of the Apocalypse; the whole world being reputed to be subject to that monarchy, whenever it is spoken of, as in Daniel ii. 38. Revel. xiii. 7 to 9. But this empire described in Revel. xiii. is that same empire over which Babylon presides, (ch. xvii.) and therefore, in the literal first intention, there could be no churches out of Asia or the Babylonian empire. The same mode of speech is used in prophecy respecting each of the four monarchies in succession, as may be seen in the second and seventh of Daniel, and even in St. Luke (ch. ii. 1.) To be consistent, then, we are to consider the small region of Asia, in which the seven literal churches were seated, as a type of the entire Asia, in which all the Asiatic churches were situated; and these again as types of the Catholic Church distinguished into seven successive states, and situated in whatever empire was figuratively intended by the Babylonian monarchy; and not the less so, if it should be found that the prophecy likewise intended, literally, seven successive states of the Christian Church in the entire literal Asia, concurrent with the similar succession here asserted in the figurative Asia, the empire of the figurative Babylon. The sixth argument is drawn from the acccompaniment of the mention of the seven spirits; and it is maintained, that whatever sense seven, with spirits, has, the same sense seven, with churches, undeniably demands. That the meaning of the seven spirits is seven created angels, acting successively as ministers of the Holy Spirit, in his seven-fold operations, is most manifest from the following texts compared with this. ch. viii. 2. v. 6. It might, indeed, seem, as Reuchlin notes, that the Divinity acts by a descending scale of corresponding agents, as, for instance, the seven-fold spirit, by seven arch-angels, and seven angels or apostles of the churches, to whom correspond the seven planets, in the midst of whom the Sun of Righteousness is here beheld making his circuit, precisely as Homer describes the Sun as making the circuit of Chrysa. The twelfth chapter as plainly refers to the Sun in the Zodiac, when it describes the twelve apostles as twelve stars. So many analogies meeting in the prophetical descriptions, transcend the talent of man to put together, and demonstrate that, could we read the visible world, we should find it to be the Bible itself, in which, both from the foundation of the world and by the constitution of the world, the invisible things of God are reflected on earth as from a higher heaven, by an intermediate mirror communicating with our dark and gross atmosphere, as the nocturnal reflection of the moon in the font displays the light of day itself. Each successive dispensation of God from the first constitution of this visible system till the perfection of the new heavens and earth is, as it were, a new coloring laid on the 1 former coats, and attesting that God doeth nothing in vain. This seems to be necessary for the perfection of harmony, and unity of design, and consistency of attribute, in the great Alpha and Omega here developing his meridian glory. I. M. B. SPIRIT! Who oft, at night's unclouded noon, Thy marble palaces, and sea-girt walls, 25 The orient splendor of thy gilded halls, Touch'd with bright hues from Fancy's pencil caught, All raised the rapture of my childish thought; And now-e'en now to manhood's sterner glance Thine annals wear the impress of Romance, 30 Whilst in his wrath Ausonia's northern foe' There Venice rose, and thence in tranquil state 35 40 45 50 55 To shadow forth the beauteous and sublime,) 60 From those sweet Isles that gem th' Egean waves, To conquering Venice borne-with spoils divine's - omif Adorn'd the Palace, or enrich'd the Shrine. Light of admiring Earth!-when holy zeal 1 +70 Rear'd War's red flag, and bared the glittering steel,gam years Such were her deeds of yore! but wither'd now Dull as their dead!-O! would their dead might be f Rend-rend the tomb, and start to second life, ma go puk 1 Pisani was the commander of thirty-four gallies against the Genoese. Carmagnola, after a long series of brilliant victories, fell under the suspicion of "The Ten," and was publicly executed. Dandolo was Doge when the Ambassadors arrived from France to ask the assistance of the Venetians for the recovery of the Holy Land, and although ninety years old, greatly distinguished himself at the capture of Constantinople. 2 Carrara, Prince of Padua, with his two sons, after bravely defending 6 * Mute-mute!unheard the summons echoes o’ernam, the 10100 9 But ye their living sons-O! spurn the chain! The lifeless hair in weak confusion thrown, The chill white haud that thrills not to his own, } 1 A The lips, whose music sway'd his wayward will, 115 O! thus may he, who quits his northern home" མ་ Yes! still her turrets rise-her bulwarks' frown: his capital against the Venetians, was compelled to surrender, and on the faith of a safe-conduct they repaired to Venice to entreat the clemency of the Senate, who, however, after a short interval, caused them to be put to death in the prisons of St. Mark. |