Mr. Faber has not overlooked the circumstance that this sealed people have some connection with the period of 1260 years which so frequently occurs in prophecy ;and to the commencement of which the Apostle is just about to introduce us.

He sees that this sealed people are particularly brought into view in another part of the Apocalypse, as connected with the commencement of the 1260 years ;and again, as having their number completed and fully redeemed at the expiration of that term. But having, by his former calculations, rendered it necessary to his system that this sealing should take place in the age of Constantine, he adheres to that opinion, and thereby confuses irreparably the intent and bearing of the symbol.

Let us now notice one or two

particulars deserving of attention in this sealed people.

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It will be remembered that the martyrs of pagan Rome, when crying to God from under the altar, in the fifth seal,-were told of another race of martyrs, fellow-servants, who should be killed as they were,'-who were yet to arise. And to them-the first body of Christian confessors-white robes were given.

Now in the passage under consideration (chap. vii.). we find the first appearance of this second body of martyrs; and to denote them clearly, the first race is again brought forward, and most strongly distinguished from them.

In verses 2 to 8, we have the sealed people, who are distinctly stated to be upon the earth. We shail hereafter find that the seal put upon them, is, in itself, a cause of the persecution which they are to endure; and that they are not fully redeemed from the earth until the 1260 years are completed. Then, in verses 9 to 17, we again see the first race of martyrs, whose blood had cried out from beneath JAN. 1831.

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the altar; we find them wearing the white robes which had been given to them (chap. vi. verse 11); and that they have come out of tribulation, and are dwelling with the Lamb, not on the earth but in the paradise of God.

The 144,000 sealed ones are therefore the martyrs of the Papal times, the 1260 years. They are, in short, as Mr. Faber confesses, the same as the two witnesses, appearing, though numerous in the aggregate, in ones and twos, at different times and in different places; but so as still to keep up, through the whole 1260 years of darkness, a constant witness of the truth, and that in every one of the tribes, or kingdoms of the Roman earth.

But if they be identical with the witnesses, then their term of suffering and of confession is that of the 1260 years. They shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore years, clothed in sackcloth. And this is amply confirmed in one point-that of termination, by the commencing passage of the 14th chapter. In that chapter the apostle sees the whole 144,000 stand, with the Lamb, upon Mount Zion, and learns that they were now all redeemed from the earth. Their warfare is accomplished, their number is filled up.

Now when does the apostle thus see the sealed people accomplished? Exactly at the termination of the 1260 years. It is just after the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which completes that term, and immediately before the seven last vials begin to be poured out.

But does the commencement of the term agree with our interpretation of the foregoing parts of the prophecy. It does most exactly. The difficulty which awaited Mr. Faber, does not affect us. scheme, interpreting the earthquake of the sixth seal as typical of the age of Constantine, required that the sealing of this body of Papal

His

martyrs should take place immediately after. He, therefore, is obliged to suppose that the 144,000, sealed expressly with reference to the 1260 years, were so sealed about the year A. D. 330-although the 1260 years, according to his view, do not commence until Ą. D. 604; an inconsistency which seems to betray some error in the whole scheme. Our view, on the contrary, looking upon the overthrow of the western empire as the fulfilment of the earthquake of the sixth seal, brings us to the period between that event and the commencement of the 1260 years

-or between A. D. 476, and A. D. 533-for the sealing. The present passage, therefore, exactly falls in with the whole of our interpretation. The sealing of the Papal martyrs ought unquestionably to be placed just before the commencement of the 1260 years, that is, just before A. D. 533; while the last event we have endeavoured to interpret, the earthquake of the sixth seal, brought us down to A. D. 476; so that nothing could be more exact than the agreement of these two great matters with each other, if viewed in the light in which we have endeavoured to place them.

Two features occur to us, in the character of the 144,000 sealed ones, which seem to confirm our position, that they typify the papal martyrs.

The first is, that there is an evident contrast or opposition between these sealed ones, and the worshippers of the beast, in the very fact or circumstance of each being respectively marked. The 144,000 who follow the Lamb, have the seal of the living God upon them, and that seal is declared to be "the Father's name written upon their foreheads;" while the worshippers of the beast have also a mark, and that is "his name in their foreheads, or in their right hands.' The two are therefore evidently set

in direct opposition, since no one could bear both the names on his forehead at the same time.

