and ordering of thefe matters he had intelligence with them that forfook the holy covenant, Menelaus and the other apoftate Jews of his party, who were the king's chief inftigators against their religion and their country. For (6) as the writer of the firft book of Maccabees fays,

In thofe days went there out of Ifrael wicked men, "who perfuaded many, faying, Let us go,, and make a "covenant with the leathen, that are round about us : "Then certain of the people were fo forward herein, "that they went to the king, who gave them licence to "do after the ordinances of the Heathen: And they "made themfelves uncircumcifed, and forfook the holy covenant, and joined themfelves to the Heathen, and "were fold to do mifchief." Jofephus has plainly (7). afcribed the diftrefs of his country to the factions among his countrymen, and to thofe perfons particularly who fled to Antiochus, and befought him that under their conduct he would invade Judea,

66

Itu may be proper to ftop here, and reflect a little how particular and circumftantial this prophecy is concerning the kingdoms of Egypt and Syria,, from the death of Alexander to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. There is not fo complete and regular a feries of their kings, there is not fo concife and comprehenfive an account of their affairs, to be found in any author of thofe times. The prophecy is really more, perfect than any history. No one hiftorian hath related fo many circumftances, and in fuch exact order of time, as the prophet hath foretold them: fo that it was neceffary to have recourfe to feveral authors, Greek and Roman, Jewish and Chrif tian; and to collect here fomething from one, and to collect there fomething from another, for the better explaining and illuftrating the great variety of particulars contained in this prophecy. We have been particularly obliged to Porphyry and Jerome, who made ufe of the fame authors for different purpofes, and enjoyed the advantages of having thofe hiftories entire, which have

(6) 1 Macc. I. 11, 13, 15, (7) Jofephus de Bell. Jud. Lib. 1. Cap. 1. Sect. 1. p. 958. Edit. Hudfon. οἱ δὲ καταφυγόντες προς Αντιοχον ἱκετευσαν, αυτοις ηγεμιση χρωμένον,

fince either in whole or in part been deftroyed. For (8) they had not only Polybius, Diodorus, Livy, Trogus Pompeius, and Juftin, fome parts of whofe works are now remaining; but they had likewife Sutorius Callini cus, Hieronymus, Pofidonius, Claudius Theon, and Andronicus Alipins, hiftorians who wrote of thofe times, and whofe works have fince entirely perifhed. If thefe authors were fiill extant, and thofe who are extant were ftill complete, the great exactnefs of the prophecy might in all probability have been proved in more particulars than it hath been. This exactnefs was fo convincing, that Porphyry could not pretend to deny it; he rather labored to confirm it, and drew this inference from it, that the prophecy was fo very exact, that it could not poffibly have been written before, but must have been written in, or foon after the time, of Antiochus Epiphanes, all being true and exact to that time, and no farther. Others after him have afferted the fame thing, not only without any proof, but contrary to all the proofs, which can be had in cafes of this nature, as it hath been shown in a former differtation. The prophecy indeed is wonderfully exact to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, but it is equally fo beyond that time, as you will evidently perceive, in the fequel, which cannot all with any propriety be applied to Antiochus, but extends to remoter ages, and reaches even to the general refurrection. No one could thus declare the times and the feafons (Acts I. 7.) but he who hath them in his power.

(8) Ad intelligendas autem extremas partes Danielis, multiplex Græcorum hiftoria neceffaria eft; Suctorii videlicet, Callinici, Diodori, Hieronymi, Polybii, Polidonii, Claudii Theonis, et Andronici cognomento Alipii, quos et Porphyrius effe fe fecutum dicit: Jofephi quoque et eorum quos ponit Jofephus, præcipue que noftri Livii, et Pompeii Trogi, atque Juftini, qui omnem extreme

vifionis parrant hiftoriam. Hieron. Præf. in Dan. Col. 1074. Edit. Benedict. Sutorii videlicet Callinici, Diodori, Hieronymi, Polybii, Pfidonii, Claudii Theonis, et Andronici cognomento Alipii. Ita eum locum emenda. In vulgatis eft Sutorius et ante Callinicus diftinguitur, quafi a Sutorio fit diverfus. Voflius de Hift. Græc. Lib. 2. Cap. 13.

Bb 4

XVII,

THE

XVII.

THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.

PART II.

HUS far the meaning and the completion of the prophecy is fufficiently clear and evident; there is more obfcurity and difficulty in the part that remains to be confidered. Thus far commentators are in the main agreed, and few or none have deviated much out of the common road: but hereafter they purfue fo mapy different paths, that it is not always eafy to know whom it is beft and fafeft to follow. Some (1) as Porphyry among the ancients, and Grotius among the moderns, contend that the whole was litterally accomplished in Antiochus Epiphanes. Others, (2) as Jerome and most of the Chriftian fathers, confider Antiochus as a type of Antichrift; as in the feventy-fecond pfalm Solomon is exhibited as a type of Chrift, and many things are faid of the one, which are only applicable to the other. Some again understand what remains, partly of the tyranny of Antiochus, and partly of the great apoftafy of the latter days, or the day's of the Roman empire. Others again apply it wholly to the invafion and tyranny of the Romans, the fubfequent corruptions in the church, and alterations in the empire. There is no writer or com mentator, whom we would choofe to follow implicitly in all things; but in this we may agree with one, in that with another, and in fome inftances perhaps differ from all.

