"dition," or " of him whose domi"nion is to be taken away, when the

judgement fhall fit;" and of "the "man of fin," or of " him who exalt"eth himself above every God," is predicted by Daniel as to come to pass only after the overthrow of the ancient Roman Empire, and its divifion into smaller kingdoms: for in chap. 7, v. 23, the laft portion of the prophet's vifion is thus explained to him. The fourth beaft "fhall be the fourth kingdom upon "earth; which fhall be diverse from all

kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth; and fhall tread it down, and "fhall break it in pieces: and the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings, which fhall arife: and another "fhall arife after them, and he shall be diverle from the firft; and he fhall « fubdue three kings: and he shall speak great words against the moft high;

៩

" and

"and fhall wear out the faints of the "most high, and think to change times "and laws; and they fhall be given in

to his hand for a time, times, and the "dividing of a time. But the judge"ment fhall fit; and they fhall take a66 way his dominion to confume, and to

deftroy it unto the end." So that the tradition, which, even confidered alone, deferves to have great weight allowed it, is here confirmed by the words of the prophet.

Now the fame fucceffion of powers is predicted in the Revelation given to St. John; where the overthrow of the rulers of one third of the earth is represented to take place previous to the rife of that tyrannical power, which was to reign in the feat of the ancient Roman Empire; and the duration of the fame power is defcribed, as continuing until the return

of

་

of "the King of Kings, and Lord of "Lords." Neither is even this a complete representation of the accuracy preferved in the confiftency of the earlier and later predictions. Since, as the present states of Europe arofe out of the divifion of the ancient Roman empire ; that empire is in the revelations reprefented, as having been wounded in one of its heads, and again recovered; fo that under a different appearance and period, it is fill the fame. While this particular is preferved likewife in the prophecy of Daniel: ch. 11. v. 36. Where the man of fin is defcribed as the king, without any mark to distinguish him, from the power which destroyed Jerufalen. Add to which that from v. 31. of this chapter to the end, there is delivered an elegant outline of the whole hiftory of the church, afterwards more fully given by St. John. Thus B

the

the defolation of the Holy City being flated in v. 31. and the falling off of the apoftate Jews in v. 32. in the latter part of this verse, those who would receive the gofpel, are described, with their exertions, and the fuccefs of their preaching." But the people that do know "their God*, fhall be ftrong, and do

.66

exploits, and they that understand "among the people; fhall inftruct

many.". Then follows a declaration of the perfecutions to which they would be expofed:" Yet they fhall fall by "the fword, and by flame, by captivity,

and by spoil many days." And this is fucceeded by mention of the relief, which the followers of Chrift, (of whom

* Who these were our Lord has specified, by defcribing the oppofite generation, "These things "" will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me."

the

the Jewish converts were the orgpenleaders) fhould receive, through the Emperour's embracing the gofpel, and the effects of this laft event, in making many others pretend to do so. "Now when "they shall fall, they fhall be holpen "with a little help; but many fhall "cleave to them with flatteries."

æra

THE period thus flightly characterized by Daniel, is by St. John marked by feveral other particulars and afcertained by fuch notes, as are not applicable to any other era in the hiftory of the church. For in the fixth chapter of the revelations there is fignified under well known emblems a great change in the governing powers of that part of the earth, in which St. John, and John, and thofe committed to his charge lived, and these were no other than the Roman and the events preceding that change, which muft, in cor-” B 2 respondence