the exact counterpart of that belonging to the first, beast; who had his authority from the dragon, or imperial Rome. But Mahometanism is exactly characterized by such an ecclesiasticopolitical symbol.

Against the application of the vision of the second beast to Mahometanism, some objections have been raised, which, however forcible they may appear at first sight, on examination may be found materially to strengthen and confirm this interpretation of the prophecy. Thus it is asked, How can Mahometanism be said "to worship the first beast," or the Papal power? How, "to exercise all the authority of the first beast before him ?" How, to enjoin "them that dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast?" How, itself, "to give life unto the image of the beast ?" &c.

On these, and several similar objections, I would observe, that the great error of the objectors appears to lie in their omission to regard the Papacy and Mahometanism in the light in which the prophecy here undoubtedly presents the two beasts, namely, exclusively in their characters of antichristian powers. In this, the only proper aspect, the comparison of Mahometanism with the Papacy is as just and apposite as a comparison between any two anti

christian powers, nominally Christian; and thus contemplated, every expression objected against, in the second part of the vision, has its true and appropriate reference to the first part.

The second beast, or the Mahometan apostasy, may properly be said to cause mankind to worship the first beast, or the Papal apostasy, in the sense intended in the prophecy. For the worship mentioned in the twelfth verse is explained, in the fifteenth, as offered, not to the first beast, but to the image of the first beast, to which the second had power to give life. If we are to follow the geographical marks laid down in the prophecy, this image cannot be more correctly interpreted, than of an antichristian tyranny to be erected in the East, wearing the resemblance of a previously existing antichristian tyranny in the West: in other words, than of Mahometanism, as the counterpart of Popery; or rather of that great antichristian tyranny, which found its maturity in the erection of the Papal power.

For the first beast, it must here be observed, seems intended to represent, not so much the Papacy specifically, as the Papacy in its generic character, as western head of antichrist. Now, though the western antichrist reached its maturity not earlier than the commencement of the

seventh century, the leaven which produced it was actively at work in the first. For Saint Paul, in his vivid prediction of the Papal apostasy (2 Thess. ii. 3-12.), expressly acquaints the primitive churches, that "the mystery of iniquity doth already work."

The western antichristian tyranny, then, which issued in the domination of Papal Rome, and which is figured by the first beast, clearly had its existence before the second beast, or the eastern antichristian tyranny. When Mahomet, therefore, set up in the East his rival, but cognate, apostasy, he is, with strict propriety, described as causing "the earth and them that dwell therein," that is, the East and its inhabit ants, to worship the living image of the first beast, — of the previously existing western antichrist; the later, and imitative apostasy, being justly characterized, as the image or likeness of the earlier and original one.

But Mahometanism may, in a sense yet more appropriate, be entitled the image of Popery. For the Papal antichrist sprang up within the Christian church; while the Mahometan antichrist was only grafted upon it. The latter apostasy may, therefore, be most justly regarded as bearing the same relation to the former, which the

image or likeness bears to the original,

shadow to the substance.

the

The Papacy, again, from the rank of a Christian church, had degenerated into an antichristian power: but Mahometanism, while it became an antichristian power, never had held the place of a Christian church.

Popery, lastly, derived its relation to Christianity, by genuine descent; while Mahometanism acquired its place as a Christian heresy, solely by arbitrary imitation.

Thus, in whatever aspect we regard it, the antichristian tyranny erected by Mahometanism in the East, seems accurately delineated in Saint John's vision, as the image of the first beast, set up, and given life to, by the second.

In a sense precisely corresponding with that in which the second beast, or the Mahometan apostasy, may be said to have set up the image, it can further be shown to have fulfilled another condition of the prophecy; to have exercised all the authority of the first beast before him.

The authority of the first beast is expressly stated in the vision to have been conferred on him by the dragon, which "gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.” A statement which perfectly describes the Papacy; a power whose authority was not pro

perly its own, but derived from the Roman empire; and which sat in the seat of that empire, to rule over the nations.

Now, when it is said of the second beast, that "he exercised all the authority of the first beast, before his face," the expression by no means intimates, that his authority was derived from the first beast, but only that it was the same, or of the same kind, with the authority of the first; and not only independent of, but even opposed to, that authority; the phrase "before his face," having the force of hostile opposition. * The authority thus characterized is accurately descriptive of the Mahometan domination, which exercised in the East a persecuting tyranny, the same in character with that employed by the Papal antichrist in the West; which especially vented its kindred spirit of persecution, in hostile encounters with the Papal power; and which, instead of deriving its authority from the dragon, or Roman empire, seized on all the authority of that empire by force, and wielded the arms of the eastern, for the subversion of the western, division of it.

The independent authority exercised by the

* The expression is a Hebraism; and is to be understood in the same sense with the equivalent prediction concerning Ishmael, " He shall dwell in the presence (literally, before the face) of all his brethren."