famine, pestilence, etc. Fire represents zeal, whether true or false. Blood is guilt; thus, when a sinner was of olden times punished for his crimes, it used to be said, his blood, or guilt, be upon his own head.

On that memorable day of Pentecost, the disciples became new creatures · -they were renewed in the spirit of their minds, and, in accordance with the Redeemer's promise, they received that precious gift of the Holy Spirit, which afterwards conducted them through this evil world, and enabled them to carry on that important work to which they were appointed. This extraordinary change filled the multitude with surprise. Even strangers and foreigners, of different nations, were amazed when they heard these men, being Jews, speak in their different tongues, the wonderful works of God. Some of the ungodly Jews charged the apostles with drunkenness, and mocked them; on which Peter, with his eleven brethren, lifted up their voices, and sounded a general alarm to the Jews. Under this sound, the apostles acquitted themselves of the charge of intoxication, which the hardened Jews put upon them. They also proved from the Scriptures that they were under the powerful influence of God, and acted accordingly.

Thirdly, they showed the mighty power of God in heaven and earth, and particularly by the signs and wonders which appeared when Jesus suffered.

Fourthly, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Fifthly, they remind the Jews of the miracles, wonders and signs, which God did by Jesus of Nazareth, among them.

Sixthly, that it was by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, he was sent unto them.

Seventhly, that by wicked hands he was crucified and

slain.

Eighthly, the mighty power of God is shown by Christ's

resurrection.

Ninthly, that death had no dominion over the Redeemer, neither could his flesh see corruption.

Tenthly, that God raised him up, and that they were the witnesses of it.

Eleventhly, that he is exalted by the right hand of God, and hath received from Him the promise of the Holy Ghost. Twelfthly, that by his advocacy with the Father, this was shed forth, as they now saw and heard.

Thirteenthly, that he is to sit on God's right hand, until his foes are made his footstool.

Fourteenthly, they assure the house of Israel that God hath made that same Jesus whom they had crucified, both Lord and Christ.

These were some of the sounds of Pentecost, or the first trumpet to the Jews. Let its effects now be considered. It appears that many of them were pricked in their hearts, or were under sore conviction, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter exhorted them to repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, for the remission of sins, and they should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for the promise was to them and their children, and to them that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

He further exhorted them to save themselves from that unrighteous generation. The same day, about three thousand were converted.-Acts 2.

When we consult from the third to the tenth chapter of the Acts, inclusive, it is evident that this was the sound of the first trumpet, namely: repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - showing the incorrigible Jews their guilt in denying the Holy One and the Just, and desiring a murderer to be granted unto them. But they persisted in their guilt, until the hail, or heavy judgments of God came

upon them, through the Roman power, A. D. 170, and by the sword, famine, and their own intestine commotions, above eleven hundred thousand perished. The Romans then burnt their temple, and dug up its very foundations; whereby a third part of the trees, or ceremonial law, was burnt up and destroyed, and all the green grass, or ceremonials belonging thereto, was consumed. Their highpriesthood, that they so much esteemed, was annihilated, that the eternal priesthood of the Redeemer might be established in its stead.

The foregoing will be understood when it is noted that, in prophetic language, trees are laws. The law given to Adam was under the symbol of a tree which he was forbidden to eat of. John the Baptist says, “And now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire.”—Matt. 3: 10. He thereby intimated that all unnecessary laws were to be cast into the fire.

Verse 8: "And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning was cast into the sea and the third part of the sea became blood."

Verse 9: "And the third part of the creatures that were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed."

As the first trumpet was sounded for the Jews, the second sound extended to the Gentiles. This is easily proved by a reference to Acts 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, and also to Paul's epistles to them.

When the prophetic words are known, it will be easy to apply them. Earth signifies those earthly-minded, carnal professors, who had some knowledge of God, who had the form of godliness, but denied its power. Sea is an emblem of the huge mass, or turbulent ocean, of mankind, who at this time were idolators, and adhered to the superstitious doctrines of their priests. They paid divine honor to Jupiter,

Mercury, Diana; they worshipped false gods.-Acts 14, 19. Ships, as a ship at sea contains its superior and inferior officers and crew, so a ship is a temple. The third part of the sea became blood, that is, acknowledged their guilt, and became converts to the truth. They also died to sin that they might live to righteousness. Fire, as before shown, is zeal.

Paul, after his miraculous conversion, was appointed the great apostle to the Gentiles. In conjunction with his fellow laborers, he travelled through Asia, Greece and Italy, where the word grew by his ministry, and his converts became numerous. Thus he laid the foundation in those extensive regions.

When Jesus Christ foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, he gave his followers this sign: "When ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter therein. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.-Luke 21: 20- - 22.

The Christian party, who, at this time, were numerous in the land of Judea and parts adjacent, obeyed the injunction, and passed into different parts of the Roman empire. These emigrants, filled with holy zeal for the interests of Christ's kingdom, in addition to the labors of Paul and his companions, were that great mountain burning with fire, which was cast into the sea of heathenism.

It was the great object of apostles and other teachers of the first century, to show mankind the error of their ways, to teach them the knowledge of the true God, and his mercy in sending Christ Jesus to save them. They were taught the immortality of the soul, and the resurrection of the dead; that Christ was their Advocate, High Priest, and final Judge; that both Jews and Gentiles were sold under sin, all

the world guilty before God, and that his mercy was extended to them, by sending Christ Jesus to save them, and restore them to eternal life. They were instructed in the nature of the new birth, and that they must die to sin that they might live to righteousness. Thus, from the great number of the Christian teachers of this time dispersed over the empire, they brought the Gentiles under strong conviction, whereby a third part of them acknowledged their guilt, or became blood. Then followed conversion: for this third part, who thought they had life in their natural state, now died to sin that they might live the life of the righteous. Consequently, the third part of the ships, or heathen temples, were destroyed, or went to ruins.

Verse 10: "And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon a third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of

water."

Verse 11: "And the name of the star is called, Wormwood and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter."

The great and important truths of the gospel were delivered pure and uncorrupted by the apostles. But this could not satisfy the vanity of man. Even in the apostles' days the Mystery of Iniquity began to wake, which leads me to conclude that this trumpet began to sound before they departed this life. In Paul's charge to Timothy he exhorts him to support the simplicity and purity of the gospel law, from which some having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling. Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say, or whereof they affirm.-1 Tim. 1: 6, 7.

In giving directions concerning the conduct of old and young widows, he says, "Some are already turned aside unto Satan."-1 Tim. 5: 15.