the power which sie wielded * her command. In

Youť ďas i en vami of the grievous JOUTERSITIES ALT cosa vich, a account

Der eigen. De Protestants of Fance were visiten hung de greater part of ne 18th century. I ICAL ESNĚ YOU if he rementious burst of Popish being wich we rise a De recent restoration of De Foursons he frame of France. I might tell you di De express jeclaration of a “ace Pontiff, to the King of the Netheriamis, *hat the wieration of other religions is incompatible with the interests of the Church of Rome." I ngàc sppeal to the late restoracon of dhe miquitous and venatable order of the Jesuis, whose suppression had been formerly obtained only in compliance with the indignant voice of the whole Christian world. I might appeal to various authorized works of Popish writers which have recently appeared-particularly the work of a Mr Gandolphy-approved by the highest authorities at Rome -in which the most obnoxious and Antichristian tenets of the Roman Church are introduced and defended. In short, I might quote to you "the Encyclical Letter of Pope Leo XII.” addressed only three years ago, to the clergy of the Pontifical Church, in which all the ancient doctrines of Popery are recognized, and in which it is expressly affirmed, that the power of the civil magistrate should come to the aid of the priesthood, in their efforts to suppress Bible

Societies, and to propagate the doctrines of the or thodox creed!"

But why should I dwell on these things? Is it really a matter of doubt, whether or not the spirit and temper of the Papacy shall, in any period of its history, undergo a beneficial change? I cannot conceive, for my own part, how, in the mind of an intelligent Christian, any such doubt can possibly exist. Are we not in possession of " a sure Word of Prophecy," which embraces, in its ample and varied details, every particular respecting the character and future destiny of this great adversary of the Church of Christ? And, although it is true, that some of the more minute parts of the prophecies respecting Antichrist are obscure, and will probably never be fully understood, until the predicted events shall have taken place, is it not abundantly obvious, from the announcements of revelation, that this great foe of the Saviour's kingdom will retain its distinctive character to the very last, and that there is not the slightest ground to anticipate its reformation? No, my brethren, whether you contemplate the visions of Daniel respecting "the little horn" of "the fourth beast," or the prophecy of Paul concerning "The Man of Sin," or the Apocalyptic visions respecting mystical "Babylon," you will not find so much as one symbol, or one announcement, to encourage hope in reference to the Church of Rome. It will be only

and "

with its existence, that the temper and character of Popery will cease. "The little horn," we are expressly assured, will continue “to speak great words against the Most High," and to "make war against” wear out the Saints," until "his dominion hall be consumed and destroyed;" "* the "Man of Sin"-the" lawless one"-will continue to " oppose, and exalt himself above all that is called God, or that worshipped," and to maintain his interest in the world "with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish," until he shall bẹ "consumed with the spirit of the Lord's mouth, and destroyed with the brightness of his coming;"+ and mystical" Babylon" will go on, "full of names of blasphemy," polluting the earth with "her abominations," and "drunken with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus," until she perish, like a millstone sunk in the flood, to rise no more. These are the announcements of holy writ; and, my brethren, although infidel men may scorn its authority in their speculations on this subject, it is impossible for us, who believe the Scriptures to be the word of God, and who submit our understandings to its infallible guidance, it is impossible for us to lend our ears, even for a moment, to the syren song that Popery is changed.

Dan vii. 21-26.

+2 Thess. ii. 8-10. Rev. xviii. 1-3. 21. 23. 24. and xix. 1-3.

Let none impute to me the want of charity because I make these remarks. I speak of the system of Popery, not of the men who support it. Towards them my feelings and wishes are those of compassion and benevolence. My heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be converted from the error of their way, and brought into the light and the liberty of the sons of God. But towards it I feel nothing but hatred and indignation, because I regard it as the scourge of the Church, the adversary of Christ, and the foe of all peace and happiness among mankind. And that person must have loose. notions of charity indeed, who can regard it as uncharitable to represent an idolatrous and wicked system, in the colours in which it is represented in the word of God!

BUT I said, moreover, that the doctrines of the church of Rome are, in many instances, grossly IMMORAL in their tendency. This, indeed, follows as the natural inference from what has been already said. If it be true that Popery is IDOLATRY, and AN UTTER COR

RUPTION OF CHRISTIAN TRUTH, AND CHRISTIAN OR

DINANCES, it is impossible that it should be any thing else than a morally corrupt and vicious system. For, although the sentiment has become a very popular one in these loose apostatizing times,-that the heart may be good, and the conduct pure, under any and every form of religion, it will remain an eternal truth, that evil principles as naturally produce evil practices,

as a corrupt tree brings forth corrupt fruit. Genuine Christianity is the only system of religion that is holy, and the only system that can produce holiness; and the farther removed that any doctrines are from those of Christianity, the more must their practical efficacy be the reverse of hers. In the predictions of Holy Scripture, which intimated before hand the character and reign of the Papacy, the Church of Rome is spoken of under such epithets and symbols, as strongly indicate her own intrinsic corruption, her unspeakable odiousness in the sight of God, and her baneful influence on the morals of mankind.* And when we contemplate her avowed doctrines, and read her history, we cannot but discern a most striking and awful correspondence between her actual character, and the representation previously given of her in the predictions of the divine word. What, for example, is the doctrine of indulgences, which ascribes to a priest the prerogative of dispensing for money the remission of sins?— What is the doctrine of purgatory, which teaches that guilt may be expiated, and pardon and holiness attained, after death, and that the most flagrant transgressor, if he shall only leave behind him a suitable compensation to the priest, will, in consequence of his intercessions, assuredly be rescued from torment and received into heaven?-What is the doctrine of

*See Thess. ii. 3. 7, 10, and Rev. xvii. 1-6. and xviii. 1-5.