A DISSERTATION ON THE PROPHECIES, THAT HAVE BEEN FULFILLED, OR WILL HEREAFTER BE FULFILLED, RELATIVE TO THE GREAT PERIOD OF 1260 YEARS; THE PAPAL AND MOHAMMEDAN APOSTASIES; OR THE INFIDEL POWER; AND THE RESTORATION OF THE JEWS. By the Rev. GEORGE STANLEY FABER, B. D. RECTOR OF LONG-NEWTON IN THE COUNTY OF DURHAM. ମାତ "Shut up the Words, and seal the Book, even to the time of the end: many LONDON: PRINTED FOR F. C, AND J. RIVINGTON, NO. 62, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD; By Law and Gilbert, St. John's-Square, Olerkenwell, 1814, TO THE HONOURABLE AND RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD. SHUTE BARRINGTON, LL. D. LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM. MY LORD, THE kindness which I have uniformly experienced, particularly in a late instance, from your Lordship, encourages me to request permission to place the following Work under your protection. It treats of a subject peculiarly interesting to every serious Protestant: for the famous period of 1260 prophetic days, so frequently mentioned by Daniel and St. John, comprehends the tyrannical reign of those three great opponents of the Gospel, Popery, Mohammedism, and Infidelity. A 2 This period indeed indeed may not improperly be styled the pers mitted hour of the powers of darkness; since the true Church is represented as being in an afflicted and depressed state during the whole of its continuance, and since its expiration will be marked by a signal display of the judgments of God upon his enemies and by the commencement of a new and happy order of things. In the subject which I have chosen so many eminent expositors have preceded me, that I fear my choice of it alone may render me liable to the charge either of needless repetition, or of unwarrantable presumption. Your Lordship however, I am confident, will not prejudge me from the mere statement of my subject: and the candour, which I anticipate from my venerable Diocesan, I feel myself justified in claiming from the Public. 2 In fact, had I nothing new to offer upon the subject, the discussing of it afresh would have been plainly superfluous; but an attentive examination of the writings of Daniel and and St. John has led me to think, that in some points my predecessors have partially erred, and that in others they have been altogether mistaken. In the interpretation of Prophecy knowledge is undoubtedly progressive. The predictions of Scripture, extending as they do from the earliest periods to the consummation of all things, although they be gradually opened partly by the hand of time and partly by human labour undertaken in humble dependence upon the divine aid, are yet necessarily in some measure à sealed book, even to the time of the end. As that time approaches, we may expect, agreeably to the angel's declaration to Daniel, that many will run to and fro, and that knowledge will be increased. Hence it was observed by Sir Isaac Newton, that amongst the inter preters of the last age there is scarce one "of note, who hath not made some discovery "worth knowing." Nothing however requires so much caution and prudence, so much hesitation and circumspection, as an attempt to unfold these deep mysteries of God. An in temperate |