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racter, by which he will be known in the day when the accomplishment of these prophecies is at hand. He is called "THE BREAKER" by Micah, in allusion to the breaking of the great image (or Roman empire) by the "STONE cut without bands," and in that prophecy (as in every other, where his appearance and exploits are mentioned,) he is found connected with the preparation for the SECOND EXODUS OF IS

RAEL.

In Isaiah, xxviii. 2, he is called "THE MIGHTY AND STRONG ONE OF THE LORD." "Behold the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand" (of man), or with powerful armies, inexhaustible by repeated destruction; being still recruited from the conquered countries. For the rapidity and resistless force with which he bears down all opposition in the line marked out for his devastation, he is here compared to the impetuous fury of the

elements, which no force of man can withstand. And it is in a time of such political hurricanes that Israel is to be visited by the returning favor of heaven.* In the same chapter, (verse 15. &c.) he is called "THE OVERFLOWING SCOURGE," and his peculiar talents, and unexampled success in "overflowing, passing through, and stretching his hand over many countries, with an army at his heels, quicker than some can travel through the same at their ease, recurs in so many places, that it must be considered as one of the designed characteristics of the BREAKER.

In all these passages we still find him employed as a pioneer for Israel, and working for the fulfilment of the prophecy,† "cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people." And, without doubt, this is the modern HERCULES, who is set to work to clean out the filth of the AUGEAN STABLE of POPERY, and to dry up the flood of the mystical Eu

*Isai. xxix. 6.

Isai. Ivii. 14; lxii. 10.

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PHRATES, that the way of the KINGS OF THE EAST may be prepared; there being the closest connection between the rising again of ISRAEL, and the treading down of their mortal enemies." The CROWN OF PRIDE, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall he trodden under feet. And the glorious beauty which is on the head of the fat valley shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth it, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up."*-This obscure passage seems to intimate the short space of time, comparatively, in which “the crown of pride" and its dependencies, the powers of the corrupt church, intoxicated with the CIRCEAN CUP OF BABYLON, shall be broken in pieces, as it were, with the force and velocity of a stone from a sling,

In contrast with this destruction of the enemies of religion, there follows immediately (ver. 5) a representation of the happy

*Isai. xxviii. 3.

change in favor of Israel. "In that day shall the Lord of Hosts be for A CROWN OF GLORY, and for A DIADEM OF BEAUTY unto the residue of his people, and for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate." The contrast in this prophecy is very remarkable, between the crown of pride on the apostate church, and the crown of glory and diadem of beauty on the head of them "that worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness," rejecting the meretricious ornaments of popery, together with her intoxicating cup; yet retaining all that is of advantage to the solemnity and decency of divine worship. That this is a representation of such a contrasted state of the christian religion in a late period of time, appears from the characteristic peculiar to Israel in the latter times, the RESIDUE or REMNANT of his people, who are to partake in the blessed consequences of this victory of true religion over popish imposture and impiety.-In Isaiah lvii. is another contrast, drawn between the idolatrous apostacy of "the sons of the SORCERESS, the seed of

the ADULTERESS and the WHORE, while God held his peace for a very long time,* yet she feared him not, and the consequent distress by which she shall at length be punished; contrasted with the restoration of his mercy to his repenting people Israel.

Another description of the BREAKER which occurs in Jer. li. 20. &c. is very remarkable, and altogether in consistency with the general current of the prophecies of the latter portion of the LAST TIMES, and the dreadful havock to be made in the world by this restless and unceasing ENGINE OF DESTRUCTION, in drawing out the deep stuck roots of popery."Thou art my BATTLE AXE, and weapons of war, and with thee I will break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy the kingdoms. And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider, and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider, &c."

In this long passage of the prophet, the des

*Psalm 1. 21.

+ Rev. ii. 21; ix. 20,

Isai, viii. 28; xxviii, 20.-Zech. xiv. 12,

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