great and successful persecutors and oppressors of the people of God wore also a national aspect. First, they were the Egyptians, then the Assyrians, then the Babylonians, then the Persians, then the Grecians, and subsequently the Romans. But

among them all BABYLON was pre-eminent: so much so as to give a general name to the whole persecuting power. Thus, as we have seen, she was not only spoken of by the prophets, living during the period of her power and tyranny, but in anticipation by those who lived long before her glory commenced.

Under the New - Testament dispensation the people of God wear a twofold aspect, national and spiritual,―national as regards their outward privileges, spiritual as regards their religious character; the great oppressor, the persecutor, the successful opponent of the people of God, wears, in like manner, a twofold aspect,-national and anti-spiritual,-national, in opposition to their outward privileges, to their properties, and even their lives; and anti-spiritual, in her deadly hostility to THE TRUTH, the life and soul of the Church of God. The perfection of this hostility to outward privilege and spiritual truth, is found in the Romish system, which is a mixture of worldly policy and anti-scriptural falsehood. This applies not merely to the outward letter of that system. The mischief is at work in some degree or modification wherever there is worldly pride, hatred of the truth, persecution for the truth's sake, intolerance, luxury, heedlessness about eternity,-wherever self is wor

shipped instead of God,-wherever there is the spirit that was in Babylon, prompting her to say, "I am a lady of kingdoms, and I shall be a lady for ever," wherever this usurps the heart individually, or the authority nationally, there is the virus of the Babylonish system; but the perfection of that system is found specially at Rome; and therefore we find the persecutor of the people of God is set forth under the New Testament, by the name of Babylon, and by the description of a city standing on seven hills, which is a description of Rome. The language of St John in the Revelation upon this subject, is of almost historical plainness. The name of Babylon has been only transferred from the Old Testament, as a standing title, descriptive of the persecutors of the people of God, just as Cæsar was for the Roman emperors. It was a symbol, a patronymic for the persecutors; and so we find them denominated by that title hundreds of years after the literal Babylon was no more.

The language of the Old Testament also applied to the literal Babylon, furnished a mode of speech which was adopted by the apostles under the new, to set forth the anti-spiritual oppressors of the people of God under the present dispensation; so that the language applied to the literal Babylon is now transferable to the Romish system, wherever found; that is, to all opposers, neglecters, and scorners of the truth and the people of God; while the language applied to the literal Israel continues applicable to that nation still beloved for the Father's sake, and at the sametime becomes trans

ferable to the spiritual Israel, the chosen of God gathered out of every kindred, and nation, and tongue, and people, and grafted into Israel's olivetree.

With these observations before us, the parallel between the prophecy in this and the following chapter, and that in St John is most striking. The events predicted by the prophet, and grouped together for synchronical fulfilment, are-1. The destruction of Babylon, as we have seen in our text, and more largely in the 24th chapter. 2. The coming of the Lord: "Behold, the Lord cometh out of his place, to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." In connexion with this he says: 3. "In that day the Lord with his sore, and great, and strong sword shall punish Leviathan, the piercing serpent, even Leviathan, that crooked serpent, and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea." These are the scriptural appellations for Satan. A third event, therefore, here predicted is the peculiar punishment of the devil at that time. And 4, the resurrection of the people of God; "He will swallow up death in victory."

Now, turn and look at the terribly convincing parallel, in the 18th, 19th, and the beginning of the 20th chapters of Revelation. 1. Does the

prophet say the city shall be made a heap? Hear what the apostle says: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul beast, and the

cage of every unclean and hateful bird." He goes on to describe her, calling the people of God to come out; and says, at the 7th verse, "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore

shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord that judgeth her. And the kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas! alas! that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And again, in the 20th verse: "Rejoice over her, thou heaven and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers and musicians, and of pipers and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of the millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee; for thy mer

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chants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived." Mark what was found in her: In her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." The Assyrian, the Babylonian, and the Persian had shed the blood of the prophets, and since then, Rome has been drunk with the blood of the saints. Such is the parallel in the Apocalypse, of the destruction of Babylon, as set forth in the prophecy.

2. Now look at the parallel to the declaration of the Lord's coming. Does the prophet say, Behold the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth? Read what the apostle says. Turn to the 19th chapter, the 11th verse: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I