To see the beauty and full perfection of this design in true perspective, we must therefore step aside a little, and look at it from a fresh station in the 7th chapter of Daniel; where we shall find this prophetical painter retouching his work, and introducing those additional lights and shades which were wanting to give the requisite character and expression to the piece. In this chapter the same four universal monarchies are described under the type of four beasts, of which (as in the exposition of the image,) the last represents the ROMAN EMPIRE, and has again, for the same reasons, engaged the greater share of the prophet's attention.

"After this I saw in the visions of the night, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stampt the residue with the feet of it. And it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it." The three former empires (as is observed by Bishop Newton) had all been such as some specific symbol drawn

from real nature, in some sort, was found whereunto to compare them. But the empire of ROME, which was here to be described in all its states as Pagan, then Christian, and at last Antichristian, was so extraordinary and monstrous a production, that nothing in the whole storehouse of nature could be found of sufficient variety to represent it by; and a production of the imagination is made up on purpose to be an adequate emblem of it. The empire of Rome was tremendous in war, and oppressive in peace. It made more prodigal waste of human blood by conquests in the time of the rising greatness of Rome, and by barbarous and bloody persecutions of both the Jews and Christians afterwards, than all the former empires had done. The Romans are always distinguished in the prophecies by epithets which denote great strength, ferocious cruelty, and the universal terror inspired by their very name, to which all history bears witness. In the former vision Daniel has represented their prodigious strength* by

Calmet derives the name of ROME from goun, strength. A HORN is a well known symbol of strength in the Psalms,

66 LEGS OF IRON," as here he shews the use they made of their power by the great “ iron teeth," and hoofs of brass with which the beast tore in pieces, and destroyed its prey.

"And it had TEN HORNS. And I considered the horns, and behold there came up among them another little born, before whom three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things in ver. 24th. these borns are ex

*

pounded, and signify ten kingdoms, that were in due time to arise out of the body of the empire in its decline; and are the same which St. John describes in a similar manner, and as being still future in his timet." The ten horns

(cxxxii. 17.-cxlviii. 14.) And in other prophetic parts of scripture. (See also 2 Kings xxii. 11, &c.)-The ten horns are afterwards expounded of ten kingdoms, answerable to the ten toes of the image.

* How well he hath earned a title to this character, by his insolence to man and blasphemy to God, is shewn Sect, ix. p. 246, &c.

+ Rev. xvii. 12.

which thou sawest,are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet-(for at that time the Roman empire was in its vigour). "But they are to receive power as kings, one hour with the beast*."-They were to set up for themselves upon the weakness and fall of the Roman empire. And here begins to be plainly discernible the admixture of the miry clay with the original iron, in the feet and ten toes of the image.

While thus the prophet stood contemplating the strange hieroglyphic before him, he beheld another, an eleventh and smaller horn springing up amongst the ten, but of no ordinary activity and vigour; for he quickly made room for himself, by causing three of the first borns to be plucked up before him by the roots, t

* See Sect. xix. p. 23. and Sect, xxvi. p. 138.

This is as remarkable a circumstance as any in his character. He still wears the three crowns upon his pontifical diadem, and has ever since held tenacious possession of the three states seized upon by the popes, by the help of Pipin and Charles the Great, in the eighth century. His being stripped of these territories in the sight of all Europe (Rev. xiv. 10.) a few months ago, is a strong confirmation of the opinions I have hazarded

and usurping their place himself.

And

he had moreover an aspect very different from any of the other horns, (ver. 20) "His look was more stout than his fellows." In chap. viii. 23, he is described again by his imperious and ferocious aspect, "A king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences-Here he has attributed to him eyes, like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things *.

upon this subject in the foregoing sections. But it does not follow from thence that his allotted term is fully expired as yet. As there was a long time for his rise, so some space (though not so long) may be allowed for his fall. I conceive it commenced at the Reformation. He must appear and act his part some time (it seems) as the false prophet.

* The eyes and the mouth attributed to him are marks of characteristic description peculiar to this politico ecclesiastical king, there being no other potentate through the whole scripture designated in this manner.-They must therefore be understood to denote some of those particularities in which this chief himself, and his ecclesiastical kingdom, or the scarlet beast on which he rides (Rev. xvii.)—are divers from all other kingdoms, and other rulers. It gives an idea of a bishop; Exiexon, inspector ecclesiæ. One placed in an eminent station, to overlook and correct the doctrine and discipline, and manners of the church under his charge, which some of the early bishops of Rome did in a holy and pious discharge of the episcopal duties.