, until the days of God's vengeance on their enemies shall come. Reduced they are sometimes to the lowest point, so that they seem lost, yet they never become extinct. Again they appear " valiant for truth," "their weapons not carnal but mighty through God," giving evidence that he is with them, and assurance, that he will at length appear to put all things under his feet, and to reign gloriously with them. Throughout, they are the first-fruits of the future universal harvest.

The appearing of the "mighty angel," the "angel of the covenant," in the tenth chapter, is introductory to the history of the 1260 years, during which his church, or those "sealed ones," are thus preserved, and during which also the BEAST, described xiii. 1, is to have his reign. This angel appears after the sixth trumpet has been sounded, and when the second woe is about to be concluded; but the apocalyptic history which

Heb. xii. 22; Gal. iv. 26-28.

he gives the beloved disciple commences with the rise of the BEAST (Xiii. 1) and goes forward to the end. Indeed in the twelfth chapter we have in part that which precedes the history of that BEAST, but it seems to be introduced there as connecting Rome pagan with Rome papal, both persecutingthe authority and power of the CROWNS, whether on the heads or on the horns, being alike employed to the injury of the true church and its Lord.

My dissatisfaction with your exposition has reference particularly to your identifying the history of the Two Witnesses with that of the true church generally-the 144,000 sealed ones-distinguished from the apostasy, and opposed to it, during the 1260 years. You make their history to be an "epitome" of the more extended prophetical narrative, recorded in other portions of the book, which narrative you hold to be repeated again and again. This, I think, is an error, and in some degree, the occasion of your, as I believe it to be, subsequent mistake, regarding the earthquake of the present times, which, in its distinctive characteristics, seems to me to constitute so solemn and striking an accomplishment of the prophetic record which refers to it.

My object then is to show that the Two Witnesses constitute a body distinct from the church, or sealed ones, though of it; peculiarly set apart from the general body of believers, and having a prophetic history of their own:-my object is to endeavour to point out that history. In the attempt to do this, I cordially adopt, and shall faithfully employ, the canon of interpretation so well stated by you, a canon than which there can be none more safe, and which, I believe, will in every case lead those who use it judiciously to the truth declared in New Testament prophecy;-"THE KEY OF THE APOCALYPSE IS TO BE SOUGHT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES. This is the briefest, and perhaps the best, rule that can be laid down for the interpretation of this book. We do not know that there is a really new symbol made use of in it from beginning to end. There is not a single figure or character admitted whose use had not been already sanctioned, and its meaning determined, in the law, the Psalms, or the prophets.*" The principle is a sound one. The key to the mysteries of prophecy must be within the word itself "hanging at the door." To apprehend the mind of the Spirit we must compare spiritual things with spiritual, interpret Scripture by Scripture. To be compelled to go elsewhere for illustration, to that, perhaps, utterly foreign to God's word, and abhorrent to him, must be at least suspicious.-I am, &c.

"The Seventh Vial."

LETTER II.

THE TWO WITNESSES-A BODY DISTINCT FROM THE True church, though of it— AND TO BE FOUND TOGETHER IN ONE LOCALITY, RATHER THAN DISPERSED OVER ALL CHRISTENDOM.

SIR,

The appearing of the "angel," in the tenth chapter is a distinct prophetic vision. One, though not the only, end for which he did appear, was to give to John the "open little book." He received it, we assume as a note or codicil to the larger book. The larger book, as including the seven seals, includes also the seven trumpets, and as the latter part of chap. xi. treats of the seventh trumpet, that necessarily belongs to the larger, and not to the little book. Those commentators, therefore, among whom are Bishop Newton and Scott, who hold that the whole contents of the little book are given in chap. xi. 1-13, appear to have clear and satisfactory authority for their opinion. Here we have a separate history-the prophetic history of the Two Witnesses—a separate history and a separate book.

It is an open book when seen in the angel's hand. The prophetic revelation has by that time been brought down to a period when the whole contents of this codicil to the larger book have been fulfilled. This seems the sound interpretation of its being open. The period is that of the complete termination, (or nearly so,) as to duration, of the second woe -the eve of the third-and of the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

It is a very little book-8132agídrov-for, compared to the general history of the church, the events recorded in it are few, and the parties to whom they refer are limited in number, and of little notoriety, though appointed, in their concluding history, to be a great sign.

