the defenceless and depopulated city, by the distant emperor and his successors, amid the rising kingdoms of the Barbarians, continued and carried to the utmost these desolations to the close of the sixth century. The rising monarchy of the Franks, combining the chief powers of the Barbarians, in due course, gave a seventh crowned head to the Latin empire; but after a short space, the kingdom is divided, the crowns are seen on the horns, and the first beast from the sea stands fully developed before us, as in this, his eighth form, he goes into perdition. The second beast, arising not from the tumultuous sea, but growing up, as it were, out of the earth, is his cotemporary all along, and with him, as we noted, perishes at the battle of the great day of Almighty God, as the false prophet with the beast and the kings of the earth.

"

The terms, however, used by the celestial interpreter to Daniel, 'causing the daily 'sacrifice' to cease, and placing the abomination of desolation," has somewhat drawn our attention to the first transaction of the restored imperial power at Rome with the ancient church of that city, which was such a violation of the pastoral order in that eminent station in the Christian world, that we may well question whether this does not mark an epoch in the history of its abominations. Cardinal Baronius has pronounced it to be "Portentum facinus omni execratione dignum."

In the year 537, the year after the armies of Justinian had taken possession of Rome for the first time, November 17th, Bishop Sylverius by his order, or that of the wretched empress Theodora, was spoiled of his pontifical character, and immediately led into exile in the habit of a common monk, where it is said, he died by hunger. By command of the same authority, the Clergy of Rome proceeded to the choice of a new Bishop, and after solemn invocation of the Holy Ghost, elected the deacon Vigilius, who had purchased this promotion "by a bribe of two hundred pounds of gold.” *

If this should be the violation and abomination spoken of in the prophecy, from which the mystic days are to be dated, we of course anticipate the last mentioned dates sixteen years. From A. D. 537, the cycle of twelve hundred and sixty years, which brings us to A. D. 1797, is very remarkably terminated; this year was the last of the reign of Pope Pius VI. A. D. 1793, February 15th, the Roman people proclaimed their independence, "the tree of liberty," as they called it, "was planted in the capitol."

The thirty years extended out from this epoch, brings us to the latter

* Gibbon, chap. xli. The name Vigilius, written in Greek letters, and for the Vee, substituting Gamma, [see Matthiæ's Grammar, Vol. I. § 20.] will produce the mystic number, six hundred and sixty-six.

part of the year 1827. On October 20th, of that year, was fought the battle of Navarino,—an untoward event, as the British government called it, 'that fatal event," as the Sultan pronounces it in a public document, some years afterwards, is likely to mark with the consequences that so soon have followed it: the pouring forth of the sixth vial on the waters of the Euphrates. On this hypothesis, the last forty-five years must be dated from 1827 or 1828, directing us to A. D. 1872 or 1873, for the blessed era intimated to Daniel.

If the cleansing of the sanctuary in the year 1844, marks the possession of the site of the holy temple and city, by the first restored remnant of Judah, we have of course a period of twenty-eight years, for their peaceful settlement in their "unwalled villages," and for the attack, and for the final destruction of the fourth empire. And it is again remarkable, that, if with Bishop Newton and others, we date the rise of Mahometism ten years earlier than its followers do themselves, from A. D. 612, these twenty-eight years complete their true cycle twelve hundred and sixty years in A. D. 1872.

The arrival, therefore, of the years A. D. 1844, 1872, and 1889, must be expected with feelings of the deepest interest, by all who are "looking for this great day of the Lord." Nor can I, in the midst of such awful expectations for ourselves and for our children, better conclude than with the serious admonition of St. Peter: "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up. Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,-wherein the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." *

* 2 Peter iii. 10, &c.

THE END.