-that is, from 1806 to 1812-rolled on his resistless course of conquest and tyranny; until, by a very similar interposition of Providence, he lost in the snows of Russia a host more than double in number the army of Sennacherib. This great event was attended by a similar reflux in the tide of affairs; things returning also in this case, as far as possible, to their accustomed channel; and affording for an appointed time a similar suspension to the work of devastation and ruin!

The parallel, indeed, between these two renowned conquerors, Sennacherib and Napoleon, is in some respects very striking, particularly in their blasphemy. The language of the former, in reference to Jehovah, was, "Let not Hezekiah ...make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. ...Who are they, among all the gods of the countries that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?" (2 Kings xviii. 29, 35). The latter declared himself "superior to all events;" styled his army "invincible;" allowed himself to be addressed as "Your Providence;" and otherwise used the most impious language. Both were likewise in the very zenith of conquest, in the sunshine of prosperity, none daring to move hand or foot against them, when they were at length made to feel, like

Nebuchadnezzar, that "the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will."

These correspondences between the dates of the events which hastened Israel's final ruin, and those which portend their restoration, are at least very remarkable and striking, and must be considered to have a deeply ominous aspect. It may be observed in general, with regard to the dates respecting the kings of Assyria, that they vary a year or two, or sometimes more, in different authors. The destruction of Sennacherib's army, and the date of his own death, for instance, will be found to be placed, respectively, in all the years from 710 to 706 B. C., although the most general is 709. In Calmet's Chronology this latter date is given as the year when Sennacherib invaded Hezekiah's dominions; and 708 (the following year), as the year in which his son Esarhaddon succeeded him :-708, therefore, is the one which I have fixed upon, as having a great degree of probability attached to its being the true date of the destruction of the Assyrian army.

IV. Another reason which has induced me to consider the expression "seven times" as implying a chronological term, is the present "" SIGNS OF THE TIMES."

In the FIRST place, the nations of the earth, forgetful of the awful lesson that has so lately

been read to them, are again in a most fearful manner rearing the standard of Infidelity, and men of every rank are unblushingly avowing their total denial of the Bible as the word of God. In France, particularly, to such an extent is this feeling said to prevail, that an imputation of having taken a part in any religious observance, or of believing in Christianity, would be shrunk from as if it were a moral degradation. The blasphemies of Atheism, as they so awfully appeared at the breaking out of the French Revolution, are giving fearful indications that they only wait the opportunity to exhibit anew the same revolting and diabolical scenes of ferocity as those which characterized the days of Robespierre. Even in our own country, to a more fearful extent than many are at all aware of, is this fatal poison, in unison with other causes, working the ruin of the country; and increasing in strength, in virulence, and in influence, beyond all former example. Thus are the Apostle's words fulfilling: "This also know, that in the LAST DAYS perilous times shall come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God!"

A SECOND sign of the times, is the renewed efforts of Popery to shut out the light of truth from the world, and to propagate its antiChristian abominations. And this is likewise remarkably and lamentably exemplified in this country, and forms one of the features of the last days. For it is said in Rev. ix. 20, 21, after giving the particulars of the Turkish woe, that "the rest of the men, which were not killed by these plagues, yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood; which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." In other words, throughout the Latin Empire, the men who were not politically killed by the plagues of the first two woes do not repent of their worship of idols, nor desist from their great wickedness they maintain their idolatry, with all its abominations, during the whole of the Turkish trumpet, and until it finally ceases; about which time this spiritual or symbolical Babylon shall then fall, before a still more tremendous power, and more impious principle, than that of either the Saracens or Turks. And up to the time that this final and overwhelming judgment comes upon them, it is here fully intimated that they will not repent of their deeds; that

they will still worship their idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood, which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk, even up to the conclusion of this trumpet. And as neither Jews nor Mohammedans are idolaters, it must follow that the Papists, the corrupt parts of the Christian church, are meant; and that it will be upon the Papal nations especially that the third woe-trumpet will principally fall.

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A THIRD sign of the times" is the wasting away, or consumption, of the Ottoman Empire. Contrary to the Lord's usual plan in the overthrow or ruin of nations, Turkey is not destined to be destroyed by conquest. It is to be "DRIED UP," evaporated, wasted away. Hence, during the last fifteen or twenty years, we have seen province after province gradually separating itself, either by rebellion or otherwise; successive defeats weakening her internal strength; fire, pestilence, and disaffection, depopulating her capital and her largest cities; her navy destroyed without an object; a rebel army almost at the very gates of Constantinople; and the once proud empire of the terrible Mahomets, Bazajets, and Solymans, existing in such perfect imbecility as to be reduced to seek the protection of other nations!

Neither the inclination nor the means have, for many years, been wanting in its ambitious neighbours, particularly Russia, to seize upon