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deration of other Prophecies), we may as naturally conclude that it was designed 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 arose from the fourth beaft, generally fuppofe Egypt, Afia, and Greece, to be "the three horns plucked up by the roots before it." Bishop Newton, in his application of this Prophecy to the Papal power, confiders them to be the exarchate of Ravenna, the kingdom of Lombardy, and the state 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 absolutely kingdoms be meant, or whether independent ftates may be confifidered as a fufficient explanation--but pof

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terity may 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 circumftances as the fhort time that has elapfed fince its developement will allow us to difcern, I fhall fhortly state Bishop Newton's explanation, though he refers the description to the Papal power.“ And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking 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 mysterious craft." He had a mouth speaking very great things". thundering out his bulls excommunicating princes,

and

anathemas

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and abfolving fubjects from their obedience."

• Newton, vol. i. p. 487.

Wintle, &c.

"His look was more ftout than his fel lows"-" his affumed fuperiority over his fellow Bishops, and Kings, and Emperors"→ "And he shall speak great words against the moft High" (or, as Symmachus renders it,

as the moft High," which is as appropriate to the Papacy, as against is to Infidelity)" Setting up himself above all laws divine and buman; arrogating to himself god, like 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 most High""by wars

It has been objected by fome zealous Proteftants, that the term faints cannot be properly applied to Roman Ca tholics, and therefore that the perfecution of the priests by the infidel power of France cannot be deemed any fulfilment of this prophecy. But furely the picty and exemplary conduct of many profeffors of the Romish religion, may certainly entitle them, in the opinion of all Chriftians, to the name of faints, or holy men. We should ever diftinguifh the perfonal excellence of the profeffors, from the corrupt and antichriftian doctrines of the Church of Rome: just as we muft diftinguifh the profligacy of many of its members, from the purity of the doctrines of the Church of England; and no one will deny that the French Revolution has separated the Wheat from the Chaff in a very remarkable manner. The perfecution of all religious principles is, however, a fufficient mark of the antichriftian power in the Image fet up in France. Fourth edition.

and

and maffacres and inquifitions; perfecuting and destroying the faithful fervants of Jefus, and the true worshippers of God, who protest against his innovations, and refuse to comply with the idolatry practised in the Church of Rome" And he shall think to change times and laws-"appointing fasts and feasts, canonizing faints, granting pardons for fins, instituting new modes of worship, impofing new articles of faith, enjoining new rules of practice, and reverfing at pleasure the laws beth of God and man."

And now let the unbiaffed Reader judge, whether this description of the little horn of the fourth beast be not more ftrikingly applicable to the Infidel power, which we have seen arife in France, than even to the Papacy of Rome*. -If St. Paul's defcription of "the Man of Sin" be found equally applicable (and that it is, has been fatisfactorily fhewn by Mr. Jones)-if the second beaft in the Revelation, which has hitherto baffled enquiry, appears from examination to be the exact, and

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 flruck with the truth of the application.

as

as it were the appropriate type of this fame recently-arifen Power-a Power which the antient Prophets and the Apostles of our Lord: repeatedly declare was to arife" in the LAT TER TIME of the time appointed for indignation "—in the latter times, in the last days. we cannot furely require more evidence of the juftnefs of the application. We shall be no longer "shaken in mind" at the progress of fuch amazing wickednefs, when we fee: that it is fulfilling the "fure word of Prophecy," and understand what is to be the end thereof."

The General Opinion concerning the SECOND BEAST in the Revelations, confidered to be

erroneous.

It must be confeffed, that the numerous interpretations concerning the fecond beast mentioned in the Revelations of St. John, are neither compatible with each other, nor fatis

z Even if we date the beginning of these days of vengeance from the deftruction of Jerufalem, the Papal and Mahometan powers, which arofe together about the year 600, or 750, cannot be confidered as completely fulfilling this Prophetic intimation.

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