witnesses ever before so powerful to chastise their enemies, and kill them with fire out of their mouths, (224) as at the time when their death, and speedy and happy resurrection, are at hand.

(224) "And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies, and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed." This is one of the most singular marks of character belonging to these two prophets. I had an observation to make in another place upon fighting saints, and here are fighting prophets or protestants, who possess a prevailing superiority over their enemies by the dextrous use of artillery or great guns.

For that is thought to be the meaning of this very same figure, when it is first applied (Rev. ix. 17, 18.) to the Turks. "Out of their mouths issued fire, and smoke, and brimstone, Sc" The Turks having first introduced the use of cannon at the siege of Constantinople. (See Bishop Newton.)

In this figurative book the holy writer never makes use of the same figure in different senses, lest unavoidable confusion should ensue ; and we therefore must be cautious of charging so great a fault upon the holy Spirit, the real author of this prophecy. It is clear he does not mean that these two prophets killed their opponents figuratively, (by the two edged sword of the word of God, for a different figure is appropriated to that sort of killing ;) but really, and as the Turks did, by artillery. This part of the character of the witnesses applies only to the close of their ministry; when like the fighting saints,

Or other instrument of destruction by means of fire,

3d. Their death. It will be still more difficult to shew when conscience and reason can be said to have been killed,-and when any public rejoicings were exhibited for such a victory over them; their dead bodies (if conscience and reason can by any metaphor be thus described,) lying prostrate, a public spectacle of contumely and derision. "They of the people, and kindreds, and tongues, shall see their dead bodies (βλεψεσιν τα πτώματα auτwy-cadavera eorum videbunt,) three days and an half." Their not permitting to them after their death the common rites of sepul

they are surrounded with treachery and hostility, and com. pelled to defend their liberty and lives as long as they

can.

The figure of fire coming out of the mouth, as thus applied, is a very expressive one. The musket being elevated breast high, and presented with the head reclined upon it to take aim, gives an idea of the fire coming out of the mouth. application to great guns, it has the same appearance.

In the

Their turning the waters into blood, in a military and political construction, is an intelligible figure. And in the same sense their shutting heaven, may allude to the system of blockade, and a naval superiority, which distresses and impoverishes their cnemies, that it rain not in the days (that is, in a part of them, and that the concluding part) of their prophecy.”

ture, is some additional disgrace and, injury done to their breathless carcases, as is very evident, by the general rejoicings at their death; and by the allusion it bears to a very common piece of cruelty practised by the papists upon their heretic enemies, in denying them christian burial. Conscience and reason seem to be witnesses here quite out of character. But a nation of beretics for a time overpowered by ruffian violence, and subjected to the accumulated injuries and contumelies of an insolent and cruel foe, whom they have heretofore harassed with plagues, and vexed with multiplied defeats, may answer with more accuracy to the character.

4th. Their resurrection and call up to heaven-offer the same difficulties, if conscience and reason be the witnesses. There hath been nothing observed corresponding to the resurrection of conscience and reason; yet the fact, on Mr. Sharp's plan, must have gone by us; as he expects the millennium and resurrection of the martyrs daily. (225) On the

(225) See Mr Sharp's R. C. Catechism p. 96,

other suggestion, that the converted Jews, and the defenders of liberty religious and civil, are the witnesses, this prophecy may yet admit of a full accomplishment after some previous sufferings. And we are sure these things would not have been related with so great circumstantiality, in so concise an history, and corroborated with so many other incidental views (explanatory of the particulars of this epitome) of the history of the sufferings and triumph of the church, if it had not been the purpose of God that it should be duly fulfilled, and his faithful servants should have timely forewarning of it. (226)

(226) I cannot possibly agree with Mr Sharp in bringing forward the saints, in raised and immortal bodies, like a stream of fire, and a burning flame, so very quickly after the fall of the papal throne. This is an event to which many people are not yet thoroughly awake to admit its reality, as the Pope still exists, and towering Rome is still standing. The powers of their former political life remain still strong in the catholic community, as well as in their head, the false prophet, Mr Sharp does not seem to have given a sufficient share of importance to the characters and function of the two witnesses, in the 11th. and the three mystical frogs in the 16th. explanatory of each other, and are by St.

A double fall is predicted.---The first is past.

chapter, which are John given as an

5th. The Jews are already in possession of the title of God's witnesses and his prophets, in the prophecies from whence St. John draws his characteristics, and prophetic marks of the subjects he introduces in the Apocalypse. (227) (227) And they have to this day fulfilled the part hitherto assigned them, being a standing miracle, and strong proof of the truth even of christianity which they reject. (228) I see no reason for setting these

index of the time, and not designed to go for nothing in this place. The holy Spirit adds nothing superfluous, and does not enlarge upon subjects of little moment, much less introduce them repeatedly, and in various, and new connections. The witnesses have an office to discharge for 1260 years, and towards the end of it they do it with great and destructive vigour. But it is by necessity of self defence, and against accumulated power, and encreased and catholic, that is universal (but not merit.d} hatred and envy,

(227) Psalm cv. 15.—"Touch not mine anointed, and do my PROPHETS no harm." Isaiah xliii. 10, 12,-" Ye are my WITNESSES, that I am God."

(228) And of the truth of this prophecy in particular, by having suffered with great frequency the most unparalleled cruelties, from the bigotry of the popish zeal for their saint and image worship, of which the Jews have sometimes shewn their detestation too imprudently in their enemies land. They con sider themselves in this light, and "value themselves much