worse than the evils brought on them by Nebuchadnezzar. And the tranfgreffion of defolation hath now continued thefe 1700 years. They expect, and we expect, that at length the fanctuary will be cleanfed, and that in God's determined time his promife will be fully accomplished; (Amos IX. 11, 12. Acts XV. 16, 17.) I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will fet it up; That the refidue of men might feek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, faith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

This concern of Daniel, and affection for his religion and country, fhow him in a very amiable light, and give an additional luftre and glory to his character. But not only in this inftance, but in every other, he manifefts the fame public fpirit, and appears no lefs eminently a patriot than a prophet. Tho' he was torn early from his country and enjoyed all the advantages that he could enjoy in foreign fervice, yet nothing could make him forget his native home: And in the next chapter we fee him pouring out his foul in prayer, and fupplicating moft earneftly and devoutly for the pardon and reftoration of his captive nation. It is a grofs mistake therefore to think, that religion will ever extinguish or abate our love for our country. The fcriptures will rather incite and inflame it, exhibit feveral illuftrious examples of it, and recommend and enforce this, as well as all other moral and focial virtues; and efpecially when the interefts of true religion and of our country are fo blended and interwoven, that they cannot well be feparated the one from the other. This is a double incentive to the love of our country; and with the fame zeal that every pious Jew might fay formerly, every honeft Briton may fay now, with the good Pfalmift, (Pfal. CXXII. 6, &c.)

pray for the peace of Jerufalem; they fhall profper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and plenteousness within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions fake I will with thee profperity: Yea because of the house of the Lord our God I will feek to do thee good.

XVI.

DANIEL'S PROPHECY OF THE THINGS NOTED IN THE

SCRIPTURE OF TRUTH.

IN TWO PARTS.

PART I.

T is the ufual method of the holy Spirit to make the latter prophecies explanatory of the former; and revelation is (Prov. IV. 18.) as the fhining light that Shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The four great empires of the world, which were fhown to Nebuchadnezzar in the form of a great image, were again more particularly reprefented to Daniel in the fhape of four great wild beafts. In like manner, the memorable events, which were revealed to Daniel in the vifion of the ram and he-goat, are here again more clearly and explicitly revealed in his laft vifion by an angel; fo that this latter prophecy may not improperly be faid to be a comment and explanation of the former. This revelation was made (X. 1.) in the third year of Cyrus king of Perfia, when Daniel was very far advanced in years. For the third year of Cyrus was the feventy-third of Daniel's captivity; and being a youth when he was carried captive, he cannot be fuppofed now to have been lefs than ninety; and not long after this, it is reasonable to believe that he died. Old as he was, he fet his heart to understand the former revelations which had been made to him, and particularly the vifion of the ram and he-goat, as I think we may collect from the fequel: and for this purpose he prayed, and fafted three weeks. His fafting and prayers had the defired effect; for an angel was fent, and faid unto him, (ver. 12.) Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst fet thine heart to understand, and to chaften thyself before thy God, thy words

words are heard, and I am come for thy words. And whoever would attain the fame ends, and excel in divine knowledge, muft pursue the fame means, and habituate himself to study, temperance, and devotion. The angel declares the defign of his coming, (ver. 14.) Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for yet the vifion is for many days. This prophecy therefore contains the fate and fortune of the people of God for many years. As it was faid before, (ver. 1.) the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and confequently this prophecy muft extend farther than from the third year of Cyrus to the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, which was not (1) above 370 years. In reality it comprehends many fignal events after that time to the end of the world: but the types and figures of the things are not exhibited in this as in most of the other vifions, and then expounded by the angel; but the angel relates the whole, and not by way of vifion, but only by narration, informs Daniel of that which is noted in the feripture of truth. (ver. 21.) I will fhew thee that which is noted in the fcripture of truth, as if future events were noted in a book before God: and this prophecy, being taken from the fcripture of truth, is therefore deferving of our ftricteft attention; and we may depend upon the certainty of all the particulars contained therein, if we can but rightly understand and expound

them.

