(the third,) which is entitled, "Antichrist another power beside the Papal hierarchy." were times. For it is the essential characteristic of the latter, that he denies the Father and the Son; denies that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh." The predictions noted in this Dissertation decide, that Antichrist was to be a terrible, atheistical Power, to arise in the last days, and to bring upon itself swift destruction. He ascendeth from the bottomless pit, and goeth into perdition. His judgment lingereth not, and his damnation slumbereth not. His ruin is nearly connected with his origin. His reign is thus to be of short continuance. could this have been said of the Papal hierarchy? Surely not. That was to continue for many centuries; even 1260 years. "It has been the general opinion of Protestant divines, that the predictions concerning Antichrist, fulfilled in the Papal hierarchy. But some of late explode the idea: And I believe they do it with propriety. Mr. Faber has clearly shown the incorrectness of former expositors upon this point. No doubt the Romish hierarchy, was Antichristian to a dreadful degree. It was the little blasphemous horn of the Roman beast, into whose hands the saints were to be delivered for 1260 years.* It was the apostasy predicted by the Apostle Paul, when he said, that some in the latter days should depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. It was the second beast in Rev xiii, 11, which rose out of the earth; which had two horns like a lamb; but which spake like a dragon. It is the woman in Rev. xvii, 3; the Mystery, Babylon the great, the Mother of harlots, and abom inations of the earth.‡ But the Papal hierarchy was not the only, or last, power predicted to be raised up in judgment to the wicked world, as too many have seemed to imagine. A Power was to be raised up for the execution of judgment on the wicked nations, to destroy that Mother of harlots, to hate her, and to burn her with fire. Surely this terrible Power was to be subsequent to the reign of Popery; and distinct from Popery. The characteristics of this new power, or Antichrist, are such as never applicable to Popery. The Romish hierarch never denied the Father, or the Son; did not deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. The Pope professed the highest veneration for God, and Christ, and the Christian Religion. And though his profession was hypocriti. cal; yet it having been uniform from the beginning, and thus constituting a characteristic, it evinced that he was not the Antichrist of the last were *Dan. vii, 8, 25. † 1 Tim. iv, 1,2. + Rev. xvii, 5. But "We shall find in the predictions to be noted, that it is the Roman beast, under his last head; and not the Papal beast; nor the little horn; nor the false prophet, that is to be found in battle array against Christ, at the time of the end, or of the seventh vial. Dan. vii, 11; I beheld then because of the voice of the great words, which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. Here the great Power, predominant upon the ground, at the commence. ment of the battle of that great day of God Almighty, is the Roman beast, in distinction from the Papal power, This accords with the various des criptions of the same event in the Revelation to St. John. There we find that the Powers, then in array against Christ, are the beast and false prophet; the Roman beast under his last head, and Popery. In the various passages, where these Powers are mentioned at that period, they are found in this connexion. The beast is first and predominant. In Rev. xvii, we shall find this terrible beast is bearing the Papal harlot to her execution; and is to be her executioner. These representations all imply, that Antichrist was to be another Power beside the Papal hierarchy. "The present state of this hierarchy utterly forbids, that she can be that vast terrific Power, in terrible array against Christ, in the last days. The * 1 John ii, 22. Romish hierarchy has already fallen under the iron grasp of a far superior Power, who is inflicting the judg ments of heaven upon her. And to whatever degree of mischief to the people of God, this hierarchy may be made an engine of policy and ambition in the hands of this superior Power, she will never more be predominant. She will be nothing more than a political puppet in the hands of an Imperial master. The latter is the terri. ble Power, the beast, whose body is to be destroyed, and given to the burning flame. "Antichrist,or the great Power predicted in Dan. xi, 36, is at, or near, the time of the end, to be engaged in a war with the king of the north, and the king of the south; Dan. xi, 40, No such event as this was ever fulfilled with respect to the Papal power; nor can it ever be, according to any present probability. This one consideration must afford a full decision, that Antichrist, the terrible Power of the last days, is distinct from, and subsequent to, the Papal power. It will appear, I trust, in all the predictions to be noted in this Dissertation, that Antichrist is a distinct Power from Popery. "When the reformation under Lu. ther, the art of printing, and the revival of learning in Europe, had unveiled the abominations of Popery, millions, whose pride of heart would not permit them to embrace the doctrines of the reformation, would easily be induced to deny God, and the Christian religion. This was a process very natural in old, corrupt, Popish countries, after the mummery their false system was exposed. And especially was this the case, among a people constitutionally licentious, volatile, haughty, and impatient of every moral restraint. Such a people would need only an association of subtle, Infidel philosophers, under the instigation of the old serpent, to institute a scheme which would give of birth to the Antichrist of the last times. And such will appear