public the obfcurity is no more; for the prophet evidently refers to three beasts or wicked powers. The firft, by the pronoun he, the fecond word in this verfe, the reference is to the "beaft of the "earth, or the French republic;" the next to "the "beaft of the fea," or the church of Rome; and laftly to the "dragon," or pagan or imperial Rome. In making thefe references to the two lastmentioned powers, he calls them both the first beasts, when it is evident they could not both be firft in refpect to time; and yet, upon a little confideration of the context, it appears that both are properly defcribed by the expreffion. The beaft of "the fea," or papal Rome, is the beast first described, before the "beaft of the earth" in this chapter; and therefore properly referred to as the firft beaft mentioned in it; and the "great red dragon," or imperial and pagan Rome, was the first great beaft, or enemy of the church of Chrift, and firft before papal Rome in refpect to date. This feeming obfcurity removed, let us attend to the particular meaning of the text. It points out two fingular, yet obvious features, fo characteristic of the French republic, that they diftinguish it from all other civil powers whatever. Of thefe I shall treat in the fame order with the prophet and that is, : Ver. 12. He (the beaft of the earth (or "the republic) exercifeth all the power of "the first beaft (before mentioned in this chapter, the beaft of the fea, or Papal Rome) before him. 66 To To afcertain whether this great feature of the beaft of the earth has been fulfilled by the republic or not, we must confider what were the extraordinary measures purfued by the church of Rome, in the courfe of her wicked ambition; and then whe ther the fame measures have not been adopted and purfued by the republic of France? In making thefe inquiries, I fhall place them in oppofite coJumns : The Policy and Powers exercifed by the Church of Rome. 1. The Pope, having, by flattery and corruption obtained from Phocas, the emperor and tyrant of Rome, a commiffion of univerfal bifhop, went to the temple of the heathen gods, erafed their names from their statues and images, and ordered them to be confidered in future as the reprefentations of the Virgin Mary, and other faints. He dedicated the temple to their ufe, and the ufe and adoration of fuch other dead men, as fhould in future be canonized; and thus laid the foundation of her idolatry and future grandeur. The Policy and Powers exercifed by the Republic of France. 1. The Convention, having, by the groffeft flattery, corruption, and frauds, ob tained from the people of France, the firft conftitu tional code, went to the temple or church of St. Genevieve, abjured the living God and his bleffed Son; crafed his holy name from the wall, and thus apoftatized from all truth; erected a ftatue to unrestrained li berty, celebrated its fame in an oration, worshipped it, and ordered it to be worfhipped, and dedicated the church to its ufe, and to that of dead men, who fhould be afterwards deified'; and thus laid the foundation of her atheism, anarchy, and extent of revolutionary pow er. 2. The 3. The church of Rome, knowing, that to influence and direct the mind of man, is a more fure and effectual method of fecuring his fervice and obedience, than that of open force and violence, has not, according to all the former ufage of the world, for the support and extenfion of her power, relied fo much upon the latter as the former; that is, upon the converfion and fubjugation of the minds of men to her idolatry, by cunning devices, and artful impofitions. She declares, that the fole and pure motive to fuch an exercife of power, is the falvation of mankind. Thofe frauds the has never ceafed to practife and by them. principally has exalted and extended her dominion, over the kings and nations of Eu rope. 2. Although the republic has openly abjured the exiftence of God, yet, in one of her proclamations, fhe has afferted, that her power to "reform the world, op 66 preffed by the kings of "the earth, is derived from "Heaven;" that is, to convert and fraternize the world to her liberty, equality, and anarchy. 3. The French republic, aware of the fame truth, has purfued the fame policy. The feduction, delufion, and converfion of the minds of men to her atheistical liberty, have been her leading meafure. To effect this purpose, the deepest and most specious frauds have not been wanting. By one decree fhe declares," in the name of the "French nation, that the "will grant fraternity and affiftance to all who wish to procure liberty; and fhe "orders the executive power, "to give orders to her ge"nerals, to give affiftance to all fuch people, as have fuffered, or are now fuffering, in the caufe of li"berty." And to fhow the purity and difintereftedness of her motives, the difavows. all ideas of conquest. This fraud, with a variety of others, which will appearhereafter, together with bribery and corruption, the has conftantly practifed; and it N is 4. In purfuance of this policy, the church of Rome has fent Jefuits, monks, and friars, to all parts of the world, ufing all manner of craft and blafphemous frauds, and holding out to mankind her idolatry as the only means of falvation, and even bribing the nations to her fuperftition. 5. But although the church of Rome principally relied on the fraudulent propagation of 'her doctrines, as the moft "certain and effectual means of extending and fecuring her authority and influence; yet he has often had recourfe to force, in converting and fubjugating kings and nations to her will. To facilitate the execution of this measure, he has firft excommunicated, curfed, and denounced vengeance against them as heretics worthy of death; and made it lawful for any perfon or power to deftroy them. She has then incited is to them principally that fhe is indebted for her triumph and exaltation, over the nations of Europe. 4. In like manner it has been the uniform policy of the republic to fend forth her converts throughout Europe; and even to Afia, Africa, the Indies, and North and South America, ufing all the means of delufion and fraud; and where thefe devices did not anfver her purpose, had recourfe to bribery and corruption, to convert the nations to a belief in her atheistical liberty; always reprefenting it as the only means of faving them from the oppreffion of kings, and of enfuring human happinefs. 5. The republic has "exercifed" the fame kind of policy. She began with, and has principally relied upon, the propagation of her atheistical frauds; yet the has not refted upon them only, in fraternizing kings and nations; but has had recourfe to force and war. This meafure fhe introduced by "fwearing hatred and " vengeance against all "kings;" thus curfing them, and proclaiming the lawfulnefs of their deftruction. She then incited the nations, under her influence, to make war upon the kings, and ..1 their incited the nations under her influence, to make war upon them, and by her emiffary prielts, Jefuits, and fecret fpies, has ftirred up their people into infurrections, feditions, and rebellions against their lawful fove reigns; and by this twofold policy he has feldom failed in extending her influence, over the refractory princes and nations. .. 6. While the church of Rome was thus extending her influence over the minds and confciences of men abroad, she was not negligent of its preservation at home. All perfons who would not embrace it, who would not fall down and worship the hoft, were put to death. For this purpose, fecret and terrific tribunals were contrived and establish ed; their people, who had refufed to adopt her liberty and equality; and, like that. mifcreant, the Duke of Or leans, to give up thofe elevated ranks and duties, with which they were intrufted for the benefit of their subjects; and to mingle with the vileft rabble. vileft rabble. She has in-. cited Holland, Spain, and even Tippoo Saib of the Indies, to declare war against, and is at war herfelf with, Great Britain, and almost all the princes of Germany! She has by her fecret spies and emiffaries ftirred up the people of Great Britain, Ireland, Turkey in Europe, Afia, and Africa, into fedition and rebellion against their lawful fovereigns and thus, by the operation of this twofold policy, she has extended her power to a height, which fmites the furrounding nations of Europe, with fearful aftonishment and difmay. : |