A similar cause now influences despots all over Europe.

The _Old_ Testament contains the elements which they dread, and those gave a political creed to our Puritans.] [Footnote 18: More than one critic flatly denies the fact.

It is sufficient for me here to say, that such is the obvious interpretation, and such _historically has been_ the interpretation of various texts,--for instance, 2 Thess.i.

7: "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed...

in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them _that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel_; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction," &c.