decided in my opinion, that the union of Church and State, after the manner in which these things are usually conducted, is a forced and unnatural connexion; really injurious to the true interests of both, and contrary to the spirit and letter of the New Testament of Jesus Christ.

Many Protestant readers will inquire why I have omitted to notice in the following work, the various prophecies of the Sacred Scriptures which are thought, by some, so clearly to allude to the rise, progress, decline, and destruction of popery.

wish to treat the opinions of those many eminent and excellent writers who have treated on this subject with respect; but I must throw myself on their candour, while I state, that it is my firm persuasion, no clear and unequivocal proof can be made out, that either Daniel or St. John had an eye peculiarly directed against the Church of Rome, or even against the spiritual head of that church. I perused with attention all that Bishop Newton, Mr. Mede, Mr. Faber, Mr. Kett, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Bicheno, and many other writers have written on the subject, and had prepared a Sec ion on the prophecies supposed to relate to the Church of Rome, and the destruction of Spiritual Babylon; but motives of respect for the opinions of many Protestant writers of the highest celebrity, from whom I have felt

myself compelled to differ, have induced me, for the present, to withhold my sentiments on these topics. I have been often amused by comparing the various interpretations which commentators have given of the passage in the 13th chapter, and the 18th verse, of the Book of Revelations :-" Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred, threescore and six." Without pretending to determine which of them is right, I have met with such a confusion and contrariety among learned Commentators on this passage, that I should have thought it impertinent in me to have alluded to any one of them, in treating of the faith of Roman Catholics. It has served, however, to exercise the ingenuity of Expositors of every description. One will have the mystical number to mean the Pope-another, Louis XVI.—a third is quite clear that St. John meant thereby to designate Martin Luther, and a large number of expounders have lately discovered that certainly the name of the beast is the number of Napoleon Bonaparte! The Roman Catholic interpreters are quite clear that the mystical Babylon of the Apocalypse is no other than idolatrous Rome, before the introduction of Christianity; and Sig. Pastorini, in his History of the Church, is decided, that the Reformation in Germany was the iden

tical smoke of the bottomless pit! Though some learned Protestants tell us, that Papal, and not Pagan, Rome is clearly the Babylon* of the New Testament!-yet the late Mr. Simpson seemed quite sure that not to "be partaker of her sins," he must separate from the Church of England! It is somewhat strange, that few, if any one, should have conceived that these meta

* That Rome is not the Great Babylon of the Apocalypse is very doubtful, because, 1. Babylon is represented as one of the greatest cities in the world (Rev. xvii. 18, and xviii. 18); but modern Rome is a very small city, compared with others, and but the tenth part of what it was. 2. Babylon is one of the strongest cities in the world (Rev. xviii. 7 and 8); but Rome is so weak that it has seldom been besieged without being taken. 3. Babylon is one of the most prosperous cities in the world, and was never to know sorrow, till sudden destruction came upon her; but Rome, though she has had her days of pleasure and prosperity, has had those of affliction and sorrow also, which Babylon is to have but once, that is, when her sudden destruction comes upon her, and not before. (Rev. xviii. 9, 8, 10. Rev. xvii. 19, 21.) 4. Babylon is represented so confident of her own strength, as to flatter herself she shall never be conquered; but Rome has been frequently a prey to the Goths, Vandals, &c., and therefore might justly fear she might be taken again. 5. Babylon was not to taste the cup of God's wrath before the seventh, or last vial was poured out (Rev. xvi. 9); but the city of Rome has tasted it often, and was at one time brought to such a desolate state, that neither man, woman, nor child was seen in it for forty days together; and, lastly, Babylon is seated near the sea, and her merchants were to carry on immense trade and commerce, till the very moment of her ruin (Rev.xviii. 11, 19.), while Rome, since she became the seat of the sovereign pontiffs, has been not only without trade entirely, but even a closed port.

phorical allusions might very well be supposed to relate, not to this or that church in particular, but to a general apostasy from the plain and simple doctrine of Christ and his apostles. To this conclusion they might have come, by observing that, whatever else is meant to be understood by the figure, the apostle describes the personified apostasy, by informing us, that “ upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, &c." I wish those who are so desirous of introducing mysteries into the revealed religion of the Son of God would reflect on this; and then let those who are free on this score cast the first stone at the mysterious Church of Rome.

When I first conceived the idea of the following work, I had a wish and intention of introducing some topics of importance, which upon mature reflection, and experience in the undertaking, I have found it impossible to do. The subject is great and extensive; and to have done justice to every part of it, which I had first projected, would have swelled my work very much beyond its present bulk; but it is not improbable, should the present volume meet with a favourable reception with the public, that I may be induced to pursue the subject; by which I shall be able to introduce those points, and particularly

that relating to the origin and progress of the Catholic question, which I have now unavoidably omitted. The history of the Jesuits and the Jansenists would of itself form a highly curious and interesting work; and a general view of the history of Catholicism in this country since the Revolution of 1688, with a view of its present state in the various countries of Christendom, would not be unworthy the notice. and regard of the religious and political world.

The influence which the French Revolution has had on Catholicism was a topic on which I much wished to have enlarged, giving at the same time a general view of the Gallican Church, which at all times has manifested a praiseworthy spirit of independence on the Pope and the Court of Rome. Did not this subject lead too much into extensive detail, I am convinced it would add considerably to the value and interest of my work; at least it would furnish this important inference, that the practice of persecution in any Catholic state has not depended on the influence or authority of the papal power, or the peculiar nature of the Roman Catholic religion; seeing, that in France, where that influence was ever the least operative, more victims have been immolated at the shrine of bigotry and state ty