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martyrs. She is no longer seen persecuting, and using against the saints, a power which is not her own; but she is taking her ease-sitting as a queen-reposing and resting herself upon the beast who carries her. The temporal and the ecclesiastical power remain as before; but the circumstances of both the one and the other, have undergone a very sensible change even as the light and shade vary, in the morning and the evening view.

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The particular consideration of the heads of the beast, which arises from out of the sea, (Rev, xiii.) was passed over at p. 225, that it might be noticed in this place; for the beast of the sea, and the beast of the bottomless pit, are the same power that is, the Latin kingdom, in different stages of its latter-day career. This Latin kingdom (see v. 8.)

was not in.

existence when the apostle saw the vision, for it had become incorporated with the Roman power; but, still, as the Romans used the Latin tongue, and possessed the old Latin kingdom as part of their empire, it had a sort of quasi existence still, even in the days of the apostle; and it was destined to rise up again, in its ancient character of a Latin empire, and under that character to perish.

The seven heads are in the first place (verse 9,)

declared by the angel to be seven mountains, upon which the idolatrous Church sitteth. Upon these heads (Rev. xiii. 1.) are the name of blasphemy, and this, probably, refers to the seven electorates of the empire, for they were indeed the high places, eminences, or mountains of the empire. All these were united in the service of the Papal Church: by their election the emperor was seated on his throne; and as they assume the name of holy, which belongs only to God, the name of blasphemy is upon them, as upon the empire itself. But it is explained further, that the seven heads refer also to seven kings, or forms of government; and these remain to be developed. As these heads belong to the Latin kingdom, they must not be confounded with the heads of the dragon, or Pagan Rome; and they must be sought for in the forms of government, which existed either in the Old Latin kingdom, or in the Roman empire, after the Latin kingdom became part of it; or in the Latin kingdom, when it afterwards revived. Before the Romans subdued the Latin power, its government had been exercised under three forms:-1. The Regal; 2. The Dictatorial; 3. The Prætorial. The forms of government used at Rome, after the Latin kingdom became part of it, were, the Consular, the Triumviral, and the Imperial. It has been shewn

already, that the imperial head was slain by the sword, in the year 476; and, after that event, the supreme power of the government, fell into the hands of the Carlovingian Patriciate, by which it was exereised for seventy or eighty years. This was the seventh head, ordained to arise after the days of the apostle, and to continue for a short time: and when Charlemagne was crowned, the eighth head arose, which was nothing more, than one of the old forms revived: and thus the eighth, or imperial head, was one of the seven; and it remaineth unto this day. This renewal of the imperial head has already been shewn, under the figure of one of the heads of the wild beast of the sea, being wounded by the sword unto death, and that deadly wound healed.

The ten horns or kingdoms of the Latin empire, have already been enumerated. Their power, as kingdoms, was established early in the sixth century, and thereby the Roman power assumed the shape symbolized in Rev. xiii. as the wild beast of the sea. These kingdoms have agreed most wonderfully, in giving their power and their support to the Holy Roman Empire, and to the Holy Roman Cathelio Church, as declared in v. 17. But it seems by v. 14, as if they were ordained in the last days of all, to

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engage in personal conflict with Messiah. Before this takes place, however, they are made the instruments of vengeance upon the harlot; and they shall make her desolate, and burn her with fire.

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CHAP. XXVIII.

Destruction of Babylon.-Rev. xviii.

The prophecy goes on to relate the destruction of the idolatrous Babylon, which is thus introduced :

Rev. xviii. 1-3. "And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies."

The angel here spoken of appears, by comparing the passages, to be the same which is mentioned in Rev. xiv. 8. The proclamation is to the same effect in each instance, but here it is more fully given: Babylon, however, is not destroyed; but the light which the angel reflects upon the earth, makes it manifest, that she is altogether become corrupt ; and the minds of men are thereby enabled to discern her idolatries, and her abominations. They hate the whore, that they may be prepared to destroy her.

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