to have been his origin." pp. 33-35. It is very easily accounted for, that the early reformers, and subsequent expositors of Scrip ture down to the present age, should have mistaken the Papal hierarchy for Antichrist. That hierarchy constituted an awful apostasy from pure Christianity, and was much described in prophecy as a beast, or persecuting power, as the mother of harlots, and as the man of sin. It was natural, therefore, that those who had never seen the Antichrist should neglect, or misinterpret, the distinctive features in his character, such as Atheism, Infidelity, (or a peculiar and avowed hostility to the Christian religion,) and the sudden and violent termination of his short existence. Of late years, the great body of those, who have studied the prophecies, have been decidedly of the opin ion, that the predictions respecting Antichrist apply with much greater precision to modern Infidelity and Atheism, than to any other display of wickedness which the world has ever seen. We have before us an extract from a manuscript of a plain, but sensible, private Christian written so early as 1794, in which the author lays hold of 1 John ii, 22, He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son, and gives it as his confirmed opinion, that the Deism, which then prevailed, was the manifestation of Antichrist. We do not recollect to have seen any thing in print to this effect, till the publication of Dr. Dwight's Centurial Sermon, in 1801. It is remarkable, that a Jesuit, in 1634, gave it as his opinion, that whenever the wilful king, of Daniel, (by whom he understood the great Antichrist,) should be revealed, "he would be an Atheist, and would abolish, not only the worship of Christ, and the superstitious idolatry of Paganism, but even the very name and a doration of the true God."* Bishop Horsley, in his letter on Is. xviii, says, "I fear I too clearly see the rise, instead of the fall, of the Antichrist of the West, Fab. i. 240, in a note. who shall be neither a Protestant nor a Papist; neither Christian, Jew, nor Heathen: who shall worship neither God, angel, nor saint; who will neither supplicate the invisible majesty of heaven, nor fall down before an idol." (To be continued.) RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. A NARRATIVE OF THE STATE OF RELIGION Within the bounds of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and of their sister churches in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, during the time intervening between May 1810, and May 1811. THE providences of Jehovah towards the Church, demand both attention and improvement from his people. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them. To furnish their brethren with suitable information on this subject, the General Assembly present this Narrative of the state of religion within their bounds, and those of sister Churches, to their notice and regard. The scene which a review of the past year exhibits to us, is not mark. ed with such signal blessings as that of some preceding years. But still it is interesting; for we have sweet and consolatory evidences that God is in the midst of us. The attendance upon the regular worship of God, has been decent generally; in some instances, not a few, solemn and affecting. Though there have been no general revivals in any part of our borders, a few places have been specially visited. This is the case with Cape May and Fairfield, in the Presbytery of Philadelphia; and we add with pleasure, the capital of the United States, and one or two villages adjacent. We hail the day of small things in the lat ter district of country, and pray that the first fruits may be followed with an abundant harvest, In the city of New York, within the bounds of the Presbytery of New York, the cause of Christ has been gradually and steadily advancing. Constant accessions are made to the communion of the Church, as well from the higher, as the middling and lower classes of society. Those parts of our Church where the Spirit has been remarkably poured out in past years, still display the fruits of such gracious visitations. There are few apostasies; none of great moment. Believers are walking in the comforts of the Holy Ghost; and manifesting the works of righteousness and peace in their daily de portment. In many congregations they discover great solicitude for the conversion of sinners, they are troub led in mind, and urged to fervent prayer, for the welfare of souls and the glory of Christ. The noble spirit which the Gospel produces, thus dis- . covers itself in them; and we cannot but hope that HE, who hath given them this spirit, will gratify their desires. Many new congregations have been formed which promise fair to be nur series of children for our God and his Christ. We notice with satisfaction, one establishment in Philadelphia, composed of people of color. May the example be followed in other places, that thus this neglected part of the human family, may have the means of grace administered to them every where, in a manner both suitable to their situation, and to their intellectual improvement. The vacancies in our Churches have been more generally supplied, than we had a reasonable ground of expectation. The ministry are faithful in explaining and defending the truth as it is in Jesus, and in restor ing decayed discipline. We have cause of thankfulness that in a day of rebuke like this, there is so much unanimity of sentiment and of conduct, on points that are fundamental, among those who labor in holy things, The missionary exertions of this Assembly, have been owned and blessed, both on our frontiers, and among the Indians. From this general view, we descend to some more minute details of circumstances, which we consider faForable. There appears an increasing attention in most places to the doctrines of the Gospel. People begin to be gener. ly