That tidings, concerning great exertions, from the Eaft, and from the North, shall trouble him; and in confequence thereof, he Shall go forth with great wrath, to root out many, and to devote many to deftruction.

And it is a moft aftonishing coincidence of circumstances; that as the whole Ruffian dominions, lie North of the Turkish dominions; fo the exertions of Russia have been not only in the North; but in a moft remarkable manner in the Eaft: where vaft advantages of commerce, and of extent of dominion, have been obtained by the Ruffians towards China. And at the fame time (as far as the Turkish and Mahometan caufe, in Europe, is connected, in point of religion, with the Mahometan power in the Eaft Indies) the increase of European influence, and command, there, muft greatly affect it; to fay nothing of the continual alarm, and apprehenfions, which the Turks are under, with regard to their immediate neighbours in the Eaft, the Perfians: from whom, ere long, they may perhaps bear tidings too.

It is not for us to prefume to explain before-hand, with any certainty, what this laft part of the Prophecy actually imports. But enough is now vifibly going forward in the world, to roufe our attention, and to convince us, that the time spoken of is drawing near.

The last verse, the 45th, clearly defcribes the magnificent feat of the Turkish dominion, established in Europe; and declares, that notwithstanding all this grandeur, and potent ftrength, it fhall perish, and meet its defined end.

This feems to be the plain purport, and meaning of the verfe; notwithstanding any prejudices that have been conceived to the contrary. For the objections made, even by Bishop Newton, are easily answered.

The midst of the feas in the land well adorned, furely docs moft exactly defcribe the fituation of Conftantinople; in the midft

between.

between the Black fea, the Adriatick, the Archipelago, and the Mediterranean, or Levant; and alfo in the land that belonged to the Greek empire, and was in every part, almost, adorned with the most beautiful productions of art and architecture. And the mention of a facred mountain; as no article is prefixed to gaylov; does by no means confine the fituation to THE mountain above all others, or to the Holy Land; or to any mountain thereunto belonging or adjoining; but manifeftly leads us to confider, what mountain or hill, in any part of the Greek empire, and of the land that was once fo well adorned, might deserve any fuch appellation? And when we reflect, that Conftantinople was built upon hills, juft as Rome was; and that, amongst these, was the spot confecrated by the very firft open establishment of Christanity, and of Christian worship, by Conftantine; furely no hill or mountain on earth, can better deferve to be called a facred one; and especially in that land; than the very place where the Porte has established its Supreme dominion.

The pitching of his tent, therefore; or, as our tranflation in the Bible has it, the planting the tabernacles of his palace; muft furely rather mean fimply a defcription of the fpot where this dreadful power fhould fix its final refidence; than any place where a mere tent fhould be pitched, on the march of an army. And his going forth with fury and great wrath, as mentioned, verfe 44, has nothing to do with the TIME of this pitching of his tent, or planting the tabernacles of bis palace.

All that feems to be declared in the 45th verfe is; that HERE, at the Porte, at Conftantinople, the Turkish empire and Mahometan power, was to appear in its fullest glory, and strength: but yet, notwithstanding fuch an establishment, it

fhould,

should, at last, on its making one vast effort to recover its fading glory, come utterly to an end; and perish.

AMEN must be the heartfelt anfwer of every poor debilitated Grecian, to this prophetical declaration, whilft pining under bitter oppreffion, in the land once well adorned by Attic art and ingenuity; and near the once proud city of Conftantinople, feated on hills like ancient Rome; on hills once facred; and rendered truly and most memorably fo, by the piety of Conftantine the Great, and by Chriftians of the first ages.

SINCE thefe Remarks were written, and fince this fheet was first printed off, there has appeared, in our public Papers, a very remarkable tranflation, of an order, firman, or letter, fent this year, 1787; from the Grand Seignior, to the Grand Vizir, at the head of his army; committing unto him full power to act; and containing the final orders of the Porte and accompanied with the prefent of a magnificent fabre, with which the Vizir was to be invefted, as a mark of favour, and badge of office.

If these inftructions were really fent, in this form; and the letter is truly authentic; it is fo aftonishing a confirmation of the words of Daniel's Prophecy, that it would be unpardonable not to infert it, on the prefent occafion. Because it fhews, how precifely the Mahometan Power is now going forth with great fury to root out and utterly to defroy many.

And if it fhould chance not to be authentic, the inserting of it in this manner, and with fo much caution, cannot deferve cenfure; efpecially as the present operations of the Porte, speak this language precifely; whatever their actual inftruments or orders may do.

The letter appeared in the Public Advertiser, December 15, 1787.

and is as follows:

"My Grand Vizir,

"To give you a fignal mark of my efteem, I have fent you a fabre "fet with diamonds, with which you must destroy our enemies; I fend "it

U u u

1

"it you by my Cadvergi-Bachi. As foon as you have girded it on your mighty thighs, you will without delay take the measures neceffary "for the defence and prefervation of our empire. You will station "the troops in the proper places. I truft to your care the Nobles of my Empire, my Soldiers, and Subjects. You must justify this

"confidence.

"I recommend you to the protection of the Moft High, and have "invefted you with unlimited power.

"The whole world knows the ufurpation the Ruffians have made in "the Crimea, and the number of their vessels on the Black Sea. What ought the fentiments of those who have any spark of our holy religion left in their hearts to be upon this occafion? May the Supreme Being "shower his graces on you, my Nobles, my Soldiers, and myself; may "the Ruffians, our perfidious enemies, be exterminated!

"The countries poffeffed by my ancestors have been ufurped by the "Ruffians in violation of all treaties; in confequence of which, war has "been declared, and an oracle, iffued from the fanctuary of laws, has "confirmed that refolution. To fulfil our duty in the war against the "infidels, and to accomplish the laws of the Holy Prophet, I have "published my will throughout my empire. The preparations ought "to be the first objects of our concern.

"I defire you, my Grand Vizir, who are animated by the most ardent "zeal and juftice, to make all the neceffary difpofitions, to depart immediately, and take the command of the army in perfon. I recom"mend to you harmony and a good understanding with all thofe who "will be under you.

"Give the most rigorous orders that the officers who make the "campaign keep themfelves within the bounds of their fituation, "and in good œconomy, to avoid those disorders which happened in "the preceding wars by the too great number of guards.

"In fine, accomplish the deftruction of the Mufcovites, the fworn and "implacable enemies of our faith, for which end I give you the most unlimited powers."

I have only to remark, that the word which is tranflated Nobles, can relate only to the immediate Minifters and Officers of the Porte, as there are no Nobles, properly fo called, in the Ottoman dominions.

SECTION

SECTION XII.

AVING now finished the Obfervations, that obviously

HAV

occurred with regard to thofe important parts of Holy Scripture that have been the subject of the preceding Difcuffions; I shall juft venture to fubjoin, ftill further, a few additional remarks, that may have a tendency to render a narration plain, which is at present somewhat obfcure; and to fhew that mankind have actually received, even from the earliest ages, an intimation and warning, in the Word of God, that might have pointed out to them the inexpediency of any fuch fort of Inftitutions, as could, by the remoteft poffibility, lead to the encouragement of Monkish plans and establishments; however faithful and excellent the intention and defign of thofe might be, who were, at any time, taking fuch fteps, as could, Uuu 2

in