Let it not be imagined that this is an exaggerated picture-every trait will be found in the decrees, the reports, the public records of French infamy and wretchedness. Can this then, the Reader asks, can this be the power, that, dazzling the world by the rapidity and the extent of its conquefts, and the affertions of its happiness and glory,

churches and temples of different religions and worship, which are known to be in Paris, fhall be instantly shutthat every perfon requiring the opening of a church, or temple, fhall be put under arreft, as a suspected person. Chaumette recommended that the will of such fections should be respected, which have renounced all religious worship, except that of Reafon, Liberty, and the Repub lican Virtues. Nov. 1793. The pupils of the new Republican fchool of the fection des Areis appeared at the bar, and one of them fet forth, that all religious worship had been-fuppreffed in his fection, even to the very idea of Religion. He added, that be and his fchool-fellows detefted God, and that, inftead of learning Scripture, they learned the declaration of Rights. The prefident having expreffed to the deputation the fatisfaction of the Convention, they were admitted to the honours of the fitting amidst the loudeft applaufe. Nov. 1793. The Orator of the section of Unité declared in the hall of the Convention, in the name of his brother Republicans; We fware, faid the Orator, to acknowledge no other worship than that of Reafon-no other duty than liberty-no other priests than our magiftrates-Yes, faid the, voices from every part of the hall, we take the fame oath. More proofs may be feen in the Newspapers of the above dates.

attacks

attacks our faith in the Providence of God, by the Splendor which feems to furround acknowledged wickedness? Can this be the power held up for the imitation, for the friendship of nations? It is.- But let us liften to the awful explanation of this phenomenon-" I will give to all nations my cup of trembling-and they fhall be given up to a strong delufion, and they shall believe a lie— because they have not kept my teftimonies, nor walked in my ftatutes, but have perverted their, way before me.—I have spoken, and they would not hearken unto me; I have called, and they would not anfwer; therefore fhall this evil come upon them, faith the Lord of the whole earth."

I repeat, that the history of this Revolution will fully authorize this dreadful reprefentation. But fuch is the nature of thofe deeds, which have blackened this period of human mifery and disgrace, that though too horrid to be particularly detailed, my plan requires that I should briefly ftate authorities to prove the power in France to be indeed that of the Infidel Antichrift, fo accurately foretold by Daniel and St. John, and according with the principles and views already ftated in this Chapter.

The

The French Revolution was begun and carried on upon principles of demolition. It aimed at the complete overthrow of the religious and civil establishment; and every engine that the wit of man could devife, was fet to work to accomplish its purpose. As preparatory steps to its commencement, Royalty was rendered odious and contemptiblethe characters of the King and Queen were libelled in pamphlets, and calumniated in converfation:-Religion was held up to ridicule as prieftcraft and impofture-Its minifters were made the objects of fatire and scorn.— The jargon of equality, of the rights of man, and the divinity of human reason, were industriously circulated among the ignorant multitude-and the ties of law, of order, and of morality, were loofened. Thus the great fprings of Infidelity and Anarchy being fet in motion, the mafs of the people, particularly the crowds of Paris, and the other large cities, were placed in a state of preparation to execute whatever plans of deftruction the ambitious and defigning demagogues, who had been educated in the school of the Philofophifts, were ingenious enough to project, and flagitious enough to propose.

VOL. II.

P

The

The Infidel Revolutionists well knew that Christianity was the fureft pledge to the government for the obedience of the people→→→ they knew likewife that in the minds of the people the character of the Clergy, their dignity and independence on the state, the refpectability of their external appearance, as well as the regular exercise of public worship, are all intimately blended and connected with the precepts and the doctrines of Christianity itself. They therefore directed their attack against the Establishment as combined with Religion, and against Religion as combined with the Establishment. They made no compromife, no reserve, or exception in favour

of

any Reformed system of Christianity, fuch as was actually presented to their view in Proteftant countries; because they were fully convinced that the precepts of a Christian Church were abfolutely incompatible with the meditated horrors of Revolutionary atrocity, and they were befides actuated by direct and inveterate hatred against Chrift, and his religion. That fuch were their principles, the following relations of facts, chiefly extracted from the accounts of the agents of the Republic, or its advocates and admirers, will furnish very fufficient proofs. The first step taken by these enemies to all religion

was,

was, to destroy from the foundation that difcipline which is confidered by all fincere members of the Roman communion as of holy origin, the subject of Spiritual authority alone, and an effential of their religion. To require the Clergy therefore to take the new oath to the Conftitution, was to require them to renounce the folemn vows of their religion, and to commit an act of perjury.

Every engine was fet at work to perfuade or intimidate the clerical order of the affembled ftates into a compliance, but with little effect. Not above thirty out of three hundred freely obeyed, and about twenty more were with difficulty induced by casuistical interpretations of different kinds, to conform-the reft nobly facrificed their means of fubfiftence, rather than wound their confciences."

"In 1792, the Jacobin Club having confulted the Ecclefiaftical Committee (of Conftitutional clergy) through Mr. Voidel, had been told in a circular letter, that whatever lengths they might go, they should be fupported %. They of courfe commanded all the violent

f Jan. 4, 1791. New Annual Register, 1796, p. 241, &c. Ann. Reg. 1792. p. 85, 197. See the note in the laft mentioned page."

• February, 1792. Ann. Reg. p. 90, 91.