Suppofing the feet to be the divided Empire, the ten toes must belong to both parts of it; we are not therefore confined to the western Empire for the ten kingdoms.

We muft, I think, conclude, that the defcription of this image contains the history of the Roman Empire in all its states; but nothing is faid to Nebuchadnezzar of an eleventh kingdom. Information concerning this kingdom, which was to be of a different kind, that is, partly of a spiritual nature—and the power of which was to be exerted within the Empire, and while it subsisted in its last form of ten kingdoms-was referved to be given to the Prophet.-The fate however of this fourth Empire is imparted to the monarch: as that of the three former Empires had been."A ftone cut out without hands, fmote the image upon his feet, that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces."

"Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the filver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the fummer threshing-floor, and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them; and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole

earth.

earth. In the days of thefe kings (that is,

of the four great kingdoms, for the three former had not been deftroyed; their Sovereignty was gone, but "their lives were prolonged for a season and a time "") fhall the God of heaven fet up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and confume all these kingdoms, and it fhall ftand for ever. Forafmuch as thou faweft the ftone that was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brafs, the clay, the filver and the gold "."

As the fourth or Roman Empire is defcribed in its feveral ftates, fo is the fifth kingdom, or the kingdom of the Meffiah, defcribed in its two ftates. Mr. Mede diftinguishes these by the name of regnum lapidis, the kingdom of the frone, and regnum montis, the kingdom of the mountain.

This kingdom was fet up by the God of heaven, "when Christ came into the world" -He was the ftone cut out of the mountain" without human means, while the Ro

* See Sir I. Newton.

a

Dan. ii. 55, &c.

man

man Empire was ftrong as iron; but it did not fmite the image till a later period, when it had "feet of iron mixed with clay;" and then the power of the feet was foon broken into ten parts, or toes, in which state it yet exifts. The Empire was divided before the vifible conqueft of Chrift over "the dragon," or the power of Pagan Rome, by the establishment of Christianity in the Empire.

The powers of darknefs were then fhaken," but (as we fhall find when we confider the little horn in the vifion of Daniel) they are fuffered to remain in a weakened ftate till "the ftone fhall become the mountain, and fill the whole earth," when " the kingdoms of the world fhall become the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ."

The kingdom of the mountain is then to be confidered as yet entirely future.

1

VOL. I.

Y

Second

Second Vifion.-The FOUR BEASTS, and the LITTLE HORN of Antichrift.

7

and

The four Empires which were exhibited to Nebuchadnezzar in the form of a great terrible image, were reprefented to Daniel in the fhape of great wild animals,-such emblems and hieroglyphics being usual among the eaftern nations. This vifion is much more particular in its defcriptions-mentions many circumstances relating to each kingdom, and points out an extraordinary power, not even named in the dream of the image, which was to arife during the last state of the fourth or laft kingdom-was to continue "until a time, and times, and the dividing of time," (that is, 1260 years according to the common interpretation) but not beyond the ́duration of these kingdoms of " iron mixed with miry clay;" because the kingdom of the mountain is to deftroy every adverse power, and is itself to reign over the whole earth: and we have feen that it was to ftrike the whole image down to the ground, when in this last period of its power, and to establish itfelf in its room.

Daniel vii. 2, &c.

The

The first beaft, or the Babylonian or Affyrian Empire, is reprefented "like a lion with eagle's wings," "the wings whereof were plucked" at the time of the delivery of this Prophecy in the reign of Belfhazzar, for the Medes and Perfians were then encroaching upon it.

The second beast, or the Medo-Perfian Empire, is like to a bear, and it raised itself up on one fide, and it had three ribs (or tusks) in the mouth of it, between the teeth of it; and they said unto it, Arise, devour much flesh."

It is well known that the Perfians foon "raised themselves up" above the Medes, and that they were remarkable for cruelty and oppreffion. The three ribs (or tusks) in the teeth of this voracious animal, are fuppofed to be the kingdoms of Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt, which greatly strengthened the Empire, but which were dreadfully oppreffed by

it.

The third beaft, or the Grecian Empire, is "like a leopard, which had upon the back of

See Bp. Chandler and Sir I. Newton.