"God gave the Prophecies, not to gratify Men's Curiosities by enabling them to foreknow things, but that, after they were fulfilled, they might be interpreted by the Event, and his Providence be manifested thereby to the World." SIR I. NEWTON, HE Reproof given by our Saviour to "Time of their Visitation," which they could only know by comparing the circumstances of it with the Prophecies, in which it was foretold, may well be considered as an Admonition to Christians not to suffer to pass without all due notice and attention any extraordinary occurrences of their times, which there may be on that very account reason to suppose to have been the objects of Prophecy. Now the circumstances of the awful times, by which the Christian world has been put into such confusion for the last 20 years, have been so different from the common course of human events, that many writers have been induced to believe, that they are the fulfilment of certain Prophecies of the Scriptures, and they have in consequence taken no small pains to point out their agreement with. them. But I have met with no one who has considered them as agreeing in so many particulars with one part of the Prophecies, as they appear in reality to do. I therefore wish, through the medium of your useful Work, to submit the grounds of my opinion to the consideration of such of your Correspondents as are conversant in such subjects; and shall willingly stand corrected, if they can make it appear that my premises do not warrant, and support, my con clusion. The Prophecy which I allude to, is that of the second Beast mentioned by St. John in the 13th and 17th chapters of his Book of the Revelations, which seems to accord in so many circumstances with the late French Empire, as to make it highly probable that it was the matter intended by it. Rev, xiii. 11. "And I beheld another Beast," &c.] Now to understand what is here intended by a Beast, it is necessary that we should turn to the Book of the Prophet Daniel, where we shall find four great Empires foretold Earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first Beast."] The late Empire of the French certainly exceeded that of Charlemagne by the possession of the whole of Spain and Portugal, with additional parts of Germany. The worship of the Beast may well be thought to mean the fear excited in all countries by the astonishing power obtained by the French Empire over so many Nations, as had before been the case, we may believe, under Charlemagne, and no doubt under the common ancestor of both, the Roman Empire. told under this figure of Beasts. Dariet thus saw in a vision four Em pires to take place in the Heathen world. And St. John was permitted to see two others, or rather two revivals in some sort of Daniel's fourth Beast, as disturbers of the Christian world. And it is certainly somewhat in favour of this interpretation, that mankind have now seen two Empires established in the Christian world. The first under Charlemagne, who was crowned Emperor of Rome by the Pope about the year 800*, and whose Empire extended over all France, part of Spain, all Italy, all "He doeth great Wonders maketh the dominions of Austria, and a large Fire come down from Heaven."] All part of the remainder of what was the neighbouring Nations saw with then called "Germany. The second astonishment the truly wonderful under Buonaparte, who was crowned successes of the French arms in so also an Emperor by the Pope in the many countries which were conquered year 1803 * This latter Empire has so entirely, and in so short a time. comprehended nearly all the territo- The making fire come down from ries of the former, with the addition Heaven plainly alludes to the use of of Prussia, Poland, and the remainder artillery, so unexampled in the late of Spain. An Empire is distinguished dreadful war. 1 In a former chapter from a Kingdom from its containing of this book the Turkish armies are many Kingdoms, either placed under described in a somewhat similar manits power by force of arms, or by the ner: "Out of their mouths issued fire alliances of small States, who seek its and smoke and brimstone." And the protection, and therefore are willing artillery of the Turks was the grand to submit to it. es instrument of all their victories, fu Of this latter Empire, foretold by St. John under the idea of another Beast, we find the following particuJars, and which appear to have been verified in a manner so singular, as scarce to leave a doubt of the correct ness of the application. He had two Horns like a Lamb."] By Horns in the Prophetic language is always meant Kingdoms. But it is a very unusual thing for the same person to be the crowned ruler of two independent States. This, however, did happen to the late Emperor of the French, who was also crowned King of Italy, which kingdom was declared to be an independent State notwithstanding. "He exerciseth all the Power of the first Beast before him, and causeth the * 800 and 1803. These dates are by no means to be passed over unnoticed. It is surely singular that exactly 1000 years should intervene between these Empires. If it be considered that all these Empires are attributed to, and described as under the influence and power of the Dragon, is not this something like Satan's being set at liberty from his imprisonment of 1000 years? "He deceiveth them, that dwell on the Earth by means of those Wonders," &c.] It is unnecessary to bring any proofs how much deceit and treachery aided the French Armies. Their Proclamations breathed nothing but kindness and good-will to every Country which they entered. They professed to come to deliver them from slavery and misery. And by these deceitful arts, added to their truly great and wonderful victories, many Nations were p prevailed upon to join them, and to make an image of the Beast, which had the wound by the sword and did live" that is, erect an Empire like the Roman Empire. "And he hud Power to give Life to the Image, that the Image of the Beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed."] These plans so completely succeeded, that a vast Empire was actually erected. The Decrees of Berlin and Milan, &c. &c. were the speeches of the Beast; and no Nation opposed him, without suffering under his vengeance, if he could get to them. Prussia, Austria, the King. 3. Tyranny of Robespierre. 