these and all other characters and circumftances, some whereof can never agree with Heathen Rome, and all agree perfectly with Christian Rome, it may and must be concluded, that not Heathen but Chriftian, not imperial but papal Rome was intended in these vifions.

III. Befides the place and the perfons, the time alfo is fignified of this tyrannical power, when it should prevail, and how long it should prevail. Daniel mentions these things as being at a very great diftance, and indeed they were at a very great diftance in his time. It is faid (VIII. 26. X. 14.) the vifion is yet for many days; that it comprehends (VIII. 19.) what shall be in the last end of the indignation; that it extends (XI. 35, 40., XII. 4, 9.) even to the time of the end; that when God (XII. 7.) fhall have accomplished to Scatter the power of the holy people, all: thefe things fhall be finished: all which and other paffages to the fame purpose confidered, it appears as unaccountable as ftrange, that ever any men fhould imagin, as fome both ancients and modern have imagined, that Daniel's prophecies reached not beyond the times of Antiochus Epiphanes. Daniel hath defcribed four great empires, not contemporary, but fucceffive one to another. The fourth and laft is reprefented as the greateft of all, both in ex

tent

1

tent and in duration. It devoureth the whole earth, and treadeth it down, and breaketh it in pieces. After which it is divided into ten kingdoms, and the little born groweth not up till after this divifion. So that this tyrannical power was to arife in the latter days of the Roman empire, after it fhould be divided into ten kingdoms. From St. Paul too we may collect, that the great power of the Roman empire hindered the appearing of the man of fin; but when that power should be diminished and taken out of the way, then fhould the man of fin be revealed in his time. St. John alfo refers these events to the fame æra. Not only the general order and the whole feries of his prophecies point to this time, but there are befides particular intimations of it. He defcribes the beast as fucceffor to the great red dragon, in his power, and his feat, and great authority: but if the great red dragon be, as he is generally understood to be, the perfecuting power of Heathen Rome, then the perfecuting power of Heathen Rome must be removed, before the beaft can take this place. The beast hath also ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns; so that ten complete kingdoms muft arife out of the Roman empire before the appearance of the beaft. Of his feven heads it is faid, Five are

fallen,

fallen, that is in St. John's time five forms of government were paft, one is and the other is not yet come, and the fixth which was then present being the imperial, it neceffarily follows that the feventh or laft muft be fome form of government which must arise after the imperial; and as St. John faw the one, we fee the other.

It appears then that this Antichriftian power

was to arife in the latter times of the Roman empire, after an end should be put to the imperial power, and after the empire should be divided into ten kingdoms: and it is not only foretold when it fhould prevail, but moreover bow long it should prevail. Here we cannot but observe, that the very fame period of time is prefixed for its continuance both by Daniel and by St. John. Wonderful is the consent and har mony between these inspired writers, as in other circumftances of the prophecy, fo particularly in this. In Daniel (VII. 25.) the little horn was to wear out the faints of the most High, and think to change times and laws; and it is faid exprefly, that they should be given into his hand, until a time, and times, and the dividing of time; or as the fame thing is expreffed in another place, (XII. 7.) for a time, times, and a half. In the Revelation it is faid of the beast, (XIII. 5.)

to

to whom in like manner it was given to make war with the faints, and to overcome them, that power also was given unto him to continue forty and two months: And the holy city (XI. 2.) the Gentiles fhould tread under foot forty and two months: And the two witnesses (ver. 3.)

ould prophefy a thousand two hundred and threefcore days clothed in fackcloth: And the woman the true church of Chrift, who fled into the wilderness from perfecution, (XII. 6,144) fhould be fed and nourished there a thousand two hundred and threefcore days, or as it is otherwife expreffed in the fame chapter, for a time, and times, and half a time. Now all these numbers you will find upon computation to be the fame, and each of them to fignify 1260 years. For a time is a year, and a time and times and the dividing of time or half a time are three years and a half, and three years and a half are 42 months, and 42 months are 1260 days, and 1260 days in the prophetic ftile are 1260 years. From all thefe dates and characters it may fairly be concluded, that the time of the churches great affliction and of the reign of Antichrift will be a period of 1260 years.

To fix the time exactly when these 1260 years begin, and confequently when they will end, is a matter of fome nicenefs and difficulty;

and

and perhaps we must see their conclufion, before we can precisely afcertain their beginning. However it appears to be a very great mistake of fome very learned men in dating the commencement of this period too early. This is the capital error of Mr. Mede's scheme; what hath led him, and others who have followed his example, into fubfequent errors; and what the event hath plainly refuted. For if the reign of 'Antichrift had begun, as he reckons, about the year 456, its end would have fallen out about the year 1716. The truth is, these 1260 years are not to be reckoned from the beginning of thefe corruptions, from the rife of this tyranny, for the mystery of iniquity began to work even in the days of the apoftles; but from their full growth and establishment in the world. Of the little born, who was to wear out the faints of the moft High, and to change times and laws, it is faid that they should be given into his band, which can imply no lefs than the most abfolute power and authority over them, until a "time, and times, and the dividing of time. In like manner the holy city, the true church of Chrift, was to be trodden under foot, which is the lowest state of subjection; the two witnesses were not only to prophefy, but to prophefy in fackcloth, that is in mourning and affliction'; the woman,

a

མནཾ

the