performers as these froglike spirits, are unquestionably the same in kind.

The time when these emissaries of popery and tyranny issue forth, is that in which it may easily be presumed the strong delusions upon the upholders of that ill fated apostacy (which in the face of all these demonstrative tokens of God's wrath in the seven vials, will not still see their error, nor repent of their deeds,) will have attained to their greatest strength; their hatred of truth will be increased, and their zeal for sanctified imposture be inflamed. They are likened to frogs for some very significant reasons, which it is yet premature to conjecture, and for others more obvious to present apprehension. Their being bred, and having their abode in the stagnant waters of popery, on which the great whore sat (Rev, xvii. 15), (which at this season are peculiarly offensive and putrid, having been turned into blood,) (Rev. xvi. 3,) intimates, in a figure, the powerful influence of monkish jesuitical emissaries, over the bigotted and enslaved votaries of the mass and the crucifix.

Thus distinguished, these three unclean spirits like frogs (234), will, ere long, emerge from the troubled waters of the popish lake, amongst the mire and dirt which the political tempest is continually throwing up, from the deep and cavernous recesses of its bottom. Our little acquaintance with them, is an argument that they have not yet appeared in their official capacity, nor openly at least received their commission, as emissaries or heralds of the three high and mighty principals, in the holy war of popery triumphant against. the witnesses of Jesus. The coalition between the beast of this period, and the false prophet and the spiritual dragon, is not yet formed. The two former must first admit of the friendly mediation of the latter, to settle their existing differences. The false prophet has but very recently descended to that degrading title, having been hurled from his throne by

(234) The monkish societies, and particularly that of the Jesuits, (said to be in expectation of a re-establishment by the Pope,) may well be figuratively described as unclean spirits!-and spirits of devils !-could any other words describe them better? Their likeness to frogs shews that they are embodied spirits, or men ;-mere spirits are invisible, and like nothing.

the third beast with contumely added to injury; and nothing but the hope of extirpating heresy, and recovering his lost diadem, can make up the deadly breach between them. It is in this place, where the three frogs, and the coalition of this choice triumvirate all occur, that this mystic chieftain is first called the false prophet, but he retains that name unchanged to the end. (235)

(235) Rev. xi. 7. The third beast rises. Rev. xvi. 8, He is in action, and dethrones the first beast and image, and becomes the beast of this period himself.-Rev xvi. 13. He is in friendly coalition with the dethroned image or little horn, (on whom he has bestowed the new title of Pseudoprophetes or false prophet,) and with the mutual friend of them both. And they commission and send out three demoniacal frogs, their worthy apostles. It is evident from this analysis of this prophecy, and the signs of the times, (the Pope being now actually in this very situation, and the devil always in readiness,) that we may begin to keep a sharp look out for the appearance of the three frogs, who (as popish wickedness is always in forwardness,) will be self constituted, and formed, and trained to their arms, before the witnesses are able to discover them; being in want of nothing but the signing of their commissions, which will be graciously done (at their request), and with all secrecy and dispatch.

We may therefore in this, as in other prophecies, be forewarned, yet with little prudential use of the warning on our part; and feel more severely the dire effects of the successful

In answer to the objection which might be offered to these speculations, from the apparent

agency of the three frogs, upon the turbulent spirits of a restless and fanatical party; whose temporary success providence will convert into the means of their own final overthrow. The goodness of God certainly designed to put us upon our guard, by so close and pointed a description of these characters, the third beast, the false prophet, the dragon, (though little is said or him, because he remains unchanged,) and the three frogs; and the time and circumstances under which they will appear, and may be looked for.

The false prophet was formerly a character that nobody knew what to make of, but now that he has actually appeared, he is divinely compelled, like Baalam to prophesy against himself, and stands like a guide post in an intricate road, to point to the right understanding of the prophecy, and give an alarm which he little designs, against himself and his three jesuitical frogs. The time for these allegorical frogs to crawl out of their holes cannot be far off. Some even imagine that they already hear the hoarse and ominous croaking of them from the opposite shores of a neighbouring Island.

Every blast of the shrill clarion of war ought to remind us of this prophetic caution against the unceasing and treacherous enmity of our relentless foes. Mere envy at the happy exemption in a great degree, from the miseries they are doomed to suffer, may be a sufficient motive to bad minds to rejoice in the day of our adversity, and casting behind their backs the memory of benefits and the obligations of gratitude, to throng from all quarters of the earth, or Roman empire, and of the whole world, wherever catholics are found, around the standard erected for the extirpation of heretics.

difficulty of accounting for the existence of the witnesses after the beast (to whose time of 42 months they were equally limited) has been blotted out from the prophetical canvass, his full reckoning being run out; I have observed, that this difficulty is only apparent, and not real. That the blot in the escutcheon of holy church must exist first, and the connoisseurs in ecclesiastical heraldry, who first found it out, must needs be somewhat later in time; and exist a certain but short time after her fall from the throne of mystic Babylon. To afford us further assistance in the removal of this difficulty, we must call to our assistance the marks set upon this period of prophetical time by the sacred writer. They are very striking marks, and are designedly placed here as a guide to the times wherein these things would come to pass.

It is to be remarked then, that at this time of the prophecy we have several apparently new dramatis persona, presented before us on the sudden, with little or no formality of an introductory description. The reason of this may be, that except the three frogs, who act

VOL. III.