The second feature is also one of contrast;

It is declared that the 144,000

were not defiled with women; while it is the characteristic of the remaining inhabitants of the earth, that they committed fornication with her who sat upon the scarlet coloured beast. These expressions, when applied to a church, always denote, in scripture, idolatry, the going after strange gods. Here again the opposition is plain; and from both these points it appears very clear, that the characteristic of the 144,000 sealed ones is that of being God's witnesses during the papal usurpation.

History furnishes us with the corresponding facts. Very soon after the commencement of the 1260 years, which opened in A.D. 533, we find the Roman pontiffs engaged in active warfare with the children of God. The Paulician's were the first considerable body which engaged their attention, and for several centuries they were cruelly persecuted. The Albigenses, the Cathari, the Lollards, and the Waldenses followed, and in the course of the period in which the Papists were allowed by God to tread under foot the holy city, there was not a country of christian Europe which did not, at some time or other, furnish its quota of victims..

Taking this view of the present passage, we naturally look upon it as a strong corroboration of our previous scheme. The seals had brought us to the close of the Western empire, the trumpets we shall find scattering like desolation over the Eastern ; and interposed between these two series of judgments, comes the setting apart of a chosen people, who, during the 1260 years of darkness upon which we are about to enter, will be the witnesses for God, against the day when he judgeth those who have destroyed his saints.

SIR, As the name and writings of Archbishop Leighton have long been, and are still, held in the highest estimation among all the friends of evangelical truth, it may be gratifying to some of your numerous readers to learn a few particulars respecting the sequestered spot where that good man passed the last ten years of his life, and where his sacred remains are deposited in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.'

It is well known that on his resignation of the See of Glasgow in 1674, occasioned, no douht, by the deplorable corruption and trouble of the times, he fixed his abode in the parish of Horsted Keynes, in Sussex, with Mrs. Lightmaker, his widowed sister, who possessed a demesne there, known, as it still is, by the name of Broadhurst.

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to select a spot more rural and picturesque in scenery, or more retired from noise and bustle, and consequently more in accordance with the pacific temper of the Archbishop.

I lately visited the place on purpose to enjoy for a day or two the pleasure of contemplating a scene which was so long favoured by the presence of this eminent servant of Christ; and if practicable, to gain admission to preach from his pulpit, an honour I very readily obtained from the worthy Incumbent; and I hesitate not in saying that I never experienced more gratification on any former occasion. The great Creator and Lord of all, seems to have been peculiarly lavish in the produce of his infinitely powerful hand in the whole of this neighbourhood. The eye meets with beauty in every movement. Hill and valley spread successively over an extent of many miles, and while the back-ground is

invariably studded with trees and woods, the intervening landscape is pleasingly relieved pleasingly relieved by patches occupying plantations of hops or fields of corn.

Of the ancient mansion in which Leighton dwelt, only a small section, consisting of barns and servants' offices, now remains; but judging from the walls and ruins close by, I conclude it must have been originally a large structure. The terraces belonging to the pleasure ground still continue undisturbed, and part of the steps of ascent to them, as do also the three alcoves of fir at each angle, nearly a quarter of a mile apart, where, without doubt, Leighton often retired for study, contemplation, and prayer. These alcoves consist each of about twelve or fifteen noble firs, which by their height and size afford a most agreeable cool retreat. The entrance into the mansion is now much dilapidated, but the beautiful rows of lime trees still continue to flourish.

The road leading from Broadhurst to the village of Horstead, a mile distant, is so completely lined with trees and brush wood that the eye finds no opening except one solitary sheet of water, till it recognizes the lofty spire of the parish church.

The church remains unaltered since the time of Leighton; the bells, the font, the desk and pulpit are all of a date anterior to him. It is a gothic structure, built about the time of John, and was originally in the form of a cross. The south transept is now used as a vestry

room.

Mr. Murray in his memoirs of Archbishop Leighton, merely states that he was interred in the burial-ground of Horsted Keynes: but the fact is, the Bishop was interred in the family vault of his sister, in an ancient chancel, which

when the family became extinct fell down, and the new occupier of the estate refusing to rebuild it, it was suffered to remain a ruin till about twenty years ago, when a school-room was built on the spot immediately over the vault which contains the dust of our venerable Archbishop. The beautiful black marble slabs which covered his remains, and those of his brother, Sir Elisha, were torn away from their places, and fixed erect in a most awkward manner against the side wall of the school-room. This building, which is of brick, disfigures the church, and is a disgrace to the numerous admirers of Leighton, who ought to restore the chancel to its original use, and might effect this at a moderate expense. The tombstone bears only the following inscription- Depositum Roberti Leightounii Archiepiscopi Glasguensis apud Scotos, qui obiit xxv. die Junii, Anno Dom. 1684, ætatis suæ 74.

