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Mahomet arose in a part of the Grecian Empire-and that he arose when the eastern di vision of the Roman Empire was considered as the Greek Empire, and in the latter time of that kingdom. It is certain too, that the corruptions of the eastern churches had arisen to their full height when this fcourge of the Christian world ftood up;-and that " the falfe Prophet, or Teacher," of Arabia, who profeffedly propagated his religion by the fword, is ftrikingly delineated by a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark fentences.' "And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power." As the kingdoms of the West gave their power to the Beast, or Papal Antichrift, fo have the kingdoms of the East given theirs to the Mahometan Antichrift. But I conceive this is not all that is here meant --"The dragon" gave his power to the beast, and "the angel of the bottomlefs pit" led on the Saracenic locufts; and thus the angel may be understood to say, "The power of this horn shall be not merely that which is common to the conquerors of the Eaft, fuch as the he-goat, or the four beafts in the former vifion; it is to be directed and supported by super-human art and ftrength; which fhall enable it to deftroy wonderfully, to profper and practise, and 73 destroy

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destroy the mighty, and the holy people," that is, both Jews and Christians. "And

through his policy alfo he fhall cause craft to profper in his hand," or "fhall caufe fraud and deceit to profper, and he fhall magnify himself, and by peace fhall he deftroy many," or, “in times of tranquillity he shall destroy multitudes "." The policy and craft for which the Mahometan powers are notorious *, unqueftionably agree with this description; and the titles which their chief affumes, of" God on Earth, The Shadow of God, Brother to the Sun and Moon, The Giver of all Earthly Crowns "," as perfectly accord with the Prophetic intimation, that he should" magnify himself." Such titles were indeed common in the East, among the antient Heathen potentates; but they are utterly inconfiftent with true religion, and have ever been fo confidered by Jews and genuine Chriftians". The multitudes which allured by promifed " peace," left the cross of Chrift for the crefcent of Mahomet; and

" Wintle's Version of Daniel.

* "In a word, luft, arrogance, covetoufnefs, and the most exquifite hypocrify, complete their character." Maundrell, p. 149.

y See Ricaut's State of the Ottoman Empire.

The titles affumed by the Pope are however ftrikingly fimilar.

the

the luxury, effeminacy, and licentiousness, which are the allowed habits and propofed rewards of the followers of this pretended Prophet, may perhaps be allowed to explain

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by peace he fhall deftroy many;" but as this power is yet exifting, we may furely fuppofe it may hereafter become more clear, if this explanation be not perfectly fatisfactory.

The angel having thus intimated, as I apprehend, that this formidable power fhould remain fome time at reft, as it were, adds, "And he fhall [alfo] ftand up against the Prince of princes, but he fhall be broken without hand."-The perfecuting fpirit of Mahometanifm certainly correfponds with the oppofition implied in this expreffion, marks its origin, and diftinguishes the motives and views which actuate this power, from those which are the common causes of war and conqueft among the rulers of the earth, but can hardly be confidered as its full import. — If this expreffion be confined to the Mahometan power, we may look to the future for a more literal accomplishment, and suppose the angel to fay, Befides these wars against the fanctuary and the holy people, and the covert mifchief which he fhall be permitted to do,

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this power shall at last openly direct his oppofition against the Prince of princes will the time come when he fhall fall before him, like the image and the horn of the fourth beast in the former vifions." This paffage however, and feveral others in the latter part of this Prophecy, will be 'found to agree very remarkably with the distinct picture which I understand to be given in the Revelations, of the Infidel power; and if thefe paffages be allowed to refer to that as well as to the Mahometan power, the meaning of the angel may be then supposed to be, "The power, of whom I now speak, who is to arife in the latter times, shall spring from the fame fource, and be of the fame nature as the little horn in the former vifion and his mark fhall be, oppofition to the Prince of princes, as it was in the horn of the fourth beast. - By this fhall these peculiar powers be distinguished from the kings of the earth, and by this fhall their common fate be foreknown- they shall be broken without hand-not by the usual course of events - -but they fhall fall before the fon of man, when he cometh to take poffeffion of his kingdom"-" And the vifion of the evening and morning is true. Wherefore shut thou up the vifion, for it shall be for many days."Surely this repetition

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confirms the opinion that these predictions concern the latter times.

Fourth Vifion." The KING" of the Weft.

In the following vifion the angel first de-, clares, "Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befal thy people in the latter days; for yet the vifion is for many days" -Daniel had been previoufly informed of the precife time when the Meffiah was to appear, and when "he should be cut off, though not for himfelf;" and alfo, of the subsequent deftruction of the city and the fanctuary, and "of the defolations determined unto the end of the war, even unto the confummation, and that determined fhall be poured out upon the defolate," or as it is in the margin of the English Bible, defolator b."

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a Daniel x. 14.

b My plan confines me to that part of this wonderful Prophecy, which appears to relate to Antichrift

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"the

war between the Dragon and the Lamb," (fee Rev. xii.) but I must beg the Reader to perufe the fixteenth of Bishop

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