d Vandals and Alans in Spain and Africa. II, The Swevians in Spain. III, The Visigoths. IV, The Allans in Gaul. V, The Burgundians. VI, The Franks. VII, The Britains. VIII, The Hunns. IX, The Lombards. X, The kingdom of Ravenna." Bp. Newton's catalogue is thus: "I, The Senate of Rome II, The Greeks in Ravenna. III, The Lombards, IV, The Huns. V, The Alemanes. V1, The Franks. VII, The Burgundians. VIII, The Goths. IX, The Britons. X, The Saxons." But Mr. Faber rejects these catalogues and adheres to the one given by Machiavel, who drew it up merely as an historian, and, without any reference to the exposition of prophecy. In introducing this catalogue, Bp. Chandler observes, e "What Jerom, with all the ecclesiastical writers expected upon the authority of Daniel, what he saw coming on apace in his days, did some years afterwards come to pass. The Northern nations, did, out of the provinces that belonged to the Western empire, of which Rome was then head, erect, and settle into ten kingdoms, neither more nor less; whose names Machiavel, little thinking what he was doing, gives us :" "I, Vandals in Africa. II, Alans and Sueves. III, Visigoths. IV, Burgundians. V, Franks. VI, Angli and Saxons. VII, Ostrogoths. VIII, Gepida (or, as Bp. Chandler shews, Langobardi.) IX, Huns. X, Heruli and Turingi." Here then we see the dissolution of the Roman empire,-the fourth beast into ten kingdoms fully accomplished: The course of events fulfils the prophecy, and proves the inspiration of the book of Daniel. "Some of these kingdoms at length fell, and new ones arose; but whatever was their d Dissertation 14. • Vind. &c. V. 1. p. 253. number afterwards, they are still called the ten kings from their first number." We have now to consider the little horn, which rose up among the ten horns of the fourth beast: But as there are many particulars belonging to this horn, we shall consider it in the next dissertation. Sir 1. Newton's observations on Daniel, p. 13. Dissertation 10. CHAPTER VII. IN our former dissertation, we have explained the prophecy respecting the four great empires down to the division of the Roman into ten kingdoms. But that which chiefly excited Daniel's attention was a little Horn, which arose up among the other ten Horns, and was distinguished by its character and properties from all the rest. Of this little Horn various particulars are described; and, that we may do justice to the subject, we shall devote a dissertation to its consideration. Now, that we may bring the subject more completely in view, we shall state, first, at length, what the Prophet says of this Horn. "I considered the horns, (vs. 8, 20, 21, 24, 25) and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: And, behold, in this horn were eyes, like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. And I would know the truth) of the other which N came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the Saints, and prevailed against them. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise, and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the Saints of the Most High, and think to change times, and laws: And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times, and the dividing of time." I. Now as this little horn came up among the ten horns, which were in the head of the fourth Beast, or Roman empire, we must see, whether any Power or State did arise among the ten kingdoms into which the Roman empire was divided, to which the properties and character of this little horn belong: And that Power or State, we shall find to be, the Papacy or Popedom. The eleventh Horn is described as being a little one: "Behold there came up among them another little Horn." It is also represented as arising secretly and unobserved by the rest of the Horns till it surpasses or overtops them: "And another shall arise after them, and he shall be diverse from the first." Of the gradual progress of the Popedom, Machiavel gives us this short but clear account. "About this time the Popes began to be in greater authority than they were formerly. At first the successors of St Peter were reverenced of all men; for the sanctity of their lives, and their miracles, and their examples did so extend the christian religion, that the princes were under a necessity to obey it, to remove out of the way the great confusions that were then in the world. And the Emperor being become a christian, and departing from Rome to reside at Constantinople, the Roman empire began to decline, and the church of Rome to grow as fast. Nevertheless, till the coming in of the Lombards (seeing Italy was all under the government of the Emperors or the kings) the popes did not assume any more authority in those times than was due to a reverence of their customs, and their doctrines. Upon other occasions they obeyed the Emperors or the kings, (and sometimes were put to death by them) and were employed, as their ministers, on their affairs. g Speaking of the Church of Rome or the Popedom, in the times of Cœlestine, in the fifth century, Mr. Milner says, "The church of Rome, though at this time much degenerated from primitive purity, must not however be deemed Anti-Christian, while the real doctrines of Christ were supported in it. And though secular ambition was gradually making its way among her Bishops, yet some of them were real good men and faithful Pastors, and I am willing to believe that Cœlestine was of the number." And of Leo, he says, "In the church it must be owned, that he took much pains concerning matters of discipline, that so far, as appears from circumstances, he supported the cause of truth and uprightness in general, though with a constant attention to the amplification of the Roman See. Antichrist was not yet risen to its stature: but was growing apace." h As the beginnings of the power of g Cited by Chandler. vind. &c. v. 1. P. 254. |