From the combined operation of all these causes then, the insidious serpent, bred on the banks of the Tiber, has glided over the continent to our shores; has twined itself round the body of the population from the feet upwards; has fastened its folds about the nation's neck, and hisses in the ears of the Sovereign himself.

country from the Because it is a sys

But why such fears for the resuscitation of this system? tem opposed to GOD, and contrary to man; an anti-social, anti-Christian system,1 and consequently, wherever it comes, brings the Divine curse along with it. Wherever the seat of the beast is, there are the vials of vengeance poured forth.2 I anticipate that this assertion will be condemned as uncharitable; and that there will be advanced in contradiction to it the fact, of many excellent Christians having lived and died within the pale of the Popish church. I rejoice that there have. We venerate the names of Pascal, and Fenelon, and Quesnel, and A'Kempis; we wish there were more of such. We pray, 'the LORD make them a thousand times more.' But such individuals, (we appeal to the scriptures and their own writings,) were Romanists only in name. They were Protestants in heart and principle: even as there may be Papists in heart and principle among us ;-they were Christians, not through Popery,

extinction of free inquiry-present the spectacle of religion lying in state, surrounded with the silent pomp of death.'

but in spite of Popery; and, remaining in that pale, were "saved so as by fire."

It is a remarkable fact in history, that so often as the Romish heresy has prospered in this nation, the nation has suffered a proportionate adversity. This of itself might show us, that the heresy is an object of the Divine displeasure. Indeed, in whatever countries it prevails, a similar effect has been Its reign is a experienced. reign of terror.' Under its mephitic influence, improvement stagnates, intellect is sickly; while indolence, and ignorance, and wretchedness predominate. The kingdom of the beast is full of darkness.'

For illustration of this, compare the Protestant states of Europe with the Papal states. Compare Holland with Italy; Prussia with Portugal ; Sweden with Spain. Compare even the Protestant provinces of the same country with the Popish ones; and the same truth will be exemplified. For example, the northern states of America with the southern Upper Canada with Lower; the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland with the Popish; or the north of Ireland with the south. In all these instances, the contrast is most remarkable. Industry, and cleanliness, and comfort, and general morality, and order, distinguish the former districts; the very opposite of these attributes, the latter. Popery is uniformly attended with wretchedness.

Were we to attempt her portrait, borrowing the pallet of inspiration, and a pencil dipped in heaven,

we would represent a proud imperious harlot, arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations. On her head are ten crowns, and on her forehead is written-BLASPHEMY. In her skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents. She sits upon a scarlet-coloured beast, having seven heads and ten horns,' and as she moves along, earth withers beneath its tread. The land is as the garden of Eden before her; behind her a desolate wilderness. Her train are lamentation, mourning,

and woe.

The procession is brought up by a pale horse, and his name that sits on him is Death; and hell follows with him.

·

Shall it then be wondered at, if we account the unquestionable revival of such a power the most appalling sign of the times? What elevated our nation to her illustrious pre-eminence among the kingdoms? What rendered her the first of the nations?'-the pearl, the flower, the pattern, and the glory of the whole earth? Undoubtedly it was the Reformed Faith. Previously to the Reformation, in what respects was she superior to several other empires? If then she relinquish her hold of that which exalted' and has supported her, as she appears hastening to do, the consequence is clearher downfal is inevitable. Resting on the rock of Protestantism, the state has heretofore been beau

1 Rev. xvii. 1; xix. 2; xviii. 2; xiii. 1; xvii. 6; xviii. 24; xvii. 3.

tifully balanced between democracy on the one hand, and despotism on the other: and though, from time to time she has received many a menacing touch, causing her to vibrate and tremble, still has she remained poised upon her adamantine basis, the wonder of ages, and the admiration of the world. Let her, however, once renounce the pure religion, and that instant she sustains a shock which destroys her equilibrium, and then, where is the power that shall reinstate her on her original elevation ?

But some deny that we have any cause for apprehension from Popery at present: To such we would only reply, Is it not the fact, that the agents of the Roman pontiff are making the most strenuous and unremitting exertions to re-establish his authority in these realms? Is it not the fact, that whole shoals of Jesuits, expelled from Spain and other continental nations, have taken refuge in this, and are working every engine to seduce the population from the right faith? Is it not the fact, that political circumstances are giving strength and power unto the Beast,1 and that liberalism, and sectarianism, and infidelity are likewise aiding it? In fine, is it not the fact, that the mystic Babylon shall be destroyed only by the Spirit of the Lord and the judgments of his wrath, at the brightness of his coming? Who then will persist in saying that we have no cause for alarm from the quarter in question? If in very deed we have no cause for

2

1 Rev. xvii. 13.

2 2 Thess. ii. 8.

alarm, at the least we have cause for the most vigilant circumspection, and the adoption of every means calculated to resist and overcome the papal machinations.

6

'Popery,' says an eminent American, is a system where science and ignorance, refinement and barbarism, wisdom and stupidity, taste and animalism, mistaken zeal and malignant enmity, may sanctimoniously pour out their virulence against the gospel, and cry, Hosanna, while they go forth to shed the blood, and wear out the patience of the saints. And though by revolutions it has been shaken, and compelled by motives of policy to cease a little from blood, not a principle of this system has been abandoned. All the wiles of ages past are put in requisition now, to heal the fatal wounds which the beast has received, and to render the system still more powerful and terrific. The leaven is in secret and in open operation in this country; (America) and the quick action of the beast to the touch of the spear, in Palestine, shows that he is neither dead nor asleep. And considering the civilization, and wealth, and science, which the system comprehends, it is from popery, no doubt, that the gospel is destined to experience the last and most determined resistance.' 1

We have enumerated some of the most obvious sins and signs of the times; and surely, on a review of the whole, we must admit, that they are emi

1 Dr. Beecher.