and assumes as a datum the mention of "seven times" in Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great tree, which he justly considers to mark the period of the duration of the four tyrannical monarchies, giving his work the title of "The Sacred Calendar of Prophecy." By Rev. Mr. Digby, Mr. J. A. Brown author of the "Eventide," as well as by other writers, the great period of "three times and a half" is also considered but as an incomplete period-the half of "seven times;"—and all who have thus noticed it, have also considered the complete period to refer either to the duration of Israel's captivity, or to the duration of the Gentile monarchies. As will be perceived, by referring to the head or beginning of this "Period," I consider it has not one only, but two applications; and alludes in this, its two-fold application, to BOTH these great events; the one, to the house or kingdom of Israel, and the other to the kingdom of Judah.

As a period under the designation of "seven times" thus appears to be recognised, comprising an almanack or calendar in which other chronological predictions are involved-recognised indeed, like some great discoveries in science, rather by induction than by actual demonstration-I will now proceed to give those reasons which have induced me to consider the oftenrepeated mention of the term in Leviticus xxvi.,

as well as in Daniel iv., as having a chronological signification.

1. From its being mentioned in this place in immediate connection with Israel's and Judah's awful punishment; -and it is reasonable to suppose, that, if it were noticed any where, it would be in such a connection. It is frequently named in other places, as seeming to have a reference to something important. The attention, for instance, is drawn to the circumstance of the meeting of Esau and Jacob, when the latter, the representative of the house of Israel, bowed "seven times" before the former, represented as Edom, or as the head of the Gentiles;-by the Israelites encompassing the walls of Jericho "seven times," before God, on the sound of the seventh trumpet, miraculously appeared in their behalf, and gave them possession of the first city in the land of Canaan; -also by Elisha sending his servant "seven times" before he saw a "little cloud," though no bigger than a man's hand, indicative of another miraculous interference in their behalf; -and in other places.

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2. There exists a great probability that this seven times" has a chronological import, from the actual time to which the event which it represents has already run, in connection with the signs of the times, and the general expectation of the church.

The second Period indisputably fixed the exact time of Israel's final captivity to have taken place in the year before Christ 677; consequently, by adding to this the present year (1834 after Christ), it will make this captivity to have already lasted 2511 years. Now as "seven times," or 7x 360, is 2520, which gives the number of years this chronological term signifies, it follows that the whole period has only NINE YEARS to run before it will have expired. And as there are such manifest indications of great changes being at hand, and that we are living "in the latter days," the presumption is strong that this expression is in the highest degree significant, and ominous !

3. This probability is greatly increased by the fact, that the great national shocks which preceded, portended, and hastened, Israel's and Judah's fall and captivity, have been correctly answered, or responded to, by corresponding shocks, portending and hastening their deliverance, and the downfall of the nations by which they have been oppressed; calculating "seven times," or 2520 years, as the intervening period.

The events that preceded the final and irretrievable destruction of the Ten Tribes, or the kingdom of Israel, were-first, the calling in of Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, by Ahaz king of Judah, to assist him against the confederate forces of Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah king

of Israel; which alliance to destroy the house of David is noticed at length under the Second Period. From this circumstance it would appear that Ahaz, who was a wicked king, was not satisfied with the assurance of deliverance given him by the prophet Isaiah, but he must call in human help; for it is said that "Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me. And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it CAPTIVE to Kir, and slew Rezin" (2 Kings xvi. 7-9).

This fatal step was the herald of Israel's destruction it gave an introduction to that formidable power, that terrible "lion from the north," which ultimately swept desolation and ruin over all the land-it was inviting a serpent that was to sting them to death. It was the first appearance of the "head of gold." It appears, that, after taking Damascus from the king of Syria, the king of Assyria took from the king of Israel "Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah,

and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria” (2 Kings xv. 29). This, therefore, was the first shock, though but a faint one, felt by the nation of Israel from the invasion of the Assyrians, and happened in or about the year 740 B. C.

The remaining part of the reign of TiglathPileser was a respite from any further appearance of encroachment or molestation. However, it lasted not beyond his death; for on the accession of his successor, Shalmaneser, which might be in the year 731 B. C., he, in the first year of his reign, invaded the land of Israel, because, it was said, he "found conspiracy in Hoshea" king of Israel; "for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison. Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes" (2 Kings xvii. 3–6). And so complete was this invasion in rooting out the inhabitants from their own land, that it is generally considered as the final destruction of the