lafting. And those that have wifely inftructed fhall fhine like the fplendor of the firmament, and those that have made many righteous, like the ftars for ever and ever. But thou, Daniel, close the words, and feal up the book, until the time of the end: when many fhall have fearched diligently, and knowledge fhall be increased."

The accomplishment which the former part of this Prophecy has received in the Papal power, and in the conqueft of the Mahometan power, is confeffedly accuratebut much remains to be fulfilled, and many reafons might be produced to authorize the conjecture, that even that part of the Prophecy which has been fo decidedly fulfilled will hereafter receive a more full and perfect accomplishment.-The change is fo abrupt, that it is yet difficult to decide, whether by "He shall enter alfo into the land of glory," be meant "the king of the north" [the Turks in particular], or "the king" first mentioned, that is, the power of Antichrift, which is the principal fubject of the Prophecy in another form-Of one thing however we are cer

tain,

Dr. Doddridge remarks, in his note on our Lord's Prophecy, "Jerusalem shall be trodden down, till the

tain, that the "end" of this king, whether Mahometan, or Infidel, is to be exactly similar to the end of the Grecian little horn, and the horn of the fourth beaft in the former visions ; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him." We may likewife prefume, that the end of this king fhall take place at the fame time with that of these little horns, and with the recal of the Jews from their difperfion, which is mentioned according to the angel's promise to inform Daniel" what should befal his people in the latter days."

The conjecture therefore that these are all branches of the SAME power, that must together die, when their root is destroyed, is thus far confirmed,

time of the Gentiles be fulfilled," that "the time of the Gentiles," means "the time when they shall be vifited, and punished," and this accords with the time of the reign of Antichrift. He farther obferves, "Thus the Turks, or fome other Antichriftian Power, may continue poffeffed of the Holy Land till the restoration of the Jews: for we can hardly fuppofe their way to it should then be opened by the conqueft of a Chriftian power."

The

The INFIDEL POWER a third Branch or Form of Antichrift fhewn to be predicted by Daniel.

I fhall now take leave to suppose that I have fhewn the Mahometan as well as the Papal Antichrift to be clearly depicted in the Prophecies of Daniel. It remains to be examined whether the Infidel Antichrift was not as accurately drawn in the picture, though unobserved till the ftrong reflected light thrown upon it by recent events, brought out the lines. The objects first in chronological order were first presented to our view. And that this fketch of the Infidel power, which we shall find was afterwards more minutely finished, was not intended to be discovered till near the time of the end-the time for its appearance, is, I think, evident from the injunction of the angelic meffenger. "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and feal the book, even to the time of the end ""then" many fhall run to and fro; and knowledge shall increase.”—And when Daniel "heard" the declaration of the angel concerning "the time of the end

Daniel xii. 4.

of

of these wonders, but understood not," and afked for an explanation, he was answered, "Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are clofed up and fealed till the time of the end. Many fhall [then] be purified and made white and tried but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked fhall understand, but the wife fhall underftand"-or as Wintle renders this paffage," But though none of the wicked will attend, thofe of understanding shall attend." How far the prefent cir cumftances of the world indicate the arrival of this promifed period of increasing knowledge of the Prophetic writings, it well becomes each in his generation to confider.

The Reader will recollect, that when we confidered the vifion of the beafts, and the little horn which arofe among or after the ten horns, it was obferved that this vision probably contained a description of the whole of Antichrift. The distinct pictures which we have fince feen of the Mahometan and Papal forms of this power, appear to confirm this idea. And when we reflect upon the fuperior folemnity of the conclufion of

See p. 328, and 335.

this firft vifion, it will, I think, seem probable, that in this general defcription, the laft of the forms it was to affume would be the most particularly noticed, if any were particularized 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 fet." Wè are therefore at liberty to fuppofe, that this little horn, which is Antichrift, represents 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 defcription of this horn be found fairly appli→ cable to another power which was to arise afterwards within the bounds of the antient Roman Empire (as we gather from the confi

P Whether the ten horns of the beaft 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 exiftence of thefe numerous kingdoms the little horn should arife, is a question not easy to decide. The fuppofition 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 numbers in Daniel mean uncertainty," and therefore it must be admitted with caution.

deration