CHAP. XXV. Page 167 The same subject continued... CHAP. XXVI. Retrospective and comparative view of the state of England, during the greater part of the eighteenth century...... 179 CHAP. XXVII. Retrospective and comparative view of the state of England, from the beginning of the French revolution to the end of the revolutionary war CHAP. XXVIII. Retrospective and comparative view of the state of England, from the end of the revolutionary war to the present period.. ... CHAP. XXIX. The same subject continued 186 198 ... 208 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. It is well known to the student of prophecy, that both Daniel and St. John agree in predicting a remarkable period, in which during the space of 1260 years the church of Christ, throughout the western part of the Roman empire * It may facilitate the following discussion to state, that by the western part of the Roman empire the writer intends to designate all that portion of Europe which lies to the west of Greece, and is bounded on the north generally by the Danube and the Rhine; which is sometimes called also the Latin Kingdom, or the Papal Earth, and com B 、 under its last divided form, would be oppressed, corrupted, and persecuted by the civil and ecclesiastical powers, bearing the name of Christ, and professing to act by his authority. It is no less clear, that the same inspired writers unite in predicting a second period, which shall commence at the expiration of the former, and in the course of which these tyrannical powers, after being wasted by a series of desolating judgments, shall at length be utterly broken; and the church, being by degrees emancipated from bondage, shall make a rapid advance towards her promised millenial glory. With respect to the duration of this second period, St. John furnishes no precise information; though he details at considerable length prises the ten kingdoms into which, on the overthrow of the Western Empire, it was originally divided; though amidst succeeding fluctuations it may not have always retained precisely the same number. several interesting and important events, which will successively occur in its progress. Whereas Daniel, on the other hand, while he more cursorily notices these events, tells us by implication, that the period in question will occupy a space of seventy-five years: for "blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five-and-thirty days."* This period thus defined, the prophet further calls "The Time of the End ;" a name, descriptive of the nature of those events, by which it will be distinguished: for it is within this period, that God will gradually put an end to the triumphs of his enemies, to the sufferings of his church, and to the dispersion of the Jews. There is also another feature, which strongly characterises this eventful period; namely, that it is the period, in which, as it advances, the vail of prophecy will by degrees be lifted up; and the seal, which * Daniel, xii. 12. has hitherto been placed upon these mysteries, be finally removed. * The dispensations of Providence, during this period of time, will so strikingly concur with the predictions of Scripture, that the obscurity, in which they have been previously enveloped, will be gradually dispersed; while the increasing diffusion of light, thus vouchsafed to the church, will furnish her with additional grounds for her faith, with fresh weapons for her warfare, and with enlarged anticipations of approaching victory. * Daniel, xii. 4. 9. |