fupremacy to fuch a pitch, as himself: and it is remarkable, that his immediate fucceffor, Boniface III. received from the tyrant Phocas, the exact title which Gregory had thus cenfured. At the Synod of Rheims, held in the tenth century, Arnulphus, Bifhop of Orleans, appealed to the whole Council, whether the Bishop of Rome was not the Antichrift of the Prophets," fitting in the temple of God," and perfectly correfponding with the marks which St. Paul had given of him. 10 In the eleventh century all the characters of Antichrift feemed to be fo united in the perfon of Pope Hildebrand, who took the name of Gregory VII. that Joannes Aventinus, a Romish Hiftorian, fpeaks of it as a subject in which the generality of fair, candid, and ingenuous writers agreed, that at that time began the reign of Antichrift.-St. Barnard, in the twelfth century, employed the force of his great eloquence against the corruptions of the See of Rome. The Popes," faid he, "call themselves the minifters of Chrift, and they ferve Antichrift. The beast of the Revelations, to whom was given a mouth fpeaking blafphemies, and to war with the faints, X 3 faints, feizes the chair of St. Peter, like a lion ready for his prey." prey." And to close this detail, the Albigenfes and Waldenfes, who may be called the Proteftants of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, expressly afferted in their declarations of faith, that the Church of Rome was the whore of Babylon. Thus have we a regular chain of testimony to prove the fucceffive progress of this opinion within the period alluded to, viz. from the time of the Apostles to the Reformation. In proportion as the authority of the Popes prevailed and extinguished freedom of enquiry, these explanations of the Prophecies were checked, except in the cafe of fome few perfons, who had boldness enough to affert them publicly, in defiance of the decrees of the Conclave, that menaced them with excommunication. The application therefore of these Prophecies to Papal Rome, far from being a novel opinion, published to vindicate the conduct of the Reformers and their adherents, was authorised by an ancient and uninterrupted tradition in the Church, grounded All the parts of this chain are clearly fhown in the learned and ingenious Introduction of Bishop Hurd to the Study of the Prophecies; from whence I have chiefly felected the above detail. upon upon Prophecy, and the words of the Apoftles, and was fully justified by the declarations, conduct, and inftitutions of the Papifts themfelves, when exercifing their oppreffive authority over the Christian world'. It is curious to inquire whether the Papifts behold in this prophetical picture any likeness of themselves. They imagine they view it in imperial Rome elated by her victories, exulting in her fenfuality, and her fpoils; polluted by idolatry, perfecuting the people of God, and finally falling like the first Babylon: whilst a new and holy city, represented by their own communion, filled with the spotlef votaries of the Chriftian faith, rifes out of its ruins, and the victory of the cross is completed over the temples of Paganifm. This scheme is adopted by Boffuet, Grotius, and Hammond. Thefe eminent men have indeed difcovered a faint and imperfect resemblance; but have they pointed out the particular nice and distinct traces of likenefs? Eager to establish their scheme, they run into a manifeft abfurdity, by violating the order of time, difregarding the opinions of the primitive Chriftians, and turning away their eyes from the appropriate defcriptions of the Prophets. 51. The MAHOMETAN POWER, another Branch or ·Form of Antichrift. All Commentators agree that the ninth chapter of Revelations refers to Mahometanifm, and the Saracenic and Turkish powers. It is therefore clear, that the prefent generation is still living under the influence of the fixth trumpet, when the four angels [that is, the four Turkish Sultanies] were loofed, which were bound in the great river Euphrates'. The time for their conqueft was exactly li mited, and history afcertains that this time was not exceeded; but nothing is faid in this chapter of the duration of their dominion. However, fince it is declared, that "in the days of the voice of the feventh angel, the mystery of God fhall be finished "," it is certain that this dominion must be deftroyed towards the end of the fixth trumpet, or "when the feventh fhall begin to found," 1 Thus far is clear.-But whether the Mahometan Power may be confidered as properly the Antichrift, foretold in the prophecy of Daniel, has been doubted by many writers, Rev. ix. 14. t Rev. x. 7. who who refer that Prophecy folely to the Papal Power of Rome. This point will be examined prefently. The following obfervations I would be understood to offer as conjecture only; but I dare not offer even a conjecture relative to Prophecies which are not yet, fulfilled, without ftating the grounds upon which it is founded. It is very generally allowed that the fix vials are poured out during the fixth trumpet, and that the feventh trumpet and seventh vial are contemporary.— The fixth vial is poured out upon the great river Euphrates; "and the water thereof is dried up, that the way of the kings of the Eaft may be prepared." Confidering the Turkish power as originating in the Euphrates (if I may fo fpeak), and that this river runs through the Afiatic part of their empire, I fuppofe the feat of the Afiatic Antichrift the Turkish Empire,-will either fuffer very confiderable diminution, or be entirely removed, under the fixth vial.--This opinion does not imply the destruction of Mahometanism, any more than the fifth vial implies the deftruction of Popery-but I think both the fifth and fixth vials will produce the decay and downfal of the power of both, though both will continue to exift " till thé time of the end." It shall be obferved, that 66 |