severe and long continued frost, or a very rigorous winter, causing great distress and affliction, and perhaps a series of wet, cold and unfavourable weather, operating as an hinderance to vegetation, and of ripening and bringing to perfection, and gathering in, the different fruits of the earth) and there fell a noisome and grievous sore (an epidemical, and painful disorder, perhaps caused by unwholesome food, the want of the necessaries of life, and noxious exhalations; for the vial is upon, or proceeds from the earth*) upon the men (the inhabitants of the island) which had the (golden) mark of * The two years blight upon wheat with the very alarming spring of the year 1810.. The aged and intelligent farmer will tell you that "famine begins at the hay-barn" and there perhaps never was known a more unproductive year than the present, (1810). The great advance of every necessary article of food, (what a contrast to the present state of a neighbouring hostile nation, where a "voice says a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny,") leaves not a doubt in my mind that this vial is commencing; and it appears by the prophecy, that the vial, the war with America, the defection of the ten horns, or kingdoms, the religious hostility with Ireland, and the Regency, will take place nearly at the same time. The signs of the times" likewise strongly points out the time of the end" or "the indignation of the Almighty" as mentioned by Daniel. Refer to the parts in the introduction, and understand what thou readest.". The vial therefore is a concatenation of causes the effect of the pouring, or the wrath of God, and taken along with the order for no man to "buy and sell," the earth's not yielding its increase, and the dreadful" noisome and grievous sore," produces the very great and complicated afflictions. the beast, and upon them which worshiped (were subservient to) his (golden) image. That is made it their idol-their God, meaning where the coin was current, and where they made the image of gold their God. VERSE 3. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man and every living soul died in the sea. Dreadful sea calamities, blood and water mixed, and human beings (souls) swallowed up in the great deep.* VERSE 4. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters, and they became blood. Internal slaughter so dreadful that the "rivers and fountains of waters became blood:"+ VERSE 5. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. VERSE 6. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou has given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. Or that they deserve to drink blood, for the blood they have caused to be shed. * See the former part of the 9th chapter, and remarks to the different verses, a few of the passages are explanatory corroborations of this vial. It appears therefore that there would be dreadful slaughter upon the sea," and that upon the land "they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months." I beg my readers to refer to remarks upon the 22d verse of the 11th chapter of Daniel.. VERSE 7. And I heard another out of the altar (or church) say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. Compare this verse with the latter part of the 14th chapter, and the remarks upon it.* VERSE 8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun:† and power was given him to scorch men (the men, or the people) with fire. *The insurrections in various parts of the island owing to the depreciation of the price of labour, and the increase of the price of provisions, must be taken as an intimation or sign of this third vial, the effects of which are so dreadfully described. And now a further sign, or rather an irrefragable manifestation of the near approach of this third vial, is the commitment to the Tower, of a Member of the House of Commons, on Monday the 9th of April last, and its subsequent results; where blood has again been shed. "Thou hast given them blood to drink ;" or they may glut themselves with blood" for they are worthy:" and according to Daniel "with the feet of it." 7th chapter 7th verse. Likewise see the 2d verse of the 13th chapter of Revelation. + A sign. "Manor House, Hayes, Middlesex, July 13th, 1808. Mr. Editor, The extraordinary heat of yesterday (which exceeds any ever previously experienced), induces me to send you a correct account of it as observed in a north open aspect at this house, by two thermometers, by Ramsden and Carey, quite detached. On Tuesday the 12th inst. at two, P. M. 87 deg. 69 90 88 VERSE 9. And men (the people) were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed (spoke wickedly of) the name of God, which had power over these plagues; and they (the people) repented not to give him glory. They relied upon their own power, and no glory, honour, or praise, was given, or attributed to God. The former part of the versc makes no mention of date or time, whether one, two, or three years that the "About three o'clock on Thursday morning, a whirlwind took two trees in St. James's Park, nearly opposite the Palace, stripped them completely of their branches and left them like flag-staffs." I do not particularize other phenomena over, and around the " great city," nor the dreadful effects of the heat in different parts of the island, nor the alarming thunder, (and now, the latter end of the year 1810, the dreadful inundations caused by high tides, deluging the "earth," and destroying the products of the preceding harvest), lightning and hail, though the latter was not the "weight of a talent," or as Mr. Wakefield has it "a hundred pound weight." The "power" of the " sun” and the "power" of the "hail" cannot but be had in remembrance as 66 signs of the times" that are so fast approaching. Jesus says, "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, with PERPLEXITY; (or rather from a want of intercourse for trade." See Dr. Mitchel's Cry at Midnight, page 91), the sea and the waves roaring; (Dr. Mitchel says, "or rather the sea and the shore resounding;" see page 92), men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.21st Luke, 25th and 26th verses. Read the two succeeding verses, and "think." men or people would be "scorched with great heat."* VERSE 10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat † ("read, think, and understand,") of the beast; and his kingdom was full of DARKNESS: (or wickedness) and they gnawed their tongues for pain (a strong figure, for great and complicated distress). In the original "seat" is rendered " throne :” says Mr. Kett. * If we may judge from the former part of the 11th chapter, it will be during the time of the dreadful three years and a half; that is great occasional heat within the period. Compare the 3d and the 6th verses. A want of" rain" or the " sun's" influence conveys to the mind the same idea, that of their causing a parched earth; therefore in that respect it will greatly add to the afflictions of the first vial. Those readers of my "Little Book," who call themselves Christians must peruse the middle part of the 4th chapter by Luke: I quote them two verses of their Master's the 24th and 25th, And he said, verily I say unto you, NO PROPHET is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great FAMINE was throughout the land. "Behold I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed shall the end be." Daniel viii. 19. The "time appointed" may produce the same effects as were produced when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months in the time of Elias. + Mr. Wakefield has this verse. "And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the THRONE of the beast whose kingdom was darkened thereby." Darkness visible and which ought to be taken in a two-fold point of view. |