The arms above the inscription bear nothing episcopal, they are the same with those of his brother, and are therefore, I suppose, the family arms-a shield occupied by a lion rampant, and surmounted by a crest, a lion's head rising from a ducal or mural crown.

Mrs. Lightmaker, the sister of Leighton, a truly pious woman, and as her tombstone testifies,

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mother in Israel,' survived her brother twenty years, she died aged eighty-one, in the year 1704, and was deposited in the same vault.

On examining the parish register book, I find that Leighton was buried two days after his decease, which was a prevailing custom at that time. I see no trace of his hand writing in any of the records of the church, from which it may be concluded, that Leighton was not the Incumbent or Curate, but merely preached occasionally as his health permitted. To me it was an unspeakable gratification to be permitted to visit his hallowed cemetery, though now so shamefully desecrated and ruined; and still more so to be allowed to preach in the very same pulpit occupied by that Master in Israel,' 'whose praise is in all the churches.' I cannot easily forget the sacred awe I felt at the time, nor the attention which my observations respecting the great man excited among the people assembled for divine worship. It was my ardent wish and prayer that the mantle of Elijah might rest on me, and that I might be exalted by a purer piety, to resemble in temper and demeanour, both as a Christian and a Minister, the man whose character I so highly revere.

A COUNTRY CURATE.

J. C.

EVERY reflecting person must, I conceive, Mr. Editor, be deeply impressed with the present portentous situation of affairs. In the midst of a profound peace, we are exposed to dangers, alarms, and privations which were scarcely experienced during the long and trying period of the revolutionary war. And what renders our present state still more alarming is, the utter impossibility of suggesting any adequate or even probable remedy. We hope indeed that in the mount the Lord will appear; that again, as in former years, Man's extremity shall be God's opportunity;' but with respect to any immediate prospect of relief, as far as man is concerned, we may well exclaim, "Surely the wisdom of the wise is vain!"

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As Christians, however, it is unquestionably our duty to see and acknowledge the hand of God in these alarming dispensations; to inquire, Is there not a cause-to consider what is the meaning and intent of this providence. If the Lord indeed call to fasting and prayer, to repentance, humiliation, godly sorrow, holy jealousy, zealous and disinterested exertions for the honour of his name, and the welfare of his people, our neglect of his voice and disregard of his intimations, must assuredly and awfully increase and provoke still farther his righteous displeasure.

May we not well inquire, Is there not a cause? There are certain common-place topics which occur to the mind, in answer to such an inquiry, and on which we are prone to dwell. I condemn not those topics because they are common; I feel them to be true-I see men on every side prone to overlook and disregard them; but I feel

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that we are, in various respects, in uncommon situation, and I cannot but fear that there is now somewhat peculiarly offensive to Almighty God, somewhat which aggravates our present guilt far beyond what has existed in former periods.

When therefore I hear the ministers of religion dwell on our national sins, our Sabbath-breaking, our Sunday dinners, our Sunday newspapers, our Sunday travelling, and all the unnumbered profanations of the Lord's day; when I hear them say, "Because of swearing, the land mourneth; when they describe the decay of honesty, the increase of licentiousness, intemperance, venality, covetousness, oppression; when I hear them speak of the cruelties of our West Indian slavery; the abominations of East Indian idolatry; the unholy gain with which our treasury is polluted; the gross violation of British and Protestant privileges, by the monstrous idolatries upheld by martial law in Malta, Corfu, &c. &c.-when the neglect of the gospel, the contempt of religion, the progress of infidelity, are dwelt upon-I feel this is all true. In all these things we have sinned against the Lord our God, and provoked his righteous displeasure. But still I feel a doubt whether there are not greater abominations than these. Will you then, Mr. Editor, allow me to touch upon them; to look back, and animadvert on the peculiar circumstances which have especially distinguished the religious history of the last few years.

And, first, this very striking feature appears in the foreground -The public and avowed recogni tion, by British statesmen, of the