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for it. If the prediction be divine, there is ONE, who will fee that it be accomplished. Princes and States may have nothing lefs in view than to fulfil the prophecies of facred Scripture: yet, when the appointed time is come, they will certainly fulfil them, though they never thought of coming in aid of the prophecies-though we should not encourage them in any such prefumptuous defign-nay, though we should do our utmost, as it is our duty to do, to restrain vindictive and ill-advised men from turning their arms even against Antichrift himself, for the fake of religion.

This topic, I know, is much laboured by the advocates of the papal caufe, in order to throw difgrace on Proteftant writers, whom they confider as so many incendiaries, wickedly attempting to spread the flames of war through Chriftian focieties. There might by a time when, in the cafe of fome few men, tranfported by paffion, because outrageously oppreffed, there was, perhaps, fome colour for this

charge.

charge. But to perfift in it, as they ftill do, only fhews that they neither conceive with due reverence of divine prophecy, nor do juftice to that fpirit of toleration by which the Protestant churches, at least of our days, are fo eminently diftinguished.

III. "A third prejudice, which operates in the minds of many perfons against the principle under confideration, arises from the disagreeing opinions of learned men concerning the fenfe and application of the prophecies; while not only the papal Divines, but many writers of note even among ourselves, have ftrenuously maintained that the church of Rome is no way concerned in the predictions concerning Antichrift."

To obviate this prejudice, I obferve,

1. That arguments from authority, in all cafes where reafon and good sense must finally decide, are very little to be regarded. Shew me the queftion in religion, or even

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in common morals, about which learned men have not difagreed; nay, fhew me a fingle text of fcripture, though ever fo plain and precife, which the perverseness or ingenuity of interpreters has not drawn into different, and often contrary meanings. What then shall we conclude? That there is no truth in religion, no certainty in morals, no authority in facred scripture? If fuch conclufions, as thefe, be carried to their utmost length, in what else can they terminate, but abfolute universal scepticifm?

2. I obferve that this authority, after all, whatever weight we may, in the general, fuppofe it to have, is, in the present cafe, no great matter; for it is, in effect, but the authority of ONE man, whose eminent worth, however, and luftre of reputation, made it current with fome others.

The character of Hugo GROTIUS is well known. He is juftly efteemed among the ablest and most learned men of an age,

that

that abounded in ability and learning. Befides his other fhining talents, his acquaintance with hiftory was extenfive; and his knowledge of fcripture, profound. And yet, with two such requifites for unlocking the true fenfe of the prophetic writings, this excellent man undertook to prove in form, That the Pope was not Antichrift.

The account of this mifchance, is as extraordinary, as the mischance itself. The moral qualities of Grotius were still more admirable, than his intellectual: and in thefe qualities, we fhall find the true fpring of his unhappy and misapplied pains on the fubject before us.

He was in his own nature juft, candid, benevolent, to a fupreme degree; and the experience of an active turbulent life had but fortified him the more in a love of these pacific virtues. He was, on principle, à fincere and zealous Chriftian; and confequently impreffed with a due fense of that exalted charity, which is the characteristic of that religion: but he had feen and felt

much

much of the mifchiefs, which proceed from theological quarrels: and thus every thing concurred to make him a friend to peace, and, above all, to peace among Christians.

An union of the Catholic and Proteftant churches feemed neceffary to this end: and the apparent candour, whether real or affected, of some learned perfons, whom he had long known and valued in the church of Rome, drew him into the belief, that fuch a project was not impracti cable. Henceforth, it became the ruling object of his life; and, permitting himself too easily to conclude, that the Proteftant doctrine of Antichrift was the fole, or principal obstruction to the union defired, he bent all the efforts of his wit and learning to difcredit and overthrow that doc

trine.

Thus, was this virtuous man betrayed by the wifdom and equity of his own character; and I know not if the obfervation of the moral poet can be fo juftly applied to any other Infani

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