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this famous future prince. It is the opinion of many of the ancients, that Antichrist will be a Jew, born of the tribe of Dan. They allege as a probable proof of it; first, the prophecy of Jacob about his son Dan. Thus spoke that patriarch: Dan shall judge his people like another tribe in Israel. Let Dan be a snake in the way, a serpent in the path, that biteth the horse's heels, that his rider may fall backward." Gen. xlix. 16, 17. Upon which St. Augustine says: When Jacob gave his last blessing to his sons, he spoke in such manner of Dan, as to give reason to think that Antichrist will be born of that tribe." Qu. 22. in Josue. But this prediction seems to have been accomplished in that extraordinary man, Sampson, who was born of the tribe of Dan, became judge of Israel, and was truly a snake in the way to the Philistines; for he met them every where, and sorely tormented them. And in this sense St. Jerome explains it. In Quæst. Hebr.

The second argument adduced in favour of the same opinion, is drawn from the seventh chapter of the Apocalypse, where, in the enumeration of the Jews who in each tribe were to be signed with the sign of the living God, the tribe of Dan is omitted, as if it was excluded from that favour on account of its giving birth to that most wicked of all men, Antichrist. But this argument does not seem to be sufficiently grounded. For, in the first place, St. John, before he begins that enumeration, says, "that there were a hundred and forty-four thousand, or, twelve times twelve thousand, signed out of all the tribes of Israel," vii. 4. He therefore meant to enumerate all the twelve tribes. Secondly, in that enumeration we may observe there is mention made of the tribe of Joseph, and of Manasse, but no mention of that of Ephraim; we must also observe that the tribe of Joseph comprehended both the tribes of Ephraim and Manasse, who were Joseph's two sons. Therefore either the tribe of Joseph would have been solely mentioned, without that of Manasse; or else the two separate tribes of Ephraim and Manasse would have been mentioned, without that of Joseph. It appears then that, as the text stands, the mention of the tribe of Manasse is superfluous, being included in that of Joseph. Indeed, a mistake seems to have crept into the text through inadvertency of the copier, who, instead of AAN in the Greek original, wrote MAN in his copy, as the Greek letters A and M are not so very different and in subsequent copies MAN might be lengthened out into MANASSE, for which it was supposed to stand. Therefore it would seem, that Dan stood in the

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original text instead of Man or Manasse. Besides, upon the supposition even that Antichrist was to spring from the tribe of Dan, we do not see why the whole tribe should be accursed for that. We may then conclude, with respect to this article, that, as there appears nothing in holy writ to determine the origin of Antichrist, we may suppose he will be born of Mahometan parents, such being at present the prince and people of Crim Tartary.

But to resume the prophecy of Daniel. "I considered the horns," says he, "and behold, another little horn sprung out of the midst of them and three of the first horns were plucked up at the presence thereof," vii. 8. The last part, which alone remains to be considered, and three of the first horns were plucked up at the presence thereof, is thus explained to him by the angel: " and he shall bring down three kings," v. 24; that is, the Antichristian king, represented by the little horn, will subdue three kings or three kingdoms, which must be provinces of the ancient Roman empire; because, as we observed, that empire is represented by the beast, and its provinces are signified by the beast's horns. And thus by his reducing three kingdoms under his power, three horns of the beast will be plucked up by him. This Antichristian prince, at his accession to the imperial crown of Constantinople, will find the Turkish empire in actual possession of seven of the ten provinces that made up the whole ancient Roman state. These acquisitions, and that of most of the northern countries of Europe, will have been the work of his predecessors, as we have already remarked, and he will enter upon a dominion of vast extent. But there will still remain three provinces or kingdoms, unsubdued, within the compass of the old Roman empire. These are reserved for his own conquest.

It may now be asked, which may be supposed to be the three kingdoms here spoken of? To answer the question; it appears pretty clear, that the present German empire must be one of the three, as it was formerly a Roman province, and is still the representative of the Roman empire; and consequently, according to the above cited prophecy of St. Paul, it must be taken out of the way. The other two kingdoms we apprehend may be France and Spain: because they constituted formerly two provinces of the Roman state, and seem to be almost the only considerable powers remaining, which will not have been before swallowed up in the Turkish dominion. This however cannot be certainly ascertained; as

perchance Italy may be one of these two kingdoms, unless on account of its being divided into a number of petty states, it may not be reputed to form a kingdom. Thus then by the reduction of the three kingdoms, he who held will be taken out of the way, conformably to the prophecy of St. Paul; that is, the Roman empire will be wholly put down, and incorporated in the dominion of the Antichristian emperor. But it must be observed, all these things happen while he is a successful conquering prince, before he declares himself Antichrist; as follows from the apostle's words, already cited: Only that he who now holdeth, do hold until he be taken out of the way; and then that wicked one (Antichrist) shall be revealed."

