of the Defert. -*" A venerable train of "bishops, prefbyters, and deacons, with

"

a faithful crowd of four thousand and "ninety-fix persons, whose guilt is not precisely afcertained, were torn from

their native homes by the command "of Hunneric. During the night " they were confined like a herd of "cattle, amidst their own ordure: " during the day they pursued their " march over the burning sands; and if "they fainted under the heat and fatigue, "they were goaded, or dragged along,

till they expired in the hands of their "tormentors."and," respectable citizens, noble matrons, and confecrated

virgins, were stripped naked, and " raised in the air by pullies, with a " weight suspended at their feet. In

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this painful attitude, their naked bodies were torn with scourges, or

burnt in the most tender parts with

" red-hot plates of iron: the ampu"tation of the ears, the nose, the

"tongue, and the right hand, was inflic

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ted by the Arians; and though the

" precise number cannot be defined, it is

6

" evident, that many perfons, among "whom a bishop, and a proconsul may " be named were intitled to the crown of martyrdom" (Ch. 37.)

How defcriptive of and how appropriate to fufferers like these, is the account given to the evangelist of those seen in the vision, (ch. 7. v. 14.) These

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are they which came out of great tri"bulation, and have washed their robes "and made them white in the blood of "the lamb. Therefore are they before "the throne of God, and serve him " day and night in his temple and he " that fitteth on the throne shall dwell

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}

among them. They shall hunger no

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" more; neither thirst any more; neither " shall the fun light on them, nor any " heat. For the lamb which is in the ' midst of the throne shall feed them; " and shall lead them unto living foun"tains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

STILL it is a melancholy reflection tho it is not to be passed over in filence, (because every individual may fatisfy himfelf of the truth of the reprefentation, and ought thence to draw a powerful lesson of personal caution,) That this multitude great as it is represented, is still in comparison with the bulk of the human race, so small, that both the prophet and the apostle speak of it as very felect; a truth which will be still more strongly marked by the progrefs of this reveiw. Now the former having declared.

D 3

:

declared, that the vision was not yet complete, procceds to sketch out the conduct of the governing power of that portion of the world of which he was speaking, the successors in that mon. archy by which Jerufalem was laid "And the king (fays the text,)

waste.

shall do according to his will, and he "shall exalt himself, and magnify him" teif above every God, and shall speak " marvelous things against the God of "Gods, and shall profper till the indig

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nation be accomplished: for that that " is determined shall be done, Neither "shall he regard the God of his fathers, " nor the defire of women, nor regard

any God: for he shall magnify him"self above all. But in his eftate shall "he honour the God of forces," (or perhaps more accurately with the original.

"But instead of God, protectors over his

" poffeffion shall he honour.")* and a "God whom his fathers knew not ihall he "honour with gold filver and with pres "cious ftones and with pleasant things." "Thus, shall he do in the most trong "holds, (or rather and over his strong. "holdst he shall appoint protectors, with " a strange god whom he shall acknow"ledge and encrease with glory; and "shall divide the land for gain. And "at the time of the end shall the king " of the south push at him and the king of the north shall come againft " him like a whirlwind, with chariots

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* For the exact completion of this part of the prophetick History of the Man of Sin, the reader may confult the learned Bp. Newton, on the place.

10

+ How accurately the patron-faints of the Ro man church correspond with this prediction, a little reflection will shew the reader.

"and