east, and the Mediterranean on the west. But after all Aphedno doth not feem to be the name of any place. They who render it as the proper name of a place, most probably did not know what else to make of it: but the word (7) occurs in Jonathan's Targum of Jeremiah, (XLIII. 10.) and there it fignifies a pavilion, and he shall Spread his royal pavilion over them; and to the fame purpose it should be tranflated here, he shall plant the tabernacles of his camp between the feas in the glorious holy mountain. This prophecy then cannot by the help of any explanation be made to fit and agree with Antiochus: and in our application of it to the Othman empire, as these events are yet future, we cannot pretend to point them out with any certainty and exactness. Mr. Mede (8) supposeth, that "the tidings from the east and north may "be that of the return of Judah and Ifrael from thofe

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quarters. For Judah was carried captive at the first "into the east, and Ifrael by the Affyrian into the north, (namely in respect of the holy land) and in those parts the greatest number of each are difperfed at this "day. Of the reduction of Ifrael from the north, fee "the prophecies Jer. XVI. 14, 15. and chap. XXIII. "8. alfo chap. XXXI. 8. Or if this tidings from the " north may be fome other thing, yet that from the eaft " I may have fome warrant to apply to the Jews return, " from that of the fixth vial in the Apocalyps XVI. 12. "where the waters of the great river Euphrates are dried

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up, to prepare the way of the kings of the east." If this application be not admitted, yet it is universally known, that the Persians are feated to the east of the Othman dominions, and the Ruffians to the north. Perfia hath indeed of late years been miferably torn and diftracted by intestin divisions; but when it shall unite again in a fettled government under one fovran, it may become again, as it hath frequently been, a dangerous rival and enemy to the Othman emperor. The power of Ruffia is growing daily; and it is a current tradition among the common people in Turky that their empire shall one time or other be deftroyed by the Ruffians. Sir

)7( אפדניה Et extendet tentorium fuum (8) Mede's Works, B. 4. p. 816. fu er eos.

1

Paul Rycaut in his account of the (9) Present State of the Greek Church, speaking of the respect and reverence which the Muscovites have for the fee of Conftantinople, fays also that "the Greeks on the other fide have an "esteem and affection for the Muscovites, as for those "whom ancient prophecies mentioned to be designed by "God, for their avengers and deliverers in after-ages." Which, if it proveth nothing more, yet proveth that the Greek church interpreted this prophecy much in the same sense as we explain it. However this may be, the Port is at all times jealous of the junction of the two powers of Perfia and Ruffia, and exerts all its policy to prevent it. They are certainly two very formidable neighbours to the Turks; and who can fay what tidings may or may not come from thence to trouble the Port? who can fay, how unlikely foever it be at present, that they may not hereafter be made instruments of providence in the restoration of the Jews? Whatever be the motive and occafion, the Turk shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. The original word, which we tranflate utterly to make away (1) fignifies to anathematize, to confecrate, to devote to utter perdition, fo that it strongly implies, that this war should be made upon a religious account. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his camp between the feas in the glorious holy mountain. It is a notion advanced by (2) fome commentators, that here both the Turk and the Pope are fignified, the former of whom hath fixed his feat between the Mediterranean and Euxine feas at Conftantinople, and the latter between the Mediterranean and Adriatic at Rome; both Antichrists, the one without, the other within the temple of God. But such notions are more ingenious than folid, and have rather the resemblance of worth than the fubstance. Between the feas in the glorious holy mountain must denote, as we have shown, fome part of the holy land. There the Turk shall incamp with all his power, yet he shall come to his end, and none

(9) Cap. 3. 83.

)1( החרים Anathematizavit, Anathemate vel anathemati, internecioni, perditioni devovit: Confecravit, De

votum effecit. Buxtorf.

(2) See Poole, and his additional commentators.

Shall

fkall help him, shall help him effectually, or deliver him. The fame times and the fame events seem to be prefignified in this prophecy, as in that of Ezekiel concerning Gog of the land of Magog. He likewife is a northern power. He is reprefented as of (3) Scythian extraction. (XXXVIII. 2.) He cometh from his place out of the north parts. (ver. 15.) His army too is defcribed as confifting chiefly of horses and horsemen, (ver. 4.) He likewife hath Ethiopia and Lybia with him. (ver. 5.) He shall come up against the people of Ifrael in the latter days (ver. 16.) after their return from captivity. (ver. 8.) He too shall incamp upon the mountains of Ifrael (XXXIX. 2.) He shall alfo fall upon the mountains of Ifrael, and all the people that is with him. (ver. 4.) There the divine judgments shall overtake him, (XXXVIII. 22, 23.) and God shall be magnified and fanctified in the eyes of many nations.

At that time there shall be great tribulation, (XII. 1.) fuch as never was fince there was a nation, even to that fame time: And after that shall be the general refurrection, (ver. 2.) and many of them that fleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, fome to everlasting life, and fome to shame and everlasting contempt. They certainly are guilty of manifeft violence and injury to the facred text, and rack and torture the words to confefs a meaning which they never meant, who contend that nothing more was meant in this passage, than the perfecution of the Jews by Antiochus, and the Maccabees after some time coming out of the holes and caves of the earth, wherein they had concealed themselves from the fury and cruelty of their enemies. These critics usually pretend to be strong advocates for the litteral and obvious meaning of the prophecies: but here they pervert the plainest expreffions into figures, and prefer the most forced to the most natural interpretation. The troubles under Antiochus were neither in degree nor in duration to be compared to what the nation had fuffered under Nebuchadnezzar; fo that the time of Antiochus could not be reckoned a time of trouble, such as never was fince there was a nation. The Maccabees too came out of their lurking holes and

(3) Vide Bocharti Phaleg. L. 3. Cap. 13. Col. 117, &c.

caves, and recovered their city, and cleansed the fanctuary, even before the death of Antiochus himself: but the refurrection in this place is defcribed as fomething fubfequent to the deftruction of the king of the north. Befides how could the Maccabees, who were a fett of brave virtuous men, zealoufly devoted to their religion, liberty and country, by coming forth from the rocks and caves to oppose the enemy in the open field, be faid to awake, fome to everlasting life, and fome to shame and everlafting contempt? Such expreffions can with truth and propriety be applied only to the general refurrection of the juft and unjust: and though it be faid many of them that fleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, yet that is no objection to the truth here delivered; for as (4) Theodoret obferved long ago, the prophet had faid many for all, in the fame manner as St. Paul hath put many for all, when he faid, If through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abandoned unto many: (Rom. V. 15.) and again (ver. 19.) As by one man's disobedience many were made finners, fo by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. The proper conclufion of all is the general refurrection, and the confequent happiness of the wife and good; (ver. 3.) And they that be wife, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever

and ever.

The angel having thus finished his prophecy of the things noted in the fcripture of truth, an inquiry is made relating to the time of these events. It was faid before (XI. 40.) At the time of the end shall the king of the fouth push at him: and here the question is afked (ver. 6.) (5) How long shall be the end of these wonders? The anfwer is returned in the most folemn manner, (ver. 7.) that it shall be for a time, times, and a half. A time, times, and a half, as there hath been occafion to show

1 1

in a former differtation, are three prophetic years and a half; and three prophetic years and a half are 1260 prophetic days; and 1260 prophetic days are 1260 years. The fame time therefore is prefixed for the defolation and oppreffion of the eastern church, as for the tyranny of the little horn (VII. 25.) in the western church: And it is wonderfully remarkable, that the doctrine of Mohammed was first forged at Mecca, and the fupremacy of the Pope was established by virtue of a grant from the wicked tyrant Phocas, in the very fame year of Chrift 606. "It is to be observed, fays, (6) Dean Prideaux, "that Mahomet began this imposture about the fame " time that the Bishop of Rome, by virtue of a grant " from the wicked tyrant Phocas, first affumed the title " of Univerfal Paftor, and thereon claimed to himself "that fupremacy which he hath been ever fince endea

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voring to ufurp over the chriftian church. [Phocas " made this grant A. D. 606. which was the very year "that Mahomet retired to his cave to forge that im"posture there, which two years after A. D. 608. he

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began to propagate at Mecca.) And from this time " both having confpired to found themselves an empire " in imposture, their followers have been ever fince en

devoring by the fame methods, that is, those of fire "and fword, to propagate it among mankind; fo that "Antichrift seems at this time to have fet both his feet

upon Christendom together, the one in the east, and "the other in the west; and how much each hath trampled upon the church of Chrift, the ages ever "fincesucceeding have abundantly experienced." There is a farther notation of the time in the following words, And when he shall have accomplished to fcatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished: when the Jews shall be recalled from their difperfion, then all these things shall receive their full and final completion. The prophet, not fufficiently understanding this anfwer (7) inquired, (ver. 8.) What or how long shall be these latter times or latter wonders? And it is answered again, (ver. 11.) that from the time of taking away the daily facrifice,

(9) Life of Mahomet, p. 13. 8th to Harding, p. 181.

Edit. See alfo Bishop Jewel's Reply

מה אחרית אלה (7)

and

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