experiment added to that in North America, to decide the queftion, whether the bufinefs of religion, and that of civil government, can be better conducted feparately, or in conjunction. But, in fact, experience has already decided this great question. We have already seen what it is that an establishment of religion has been able to do in France. Under what mode of government in this respect, was the great number of unbelievers that is fo much complained of in France formed, but under an eftablishment, a form of religion prescribed, and provided for by the state? It is not even pretended, that, excepting the cafe of the emigrant clergy, they have been the irreligious that have banished the religious. For it is acknowledged that the emigrant noblesse had as little religion as the members of the National Convention, all of whom, however, are by no means unbelievers in Christianity. In fact, the civil establishment of Chriftianity had almost extinguished every thing of real Chriftianity in the country; the fuperior clergy themselves, having, by repute, as little of it as the nobleffe. And it will not be pretended, that the Atheism, now fo generally afcribed to the French nation, was produced by the revo

lution,

lution, and did not exift in the country before. Can it be doubted, then, but that a friend to real Chriftianity must be an enemy to the civil establishment of it?

4. As a believer in revelation, and confequently in prophecy, I am led by the present afpect of things, to look forward to events of the greatest magnitude and importance, leading to the final happy ftate of the world. At every idea of this kind, unbelievers will fmile. But I am now addreffing a fociety of Chriftians, believers in revelation and in prophecy, as well as myfelf; and I fee no reason to be ashamed of this belief.

Three great events feem to be pretty clearly announced in the prophetical books of Scripture, and to have a connection with each other, viz. the fall of Antichrift, (probably the Papal power) that of the Turkish empire, and the return of the Jews to their own country, Judea. And, according to the uniform language of prophecy, this last event is to be preceded by a state of very great calamity, fuch as the world had never known before. In Daniel it is faid, (chap. xii. 1) that shall be a time of trouble, fuch as there never was fince there

was a nation, even to that fame time; and at that time fhall thy people be delivered.

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I am far from being fingular in my ideas on this fubject. Dr. Hartley, one of the greatest and most intelligent, as well as one of the best of men, takes it for granted, that "great temporal evils and woes," as he fays (Observations on Man, Vol. II. p. 220) “will fall 66 upon the nominal Chriftian ftates of thefe "Western parts, this Chriftian Babylon," as he ftyles them, "before the great revolution predicted in the Scriptures; before the kingdoms of the world, become the king"dom of the Lord, and of his Chrift."

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After pointing out the probable causes of this great calamity, he fays, p. 445, "It "would be great rafhness to fix a time for the

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breaking of the storm, that hangs over our "heads; as it is blindness and infatuation not "to fee it, not to be aware that it may break. "And yet this infatuation has always attended falling ftates. The kingdoms of Judah and "Ifrael were thus infatuated. Let no one," he then adds, "deceive himself, or others. "The prefent circumftances of the world,

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are extraordinary and critical, beyond what "has ever yet happened." If they were fo

when

when he wrote, how much more are they fo now?

The power of the Pope is now rapidly on the decline. It has lost its best supports; and France, which gave the Popes their temporal fovereignty, is now moft hoftile to them. This exactly agrees with the prophecies. All the other powers of Europe, which have had but one mind, (Rev. xvii. 13) and have given their power and frength to the beaft, as this Antichriftian power is alfo called; these are all to hate the harlot, (as the fame power is alfo termed) to make her defolate and bare, and even to eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God will put it into their hearts to fulfil bis will, and to agree, and give their kingdoms to the beaft, until the words of God fhall be fulfilled.

The Turkish empire also seems to be fhaking to its base, fo that it will probably foon fall; and then, though I own no prefent appearances favour the expectation, I fhall look with confidence for the accomplishment of the numerous prophecies relating to the restoration of the Jews.

But these events are to be preceded by great calamities, such as now perhaps we see the beginning of. Happy, my brethren, they, who

J

by

by the help of a firm faith in the Providence of God, and obedience to his will, fhall be prepared for thefe events; whether we be fo happy as to furvive the ftorm, and fee the glorious times which are to follow, or not. But to accomplish all these events, will probably be a work of confiderable time.

5. While, with the feelings of humanity, and as becomes Chriftians, we weep with thofe that weep, and who, in the prefent extensive calamity will, no doubt, be very numerous, both at home among ourselves, and abroad among our allies and our enemies, let us not lofe fight of those just and enlarged views of things which are fuggefted by the confideration, that the Lord reigneth; while this is the cafe, the earth, and all the inhabitants of it, have reason to rejoice, Pfal. xcvii. 1. This confideration throws a ftrong beam of light on the darkest part of the scene that is now, or ever can be, before us; and will enable us, with a calm and fteady eye, to attend to the origin, the progrefs, and the tendency, of the approaching storm; to the causes, and the confequences, of all the great and calamitous. events that will probably come before us, though our own deareft interefts, and thofe of

the

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