See Preface to 5th
Again-"I own it

Vol, of History of the Church of Christ. "is with much pain, and awful foreboding of consequences, "that I have observed some of our wisest and most enlightened "Statesmen appear to entertain such sentiments of the present "state of the Roman Catholic Religion, as to me are wholly "unaccountable, except on the hypothesis, either of almost a "total ignorance of both the religious and political parts of the "Papal system, or certainly, of an irreverent contempt, and "carelessness respecting the one, and a dangerous misconcepσε tion of the other." Sermons, Vol 1, p. 30.

In reference to THE SCRIPTURAL DESIGNATION OF POPERY, AND HER PRETENSIONS, on which I have already dwelt so much, I wish finally to enquire of you, Sir, but more especially of Mr. WILBERFORCE, whether, on considering the six first verses of the 17th chapter of the Apocalypse, and the whole of the 18th chapter, you can possibly feel, as Protestants-a single doubt that the Prophetical character there personified, is the Adulterous and Apostate Church of Rome, and that the overthrow there predicted is the destruction of that Church? If this be so (and I anticipate your entire acquiescence in such a conclusion), I again ask whether Christian men can consent, with safety to their own avowed principles, to give political power, and influence, to a corrupt and ungodly system, which is already condemned to destruction, and is only filling up the measure of its iniquities? Is it not notorious that political power has been, from the beginning, the basis and foundation on which the Church of Rome has raised that superstructure of falsehood and crime, which has enabled her, under the name and semblance of Religion, to usurp dominion over the souls and bodies of men; and how, then, can a spiritual and sincere Protestant consistently aid the adherents of the Papacy, in their attempts to acquire political power? If the Romanist himself does not affect to disjoin political, from religious power, with what pretence can You? He neither affects to disbelieve, or deny, that in obtaining political power, he effectually attains his object; and why should this be doubted by Protestants? With regard to any credit or character which may be sup

posed to attach to GREAT NAMES, on the side of the Roman Catholics, in this controversy, I am willing to allow all due weight to the argument of authority, but I have not been so "ravished by the whistling of a name," as to shrink from examining the reasonings by which novelties like these are sought to be supported. On looking closely at those reasonings, it has been the conscientious conviction of my mind that they are weak and feeble, as addressed to our old English reason, and our common sense; but it is, above all, upon weighing them in the balance of the Sanctuary, that I have found them wanting. The logic which would advocate the CLAIMS of the Roman Catholics, appears of no better calibre than that which would defend their RELIGION. The reasoning seems to be, in either case, worthy of the cause it would support: indeed, the only matter of astonishment is, that the professors of Evangelical Truth should be found on such a side; and not that, being there, they should find, like SAMPSON, that their strength is departed from them, when they would go out, as at other times before, and shake themselves. In reference to the peculiar imbecility which characterizes the observations of otherwise ingenious and clever men, when supporting the Romish Claims, I can honestly adopt the language of old HOOKER when he addresses certain opponents of his time:-"I must plainly "confess unto you that before I examined your sundry decla"rations, it could not settle in my head to think but that, un"doubtedly, such numbers of otherwise right well-affected, "and most religiously-inclined minds, had some marvellous "reasonable inducements which led them, with so great ear"nestness, that way; but when once, as near as my slender "ability would serve, I had, with travail and care, performed that part of the Apostle's advice to try all things,' and was "come at the length so far, that there remained only the other "clause to be satisfied, wherein he concludeth that what is good "must be held, there was, in my poor understanding, no re"medy, but to set down this, as my final resolute persuasion."

+66

In conclusion-I would once again avail myself of the ad. vantages supplied me by Dr. OWEN, and adopt as my own, the picus and consolatory reflections with which he closes the va

luable work to which I have before referred. "If," says he," "we may suppose, what we may justly fear, namely, that the "Holy God, to punish the horrible sins and ingratitude of the "nations professing the Protestant Religion, should suffer the "profession of it, by any means that he shall think meet to "use, în his holy permission, to be extinguished for a season, " and remove the light of the Gospel from these nations, we may yet conclude two things: First, That it shall issue at last "in the advantage of the Church-ANTICHRIST SHALL NOT

BE A FINAL GAINER IN THIS CONTEST; his success herein "will be a forerunner of his utter destruction. The healing "of his deadly wound will preserve his life but for a little "while; Religion shall be again restored in a more refined 66 profession. There shall ensue thereon no new Revelations, no new Doctrines, no new Scriptures, no new Ordinances of "Worship. The substance of the Protestant Doctrine, Re"ligion, and Worship, shall be preserved, restored, beautified "in themselves, and in their power, in them by whom they "shall be professed. Secondly, in the meantime, to suffer for

it, even unto death, is the most glorious cause wherein we "can be engaged, and wherein we shall be undoubtedly victo"rious. It is no less glorious in the sight of God, no less ac66 ceptable with him, to suffer, in giving testimony against the "abominations of the Apostate, Antichristian Church, than to "suffer for the Gospel itself, in opposition to Idolatrous Pa66 ganism."

In harmony with this consolatory prediction, are the prophetic words of the dying Sydney. "God will not eventu66 ally suffer this land, where the Gospel has of late flourished 66 more than in any part of the world, to become a land of 66 graven images; he will stir up witnesses of the truth, and in "his own time, spirit his people to stand up for his cause, and "deliver them. I have lived in this belief, and am now about "to die in it."-I think, Sir, that even you will not deny that the standing up for the cause of GOD, here adverted to, must have intended something else than THE CONCESSION OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CLAIMS.

I conclude these letters with the last words of that illustrious

martyr, LORD RUSSELL, whose strenuous support of the Bill of Exclusion, (which was designed to prevent the accession of that Popish Monarch, JAMES II.) is now agreed, on all hands, to have been the occasion of the costly sacrifice which was made of England's best blood, by his unjust execution-"I believe "that Popery is breaking in upon this nation, and that those "who advance it, will stop at nothing to carry their design. "I AM HEARTILY SORRY THAT SO MANY PROTESTANTS GIVE "THEIR HELPING HAND TO IT; but I hope God will preserve "the Protestant Religion and this Nation, though I am afraid "it will fall under very great trials, and very sharp sufferings."