Star.
London, England, 1810-01-12 00:00:00

ON THE PROPMECIES.-NITNIBER XXXII'.

TIIE FIFTH TRUMPET.

§ V. Thstripticn of the Locust:.
The resemblances of the locusts [were] like horses prepared
for battle; and for their heads [there were] as crowns of
gold; and their faces [were] as faces of men ; and they
had hair as hair of women ; and their teeth were as of lion:.
(Rev. ix. 7, S.)
In the common version we read " the utAeßs of the
locusts wiTe like horses, &c. but signifies titni-
htude, resnnblance, likeness in any respect whatever. In
this place it cannot mean shape, for in that case the
creatures spoken of would be horses : besides, how
can they be like horses in shape, when they have
" face: as facer of m:n ?" Nor could they have any
other kind of faces, since, as we have already seen,
men, real men, arc symbolized by Me locust:. The re-
semblance here mentioned must therefore be in some
other quality or attribute than that of shape.
The horse, in hieroglyphical language, has signifi-
cations, varying according to the appendages or ac-
companiments with which be is introduced
A niong others, he symbolises immoderate violence, war,
aagtscst, dominion (b) ; and here we are prevented, by
the words employed, from giving any other sense to
this symbol ; for the horses to which the locusts
are resembled arc " horses prepared for battle." The
personages who make their appearance on the open-
ing of the four first seals are all mounted on horses
—they. are all warriors, though one of them only
obtains the ultimate victory;. namely, the rider
on the white horse—white being the emblem of justice
[r,r righteousness] prosperity, and triumph. But the
rider on the black horse, the representative of the
same men that are here symbolized by locusts, is
there puma) ed not merely as a warrior ; but, by the
pair of balances, (c) as a merchant—an unjust mer-
chant, like all who accompany or second their com-
mercial prt.jccis with war ; anctunder this fifth trum
pct the sainc persons have also a double character
assigned to them. By locusts, they are, as we have
seen, symbolized as men in holy orders :—by horses--
'war-horses, they are represented as bent on conquest ;
for though it was given to them that they themselves
should not kill, I.ut have that office performed for them
by the secular power, they were not the less active in
their murderous exertions in quest of spoil, victory,
and dominion.

