this mournful scene. A time, two times, and an half time are there the period during which the little horn was to make war on the saints and obtain the victory over them, and at the close of which things were to take a happy turn for the people of God. Through this prophecy, which refers to the last great conflict and victory of the kingdom of God, the three and a-half generally has been consecrated as the signature of the temporary subjection of the Lord's people running out into victory. It is said in ch. vii. 24-27, "And the ten horns. are ten kings that shall arise out of this kingdom, and another shall arise after them, and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak words against the Most High, and he shall disperse the saints of the Most High, and shall attempt to change time and law (he will effect a total revolution-comp. ii. 21, where the expression he changes times, is used of God); and they shall be given into his hand for a time, and two times, and an half time. Thereafter shall the judgment sit, and his power shall be taken away, that he may be consumed and destroyed unto the end. And the kingdom and the dominion over all kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; and his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." By this prophecy the three and a half years and the dominion of the saints of the Most High oyer the world are inseparably united together. What holds respecting the last end, must be found also in what is the beginning and exemplar of the end. At the clause: from the face of the serpent, we are to supply: in her flight, or, in her fear. Some with Vitringa connect improperly thus: that she might fly from the face of the serpent. By such a construction the words present an unpleasant drawling appearance. Bengel already remarked, "The woman has her nourishment from the face of the serpent, i.e., the serpent with his persecution cannot come at the woman.

1 In the resumption of Daniel's prophecy of the ten horns, the Seer of the Revelation passes by in silence the small horn, which throws down three of the great horus. But it is very improbable that he altogether left out the matter symbolized by it. Not being touched on in the history of the beast, we must seek for it in the new phase of the enmity of the world against the kingdom of God, which breaks in at the end of the thousand years. Then, there is the consideration, that the Apocalypse, if it does not contain less, so neither does it more than Daniel.

So in Judg. ix. 21, Jotham dwelt there from his brother Abimelech. It has been construed otherwise, that the woman fled from the serpent. But this did not need to be said, as it is evident from the fact, that the dragon persecuted the woman. But this, on the other hand, is remarkable, that she should have her nourishment so long in the face of the serpent."

Ver. 15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might drown her. Ver. 16. But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth, and swallowed up the flood, which the dragon cast out of his mouth. The water appears in ch. xvii. 15 as an image of the peoples. Under the figure of an overflowing the idea of an overwhelming was not rarely represented in the Old Testament; for example, in Ps. cxxiv. 4, 5, "Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul, then the proud waters had gone over our soul." Jer. xlvii. 2, where it is said in regard to the Chaldean invasion, "Behold waters come out of the mouth, and become an overflowing flood;" Ps. xviii. 16; Isa. viii. 8; Jer. xlvi. 7, 8. The more exact definition appears from ver. 16. By this we learn, that the discourse here is of the hostile overflowing of the church, the commencement of which gave rise to this book -the Roman persecution. With perfect propriety the Berleb. Bible compares 1 Pet. v. 8, the rather so, as there too the Roman persecution is referred to. The serpent is named, and not the dragon, in order to point to the cunning, which is the distinguishing characteristic of the serpent-Gen. iii. 1. The poor world has been deceived by it. It gives no heed to this, that it is driven on by Satan, and conceives that it acts an independent part in the persecution of the church, and advances its own interest, while it is only working for its own destruction. The earth helped the woman and swallowed up the flood, ver. 16, "which would have swallowed up the believing Israel; so that the matter turned into the reverse." (Berleb. Bible.) Another earthly and worldly power rose against those who persecuted the church, and brought their persecutions to an end, as formerly under the Old Testament the kingdom of the Medes and Persians brought to an end that of Babylon. The further explanation is given in ch. xvii. By that we learn, that Rome was to be destroyed by the

ten kings, which were themselves of the earth, and gave their power to the beast.