The angel firft prophecies of the Perfian empire, which was then fubfifting. Behold, there shall ftand up yet three kings in Perfia; and the fourth fhall be far richer than they all; and by his ftrength through his riches he fhall ftir up all against the realm of Grecia. (XI. 2.) There shall Stand up yet, that is after Cyrus, the founder of the empire, who was then reigning, Three kings in Perfia; thefe were Cambyfes, the fon of Cyrus; Smerdis the Magian, who pretended to be another fon of Cyrus, but was really an impoftor; and Darius, the fon of Hyftafpes, who married the daughter of Cyrus. And the fourth jhall

(1) The third year of Cyrus was A. M. 3470, before Chrift 534. Antiochus Epiphanes died A. M.

3840, before Chrit 164. See Usher, Prideaux, &c.

be far richer than they all. The fourth after Cyrus was Xerxes, the fon and fucceffor of Darius; of whom Juftin (2) truly remarks, If you confider this king, you may praise his riches, not the general; of which there was fo great abundance in his kingdom, that when rivers were dried up by his army, yet his wealth remained 'unexhaufted.' Pythius the Lydian (3) was at that time the richest fubject in the world. He generously entertained Xerxes and all his army, and proffered him two thousand talents of filver, and three millions nine hundred ninety-three thoufand pieces of gold with the stamp of Darius, towards defraying the charges of the war. But Xerxes was fo far from wanting any fupplies, that he rewarded Pythius for his liberality, and prefented him with feven thousand darics, to make up his number a complete round fum of four millions. Each of thefe darics (4) was worth better than a guinea of our money. And by his ftrength through his riches he fhall ftir up all, both fubjects and allies, against the realm of Grecia. Xerxes's expedition into Greece is one of the most memorable adventures in ancient hiftory. Herodotus affirms, that (5) Xerxes in raifing his army fearched every place of the continent, and it was the greatest army that ever was brought into the field; for what nation was there, fays he, that Xerxes led not out of Afia into Greece? Herodotus lived in that age; and he (6) recounts with great exactnefs the various nations of which Xerxes's army was compofed, and computes that the whole number of horfe and foot, by land and fea, out of Afia and out of Europe, foldiers and followers of the

camp, amounted to five millions, two hundred eighty three thoufand, two hundred and twenty men. Nor was Xerxes content with ftirring up the eaft, but was for stirring up (7) the weft likewife, and engaged the Carthaginians in his alliance, that while he with his army overwhelmed Greece, they might fall upon the Greek colonies in Sicily and Italy: and the Carthaginians for this purpofe not only raifed all the forces they could in Africa, but alfo hired a great number of mercenaries in Spain, and Gaul, and Italy; fo that their army confifted of three hundred thousand men, and their fleet of two hundred fhips. Thus did Xerxes ftir up all against the realm of Grecia; and after him no mention is made of any other king of Perfia. It is to be noted, (8) faith Jerome, that the prophet having enumerated four kings of the Perfians after Cyrus, flippeth over nine, and paffeth to Alexander; for the prophetic fpirit did "not care to follow the order of hiftory, but only to ' touch upon the most famous events.' Xerxes was the principal author of the long wars and inveterate hatred between the Grecians and Perfians; and as he was the laft king of Perfia who invaded Greece, he is mentioned laft. The Grecians then in their turn invaded Afia: and Xerxes's expedition being the most memorable on one fide, as Alexander's was on the other, the reigns of these two are not improperly connected together.

Alexander is thus characterized, (ver. 3.) And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. That Alexander was a mighty king and conqueror; that he ruled with great dominion, not only over Greece and the whole Perfian empire, but likewife added India to his conquefts; and that he did according to his will, none daring, not even his friends, to contradict and oppofe him, or if they did, like Clitus and Callifthenes, paying for it with their lives; are facts too well known to require any particular proof or illuf

tration.

(7) Diod. Sic. Lib. 11. in initio. (8) Notandum quod quatuor poft Cyrum regibus Perfarum enumeratis, novem præterierit, et tranfierit, ad Alexandrum. Non enim curæ fuit

fpiritui prophetali hiftoriæ ordinem fequi; fed præclara quæque perftringere. Hieron. in locum. Col. 1121. Edit. Benedict.

But