Page:Darby - Notes on the Book of Revelations, 1839.djvu/170

 of this world by what led to the cross, that being the climax of it. When that was departed from, the Church only became the instrument of his power; sin and the world resuming their dominion under her name. This was maintained in active apostasy by the use of a corrupt church, still on the earth as to means; and, when he was cast down from heaven, it could then only be by open war, as we have seen, against Him who came in His royalty to claim His inheritance. I believe it will be found that the early commerce and colonization of the earth were most intimately connected with idolatry; the children of apostate though once rescued Ham. His first act, was casting off or degrading authority as of God; and ere long we find, at the river of Cush, idolatry in practice, and extending even to the Shemitic race, whence Abraham was then called out.

The former state (i.e. confederacy, trading, false religion) is spoken of as a woman: this