Ver. 17. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus (Christ.) The rest are those who survived the hostile overflowing in ver. 15, or were not affected by it. The key is furnished by ch. xvii. 13, where it is said of the ten kings or kingdoms, who overthrew Rome, "These have one mind and give their might and power to the beast," comp. ver. 17. Their battle against Christ is depicted in ch. xix. 11, ss. On the last words Bengel has some excellent remarks in his discourses," In respect to the keeping or maintaining of the commandments of God, it is a great question, whether such is possible to men or not? Those who have attained through the power of the gospel to faith in Jesus Christ, serve God in a new and willing spirit, and this is called keeping the commandments of God. We must not take it in the strictest sense, as if God saw no faults in his most devoted children, for which they needed his forgiveness. No one knows better than he who really exercises himself to obedience, how much it is a matter of indulgence in God to regard the conduct of his children on earth, which is so faulty, in the light of an obedience to his commands. It is in the spiritual life and growth, much as in the natural. When a child learns to walk or speak, there is at every step or utterance some indication of weakness and defect; but matters are always getting better, and blame is not imputed if there is a growth in alacrity and strength. Those who keep God's command, have also the testimony of Jesus. If our hearts are convinced of the truth of this, the mouth shall not fail to deliver a stedfast testimony respecting it, though it should be at the expense of life itself. These are the persons on whom Satan makes war, and hence it is a matter of strong suspicion, if one resile from keeping the commandments of God. Such as do so, the devil readily allows to live at peace."

END OF VOL. I.

ΤΟ

THE NEW TESTAMENT;

CONTAINING

An examination of the most Important Questions relating
to the Authority, Interpretation, and Integrity
of the Canonical Books, with reference
to the latest Inquiries.

BY SAMUEL DAVIDSON,

D.D. OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HALLE, AND LL.D.

VOL. I.-THE FOUR GOSPELS.
VOL. II.-ACTS TO II. THESSALONIANS.
[VOL. III.-I. TIM. TO REVELATION.]

THE Publishers of DR. DAVIDSON'S INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT wish, on the completion of the second volume, to direct the attention of Clergymen, Ministers, and Biblical Students in general, to this work, which is (they confidently believe) well worthy of their

2

DAVIDSON'S INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT.

notice, and which will be found to convey important information which had previously been inaccessible in the English language.

The author was favourably known to Biblical Scholars through his former works, especially" Sacred Hermeneutics"; and, in the opinion of competent judges, who have noticed this work both in private communications and in reviews, this "Introduction to the New Testament," now in course of publication, will not only be found worthy of Dr. Davidson's former works, but of even greater utility: this appears to be the opinion of many scholars.

It has been for many years the anxious desire of the Publishers to continue to bring before Biblical Scholars such works as shall combine true Christian principle with sound learning and general utility; to this end they have directed their attention, and have sought and obtained the co-operation of not a few in whose scholarship they could confide: they need not here speak of the results; for they may say (without claiming too much for themselves), that they have the satisfaction of knowing that their endeavours have been appreciated.

In the same desire, and with the same object, when the present work was proposed to them as Publishers, they were glad of the opportunity of thus far promoting Biblical Learning; they knew how the former works of Dr. Davidson had been appreciated, and this "Introduction" appeared to them well suited to supply a want felt by the Biblical Scholars of this country.

It is well known, that in Germany, of late years, extensive learning and intense diligence have been brought to bear upon almost every subject connected with the Scriptures; and while it is true, that not a little of this laboriousness has been spent rather in opposing than in furthering Truth and Revelation, it must be admitted, that almost every question connected with the New Testament writings has been presented in a new phase. Of course, the learned Biblical Scholars of Germany are not to be condemned in a mass; there are amongst them illustrious names men who have sought to unite accurate and extensive scholarship with the maintenance of the authority of Scripture, upon which

alone all true doctrine can be based.

It is, however, a fact, that Biblical Scholars in this country have either known but little of recent investigations, or else they have been too much exposed to the inconvenience of learning this department of biblical inquiry from, at least, doubtful sources. And besides, there is not a