These locusts had " FOR their heads, as it were crowns it
e f gold (d).—In the common version we read—" Os
their heads as it were crowns LIKE gohl:" But ivi with
an accusative not only may, but generally ought to be
rendered " for," and the sense requires that it should
be so translated in this place ; and, for the common
reading CZ; TrEcasoi Gl.k01•1 xptifew, the MSS. in the pro-
portion of 25 to 3, read, cec o-TEeavlt 7.,puovt, as crowns
of gold, or, as it were crowns of gold (e). By a trope
et.mrnon to all languages crowns are here put for
those who wear them, and the sense is simply this : the
l Bads, leaders, sovereigns of the locusts, are men wearing
crowns : that is, KINGS. But " the crowns of geld" are
here deteriorated by the word o'sc [as it were] being
prefixed to them—a circumstance which must not be
overlooked. That some sort of diminution of the
Royal prerogative is intended is obvious, and from
this circumstance some might be inclined to consider
the expression as signifying something short of roy-
‘lty, namely coronets, viz. those of the sacred orders—
'nitro.. But we are precluded from applying the
word " crowns" to any thing short of Regal power,
not only by the known hieroglyphical signification
of the term (f) but by another circumstance, which
ought to have great weight in settling the mean-
ing of the Seals and Trumpets. In the next chap-
ter of this prephecy John is made to eat the book
that has been opened ; that is, to study and compre-
hend its meaning, and for this end—that he might be
enabled to prophecy. His prophecies then relate to the
same subjects as the book, but we do net find in them
a reference to any other crowns but those that are
regal: of these, indeed, we find frequent mention,
and we are plainly enough informed, that it was by
their means that the locusts were enabled to become
such torments to mankind :—they gave their power
and strength to the beast. They became the firoperty
fief
m
the locusts—Tau heads :—ruling only for their bene t
—sacrificing the best interests of every other class in
the community, to the aggrandisement of the hie-
rarchy. This 'fact removes every difficulty from the
words now under consideration, which are a plain
prediction that these locusts would not only be pro-
tected by crowned heads, but encroach so much on
the Royal prerogative, as to leave to the kings, by
*hose sufferance they existed, only the form and sem-
blance of Royalty—only that portion of power which
under their guiJance and direction, might be best'
adapted to promote the ambitious and domineering
-pretensions of the sacerdotal orders. When they em-
ployed .th m as their satellites and executioners, then,
indeed, they extolled their power, anathematising all
who durst presume even to murmur against lawless
cppression ; but if these plipet kings dared at any
time to attempt to shake off the fetters imposed upon
them by their spiritual rulers, or, listening to the dice
totes of conscience, hesitated in any instance to per.
petrate the most flagitious acts of wickedness, for the
good of the Church, they were then taught in whose
hands that power was actually lodged, of which they
were nominally the possessors !
These degraders of Royalty had faces as faces le
men : that is, though symbolised by locusts [to desig-
(i:) A &idled horse, for instance, represents passions under r
. strai ot.
(b l P;eritti lib. iv.—See also LA NCAST IL SptieliCal Didießilry
and I)nvat. z p. 258--2.61 and ips.
(c) It, with Woo D noes tt, we render teyec by" a pie" which is
the. prop -r and primary sense of the word, in place of " a pair .f
loolartrer," it will equally well describe the men intended they are
Wants, hard task-masterr :—a part of their merchandize is the bo-
dies and soar of ;run. Rev. xviii. In.
(I) I here. tollow Got csaAct.'s edition of the Greek text. The
)•:ditors of the common text po;scssed but few MSS. of the Apo-
oalypse. ERASMUS had but one; &ram ENS only two, and it
does not appear that 13zzA had the means of consulting more.—
See Min ti AY. LIB'S hirechrailla to the New Test. t. Set. 1.
(e) A learned correspondent accounts for the corruption that
• Has here crept into the common text in a very natural manner—
" A Greek reader at as early period, starting the question: What
can vvi'Pavo xn,7ot mean, AS crown; of geld? wrote upon
his margin, or interlined the answer, iµva X ftrrs,' cretelo LIRR
TO GOLD. This, to a Greek ear, would .explain the sec in a mo-
ment. This gloscerna, as in thousands of a:stance: In the elastics,
crept into the text, and the vulgar reading i a clumsy tautulogr,
arising firm a combination of the text and the glossema."K.
(f) Among the Romans, as also among the Egyptiam, a Dia-
dem ..yrubolized .Prg.ll ,P9.i.er. Ma Nit 4, lib. xli. cap.

