exclude the multitude, but only fignifies, there will be Exceptions. We need no other inftanc than that of the Jews, of whom St. Paul ipeaking in the 11th Chap. to the Romans, faith, Some the branches were cut off 'Twas the revolt and rejection of the Jews that was fignified thereby. And what is this Some? that is to fay, almost all. For the entire Nation of the fews is engaged in this revolt. There was but a fmall number of the few's that believed on Jefus Chrift, and believed truely. And certainly, the proportion that is between the fmall company of the faithful, that love not the Beat, and thole that adore him, is greater than that which was between the converted fews, and those that have remained unbelievers thefe 16 hundred years. The fame Apostle fpeaking of the Ifraelites in the Wil1 Cor. 1o. derness, that worthipped the golden Calf, faith, Be not ye Idolaters, as fome of them were. Now thefe Exod. 32. Some, were all; for Mofes faith exprefly, that all the people brake off the golden ear-rings which were in their ears. In the fame manner he faith in the fame place, Let us not tempt Chrift, as some of them tempted him; Let us not commit fornication, as fome of them committed. Now it is certain, that thefe fome fignify the far greater part: and it only fhews, that there were fome exceptions. The Apostle might the rather ufe this like expreffion, because the Antichriftian idolatry and Apoftacy were fhadowed forth by these revolts of the people of the fews in the Wilderness. 7. 3. To this we may add, that the Apoftle St. Paul confiders this evil not in its laft period, but in its beginning. Now it is certain, that the introduction of idolatry into Chriftianity began by a small number of bigots, fuperftitious men and falfe devoto's. Other Other perfons, befides those against whom we difpute, may wrangle alfo about this term, the later times, and fay, that we cannot reasonably call the times that last 12. or 13. hundred years, and that began fo long before the end of the world, the later times. The Papifts, Ifay, against whom we difpute, can't make use of this difficulty, because they apply this Oracle to the Encratites and the Manichees, the first of which were known in the fecond Age, and the others in the third. Those were times yet further distant from the end of the world;than those ages where we place the Antichriftian Empire. When we fhall fpeak of the duration of the Antichriftian Empire, we fhall have occafion to say, why the ages of its Empire are called the later times. These words, with which the Oracle begins, the Spirit faith remarkably or exprefly, would well deferve fome confideration, to know whether they ought to be understood of fome Oracles in the Old Teftament; fo that the fense should be, The Spirit hath faid exprefly by the ancient Prophets; or of a prefent infpiration, fo that the Apoitle would fay, the Spirit gives me to understand very clearly. But tis of very little importance to know by what Spirit this hath been exprefly faid, by that of the Prophets, or that of St. Paul, feeing it is the fame Spirit. And befides this, we shall have occafion to fay fomething of it in one of the following Chapters. CHAP, CHAP. XXII The Characters of Antichrift in the Papifm confirm'd by the great type of Antichrist, Antiochus Epiphanes. That which is Spoken literally of this Antiochus T agrees Here is but one spring more, whence I would draw the Characters of the Antichriftian Empire; viz. thofe Chapters of the Revelation ofthe Prophet Daniel, where the moft famous of the perfecutors of the Jewish Nation is literally fpoken of, and the most fatal perfecution that Nation endured. The firft Text of this prophecy is found in the 28th verfe of the 11th Chapter to the end. 28. Then shall he return into his Land with great In the 28th verfe of the riches and his heart shall be against the holy cove11th Cha nant, and he shall do exploits, and return to his of Daniels , Antiochus own Land. Epiphanes is found " 29. At the time appointed he shall return and according come toward the south, but it shall not be as the former, or as the later. to the let ter. 30. For the Ships of Chittim fhall come against him: Therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: fo fball he do, he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forfake the holy cove 'nant. 3 31. And arms fhall ftand on his part, and they Shall pollute the Sanctuary of strength, and fhall take away the daily facrifice, and they fhall place the the abomination that maketh defolate. 32. And fuch as do wickedly against the covenant. Shall be corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God, fhall be strong and do exploits. 33. And they that understand among the people Shall inftruct many; yet they shall fall by the fword, and by the flame, and by captivity, and by. Spoil many days. 34. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help but many fhall cleave to them with flatteries. : 35. And fome of them of understanding shall fail to try them, and to purge, and to make them white; even to the time of the end; because it is yet for a time appointed. 36. And the King Shall do according to his willy and he fhall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every God, and fhall speak marvellous things against the God of Gods, and shall profper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined fhall be done, 37. Neither fhall he regard the God of his Father, nor the defire of Women, nor regardany God; for he fhall magnify himself above all. * 38. But in his eftate fhall he honour the God of forces, and a God whom his fathers knew not, fhall he honour with gold, and filver, and with precious ftones, and pleasant things. 39. Thus fhall be do in the most trong holds with a strange God, whom he shall acknowledge, and increase with glory; and he fhall cause them to rule over many, and fhall divide the land for gain. 40. And at the time of the end Jhall the King of the South push at him, and the King of the North fhall come against him like a whirlwind, with cha Q 3 riots riots, and with horsemen, and with many Ships; and he shall enter into the Countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41. He shall enter alfo into the glorious Land, and many Countreys fhall be overthrown: but these fhall efcape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42. He fhall Stretch forth his hand also upon the Countries; and the Land of Egypt shall not escape. 43. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold, and of filver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans, and the Ethio pians fhall be at his steps. 44. But tidings out of the Eaft and out of the North fhall trouble him. Therefore he shall go forth with great fury to defroy, and utterly to make away many. 45. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the feas, and in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none [ball help him. I find a pretty great agreement among Interpreters on this Chapter, and the Verfes which we have juft now read. By thofe of both communions it is agreed, that 'tis Antiochus called Epiphanes, one of Alexander's fucceffors, that is here literally fpoken of. It is the very fame that the other Prophecy refpects, in the eighth Chap. where the H. Spirit having reprefented to Daniel in a vifion, the Empire of the Medes and Perfians under the Emblem of a Ram with two horns, he defcribes the Empire of the Greeks, under the Emblem of a be-goat, that had at firit only one horn in the middle of his fore-head, which being bro-, ken, four other horns lefs than the first came in its place. Afterwards, from one of these four horns. comes |