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According to the above account, deduced from the predictions of Daniel and St. Paul, the Antichristian prince becomes master of all those spacious countries that constituted the ancient Roman empire: and of course he may be truly styled Roman emperor. And that such he will one day be, may be further confirmed from the Apocalypse. We have seen, page 98, in the explication of the 17th chapter of the Apocalypse, that the seven heads of the beast which represents the Roman empire, denote seven Roman emperors, of whom Antichrist himself is the seventh or last. The same will likewise appear hereafter in the exposition of chapter the 13th, which evidently relates to Antichrist. Such also we find to have been the general sentiment of the ancients. Thus speaks St. John Chrysostom: "As those empires, which preceded the Roman, were destroyed; that of the Babylonians by that of the Persians, that of the Persians by that of the Macedonians, that of the Macedonians by that of the Romans; so will likewise the empire of the Romans be destroyed by Antichrist." 2 Thess. Hom. 4. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says: "The devil will raise up a famous man, Antichrist, who will seize upon the dominions of the Roman empire." Catech. 15. St. Irenæus, St. Jerome, and others, might be quoted for the same purpose.

Constantinople, which has been the seat of the Turkish monarchs, ever since it fell under their dominion, will continue to remain so under this Turkish Antichristian, and Roman emperor. That city, though very large at present, upon the vast accession of empire will probably increase to a great degree, in magnitude, grandeur and riches. As the ancient Romans could never sit down to enjoy their acquisitions in the sweets of peace, but were constantly stimulated by insatiate lust of power to add to their dominion; in like manner

this new Roman emperor, as if with the acquisition of their territory he inherited their restless ambition, will pursue his destructive view of aggrandizing his power and empire. The reduction of one country after another will whet his appetite for conquest, and each conquest will facilitate the way to further success. Having added Europe to his other dominions, he will have at command the naval power of all the great maritime states. His numerous fleets may therefore fly from one continent to another, from one island to another, and strike terror wherever they come. What wonder, then, if he enlarges his empire with fresh conquests in Africa, America, in the East and West Indies?

In these times iniquity will abound. Universal will have been the propagation of infidelity, irreligion, and immorality, as we have before observed from the words of our Saviour and St. Paul. Defection from faith, disregard for its teachers, licentiousness in opinions, depravity in morals, will so far at last deaden the influence of religion, and cause such degeneracy in mankind, that many will be so base as even to espouse idolatry. This assertion may seem incredible to some at this day, and may be esteemed an absurdity; but we shall see idolatry expressly mentioned in the Apocalypse, as existing in the time of Antichrist. And indeed, I apprehend our surprise will much abate, if we take into consideration the temper and disposition of the present times. When men divest themselves, as they seem to do at present, of all fear of the Supreme Being, of all respect for their Creator and Lord; when they immerse themselves in the gratification of sensuality; when they give full loose to the human passions, and direct their whole study to the pursuits of a corrupt world, with a total forgetfulness of a future state, may we not say that the transition is easy to idolatry? When all the steps are taken that lead to a mark, what wonder if we arrive at it? Such was the gradual degeneracy of mankind in the early ages of the world, that brought on the abominable practices of idol worship. I am aware it will be said, we have the happiness to live in the most enlightened of all ages, our knowledge is more perfect, our ideas are more improved and refined, the human faculties are now better cultivated than ever before, and, in fine, the present race of mankind may be reckoned a society of philosophers, when compared to preceding generations: how then can such a stupidity seize the human mind, as to sink it into idolatry? But I apprehend, this kind of reasoning is more specious than solid. For, allowing the

present times to surpass the former in refinement and knowledge, it must be said they are proportionably more vicious. Refinement of reason has contributed, as every one knows, to refine upon the means of gratifying the human passions. Besides, how much soever enlightened the mind may be supposed to be, if the heart is corrupted, what excesses the man will run into, daily experience teaches. If the philosopher is not governed by the power of religion, his conduct will be absurd, and even despicable to the most ignorant individual of the lowest rank. A Socrates, a Cicero, a Seneca, are said to have been acquainted with the knowledge of one supreme God; but they had not courage to profess his worship, and in their public conduct basely sacrificed to stocks and stones with the vulgar. When men have banished from their heart the sense of religion, and despise the ties of justice, (and is not this the case of numbers?) will many of them scruple to incense a statue, if doing so will serve their ambition, their interest, or whatever may be their favourite passion? Where is then the surprise, that infidelity and irreligion be succeeded by idolatry? That pride alone, when inflamed with a constant flow of prosperity, may raise a man to the extravagant presumption of claiming to himself divine honours, we have the example of Alexander, the celebrated Macedonian conqueror, and of several emperors of Babylon and ancient Rome. From suggestions of that same principle of pride, may it not happen, that the Turks in future time, elated by a long series of success, by a continued course of victories and conquest, may it not happen, I say, that they will ascribe all this good. fortune to the imaginary protection of their great Mahomet, and thence set him up for a God? By the vanity of men," says the Book of Wisdom,“ idols came into the world," xiv. 14. If it should so happen, in the vast bulk of people then under the yoke of that empire, how many individuals may yield to the same absurd impiety, some out of fear for what they may lose, others out of a view to gain what they covet ?

The unparalleled success, which will attend the arms of this domineering prince, the Antichristian hero, the greatness of his power, and the extent of his dominion, superior to every thing that has been seen before, will strike with amazement the whole world, and in particular the Jews, who have been ever expecting such a glorious conqueror. They will be dazzled by the appearances of such extraordinary prosperity, and will view this great monarch with minds suspended in doubt, whether he be not the Messiah they have so long waited