(1) Cætera quæ fequunter ufque ad finem voluminis, ille [Porphyrius] interpretatur fuper perfona Antiochi qui cognominatus eft Epiphanes, &c. Hieron. Col. 1127.

(2) Noftri autem hæc omnia de Antichrifto prophetari abitrantur Quumque multa quæ p ftea lecturi et expofituri fumus, fuper Antiochi

perfona non conveniant, typum eum volunt Antichrifti habere-juxta illud quod de Domino Salvatore in feptua gefimo primo [fecundo apud Hebr. et Sept.] pfalmo dicitur, qui prænotatur Salomonis; et omnia quæ de eq dicuntur, Salomoni non valent convenire, &c. Hieron. ibid.

The

The prophet proceeds thus, (ver. 31.) And arms fhall ftand on his part, and they shall pollute the fanctuary of Strength, (the temple fo called by reafon of its fortifications) and fhall take away the daily facrifice, and they hall place the abomination that maketh defolate. Porphyry and his adherents (3) would have thofe to be fignified, who were fent by Antiochus two years after he had spoiled the temple, that they might exact tribute from the Jews, and take away the worthip of God, and place in the temple of Jerufalem the image of Jupiter Olympius, and the statues of Antiochus, which are here called the abomination of defolation. And it is very true, (4) as the writer of the first book of Maccabees faith, that Apollonius and others commiffioned by Antiochus did “ pol"lute the fanctuary, and forbid burnt-offerings, and "facrifice, and drink-offerings in the temple, and fet "up the abomination of defolation upon the altar, and “builded idol-altars throughout the cities of Juda on ས་ every fide." Jofephus likewife (5) affirms, that Antiochus forbad the Jews to offer the daily facrifices, which they offered to God according to the law: He compelled them alfo to leave off the fervice of their God, and to worship those whom he esteemed Gods; and to build temples and erect altars to them in every city and village, and to facrifice fwine upon them every day. This interpretation therefore might very well be admitted, if the other parts were equally applicable to Antiochus; but the difficulty, or rather impoffibility of applying them to Antiochus, or any of the Syrian kings

vetuit, vayaos ♪ aules apeμenes της περί των αυτων Θεον θρησκείας τις υπ' αυτε νομιζομενες σεβεσθαι οικοδομησανίας δε εν έκατη πολει και κωμη τεμενη αυλων και βωμός καθώς δρύσαντας θύειν επ' αυτοις συς καθ'

pav. Coegit etiam eos, Dei ipfo rum cultu omiffo, eos colere quos iple Deos exiftimaret; et cum fana ipforum oppidatim vicatimque exquoti

die ibi immorale fues. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. 12. Cap. 5. δε. 4. p. 533 Euit. Hudson,

his fucceffors, obliges us to look out for another interpretation. Jerome and the Chriftians of his time (6) contend, that all these things were a type of Antichrift, who is about to fit in the temple of God, and to make himfelf as God; but the fathers had very confused and imperfect notions of Antichrift, the prophecies relating to him having not then received their completion. All things duly confidered, no interpretation of this paffage appears fo rational and convincing, as that propofed by Sir (7) Ifaac Newton. "In the fame year that Antio"chus by the command of the Romans retired out of "Egypt, and fet up the worship of the Greeks in Judea ;

the Romans conquered the kingdom of Macedon, "the fundamental kingdom of the empire of the Greeks, "and reduced it into a Roman province; and thereby "began to put an end to the reign of Daniel's third beaft. This is thus expreffed by Daniel And after "him arms, that is the Romans, shall stand up. As fignifies (8) after the king, Dan. XI. 8; fo 12 may fignify after him. Arms are every where in this prophecy of Daniel put for the military power of a king"dom; and they ftand up when they conquer and grow powerful. Hitherto Daniel defcribed the actions "of the kings of the north and fouth; but upon the con"queft of Macedon by the Romans, he left off defcrib "ing the actions of the Greeks, and began to deferibe

thofe of the Romans in Greece. They conquered "Macedon, Illyricum, and Epirus, in the year of Na"bonaffar 580; 35 years after, by the laft will and testa"ment of Attalus the laft king of Pergamus, they in

herited that rich and florithing kingdom, that is, all "Afia weftward of mount Taurus; 69 years after they "conquered the kingdom of Syria, and reduced it into "a province, and 34 years after they did the like to "Egypt. By all these steps the Roman arms food up

(6) Quæ univerfa in typo Antichrifti, noftri præceffiffe contendunt; qui feffurus eft in templo Dei, et le facturus ut Deum. Hieron. ibid.

(7) Sir Ifaac Newton's Obfervations on Daniel, Chap. 12. p. 188, &c. See allo Chap. 9. p. 125, &c.

(8) Sony Nehem. XIII. 21. is after that time or from that time forth. So likewife in this very chap.

is tranflated מן התהברות אליו .23 .ver

after the league made with him. See the particle a in Noldius and Taylor's Concordance.

(6 over