went out of the mouth of the dragon to deceive the nations of the earth, and to gather the people together for the last great war, as the word “polemos” should be properly rendered. Could they fail to have observed that some strange spirits had gone abroad? And it was worthwhile to mark that the ancient arms of France was not a tricolour or fleur de lis, but three frogs; and Mr. Elliott assumed that the three unclean spirits were in some way connected with the French propaganda, and with the part France was to play in the last great tragedy. And what was the state of France at the present moment. Let them look at the recent conflict in Italy, and without doing him an injustice or charging him with being unfaithful to his alliance, it was easy to see that the Emperor’s great programme was much the same as that of his uncle, and that he was striving to realise the “idée Napolienne”. What were the apprehensions arising in men’s minds? It was a time of solemn warning, but he believed that England’s star was not yet set. With all her sins and all her faults, she was worthy of our love. Whenever she was attacked there would be found some worthy successors of Nelson and of Collingwood, and England would rise more than ever triumphant from the conflict.
Dr. Cumming then passed in review the pouring out of the other vials as having been fulfilled by the dethronement of the Pope in 1809, and the subsequent drying up of the Euphratees, which was followed by one calamity after another until in that quarter of the world the deaths exceeded the births. The Turkey-Moslem power was shown to be declining by the fact of there being 9,000,000 Christians to 3,000,000 Mahometans. The lecturer, continuing, said he did not prophesy, but he was of the opinion that the Mediterranean would become a French lake, and that Russia would possess herself of Turkey. But whatever happened, we ought not to neglect our duties, but to be in a state of preparation for the worst? All Europe seemed to be arousing and preparing for some at present unknown conflict; and all these signs seemed to show that the three unclean spirits had gone forth to deceive the Kings of the earth, and to gather them together to the last war of the almighty God. Then let them notice the context “Behold I come as a thief”. Our blessed Lord was to come unexpectedly whilst the world was proclaiming “all things continue as they were”. He (the lecturer) believed that the 7th vial was begun to be poured out in 1848. They read that “there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since men were on the earth, so mighty -
