good men and true aside from their divinely appointed office as witnesses and prophets, to introduce conscience and reason into their post, which they have occupied so many ages, until the function itself is just upon the point of being abolished. There is time enough yet, before the arrival of the next period 1290, or

upon being the witnesses to the whole world, of the unity of God." Univ. Hist. Mod. vol. xiii. p. 454. Thus if nothing below the rank of martyrs through resistance of the beast, can be admitted to the kingdom of saints and the first resurrection, the Jews have been "martyrs" in both the senses of that word, having been "in deaths oft," and they have the promise of a resurrection.

"The general rage against the Jews induced Eneas Sylvius (afterwards Pope himself,) in his history of Bohemia, upon occasion of a massacre of them at Prague, to declare, that nothing was more deplorable than their condition among the christians!" Zouch on Prophecy p. 104. The truth of this remark is indisputable. Of the hard necessity to which they were often reduced of feigning a conversion to popery, and being burnt for relapsing, their bowing down to the mock Gods they detested, and even taking ecclesiastical orders to conceal themselves and protect other Jews; (which they did in great numbers and very frequently in Spain,) many instances are given in Basnage and the Univ. Hist. Mod.-See particularly p, 324, 357 &c, This was a literal accomplishment of the prophecy of Moses, cited in p. 55 of my first volume. See also Burton on the numbers of Daniel and St. John, p. 21, &c,

the subsequent one 1335, for the Jews to come forwards in a more vigorous discharge of their function, as one of the two witnesses is now doing; and as both are to do towards the end. (229)

6. The almost general sense of the church has been in favor of human agency, in the fulfilment of the prophetical (or protestant) office of the two witnesses. They must be strong reasons which shall set aside a general opinion, especially upon a cardinal point, on the right exposition of which the consistency of the whole prophecy depends. (230)

(229) The prowess and vigour of the Jews, in their successful efforts for the recovery of the Holy Land, is the subject of many prophecies, See Section vi, p. 150. vol. 1.

(230) The death and resurrection of the witnesses every where in the prophets is applied to the Jews, and in the same figurative sense, and almost in the very words of St. John, Rev. xi. 11. and xx. 4.-Hosea vi. 2, assigns the same time for the duration of their figurative death. "After two days he will revive us, in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." žuvasnousa,-We shall rise again. Ezekiel (xxxvii. 12.) opens their graves, and brings them from thence into the land of Israel, after vua Cons, the breath of life (v. 5.) had entered into them, Rev. xi. 11. And there, (Micah. iv VOL. III. N n

But whatever may be the determination of the critics, respecting the two witnesses, conscience and reason, or the Jews and Protestants; the three frogs are not by dint of argument, or the charm of a few words, to bet resolved into a mere croak and nothing more, vox-et præterea nibil! (231) These very extraordinary agents of tyranny and superstition, being caught hold of in the middle of a prophecy so very concise, and containing not a word that is not of the utmost interest and most awful import; and being moreover described with a personal agency, great particularity, and in very critical circumstances of the persons employing them, and those against whom their active malignity is excited; it cannot be but that they must have some business there, and be real and human agents, no other being admissible. They are branded in the forehead and right hand, (Rev. xiii. 16,) with so significant marks of bad character,

6, 7, 8.) bestows upon them the first dominion-or kingdom of the saints, (Dan. vii,) or reign of Christ, the horn of David exalted.-Psalm cxxxii. 17.-cxlviii. 14.

(231) See Roman Catholic Catechism (remarks on), by Granville Sharp, p、 65.

that it is impossible we can suffer them to escape from our inquisitorial bar with a slight examination, now we have them in hold; though we should not be able, upon evidence (yet producible), to bring them to that condign punishment which awaits them in God's own time. Their origin-their commission

their zeal and activity in undertaking and executing it-their authorities and powers, all denote them to be real personal agents; and endued with great talents for mischief, and a superlative wickedness; on account of which latter excellent qualification for their office, they are called "spirits of devils," rather than men.-To prevent mistake in that respect, it is expressly said that they are spirits of devils working miracles:" that is, men of a cruelty and malignity of spirit truly diabolical, and of such an hostility towards the reformed religion and the genuine gospel of Christ, and an impiety of principles and corruption of manners, that the very infernals themselves cannot exceed them.

These wretched enemies of the faith are as pointedly distinguished by their number, as the

witnesses are; and in this respect they seem to have a close connection with their three principals, out of whose mouths (or vested with their respective authorities,) they proceed. The miracles here ascribed to them, shew us both what they are not, and what they are. They are not real devils. For no accounts of any miracles publicly wrought by devils for the purpose of deceiving and drawing men into rebellion against God, are upon record in scripture; though many performed by men actuated by a diabolical spirit. (232) They are therefore by this token to be pronounced. real men, and of that party which is already so celebrated both in scripture and in their own legends, and in the writings of the advocates of the church of Rome, for the frequent performance of miracles of a certain description. (233) These miracles by such

(232) Neither in profane history are any such miracles of devils, as these. For these agents of hell seem to act their part in the public view of all Europe, and the civilized world ; not in some sequestered spot only, or before savages, or in an age of barbarian ignoraace.

(233) 2 Thes, ii, 9,-Rev. xiii, 13,-xix. 20,