nate their profession) theft' are in truth men. The
word " men," employed as a generic term, would also
include the female locusts ; but we are not left merely
to infer their connexion with the family :--74: locust:
had hair as hair of women—they had orders among
them different from those who were shaven: witness
the myriads of nuns who, in direct opposition to the
injunction of PAUL (1 Tim. v• 24.) were enjoined to
lead a life of celibacy.—But the sacred ardent being
symbolised—not directly described as men—the human
faces and hair attributed to them must not be taken
merely in a literal sense : they respect principally the
assumed character of the locusts ; their imposing as-
pect ; the semblance of manly virtue, and dignity,
and the feigned modesty, with which their most nefa-
rious proceedings were to be veiled. That their claims
to virtue and humanity are all dissimulation, is inti-
mated by a phraseology similar to that employed in
the preceding clause ; it is not said that they had face:
of men, but that their faces were AS faces of men—and
they had hair AS hair of women—assumed characters
which no more belong to them than the human face
and hair belong to natural locusts.
This part of the description of the locusrs agrees
exactly with what was predicted in the sealed book
[Da N In] respecting the Little horn. He was to have
'something of human features :—in this horn were eyes
LIKE the eyes of a man—he was a seer, sagacious,
and indued with foresight; he had also a mouth—a
speeding, that is, a human mouth ;—a mouth speaking
great things (Dan. vii. 8). How does he employ this
mouth ? In uttering dark sentences (viii. 23),.flatterie:
(xi. 34), and nu:redone things against the GOD of gods
(ver. 30.—Front this it appears that the assumed
modesty of the locusts, symbolised by hair as the hair
of women [their hair is given to them as a veil. 1 Cor.
xi. Ls] is foreign to their true character—a veil as-
sumed to hide and disguise the spirit that actuates
them in all their proceedings; for in reality they have
a Jerre countenance (or, A the words might be ren-
dered, an impudent countenance—that species of impu-
dence which belongs to a harlot, as the word in the
original imports), and teeth as of lions—devouring the
earth—destroying the MIGHTY (I. e. KINGS, three of
whom they swallowed up), and the holy people (Dan.'
viii. 24).
And they had breast-plates as breast-plates of ; ariell
the sound of their wings 41 the sound of chariots with,
span horses running to battle (ver. 9).
The locusts, defended as with breast-plates of iron,
are qualified, during the period of their power, to re-
pel every attack made upon their body. They had
Ithe power of the kings for their protection, as has
been already noticed—the iron hand of injustice lifted
up in their favour, under the violated name of law :
nor were they restrained within any kind of limits—
they had wings, the marauding power of their heads,
to transport and extend their empire to every clime
subjected to the dominion of the fourth beast ; (g)
which, tinder its ten crowned horns, the head: of the lo-
custs still eontinued to devour the whole earth, and tread
it down, and break it in pieces (Dan. vii. 23). Nor was
extension of their sovereignty a casual result of the
conquests effected by their heads over those parts only
of the earth which strictly speaking, never constituted
a part of the proper body of DANIEL'S fourth beast ;
but, instigated by the locusts, the heads themselves
were so blinded with the common darkness as fre-
quently to attack each other with the whole strength
of their respective kingdoms, for no earthly object
whatever but to rivet more closely on their own necks
the chains which these infernal agents had forged for
them and their people. Look at history—can a sin-
gle war be produced that has taken place in Europe,
since the epoch of that darkness 'Which gave power to
the locust:, which had not its origin in the machina-
tions of this body—or in which they or their heads
did not contrive to introduce the name of that religion
which preaches only PEACE ?
The evils proclaimed by the preceding trumpets,
had some limits—the third part of the trees and grass
—the third part of the creatures and ships in the sea
—the third part of the waters—the third part of the
Sun and Moon ; but the plague of the locusts has no
boundary—wherever they appear they carry their pes-
tilence with them, and torment those men who have not
the seal of GOD in their foreheads. By reason of these
false teachers, who have many followers, the way of truth
came to be evil spoken of (2 PSG ii. 2.) While they had
power, in the 4eight of their prosperity, defended by
their iron breast plates, to fine, imprison, and inflict
corporal punishment on all who presumed to refuse
submission to their will, none dared to testify openly
against them but those only who were sealed ky GOD,
and who, in consequence, often sealed their testimony
with their blood. Deterred by the punishments that
awaited such a crime, those who groaned under the
iron yoke of these tyrants, and yet would not endan-
ger themselves by an open resistance, could not but
feel, and as far as safety would permit, complain of
the evils which they were made to endure. But those
who inflicted them were Ministers of the Christian reli-
gion [so they blasphemously called and still continue
to call themselves] ; is it to be wondered then that the
ignorant multitude, the men not sealed, whose ears have
not been opened to hear the truth proclaimed by the
FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS,' should identify these I
men with christianitj, and in consequence speak evil
of those things which they know not ? (Jude 10.)
It could not be otherwise. They knew nothing of 1
christianity ; for Antichrist never did, nor ever will
teach it. But, ignorant Nas they were, they knew by
Ithe work of she law writtessin their heart ( Rom. ii. 15)
that the practices of these tormentors of man-
kind could not possibly be warranted by any dis-
pensation issuing from infinite wisdom and good-
ness. Can we be surprised then to find that as the
influence of the locusts declined, as they lost their power
to torment that class whom they would not slier to
die, but conoeila to live in their communion, that that
very class of men should at length become loud in
their clamours, and, in proportion to the safety with
which they might speak out, be active in proclaiming
the true character of ecclesiastics ?
Any cord, however strong, when loaded to the ut-
most that it can bear, will break if only a feather be
added to the weight. The sacred orders, arrogant,
(g) One instance shall suffice at present out, of thousands that
might be produced. In the true spirit of barbarian zeal, the Spa-
niards, who accomplished the conquest of the New World by the
slaughter of more than ten millions of the human species, forced
multitudes of their wretched captives into the water, and, after
baptizing them, immediaiely cut their throats, to prevent their
apostatizing from the faith. Some of these pious disciples of the
locusts, in virtue of a solemn vow, hanged or burnt thirteen hu-
man beings every morning, in honour of CUR= and the twelve
41:0.0e,! •S'e f owsses s Rue. .; ee Weit /luau.

