The extraordinary character of Attila; and the singu larity of the miseries which he brought upon the Roman empire, all history attests; and his name, only, has been thought worthy to be associated with those of Alaric and Genseric, at which the world trembled. The irruption of the Barbarians under the banners of this " Scourge of God, and terror of man," is reckoned the third great epoch in the ruin of the Western empire, and the rise of those states and kingdoms which the seven last plagues are to pull down. The savage destroyer," says the Author of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, undesignedly laid the foundations of a republic, which "revived in the feudal state of Europe, the art and spirit. "of commercial industry. Many families of Aquileia, Pa. "dua, and the adjacent towns, who fled from the sword "of the Huns, found a safe, though obscure, refuge in "the neighbouring islands," at the extremity of the Hadriatic Gulf. Here they built the city of Venice, which became the capital of one of the new divisions of Europe. To this period also may be traced the alienation from Rome of all that tract of country lying between the Alps, the Hadriatic, and the Danube; Dalmatia, Croatia, Sclavonia, Lower Hungary, the Circle of Austria, Bavaria, part of Swabia, &c. For now, "the nations who had

asserted their independence after the death of Attila, "were established, by the right of possession, or conquest, " in the boundless countries to the north of the Danube, "and in the Roman provinces between that river and the Alps.

The star wormwood fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; and what rivers, in Europe, are to be compared with the Danube, the Rhine, and the Po, and the numerous streams which empty themselves into those mighty rivers, which water the countries which once acknowledged the power of the præfect of Italy? What people in the Roman empire could count such a multitude of rivers and fountains of waters, sources of rivers and lakes, within such limited bounds, as the inhabitants of these provinces? And many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. MANY, but not ALL. The whole of this third part was not yet brought under the dominion of the Barbarians;

* Vol. VI. p. 221.

the Roman Emperors, for a few years longer, swayed a feeble sceptre over a contracted portion of it; but it was little more than the peninsula of Italy which acknowledged their authority. By the calamities of the next trumpet, all the remains of their power, and the very name of Western Emperor will be extinguished.

Verse 12. And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so that the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. That the sun, in the symbolic style, signifies the supreme power in a state, whether emperor, king, or assembly, or by whatever title known; and that the moon is put for such as are next in power, as præfects, consuls, viceroys; and the stars for senators, nobles, and men of rank and office, has been observed, and is so well known, that I need say nothing here to prove it. This trumpet has generally been interpreted as putting an end to the name and title of the Roman Cæsars, and accomplishing the ruin of the monarchy of the Western empire, of its princes, senators, nobles, and officers of every name and rank. The extinction here supposes two other third parts of the sun, moon and stars; and what were these but the supreme and subordinate authorities exercised in, and over, the other two grand divisions of the empire? Here let us attend to the sentiments of the learned and judicious Dr. Cressener on this subject: "That these divisions of the empire were but the parts "of one and the same empire, was shewn by the public "ensigns of authority, which were constantly carried be"fore the Præfecti Prætorio in their several jurisdictions; though each of these Præfects were under the imme"diate authority of but one Emperor, yet before every one of them was carried the heads of all the Emperors, "who were at that time in power, to show, that they were all together the United Majesty of that empire, "though they had distinct jurisdictions. This may be "seen in that eminent fragment of the state of the Roman "empire, the Notitia Imperii, published and explained by "Pancirollus, where it appears, that in the time of the "division of the empire into the Eastern and Western

scats, all the great magistrates, of both the divisions, "had the heads of both the Emperors carried before "them."

"But it is still more evident from the matter of the

"trumpets, that the third part in them must have a re"ference to three distinct imperial seats, or shares, in one "and the same empire. For what else can possibly be "signified by a third part of the sun, moon, and stars, (in "the fourth trumpet), since the sun in general is known, "in mystical use, to denote the supreme power of but "one nation or empire? There is then, in that expres❝sion of the third part of the sun, a plain signification of "two other imperial seats, besides that which is intended "* by the first third part.

The extinction of one third part, then, of the sun, moon, and stars, of the Roman political heavens, was effected when the præfecture of the Gauls was brought under the dominion of the Barbarians. The other third part still shone, and continued to shine, in the East, though with a feeble and diminished light, till the year 1453, when the Turks entirely subverted the Eastern empire. The Italian third part of the sun was smitten and extinguished, when Odoacer, with his Barbarians, revolted; and, in the year 476, put to death the Emperor Orestes, stripped his son, Augustulus, of the ensigns of the imperial dignity, and caused himself to be proclaimed King of Italy. Thus failed the very name of an empire in the West, five hundred and seven years after the establishment of the Roman monarchy, and thirteen hundred and twenty-four from the foundation of Rome.

