APPENDIX. NOTES. 395 



not revile the Gods nor speak evil of the ruler of thy 

 people; 1 whence it seems as if St. Paul meant to indicate 

 a power that was to exalt itself above all authority whether 

 civil or ecclesiastical. Irenaeus expected his personal 

 Antichrist to reign three years and a half, interpreting the 

 prophetic period of 1260 days literally; 2 but this period, 

 if interpreted a year for a day, would only agree with a 

 succession of individuals. The ancient opinion of a personal 

 Antichrist, may be reconciled with the modern one of a 

 succession of individuals entitled to that appellation, by 

 considering St. John's prophecy of the two witnesses. They 

 are to prophecy clothed in sackcloth 1260 days. 3 This 

 period synchronizes with the reign of the Antichristian 

 power which corrupts the gospel, headed by a succession of 

 individuals. Again, they are to be killed, and their bodies 

 exposed without sepulture in the street of the great city 

 for three days and a half; 4 this second period synchronizes 

 with the reign of the personal Antichrist, who denies the 

 gospel, who is to be a single individual ; and more particu- 

 larly entitled to the name of Antichrist by his infidelity, 

 and atheistic principles. He is the Antichrist that denieth 

 the Father and the Son. 5 It may be asked When God 

 doeth this, who shall be able to stand 1 will any Christian 

 church escape ? We learn from the case of that of Phila- 

 delphia, 6 that if any such church holds fast her profession, 

 has kept the word of Christ, and not denied his name, 

 though beset by a host of enemies, she shall be kept from 

 the hour of temptation, 



NOTE 18, p. 87. And be restored to the favour of their 

 God and their own land. Some Divines have thought 



1 Exod. xxii. 28. 2 Ubi supr. 1. v. c. 25. 



3 Revel, xi. 3. * Ibid. 7 11. 



5 1 John, ii. 22. 6 Rev. iii. 710. 

 VOL. I/ D P 



