ply, for men. Perhaps, there is here a figure of grammar, called hypallage casus, so that names of men are put for men of name, i. e. of raised and considerable quality, be it on the account of riches, or of dignity, or of learning. But I am more inclined to say, that here, these words-names of men, must be taken in their natural signification, and do intimate, that the total reformation of France shall not be made with bloodshed; nothing shall be destroyed but names; such as are the names of monks, of Carmelites, of Augustines, of Dominicans, of Jacobins, of Franciscans, Capuchins, Jesuits, Minimes, and an infinite company of others, whose number it is not easy to define, and which the Holy Ghost denotes by the number seven; which is the number of perfection, to signify that the orders of monks and nuns shall perish for ever. This is an institution so degenerated from its first original, that it is become the arm of Antichrist. These orders cannot perish one without another.

.

These great events deserve to be distinguished from all others; for they have changed, or shall change, the whole face of the world.

Extracted from Bishop Newton's Dissertations on the Prophecies. 1760.

Ar this epoch of the world, when a sort of internal evidence of the truths of prophecy, now accomplishing, fills the mind with images striking to the fancy, it may not be improper to indulge the ideas excited by the review of sacred writings. And here let me pause with admiration at the volumes before me, the production of Dr. Newton, who observes, "Notwithstanding the general current in her favour (meaning the church of Rome), the tide shall turn against her; and the hands which helped to raise her shall also pull her down. The ten horns shall hate her, that is, by a common figure of the whole for a part, some of the ten kings, for others shall bewail and lament for her, and shall fight and perish in the cause of the beast. Some of the kings who formerly loved her, grown sensible of her exorbitant exactions and oppressions, shall hate her, shall strip, and expose, and plunder her, and utterly consume her with fire. Rome therefore will finally be destroyed by some of the princes who are reformed, or shall be reformed from Popery; and as the kings of France have contributed greatly to her advancement, it is not impossible, nor improbable, that some time or other they may also be the principal authors of her destruc

tion. France hath already shown some tendency towards a reformation, and therefore may appear more likely to effect such a revolution. Such a revolution may reasonably 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 shall be given into his hand, until a time and times, and the dividing of time." But then, as it immediately follows, "the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume, and to destroy it unto the end.". "The fall of Rome, " in the latter days," is delineated as of another Babylon, and it is declared, that she shall be destroyed by fire, and her destruction shall be a complete and total destruction, such as hath never yet been the fate of Rome : after the subversion of the capital city, the beast and the false prophet, the powers civil and ecclesiastical, with those who still adhere to their party, shall make one effort more, but it shall prove as weak and vain as it is impious.*

"A tradition hath prevailed among the Jews, that the destruction of Rome, and the redemption of Israel, shall fall out about the same time.

"When these great events shall come to pass, of which we collect from the prophecies this

to be the proper order, the protestant witnesses shall be greatly exalted, and the 1260 years of their prophesying in sackcloth, and the tyranny of the beasts, shall end together, the conversion and restoration of the Jews succeed, then follows the ruin of the Ottoman empire, and then the total destruction of Rome and Antichrist.*

“There are instances of prophecies delivered about 3000 years ago, and yet as we see fulfilling in the world at this very time; and what stronger proofs can we desire of the divine legation of Moses? How these instances may affect others, I know not; but for myself, I must acknowledge, they not only convince but amaze and astonish me beyond expression. They are truly, as Moses foretold they would be, a sign and a wonder for

ever. +

"This is only one argument out of many, that there must be a divine revelation, if there is any truth in prophecy; and there must be truth in prophecy, as we have shown in several instances, and might show in several more, if there is any dependence upon the testimony of others, or upon our own senses, upon what we read in books, or what we see in the world.

"Alas! if you reject the evidence of prophecy,. neither would you be persuaded, though one should rise from the dead. What can be plainer?

*Vol. iii. p. 406.

+ Vol. i. p. 199.

You see, or may see, with your own eyes, the Scripture prophecies accomplished: and if the Scripture prophecies are accomplished, the Scripture must be the word of God; and if the Scripture is the word of God, the Christian religion must be true." *

Dr. Newton continues-" You have heard of the two greatest men whom this country or perhaps the world ever produced, the Lord Bacon, and Sir Isaac Newton; the one wishing for a history of the several prophecies of Scripture compared with the events, the other writing observations upon the prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John; and the testimony of two such (not to mention others) is enough to weigh down the authority of all the infidels who ever lived. There is nothing inconsistent in science and religion, but a great philosopher may be a good Christian. True philosophy is indeed the handmaid to true religion; and the knowledge of the works of nature will lead one to the knowledge of the God of nature. The invisible things of him being clearly seen by the things which are made; even his eternal power and godhead."

* Vol. iii. p. 442.