prostrating three before it, hav- | nity of this publication to recite ing the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great words against the most High with a look more stout than his fellows? Does it not with admirable accuracy describe the rise, establishment, subtilty, arrogance, blasphemy and persecution of Antichrist? And yet it hath been said, with an affrontery almost provoking, “that a blunder will serve for a type.” If we pass from types to prophecy, how correct, how precise the predictions concerning the emulations, strategems and conflicts of the kings of Syria and Egypt, particularising even the dissimulation and hypocrisy they practised at the table? Can it justly be said, that these are so equivocal as to fit almost any circumstance which might happen afterward ? Do not the seventy weeks with great perspicuity and exactness define the continuation and conclusion of the Jewish economy, and the advent of the Messiah, with the destruction of Jerusalem, the calamities, captivity and dispersion of the Jews? Must it not then be very falsely asserted, that the prophecies are a bow of a thousand years, which comes only within a thousand miles of a mark ?" 4. These visions or types are applicable to no other subjects than those ascribed to them in this prophecy. However, with a kind of pleasurable ease, the aptitude of these types to signify their peculiar subjects may be displayed, yet it exceeds the ef forts of the most consummate genius to make them represent any other subjects or kingdoms with aptness and propriety.Although it is beneath the dig the vulgar language of the author who has asserted, "that a blunder will scrie for a prophecy," yet the learned world will be infinitely obliged to him if he will produce other kingdoms and events which have existed in the world, to which these visions will apply with as great aptness and beauty, as to the empires of Babylon and Persi, Greece and Rome. Or if he will invert the order of the subjects or events, and make it manifest, that the types as fitly represent them, as they do in the order in which they are placed. If, for instance he will take the golden head of the image and apply it to the Romans, and shew that it represents their empire, from its rise to its final dissolution, its primary strength, its division into ten kingdoms and the coalition of the native Romans with the northern nations, with as great aptness, as it is represented by the legs of iron, and the feet and toes, part of iron and part of miry clay; or if he will make the legs, feet and toes represent the unity, opulence and splendor of the Babylonian empire, as fitly as they are represented by the head of gold; or if he will make the breast and arms of silver, represent the kingdom of the Greeks, as aptly as it is represented by the belly and thighs of brass; or if he will take the brazen belly and thighs and make them represent the kingdom of Media and Persia, as fitly as it is represented by the breast and arms of silver; or if he will make the nameless monstrous beast with great iron teeth in his mouth and ten horns on his head, describe the strength and grandeur of the Babylonish Explanation of the Prophecies of Daniel. empire as aptly as it is represented by the lion; or if he will make the ram with two horns represent the Macedonian empire, first with Alexander at its head, and then devided between his four captains, as fitly as it is represented by the he goat with a notable horn between his eyes and four horns on his head; or if he will make the he goat represent the empire of Media and Persia as fitly as it is represented by the ram with two horns; or even if he will make the coming of the he goat to the ram and smiting him and breaking his two horns, as aptly re [AUGUST, Jewish economy, the destruction of Jerusalem and the calamities of the Jews by the Romans;-If1 I say, that author or any other person will demonstrate that these visions will apply to other subjects and have been as precisely fulfilled in other events as they have in those to which they confine themselves, he will render a most important and essential service to mankind. It may now be observed, III. That these visions have received a minute and complete accomplishment in their peculiar events. This observation, it is hoped, hath been so antici present the conquest of Baby-pated in the preceding explana tion, that it can receive no improvement by further illustration. Have not the four great monarchies, long since risen, displayed their power and greatness on the theatre of human action, and retired from the stage? Have not the seventy weeks long since expired, and their peculiar events been ac lon by Cyrus, as it represented Hath not Anti christ, long since, reared up himself, spoken great words against the most High, thought to change times and laws, and worn out the saints with pains and tortures? And is it not most manifest from the signs of the times, that the judgment is sitting, and they are taking away his kingdom from him to collsume and destroy it even to the end? Is it not most evident also, that the stone cut out with ty weeks has been accomplish-out hands is smiting the image, ed as minutely in other events, as it was fulfilled in the restoration of the Jewish state by Ezra and Nehemiah, in the incarnation of the Messiah, and the accomplisment of the work of redemption, the dissolution of the and filling the whole earth? That the exalted Messiah is rearing up his glorious kingdom which shall not be given to another people, but shall stand forever? Is it not most evident, that all the visions and prophecies re lating to preceding times and cy. It being conceded that Daniel wrote these prophecies, he must necessarily have written them either, events have received a minute and full accomplishment? Yea, is it not as demonstrable from the most authentic histories, that the subjects in their kind, and the events in that order in which this prophetic system hath drawn them, have been effected and realized, as it is that Julius Cæsar was assassinated by Cassius and Brutus, or that the Roman empire was peaceful and happy in the reign of Augustus ?* 1. From the native force and penetration of his own mind; but this could not suggest to him his own personal situation the next day, or the next hour; much less could it suggest to him, with precision, the rise, greatness, fall and succession of empires which depended upon the genius, volitions, connexions, habits, motives and enterprises of innumerable indi The genuineness of the book of Daniel and the accomplish-viduals in distant countries, and ment of his visions being admitted, we may infallibly infer, the divine inspiration of his prophe When Jerome, in his controversy with Porphyry, in support of Christianity produced the argument from prophecy, and especially from the prophecies of Daniel, his learned antagonist found himself reduced to the hard necessity, to evade the argument, of denying that the book of Daniel was a prophecy; and of affirming, that it was an history written by some spurious author after the facts existed; asserting that it was absolutely impossible that such a series of events should be so accurately described in the way of prediction. A late opposer of Christianity has asserted, that the prophecies are a bow of a thousand years, which comes only within a thousand miles of a mark. So we see the great ancient and the modern opposers of Christianity asserting opposite propositions respecting the