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greatly to her advancement, it is not impoffible, nor improbable, that fome time or other they may alfo be the principal authors of her deftruction, France hath already shown fome tendency towards a reformation, and therefore may appear more likely to effect fuch a Revolution. Such a revolution may reafonably be expected, because this infatuation of Popish princes is permitted by divine Providence only for a certain period, until the words of God shall be fulfilled, and particularly the words of the Prophet Daniel-They fhall be given into his hand, until a time, and times, and the dividing of time: but then, as it immediately follows, the judgment fhall fit, and they fhall take away bis. dominion, to confume and to deftroy it unto the end "

The obfervations of Bishop Newton are more definite with refpect to the Power, which he expected would effect the fubverfion of the Papal greatnefs; but he expected alfo (and fome other Commentators have agreed with him) that a Reformation would previously take place in France-but for this opinion he affigns no reafon drawn from Scripture; whereas the opinion of Daubuz, that the inftrument God

Newton, vol. iii. p. 308.

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would make use of, could not be true worshippers, or Proteftants, being founded on the Prophecy itself, has been verified by the events.

This apoftafy of those who raised the power of Antichristian Rome, this degradation of her fovereign Pontiff, whom the nations and kings of the earth once worshipped, or held in idolatrous veneration, this appropriation of his spoils to the enrichment of his conquerors, are events which will probably lead the way to the complete fall and deftruction of the capital of this Antichriftian power, when the measure of its abominations shall be filled up. Lowman obferves', and it is an important obfervation," that the fifth vial or cup is poured out on the throne of the beaft; fo the word is in the original. In the Scripture language, throne, kingdom, government, authority, dominion and power, are of like fignification."-" The throne then of the beast, which our translation has rendered feat, seems plainly to mean his authority and power, rather than the city or feat of his refidence. For the Prophetic language puts a throne to fignify, not the feat of a kingdom, but its power and authority. And fo this very Prophecy ex

1 Lowman, p. 265,

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plains it: this angel poured his vial on the Seat of the beast, and his kingdom was full of darkness. Darkness is an emblem of affliction; a kingdom full of darknefs, will then naturally fignify a great diminution of power, and decay of authority: so that the distinguishing punishment of the beast in this period, that his kingdom fhall be full of darknefs, will moft properly mean fome great and fuccessful oppofition to the Papal power and authority, which fhall much weaken and leffen it, and give fuch uneafinefs to the fupporters of it, as shall drive them into a rage, and make them bite their tongues as it were, for anger and vexation.”

The final deftruction of Rome is likewife clearly fet forth, particularly by St. John in the Prophecies which have been quoted TM, together with the reafons on account of which this fignal and heavy judgment will be inflicted, and the emotions it is calculated to raise in the minds of mankind.

"The laft act which the fecular powers shall perform towards this whore, or capital city, is, that they fhall deftroy her with fire and fword; and by that means leave no refuge

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Introductory Chapter, vol. i. Clafs II.

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there to any of her lovers to hold up, and maintain by her power, the idolatry and tyran-nical dominion exercised by her. Most certainly these symbols imply the entire destruction of this capital city. Thus her fate will be like that of the literal Babylon, whose fituation is now almost unknown, because it has been utterly destroyed. The fall of this mystical Babylon must make way to the fall of idolatry; it seems morally impoffible that the one fhould be done without the other. And when we confider the constant method of the divine Providence, which has been to include the capital in the fate of the nation condemned, as Nineveh, Babylon, Jerufalem, Samaria, and fome others; why fhould we think it will be more favourable to Rome, the city which has been a greater and more conftant enemy to the true Religion, both in the Jewish and the Chriftian difpenfations, than any other; and has tyrannized with the most horrid aggravations beyond any thing before? This Chapter puts it out of doubt, that the utter deftruction. of Rome is defigned by the Almighty. Nevertheless as it will appear afterwards by the nineteenth Chapter, fome confiderable part of the favourers of idolatry and tyranny shall still fubfift after the fall of this Babylon, and keep the old pretenfions of the beaft, and false

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Prophet, till they are destroyed by a judgment there defcribed and foretold. But in the mean time they shall never be able to restore Babylon to its former ftate "."

"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 fhould be divided into ten kingdoms: and it is not only foretold when it should prevail, but moreover how long it should prevail. Here we cannot but obferve, that the very fame period of time is prefixed for its continuance both by Daniel and by St. John. Wonderful is the consent and harmony between these infpired writers, as in other circumstances of the Prophecy, fo particularly in this. In Daniel the little horn was to wear out the faints of the Moft High, and think to change times and laws; and it is faid exprefsly, that they should be given into his band, until a time, and times, and the dividing of time; or as the same thing is expreffed in another place, for a time, times, and a half. In the Revelation it is faid of the beaft, to whom in like manner it was given to make war with the faints, and to overcome them,

Daubuz, p. 798.

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