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540 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Revelation XVI].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC66015.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC66017.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>R E V E L A T I O N.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XVI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have an account of the pouring forth of these vials
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that were filled with the wrath of God. They were poured out upon the
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whole antichristian empire, and on every thing appertaining to it.
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I. Upon the earth,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:2">ver. 2</A>.
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II. Upon the sea,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:3">ver. 3</A>.
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III. Upon the rivers and fountains of water,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:4">ver. 4</A>.
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Here the heavenly hosts proclaim and applaud the righteousness of the
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judgments of God.
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IV. The fourth vial was poured out on the sun,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:8">ver. 8</A>.
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V. The fifth on the seat of the beast.
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VI. The sixth on the river Euphrates.
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VII. The seventh in the air, upon which the cities of the nations fell,
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and great Babylon came in remembrance before God.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Re16_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Seven Vials.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the
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seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath
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of God upon the earth.
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2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth;
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and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had
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the mark of the beast, and <I>upon</I> them which worshipped his
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image.
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3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it
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became as the blood of a dead <I>man:</I> and every living soul died
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in the sea.
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4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and
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fountains of waters; and they became blood.
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5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous,
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O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast
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judged thus.
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6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou
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hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
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7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God
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Almighty, true and righteous <I>are</I> thy judgments.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We had in the foregoing chapter the great and solemn preparation that
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was made for the pouring out of the vials; now we have the performance
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of that work. Here observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. That, though every thing was made ready before, yet nothing was to
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be put in execution without an immediate positive order from God; and
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this he gave out of the temple, answering the prayers of his people,
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and avenging their quarrel.</P>
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<P>
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II. No sooner was the word of command given than it was immediately
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obeyed; no delay, no objection made. We find that some of the best men,
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as Moses and Jeremiah, did not so readily come in and comply with the
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call of God to their work; but the angels of God excel not only in
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strength, but in a readiness to do the will of God. God says, <I>Go
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your ways, and pour out the vials,</I> and immediately the work is
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begun. We are taught to pray that the will of God may be done on earth
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as it is done in heaven. And now we enter upon a series of very
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terrible dispensations of Providence, of which it is difficult to give
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the certain meaning or to make the particular application. But in the
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general it is worth our observation that,</P>
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<P>
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1. We have here a reference and allusion to several of the plagues of
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Egypt, such as the turning of their waters into blood, and smiting them
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with boils and sores. Their sins were alike, and so were their
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punishments.</P>
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<P>
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2. These vials have a plain reference to the seven trumpets, which
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represented the rise of antichrist; and we learn hence that the fall of
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the church's enemies shall bear some resemblance to their rise, and
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that God can bring them down in such ways as they chose to exalt
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themselves. And the fall of antichrist shall be gradual; as Rome was
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not built in one day, so neither shall it fall in one day, but it falls
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by degrees; it shall fall so as to rise no more.</P>
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<P>
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3. The fall of the antichristian interest shall be universal. Every
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thing that any ways belonged to them, or could be serviceable to them,
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the premises and all their appurtenances, are put into the writ for
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destruction: their earth, their air, their sea, their rivers, their
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cities, all consigned over to ruin, all accursed for the sake of the
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wickedness of that people. Thus the creation groans and suffers through
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the sins of men. Now we proceed to,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) The first angel who poured out his vial,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Observe,
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[1.] Where it fell--<I>upon the earth;</I> that is, say some, upon the
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common people; others upon the body of the Romish clergy, who were the
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basis of the papacy, and of an earthly spirit, all carrying on earthly
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designs.
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[2.] What it produced--<I>noisome and grievous sores on all who had the
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mark of the beast.</I> They had marked themselves by their sin; now God
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marks them out by his judgments. This sore, some think, signifies some
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of the first appearances of Providence against their state and interest
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which gave them great uneasiness, as it discovered their inward
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distemper and was a token of further evil; the plague--tokens
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appeared.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) <I>The second angel poured out his vial;</I> and here we see,
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[1.] Where it fell--<I>upon the sea;</I> that is, say some, upon the
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jurisdiction and dominion of the papacy; others upon the whole system
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of their religion, their false doctrines, their corrupt glosses, their
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superstitious rites, their idolatrous worship, their pardons,
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indulgences, a great conflux of wicked inventions and institutions, by
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which they maintain a trade and traffic advantageous to themselves, but
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injurious to all who deal with them.