In chap. xi. 1, 2, by the emblem of the "Temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein," or, as otherwise expressed, "the holy city," the entire true church, as already noticed, is spoken of-the "ROD of Christ's inheritance," and is put in direct contrast to the "court which is without the temple," and the "Gentiles" to whom it is given. But the Two Witnesses, though evidently of the city," are distinguished from that general body, and have Bishop Newton, M'Leod.

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+ Jer. x. 16.

a history of their own. "They stand in the inner temple, but they are distinguished from the measured temple, altar, and worshippers, ver. 1, and from the woman and her seed, chap. xii. 14-19." There is a general destiny common to both, and necessarily so, as the one includes the other; but there is a special destiny applicable only to the minor body, and which we shall in vain attempt to trace throughout in the history of the other. "These are preserved completely throughout the period of 1260 years, until the millennium; but the witnesses lie dead three years and a half. God is never for a moment without a people on the earth; and the visible church is an indestructible society; but these witnesses are actually killed by the beast."+ Both suffer, and by the same instrument, but the one party are trodden under foot," the other "prophesy clothed in sackcloth." The duration of the suffering, as described, is the same, but in the case of the one, it is stated to be for " forty and two months;" in that of the other, "a thousand two hundred and threescore days." We have thus a distinction in the form of expression, by which the condition of each is described, as well as in that by which the season during which it is to last, is described. The same BEAST makes "war" on both, and "overcomes" them, xiii. 7; but the Two Witnesses he KILLS, xi. 7; and, in their case, we have also a resurrection and ascension (intended as a special sign) no trace of which is found in the history of the general body.

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But whatever countenance all this may give to the proposition that the Two Witnesses are peculiarly apart, and have a history of their own, distinct from that of the church generally; if the application of your rule of interpretation do not show this, these things can have little weight. If it do, however, they are highly confirmatory, and only in this view have I stated them.

Of the Two Witnesses, it is said, (Rev. xi. 4,) "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks, standing before

• M'Leod.

+ The same writer says, "They are distinguished as a part from the whole, from the great body of those who are to be considered as true Christians, and even from the visible church of God in general at this period. They are Christians; and they belong to the true visible church; but they are a distinct class of Christians in the communion of the visible church. These witnesses differ as much from their contemporaries, the 144,000 sealed ones, as Elijah differed from the 7000 in Israel in his time, who did not bow the knee to Baal. Those testify openly against the anti-Christianism of the papacy; while these abstain from the corruptions, and worship God sincerely in secret.'" See, also, FABER, who holds the same view, that they are a party distinct from the general body of true believers.

the God of the earth." No one can doubt to what part of the Old Testament we are sent for our key of interpretation here. We turn for it to Zech. iv., where we read of the vision vouchsafed to that prophet, and described there.

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The angel talked to him, and he was as a man that is wakened out of his sleep." He was then asked, "What seest thou?" His answer was, "A candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps (lights) thercon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are on the top thereof." A reference to Exodus xxv. 31-37, will show that this was the candlestick of the temple, an object which, we may suppose, must have been familiar to the prophet, and which, at least, did not now excite his wonder, nor occasion any inquiry. But this was not all that he saw. He adds, accordingly, in his reply to the angel, "And two olive trees by it, (the candlestick), one on the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof." These evidently were unusual, and produced surprise, and the question, "What are these, my lord?" (ver. 4.) No direct answer was given, and therefore, again, eager for information, he asked, "What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick, and upon the left side thereof?" (ver. 11.) In this instance, the angel does not seem to have replied at all-when the prophet, still bent on obtaining information, and, as if describing more precisely the appearance and position of what had so attracted his attention, said, "What be these two olive branches, which, through the golden pipes, empty the golden oil out of themselves?" (ver. 12.) Then, at length, (the prophet being fully prepared to receive the information), the angel said, "These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth," ver. 14.

It seems undeniable that the two olive trees, or branches, though connected with the candlestick, in this vision, were, nevertheless, objects distinct therefrom-seen as such by the prophet, and described as being such by the angel. Of the same character with the candlestick, they were seen as separate candlesticks" branches." Nay, it would seem as if the scene presented to us-the prophet pressing for an explanation, the angel appearing to evade giving the answer required-were intended to mark this out for observation. And when we read in Rev. xi. 4, "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth,”—referring to the Two Witnesses apart from the "Holy City," which includes the whole body of worshippers in the temple and at the altar,the opinion of a separate condition and a separate history appears absolutely necessary.