and justly observed, that "an immense number "of persons, illustriously distinguished by their

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piety and learning, became the victims of this "cruel stratagem, throughout the whole Roman empire; Gaul excepted, which was under the "mild and equitable dominion of Constantius "Chlorus."

4. Thus far the Bishops and Ministers of the Church had been chiefly selected as the objects of vengeance: for it was expected that if these could be brought to yield, their respective Flocks would be easily induced to follow their example. As, however, the constancy of these venerable sufferers proved generally invincible, a fourth edict was published in the year 304, for the purpose of including the whole Christian community within the intended proscription. By this the magistrates "were ordered and commissioned, to force all Christians, without distinction of rank or sex, to "sacrifice to the gods; and were authorized to employ all sorts of torments, in order to drive "them to this act of apostacy."

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This last decree completed the dreadful climax of oppression and cruelty; and the indefatigable zeal and diligence of the magistracy, in the execution of it, threatened destruction to the Christian cause itself.

Such are the leading features of a persecution, which "completed" the number of those, who, agreeably to the words of the prophecy, "should "be slain, for the Word of GOD, and for the tes

"

timony which they held," before the triumphant establishment of Christianity in the world! This is the next great subject which presents itself, and occupies the remaining verses of this, and the whole of the seventh, chapter.

Ver. 12. And I beheld, when he opened the SIXTH SEAL; and lo, there was a great Earthquake; and the Sun became black as sack-cloth of hair, and the Moon became as blood:

Ver. 13. And the Stars of the heaven fell to the

earth, even as a figtree casteth her untimely figs, when shaken by a mighty wind:

Ver. 14. And the Heaven was removed as a scroll, when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Under this sublime and awful imagery, is represented the commencement of that glorious Revolution, which should take place in the symbolical Earth, or Roman empire, in consequence of the accession of Constantine to the throne.

The scene commences, as might be expected, with " a great earthquake" and such was the effect of the destructive and decisive war, carried on between Constantine and Maxentius; which shook the empire to its very foundations, and

* Introduction, Sect. V. v. pages 45, 46,

1 Ibid. page 48.

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terminated in the total overthrow of the Power, that had hitherto supported Paganism in Rome ".

This concussion, therefore, was not confined to the Earth; it equally affected the Heaven that was connected with it: for that was an emblem of " the higher powers" that then governed the empire".

Accordingly, the Sun becoming black as the

m For the history of this memorable war, and a detail of the causes in which it originated, as well as of the wonderful changes that ensued, the reader may consult Anc. Univers. Hist. Vol. XV. Book III. chap. xxv. p. 536-592; and Decline and Fall, Vol. II. chap. xiv. p. 199–264.

n

Introduction, Sect. V. v. page 51.

• Bishop Lowth most elegantly observes" Imago lucis et "tenebrarum ad exprimendas res prosperas et adversas trans"lata, communi omnium linguarum usu frequentatur, quemad" modum omnium hominum communis est rerum ipsarum sensus "et perceptio."

"Hebræi vero, ut in argumento longe sublimiore, et in "imagine notissima, efferunt se atque exultant licentius, et "audaciæ poeticæ frænos omnes laxant. Exhibent nimirum,

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non veris, non auroræ, non caliginosæ noctis imaginem, sed "solem, et sydera, quasi nova creatione aucto in immensum "splendore exsurgentia, aut in antiquum chaos et primævas "tenebras iterum demersa." De sacra poesi Hebræorum. Prælectio VI. p. 68. edit. 1810,

Such is the case, in general, in the inspired pages of prophecy; but there is a most remarkable and obvious degree of truth and propriety, in these figurative representations of St. John. For since, as has been already explained, the Roman Empire is symbolized by the Earth, the Powers that govern that empire must necessarily be the Heaven that is extended above it; consequently the Sun will be the Imperial dignity, the Moon the Senate, having the principal charge of the religion of

Blackest sackcloth, denoted the entire obscuration of the Sun of the pagan world; in other words, -the total alienation and aversion of the Imperial dignity from that dazzling and idolatrous system, under which it had hitherto existed. In consequence of this, the portentous glare, with which it had lately blazed forth, was extinguished; and the beams, which had kindled and supported the fires of persecution, were withdrawn.

And the Moon (which so peculiarly governs the night, or during the apparent absence of the Sun) becoming as blood, or of the faint reddish hue which the Moon assumes during the time of a total eclipse, did well represent the total privation of the spiritual power of the Senate, which had hitherto assumed to itself the guardianship of the public religion. In consequence of this, the pagan hierarchy of Rome was deprived of all its opulence and splendour; its temples were at first shut up, and afterwards despoiled; and it was unable, any longer, to support its rank among the luminaries of the world.

But" the Stars," also, "of the heaven fell to "the earth, even as a figtree casteth her untimely "figs, when shaken by a mighty wind:" and just so rapid was the fall of the magistrates and subordinate rulers, who had derived their borrowed

the empire, and the Stars the inferior rulers and magistrates throughout its provinces. But see more upon this subject in the Introduction, Sect. V. v. pages 51-53.

P Ferguson's Astronomy, Vol. I. Article 346. edit. Brewster.

lustre, their authority and stations, from the supremacy which was then become extinct.

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Not only, however, was there a total privation of light, in the Heaven of pagan Rome; but that Heaven itself" was removed," or caused to disappear, even as whatever may have been delineated or inscribed upon a scroll, disappears when it is rolled up." And, in accordance with this, a few years after the defeat and death of Maxentius, the government of the empire, considered as pagan, became altogether abolished; leaving no visible trace, no legible inscription, to prove that such a system had ever existed, except in the records of history, and the spoliated remains of its temples and altars.

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Indeed, q every mountain and island' were moved out of their places." A corresponding degree of derangement pervaded every part of the Roman Earth; and not only every Kingdom, or seat of delegated authority, of any eminence and extent within its limits, but every state just emerging, as it were, above the surface of this general receptacle of nations, felt the mighty effects of this convulsion. And, as each one of these had been hitherto devoted to the common heathenism of the empire, therefore, also, those elevated spots, which had been regarded as the peculiar residences of oracular inspiration, were all deserted: