And this was the case with Egypt; though it was not, in every period of time, absolutely sunk and tributary; yet, by a reference to its history, we shall find, that ever since the time of Nebuchadnezzar, it has, on the whole, been considered a base kingdom, and has been tributary to strangers.

After Nebuchadnezzar's time, it continued tributary to the Babylonians, until Cyrus, erecting the Persian empire upon the ruins of the Babylonian one, conquered Egypt, and reduced it under the Persian sway. After groaning under this yoke for sixty-five years (not, however, without some revolts in the latter part thereof), it fell under the power of the Macedonians, submitting at once to Alexander the Great; and continuing to be governed by the family of Ptolemy (one of his captains), to whose share it fell, for about three centuries. It then came under the dominion of Rome ; and subsequently became a province thereof. In the seventh century after this, it was subjugated by the Saracens, under whom it suffered much, especially in the destruction of its splendid library at Alexandria, consisting of seven hundred thousand volumes ;-all which were deliberately burned by order of the Saracen general. Up to this time, Egypt had been much frequented by learned foreigners, and had many learned natives, in consequence of this library; but after this, it became more and more a base kingdom,

and sunk into ignorance and superstition, Mahommedanism being then established by the conquerors, in the place of Christianity. The Mamelucs, in the thirteenth century, succeeded to the sovereign authority of Egypt. And lastly, in the sixteenth century, the Turks conquered and annexed it to the Ottoman empire, whereof it has continued a province unto this day.

Truly has Ezekiel's prediction been completely fulfilled. The prophecy was delivered twenty-five hundred years ago, when Egypt was a powerful, rich, illustrious empire; and who would have thought that such a kingdom should ever be sunk so low, or that it should be obliged, for so many ages, to bow beneath a foreign yoke. But so it is. Babylonians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Saracens, Mamelucs, Turks,have all successively held it under their sway. And, as ancient authors have described the character of its people, as of the most degraded description, and stained by every vice; so the present character of the Egyptians, by modern travellers, is of the vilest and most abominable kind imaginable; they seem to be sunk in the very depths of depravity of all kinds. Surely it has been a "base kingdom," and hath become "the basest of kingdoms;" neither has there been " a prince any more (of her own) over the land of Egypt," until now.

Thus we see how Nineveh, Babylon, Tyre, and Egypt, the great oppressors of the Jews, have been visited by divine vengeance, for their enmity and cruelty to the people of God. Not, indeed, that they were thus punished for the sake of the Jews alone; their own national sins were cause enough. But we have, in all these things, a striking evidence how God makes use of human instruments, and over-rules the affairs of men to bring about His own purposes: as we have also a convincing demonstration of the truth of the political aphorism uttered by the wisest of kings, (Prov. xiv. 34) and confirmed by the testimony of all history; viz. that "righteousness exalteth a nation ; but sin is a reproach," (and also indeed a ruin to any people.)

DISSERTATION XIII.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR's Dream of the FOUR GReat EMPIRES.

BESIDES the Prophecies respecting the countries adjoining to Israel, there are others which extend to more remote nations; especially those wherein the Church of God was particularly interested. Daniel prophesied in the time of the Babylonish captivity; and his prophecies are so clear and exact, that the enemies of Christianity have been driven to assert that they were written after the events. But it can be clearly proved, both by internal and external evidence, that they were written at the time they profess1;

1 Bishop Newton, in a separate dissertation (the Boyle Lecture) enters into a regular argument on this point, and clearly shews that these objectors are completely wrong, as well in chronology, as in knowledge of the derivation of language, and other points. And to show the very absurdity of their objections, he instances and brings into juxta-position these three: viz. 5th objection, "Divers matters of fact are spoken of with the clearness of history," and therefore,

this absolute monarch; in his fury he ordered them. all to be destroyed. And they would have suffered, and that Daniel prospered, on account of his prophecies, in the reign of Darius the Mede, and of Cyrus the Persian (Dan. vi. 28); that is, upwards of five centuries before Christ. And, indeed, if this were not fully established beyond all reasonable doubt, the very fact that there are some of Daniel's prophecies in the course of their accomplishment at this present time would, of itself, destroy the whole force of the objection.

Daniel's first prophecy was his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. This monarch, in the beginning of his reign, had a dream which astonished and affected him strongly (Dan. ii. 3); but awaking in confusion, he could not recollect the particulars thereof. He, therefore, summoned all the magicians and astrologers, and demanded of them, "upon pain of death," to tell him both the dream itself, and its interpretation. Their remonstrances against so unreasonable a demand only served to inflame the anger of

10th objection, "The author of the book of Daniel appears plainly to be a writer of things past (after a prophetical manner), by his uncommon punctuality;" but this charge of forgery against Daniel, founded on his clearness and punctuality, is immediately CONTRADICTED by the following, 11th objection, "The book of Daniel sets forth facts very imperfectly, and often contrary to other historical relations; and the whole is written in a dark and enigmatical style!"