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Earthly empires are like the human body; certain causes operate incessantly for their growth, their support, and decay. God has appointed that the general age of man shall be threescore years and ten, and has formed the constitution of our frame in such a manner that it dissolves about the time appointed: in like manner, he has fixed a limit to human power and empire, and natural causes are always tending to determine this limit. But as some animal frames, from their strength and vitality, subsist longer than others— so some political constitutions, from possessing greater strength and energy than others, are more durable and firm, though necessarily tending to decay.

When, therefore, the prophet says, "the kingdom shall be divided," he means, that though in some respects it should be strong as iron, yet in others it should be weak, and have the seeds of dissolution within itself.

Now nothing can tend more to destroy an empire than divisions or want of unity, perhaps nothing so much. But the history of the Roman empire presents us with a constant series of divisions, civil wars, and contentions for power; all of which necessarily restrained its energies against other nations, and operated as a mortal disease upon itself. Whether we consider its rise, its middle state, or its decline, we find that it was always divided by intestine broils and discord. Of the seven kings who reigned at Rome, while in its infant state, Romulus its founder no doubt was killed; Tarquinius Priscus was assassinated; Servius Tullius was dethroned and murdered, and Tarquin the Proud was driven from his crown and government. Not to mention the murder of Remus by Romulus at the very beginning of the Empire, no less than three of

seven kings died a violent death, and the fourth was driven away with ignominy and disgrace.

After the consular government was appointed, the very sons of Brutus, one of the first consuls, conspired against it; to such a height did their divisions arise, that the great bulk of the people at one time forsook the city, and were with difficulty persuaded to return. The Tribunes and the people were generally in a state of opposition to the Senate; and the business of the Agrarian law was an almost perpetual source of discord between the poor and the rich. The Decemviral power was abolished with circumstances of great internal divisions; and a constant struggle was maintained on the part of the Senate to retain their peculiar privileges, and of the people to acquire power.

As the empire increased in extent and power its divisions became still greater and more bloody; the quarrels between Marius and Sylla filled Rome with blood and slaughter: the war between Cæsar and Pompey, and their different adherents, extended itself over the greater part of the empire, and occasioned the death of vast numbers of the most distinguished Romans; the assassination of Cæsar was as a torch to set the empire in a general flame of war and division; nor did its ravages cease, till Augustus concentrated the supreme power in himself. During the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius the empire appeared to possess considerable unity; but after the death of Tiberius, we find the tyranny of the Emperors, and the love of power in others, producing the most violent and bloody contentions among themselves. Instead of applying all the resources of the empire to its stability and support, they employed them frequently in support of their schemes of power and dominion over each other: And though the Roman legions were often

employed against foreign enemies, yet they were as often engaged in civil wars and devastations.

Of the first twelve emperors eight at least died either by poison or assassination; and there is good reason to believe that three others died a violent death. The soldiers made the imperial power an article of sale, and offered it to the highest bidder; and by their frequent oppositions in the choice of a chief, rent and tore the empire. The wisdom and virtues of a particular emperor served now and then as a prop to the divided state, but which, when removed, only tended to expose its weakness and decay: and to prove more pointedly, the accuracy of the prophecy, viz. "the kingdom shall be divided," we may state the well known facts, that Constantine removed the seat of Government from Rome to Byzantium, divided the empire among his sons, and hence weakened its force and hastened its downfall. That principle of division, then, which we may say was innate in the Roman empire, grew with its growth, and by a constant operation prevented its stability; and at last, like the decayed pillar of a mighty roof, it let fall the whole fabric in one stupendous ruin.

As iron, therefore, and clay cannot be united, so the divisions of the empire prevented its stability; it had indeed the strength of the iron and was partly strong, but it had also the weakness of the clay, and was, therefore, partly broken. But though individual ambition incites men to oppose their personal rivals, yet there is a general principle among men, which disposes them to seek the glory, independence, and stability of their own nation and empire, and amidst all their eagerness for personal distinction, to promote their country's greatness. Hence, then, it is said of

the Romans, "they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men," but all their policy will not avail to prevent the dissolution of their empire, for "they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay."

By the Romans therefore mingling themselves with the seed of men, is meant their policy, by which they endeavoured to secure the greatness and extent of their empire. This policy shewed itself in different ways; by a pretended regard in many of the great men, and in some a real one, for the majesty of the Roman people; by the plans which they adopted to unite the Plebeians and the Patricians; by the marriages which contending rivals made with each others families, for the maintenance of union and internal peace; and by the attempts they made to assimilate the nations, which they conquered, to themselves, in language, manners, laws, and customs.

In the first ages of the empire all public transactions were referred to the Roman people: and though internally they were much divided, yet, in their foreign relations, business was transacted in the name of the People. The highest posts of dignity and honour were laid open to the different classes of citizens; and when the parties of Cæsar and Pompey, Augustus and Anthony, seemed to threaten destruction to the state, they endeavoured to heal their quarrels and unite their power by intermarriages. Julia the daughter of Cæsar was united to Pompey; and Augustus gave his sister Octavia to Anthony. The same policy was practised also by the later Emperors. But more especially did the Romans endeavour to unite the nations which they conquered in one common empire, by a similarity of language, laws, and customs; and so to mingle themselves with them as to appear one people.

But all their policy was ineffectual to preserve the unity of their empire: the seeds of decay were inhe rent in itself; and that mighty kingdom, which like iron had bruised and broken the nations of the earth, became like a vessel of clay and was broken in pieces.

v. But though all earthly empires are in their nature liable to decay, yet there is a kingdom established by God of a spiritual nature, which no force will ever be able to destroy; for," in the days of these kings (v. 44) shall the God of heaven set 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 consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."

f

The time, in which this fifth empire was to take its rise, was during the continuance of the series of the four empires, and before that series had received its full completion. The word, kings, may with equal propriety be rendered kingdoms; and then the passage will be, both according to the Vulgate, and the Latin Translation of the Arabic, (in diebus regnorum illorum) in the days of these kingdoms.

When the stone struck the image on its feet, it was whilst it was standing, and before it was broken in pieces: And who does not know, that the kingdom of the Gospel began when Augustus had given the greatest strength and power to the Roman empire? The time of the erection of this fifth kingdom, therefore, clearly defines itself; and not only so, but determines what kingdom it was which was erected.

We have already seen, that the fourth empire was

f Temporibus Regum istorum, hoc est, constante adhuc, et nondum absoluta aut peracta quatuor istorum Regum seu Regnorum serie. Mede. B. 3. P. 713.

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