prophecies. One, that they defcribe events 80 ex actly that they cannot be predictions of future events, but must be histories of past transactions. The other, that they are so obscure and equivocal as to fit almost any circumstance that may happen afterward. Will it amuse or edify the believers of divine revelation to see these virulent opposers of Christianity settle this contradiction between themselves? VOL. V. No. 2. different regions, and for a long succession of ages or he must have written them, 2. From philosophical and political calculation. If it be said, that Daniel from effeminacy of the Babylonish his knowledge of the luxury and court, and of the connexions which had been formed between the courts of Media and Persia quest of Babylon by their united might have predicted the conarms and valor; yet what political data did he possess, from which he could have calculated the war of the Persians with the Greeks, and that the Greeks who then existed in numerous independent states, being united under one common sovereign, should attempt the conquest of Persia and effect it? That the royal family should be extinguished, and the empire be divided into four kingdoms, and that implacable enmities should subsist between the kings of Syria and Egypt? Or what political principles did he possess, from which he could calculate that Rome, then in I 1 66 Explanation of the Prophecies of Daniel. [AUGUST, state of infancy and obscurity, his immediate influence, they and for extent of territory infe- possess an infallible certainty rior to many of the provinces of and precision, and demonstrate Babylon, should subdue, and as their divine authority by their with great iron teeth devour exact fulfilment. This revelathe whole, and then be subdued | tion, therefore, bears the strong herself by the barbarous nations and lively impression of original of the north? Or by what po- divinity. With equal perspiculitical skill could he predict the ity it evinces an absolute divine rise, power, tyranny and perse- prescience of future events, and cutions of Antichrist, who for the establishment of a universal ages afterwards did not exist and immutable system of opeeven in embryo? To predic- ration, according to which God ted these events and the or- invariably proceeds, working all der in which they should exist, things according to the counsel must it not absolutely have baf- of his own will. His own defled and confounded the most signs and operations being irreconsummate skill of the ablest versibly established in his own politician? But Daniel did pre- mind, for his own purpose and dict them, and the order in grace, for the instruction and which they should succeed; and support of his people, he rehis predictions have been real- vealed them to his holy servants, ized in their peculiar events. the Prophets, and they communicated them, not in words which man's wisdom taught, but which were dictated by the Holy Ghost. Originating from such an infallible cause and realized in their peculiar events, they demonstrate with an irresistible energy, that the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God, spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 3. If Daniel could not have predicted these events by an events by an effort of genius, or by political skill, by no power or principle within himself, he must have predicted them through the influence of some foreign cause oľ external agent;-but no external agent was adequate to this but he of whom are are all things and by whom are all things, and who hath determined the times before appointed, who is GOD. He only, whose infinitely capacious mind, at one all-comprehensive and intuitive view apprehends, the most distant future events, with equal clearness and precision as the pre.sent, could communicate this series of revolutions and events to his holy servant, the Prophet. Originating from this supreme and infinitely intelligent cause, from God, to whom are known all his works from the beginning of the world, and communicat d to his holy Prophet by The evidence for the divine authority of the holy scriptures, from prophecy, by the continued fulfilment of it, hath been increasing from age to age. It hath received additional lustre from those recent events in providence, by which God hath been visibly taking away the dominion of the little horn and giving the kingdom to the people of his saints. Much more hardened and inexcusable must they be who reject this revelation from God, under that blaze of light, with which the divine authority of it now addresses itself to the mind, than they who lived in past, in more obscure and bewildered ages. Let no one be faithless and unbelieving, lest he procure to himself that awful rebuke of heaven, Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish. And do not these considerations mightily tend to confirm the faith of believers, and make the children of Zion joyful in their king? What irresistible evidence have they from the accomplishment of scripture prophecies, of their real divinity? And are not the fulfilment of those, which relate to Babylon, Media and Persia, Greece, Rome and Antichrist, so many implicit assurances; that he will fulfil those made to the Messiah, respecting his glorious and eternal kingdom? How impressively does the exhortation of the Prophet address them? The vision is yet an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie; though it tarry wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. And is not the Lord, to the astonishment and joy of his friends, and the confusion of his foes, marvellously effecting an accomplishment of these promises in the present day? And should not the manifest operations of the most High stimulate his servants to fortitude, activity, zeal and perseverance in those holy exertions which he hath appointed to be the means of promoting his cause in the world? Commending them by faith and prayer to his gracious benediction, we wait and in a full assurance that in the set time he will appear in his glory and build up Zion, and make her a joy and praise in the earth? ORIGINAL LETTER of the Rev. RICHARD BAXTER, written nearly 150 years ago, taken from an English Magazine. SIR, THU Τ' To E. R. Esq. HE many obligations laid upon me by the kindness of your parents, and the last request of your mother on your behalf, command me to make known my thoughts to you concerning your present and everlusting state. I know the grace of God is free, and that many parents are in heaven, whose children are in hell; but yet, some respect the mercy of God hath to children for their parents' sake; which puts me in some hope of you; and, for myself, I cannot think of your mother, whose soul is now with God, without a strong affection to her offspring; which will not suffer me to see you perish in utter silence, and to forbear my admonition, how ungrateful soever it may prove to your corruption. I have long enquired after your welfare; and, from the voice of Fame, I heard a very sad report of you:-That you were quite given up to drinking, sporting, idle company and courses, in flat licentiousness, in your disobedience to your father, and to the grief of his heart; and that, as you were a child when you should have been a man, so now you grow worse than man or child; so that your father has purposed to marry, and disinherit you, that he might not leave his estate to such a I was loth to credit this report; but made further enquiry of some that I knew to be your friends, and all confirm |