distinct from each other, is manifest, not only from their different symbolical conformation, but from the express words of the prophet: "I beheld," says he," another beast." Hence it is plain, that the second apocalyptic beast cannot be a temporal universal empire: both because it is physically impossible, that two temporal empires, each univer sal so far as the Church is concerned, should exist together; and because, if the second beast of the Apocalypse were a temporal empire, it would be a fifth temporal empire, whereas Daniel declares that there shall only be four. But, if the second beast be not a temporal empire, it must be a spiritual empire; for nothing but a spiritual empire can coexist with a temporal empire. Accordingly, we find this to be the very case: for St. John, as if to prevent the possibility of error, explicitly informs us, that the second beast should be a false prophet*, or an ecclesiastical power; which, under the pretence of a divine commission, should grievously corrupt the genuine Gospel of Christ †.

Here then we have a plain prediction of some spiritual power, which should come in the name of God as a sound evangelical prophet or preacher; which should arrogate to itself universal or catholic

* Compare Rev. xiiì. 12-17, with Rev. xix. 20.

+"The false prophet," says Bp. Newton very justly, "is a

body or succession of men propagating false doctrines, and "teaching lies for sacred truths." The second beast is manifestly styled a false prophet in direct opposition to the two mystic wit. nesses, who are the true prophets of God.”

authority in religious matters; which should coexist upon the most friendly terms with the tenhorned temporal empire, instigating it to persecute, during the space of 42 prophetic months or 1260 years, all such as should dare to dispute its usurped domination; and which, in short, should solve the symbolical problem of two contemporary beasts, by exhibiting to the world the singular spectacle of a complete empire within an empire. Where we are to look for this power, since the great Roman beast was divided into ten horns, and during the period of his existence under his last secular head the Carlovingian line of feudal Emperors, let the impartial voice of history determine: and that voice without hesitation will declare, that the catholic church of Rome, the spiritual empire of which the Pope is the allowed head, can alone answer to the prophetic description of such a power*. At its first rise, the Papacy appears in the book of Daniel only as a little horn springing out of the first

The Papists, by a wonderful fatality, have constantly styled themselves Catholics, and their particular church the catholic Church; thus holding themselves forth as members of the body of the second beast, or catholic ecclesiastical empire. In this sense of the word, we readily concede to them the title of Catholics: in its genuine sense, as importing members of the spiritual body of Christ, we claim the title no less than themselves. These pretended Catholics the Church of England. uniformly denominates Papists; and, as I have no inclination to uncatholicise myself, I have throughout the present work adopted her phraseology in preference to the more fashionable one of the day.

or

or secular beast: but that little horn is repre sented as soon becoming exceeding powerful, and as influencing the actions of the whole beast. When the saints were given into its hand in the year 606, the papal kingdom became an universal spiritual empire; and, as such, it is represented by St. John under the symbol of a distinct beast having a proper head and horns of his own. That the little horn of the Roman beast typifies the same power as the second apocalyptic beast, is manifest indeed from this circumstance: Daniel, who fully delineates the character of the little horn, is entirely silent respecting the two-horned beast ; and St. John, who as fully delineates the character of the two-horned beast, is entirely silent respecting the little horn. Accordingly we find, that the little horn and the two-horned beast, act precisely in the same capacity; each exercising all the power of the first beast before him, each being a false seer or prophet, and each perishing in one common destruction with the first or secular beast *.

1. The second beast sprung up out of the earth, and is described as being another beast perfectly distinct from the first-In the language of the Apocalypse, the earth denotes the Roman empire † :

the

* Compare Dan. vii. 8, 11, 21, 25, 26. with Rev. xiii. 5, 7, 12, 15, 16, 17. and xix. 20.

Mr. Mede and Bp. Newton suppose, that the beast rising out of the earth means, that the power typified by the beast should grow up like a plunt silently and without noise, intimitating further that

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the spiritual power therefore, symbolized by the beast, must be sought for within the limits of that empire. There accordingly we find the ecclesiastical empire of the Pope. The sixth head of the temporal beast long claimed and exercised supremacy over the Church: but, in the year 606, the tyrant Phocas constituted Pope Boniface supreme head in spirituals, and bestowed upon him the title of Universal Bishop. In this year then the second

that "the greatest prelates have often been raised from monks and men of the lowest birth and parentage."' Mr. Whitaker and Dr. Zouch, confining without any just warrant the character of the beast to the monastic orders, think that the phrase 'implies his rise in the East; and Mr. Whitaker adds, that it may party allude to the rise of those orders in times of peace and prosperity. Both these interpretations scem to me to be needless, not to say unauthorized refinements. Since the earth, throughout the whole Apocalypse means the Roman empire, and no where more decidedly so than in the present chapter, what occasion is there to annex to it here a fresh idea? The prophet had just before declared, that the whole earth wondered after the great Romun beast, and that all that dwell upon the earth should worship him (Rev. xiii. 3, 8.); and he now proceeds to inform us, that he beheld another beast coming up out of the earth (Rev. xiii. 11.), teaching us afterwards that this other beast should deceive those that dwelt on the earth (Rev. xiii. 14.). Now it is only reasonable to suppose, that what the word earth means in one part of a chapter, it should · meau in another. Since then the earth which wondered after the Roman beast can only mean those who dwelt upon that earth, and since those who duelt upon the earth can only mean the inhabitants of the Roman empire; we must surely conclude, that, when a beast is said to come up out of this very earth, the Roman empire Is here likewise intended.

beast,

beast, or the universal empire of the Pope, arose out of the earth and it has ever been the policy of its ruler to separate it from the temporal empire, to keep it perfectly distinct as an imperium in imperio, and never to suffer it to lose its prophetic Character of "another beast.” To cite history for the purpose of proving so well known a fact seems almost superfluous, nevertheless I cannot refrain from noticing a single incident which amply explains the nature of this policy of the Popes. When Edward the first of England wished to impose a tax upon the Clergy, "Boniface the eighth,

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who had succeeded Celestine in the papal throne, was determined to resume the authority which "had been for some time relaxed by his prede

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cessors, and to become the protector of the spi“ritual order, against all invaders. For this purpose he issued very early in his pontificate a general bull, prohibiting all princes from levying without his consent any taxes upon the clergy, and all clergymen from submitting to "such impositions; and he threatened both of "them with the penalties of excommunication "in in case of disobedience. No sooner therefore "had the king made his demand on the clergy of the fifth of their moveables, than they in"trenched themselves under the bull of Pope Boniface, and pleaded conscience in refusing to comply with the requisition. Edward avoided proceeding immediately to extremities on this. "account; but, having given orders to lock up

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