66

Mark, still further, the description in some following verses: v. 7-10. "The mystery of iniquity "doth already work only he who now letteth will "let, until he be taken out of the way. And then "shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. Even "him, whose coming is after the working of Satan, "with all power and signs and lying wonders, and "with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them "that perish." See here the much-vaunted Sanctity of the Church of Rome, her lying legends and miracles, her specious hypocrisy, and Satanic delusions and effrontery. Be warned, likewise, by her hardness of heart, by her preference of darkness, and rejection of the true light. End of v. 10, 11, 12. "They receiv"ed not the love of the truth, that they might be "saved. And for this cause God shall send them "strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: "that they all might be damned who believed not "the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Let none henceforth talk of the innocency of error, and particularly of Roman Catholic error, nor suppose that all modes of faith are alike pleasing to God, provided we are sincere in embracing them. If you "believe not the truth," it is because you "have pleasure in unrighteousness:" and you may be then left to "believe a lie," and inherit "damnation." And will you not "prove all things, and hold fast that which is good?" Can it be a matter of indifference, what creed you believe, or what you reject?

Survey now another sketch which is given in the

Bible of the Church of Rome, and judge whether her doctrinal statements be sound, or even whether it be safe to remain within her Communion. "Now "the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter "times some shall depart from the faith, giving "heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 'speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience "seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and "commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of "them which believe and know the truth."*

66

66

To whomsoever this A postacy applies, its foundation lies in "departing from the faith." Renounce deliberately the truth of God, and substitute in its place the inventions of man, and there is no absurdity of opinion which you may not adopt, nor any immorality and enormity of conduct, into which you may not be led. Now it has been proved to you, that Rome has erred as to the plan of our Justification with God: that by withholding the Scriptures from the people, she also undesignedly brought about the glorious Reformation that she has virtually substituted her own decrees as the rule of faith, instead of the Volume of Inspiration: that she has drawn, moreover, from these unsound dogmas, the wildest conclusions ; such as, her own Infallibility; the Sacrifice of the Mass; the doctrine of Transubstantiation and that she has even fallen into the sin of Idolatry itself. When it is shewn, then, that these and other unscriptural opinions are maintained by her, does conviction ensue? Are the marks of repentance to be seen in

* 1 Tim. iv. 1-3.

her, and the fruits meet for it? Having perversely "departed from the faith," she listens to false teachers, is captivated by the blandishments of "seducing spirits," introduces the convenient "doctrines about devils, ' or demons, and the souls of the dead, and constitutes saints and angels, as subordinate Intercessors with God. These practices are supported "by the hypocrisy of liars :" tales and legends, pretended miracles and revelations, are invented; a gainful traffick is thus set on foot, and all this delusion is carried on under the mask of uncommon sanctity. Marriage, for instance, is much discouraged, and is especially forbidden to the Priests: they profess to be raised above the influence of human passions. Fasts and Penances, and Pilgrimages, are also enjoined, to denote their deadness to the pleasures of sense, and the austerity of their devotion. The sure word of prophecy, however, represents these things as done in ostentation and insincerity, and hence the "conscience becomes seared with a hot iron." When any, of whatever Communion, hold these opinions in obstinacy, or for selfish ends, and to silence inward remonstrances, and make the service of God consist with worldly affections and sinful habits, they are usually insensible to every feeling of godly sorrow. The Spirit is a Jealous God, and when we fully set ourselves against him, he leaves us to ourselves, and our "damnation is just" and certain. And can any one, acquainted with Ecclesiastical history, doubt to what body of professed Christians this corruption and this apostacy fairly belong? We grieve to add, that the Church of Rome is the counterpart of the whole. If, there

fore, you would "prove all things, and hold fast that which is good," you must discern that the points of difference between Rome and Christ are of immense importance.

One other passage shall be added, in which the subject is put in a still stronger point of view.

66

In the Book of the Revelation of St. John, angels are represented as executioners of the divine vengeance, and one anti-christian power in particular is named Babylon, which word means confusion. Let us attend, then, to the description that is given upon these points in Rev. xvii. 1-6. "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, "and talked with me, saying unto me, come hither; "I will shew thee the judgment of the great whore "that sitteth upon many waters: with whom the "kings of the earth have committed fornication, "and the inhabitants of the earth have been made "drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he "carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness : " and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven "heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed "in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold "and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup "in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of "her fornication: and upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE "MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF 66 THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken "with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of "the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I "wondered with great admiration." Now it is a

66

singular fact, that Roman Catholics themselves allow, that these awful words apply to Rome; as, for instance, Bellarmine, a distinguished advocate of the Roman Church: John, in the apocalypse, every where calls Rome Babylon, as Tertullian has remarked in his third book against Marcion, and in his book against the Jews; and as is evidently gathered from the 17th chapter of the Apocalypse, where Babylon the great is said to sit on Seven Hills, and to rule over the kings of the earth. For there was no other city in John's time, which ruled over the kings of the earth, but Rome, and it is notorious that Rome is built upon Seven Hills."*

The main point in the interpretation still is, whether Rome Pagan be meant, or Rome Papal? Let Protestants and Roman Catholics endeavour to divest themselves of all prejudice, and let our one object be to ascertain the real truth.

66

The power here spoken of, and called Babylon, is compared to a great whore, whose trade and business it was to corrupt others, and especially the great and noble. Her sole ambition was to com"mit fornication with the kings of the earth, and to "make the inhabitants drunk with the wine of her "fornication." This language is of course figurative and describes the manner in which these persons were seduced by false and poisonous doctrines. A contract exists between God and his people, which his word compares to the marriage-contract. The breaking of it is, therefore, fornication and adultery; and hence St. James asks, "Ye Adulterers and Adultresses,

*Beliam. in the Rom. Pontif. B. 2 chap. ii.