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The former part of this verse, which is translated literally from the Hebrew, is very difficult to be explained, because of the two words Apadno and Zabi, which are not to be found in the ancient geography. The reader knows that I do not take upon me to clear up these kind of difficulties. Porphyry, whom we have no reason to suspect, imagined that this verse alluded to Antiochus's expedition beyond the Euphrates, and to his death, which happened on that march. This is the opinion of the greatest part of the interpreters, and therefore we ought to be satisfied with it.

The prophet therefore declares that Antiochus shall pitch his camp near mount Zabi (doubtless the same with a Taba, where, according to Polybius, he died), and that there" he "shall come to his end," being abandoned by GOD, and having none to "help him." We have seen how he expired in the most cruel agonies, and struck with an unavailing repentance, which only increased his torments.

Theodoret, St. Jerom, and several interpreters, take all that the prophet Daniel speaks concerning Antiochus Epiphanes in a double sense, as alluding to Antichrist. It is certain that this prince, who was equally impious and cruel, is one of the most sensible, as well as most expressive, types of that enemy of Christ Jesus and our holy religion.

It is impossible for us, whilst we are reading this propheoy, not to be prodigiously struck to see the justness and accuracy with which the prophet traces the principal characteristics of a king, whose history is so much blended with that of the Jews; and we perceive evidently, that for this reason the Holy Spirit, either entirely omitting, or taking only a transient notice of the actions of other much more famous princes, dwells so long on that of Antiochus Epiphanes. With what certainty does Daniel foretel a multitude of events, so very remote, and which depended on so many arbitrary circumstances! How manifestly did the Spirit, which presented futurity to his view, show it him as present, and in as clear a light, as if he had seen it with his bodily eyes! Do not the divine authority of the Scriptures, and, by a necessary consequence, the certainty of the Christian religion, become, by such proofs, in a manner palpable and self-evident?

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No prophecy was ever fulfilled in so clear, so perfect, and so incontrovertible a manner as this. Porphyry, the professed enemy of the Christian religion, as well as of the Holy Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testament, being infinitely perplexed at finding so great a conformity between a Taba, according to Polybius, was in Persia; and in Paretacena, according to Quintius Curtius. b Polyb. in Excerpt. Vales. p. 145. e Porphyry was a learned heathen, born at Tyre, A. D. 293, and wrote a very voluminous treatise against the Christian religion.

the events foretold by Daniel and the relations given by the best historians, did not pretend to deny this conformity, for that would have been repugnant to plain sense, and denying the shining of the sun at noon-day. However, hetook another course, in order to undermine the authority of the Scriptures. He himself laboured, by citing all the historians extant at that time, and which are since lost, to show, in a very extensive manner, that whatever is written in the eleventh chapter of Daniel, happened exactly as foretold by that prophet; and he inferred from this perfect uniformity, that so exact a detail of so great a number of events, could not possibly have been written by Daniel so many years before they happened; and that this work must certainly have been written by some person who lived after Antiochus Epiphanes, and borrowed Daniel's name.

In this contest between the Christians and heathens, the former would indisputably carry their cause, could they be able to demonstrate, by good proofs, that Daniel's prophecies were really written by him. Now this they proved unanswerably, by citing the testimony of a whole people, I mean the Jews, whose evidence could not be suspected nor disallowed, as they were still greater enemies to the Christian religion than the heathens themselves. The reverence they had for the sacred writings, of which Providence had appointed them the depositaries and guardians, was carried to such a pitch, that they would have thought him a criminal and sacrilegious wretch who should have attempted only to transpose a single word, or change one letter in them. What idea then would they have entertained of that man who should pretend to introduce any supposititious books among them? Such are the witnesses who attested the genuineness of Daniel's prophecies. And were ever proofs so convincing, or cause so victorious? "Thy testimonies are very sure "OLORD for ever."

a Psal. xciii. 5.

BOOK THE NINETEENTH.

THE HISTORY

OF

ALEXANDER'S SUCCESSORS

CONTINUED.

ARTICLE I.

THIS article contains eleven years, being the duration of the reign of Perseus, the last king of Macedonia, from the year of the world 3826 to 3837.

SECT. I.

Perseus prepares for war against the Romans. He endeavours a reconciliation with the Achaeans.

a The death of Philip happened very opportunely for suspending the war against the Romans, and giving them time to prepare for it. That prince had formed a strange design, and had already begun to put it in execution: this was to bring a considerable body of troops, both horse and foot, from European Sarmatia, which now forms part of Poland. Certain Gauls had settled near the mouths of the Borysthenes, now called the Nieper, and had taken the name of Bastarnæ. That people were neither accustomed to till the earth, to feed cattle, nor to follow commerce: they lived by war, and sold their services to any people that would employ them. After having passed the Danube, Philip was to have settled them upon the lands of the Dardanians, whom he had resolved utterly to exterminate; because, being very near neighbours of Macedonia, they never failed to take every favourable occasion for making inroads into it. The Bastarnæ were to leave their wives and children in this new settlement, and to march into Italy, in order to enrich themselves with the booty they were in hopes of making there. Whatever the success might be, Philip conceived he should find great

a A. M. 3826. Ant. J. C. 178. Liv. l. 40. n. 57, 58. Oros. 1. iv. c. 20.

advantages in it: if it should happen that the Bastarna were conquered by the Romans, he should easily be consoled for their defeat in seeing himself delivered from the Dardanians by their means; and if their irruption into Italy succeeded, whilst the Romans were employed in repulsing these new enemies, he should have time to recover all he had lost in Greece. The Bastarna were already upon their march, and were considerably advanced, when they received advice of Philip's death. This news, and several accidents that befel them, suspended their first design, and they dispersed into different parts. Antigonus, whom Philip intended for his successor, had been employed against his will in negotiating this affair. At his return, Perseus put him to death, and, to secure himself the better on the throne, sent ambassadors to the Romans, to demand that they would renew with him the alliance they had made with his father, and that the senate would acknowledge him king. His sole intent was to gain time.

Part of the Bastarne had pursued their march and were actually at war with the Dardanians. The Romans took umbrage at it. Perseus excused himself by his ambassadors, and represented that he had not sent for them, and had no share in their enterprise. The senate, without making any further inquiry into the affair, contented themselves with advising him to take care that he observed inviolably the treaty made with the Romans. The Bastarna, after having gained some advantages at first, were at length reduced, the greatest part of them at least, to return into their own country. It is said, that having found the Danube frozen over, in endeavouring to pass it the ice broke under them, and a great number of them were swallowed up in the river.

It was known at Rome that Perseus had sent ambassadors to Carthage, and that the senate had given them audience in the night, in the temple of Esculapius. It was thought proper to send ambassadors into Macedonia to observe the conduct of that prince. He had lately reduced the c Dolopians, who refused to obey him, by force of arms. After that expedition he advanced towards Delphos, upon pretence of consulting the oracle, but in reality, as it was believed, of having an opportunity to make the tour of Greece, and negotiate alliances. This journey at first alarmed the whole country, and occasioned so general a consternation, that even Eumenes did not think himself safe in Pergamus. But Perseus, as soon as he had consulted the oracle, returned into his own kingdom, passing through Phthie

a A. M. 3829. Ant. J. C. 175. Freinshem. in Liv. A. M. 3830. Ant. J. C. 174. Liv. J. xli. n. 27-29.

e Dolopia was a region of Thessaly, upon the confines of Epirus

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