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SERMON XII.

Ufes of this inquiry into the prophecies-Conclufion.

REV. xxii. 7.

Behold, I come quickly: Bleed is he that keepeth the fayings of the prophecy of this

book.

p. 197.

SER

SERMON VII.

Prophecies concerning ANTICHRIST.

1 Ep. JOHN ii. 18,

-Ye have beared that Antichrift fhall

come

MONG the more remarkable prophecies concerning the Chriftian Church, there are feveral, which defcribe the rife, progrefs, and downfal of a certain Power, reprefented under various fymbols or images, and diftinguished by many appellations; but more especially known by the name of ANTICHRIST.

These prophecies come now, in the order of this Lecture, to be confidered. The subject is, in a high degree, curious VOL. II. B

and

and important; but of no eafy difcuffion: not fo much on the account of any peculiar difficulty in the prophecies themselves, as from the prejudice of party in explaining them, and still more, from the general prejudice that lies against every attempt to explain them.

To make my way through all these obstructions, I shall begin with laying before you a clear and diftinct ftate of the question itself, which is chiefly agitated by inquirers into thefe prophecies.

It is admitted, that many predictions in the Old and New Teftament, particularly in the book of Daniel, in St. Paul's Epiftles, and in the Revelations of St. John, clearly point out a very extraordinary power, which was to manifeft itself in the latter times, that is, in the times fubfequent to the introduction of Chriftianity. The characters, by which this power (acknowledged by all under the name of Antichrift) is chiefly distinguished, are thofe of Tyranny [d], [4] By the word Tyranny, here and elsewhere in these difcourfes, as applied to the Pope, I would be under

Idolatry,

Idolatry, and Intolerance. And, to abridge our trouble in fearching after this threebeaded monster, we are directed by the prophets to look for him within the boundaries of what was properly called, the Roman Empire, and even in the city of Rome itself.

Thus far there is no difpute. The only question is, To what Roman power, exhibiting those characters, the prophecies are to be applied. And even this question is reduced within narrow limits. For Two Powers only have fubfifted in Rome, from the Christian æra to the present times (within which period we are, again, allowed to expect the reign of Antichrift); the Roman Emperor, in the first place; and, afterwards, the Roman Pontifs. So that,

ftood to mean, that fuper-eminent dominion, which he exercised, or claimed a right of exercifing, over the princes and states of his communion, in all affairs both temporal and fpiritual.-I ufe the word (fomewhat improperly, perhaps) for the fake of brevity, as I know of no other fingle terin, that fo well expresses my mean

ing.

B 2

Од

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