of saints, and of martyrs; for she did according to her will, and even magnified herself above God; she spoke great and marvellous things against the Most High (Dan. vii. 8-25, xii. 36,) pretended to change times and laws, and to work miracles, with power, and signs, and lying wonders. (Thess. xi. 9); was worshipped by those whose names were not written in the book of life; and she assumed names of blasphemy, and was full of abominations (Rev. xviii. 3, 4, 5, 6); exalted herself above all that is called God; and as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing herself that she is God (see page 9; and, also, 2 Thess. xi. 4), forbidding some to marry, and commanding others to abstain from meats (1 Tim. iv. 3); she prohibited those, whom she should mark as excommunicate, from buying or selling (Rev. xiii. 17); whilst she herself made merchandise of the very souls of men (Rev. xviii. 13), openly selling indulgences for sins. She had a fierce countenance, said, that the Scriptures contained dark sentences, which none but dresses; contrasted by a procession of the pope and cardinals, mounted on the finest horses, richly caparisoned and adorned with scarlet, and gold, and silver, and jewels, yet professing to derive from the former all their spiritual rank. she could understand. She deceived the nations by her sorceries (Dan. vii. 8, viii. 23, Rev. xviii, 23); and, united with the kings of the earth, she made war against the Word of God (Rev. xix. 13, 19), which she altogether withheld, or locked in an unknown tongue; although up, St. Paul (a great scholar) declared he would rather speak five words to be understood in the church, than ten thousand in an unknown tongue. Whoever acknowledges, that any part of the history of mankind has been revealed in prophetic* writings, must believe, that a power, so extraordinary as this, was entitled to the special notice of prophecy; accordingly we find, besides the passages referred to in the foregoing paragraph, that Daniel (vii. 25, xii. 7), and St. John (Rev. xiii. 5) have both announced its conti * We know that it is declared, "that the book of prophecy is sealed till the time of completion." But the events of the christian world, are so awful and so alarming, as to induce us to believe, that they happen not without the immediate providence, and decree of the SUPREME BEING against the superstition and corruptions of man, and for the fulfillings of the preparation for those times, when the kingdoms of this world must (in defiance of all human policy) become the kingdoms of God, and of his Christ. (Pursuits of Literature. Dial. iv. 562. note a.) nuance, as far as 1260 years. (See also Pastorini.) The Evangelist says, "he heard a voice from "heaven, calling upon the people to come out "of this City, and of all communion with "her, before her fall, that they may not be "partakers of her sins, or receive of her 66 plagues" (Rev. xviii. 4); and he adds, "that "all worshippers of this beast, and its images (in another place, called a man, Rev. xiii. "18; 2 Thess. 3), and all who receive its "mark on their forehead, shall drink of the "wrath of God, which is poured out without "mixture into the cup of his indignation; and "that they shall be tormented with fire and "brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels, "and in the presence of the Lamb; and that they shall have no rest day or night; but the "smoke of their torment shall ascend for ever "and ever" (Rev. xiv. 9, 10, 11). I shall not attempt any interpretation of these words of scripture. Let every man be his own interpreter; and in being so, let his principal object be, to make the application to himself—it is not for me to speculate upon the future desti nies of my fellow sinners; but, as the subject has been so far touched upon, I cannot conceal from myself, nor from the public, the fact, that there may be too many of my own, as well as of other sects of professing christians, who adopt a creed, not as the result of conviction, but as a convenient classification of their sect or party. And to those who (from motives which their own conscience tells them to be decidedly bad) admit great errors in faith and practice; the words last quoted may, I fear, apply, whatever be the denomination, or sect, under which they appear to be enrolled. CHAP. V. SOME ERRORS IN THE RELIGION CALLED REFORMED. Was Blasphemy his sin? or did he stray From the strict duties of the sacred day? No!-the man's morals were correct. What, then? His virtues were his pride, and that one vice, He wore them, as fine trappings for a shew, COWPER. THE poetry prefixed to this Chapter may serve to announce my having arrived at the concluding subject to which my title page seems to refer; concerning some errors in the course, called reformed; wherein vessels may be tossed about by every wind of doctrine. It is most strange and unaccountable, that man will prefer the applause of weak and giddy mortals, like himself, to the favour of an omniscient and all-powerful God, whose fatherly love soars beyond all human imagination; when pro |