introduction to such a long, long succession of miseries as was occasioned to the human race by Popery, one is reminded of Milton's exclamation on another similar occasion :

"I cried out, Death!

Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sighed

From all her caves, and back resounded Death !”

(PERIOD VII.)

First Aspect-Second Prophecy.

CONTENTS.

This Prophecy relates to the Jews-Its bearing on other prophecies-Its introduction-Professed object of this great vision-Persian kings-Xerxes-Alexander the Great-Egyptian and Syrian kings-Antiochus Epiphanes-The Romans-Popish persecutions-The Reformation-The Jews the Lord's witnesses-The rise of the Infidel power-Its description in Rev. xvii.-The seven heads of the Roman empire-The seventh or Infidel head-Its fall-The expected eighth head—Its being "of the seven" explained-The seventh head, or first Infidel head, applied to Napoleon-The principles of Infidelity-Character of Napoleon-The eighth head of short duration-The present pause-The seventh trumpet-The battle of Armageddon-The deliverance of the Jews-Partial resurrection-Unveiling of Prophecy-Signs of the times-Time of the end-Future persecution-1290 years-1335 years-Series of events to which they relate-The seven thunders-A place of safety provided for the Church-Second coming of Christ-Preservation of the Jews.

THE PROPHECY.

"AND at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever, that it shall be for A TIME, TIMES, AND AN HALF; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be A THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY DAYS. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to THE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND FIVE AND THIRTY But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days."-DAN. xii.

DAYS.

FIRST ASPECT-SECOND PROPHECY.

THIS chapter forms the concluding part of the last vision with which Daniel was favoured, and which, in consequence of its great importance, is called the "Great Vision." Its object is expressed in the following words (ch. x. 14), "I am come to make thee understand what shall befal thy people in the latter days;" and it is given-unlike the two former visions, which were communicated through the medium of symbols or hieroglyphics-in the plain unlettered language of history.

The chronology of this vision identifies the twelve hundred and sixty years' existence of Popery "with the latter half of the period of Israel's captivity; thus bringing the scene of Jewish suffering more immediately into the West, and connecting the fate of the Jewish with that of the Christian church:" and this for the more especial purpose of describing that new and Infidel power, which in its actings is to be alike instrumental in delivering and restoring both churches, and which is to arise.

in the West. And here I would observe, how remarkably the four streams of prophetic history in the book of Daniel unite in one consummation, in common with those of the book of Revelation. The vision of the great image of Nebuchadnezzar gives the history of Gentile governments till they are all to be destroyed at the "time of the end;" that of the four beasts of Daniel, the history of Popery to the same period of time; that of the ram and he-goat, the history of Mohammedanism till "the time of the end;" and the history we are about to consider, called the Scripture of Truth, shews the history of the Infidel power, which in its last form shall arise and come to its destruction at the same momentous period, "the time of the end." At the same eventful era the silence of the seventh seal will be broken, the seventh trumpet shall be blown, and the seventh vial will be poured out! In other words, the kingdoms and apostasies of the world will then be all overthrown, and a series of events will commence-perhaps by the personal advent of Christ himself-which shall usher in that season of blessedness when He will take unto himself his great power and reign!

This great vision commences in the tenth chapter; which chapter forms an introduction to the historical events that are related in the eleventh and twelfth; and contains an account