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[2.] What it produced: It turned the sea into blood, <I>as the blood of
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a dead man, and every living soul died in the sea.</I> God discovered
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not only the vanity and falsehood of their religion, but the pernicious
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and deadly nature of it--that the souls of men were poisoned by that
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which was pretended to be the sure means of their salvation.</P>
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<P>
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(3.) The next angel poured out his vial; and we are told,
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[1.] Where it fell--<I>upon the rivers, and upon the fountains of
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waters;</I> that is, say some very learned men, upon their emissaries,
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and especially the Jesuits, who, like streams, conveyed the venom and
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poison of their errors and idolatries from the spring-head through the
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earth.
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[2.] What effect it had upon them: <I>It turned them into blood;</I>
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some think it stirred up Christian princes to take a just revenge upon
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those that had been the great incendiaries of the world, and had
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occasioned the shedding of the blood of armies and of martyrs. The
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following doxology
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>)
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favours this sense. The instrument that God makes use of in this work
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is here called <I>the angel of the waters,</I> who extols the
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righteousness of God in this retaliation: <I>They have shed the blood
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of thy saints, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for they are
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worthy,</I> to which another angel answered by full consent,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Re16_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Seven Vials.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and
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power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
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9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the
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name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they
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repented not to give him glory.
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10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the
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beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed
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their tongues for pain,
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11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and
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their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses we see the work going on in the appointed order. The
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fourth angel poured out his vial, and that fell upon the sun; that is,
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say some, upon some eminent prince of the popish communion, who should
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renounce their false religion a little while before his utter downfall;
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and some expect it will be the German emperor. And now what will be the
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consequence of this? That sun which before cherished them with warm and
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benign influences shall now grow hot against these idolaters, and shall
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scorch them. Princes shall use their power and authority to suppress
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them, which yet will be so far from bringing them to repentance, that
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it will cause them to curse God and their king, and look upward,
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throwing out their blasphemous speeches against the God of heaven; they
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will be hardened to their ruin. The fifth angel poured out his vial,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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And observe,
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1. Where this fell--<I>upon the seat of the beast,</I> upon Rome
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itself, the mystical Babylon, the head of the antichristian empire.
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2. What effect it had there: The whole kingdom of the beast <I>was
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full of darkness</I> and distress. That very city which was the seat of
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their policy, the source of all their learning, and all their
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knowledge, and all their pomp and pleasure, now becomes a source of
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darkness, and pain, and anguish. Darkness was one of the plagues of
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Egypt, and it is opposed to lustre and honour, and so forebodes the
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contempt and scorn to which the antichristian interest should be
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exposed. Darkness is opposed to wisdom and penetration, and forebodes
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the confusion and folly which the idolaters should discover at that
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time. It is opposed to pleasure and joy, and so signifies their anguish
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and vexation of Spirit, when their calamities thus came upon them.</P>
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<A NAME="Re16_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Re16_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Seven Vials.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river
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Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of
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the kings of the east might be prepared.
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13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs <I>come</I> out of the
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mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out
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of the mouth of the false prophet.
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14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles,
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<I>which</I> go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole
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world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God
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Almighty.
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15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed <I>is</I> he that watcheth,
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and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his
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shame.
