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well known that the Pagan power has deceived the whole world or Roman empire. Secondly, it is called an 66 old serpent," to shew that idolatry which was the religion of the world in St. John's days, had been the general religion of mankind from the earliest ages. It is called the "Devil,” on account of its continual false accusations against the true worshippers of the Lord; for the Devil " is a liar from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him: he is a liar, and the father of it." It is also denominated "Satan," which is a Hebrew word signifying an adversary; and the history of the frequent persecutions of the Christians by the Heathens, is a sufficient proof that they merited this appellation in the fullest sense of the word. It is worthy of remark, that there is a singular difference of expression between this passage and its parallel one in the 20th chapter of the Apocalypse. In the former the words are," that old serpent called the Devil and Satan;" in the latter it is" that old serpent which is the Devil and Satan." If there be a difference of meaning designed by these two expressions, and it appears to me there must be, then the sense of the first passage is, that the old serpent here spoken of, is not literally the Devil and Satan, or that spirit which works in the children of disobedience; but is only so denominated because he is actuated by the great apostate spirit under his two characters of Devil and Satan, or liar and adversary. In the second passage the meaning is, that the Dragon

there spoken of, is literally the Devil and Satan; and the context consequently shews, that this inveterate enemy of mankind will be entirely prevented from deceiving the world (till the thousand years mentioned in that place be fulfilled,) either under the character of a "Dragon," by inciting to false worship, under that of " Devil," by falsely accusing the brethren, or under that of "Satan,” by becoming an adversary to the church. The

Dragon and his angels are said to be cast out; which is more than was said in the preceding verse. There, mention is made of his being found no longer in heaven, or on the throne of the Roman empire; here, he is entirely cast out from all offices of trust in the empire; his religion is first only tolerated, and then totally abolished by the imperial power. This great event was not the work of a reign; it took up many years; for it had to contend with the deep rooted prejudices of the Heathen, who to the very last endeavoured to uphold their declining superstition. Paganism received several mortal strokes in the time of Constantine and his sons Constans and Constantius. It was farther reduced by the great zeal of Jovian, Valentinian, and Valens; and was finally prohibited by the edicts of Gratian, Theodosius I. and his successors. It was not till A. D. 388, that Rome itself, the residence of the emperor, was generally reformed from the absurdities of Paganism; but the total suppression of Paganism soon followed the conversion of the metropolitan city; and about A. D. 395,

the Dragon may be considered to have been cast into the earth, that is, into a state of utter subjection to the ruling dynasty of Christian empe

rors. 1

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." This is a song of triumph of the Christian church over the Heathen idolatry; and is very expressive of the great joy of the Christians upon this most stupendous event. The loud voice of triumph is said to be heard in heaven, to shew that the Christian religion was now strenuously supported by the heaven, or throne, of the Roman empire. "It is very remarkable," as Bishop Newton observes, "that Constantine himself, and the Christians of his time, describe his conquests under the image of a Dragon, as if they had understood that this prophecy had received its accomplishment in him. Constantine himself, in his epistle to Eusebius and other bishops concerning the re-edifying and repairing of churches, saith that liberty being now restored, and that Dragon being removed from the administration of public affairs, by the providence of the great God, and by my ministry; I esteem the great power of God to have been made manifest even to all.' Moreover, a picture of Constantine was set up over the palace-gate, with the cross over his head, and under his feet the great enemy

6

of mankind, who persecuted the church by the means of impious tyrants, in the form of a Dragon, transfixed with a dart through the midst of his body, and falling headlong into the depth of the sea.'

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Here is given the reason why the followers of Christ prevailed at this time against all their adversaries; because, "they overcame the Dragon by the blood of the Lamb," by their continual intercession at the throne of grace for the conversion of the Heathen world; and by the word of their testimony, by continually testifying against the errors and follies of mankind," and they loved not their lives unto the death," they regarded not their present temporal estate, but even delivered up their lives to the fury of their persecutors, and thus sealed the truth of what they spoke with their blood. "Therefore rejoice ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them." Let the Christians which are now partakers of the present temporal prosperity, and advanced to places of trust in the empire, praise and magnify the Lord who has thus so mightily interfered in their behalf. But it is added, "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the Devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." By the earth is meant the people

*See Bishop Newton, in loc.

Devil, the father of because he knows

in subjection to the Roman empire; and by the sea those parts of the Roman dominions appear to be intended that were reduced to a state of anarchy by the incursions of the barbarous nations. It is not without precedent to liken great hosts of nations combined together, to the sea; for, in the 3d verse of the 26th chapter of Ezekiel, God says of Tyre, "Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.' Here then is a woe denounced against the whole Roman world, which will be excited by the lies; and his wrath is great, he hath but a short time," the Christian religion. he sees is rapidly gaining ground every where; and, if not timely checked, must soon brave all opposition. How this woe was executed by the malice of the Heathen idolaters upon the whole Roman empire, will be sufficiently evident in the remaining part of this chapter; suffice it here to say, that in consequence of the excitement and malicious misrepresentations of the Pagans of the empire, a transmigration of a great swarm of nations came upon the Romans, and ceased not their ravages till they had desolated the eastern empire even as far as the gates of Byzantium; and finally possessed themselves of the western empire. Thus the woe came upon the earth, or that part of the empire, which through all these troubles continued an integral part of the Roman world; and also upon the sea, or that part of the Roman empire, which,

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