And, how was it received?-In a few years from the time of the crucifixion, Jerusalem was utterly destroyed, after its inhabitants, had experienced unheard of calamities, and the people of Judea were dispersed over the whole face of the earth, where they still feel the effect of their iniquities, and the horrid imprecation before Pilate, "his blood be on us and on our chil"dren."-Rome exalts herself, far above Abraham, and far above Christ:-she forgives sins on earth, of the deepest die,—and successfully intercedes for sinners beyond the grave, and sends them out of purgatory, up to heaven.The human mind runs wild in nothing so quickly, as in matters of religion. It seems to have been so, from the beginning of the world. The moment, the plainly chalked out path of duty is quitted, and the laws and directions of God are fors ken, articles of faith are multiplied, the most extravagant theories are set upinconsistences are admired as beauties-unintelligible mystery is delightful-the most stupid "old wives fables" are believed as matters of fact—and the most abomirable and barefaced "lies, spoken in hypocrisy," are entertained as sacred and heavenly truths.—If this had not been the case, who would not have seen the gross absurdity of the doctrine of purgatory, and that there was no kind of necessity whatever, for the Catholics to have been at the trouble of establishing it;-for, if the muttering a few words over a piece of bread and a

little wine by a priest, can actually change such things into the real body and blood of him," to whom the nations are as a drop of a "bucket, by whom they are counted as the "small dust of the balance, and who taketh up "the isles as a very little thing:"-if the Catholic priests have the power to bring the eternal God from heaven, that their communicants may in this manner eat him ;-and if they can do this as often as they choose, surely they could have no difficulty in sending their people, when they died, directly to him, without giving them the pain of passing through purgatory, or themselves the trouble of praying them out of it:-a God so obedient as to come at their command to be devoured, would never have dared to refuse admittance to any of their friends into his kingdom, on their recominendation, and with their passports.—It is right to paint the doctrine of Rome in its real and true colours, however shocking and disgusting such a picture may be, that men of every rank and condition may understand its nature, and being filled with horror at the blasphemy of it, may fly from it, as they would from the jaws of "the great dragon, that old serpent, called "the devil, and satan, which deceiveth the “whole world.”—Upon the heads of the representative of the Papacy, according to St. John, was the name of blasphemy;-" and there was given unto him a mouth speaking great "things and blasphemies-and he opened it in

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"blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name.”—Three times in this passage does the apostle tell us, that the character of the beast is to blaspheme.—and, is it possible that greater blasphemies can be uttered against the majesty of heaven, than those which proceed out of the mouths of the Catholics, when they assert that the doctrine of transubstantiation is agree able to the word of God, and that they actually eat his flesh and drink his blood, in the sacrainent of the Eucharist ?-And, does that man, whether he sits amongst the princes, or stands amongst the lowest ranks of the people, deserve to be called an intolerant persecutor, because he abhors the blasphemous religion of Rome, and boldly avows his determination never to part with his integrity, that his heart may not reproach him so long as he lives," by sanctioning any indulgences and favours to men who hold a doctrine repugnant to common sense, and hateful to God?—Let infidels, half infidels, and practical atheists, loudly condemn the opposers of the claims of such people: their abuse, is praise, and honorable to the advocates of truth, who have the commands of heaven to justify their conduct.-Which of the prophets, from Elijah to John, escaped the abuse and illtreatment of such men?" Blessed "are ye, said Christ, when men shall hate you, "and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the son of man's sake

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"rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy-for, "behold your reward is great in heaven;-for, "in like manner did their fathers unto the 'prophets."

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The Jews were prohibited from a communion with idolatrous people, by these plain directions from God.-"Thou shalt make no covenant "with them-neither shalt thou make marriage "with them; thy daughter, thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take "unto thy son-for they will turn away thy "son from following me, that they may serve "other Gods; so will the anger of the Lord be "kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly:-but thus shall ye deal with them ;

ye shall destroy their altars, and break down "their images, and cut down their groves."If God's displeasure against idolatry is not exactly the same now, as it was when Moses published these laws against it, the second commandment is of less importance to the christian, than it was to the Mosaic dispensation; but, it was the uniform doctrine of Christ, that all the commandments were to be faithfully kept, if men wished to see life; consequently, the laws of heaven, are still in full force against idolatry and the blasphemies that surround it; and to avoid its contagion, as well as prevent its spreading, what human vanity, will suggest better rules and better modes than those prescribed by infinite wisdom?-Will running into the plague, be the means of destroying it ?—or,

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will the introduction of a person in the last stage of it, into an assembly of men engaged in religious duties, be the means of curing him, and preserving them from its destructive infection? When Christ sent his disciples to preach the glad tidings of salvation, to cast out devils, and heal the sick, he said, " and whosoever shall "not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart "thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them." It was the advice of St. Paul to his Corinthian friends and converts, that they should not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers ;-for, what fellowship, says he, has righteousness, with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light "with darkness?-And what concord hath "Christ with Belial, or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?-And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?"Upon another occasion, when warm and earLest in his argument for the leading doctrine of christianity, the resurrection, he charged them not to be imposed upon, and deceived by the mistaken notions and errors of the enemies of Christ, and to recollect that too great an intercourse, and familiarity with bad people, was very dangerous to good morals;-for, "evil communications corrupt good manners." And Christ addresses the church in Pergamos, by his faithful servant John, in this manner, "I have “ a few things against thee, because thou hast "there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,