this vifion the Roman empire is not defigned at large, but only the Roman empire as a horn of the goat. When the Romans first got footing in Greece, then they became a horn of the goat. Out of this horn they came, and were at first a little horn, but in procefs of time overtopped the other horns. From Greece they extended their arms, and overran the other parts of the goat's dominions: and their actions within the dominions of the goat, and not their affairs in the western empire, are the principal subject of this prophecy. But their actions, which are most largely and particularly specified, are their great perfecution and oppreffion of the people of God; which renders it probable, that the appellation of the little horn might be given them for the fame reason, that the great perfe-cutor and oppreffor of the faints in the western empire is also called the little born. It is the fame kind of power, and therefore might be fignified by the fame name.

It will appear too, that the time agrees better with the Romans. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the tranfgreffors are come to the

full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. Antiochus Epiphanes might be faid indeed to ftand up in the latter time of their kingdom; because Macedonia, the first of the four kingdoms, was conquered and reduced into a Roman province, during his reign. But when he stood up, the tranfgrefors in the Jewish nation were not come to the full; for when he began to reign, (1) Onias was highpriest of the Jews, and the temporal as well as ecclefiaftical government was at this time in the hands of the high-prieft, and this Onias was a moft worthy good magiftrate, as well as a most venerable pious prieft. As the author of the second book of Maccabees faith, (2 Mac. III. 1.) the holy city was inhabited with all peace, and the laws were kept very well, because of the godliness of Onias the high-prieft, and his hatred of wickednefs. It was after this time, that the great corruptions were introduced into the Jewish church and nation; and they were introduced chiefly through the means of Antiochus, by his direction, or under his authority. The Romans might much better be faid to ftand up in the latter time of their kingdom, who faw the end not only of

(1) For thefe and many particulars which follow, the two books of Maccabees, and Jo

one

fephus his Antiquities of the Jews must be confulted.

(2) See

one kingdom, but of all the four; who first subdued the kingdom of Macedon and Greece, and then inherited by the will of Attalus the kingdom of Pergamus, which was the remains of the kingdom of Lyfimachus, and afterwards made a province of the kingdom of Syria, and laftly of the kingdom of Egypt. When the Romans ftood up too, the tranfgreffions were come to the full; for the high-priesthood was expofed to fale; good Onias was ejected for a sum of money to make room for wicked Jafon, and Jafon was again fupplanted for a greater sum of money by a worse man (if poffible) than himfelf, his brother Menelaus; and the golden veffels of the temple were fold to pay for the facrilegious purchase. At the same time the customs of the heathen nations were introduced among the Jews; the youth were trained up and exercifed after the manner of the Greeks; the people apoftatized from the true religion, and even the priests (2 Mac. IV. 14.) had no courage to serve any more at the altar, but defpifing the temple, and neglecting the facrifices, they haftened to be partakers of unlawful diverfions. Nay Jerufalem was taken by Antiochus; forty thousand Jews were flain, and as many more were fold into slavery; the temple was profaned even under the conduct of the high-priest Menelaus, was defiled with

fwines blood, and plundered of every thing valuable; and in (2) the fame year, that Paulus Æmilius the Roman conful vanquished Perfeus the laft king of Macedonia, and thereby put an end to that kingdom, the Jewish religion was put down, and the heathen worship was set up in the cities of Judea, and in Jerufalem; and the temple itself was confecrated to Jupiter Olympius, and his image was erected upon the very altar. Then indeed the tranfgrefors were come to the full, and then, as we see, the Romans ftood up, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark fentences.

A king in the prophetic file is the same as a kingdom, and a kingdom, as we before observed, is any ftate or government. A king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences. The latter expreffion in the (3) Syriac is translated fkilful of ruling, and in the Arabic skilful of difputations. We may suppose the meaning to be, that this fhould be a politic and artful, as well as a formidable power; which is not so properly the character of Antiochus, as of the Romans. They were reprefented in the former vifion by a beaft dreadful and terrible; and for the same reason

(2) See Prideaux Connect. Part 2. B. 3. Anno 168.

(3) Regnandi peritus. Syr.

they

Difputationum peritus. Arab. (4) Polyb. Legat. 92. p. 916. Edit. Cafaubon. Appian de Bel

they are here denominated a king of fierce countenance. He cannot fo well be faid to be a king of fierce countenance, who was even frighted out of Egypt by a meffage from the Romans. The (4) story is worthy of memory. Antiochus Epiphanes was making war upon Egypt, and was in a fair way of becoming master of the whole kingdom. The Romans therefore fearing left he should grow too powerful by annexing Egypt to the crown of Syria, fent an embaffy to him, to require him to defift from his enterprise, or to declare war against him. He was drawing near to befiege Alexandria, when he was met by the three embaffadors from Rome. Popillius, the chief of them, had formerly been his friend and acquaintance, while he was an hostage at Rome: and the king at their first meeting graciously offered him his hand in remembrance of their former friendship. But Popillius declined the compliment by faying, that private friendship must give place to the public welfare, and he must first know whether the king was a friend to the Roman ftate, before he could acknowlege him as a friend to himself: and fo faying he prefented to him the tables which con

lis Syriacis. p. 131. Edit. Steph. p. 212. Edit. Tollii. Livius, Lib. 45. Cap. 12. Valerius