their subversion-and their total demolition: Dan. vii. 15-28.

These are wonderful predictions (4) in which we are all most nearly concerned; because the awful times of which they speak, we have reason to believe, are just at hand; and none of us know how soon we may be involved in the distresses which are here foretold. The Roman empire was to be broken up, and divided into ten kingdoms. Soon after the formation of these ten kingdoms, which are denominated horns, there was to arise one little horn, one small dominion, underneath, or from behind, three of the ten horns, or kingdoms, into which the empire should be divided. This little horn was to conquer and subdue three of the ten horns, and to usurp their dominion. After this, it was to go on and increase more and more till it had obtained a peculiar kind of power and jurisdiction over all the seven other horns. This one little horn, that was become so great and powerful, was also to grow proud, and vain, and cruel, and bloody, and tyrannical, and idolatrous, and a vile persecutor of the true servants of the living God.

This horribly bloody and tyrannical power, was to be aided and assisted in its cruelties towards the genuine followers of the Lamb, by all the other seven kingdoms, over which it had obtained an unbounded influence. This wicked and cruel dominion, was to continue a time and times and half a time. A time here, in prophetic language, signifies a Jewish year, which consisted of 360 days. The times then will signify twice 360 days; and half a time will signify

(4) The reader will find these, and other predictions of Daniel, explained by Newton in his Dissertions on the Prophecies. Few of our most able writers on the prophecies, however, seem to me to have any idea, that they apply to the Protestant éstablishments, as well as to the Catholic kingdoms. All these things are against us, and we are usually extremely backward to believe what we do not wish to be true.

180 days. But a day, in the language of prophecy, is put for a year. If, therefore, we add these numbers together, they will be thrice 360 years, and 180 years, or exactly twelve hundred and sixty years, for the continuance of this bloody and tyrannical power; at the end of which period it is to be completely and everlastingly destroyed.

Let us see whether these strange predictions of Daniel have ever been accomplished.

The Roman empire was to be destroyed. It was so, in the fifth and sixth centuries. It was to be divided into a number of small kingdoms. It was so in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth centuries. A little horn was to arise, unperceived, and subdue three of the ten horns. The bishop of Rome, in a secret and imperceptible manner, did arise to temporal dominion, and subdued by the help of Pepin, three of those ten states into which the empire had been divided; the senate of Rome, the kingdom of Lombardy, and the exarchate of Ravenna; three governments all in Italy. And, it is extremely remarkable, that upon becoming master of these three states, the bishop of Rome assumed a triple crown, which he hath worn ever since, and which he continues to wear at this very day!

The bishop of Rome was to retain his power over these three states, and his influence over the seven others, 1260 years. If we knew exactly when to begin to reckon these years, we should know precisely when the destruction of Antichrist would take place. (5) Some begin to reckon from the year 606, when the proud prelate of Rome was declared universal bishop. Others begin from the year 666, the apocalyptic number; and others from the year 756, when he became a temporal prince. If the first period be

(5) The temporal power of the Pope is already gone: what further remains to be done, a few more fleeting years will shew. How eventful is the present period?

right, then the Pope, the undoubted Antichrist of the New Testament, will be completely destroyed, as a horn, about the year 1866. If the second period be intended by the spirit of prophecy, then his end will be near the year 1926. But if the third period be the time, then Antichrist will retain some part of his dominion over the nations till about the year 2016.(6) Most evident it is, that he is rapidly fallingThere is a great deal, however, yet to be done. But, when God works, who shall let? all will be accomplished in due time. Not one word shall fall to the ground of all that the Lord hath spoken.

Nay, not only shall Antichrist be overthrown, but even Rome itself, the place and city where he hath carried on his abominations for so many ages, shall be everlastingly destroyed. The language of Scripture is extremely strong, and sufficiently clear and precise.(7)

Thus Daniel:-"I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame." Thus too Paul, where he is professedly speaking of Antichrist;"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." Thus too John-"the beast goeth into perdition. -Her plagues shall be in one day, and she shall be utterly burnt with fire-The kings of the earth shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they see the

(6) The number of Popes, who have presided over the Romish church from its first institution, is about two hundred and fifty or sixty; they have therefore presided about seven years each upon an average.

(7) It is granted that all the passages upon this subject are figurative and prophetic, and therefore must be interpreted with caution; but yet they seem so strong and precise, that we cannot understand them in any more moderate sense.

smoke of her burning, standing afar off for fear of her torment, saying, Alas! alas! that great city Babylon, that mighty city; for in one hour is thy judgment come. In one hour so great riches are come to nought! They shall see the smoke of her burning!And a mighty angel took a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee. And no craftsman, of whatever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee." Immediately after these words, all the inhabitants of heaven are represented as rejoicing, and saying, Hallelujah! and her smoke rose up for ever and ever."

66

These are strong expressions, and imply a punishment extremely severe. It is remarkable too, that all the country about the city of Rome is a kind of bitumen, or pitchy substance. And in the year 80, a fire burst out from beneath, in the middle of the city, and burnt four of the principal Heathen temples, with the sacred buildings of the capitol. Italy is a storehouse of fire. And when the 1260 years are expired, Rome itself, with all its magnificence, will be absorbed into a lake of fire, sink into the sea, and rise no more at all for ever. (8)

It is this grand Antichristian apostacy (9) to which Paul unquestionably alludes, in 2 Thes. ii. 1-12; in

(8) Being persuaded of the destruction of that city, we cannot help feeling pleasure, that the French have removed many of the finest pieces of art from this vast repository of curiosities.

(9) Pope, though a Catholic, was convinced that the church of Rome had all the marks of that Anti-christian power, predicted

1 Tim. iv. 1-3; and in 2 Tim. iii. 1-5. John speaks of the same thing, 1 John ii. 18, 22; and in the Revelations he hath described the abominations of the church of Rome at considerable length, but in language highly figurative.(70) If we would be at the pains to lay all these predictions together, and compare them with those of Daniel, we should not fail to see to whom all the characters belong, and how awful the destruction is, which awaits this mother of abominations.

Have we not long ago

"But what is all this to us? renounced the errors and delusions of the church of Rome, and declared ourselves professors of the genuine doctrines of the Redeemer of mankind? May we not expect, therefore, to be delivered from those judgments, which have already fallen upon France and other countries, and which shall assuredly fall on all the antichristian states in Europe, that formerly made a part of the Roman empire?"

The ten (1) kingdoms, are all to fall, at the end of the said 1260 years, from the time they owned the dominion of the little horn. Now, England is universally allowed to have been one of the ten. If we begin to reckon the 1260 years from the time Gregory sent over Austin and his companions to preach the gospel to our idolatrous ancestors, there are a few years yet to expire, before our doom shall be sealed in the

in the writings of the New Testament: And yet he had not courage to profess himself a Protestant.

(70) The seven seals in this hieroglyphical book, refer to Rome in her Pagan state; the seven trumpets to the Roman empire in its Christian state; and the seven vials to the same Roman empire, broken into ten kingdoms, in its Popish and Anti-christian state.

(1) These ten kingdoms began to take their rise about the year 450, and proceeded more and more towards permanency for many years. The revolutions and convulsions of those ages were horribly cruel, bloody, and distressing.