common cause of a wicked world. When bad men combine against the spiritual kingdom of Jesus Christ, they are not delicate in the choice of allies: what they chiefly want in such confederates, is unity of purpose. Their object is single; and no instrument of Antichrist is found to be so feeble, but what it may do something towards the disgrace of the Gospel. It would be a thing quite incredible, had we not frequently witnessed it, that men of talent, education, and rank, should discover as much imbecility, ignorance, and rudeness, when they speak and act against pure Christianity, as is shewn by their inferiors. The illiterate and the vulgar rise, for a moment, to an equality with the highest order of society. Impiety indeed, like death, is a leveller of all distinctions; and, like the same last enemy, plunges the soul into forgetfulness of God: "For in death no man remembereth Thee!"

It is further observable, that when men of the world laugh at the doctrines and pageantry of Popery, there seems to be no malignity, or sense of personal injury, mixed up with their derision. It is what themselves would call a good-natured laugh at nonsense and mummery; and they pass on to the next object which attracts them. But when their ridicule is excited against

a genuine Christian, the feeling is evidently of a distinct kind. It is no longer an amusement; but a hostile emotion, an angry sneer, disgust, and hatred. "Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul; and David behaved himself wisely in all his ways. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.”

How little do Pertinax and his party suspect, while they busy themselves in collecting signatures to petitions against the admission of their supposed opponents to power, that the Infidel Antichrist is standing upon his watchtower; and anticipating the day when the powers of the Papacy and of the Reformation shall join forces, in a conflict with their common enemy! The contest is, indeed, already begun; and if ever the Roman Catholic system should regain its ascendancy among us, there needs no spirit of prophecy to predict the reunion of irreligious Protestants with their now. ostensible rivals.

A writer, whom I am happy once more to cite in evidence of the opinions advanced in these pages, makes the following impressive

* See the foregoing note.

statement: The present times are eminently distinguished by the efforts employed for the extension of vital religion: each denomination has taken its station and contributed its part toward the diffusion of Evangelical sentiments. The consequence has been, that the professors of serious piety are multiplied, and form at present a very conspicuous part of the community. The space which they occupy in the minds of the public is not merely proportioned to their numerical importance, still less to their rank in society it is in a great measure derived from the publicity of their proceedings, and the numerous associations for the promotion of pious and benevolent objects which they have originated and supported. By these means, their discriminating doctrines, essential to vital piety, have become better known and more fully discussed than heretofore. One consequence, which might have been expected, has been the result. The opposition of the enemies of religion has become more virulent; their hatred more heated and inflamed; and they have turned with no small complacency to the contemplation of a system which forms a striking contrast to the object of their detestation. Popery, in the ordinary state of its profession, combines the form of godliness with

a total denial of its power. A heap of unmeaning ceremonies, adapted to fascinate the imagination and engage the senses; implicit faith in human authority, combined with an utter neglect of Divine teaching; ignorance the most profound, joined to dogmatism the most presumptuous; a vigilant exclusion of Biblical knowledge, together with a total extinction of free inquiry; present the spectacle of religion lying in state, surrounded with all the silent pomp of death. The very absurdities of such a religion render it less unacceptable to men whose decided hostility to truth inclines them to view with complacency whatever obscures its beauty or impedes its operation. Of all the corruptions of Christianity, Popery presents the most numerous points of contrast to the simple doctrines of the Gospel. On these accounts, supposing that Popery were triumphant, we have the utmost confidence that the professors of evangelical piety would be its first victims. The party most opposed to them look to Papists as their natural ally, on whose assisttance, in the suppression of what they are pleased to denominate enthusiasm, they may always depend.'

CHAPTER XVI.

ANTICHRIST IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLDSUGGESTIONS TO REAL CHRISTIANS.

I less admire gifts of utterance and bare profession of religion than I once did; and have much more charity for many who, by want of gifts, do make an obscurer profession than they. I once thought, that almost all that could pray movingly and fluently, and talk well of religion, had been saints. But experience hath opened to me, what odious crimes may consist with high profession: and I have met with divers obscure persons, not noted for any extraordinary profession or forwardness in religion, but only to live a quiet blameless life, whom I have afterwards found to have long lived, as far as I could discern, a truly godly and sanctified life; only their prayers and duties were by accident kept secret from other men's observation. Yet he that upon this pretence would confound the godly and the ungodly, may as well go about to lay heaven and hell together. BAXTER.

Is there, then, no calm retirement from the strifes of the visible church-no sacred spot uncontaminated by its pollutions-no holy of holies within the veil of the present Temple, where the servants of God are privileged to assemble without fear of the world's intrusion? No;