princes. I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath."

Now, the Vial was the instrument in the hands of Samuel the Priest, whereby the LORD anointed Saul to be king over His people Israel. Whilst, therefore, the oil used on this occasion was expressive of the grace and authority conferred upon Saul to rule over God's people, the act of pouring out the oil from the vial indicated the displeasure of the LORD, showing that the vial was used in this case as an instrument of judgment. The use, then, of the first vial, recorded in the Scriptures, was an act of judgment, and was poured out by one who served at the altar-a Priest as well as Prophet of the LORD. And in like manner the angels who pour out the Apocalyptic vials are represented as exercising this twofold office. It inflicted GOD's righteous judgment on His people, and was the punishment of their sin in asking for a king when the LORD Himself was their King. We believe this act of GOD throws considerable light upon the mystery of His judgments in the vials of wrath in the Apocalypse; and that the cause of these judgments will be found to be very analogous to the causes which brought judgment upon Israel. For as the children of Israel rejected the LORD from being their King, when they rejected Samuel, so the Christian Church, departing from the way of the LORD as given in its original constitution, at Pentecost, rejected Him as their Ruler when they rejected Apostles. They began in the Spirit, but failing of the grace of GoD sought to be made perfect by the flesh. They preferred the rule of the flesh to that of the SPIRIT of the LORD in His rulers. We infer, therefore, that the mystery of the vials is to be seen in the history of Saul, to which we have here referred; but

and xv. 1.

be this as it may, it is
mining their character.

of no consequence in deterFor no other proof is needed

Rev. xvi. 1; beyond the statement in which they are called "vials of wrath," and "the seven last plagues in which is filled up the wrath of ALMIGHTY GOD," to show that they imply judgment.

Other evidence, that the arrangement we have made of this fourfold form of Prophecy, revealed in this book, is the true one, will arise out of the interpretation of the symbolic action contained in each series; and also of the introductory visions, whose emblems and imagery indicate, and illustrate the phase or aspect of history represented by them. Each of the series also, being, as we have already remarked, composed of seven parts, indicates that the phase which the series presents, is perfect of its kind, and embraces the whole period of the dispensation.

PART IV.

PREFATORY VISIONS TO EACH OF THE FOUR FORMS OF PRO-
PHECY; NAMELY, TO THE SEVEN EPISTLES, SEVEN SEALS,
SEVEN TRUMPETS, AND SEVEN VIALS.

THAT these four forms or streams of prophecy present to us a fourfold phase of Christian history, will appear further evident, by considering the prefatory visions to each of these series; and in so doing, we shall find that they are of the same character with the series which follow. Thus the vision which precedes the Epistles is of a spiritual character, representing the LORD JESUS as the Shepherd and Bishop of His Church. The prefatory vision to the seals exhibits the regal power and dominion of the LORD; whilst the one introducing the trumpets evidently represents Him in a priestly or ecclesiastical character. And the vials are prefaced by the symbolic forms of those evil things which cause the judgments, and bring down the wrath of GOD upon His people. Let us then consider these Prefaces in order.

4 John to the Seven Churches which are in Asia; Grace be unto Rev.i.4—20. you, and peace from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne.

5 And from JESUS CHRIST, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the

earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His FATHER; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

7 Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.

8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the LORD, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

9 I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of JESUS CHRIST, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of GOD and for the testimony of JESUS CHRIST.

10 I was in the Spirit on the LORD's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last; and, what thou seest write in a book, and send it unto the Seven Churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me; and being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks.

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14 His head and His hairs were white, like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire.

15 And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.

16 And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.

18 I am He that liveth, and was dead: and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.

20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the Seven Churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the Seven Churches.

"John to the seven Churches which are in Asia." There are many numbers used in this book in a mystical sense, and among these numbers, none SO frequently occurs as the number seven, which is always used with the same signification denoting completeness, totality, perfection, deriving this meaning, as we conceive from the idea contained in the Hebrew root itself, yaw, which signifies fulness, completion, and therefore we have the number seven used in Scripture whenever any whole or perfect thing is intended to be represented.

And S. John being commanded to address these seven Churches only, when there must have been many more not only in this province but in the nations around, leads us to conclude that these seven are taken to represent the whole Church of CHRIST ON earth.

The preface to the seven Epistles opens with a benediction from the Triune JEHOVAH, in these words

"Grace be unto you, and peace from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne, and from JESUS CHRIST, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth." This benediction is full of significance, especially as it is pronounced at the commencement of the revelation. "Grace" is that peculiar attribute or quality which God hath ever manifested towards His fallen creatures, and which was fully revealed when His Son condescended to take upon Himself our