L chrift would attain the greatest authority and power, not as a temporal prince, but as being the idol of the people, confidering him as the reprefentative of the Deity. This image was formed by them that dwell on the earth, at the inftigation of the fecond beaft. It was originally dead, but the fecond beaft had power to give life unto it. The authority claimed by the Pope in temporals is a mere chimera. It differs as much from the real power of the princes of the world, as an image (which has neither voice to terrify nor teeth to tear) differs from a fierce living animal. The authority claimed in spirituals is an impious ufurpation of the rights of the Deity. And it is certain that the twofold claim would have been rejected by the world with contempt, if the Roman clergy had not univerfally and fteadily supported it, by all the influence which fuperftition gave them over the minds of the people. They converted it into a real authority. They enabled the Pontiff to use it effectually. In confequence of their fupport, he spake in the lordly ftrain of a Supreme King, to the princes and the people. He iffued the thunders of the Vatican against those who difputed his authority. He put to death in a variety of forms, fuch as dared to oppofe him. He excluded from the privileges of civil L fociety, fociety, all fuch as would not fubmit to his claims and authority'. The fifth conftituent part of the Antichriftian government is the Babylonish woman. She is represented as "arrayed in purple and fcarlet, deck"ed with gold, and precious ftones and pearls," that is, affecting the pomp, and decorated with the ornaments purchased by the wealth of this world, " holding (1) See the decree of Alexander III. in the Synod of Tours; the bull of Martin V. against the errors of Wickliff and Hufs, annexed to the acts of the Council of Conftance: There it is decreed, "That men of this fort be not "permitted to haye houses, to rear families, to make con"tracts, to carry on traffic or bufinefs of any kind, or to "enjoy the comforts of humanity, in common with the "faithful." Thefe are almoft the exprefs words which the prophecy has put into the mouth of the image. See likewife the bull of Paul III. against Henry VIII. and the bull of Paul V. Regnans in Excelfis, fulminated in the 11th year of Queen Elizabeth. To quote inftances in order to prove that the Roman clergy supported this extravagant claim, would be to copy a great part of the hiftory of Europe for a thousand years paft : However, one inftance I cannot omit. An encyclical letter, dated London, 19th January 1791, figned by three Vicars Apoftolic of England, exprefsly prohibits the Catholics of that kingdom to take an oath prescribed by Government, though that oath contains nothing inconfiftent with Catholic principles, but a renunciation of the Pope's fupremacy in temporals. They exprefs themfelves thus: "The four "Apoftolical Vicars, in the above mentioned encyclical "letter "holding the cup of her filthinefs in her hand," in imitation of noted harlots of old, offering. love potions, to excite men to commit fornication with her, that is, ufing every inveigling. art to propagate her idolatries, "fitting on many waters," Rev. xvii. 1. fuccessful in extending her commerce" to peoples, multitudes, nations, " and "letter (dated October 21, 1789), declared, That none "of the faithful clergy or laity ought to take any new "oath, or fign any new declaration in doctrinal matters, 66 or fubfcribe any new inftrument wherein the interefts "of religion are concerned, without the previous appro"bation of their respective Bishop; and they required "fubmiffion to thofe determinations. The altered oath "has not been approved by us; and therefore cannot "be lawfully or confcientiously taken by any of the "faithful of our diftricts." Here the lamb-like beast fpeaks as a dragon; to caufe the earth, and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast. Candour obliges me to fay, that the moft refpectable Catholics in England, met together in a committee, protefted against the encyclical letter mentioned, in these terms: "We the Catholic Committee, whofe names are "under written, do bereby, before God, folemnly proteft and call upon God to witnefs our proteft against your "Lordships encyclical letters, of the 21ft day of October 1789, and of the 19th day of January laft, as imprudent, arbitrary, unjuft; as encroaching on our natural, civil, "and religious rights; inculcating principles hostile to "fociety and government, and the conftitution and laws. " of "and tongues, ver. 15. fo that the kings of the "earth have committed fornication with her, "and the nations have drunk of the wine of "the wrath of her fornication," that is, having been filled with a delirious rage for her idolatries, while fhe " is drunk with the blood of the "faints, and with the blood of the martyrs of "Jefus." "of the British empire; as derogatory from the allegi66 ance we owe to the State and the fettlement of the "Crown, and as tending to continue, increase and con"firm the prejudices against the faith and moral character "of the Catholics, &c. (Signed) "Charles Berington. "Stourton, "Petre, "Henry Chas. Englefield "John Lawson, "John Throckmorton, "William Fermor, "John Townly, Thomas Hornyhold." It is a pity that they who have feen fo far into the wickedness of the Pope's claim, and the unjustifiable at tempts of the clergy to establish it, did not look a little farther into the light of Scripture prophecy, so as to recognise Antichrift, and his deputy the falfe prophet, and thus break their chains at once. We are not left to vague conjecture for the explication of all this; for we are told that the woman is "that great city which reigned (at "the period of the vision) over the kings of the "earth," a mark applicable to Rome only, by the teftimony of Papifts, as well as Proteftants. Rome is represented under the figure of a woman, in as far as fhe is a church profeffedly Chriftian; for a woman is introduced, ch. xii. 1. who, without all controverfy, is a type of the true church of Chrift, the allufion in both places is to a well known fcripture metaphor, by which the church is called the Spouse of Christ. But how different is the woman reprefented there from the perfon introduced here. There "fhe was cloathed with the fun, and the moon "under her feet, and upon her head a crown of "twelve stars," that is, clothed with the merits of her lawful husband, and faithful to the vows she had taken to him who is the Sun of Righteoufnefs, holding fublunary things with contempt under her feet, dispersing the midnight darkness which overspread the nations, by the benign light which her teachers communicated, who were" the " fervants of Chrift and her glory." Here we behold avileprostitute, unfaithfulto her husband, affecting the pomp, thirsting after the wealth of this world; intoxicating inftead of enlightening the nations, fo as to excite a vehement attachment |