political judgment day of the ancient of days, and in the fall of the willful king in Israel's country. John repeats the same thing in the sixth seal: in the reaping of the earth, and in the taking of the beast and prophet by the man on the white horse.

Coincidence Seventh.-The fifth kingdom was to spread over the whole earth, after the destruction of monarchy. Of course, no full coincidence can here be shown, as no fulfillment has been realized. The capacity of our government for unlimited expansion is a quality inherent in its federative structure and representative policy. Its tendency is, also, to accumulate territorial power. This tendency, not arising from individual lust of power, can not be mischievous, as when it springs from the monarchal power of aggrandizement. The tendency springs from a desire to fulfill a divine command; to fill the earth, to till it, and subdue, or civilize and refine, and bless it. The easy yoke and gentle burden of our government is desired by almost all people, in preference to the chains of anarchy and iron collar of oppression. Our doctrine is, that "if the people wish a government, they should have it in spite of kings; and if any people wish to be annexed to us, they should have their wishes gratified in spite of the hellish despotisms that crush them."

We have annexed Florida, the Mississippi valley, Texas, California, and New Mexico, and are now bargaining for a strip of the old, and we shall soon possess all North America. Now, if we have a right to annex one country justly, we have as good a reason to annex another; and may annex a European state, as properly as an American one; and moreover, we shall be certain

The

to annex one or more if we get half a chance. eagle shall spread his wings over all the earth. Some political government will spread over the earth in the Millennium; and it will be a democracy, or it will be no Millennium; and the United States is likely to be that incipient democracy, and its tendencies are all that way. Coincidence Eighth.-The fifth empire was to be established by the God of heaven. This does not imply any miraculous power at all, but simply providential care in its origin and progress. All "the powers that be are ordained of God," as well as the fifth empire. Yet the language plainly conveys the notion that it would be one that God would approve as proper. Now when we remember that America was kept from the world, till an intelligent Christian people were ready to occupy it; when we see it made use of as a Christian refuge, till millions of a Christian people were ready to organize a government in it; and then remember the commitment of their cause to God universally as a people, and as a government; their choice of God as king; their days of humiliation, fasting, and prayer for civil and religious redemption, the conviction is irresistible, that God especially looked to the United States as a government peculiarly his own.

The acts of congress were in the name of God; and, at its very session it adjourned, and on a solemn day of fasting and prayer, dedicated themselves and their country to God; and on that memorable day, the people pledged themselves to God and liberty. Individuals and families, churches and colonies prayed to God to establish a Christian nation of freemen: for this, old men and children prayed; for this, sisters, and wives, and weeping

mothers prayed; for this, soldiers, and statesmen, and generals, and Washington, all humbly bowed in prayer to God,-in long and agonizing prayer. From Lexington to the last victory, tears flowed, and prayers ascended in one universal undying cry all over the land, for the salvation of God.

"The bannered host inscribed upon their standards, "Nil desperandum Christo Duce," "HE that brought us over will help us through;" "Our appeal is to Heaven."

The great Declaration says, "Relying on Divine Providence, we pledge our lives."

When "God had gone forth with our hosts," and Yorktown had closed the war, said Washington to congress, “I consider it an indispensable duty to close the last solemn act of my official life, by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them, to his holy keeping.”

To whom the president of Congress, in behalf of that body, replied: "We join you in commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of ALMIGHTY GOD, beseeching him to dispose the hearts and minds of its citizens to improve the opportunity afforded them, of becoming a happy and respectable nation." Nothing in the valedictories of Moses or Joshua, is replete with nobler or sincerer consecration to Jehovah.

The people of the United States in the Revolutionary war, abandoned human monarchy forever, and chose God for their king; and God accepted the office, and set their feet upon a rock and established their goings,

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and put a song of praise in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.”

Coincidence Ninth.-The fifth kingdom was furiously hostile to monarchy. This we all know is exactly descriptive of the character of the United States. We detest the very name of king, and have no sort of respect for human crowns or scepters.

It will be seen that the United States coincides with every characteristic of which the fifth kingdom was to be possessed, down to the present time. The great and essential points which are given to identify it, are the time of its rise, the source from which it was to come, the political character it was to possess, its locality outside the limits of monarchy, and its direct hostility to Roman monarchy. With all these great marks of identity the United States perfectly coincides; and, as perfect coincidence of persons, events, and objects, with prophecy, is a perfect fulfillment of prophecy, it follows that the United States is the fulfillment of the fifth kingdom predicted by Nebuchadnezzar's vision.

SECTION VI.

SIXTH KINGDOM-REIGN OF MESSIAH.

Vision." The stone which smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth."

Interpretation." It shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."

The fifth empire was to spread over all the earth, and remain forever. This coincides with all the declarations

of the prophets of the finality of the great war for the conquest of the world. God made oath to Moses, that the whole earth should be filled with his glory. The same thing was also, in substance, uttered in the first declaration of war; was repeated to the fathers; announced by Isaiah and all the prophets of the latter day, without exception. The state of the world described by John during the Millennium, and after the renewal of the heavens and earth, coincides with this sixth empire. Ezekiel's vision of Israel's final restoration and his holy land, temple, and city, predict the same thing; Isaiah's new heaven and earth, also coincide with it; as does Daniel's kingdom of one like the Son of Man, and the resurrection of the dead.

It is objected by some, that no civil organization can by possibility endure forever; but we see not why it can not, when God says it can. He says, Israel restored to nationality shall abide forever. (See Ezek. 37 ch. and other places.) The Israel restored being a Christian Israel, there can be no trouble on the point, except in dull minds. At the sixth kingdom the republic will be changed to a royalty, as the republic of Israel was changed to a royalty. No resurrection, or Millennium, is here mentioned; doubtless, because the prophecy was almost a political one, and gives only the great outline of the eternal history of the world.