twixt the imperial and papal dominion, and that Rome appears during that period in a state perfectly diftinct from what it was before or after, it was neceffary to mention this in the explication of the emblem; and on this account, the Antichriftian dominion is termed by the angel, the eighth.

Another expreffion of the angel is well worthy of attention, "And the beast that was, and "is not, even he is the eight." The words are an illustration of what was faid, chap. xiii. 3. "And I faw one of his heads as it were wound"ed to death, and his deadly wound was heal"ed:" Whereas in the tranfition from one head to another, during the courfe of the first fix, there was no hazard to the life of the beast; yet he mentions, that in the translation from the fixth to the feventh or laft head, the life of one beaft fhould be extinguished for a feafon, but again revived; that is, in the feveral changes from one form of government to another, during the firft fix, there was no danger to the exiftence of the empire, but that in paffing from the sixth to the last form of government, the existence of the empire would be extinguished for a feafon; that Rome would receive a blow, which, in human appearance, would prove mortal to its power and dominion; yet that a new form of government would be fet up, which, to

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the astonishment of the world, would revive its grandeur and empire, and that this form of Roman government was the Antichrift meant. This is a decifive circumftance. The empire was extinguished by the fword of Odoacer, and remained extinct under the Oftrogoths and emperors of the east. During all that period, Rome was not the metropolis of a great empire, but the inconfiderable town of a petty dutchy. She was no more the conquering city, that gave laws to an obedient world, but the defenceless prey of every bold invader. Comparing her fituation at that period with the past, was there not reason to say, Imperial Rome, where is she? She, once the terror of her enemies, and the glory of her allies, "was, but is not." Confidering the course of human events, was there not reason to infer, that her glory was for ever extinguished? that her fate would be fimilar to that of the ancient feats of empire? that the should become in a little time a deferted Ninevah, or ruinous Babylon? But it was not fo. Behold the Bishop of Rome invested with the rights of a temporal fovereign! animated by a bold ambition, making hafty ftrides to univerfal empire! fee those daring attempts crowned with amazing fuccefs! fo that in process of time, Papal Rome, by the thunder of her excommunications, became more formidable to a fuperfti

tious world, than ever Imperial Rome was, by the valour of her legions, to the affrighted nations. The thinking part of mankind beheld with astonishment the growing greatness of the ambitious Pontiff, which they dared not to check; while the fuperftitious and the ignorant fubmitted to a more than fervile fubjection, an idolatrous adoration of the ghoftly Ruler of Rome. Such are the well known facts which hiftory relates, and fure the emblems of the vifion represent them with accuracy and proprie ty; for the world is faid " to wonder, and they "that dwell on the earth to worship the beast, "whofe deadly wound was healed."

The ten horns afford another mark of the time in which the empire of Antichrift should be set up in the world. This mark was given in the prophecy of Daniel mentioned above; here there is an explication of it by the angel interpreter, chap. xvii. 12. "And the ten horns which "thou faweft, are ten kings, which have re"ceived no kingdom as yet; but receive power "as kings one hour with the beaft." He intimates that the Roman empire should not be followed by another univerfal monarchy, according to the uniform courfe of human events before, but that it fhould be divided into several feparate independent kingdoms; directing our attention to that remarkable circumftance, as a

mark

mark of the time in which Antichrift fhould reign; because such a divifion of the empire muft take place before his appearance, and the kingdoms then erected must remain coeval with the reign of Antichrift, during its continuance. Accordingly the northern nations diffolved the unity of the Roman empire, fet up the several kingdoms of Europe', which had no existence at the period

(1) Learned men have discovered just ten kingdoms erected by the northern nations, after the fall of the imperial form of government: For my part, I think it not neceffary to be fo exact. The frequent application of ten, in fcripture, to an indefinite number, justifies sufficiently our taking it in that fenfe here. Thus, ten times (Gen. xxx1. 7. 41.), fignify many times; ten women (Levit. xxvi. 26.), are many women; ten fons. 1 Sam. i. 8. are many fons; ten men, Eccl. vii. 9. fignify many men. Befides, the prophecy reprefents fuch changes in horns, that if they were intended to point out the exact number of kingdoms, it would be neceffary to reprefent the beaft, fometimes with more, fometimes with fewer; whereas he is every where reprefented with ten. Thus, Dan. vii. the beast is first represented with ten horns; then we are told that another horn came up after them, fo they made eleven; but this laft horn plucked up three of the first by the roots, fo there remained but eight; yet the fame beast is reprefented throughout the Apocalypfe, with ten horns. The truth is, that the kingdoms erected by the northern nations, were variable as to their numbers; but as they were many when fet up at first, they continue to be many feparate kingdoms ftill; which fully vindicates the prophetic reprefentation.

period of the vifion; and these kingdoms remain coeval with the Papal dominion in Rome for a thousand years past.

The spirit of the Antichriftian government is represented chiefly by three characters, arrogance, idolatry, and perfecution. Arrogance is held forth in thefe expreffions, Rev. xiii. 5. “ And "there was given to him a mouth, speaking

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great things." This character was largely de"fcribed by the former prophets. The fame expreffions are used Dan. vii. 8. and explained verse 25. “He shall speak great words against "the Moft High,—and think to change times " and laws;" and chap. xi. 36. "He fhall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and speak marvellous things against the "God of gods." Of him the Prophet Isaiah fays, chap. xiv. 13. and 14. "Thou haft faid in "thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will "exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will "fit alfo in the midft of the congregation, in "the fides of the north: I will afcend above "the height of the clouds, I will be like the "Moft High."

The Apostle Paul, treating of the fame character fays, " He oppofeth and exalteth him"felf above all that is called God, or is worshipped; fo that he, as god, fitteth in the