was more fully “revealed.” The Pope claimed, as of divine right, many honors and powers that had been conceded to him merely on the ground of courtesy as Bishop of the capital of the empire. He converted other Bishops, who by divine institution were his equals, into menials and vassals,—subject to his dictates, amenable to his authority, and exercising their spiritual prerogatives only by his grace and favour. Even to this day, and in this country, the prelates of that schism, instead of being Bishops of an independent branch of the Church Catholic, are but the Vicars and servants of the Bishop of Rome. Thus exalting himself in the Temple of God, he placed himself at the head of all ecclesiastical authority and power, and, as professed Vicar of Christ on earth, impiously assuming infallibility, he exercised prerogatives and received homage which rightfully belong to Christ only. Swaggering like Jupiter upon the top of Olympus, he fulminated his thunders, inflicted the pains of excommunication, and delivered over to perdition, all Bishops and Churches who protested against his usurpations, or refused to comply with his mandates.

But this was not all. The bearer of the triple crown at length claimed jurisdiction over earthly sovereigns. He deposed Kings and Princes, released subjects from their allegiance,-dispensed with the obligation of oaths,—and claimed abject obedience

and submission from all principalities and powers,

Was not this "sitting showing himself as if

whether in Church or State. in the Temple of God," and he were God, in receiving the homage of a subjugated world prostrate at his feet ?*

* It is well known that after the destruction of the western branch of the imperial power-which "let" or hindered the revelation of the man of sin, the Bishop of Rome assumed the Pagan title of Pontifer Maximus, which had before been used by the Emperors from the days of Augustus Cæsar. The Popes also have received at their inauguration or coronation-the divine titles of "Rector orbis"-Ruler of the world. "Sanctissimus et beatissimus Pater"-most holy and most blessed Father. "SANCTISSIMUS DOMINUS"-Most holy Lord. The Rev. J. Gordon, a regular bred Jesuit, in a work published in 1723, giving "an historical account of the present state of Rome, the election of the late Pope Clement XI, the proceedings of the Jesuits in China, and also in England and other Protestant countries"— says in his account of the election of Cardinal Albani (Clement XI) "he was declared vicar of Christ, and adored as such by the Cardinals, who, when they kiss his toe, say, according to the laudable phrase of the council of Lateran (DOMINUS DEUS Noster Papa.) "Thou art God on earth, and as God I adore thee, &c.' which is the first act of recognizance." Mr. Lawrence Banck, in his account of the inauguration of Pope Innocent X, of which he was an eye and ear witness, says the Prince and Cardinal Mediceus, Deacon a dextris, placed on his' (the Pope's) head the Tiara called Regnum, adorned with a triple crown, with these words-'Accipe Tiaram tribus Coronis ornatam ; et scias te esse patrem Principum et Regnum: RECTOREM ORBIS: In terra Vicarium salvatoris nostris Jesu Christi, cui sit honor et gloria in secula seculorum-Amen. Receive the Tiara adorned with three crowns, and know that then thou art Father of Princes and Kings, RULER OF THE WORLD, in earth Vicar of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and glory forever and ever-Amen! These are clear proofs that the Pope is called not only 'Ruler of the world' but even 'Dominus Deus Noster Papa'-THE LORD OUR GOD

وو

We speak not of individual Popes. Good men may have borne the office at times-though, alas! many of them were of a very different character ! but we refer to that gigantic system of ANTICHRISTIAN DESPOTISM under whose fostering care the invocation of saints, the veneration of images, the fable of purgatory, the monstrous figment of transubstantiation,—and the idolatrous worship of the host and the Virgin, with all their correlative corruptions and abominations-have been employed to quench the spirit and crush out the vitals of Christianity.

The Apostle further informs us, that the progress of the man of sin “is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders.' Does not this language remind us of the gross frauds, impositions, and necromancy, which, under the name of miracles, have been used, without scruple, to sustain the power of the Papacy and keep the ignorant in vassalage to that degrading system ?

There are other passages of Scripture which refer to this “ falling away” from the faith and purity of the Gospel as following “the doctrines and commandments of men," encouraging the worship of angels, and will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body."* "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly

that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, forbidding to marry, and abstaining from meats.”* We need not remind you how these marks of the apostacy have been exhibited in the withholding of the Scriptures from the people,-in the forced celibacy of the Clergy, and of the Monks, and of the Nuns-and in the supposed meritorious fastings, penances, and mortifications on which such multitudes rely for salvation, instead of building their hopes upon the merits of Christ alone, and submitting to the renewing influence of the Holy Spirit.

Nor is it necessary to remind you what a comment is afforded by the sanguinary records of the Inquisiu tion in Spain and Portugal and Goa,-by the horrible massacre of St. Bartholomew's day in France, and the flames of Smithfield in England,-(all in different countries, and at different periods, yet under the guidance of the same terrible power,)upon that fearful passage in the Apocalypse which speaks of her who was “ drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.”

It affords us no pleasure to speak of these things. We would gladly pass over them were it possible to do so consistently with our avowed purpose to notice the leading events mentioned in the prophecies of the New Testament as antecedents of the second

coming of our Lord. For although the advocates of the corrupt system of Christianity alluded to denounce all the ministers and members of the Reformed Churches,-together with those of the Greek and other Oriental Churches,-(comprising about three-fifths of the Holy Catholic Church,)—as heretics, and consign us over to perdition,,we would not recriminate or return railing for railing. On the contrary, we would give blessings for a curse,-and pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us.

We are far from asserting that the Church of Rome is the Antichrist, to the exclusion of other systems of delusion more erroneous and wicked. For we consider this as a generic term, including all systems of error and wickedness opposed to the will and the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We acknowledge her to be a part, but a corrupt part of the Church of Christ. We believe that she has had, and still has, many devout and pious souls in her communion who, through grace, maintain the life of godliness in spite of the disadvantages of their position. So far as she retains what is truly Catholicin her creeds, worship and ministry, we commend her. It is only so far as she is Papal and corrupt that we condemn her. We bless God that our branch of the Church Universal is liberated from the galling, unscriptural yoke of a foreign Prince and Prelate, and has reformed away the false doctrines, idola