prefent dominions of the Turkish Mahometan power; but this feems to be reprefented as the last step of its afcent to univerfal empire, and there is nothing in Scripture to contradict its Speedy downfal from this height-nothing indeed is faid respecting the period of its duration.

The magnitude and extent of the evils attending the establishment of fuch a power, in fuch an advantageous fituation, appear terrific beyond expreffion, whether confidered in a political, a moral, or a religious light. But furely we may expect, that it would roufe the World in arms against it. The northern Powers, who feem to have been withheld from interrupting the appointed courfe of his aveng ing fword', will then, we cannot but fup

1 The conduct of the allied armies in 1793-the violent death of the King of Sweden, when on the point of taking the command of an army against the French-the fudden death of the Empress of Ruffia, the day before he was to fign an inftrument, actually drawn up, for fending 60,000 men against them--the conduct of the Court of Pruffia-of Germany in general; and many other circumftances of a fimilar kind, which will occur to the Reader, when confidered in the aggregatė, are furely very ftriking marks of Divine interpofition.

pofe,

pose, mufter their confederate forces; and the nations of the east may flock to attack this restless tyrant, exafperated by his victory over the crefcent of Mahomet, and his infatiable thirst for power and riches. It cannot be imagined that the Jews would fee with indifference the fall of the Turkish Empire, which has fo long "trodden down Jerufalem." Their hope of deliverance would be naturally raised to a height unknown for many ages; and their Prophecies would be examined with redoubled attention. A general council fimilar to that which was affembled in Hungary in the year 1650", may be called, or at least measures taken for a general confultation; and this difperfed, defpifed, neglected people may become, at fuch an awful period, of inexpreffible importance in the political as well as in the religious world. tainly is not impoffible, that the French may

It cer

The rapid growth of the coloffal Empire of Ruffia, the impediments which have been thrown in the way of its defigns upon Turkey, and its inactivity fince the peace of 1790, (except to increase its own greatness by the partition of Poland) naturally fuggeft the idea, that it will be a principal actor in this great conflict.

"See Bafnage Hiftoire des Juifs, iv. ix. p. 976. and the Modern Universal History, vol. v. p. 609. Edit. 1760.

offer

1

offer them their antient land, with the double view of contradicting the word of Prophecy, and of attaching a powerful people, whom they affect to call Republicans, to their interefts; in order to render them fubfervient to their vast designs of univerfal conqueft. But fo far as I can venture to form an opinion of the probability of circumstances, concerning which we have yet no folid ground to build upon (for as yet we cannot certainly pronounce that this Prophecy of Daniel refers to the Infidel power of France, or that France will be the conqueror of the Turkish Empire), I do not think this likely to happen. It feems to me more probable, that the French fhould choose to retain poffeffion of a country fo well adapted to their acknowledged views; and that thus this people may be

Palestine is feldom confidered, but as connected with Religion and the Jewish hiftory. Imagine it in the hands of a powerful, commercial, active, and ingenious people, furnished with all the sciences, and skilful in all the arts of this enlightened age, as it is ufually termed, and its fituation will appear fingularly calculated for the feat of univerfal empire. It borders upon the Mediterranean-lies clofe to Egypt and the Red Sea-is connected with Afia Minor, and the Perfian Gulph, by means of the Euphrates, and thus in reality poffeffes the gates" of Europe, Afia, and Africa.

VOL. II.

X

the

the means of recovering the land from its prefent ftate of defolation, and " prepare the way for the kings," while they vainly think to fecure the execution of those vast plans, which boundless ambition, avarice, and impiety, combine to form.

During the progrefs of this work, or foon after its completion, the days appointed for the punishment of the Jews may be fulfilled, and the "times of the Gentiles" may draw near their clofe. The rem

nant" of the church, and nations that have efcaped the far-extended calamities produced by the fecond Beaft and his Image, may furely be expected to acknowledge the hand of God in thefe judgments, and give him glory" for their protection. These then will be ready, from religious principles, to lend their aid towards the reinstatement of the Jews in their own land, as foon as it appears to be the defign of God to restore them to his favour o.

Other nations,

"Who are thefe that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Surely the ifles fhall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy fons from far, their filver, and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of

Ifrael,

tions, influenced by political motives, may unite in promoting the fame object; and the Jew's themselves may lofe their animofity to Christians by the kindness of intercourfe, and the fimilarity of opinions and expectations, founded on the harmony of the Prophecies themfelves, and the ftriking agreement of Events with those Prophecies, and be gradually prepared to receive the truth. The nations of the north, and of the east, may prepare for the battle, and, at the time appointed," this impious monster, who faith, "there is no God," may go forth from this throne of his Power with great fury to deftroy, and utterly to make away many;" and in this

Ifrael, because he hath glorified thee. And the fons of ftrangers fhall build up thy walls, and their kings fhall minifter unto thee." Ifaiah lx. Is it an improbable conjecture, that the British Isles, so highly favoured by the establishment of the Church of Christ, and hitherto by fignal marks of Divine protection in the midft of furrounding dangers and temptations, should be brought, by a merciful fhare of general calamity, "to fee the things that belong to their peace," and continue to wait, with faith and hope, for the accomplishment of the good promises of God? and that this maritime, commercial, Proteflant kingdom should take the lead in executing the Divine will on fuch an occasion?