ning, with terrible thunderings, and concussions, and bellowings in the earth, which were caused by earthquakes. Immediately after this the city became divided into three factions, and was besieged by Titus. This was what John distinctly saw. 'And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings: and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.' Rev. xvi: 18.

Then was the great day of the wrath of God Almighty at the doors of that city, distracted as it was with internal dissentions, and besieged without. For Titus learning the state of things among them, thought it best to leave them to destroy each other, only taking good care that they should receive no aid or supplies from without. In this was fulfilled the prophecy'And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant; and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.' Lev. xxvi: 25. Thus it was in this case. When they were assembled within this city,

from all parts of the world to attend the feast of

the Passover, they were enclosed by the Roman army, and then a pestilence broke out among them, and finally they were delivered into the hands of the enemy.

This is what Daniel foresaw. 'And after threescore and two weeks shall Mesiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince that shall come, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war, desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined, shall be poured upon the desolate.' Ch. ix: 26, 27.

The Saviour had the same subject in view when he said, addressing his disciples-' And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. * For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.' Luke xxi: 20, 22. It is a melancholy thing to read the fulfillment of this

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prophecy as described by Josephus. He tells us he believed that generation of Jews were the worst men that ever lived upon the earth. The two principal leaders of the factions, a John and a Simon, who to strengthen their respective parties, collected about them all the base characters in the land, of whom there were thousands. As the siege advanced and they became straightened for food, they fell to plundering the people of their provisions, until such was their condition, that they staggered about the streets like drunken men, and if they saw any one eating they would snatch it out of ́their hands, and even murdered each other to obtain the little morsel of food they might have in their possession. And finally, even mothers killed, cooked and ate their own children.

This was the judgement of fallen Israel, called the dragon, beast, harlot and devil. The prophet speaks of this catastrophe. Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel, head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. * * * Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as fuel of the fire; no man shall spare his brother. And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be

hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied; they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm.' Isa. ix: 14, 19, 20.

This is the same thing that John saw when the fifth vial was poured out.-'And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness, and they gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.' Rev. xvi: 10, 11. This agrees with what Christ told these unbelieving Jews when he was on the earth. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.' Luke xiii: 3. They did not repent, and therefore were punished in the most terrible manner. In this was fulfilled what was written in another place. 'And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.' Lev. xxvi: 29.

This was that fearful time, the like of which had never been known, and never was to occur again while the world remained. Matt. xxiv: 21. So terrible were the sufferings of this people, that, we are told by Josephus, the Roman

soldiers stood aghast when they saw them. But still they had no pity on those who still remained alive. Every one they met they slew without regard to sex or condition. What a fearful scene was this! The temple with the buildings of the city on fire, flames roaring, the crash of falling buildings, the howlings of the infuriated soldiers, the screams of the murdered, the groans of the dying, all mingled in one horrid din and confusion. A scene of horror which beggars description. It was thus the old heavens passed away with a loud noise, and the elements melted with fervent heat, according to the word of prophecy.

Josephus tells us, that while the holy. house was on fire, every thing was plundered that came to hand, and ten thousand of them that were caught were slain; nor was there commiseration of any age, or any reverence of grades, but children, old men, profane persons and priests were slain in the same manner. So this war brought them to destruction, and as well those that made supplication for their lives, as those that defended themselves by fighting. The flames were carried a long way, and on which, together with the groans of those that