V. 14. Ch. 8. V.9. Why An of Ophir, &c. She shall be brought unto the King believe that it would be folid. Tis the fault 'Tis according to thefe principles, that we must explain the Prophecies of the eighth, eleventh and twelfth of Daniel. As to the latter, 'tis the hiftory of Antiochus. This Antiochus having been the most confiderable type of Antichrift, as David was the most glorious type of Iefus Chrift; 'tisnot to be doubted, but that there are in the Propheeies that refpect Antiochus, many things that muft have a myftical reference to Antichrist. But 'tis not neceflary, that all that is faid of Antiochus in the literal fenfe, must be applied to Antichrift in a myftical fenfe. In fome places Antichrift is there with Antiochus, in fome other places Antiochus is there alone, and it may be there are fome places where Antichrift is alone. Let us briefly review them. From one of the four hsrns of the he-goat, which thus is fignified the Empire of the Greeks, came forth ano ther little horn toward the South, and toward the Eaft, and toward thepleafant Land called a litle horn. 'Tis certain, this little Horns is Antiochus. He is defcribed by alittle Horn, because he chimbed the throne not by the lawful right of fucceffion, publickly and with full right; but by fubtilty he ravifht the Kingdom from Demetrius the fon of his brother Seleucus. Therfore the H. Spirit explaining the Prophecy in the following part of the 8th. Ch. faith, and at the end of their Kingdom, v.23. a King of a fierce countenance, and understanding dark fentences, fhall stand up. And in the 11th. Ch. where the Hiftory of Antiochus is more large, it is faid, And in his eftate v.21. fhall ftand up a vile perfon, to whom they shall not give the honour of the Kingdom, but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the Kingdom by flatteries. It was because Antiochus was an hoitage at Rome that he was reputed as a stranger, and that he had no right to the crown of Afia, having an elder Brother, who left a Son, a lawful heir of his Eftate. Antiochus being returned from Italy applies himself to be liberal to the people. He was affable and familier, he bathed in the publick baths, and by these means he got away the Kingdom from his Nephew. This agrees well enough to the head of the Antichriftian Empire, who is alfo called a little Horn in the 7th. Ch. This is plainly that which hath deceived two of our Interpreters who would have the little Horn in the 17th Ch. alfo to be Antiochus. Which I call The little a mighty great overfight, and utterly unworthy the 7th. of great men. men. For for this we muft metamor- Ch. is not phofe the 4th. Beat; and wheras by the confent Antio of all Interpreters, it fignifies the Empire of the ftrange Romans it must be made the Empire of the of fome Greeks, in defpight of as great evidence as can be Interprefound in the Prophecies. For one must be blind, not Horn in chus. A overfight ters, The Pope cally the little Horn. not to fee the Roman Empire, the 4th. Monarchy, in this 4th. Beaft. felf up The Empire of Antichrift therfore is a little is myfti- Horn, defpicable in appearance, that raiseth it from a low place; and from a beginning that feemed to promife nothing that was great, is mounted to that grandeur, that hath_given it both the form and the power of an Empire. The head of this Empire is of understanding in dark Jentences, &c. it is by fubtilty, that he made himself mafter of the Western Empire. The little The Pope Horn of the 8th. Ch. which fignifies Antiochus, waxed great, even to the host of Heaven, caft down fome of the haft, and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea he magnified himself even to the Prince of the host. exalts himself againft God. The Pope daily Sa. scafe. Thefe words agree to Antiochus and to Antichrift. To Antiochus, because he infolently exalted himself against God, the head of the heavenly armies, and of the Church; made a great part of the nation, and even fome of the Priestly race, fall into Apoftacy. To Antichrift, and the Papifm, because he hath exalted himself against 7. Chrift, and engaged the whole Church in his revolt. Antiochus makes the daily facrifice to cease by makes the reafon of tranfgreffion, and cafteth down the truth to crifice to the ground, and profpers. The hiftory of the Macchabees informs us that this was accomplifht according to the literal fenfe of it. And the fame thing hath been accomplisht by the An tichriftian Empire, that hath abolifht the conti nual fervice, because it hath deftroyed the true fervice of God, and the facrifices of pure prayers, in mingling with them the worship of creatures, the invocation of he and the faints, the adora adoration of Images and their reliques; and in eftablishing a new continual facrifice in the room of the true one. It hath profper'd, for its fuc ceffes have been prodigious for 8 or ten Ages. In the 11th. Ch. the Prophet begins from the 21h. verfe to fpeak of Antiochus. But we must not look for Antichrift therein till the 34. v. The ten first verses are a defcription of the victories, which Antiochus obtain'd over his neighbours and of his quarrels with the Kings of Egypt, quarrels which in my opinion had nothing Typical in them. And the reafon of it is clear, because Antiochus was not a Type but in what he did againft the Church. For the strange nations had no reference to the Church; nothing that the Tyrants did against them is myfticall. At the 31. v.begin the violences which this perfecuting Prince was to offer to the Church of Ifrael. Arms (ball stand on his part, and they shall pollute the fanctuary of firengih, and (hall take away the daily facrifice. This is what was already faid in the 8th, Ch. and what we have applied to the Papifm and its head. The Prophet adds, And fuch as do wickedly against v. 32. 3 3. the covenant (hall be corrupt by flatteries; and they Pa eftablished that understand among the people fhall instruct many. He continues to the 6th. v. to defcribe the ways The P ら full of fraud and violence, which the Tyrant pin was was to make use of, to pervert the nation of the by fraud Jews, the conftancy of fome, the falling of vio many. And all this without doubt agrees to the lace bead of the Papim, as well as to Auiochus; the application is ealy, every one may make it. For all the world knows, how many frauds have been used by the Papifm to engage the true believers in a revolt, and how always violence hath been used together with fraud. In the 36. v. the H. felf above all that is called God. and Spirit purfues the defcription of the Tyrant, and faith, This King shall do according to his will, fhall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every God, and fhall speak marvellous things against the God of Gods, and fhall profper till the indignation be accomplisht; for that that is determin'd shall be done. This is fo like what St. Paul faith, that the fon of perdition fhall exalt himself above all that is The Pope exalts him- called God, and that he shall fit in the Temple of God as if he were God; And to that which St. John faith of the First Beast in the 13th. Ch. that there was given to him a mouth speaking great things, and blafphemies, and that he open'd his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blafpheme his name, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven. This, I fay, is fo like, that tis inpoffible not to fee that 'tis the fame thing. This paffage of Daniel gives us a great deal of light for the understanding that of the Revelation. When we would apply these words to the Papism and its head, he shall exalt kimfelf above all that is called God, and speak blafpbemies against God, they cry out 'tis notorious to all the world that the Pope calls himself the muft obedient fervant of the true God, and doth not blafpheme his name. Juft the very fame is faid of Antiochus, he fhall magnify himself above every Antiochus God; He shall not regard the God of his Fathers, and he shall not regard any God. This doth not cxalted' appear in his Hiftory. "Tis well faid that he wasa themselves wicked perfon, and I would eafily believe it; but the Prophecies do not predict the thoughts of the heart, but events. Now as to the event, fo far was Antiochus from being impious towards his Gods, and from exalting himfelf above them, that on the contrary he had a furious and outragious zeal to caufe them to be worshipped. Never did any ido and the Pope have above eve not by Atheism, but by Pride. latrous |