And now, what is the present position of these two powers? And how do they stand in Europe? What is the condition, and what the prospect, of these two great oppressors of Jerusalem? As for Rome, as a political power it has ceased to exist, for I need not say that the modern kingdom of Italy has nothing to do with it. It is not built on the old lines, but is altogether a new creation, an extension of the kingdom of Sardinia. Now there can be no doubt whatever that the vast, iron-footed, undivided, Roman Empire, of which Titus was emperor at the time he trod down Jerusalem, has long since passed away. Different historians may assign different dates to its dissolution, but no one doubts for one moment that it is dissolved. The power that trampled down Jerusalem is broken up into ten kingdoms, and the Imperial head is no more. There is no successor to the throne of Titus, and the throne itself is in fragments. It is very remarkable also that the Papal head which succeeded the Imperial has within the last few years come also to an end as a political power. After the division of the undivided empire the ten kingdoms were to a great extent held together by the Papal head which succeeded the Imperial. The Pope claimed to be the sole authority from which the kings derived their power, and before the Reformation all Europe acknowledged his claim. He was supposed to hold all the crowns of Europe in his hand. But that is all over now. The kings have taken away his dominion. As a political power the Papal head has followed the Imperial. According to Sir G. Bowyer, in the _Times_ of Nov. 10, 1871, ‘The Pope has been dethroned, and all his dominions and property have been reduced to a palace, a church, and a garden,’ it does not seem, therefore, very probable that Rome in either shape will ever again tread down Jerusalem. We may safely say that the first of the two oppressors is no more. But what shall we say of the second? of that Turkey which is the only power now treading down Jerusalem? I would meet this by another question. Is there any politician in Europe who has the least expectation of Turkey remaining in its present position for another ten years? Whatever little political power it retains is dying out as fast as it can die. Its exchequer is bankrupt. Its credit is gone. Its character for good faith is at an end. Its armies are unpaid. Its subject populations are rising against the intolerable burdens of its injustice and oppression; and the Turks themselves have lost heart in the melancholy conviction that their days are numbered. Thus, of the two powers that have trodden down Jerusalem, one is already extinct, and the head of the other at its last gasp. The foot of the Sick Man is the only foot now remaining on the neck of Jerusalem, and the Sick Man is dying. Surely it is not unreasonable to ask the question, ‘When he dies, why should not Jerusalem arise and be free?’