"This little horn is, by the generality of interpreters both Jewish and Christian, antient and modern, supposed to mean Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, who was a great enemy and cruel perfecutor of the Jews; but then all allow that Antiochus Epiphanes was a type of Antichrift1." Bishop Newton however, adopting the opinion of Sir Ifaac Newton, leaves Antiochus wholly out of the question, and applies it to the Roman power, which firft fubdued Macedon and Greece, the capital kingdom of the goat, by which, he says, the Romans became a born of the goat. But notwithftanding his very ingenious Differtation upon this fubject, I cannot but think there remain as great reasons for applying this Prophecy in the first inftance to Antiochus Epiphanes, and in the laft to Antichrift, without contradicting the accuracy of its application, in many points, to the Romans. The plan of this Work obliges me to refer the Reader to Bishop Newton's Differtation for a clear difplay of the fulfilment of this Prophecy, both by Antiochus and by the Romans; for it appears to me that he eftablishes the antient opinion even while com

i Newton, C., 14.

m

m

Newton, vol. ii. Diff. 15,

bating

bating it, from his earnest wish to appropriate the Prophecy wholly to the Romans; a wish, which too often rifes unperceived even in the beft minds, who, when they form a system, defire to fubvert every other. I must content myself with a few obfervations, connected with the endeavour to harmonize these systems, and to point out the connexion of the Prophecies.

In the main points of oppofition to Chrift, and of perfecution of his fervants, all the branches of Antichrift must neceffarily agree; but the marks which diftinguish these confederate powers from each other, appear to me very ftrongly discriminated in these different vifions. All foretel the power of Antichrift, and contain allufions perhaps to all the different forms of that power; but each vifion feems to defcribe one of thefe forms with peculiar diftin&tness, while it points to Some circumstances which strongly characterize that Power, which was to arise the laft, and, if we rightly conjecture, will prevail the most, and which are not cafilý appropriated to either of the other. The fymbol of "a little horn" is applicable to Antichrift in the beginnings of all its forms Papal, Mahometan, and Infidel. The Power

of

of Antichrift is ftill the little horn; but as exerted in Greece and the Eaft, it is described as the little horn of the be-goat, or the third empire, and this even to the present hour; for the feat of the Mahometan Empire is Grecia, or what was called the Greek Empire. As exerted in Italy and the Weft, it is defcribed as the little horn of the fourth beaft,' or the fourth Empire. But it is remarkable that in those predictions, which the angel expressly declares will be accomplished to wards the end of the appointed time, this diftinction of east and weft feems to be loft, both in this and in the following vifion (which I conceive intended particularly to describe the Mahometan and Papal powers), and Antichrift appears with all the fubtlety and fury and univerfally-extended tyranny, with which we find him delineated in the Revelations under the fymbol of the Second beaft, and which correfponds with the little born in the vifion of the four beafts, which is to be considered as an epitome of the whole hiftory of Antichrift" And this circumftance, I apprehend, intimates the general apoftafy and perfecution which is to take place during the infidel power, which was

to fucceed the violence of the two former, and be an inftrument of punishment to their adherents, and of trial to the Church of Christ.

It is evident from the conclufion that this Prophecy of the horn of the he-goat cannot be confined to the Romans. It extends not only beyond the deftruction of Jerufalem, but to the end of time; for, as "the image was to be broken by the stone cut out without hands," and the fourth beaft was to be destroyed "because of the great words the horn fpake against the most High,” so this horn was to be broken without hand, because he rose up against the Prince of princes." And it is farther added, as if to prevent the Prophecy from being restricted to its first and partial accomplishment, "Shut thou up the vifion, for it fhall be for many days" it refers to a long period of time, and series of events, and it cannot therefore be fully understood till much nearer the time of the end. Let us now compare the Mahometan power with this little eastern horn, which "waxed exceeding great toward the fouth, and toward the caft, and toward the pleafant land."

The

The Mahometan power has indeed extended itfelf fouthward over great part of Africa-eastward to Perfia, Tartary, and even China, and covered the land of Judea with its abominations; but it never made any progrefs in the weft or north-" It caft down fome of the hoft, and of the ftars, and stamped upon them, and magnified itself even to the prince of the hoft," or "the Prince of princes." It caft down many of the reigning powers, took poffeffion of the Greek empire, and overthrew all the Chrif tian churches, or stars, established in Africa, in Arabia, and India, and almost all in Paleftine, in Afia Minor, and in Greece.Mahomet acknowledged Jesus to be a Prophet indeed; but he affumed to himself a fuperiority in dignity; and the cruelty, oppreffion, and contempt, with which Chrif tians have been uniformly treated by his followers, are plainly denoted by his "ftamping upon them." Jerufalem is defignated as the principal scene, or object of the tyranny of this horn; first during the Jewish, and lastly during the Chriftian difpenfation. Zion was the place chofen by the Almighty for the only Temple devoted to his worship

Rev. ii. t

accord