are not thrown into pleasing astonishment, whilst reading this prediction concerning the fourth kingdom, to observe her state, conduct, condition, &c., more expressively described in these and in other verses, (chap. vii. verse 7,) than the pen of history did afterwards portray it, are kept from this enjoyment by their want of infor. mation. If we notice the Hebrew prophet, whilst describing the Roman government, we must look beyond the nation he is picturing, (three kingdoms back into antiquity,) and from his post there erected, he delineates more expressively than those who lived at the time. Ignorance of history may prevent it, but to some this is striking indeed. Iron is not so rich as silver and brass. The Romans were poor, stern, hardy, temperate, plain, unyielding, and tenacious. The iron kingdom was to subdue the earth. It did take within the circuit of its grasp that which was the known world. As the centuries of this prophecy passed on, and the events described did roll by, they were noticed by some. It is the wise that understand, and they are few indeed in every age; but some few of them all along have understood and looked for that which was next to take place. Thus a Christian father (we believe it was Jerome) reminded his brethren that in his and their day the image was upon its iron legs. If the arms pictured a double kingdom, the legs will mark the same. Rome became the eastern and the western empire, Constantinople being the eastern capital. This Christian father lived after the death of Porphyry, and saw the prophetic history still going on. He would of course know, and his cotemporaries who watched with him would know, what the toes of the image would designate. It was some time

before the ten kingdoms were formed, which were to represent the ten toes of the image.

than once.

These same ten kingdoms are pointed at in prophecy elsewhere more We have already noticed the chapter (xvii. Rev.) where they are exhibited as fragments of the empire of the Cæsars, and their subserviency and obedience to Rome is also mentioned, together with their final hatred and destructive animosity, which is at last to prove her ruin. From the position in which these kingdoms are held before us again in Revel. chapter xiii. we might infer that they would continue to exist at least twelve hundred and sixty (days) years. We gather the same from the information afforded us respecting them in vii. chap. Daniel.* But to the observer of history

* We say to those who read the page of prophecy, that if they will search closely through the sacred volume, they will find the following fact. In different places, where the great and glorious One is speaking to the sinful worms of earth concerning that which has not taken place, but which will certainly come to pass, he tells them that a day shall stand for a year; that is, each day of the time during which a given event was fulfilling, should represent a year expended in the accomplishment of it. If the Lord chooses to have a year thus represented it is enough for us to know the fact. We need not ask for the reason. He has said concerning these events, "that none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." There is one truth, which we should do well to remember. To an Israelite who had two modes of computing time, it did not sound strange to count years by days and weeks. A week with him meant seven years; each day of that week was a year long. If he told his friend that it was three weeks until the jubilee, he meant twentyone years. If they spoke of a month, they often meant thirty years. And, dear young reader, if you say, "I cannot understand what is meant by seventy weeks, or forty and two months, or a

who contemplates the commencement of the ten kingdoms of Europe, and watches them for a time, it does not appear probable that they will continue in this divided state so as to resemble the ten toes or the ten horns for half that number of years, (1260.) These ten kingdoms of Europe, (such as were to give their power and strength to the beast,) were, it is true, to possess some of the old Roman iron in their texture. And they did have much of that character in their composition; but they were to have the weakness of modern degeneracy, which clay would not be so stern and durable. Those who have been watching this image, its growth, or duration, through different ages, have no doubt felt much as the reader of history (who has also read the Bible) feels. When he sees such a character as Charlemagne, or Charles V., or Napoleon of France, arise and press onward, overthrowing all before him, and at length reaching out his giant arms entirely around some two, or three, or four of these kingdoms, press them all into one, he is ready to exclaim, "Surely the charm is broken. Can Europe continue any longer so divided as to represent the ten toes of the image, or the ten horns of a beast? Surely hereafter it must be under the dominion of only one or two." But let him look a little longer and he will find the cords once more broken. Although differently divided, the ten horns are there still. The revolution was long and bloody; nations were fractured and sifted through each other; but there are the ten toes still; and part of their composition is yet clay. Again, when he time and times and an half, and these Scripture terms,” let me answer you. You had better understand! You learn more difficult things in cases of worldly business. And moreover, God has never said that your ignorance should be your excuse.

sees those sovereigns scheming in their marriage contracts for their children, negotiating for their marriage portions, &c. &c., he is ready to fancy, "Surely it will not be long until several of these estates will become one, and different kingdoms will be consolidated, and fall by inheritance to the lot of one." Reader, different farms and large tracts of land are thus united and become the property of one, every day that the sun passes over us ; but an old grey-headed Hebrew man, twenty-three hundred years since, was told to write concerning the king. doms of Europe, "They shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay." These kingdoms were to commence a thousand or twelve hundred years after the death of the prophet. Although this was a long time for the few of the wise to watch, who were looking in every age, yet it came to pass at last; and they were reminded that Jehovah does not forget his word. These ten toes were to continue more than twelve hundred years, acting in a given way, and under very improbable circumstances. Some few of the wise were looking on. The horns or toes did thus continue, and they have thus acted.

There is one more declaration which was made long since, but has not yet been brought to pass. It was to be done in the latter days, and at the last times, of these ten kingdoms. It was, "The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom." Reader, do you think he will? He has not failed to do all that was said beside this, and we believe that he will keep his word also here. "The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom." This universal kingdom is the rock which is to become a great mountain, and fill the whole earth. This rock was once

image on the feet.

small-it was cut out without hands. This stone has been long cut out. It is to smite the It is yet to become a great mountain. Before we notice farther the increase of this mountain, we will meditate once more on that which we have before thought of and written about: its being cut out without hands. "That rock was Christ." That a rock should be cut without hands seems to us incredible. That the religion of Jesus Christ should obtain a commencement in the world, and then remain there half a century, is equally strange and incredible, provided we look faithfully at the circumstances under which it was introduced. Reader, the Lord, in making use of such an expression, calls for our attention. Before we are arrained before him, we should do well to ask after the meaning of such a figure. It will require another chapter to ask after the propriety of such a comparison. Let us attend prayerfully to what the Judge has said to us in that language.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE SUBJECT CONTINUED.

When we find the introduction of Christianity ex pressed in prophecy by the cutting out of a rock without hands, we should enquire honestly after the propriety of the figure. If we had been in an adjoining apartment, looking on when the Lord's supper was instituted, when the emblematic cup was first handed round, and some