this firft vifion, it will, I think, feem. pro bable, that in this general defcription, the la of the forms it was, to affume would be the most particularly noticed, if any were partit cularized above the reft. We fhall find, I think, upon examination, that this was really the cafe. It has already been stated, that these ten kingdoms do not neceffarily appear to belong to the western divifion of the empire; and it seems clear that this broken form is to remain, till "the judgment is set.” We are therefore at liberty to fuppofe, that this little horn, which is Antichrift, reprefents both the Mahometan, power in the Eaft, and the Papal power in the Weft; which were in fact raised up nearly together: and if the de fcription of this horn be found fairly appli cable to another power which was to arife afterwards, within the bounds of the antient Roman Empire (as we gather from the conft Whether the ten horns of the beast are literally ten kingdoms, or whether the number ten fignifies only that the Roman Empire was to be broken into many parts, and that during the existence of these numerous kingdoms the little horn should arife, is a queftion not eafy to decide. → The supposition of the indefinite number would remove a difficulty generally felt by all Expofitors; but, as Archbishop Secker obferves," it doth not appear that any of the "it numbers in Daniel mean uncertainty;" and therefore it must be admitted with caution. deration deration of other Prophecies), we may as ñaturally conclude that it was defigned to reprefent that power alfo. If this be granted, and furely it can hardly be denied, the different opinions of Commentators refpecting this little horn, fo far from being difcordant, will be found in unifon; and more loudly found the harmony of Prophetic truth. Those who see the Mahometan power in "the little horn," which arofe from the fourth beaft, generally fuppofe Egypt, Afia, and Greece, to be "the three horns plucked up by the roots before it." Bishop Newton P, in his application of this Prophecy to the Papal power, confiders them to be the exarchate of Ravenna, the kingdom of Lombardy, and the ftate of Rome; and obferves, that "the Pope hath in a manner pointed himself out for the perfon described, by wearing the triple crown"-We can at present form no opinion concerning the three horns which are to be eradicated by the Infidel power; whether abfolutely kingdoms be meant, or whether independent ftates may be confidered as a fufficient explanation-but pof Note, Diff. 14. terity may be enabled to decide be enabled to decide upon this fubject perhaps more clearly than the partial fulfilment of this Prophecy has hitherto enabled us to do, respecting the conquefts of the Mahometan and Papal powers. In order to fhew that the application of this Prophecy to the Infidel power of Antichrift, fo far from doing any violence to received interpretation, does in fact more fully exemplify, more accurately accord with it; in all fuch circumstances as the fhort time that has elapfed fince its developement will allow us to difcern, I fhall shortly state Bishop Newton's explanation, though he refers the defcription to the Papal power.“ And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth fpeaking great things"- -"The eyes of a man denote his cunning and forefight, his looking out and watching all opportunities to promote his own intereft" the perfpicacity and cunning of this power, who is penetrating in myfterious crafts. -"He had a mouth fpeaking very great things". thundering out his bulls excommunicating princes, and anathemas. 66 and abfolving fubjects from their obedience." "His look was more ftout than his fellows"-" bis affumed fuperiority over his fellow Bishops, and Kings, and Emperors""And he shall speak great words against the most High" (or, as Symmachus renders it, "as the most High," which is as appro priate to the Papacy, as against is to Infidelity)" fetting up himfelf above all laws divine and human; arrogating to himself godlike attributes, and titles of holiness and infallibility, exacting obedience to his ordinances and decrees, in preference to, and in open violation of reafon, and Scripture, infulting men, and blafpheming God." -"And he fhall wear out the faints of the moft High"-" by wars and maffacres, and inquifitions; perfecuting and deftroying the faithful fervants of Jefus, and the true worshippers of God, who protest against his innovations, and refuse to comply with the idolatry practifed in the Church of Rome" And he fhall think to change times and laws appointing fafts and feasts, canonizing faints, granting pardons for fins, inftituting new modes of worship, impofing new articles of faith, enjoining new rules of practice, and reverfing at pleasure the laws both of God and man.” And And now let the unbiaffed Reader judge, whether this defcripton of the little horn of the fourth beast be not more strikingly applicable to the Infidel power, which we have feen arife in France, than even to the Papacy of Rome*. -If St. Paul's description of " the man of Sin" be found equally applicable (and that it is, has been fatisfactorily fhewn by Mr. Jones") if the fecond beaft in the Revelation, which has hitherto baffled enquiry, appears from examination to be the exact, and as it were the appropriate type of this same recently-rifen Power-a Power which the antient Prophets and the Apostles of our Lord repeatedly declare was to arife" in the LATTER TIME of the time appointed for indignation" in the latter times, in the last days we cannot furely require more evidence of the juftness of the application. We shall be no longer "fhaken in mind" at the progrefs This fubject will be more fully examined in the Chapter upon Infidelity. "In two Sermons printed in 1794, and 1795, at the defire of numbers who were ftruck with the truth of the application. * Even if we date the beginning of these days of vengeance from the destruction of Jerufalem, the Papal and Mahometan powers, which arose together about the year 600, or 750, cannot be confidered as completely fulfilling this Prophetic intimation. of |