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16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the
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Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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<I>The sixth angel poured out his vial;</I> and observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. Where it fell--<I>upon the great river Euphrates.</I> Some take it
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literally, for the place where the Turkish power and empire began; and
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they think this is a prophecy of the destruction of the Turkish
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monarchy and of idolatry, which they suppose will be effected about the
|
||
|
|
same time with that of the papacy, as another antichrist, and that
|
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|
thereby a way shall be made for the conveniency of the Jews, those
|
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|
princes of the east. Others take it for the river Tiber; for, as Rome
|
||
|
|
is mystical Babylon, Tiber is mystical Euphrates. And when Rome shall
|
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|
|
be destroyed her river and merchandise must suffer with her.</P>
|
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|
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<P>
|
||
|
|
|
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II. What did this vial produce?
|
||
|
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|
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|
|
1. The drying up of the river, which furnished the city with wealth,
|
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|
|
provisions, and all sorts of accommodations.
|
||
|
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|
||
|
|
2. A way is hereby prepared <I>for the kings of the east.</I> The
|
||
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|
idolatry of the church of Rome had been a great hindrance both to the
|
||
|
|
conversion of the Jews, who have been long cured of their inclination
|
||
|
|
to idols, and of the Gentiles, who are hardened in their idolatry by
|
||
|
|
seeing that which so much symbolizes with it among those called
|
||
|
|
Christians. It is therefore very probable that the downfall of popery,
|
||
|
|
removing these obstructions, will open a way for both the Jews and
|
||
|
|
other eastern nations to come into the church of Christ. And, if we
|
||
|
|
suppose that Mahomedism shall fall at the same time, there will be
|
||
|
|
still a more open communication between the western and eastern
|
||
|
|
nations, which may facilitate the conversion of the Jews, and of <I>the
|
||
|
|
fulness of the Gentiles.</I> And when this work of God appears, and is
|
||
|
|
about to be accomplished, no wonder if it occasion another consequence,
|
||
|
|
which is,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The last effort of the great dragon; he is resolved to have another
|
||
|
|
push for it, that, if possible, he may retrieve the ruinous posture of
|
||
|
|
his affairs in the world. He is now rallying his forces, recollecting
|
||
|
|
all his spirits, to make one desperate sally before all be lost. This
|
||
|
|
is occasioned by the pouring out of the sixth vial. Here observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The instruments he makes use of to engage the powers of the earth
|
||
|
|
in his cause and quarrel: <I>Three unclean spirits like frogs</I> come
|
||
|
|
forth, one <I>out of the mouth of the dragon,</I> another <I>out of the
|
||
|
|
mouth of the beast, and</I> a third <I>out of the mouth of the false
|
||
|
|
prophet.</I> Hell, the secular power of antichrist, and the
|
||
|
|
ecclesiastical power, would combine to send their several instruments,
|
||
|
|
furnished with hellish malice, with worldly policy, and with religious
|
||
|
|
falsehood and deceit; and these would muster up the devil's forces for
|
||
|
|
a decisive battle.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The means these instruments would use to engage the powers of
|
||
|
|
earth in this war. They would work pretended miracles, the old
|
||
|
|
stratagem of him <I>whose coming is after the working of Satan, with
|
||
|
|
all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of
|
||
|
|
unrighteousness,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+2:9,10">2 Thess. ii. 9, 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Some think that a little before the fall of antichrist the popish
|
||
|
|
pretence of power to work miracles will be revived and will very much
|
||
|
|
amuse and deceive the world.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) The field of battle--a place called <I>Armageddon;</I> that is,
|
||
|
|
say some, the mount of Megiddo, near to which, by a stream issuing
|
||
|
|
thence, Barak overcame Sisera, and all the kings in alliance with him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+5:19">Judges v. 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And in the valley of Megiddo Josiah was slain. This place had been
|
||
|
|
famous for two events of a very different nature, the former very happy
|
||
|
|
for the church of God, the latter very unhappy; but it shall now be the
|
||
|
|
field of the last battle in which the church shall be engaged, and she
|
||
|
|
shall be victorious. This battle required time to prepare for it, and
|
||
|
|
therefore the further account of it is suspended till we come to the
|
||
|
|
nineteenth chapter,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) The warning which God gives of this great and decisive trial, to
|
||
|
|
engage his people to prepare for it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It would be sudden and unexpected, and therefore Christians should be
|
||
|
|
clothed, and armed, and ready for it, that they might not be surprised
|
||
|
|
and ashamed. When God's cause comes to be tried, and his battles to be
|
||
|
|
fought, all his people shall be ready to stand up for his interest and
|
||
|
|
be faithful and valiant in his service.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Re16_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Re16_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Re16_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Re16_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Re16_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Seven Vials.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 95.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and
|
||
|
|
there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the
|
||
|
|
throne, saying, It is done.
