Rev. xiii, 13. And he doeth great wonders. The opinion of the learned Taber and other expositors that heaven in this verse signifies the church, is, I think, totally untenable. . . . This erroneous conception has led those eminent authors into another mistake, of believing this prophecy accomplished by those pretended miracles and lying wonders, which the artful and cunning of the Roman clergy have imposed on the credulous laity of their church. But the wonders of the false prophet in these enlightened days, will be more specious than all those villainous deceptions, and of a wholly distinct, more important and delusive nature. They will consist in strange and miraculous operations, achieved by a hidden knowledge of the secret powers and mysteries of nature, and by the actual co-operation of Satan and his angels, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 2 Thess. ii, 9–12. These wonders themselves will probably be no frauds ; the deception consists in the object for which the false prophet shall perform them. [Pretty well done, for one who wrote before the appearance of modern spirit manifestations.—R. F. C.]