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"As to the word fhall hate, it implies, Shall forfake; and if the kings in Chriftendom forfake Rome, what can follow, but that either they will combine to destroy it, or else rather stand by neuters, whilst some one of them performs this last office to destroy it? The beaft as fuch, the false prophet, and the whore, are infeparable companions, that is, the Romish Church or City, Popery, and Tyranny. But the horns fhall be separated from the whore, and confequently from the beaft, or the exercise of that tyrannical power which makes them a beaft, and maintains this whore in fplendor and power. From this place and the following, we may fafely conjecture, that the inftruments God fhall make ufe of to destroy Rome, not being faid to come out of the Temple, fhall not therefore be of the number of the true worshippers, or Proteftants, but of thofe that are still horns upon the beast; that is, of fuch as are fill in communion with Rome, at leaft fome one or more of them.

"And fhall eat her Flesh. Flesh, in the fymbolical language, fignifies the riches, goods, and poffeffions, of any perfon, or fubject conquered, oppreffed, or flain

E 4

-By this

this third act of the horns, it

appears that the fecular powers, who fhall attack this whore, will not only ftrip her of her riches and revenues, but alfo appropriate them to themselves.

"The ten horns fhall hate the whore; that is, by a common figure of the whole for a part, fome of the ten kings who formerly loved her, grown fenfible of her exorbitant exactions and oppreffions, fhall hate her, shall strip, and expose, and plunder her, and utterly confume her with fire. Rome therefore will finally be destroyed by fome of the princes, who are reformed, or fhall be reformed from Popery: and as the kings of France have contributed greatly to her advancement, it is not impoffible, nor improbable, that fome time or other they may also be the principal authors of her deftruction. France hath already shown fome tendency towards. a reformation, and therefore may appear more likely to effect fuch a Revolution. Such a revolution may reafonably be expected, be-. cause this infatuation of Popifh 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

the Prophet Daniel-They fhall be given into his hand, until a time, and times, and the dividing of time: but then, as it immediately follows, the judgment shall fit, and they fhall take away his dominion, to confume and to deftroy it unto the end."

The obfervations of Bifhop Newton are more definite with refpect to the Power, which he expected would effect the subverfion of the Papal greatnefs; but he expected alfo (and fome other Commentators have agreed with him) that a Reformation would previously take place in France-but for this opinion he affigns no reason drawn from Scripture; whereas the opinion of Daubuz, that the inftrument God would make ufe of, could not be true worshippers, or Proteftants, being founded on the Prophecy itself, has been verified by the events.

This apoftasy of those who raised the power of Antichriftian Rome, this degradation of her fovereign Pontiff, whom the nations and kings of the earth once worhipped, or held in idolatrous veneration,

Newton, vol. iii. p. 308.

this

this appropriation of his fpoils to the enrichment of his conquerors, are events which will probably lead the way to the complete fall and destruction of the capital of this Antichriftian power, when the meafure of its abominations fhall be filled up. Lowman obferves, and it is an important obfervation," that the fifth vial or cup is poured out on the throne of the beaft; fo the word is in the original. In the Scripture language, throne, kingdom, government, authority, dominion and power, are of like fignification."-"The throne then of the beast, which our tranflation has rendered feat, feems plainly to mean his authority and „power, rather than the city or feat of his refidence. For the Prophetic language puts a throne to fignify, not the feat of a kingdom, but its power and authority. And fo this very Prophecy explains it this angel poured his vial on the feat of the beast, and his kingdom was full of darkness. Darkness is an emblem of affliction; a kingdom full of darkness, will then naturally fignify a great diminution of power, and decay of authority: fo that the

Lowman, p. 265.

diftin

distinguishing punishment of the beast in this period, that his kingdom shall be full of darkness, will most properly mean some great and fuccessful oppofition to the Papal power and authority, which fhall much weaken and leffen it, and give fuch uneasiness to the supporters of it, as fhall drive them into a rage, and make them bite their tongues as it were, for anger and vex

ation."

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The final deftruction of Rome is likewife clealy set forth, particularly by St. John in the Prophecies which have been quoted', together with the reafons on account of which this fignal and heavy judgment will be inflicted, and the emotions it is calculated to raise in the minds of mankind.

"The laft act which the fecular powers fhall perform towards this whore, or capital city, is, that they shall destroy her with fire and fword; and by that means leave no refuge there to any of her lovers to hold up, and maintain by her power, the idolatry and tyrannical dominion exercised

Introductory Chapter, vol. i. p. 297.

by

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