in the first age of the Church, when they had no impure intercourse with the kingdoms of this world, and followed the Lamb, in refusing to engage either in its profits, honours, or fightings. They are therefore called virgins, without fault, in opposition to those who mingle with the world; who are spiritually styled harlots.

It evidently appears, if what has been said is true, that mystical Babylon, that mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth, is just as extensive as the union of the Church with the kingdoms of this world; and just in that proportion, in which an individual Christian, or a single Church, or a number of Churches united in one body, engage in the honours, profits, and fightings of the kingdoms of this world; just in that proportion they may be said to be guilty of spiritual whoredom.

The writer is well aware that this inference, however just, will be looked upon with contempt by worldly political Christians, whose dearest interest is involved in the kingdoms of this world; and especially by those who are clothed in purple, and scarlet, and have a golden cup in their hands. He has no expectation of being candidly heard by such; but it is God's own dear children who have ignorantly mingled with the world, having been blinded by their education, whom he expects to give a candid hearing.

him hear."

"If any man have ears to hear, let

It is not common for a lewd woman openly to avow to the world her character; neither can it be expected that the Mother of Harlots will own her name. The writer is of opinion, that very few have under

stood the full dimensions of this mystical city; she appears to him in her greatest extent, to be bounded but little short of the whole visible Church of God. She is styled "the great City, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." But a dreadful judgment awaits her; "She shall utterly be burnt with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her." Being mingled with the nations, and supported by their power; when they become like stubble before the devouring fire, she will be consumed with them. The whore is represented as riding upon a scarlet coloured beast, and upheld by him*. When he, with all his heads, are cast into the lake of fire, she will likewise be given to the burning flame. But before this great and dreadful day of the Lord shall come, which will burn as an oven; when the whore shall be consumed with the nations of the earth; God will call to his people to come out of her, saying unto them, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." As God's ancient people were carried captives into literal Babylon, so God's dear people will be found captives in mys

* The writer is fully of opinion, that a ferocious Beast is never used as a symbol of a corrupt Church, but of a tyrannical warlike power. He has been for some time of opinion, that the second Apocalyptic beast is rising, and that he will possess all the power of the first beast before him; and that under him, the false prophet will appear; and the witnesses will be slain; and upon his kingdom the six first vials of divine wrath will be principally poured out; and the seventh will be poured upon Satan's kingdom universally; as he is the prince of the power of the air.

tical Babylon; until they hear the command of their Lord, to come out of her, that they be not partakers of her sins, and that they receive not of her plagues. The captive daughters of Zion are very numerous. O, that they may soon arise, and shake themselves from the dust! "Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.”

5. If the Mediator's kingdom is not of this world, and the kingdoms of this world are under the dominion of Satan; and if Christ's subjects cannot unite themselves to the kingdoms of this world, without committing spiritual whoredom; then we may infer the great impropriety of the subjects of the Mediator's Kingdom, becoming political Christians, and enrolling themselves with the men of this world. They cannot serve two masters, for they will either hate the one, and love the other; or else they will hold to the one, and despise the other.,

How humiliating is it, to see the subjects of the King of Zion, engaged in the drudgery of the Prince of darkness; and labouring, and spouting, and struggling to support his tottering throne! Satan's kingdom is divided against itself, and must therefore come to an end. But how lamentable is it, to see the sons of the living God, the subjects of the Prince of Peace, taking sides in the cause of the adversary of souls, and actually opposing and fighting each other, under his banner! They do it ignorantly, and will therefore obtain forgiveness; for they know not what manner of spirit they are of. They are commanded to have no fellowship with

the unfruitful works of darkness; but rather reprove them."

Before our Lord departed from this world to go to the Father, he gave laws to his subjects, for their rule of life, until his second coming. All these laws contemplated their residing as a holy nation in the midst of a wicked and benighted world, to reflect the rays of the Sun of righteousness, on the thick darkness which covers the people. They were to be a city set upon a hill, and a light to the world. The apostle exhorts them to "Do all things without murmurings and disputings; that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." They must be a peculiar people, to show forth the praises of God. How inconsistent is it then, for the citizens of the heavenly Zion, to be mingling with the politicians of this world, and uniting in their processions, feasts, and cabals; when they ought rather to be praying for them, that the very sins they commit in these scenes may be forgiven them! Dear brethren, is it not high time to come out from the world and be separated? "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial?" "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father to you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

6. In view of what has been said, we finally infer; that every interest which is not built upon the sure foundation stone which God has laid in Zion, will be swept away when the storms of divine wrath shall beat upon our guilty world. "For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." "For the day of the Lord of hosts, shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is litted up, and he shall be brought low." "The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." "The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath; he shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with their dead bodies; he shall wound the head over many countries." "For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire, and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many.' "For the indignation of the Lord is, upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them; he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcasses, and the mountains shall be melted with blood." "For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries. And the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate,