The Pope And Freemasonry.

ivhich corresponds with the infernal lake or deluge of tlie orgies , he is introduced into a splendidly illuminated region , expressly adorned ivith the characteristics of that Paradise ivhich ivas the ultimate scope of the ancient aspirants . I am

indebted for this in a great measure to Faber , ivho in his " Pagan Idolatory , " vol . iii ., page 640 , & c , shows at great length that the machinery of the Apocalypse was " derived from that received imagery of the Patriarchal Church , whicli by a corrupted channel ivas admitted into Paganism . "

The study of that mysterious book , viewed m this light , is extremely interesting ; but in order to understand it thoroughly a hint is required which Faber wanted . Taking the date assigned by Sir Isaac Newton , which he has proved

conclusively , ive shall find that it was written three , if not four years before the destruction of Jerusalem . Like most of the prophecies it has a double fulfilment , the first , as it were , a type of the second aud more complete fulfilment . Any

one reading it with Josephus for an expositor may easily satisfy himself that it was fulfilled primarily in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem . Tlie time corresponds to a day . Tbe three aud a half years , or forty-two mouths , or 1 , 260 days , over

ivhich the prophecy extends , are so many literal days , and not years , as modern ultra-Protestant commentators suppose , who have most shamefully used the book as a controversial handle n-caiust

the Church of Koine . The siego of Jerusalem lasted exactly that time , as Josephus informs us . Every tiling can be easily and naturally explained ou this hypothesis , without the least straining . Two or three points in the prophecy are here

referred to by way of example . But first it may be necessary to mention that there is a double set of symbols referring to tho same events . Tlie first trumpet and the first vial refer to certain calamities to come upon the earth ; the second of

each to plagues in the sea ; the third of each refers to " rivers and fountains of water" in general ; the fourth of each to the sun ; the fifth of each to the scat of the beast , darkness , ancl torments ; the sixth of each to tho great river Euphrates ; whilst

the seventh trumpet and the seventh vial both have to do with " great voices in heaven , li ghtnings , ancl voices , and thmuieriugs , and au earthquake , and great hail . " They plainly reicr to the same events , ancl those commentators are clearly ivrong who separate ( in their fulfilment ) one set

of symbols from the other by a long succession of centuries . Secondly , it may be necessary to show that the Babylon of the Apocalypse is not Eome , pagan or Christian , but Jerusalem . Babylon is described

as " that great city " —the holy city—the " great city ivhere also our Lord ivas crucified . " The sei r en mountains are undoubtedly Eome . But Babylon sits upon Eome . Eome cannot be said to sit upon Eome . Babylon , therefore , is not

Eome . Our Lord was not crucified there . Again Babylon is described as the city wherein " ivas found the blood of prophets , and of saints , " i . e ., plainly Jerusalem . But it may be asked ivhat had Jerusalem to do with the seven-hilled city ? The

woman sitting on the sei'en mountains — the Avoma-n carried by the beast , sitting on the beast , sitting upon many AA aters—is Jerusalem carried and supported by Eome—Judea a Eoman province—her princes of Eoman appointment , and

sometimes of Eoman extraction ; and her people rejecting their true king with the words , " We have no kins- but Ctesar . "

I have but little space left for any " specimen comments on this new hypothesis ; but I ivill just contrast oue or two points with the prophetic nonsense of such men as Dr . Gumming . 1 . Who were the " seven kings . fii e of whom

are fallen , and one is , and the other is not yet come ; and when lie cometh , he must continue a short space ? " Dr . Gumming and Co . suppose kings to mean the different governments of Eome , viz ., 1 , kings ; 2 , consuls ; 3 , dictators ; 4 ,

decemvirs ; 5 , military tribunes ; 6 , emperors ; 7 , popes . But there is a fatal objection to this , for the seventh " government" in the prophecy " continues but a short space , " ivhereas the popes' has lasted as long as all the rest put together . The

" ' seven kings" ivere—1 , Julius Ccesar ; 2 , Augustus ; 3 , Tiberius ; 4 , Caligula ; 5 , Claudiusthese five had " fallen , " i . e ., were dead when St . John Avrote—6 , Nero—" one is , " i . e ., St . John was Avriting during the lifetime of Nero—7 , Galba , who reigned only a few months . Now , AAdiich is the simplest and most natural explanation .

What was meant by the drying up of the ivaters of the Euphrates , that " the ivay of the kings of the East might be prepared ? " Dr . Gumming Avill tell you that it meant the wasting away of the powers of Turkey which ivas to be overrun about the time of the Eussianivar ! and the "kings of the East" were the " merchant princes of