convinced that it is important for them to have correct principles, in order that they may lead correct lives. Especially do they who profess the hope of the Gospel, pay more of that → attention to doctrines, which sound philosophy and the Scriptures demand. And the doctrines which they esteem and cherish, are those which our fathers in the old world embra ced; in the faith of which they died, and which are contained in our standards. They are denominated, appropriately, the Doctrines of Grace, and constitute both our glory and defence. By them God is honored, and sinners are saved. Theyhave ever been opposed, and they ever will be opposed; by those who know not the truth, or who hold it in unrighteousness. But God has ever put the seal of his approbation on them,making them effectual to the conversion of sinners. In close connexion with this increased regard thus paid to doctrines, we find there is an increased exertion for the promotion of pure and undefiled religion, This will ever be the case. Among those who consid. er doctrines of little avail, the efforts used for advancing the interests of Christ's kingdom are few and feeble. They may through the excite ment of interest and passion, make a Besides these societies we find that the friends of evangelical truth support by subscription in the city of New York, a stated preacher in the Hospital and Alms House. The issue of such an attempt, we trust, will gladden the hearts of those who have made it, and bring glory to God in the conversion and comfort of the poor and the sick. In the city of Philadelphia, the Evangelical Society, which has existed for some time, are vigorously prosecuting their laudable plan, in disseminating the truth. Besides the regular societies which they have es tablished, they have directed their attention to the catechising of poor children. In the city of New-Brunswick, in New-Jersey, a Sabbath school has been established, in which a large number of poor children are gratuitously and carefully instructed in moral and religious truth. These institutions are pre-eminently characteristic of the religion of Jesus. He preached the Gospel to the poor, and has charged his followers not to forget them. We fail in our duty, as well as abridge our personal happiness, by neglecting to visit the fatherless to assist the indigent--to alleviate human sufferings. Property is given to us for others, as well as ourselves. Believers are stewards of the bounties of Providence, as well as of the grace of God, The Praying Societies which have heretofore been establishred, still continue, and new ones have been formed. We congratulate the brethren on the prospect which this affords. Such institutions are nurseries of piety, directly calculated to keep alive in the hearts of believers, the flame of Divine love, and to awaken the attention of such as are afar off, We are not ashamed to acknowledge that they constitute one of the great blessings of our Church. So far are we from apprehending danger from them, that we do know and we declare without fear of contradiction, that they are good in themselves, and that they promote the best interests of those who attend them. Attention to the young and rising generation, has evidently increased during the past year. Baptized children are more generally objects of special care. Catechetical instruction is administered to them in most of our congregations, and, in some, measures are taking to introduce a system of discipline in regard to them, suitable to the relation they sustain to the Church, and to the duty which the Church owes to them. We trust our brethren will go on in this good work. Much remains to be done. The children which the the Lord has committed to our care, ought not to be thrust into the world without defence. The mere clements of religion are not sufficient for their use. They ought to be instructed in the higher doctrines of the Gospel, to be acquainted with the contents of Scripture, and furnished with the evidences which demonstrate the divinity of the Scriptures, Churches, as well as parents, have a solemn account to render to God, for the manner in which the children sealed with the seal of the covenant, have been treated. They are reaping the fruits of their negligence, in the carelessness and profaneness of multitudes of their youth. These, though dedicated to God in baptism, have been suffered to wander at large with no suitable restraint exercised over them. On whom then must the blame chiefly descend? We shudder at the truth. We hope, however, that the future will exhibit a different picture. Present exertions promise such an issue. We leave the subject with God, commending it to his blessing. In addition to these favorable circumstances, we are happy to state that Infidelity appears to be declining; and that there are few errors prevalent, In a few sections, Socinianism and Universalism do exist, but gain little ground. We have thus far given you in detail the circumstances we deem favorable. We must now unfold to you some of an opposite character. With pain we have heard that in some parts of our Church the dispo sition to support the Gospel ministry is becoming cold. We lament this appearance the more,because we learn that there is no backwardness to advance money for objects, which,though laudable in themselves, are subordinate in importance to the preaching of the word. We trust that our people possess too much good sense, and too much respect for the God who made and redeemed them, to listen to the dreams of men who neither know what they say, nor whereof they affirm. These do not hesitate to libel an ordinance of the living God, to promote their selfish views, their degrading prejudices. God has said, whosoever serveth at the altar, shall live of the altar. But these say no-the ministry must be kept in want that they may be kept humble. We fervently wish |