sion, when men began to form themselves into distinct societies, which, having at first occupied villages and cities, and subsequently extended themselves over a larger tract of country, became separate nations, each of them with laws and usages peculiar to itself. It is natural to suppose, that, when those societies were on a comparatively limited scale, some enterprising spirits, who imagined themselves born to rule, either assumed an authority which their inferiors had not inclination or power to resist, or, in consequence of their wisdom or their valour, were elevated to monarchical dignity by the suffrages of the people. The first kingdom of which we read was that of Babylon:* it was founded by Nimrod; and, after passing through various changes, it extended its conquests, by the arms of Nebuchadnezzar, over Assyria, Persia, Syria, Phenicia, Canaan, and part of Arabia. Upon the ruins of this mighty power the Persian monarchy was erected by the victories of Cyrus: and, about two hundred

"The Assyrian is usually said to be the first of the four great empires; and the name may be allowed to pass, if it be not taken too strictly. For the Assyrian empire, properly so called, was dissolved before this time; [i. e. the reign of Nebuchadnezzar ;] and the Babylonian was erected in its stead; but the Babylonians are sometimes called Assyrians in the best classic authors. Herodotus, Xenophon, Strabo, and others, as well as in the Holy Scripture." Newton on the Prophecies, vol. i. p. 210.

years afterwards, Alexander the Great arose, and subjugated Persia and all its dependencies to the empire of Greece; and, subsequently, Greece itself, after a variety of tremendous struggles, was subdued by the Romans about one hundred and fifty years after the death of Alexander, and one hundred and forty-eight years before the birth of Christ.

j

These four great empires were the subject of Daniel's celebrated vision, which is recorded in the seventh chapter of his prophecies; and it is worthy of observation, that what was presented to the King of Babylon in the form of a vast image, was afterwards exhibited to the prophet in the figures of four monstrous animals. It may not be uninteresting to dilate a little on this vision, as it will naturally introduce us to the establishment of that kingdom which is to be the subject of our meditation. The narrative is as follows:

"Daniel spake and said, I saw in my visions by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse from one another. The first was like a lion, and had eagles' wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. And

behold, another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this, I beheld, and lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl: the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this, I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things."

It is universally agreed, that the first beast, spoken of in the above quotation, which resembled a lion with eagles' wings, answers to the golden head of the image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and was intended as an emblem of the Babylonian monarchy, which was the most magnificent and haughty of the ancient kingdoms, and which, though extremely rapid in its conquests, was arrested and humbled

by the encroachments of the Medes and Persians.*

The second beast, which was like a bear, was designed to represent the Persian empire; exhibiting a striking picture of its extensive conquests over Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt, and its oppressive measures towards all its dependencies.

The third beast, which was like a leopard, was emblematical of the Grecian or Macedonian empire. Being represented with four wings, it depicted the celerity and impetuosity of Alexander's victories; while its four heads intimated the number of kingdoms into which his dominions should be divided at his death.

1

The fourth beast, which was "dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly," was descriptive of the Roman empire. In this nameless monster are powerfully delineated the astonishing military prowess of the Romans, and the unexampled conquests which they obtained over the principal nations of the earth. The ten

"This image appeared with a glorious lustre in [the] imagination of Nebuchadnezzar, whose mind was wholly taken up with admiration of worldly pomp and splendour; whereas the same monarchies were represented to Daniel under the shape of fierce and wild beasts, as being the great supporters of idolatry and tyranny in the world.” Newton on the Prophecies, vol. i. p. 227.

horns which distinguished it answer to the ten toes of the image to which we have just referred; and, according to the interpretation of the angel, (verse 24,) signify ten kings, or the ten kingdoms into which the Roman empire was to be divided. The little horn which arose after them, and from the midst of them, is, by all protestant commentators, regarded as an emblem of the papal dominion. And, indeed, the description which the prophet gives of its bold and daring pretences, together with its cruel persecution of the saints, agrees so well with St. Paul's account of the "man of sin," and St. John's visions of the great antichristian abomination, that the propriety of this application can scarcely be questioned.

You will observe, that, as Daniel, after noticing the demolition of the image by the stone cut out of the mountain, says, "In the days of those kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed:" so, immediately after exhibiting the four emblematical animals, he gives the following glowing description of the Messiah's dominion: "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream