the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer thrashing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." Under the similitude of the image, is set forth the several kingdoms of the earth which should successively rise up to bear rule among the nations, which should, by the stone cut out without hands, be dashed to pieces, and scattered like the chaff of the summer threshing-floor: the golden head of which image represented the Babylonish monarchy, which then was; the breast and arms of silver, the monarchy of the Medes and Persians, which was founded by Darius the Mede, and Cyrus the Persian, who were allied to each other, therefore are represented by the two arms inserted in one breast-which monarchy, according to scripture chronology, lasted about one hundred and thirty years; the belly and thighs of brass, predicted the Grecian monarchy, whose founder was Alexander, and by him was conquered the last of the Persian empires. This was the third kingdom of brass; though inferior in wealth to the other two, yet was it stronger; and as the prediction declared that the third kingdom of brass should bear rule over all the earth, so it came to pass, for, as history records, Alexander boasted that he had conquered all the world, and then sat down and wept, because he had not another world to conquer. The fourth kingdom was to be as strong as iron: "forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise."

Here is evidently set forth the Roman monarchy; a kingdom strong as iron, which brake in pieces all other kingdoms; for she broke in pieces the Grecian empires, which were founded by Alexander, and after that destroyed the kingdom of the Jews. But soon after that event, the Roman

power began to decline. “And, whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter's clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay." Thus was the latter state of the Roman kingdom predicted, when she divided into several kingdoms, some strong like iron, some weak as clay; when her government was divided between the senate, the people, the nobles, and the commons, because of several strifes between Cæsar and Pompey, Sylla and Marcus. Thus most evidently was the decline of that empire symbolized; and, notwithstanding the several branches of the royal family sought to unite themselves by intermarrying, to the end that they might, through such licy, form a stronger barrier to the encroachments of the other barbarian nations, yet they could not avert their doom; and the total downfall of Pagan Rome was perfectly consummated. But, to the text again.

THE STONE CUT OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN.

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"In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdam shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that a stone was

cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure."

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The kingdom of Christ is here represented under the figure of "a stone cut out of the mountain without hands," which stone, in verse 35, it is predicted should fill the whole earth, and break in pieces the great regal image, and scatter the kingdoms of the earth like the chaff of the summer threshing-floor. But it was cut out without hands; that is, it should not be brought about by human policy or power. And, when our blessed Lord was upon the earth, instead of the rulers of the earth (and especially those of his own nation) aiding him in his benevolent design, and rejoicing in his kingdom, they all conspired against him, as it is written, Psa. ii. 2, "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder," (the plural pronoun "their" referring to the Godhead and humanity, the Lord Jehovah and his Anointed,)" and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision." Ver. 9. " 'Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;" (probably referring to the Roman power, which broke up the Jewish nation;) "thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Referring to the reprobate Jews, at the destruction of Jerusalem, who in their frenzy destroyed each other; therefore it says," Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings; be in

structed, ye judges of the earth." Thus are the kings and judges of the earth admonished to take warning from the awful example which God made of the Jews, for rejecting and killing the Lord of life and glory.

But, how have the kings and judges of the earth regarded the admonition? Alas, they have almost invariably risen up against his righteous government, and, in their pride and cruel malice, sought to extirate his seed from the earth. But he who saw from the beginning every thing which should transpire to the end, hath laughed at them; for, while they, in their pride and malice, have tried to root up his kingdom, they have only been fulfilling the word of prophecy; and, while they in their kingdoms have filled up the measure of their iniquity, drank to the dregs the cup of wrath, received the awful retribution of their crimes, and sank into oblivion, the church of Christ still lives, and increases; and the voice of Revelation is still arrayed in woeful sentences against them. For there is recorded in that book, in predictions awfully sublime, the rise, the progress, and direful doom of Satan's kingdom, in all the multifarious forms it would assume, from Jerusalem's overthrow by pagan Rome, until the second coming of the Lord of life and glory, with all his saints, to reign for evermore. But, before that glorious morn arrives, a long and dreary night was to elapse-a night of woes terrific, wherein six vials full of wrath are poured upon the nations, the members of the beast, the offspring of perdition-a night of darkness which may be felt," but yet not total darkness to the church of Christ, to whom the sacred mysteries are re

vealed. No, she by faith mounts up above the world-views Christ her blessed Lord overruling the destinies of the nations; she knows the promise, that all things shall work together for good to them that fear him, and look for his appearing. And, like as the moon catches the rays of the sun, and shines resplendent in the midnight darkness, so does the church of Christ shine refulgent with the bright righteousness of her Lord, the Sun of righteousness, and reflect his brightness to the dying world; and, though she oft hath been obscured for a season behind the dark and heavy cloud of persecution, yet, like the moon, she still her course is sailing, and, with life and immortality in view, she eyes the raging tumult of the nations, and knowing that in this world she hath no abiding city, she keeps in view her everlasting rest, where, with Christ she will for ever reign— a city not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Therefore she is not distracted at passing events, because she is well persuaded, that He in whom she hath believed is able to deliver her from the cruel persecution of wicked men, or else enable her to endure the same; yea, even to rejoice in persecution, being fully persuaded, that, as the Captain of her salvation entered into glory by the same path, so it must be the right way to the city of habitation.

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