4. Triumph of the moderate Party.135. Government of three Consuls. 6. Buonaparte Consul for Life. 7. Buonaparte Emperoro ow! so, Austria, Spain, and almost all the countries of Europe, bear witness to this part of his character. 911 with And he causeth all, both small and great, &c. to receive a Mark in their right hand," &c.] The setting" And ten horns.] These are after a mark upon any thing is a proof of property in it, and a right to dispose of it as the owner pleases. Slaves, it is said, were marked in the forehead among the Eastern Nations. And the abject slavery of all countries that had any connexion, whether as friends or subjects, with the French Empire, is a well-known fact., sek No man might buy or sell," &c.] This part of the character of the Beast has been verified in a mauner remarkable beyond all others. Trade was never so interfered with and proscribed in any war before.ngida yana "The number of the Beast," &c.] This is the most difficult point in the whole Prophecy, but it is of little consequence in comparison with all the others. I have somewhere seen it made to accord with the name of the late French Emperor. But, not being able to recollect my authority, I cannot examine the matter as I could wish to do. If well made out, it must be allowed an additional proof of the true application of this Prophecy. Rev, xvii. In this chapter the same Beast is again brought forward, and several new particulars added to point him out. He is represented as Monster of wickedness. A woman appears "seated upon a scarlet-coloured beast, having upon her forehead written Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots aud Abominations of the Earth."And bere again the coincidence is dread fully exact. If the renouncing of all Religion, and the consequent practice of every vice in the most open and abandoned manner in the French Nation, do not fully answer this description, it must be in vain to seek it elsewhere. The Beast must be considered as commencing, with the Revolution. I a Having seven heads."]"The seven heads," says Bp. Newton, "signify seven mountains, and they also signify seven Kings, or forms of Government." And France, it appears, had seven forms of Government in its progress to the Imperial Form. 1. Revolutionary Government with the King. 2. Government without wards explained by the Angel to mean ten Kings. And just so many Kings were set up by the late Ruler of France. King of Etruria 1804. 2. King of Bavaria 1805. 3, King of Wirtemburgh 1805. 4. King of Holland 1806. 5. King of Saxony 1807. 6. King of Westphalia 1807. 7. King of Spain: 8. King of Italy: 9. King of Naples (all in 1808.) 10. King of Rome 1811. It may be perhaps objected, that the Kingdoms of Spain and Naples were not new Kingdoms; but they may be properly so considered, as they were no longer independent Kingdoms, but subject to, and at the entire disposal of, the French Emperor. In the year 1810 an alteration of this list of Kings was mentioned, which, it is very remarkable, would have consisted of precisely the same number. 1. Napoleon King of the Romans. 2. Archduke Charles, King of Spain. 3. Joseph Buonaparte, King of Italy.4. Joachim, King of Poland. 5. Louis Buonąj parte, King of Bavaria. 6. Jerome Buonaparte, King of Wirtemburgh. 7. Frederick of Wirtemburgh, King of Westphalia. 8. Duke of Baden, King of Switzerland. 9. Eugene, King of Macedonia. 10. Prince of Bavaria, King of Holland. slight adtlo z "Receive Power as Kings one hour with the Beast."] They received power as Kings, and the titles of Kings; but I do not recollect hearing that any of them were crowned, except Buona parte as King of Italy. The space of one hour surely indicates, that their reigns should be very short in connexion with the Beast. And that they have been so, is proved by the dates annexed to their names. "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to the Beast."] This is a fact well koowo. The Army led by Buonaparte into Russia consisted of soldiers from all these Kings. "And the ten Horns shall hate the Whore."] This most extraordinary change followed the battle of Leipzig; and these Kingdoms from that time joined the Allies, and entered France with them as Enemies. 86 And "And make her desolate and naked, and eat her flesh, and burn her with fire." This fearful part of the Prophecy seems to be at this very time fulfilling, and, there is every reason to expect, will be amply verified. The Allies are certainly disposed to be as merciful to France as is consistent with their own safety. But, such are the provocations they meet with, and so little disposed are the French in general to return to peace and order, that the Prophecy may be expected to be literally fulfilled. Not wishing to trespass too much upon you, I shall content myself with some observations upon only one more passage of this Prophecy. But this seems to agree so particularly with some very recent transactions, and indeed to throw some light upon some of the most mysterious parts of them, that it must not be omitted. And this is the general description of this Beast given by the Angel in telling the mystery of it to the Apostle. The Beast that thou sawest was, and is not," and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition." The Beast is to be, and not to be, to be again, and then come to its endgo into perdition.—And have we not seen the French Empire occupying a very large part of the Christian world, and ruling it with a most absolute sway? Have we not seen also this that was, and is not, and yet is." And BIBLIANDER's Apology for the Eng- Mr. URBAN, Nov. 10. are not so largely insisted on by Dr. Empire cease to be? Were not peo- THEolorized English version" In his letter of August 10, 1815, containing a copy of one sent by him to the Duke of Kent, he tells his Royal Highness, that "to the ques tion made by the Rev. J. B. Bristowe, |