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try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the last because it is yet for a time appointed.

For those Romano-Greek Emperors of the Romans, who cast down the sanctuary, mighty by the Popes, Emperors, and regal decemvirate of the West, act according to their pleasure in the affairs of the church, setting their own authority above the word of God, and imposing their dogmas on the church by the power of the sword. And though indeed they may profess to know the true God, yet in works they disregard Him, as they do also all other gods, which their ancestors worshipped, as Jupiter, Venus or Astarte, and the like: which, as was generally the case, it might be presumed they would have honoured, when they rejected the true God. But no, rather than do either, they introduce a new and unheard-of superstition, the worship of those whom they know to be dead men, guardian-saints, and also angels; and the strenuous supporters of this novel idolatry, the Romish clergy, they reward with enormous grants of lands.

36 For that king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that 37 is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the god of his fathers, nor the Desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall mag38 nify himself above all. But for a god, guardians shall he honour instead, and for a god, whom his fathers knew not, shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and with pleasant 39 things. Thus shall he do to the supporters of

the guardians, the people who shall strenuously uphold the god, he will multiply honour, and cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for their reward.

But at last the Saracens from the South or Arabia, at the same time that they despoil these heads of the Romano-Greek Empire of Syria and Egypt, A.D. 638, Africa, A.D. 709, and Spain, A.D. 713, attack them in their capital, Constantinople, A.D. 668-675, 716-718, and 781-805. The Ottoman Turks also from the North, becoming possessed of the Asiatic provinces, pass over into Europe, A.D. 1341, lay siege to Constantinople with an immense force, A.D. 1453, and take it. They become possessed also of Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, A.D. 1517; though the countries bordering upon Palestine escape from under their yoke. The Cushites also, or the inhabitants of Arabia Felix, become subject to them under Soliman II. 1534, and the Libyans or Africans, 1545.

40 But at last the king of the south shall push at him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots and with horsemen, and with many ships; and shall enter into the countries, and overflow and pass 41 over and shall enter into the glorious land, and

many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42 Yea, he shall stretch forth his hand upon the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not But he shall have power over the

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treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and Cushites shall be at his steps.

Besides the attack from the Saracens and Ottoman Turks, the Eastern Emperors of the Romans undergo great alarm from the irruptions of the three Turkish dynasties of Persia from the East and North, viz. the Seljukians, Atabeks, and Kharismians into their Empire, A.D. 1050-1300; and being mighty rather by the decemvirate of the West, the Latins, (though indeed the Latins themselves are masters of the Romano-Greek Empire from 1204-1261,) than by any power of their own, through them they make the seven memorable crusades against the invaders, A. D. 1095-1270, in which the Latins commit the most horrid cruelties upon the infidels. On the capture of Antioch, 1098, they massacre 10,000 of the inhabitants: on the taking of the city of Jerusalem, where they plant the tabernacles of their palace by raising it into a kingdom which lasts from 1099-1210, they massacre from 70,000 to 100,000 more. Yet notwithstanding this assistance from the West at that time, the Eastern Romano-Greek Emperors at last come to their end by the Ottoman Turks, A.D. 1453, when not a power from the West again support them. Henceforward the Romano-Greek Empire is not and yet is.

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44 And tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Soon after the overthrow of the Greek Empire, it was that our blessed Lord stood up for his church by the Reformation, A.D. 1518, and helped his people with a little help; though many of them are oppressed to the last. Then commerce began to flourish and extend its intercourse more widely; and learning and science made great progress. In the first stage of the standing, which lasts from 1518, to 1688, a time indeed of trouble, Europe

was desolated by civil wars on account of religion, which must have eventually plunged it again into a state of barbarism. The second stage, which lasts from 1688 (when the seal seems to have been put to the wars of the Reformation by the establishment of the Protestant succession in our country,) to 1775, was marked by the bloody wars of ambition, caused principally by the houses of Austria and Bourbon, Charles XII. of Sweden, Peter the Great, and Frederic III. of Prussia. The third stage, which lasts from 1775, the beginning of the American war, to 1804, was conspicuous for the downfal of thrones and the subversion of social order. The fourth stage, which lasts from 1804 to the battle of Waterloo, 1815, is remarkable for the military despotism of Buonaparte. The fifth stage, which lasts from 1815 to 1828, is characterized by the efforts of the Holy Alliance to check the progress of constitutional liberty. The sixth stage, under which we live, brings the overthrow of the Ottoman Turks, and the accomplishment of the scattering of the power of the holy people, when the last grand conflict between truth and falsehood takes place, the battle of the great day of God Almighty, the slaughter of the witnesses, at Armageddon. On the seventh stage the contest is accomplished: and then comes the tremendous overthrow of all civil and religious despotism, an universal revolution, and the kingdom of the first resurrection of the saints. In 1843 the sanctuary is cleansed. Surely I come quickly. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

XII. 1. And at that time shall Michael stand up,

the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time shall thy people be delivered, every one that 2 shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and 3 everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall

shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars 4 for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut

up the words, and seal the book even to the last ; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

The prosperity of Antichrist is to last 1260 years, and the abomination of desolation, or the scattering of the power of the holy people, 1290, when their desolation will be accomplished. They are blessed who arrive at the commencement of the period of the 1335 years. Daniel is to stand in his lot at the end of the 1290 years.

5 Then I Daniel looked, and Behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of 6 the river. And one said to the man clothed in

linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever, that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 8 And I heard but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these 9 things? And he said, Go thy way Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the last. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and

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