|
||
|
|
18 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, <I>and</I> so great.
|
||
|
|
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the
|
||
|
|
cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance
|
||
|
|
before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the
|
||
|
|
fierceness of his wrath.
|
||
|
|
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not
|
||
|
|
found.
|
||
|
|
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, <I>every
|
||
|
|
stone</I> about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God
|
||
|
|
because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was
|
||
|
|
exceeding great.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here we have an account of the seventh and last angel pouring forth his
|
||
|
|
vial, contributing his part towards the accomplishment of the downfall
|
||
|
|
of Babylon, which was the finishing stroke. And here, as before,
|
||
|
|
observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Where this plague fell--<I>on the air,</I> upon the prince of the
|
||
|
|
power of the air, that is, the devil. His powers were restrained, his
|
||
|
|
policies confounded; he was bound in God's chain: the sword of God was
|
||
|
|
upon his eye and upon his arm; for he, as well as the powers of the
|
||
|
|
earth, is subject to the almighty power of God. He had used all
|
||
|
|
possible means to preserve the antichristian interest, and to prevent
|
||
|
|
the fall of Babylon--all the influence that he has upon the minds of
|
||
|
|
men, blinding their judgments and perverting them, hardening their
|
||
|
|
hearts, raising their enmity to the gospel as high as could be. But now
|
||
|
|
here is a vial poured out upon his kingdom, and he is not able to
|
||
|
|
support his tottering cause and interest any longer.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. What it produced,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. A thankful voice from heaven, pronouncing that now the work was
|
||
|
|
done. The church triumphant in heaven saw it, and rejoiced; the church
|
||
|
|
militant on earth saw it, and became triumphant. It is finished.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. A mighty commotion on the earth--an earthquake, so great as never
|
||
|
|
was before, shaking the very centre, and this ushered in by the usual
|
||
|
|
concomitants of thunder and lightnings.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The fall of Babylon, which was divided into three parts, <I>called
|
||
|
|
the cities of the nations</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+16:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
having had rule over the nations, and taken in the idolatry of the
|
||
|
|
nations, incorporating into her religion something of the Jewish,
|
||
|
|
something of the pagan, and something of the Christian religion, she
|
||
|
|
was as three cities in one. God now remembered this great and wicked
|
||
|
|
city. Though for some time he seemed to have forgotten her idolatry and
|
||
|
|
cruelty, yet now he gives unto her <I>the cup of the wine of the
|
||
|
|
fierceness of his wrath.</I> And this downfall extended further than to
|
||
|
|
the seat of antichrist; it reached from the centre to the
|
||
|
|
circumference; and every island and every mountain, that seemed by
|
||
|
|
nature and situation the most secured, were carried away in the deluge
|
||
|
|
of this ruin.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. How the antichristian party were affected with it. Though it fell
|
||
|
|
upon them as a dreadful storm, as if the stones of the city, tossed up
|
||
|
|
into the air, came down upon their heads, like hailstones of a talent
|
||
|
|
weight each, yet they were so far from repenting that they blasphemed
|
||
|
|
that God who thus punished them. Here was a dreadful plague of the
|
||
|
|
heart, a spiritual judgment more dreadful and destructive than all the
|
||
|
|
rest. Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The greatest calamities that can befal men will not bring them to
|
||
|
|
repentance without the grace of God working with them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Those that are not made better by the judgments of God are always
|
||
|
|
the worse for them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. To be hardened in sin and enmity against God by his righteous
|
||
|
|
judgments is a certain token of utter destruction.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC66015.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC66017.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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