Commentators in general make this Revolution not only the extinction of the Western symbolic sun, but also of the moon and stars; but some of the inferior luminaries continued to glimmer for ninety-two years longer. Italy, while under the sovereignty of the Ostrogoths, and when it was afterwards reduced to the state of a province of the Eastern empire, by Justinian, continued to be governed, as in the days of Constantine, by Consulares, Correctors, Præsides, &c. no alteration in the government having been made; but Longinus being sent, A. D. 568, with absolute authority to govern Italy, he suppressed those magistrates, and in their stead placed, in each city of consequence, a governor, whom he distinguished with the title of duke. The city of Rome was not more honoured than any other; for Longinus, having abolished the very name of senate and consuls, appointed a magistrate over that metropolis, with the title of duke, common to the governors of other

Judg. of G. &c. p. 39.

cities. Himself took the title of Exarch, and resided at Ravenna, as did his successors; whence they were afterwards known by the title of Exarchs of Ravenna. This exarchate continued for one hundred and eighty-three years, that is, till the year 751, when Eutichius, the last Exarch, was expelled, and Ravenna taken by Astulphus, King of the Lombards. Thus it was not till the year 568, that the fourth trumpet produced all its effects, by utterly extinguishing the inferior luminaries of the synbolic heavens of the Western world.

As to the two following trumpets, they so evidently refer to the Saracens and Turks, that there are scarcely two opinions on the subject'; and as they afford no light for the illustration of the vials, any farther than to ascertain the object of the sixth, I shall not unnecessarily detain the reader; but after soliciting his attention to one brief observation, pass to the consideration of those seven last plagues which are to demolish those Antichristian kingdoms (so far as they are such) and hierarchies, for the erection of which the destruction of the Western empire made way.

Before we pass to the consideration of the seven vials, it will be proper to notice the commencement and progress of the calamities of the first four trumpets, which terminated in the ruin of the Roman Cæsars, and their monarchy in the West. The first trumpet brought the Goths, as a storm of hail, and fire, mingled with blood; the second, a few years after, cast a burning mountain into the sea. The judgments of these two trumpets ran on together, till the third trumpet brought the blazing comet, which fell upon the rivers; nor did they then cease, but being united with those of this third trumpet, which were of shorter duration, they continued their progress till Odoacer, and his motley multitude of revolting mercenaries effected the final ruin of the Imperial Power in the West. The observation of this fact, that, though the commencements of the judgments of the trumpets were distinct, yet these judgments ran on together, and mingled in their course, may be of considerable use to assist us in our inquiries respecting the judgments of the vials,

*Univer. Auc. Hist. Vol. XVII. p. 437, 8.

That all the judgments of the vials are to be considered as included under the seventh trumpet, has been already observed, as has also the end and design of them. Ant end, worthy of that Being, who inspired holy men, for the consolation of his afflicted people, and for the conviction of unbelievers, to speak beforehand of the coming of Christ, and of the glory of his kingdom. There is an interesting coming of Christ, previous to his manifestation for the final judgment, of which the prophets have spoken. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the ancient of days did sit-thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the judgment was set, and the books were opened ;-I beheld till even. the beast was slain, and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame. And there was given him (Messiah, the Son of Man) dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him.* And what beast is this, on which the Son of Man comes to sit in judgment, and which is condemned to utter destruction? The remains of the Roman monarchy, existing in the Antichristian kingdoms of Europe. This destruction, previous to the kingdom of Christ, is the same, under other symbols, with that where Daniel sees the stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands, smite the image upon the feet and toes, and break them to pieces, so that the image falls and perishes.

To this same period, and to these same events, our Lord refers, when he says, There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations-then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory. + Coming in a cloud is the symbol of success and victory. And what is here said, means, that God, in his providence, as administered by the Messiah, will come in his vengeance to destroy all the tyrannies and corrupt systems which have so long opposed the designs of his goodness, and to overthrow all the enemies of God and his people, preparatory to a state of universal peace and justice. The judgments of the vials are the display of this very wrath, and the consequence is to be the ruin of the beast and his party; of the great whore, and the kings of the earth who have committed fornication with her: nor will they terminate till Babylon is thrown down, to be found no more at all; ‡ and the way * Daniel vii. † Luke xxi. 25. Rev. xviii. 21.