presumptuous, and infatuated by the impunity with
which they had notrialty trampled upon the people, but
hurled kings from their thrones,dared, even after their
real character began to be !mown, to maintain the
struggle with the Civil Power. Was this to be endur-
ed by the great men of the earth, after knowledge had
made such progress as to skew them that the claims
of the locusts could not rest on divine authority—that
the whole body w a creature of their own forming
—that they themselves were the heads of this creature?
Impossible. In their hearts they began to hate this
beast of their own creation : nay it alas put into their
hearts to hate it ( Rev. xvii. 16) • but the difficulty was
how to destroy it, without involving themselves in the
same tuin, for in the darkness that gave birth to the
locusts, the civil and gryllous institutions were so en-
twined and interw, ven as to become !tone of one bone and
flesh of one flesk. No way appeared left to wrest from
them their usurped power, and lodge it where it should
always have remained, but gradually to lessen their
importance, by allowing and encouraging men to ex-
pose the arrogance an& wickedness of their groundless
claims and pretensions. Hence the favour shewn in
many countries to the men who took the lead in that
revolution commonly known by the name of the Rd-or-
' 'nation ; and hence the impunity with which others
were permitted to disseminate writings, the apparent
tendency of which was to undermine the christian re-
ligion and bring it into contempt, but which generally
had for their real object the subversion of the power
of the hierarchy.
On this I shall not insist at present, as I must here-
, after go more into detail respecting the predicted de-
struction of the locusts; for power is given to them
for only a limited period of time. We learn from the
prophecies delivered by Jonx, after he eat the open
book, that the Mauer @fat locusts, and that of their heals
have one and the same duration : but in this fifth trum-
pet we have two precise portions of that time men-,
tined—lAfive months" and "five months," which must
not be passed over without particular notice. Of
which in my next. BIBLICETS.

SPORTING.—The beginning of last week, a party of 1
Gentlemen, near Norwich, who had agreed to meet
to take one day's diversion of coursing, to try the
speed and bottom of their greyhounds, assembled at
the appointed place, when the majority preferring
• that fairer trial of high breeding which an often country
alone can afford, they extended their morning's ride
a few miles farther. The setting sim, however, pre-
vented several matches from being decided, and the
distance from home being much increased, it was re-
, solved, not only 44 to add the night unto the day,"
but to wait with patience the returning light, that
1 their bets might be determined. On the second day
the dogs ran swiftly across the plains, but swifter
still the hares ; and night again prevented the attain-
! ment of their ardent wishes. The anxious sportsmen
resolved to see who should hear away e, the meed of
fame," but neither the third, the fourth, norAfth day's
termination, had settled the arduous contest. Nimble
was too much on the alert for Fly—and then F4i, with
winged speed, had distanced Nimble. Mary Anne and
Patriot ran a hard-contested and undecided match,
and afterwards Mary Anne gave Patriot a complete
"go-bye." Jupiter was defeated by Venus, and Captain
yielded to the gallant Admiral. In brief, the Sabbath
bells led the Monday morning's party to their respec-
tive parishes, well satisfied that the first six days of I
the new year had afforded so much enjoyment !
A daring depredation was on Sunday evening com-
mitted on the post from Manchester to Oldham. It
appears the boy alighted and entered an inn in Hol-
lingwood, leaving his horse and its load at the door.
In the mean time, the Oldham bag, containing letters
with bills and notes to a considerable amount, was
dexterously extricated from the saddle, and carried
away.

Several robberies have lately been committed at
Douglas, in the Isle of Man, and its vicinity. Three
instances of sacrilege have Occurred within these few
days—a crime hitherto scarcely known there but by
name. _ _ _ _

MANSION4IOUSE.—Yesterday Michael Meyer:, a ven-
der of oranges, was charged with attempting a fraud.
—The complainant stated, that having purchased'
some oranges of the defendant, he gave him a shil-
ling, this he returned as bad, and the same with ano-
ther he gave him, and became pressing with him to
give him gold to be changed ; this the complainant
refused, and returned the oranges, on which the de-
fendant followed, and abused him grossly. However,
as the complainant was unwilling to swear that -the
shillings returned were not those he had given, the
defendant was dismissed, with a caution not to vend
his nods in that neighbourhood again.
GUlLDHALL.—Yesterday Charier Berry was ordered
to be sent on board the tender, for attempting to steal
a cask from the door of Mr. Walton, tallow-chandler,
in the Old Jewry ; but in consequence of his prefer-
ring to take his trial, he was fully committed.