sphere of wider and more influential evil than any which Papal Rome, or any other Ecclesiastical system, could ever fill. You will then become aware of the gulph into which society is blindly rushing under the influence of secular Latitudinarianism, and you will see, and see with dismay, that while many dream that they are withstanding the chief power of Satan in resisting Rome, they are unconsciously aiding the rise of a system which Anglican Romanism is even now co-operating with, and which purposes to adopt as its children the superstitions and iniquities of every age. For the sake of influence, it sells Truth, and welcomes Falsehood. Seeking by its comprehensiveness to please all, it becomes comprehensive of all evil, it will be first the nurse, and then the mistress of, THE Anti-Christ, who will at last rear the throne of His glory on her destruction, and reign for a little season in the very City which this harlot system had made the seat of her abominations. INQ. I do not dispute the truth of what you say; but it will be said by some that if this and similar chapters be interpreted of a Secular system, there is no part of prophetic Scripture that can be exclusively appropriated to the Church of Rome. T. How is it possible there should be such exclusive application? The Church of Rome is only a part of Christendom. The Eastern or Greek Church is that in which the corruptions of Christianity commenced; and there they have reached a height, which, to say the least, equals the enormities of Rome. Are there not countless forms of worldly and corrupt Protestantism? Are not Socinianism Neology, Spiritualism, and Infidelity, both vulgar and philosophic, ravening around us like so many wolves? Read the Jubilee Sermon of the Bishop of Ripon, preached in 1887 before the House of Commons. What is magnified in that Sermon ? England's moral and social progress during the last fifty years. For any who can contemplate that progress, and glory in it, I tremble. But I cannot pursue this subject now. I will only say that England-professedly Protestant England, has fearfully augmented the sum of the abominations of Christendom. How, then, can it be supposed that the corruptions of the Church of Rome should be exclusively pourtrayed in Scripture. INQ. You admit then that the history of Christendom is treated of prophetically in certain parts of Scripture? T. I do. Prophetic parables abound in the Gospel of Matthew, and nearly all these refer to Christendom, especially to its condition at the close. The parables of the wheat and tares, the wise and foolish virgins, the servants with their talents, the sheep and the goats, are examples. See also Matt. xxiv. verses 10, 12, 13: "Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and hate one another, and because iniquity shall abound, the love of the greater part* (Twv Toλλwv) shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Besides which, a great deal in the Epistles, especially the general Epistles, is devoted to a description of what professing Christianity will be at the close of its history. "This know," saith the Apostle Paul, "that in the last days perilous times shall come." And even though the Beast as described in the chapter before us may represent a secular personage, and although the Woman whom for a time he serves may represent a secular system, yet whence does that system spring? Does it not mainly spring from the corruptions of Christendom? Are not professedly Christian energies at this moment forming that system of Latitudinarianism of which we speak ? Will not the false ecclesiastical systems of Christendom serve it, and become its handmaids after it has been established? Consequently, seeing that the professing Church has thus identified itself with the world, it scarcely needs a separate history. In a certain sense, the world's history becomes its history. I know that this will be said to be a dark picture, but it is not darker than that which the Revelation draws. The faithfulness of a few, who, in the great coming crisis of the world's evil, will "overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and not love their lives unto * These words must refer to Christ's true people, for they only have love. TT the death," is the only light, as far as the earth is concerned, that gleams in the midst of the darkness. I say as far as the earth is concerned, for there are in the Revelation blessed visions of heavenly glory, cheering indeed and encouraging to faith, but belonging to a scene above the heavens, and not to be accomplished until the night of the earth's evil shall have passed, and "the morning without clouds" have come. Nor, in saying these things do I forget or undervalue any instances of individual devotedness that may at present exist; but if such instances were a hundred times more numerous than they are, they relieve not the darkness of the general scene, nor will the progress of the age in evil be by them arrested. When was there ever devotedness on earth like that which was found in Israel when the Son of God and His Apostles there ministered? But was the course of the evil of Israel stayed? Light was there and love; but they were sternly rejected, and judgment came. Will it be otherwise now? WERTHEIMER, LEA AND Co., Printers, Circus Place, London Wall. WORKS BY BENJAMIN WILLS NEWTON. HOULSTON & SONS, Paternoster Square. Price 6s. AIDS TO PROPHETIC ENQUIRY. First Series. Third Edition. THOUGHTS ON THE APOCALYPSE. Second Edition, revised. Price 8s. 6d. THE PROPHECY OF THE LORD JESUS AS CONTAINED IN MATT. XXIV. AND XXV. Price Is. 3d. OCCASIONAL PAPERS.-No. I. Price 25. OCCASIONAL PAPERS.-No. II. 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