PART II.

THE POPE'S JANISSARIES, OR THE SOCIETY OF JESUS,

DESCRIBED.

AND I BEHELD ANOTHER BEAST COMING UP OUT OF THE EARTH, AND HE HAD TWO HORNS LIKE A LAMB, AND HE SPAKE AS A DRAGON. AND HE EXERCISETH ALL THE POWER OF THE FIRST BEAST BEFORE HIM, AND CAUSETH THE EARTH, AND THEM WHICH DWELL THEREIN, TO WORSHIP THE FIRST BEAST, WHOSE DEADLY WOUND WAS HEALED. AND HE DOETH GREAT WONDERS, SO THAT HE CAUSETH FIRE ΤΟ COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN ON THE EARTH IN THE

SIGHT OF ΜΕΝ, AND DECEIVETH THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH BY MEANS OF THOSE MIRACLES WHICH HE HAD POWER TO DO IN THE SIGHT OF THE BEAST."-Verses 11-14.

CHAPTER I.

IDOLATRY AND TYRANNY OF THE JESUITS.

AND I BEHELD ANOTHER BEAST COMING UP OUT OF THE EARTH."-Verse 11.

THE promise of a day of retribution, when "he that leadeth into captivity," should " go into captivity," and he that killeth with the sword" should "be killed with the sword" was most seasonable. The people of God would have need to exercise their

patience and faith" to the utmost. Not only was the Papacy in array against them in conjunction with the secular power of " the ten horns," but "another" enemy was now visible. St. John lifted up his eyes and "beheld ANOTHER BEAST coming up out of the earth." In spite of its lamb-like appearance, it was "another WILD BEAST," no less WILD than the forwer, no less opposed to Christ and His Gospel. 'Of all the enemies of THE REFORMATION, the most subtle, the most powerful, and the most implacable were THE Jesuits. Raised up for the specific purpose of obstructing the march of a purer system, and of op

posing, with all their power, the diffusion of spiritual light, and the progress of civil liberty; these mighty advocates of the Papal and Ecclesiastical dynasty did not, in any measure, disappoint the hopes which were formed of them from the beginning; but fulfilled, in every particular, their high destiny, and were only not successful in utterly extinguishing the light of truth throughout the world, because they entered the lists against the Most High, and sought, under the guise of religion, to compass the most nefarious ends by the employment of the most unhallowed means.' (History of the Jesuits, chap. i.) The rise of the Jesuits is well described by the Roman Catholic, Villers; and his description throws light on the sacred text. The Society of Jesus, however, rose above the horizon like an awful comet which scatters terror among the nations. While it was scarcely yet established, it rendered important service to the Holy See during the sitting of the Council of Trent, and powerfully influenced the Decrees of that assembly. The ancient Orders, especially the Mendicant, conceived great envy against those new-comers, who set out with so much celebrity, and attracted all consideration and all favours. This emulation redoubled the activity of all such as were not Jesuits, and in particular of the Dominicans, who wielded in a more terrible manner than ever the sword of the Inquisition, intrusted to their hands. The Jesuits, however, outstripped all their rivals, acquired the unlimited favour of the Pontiffs, and an immense power throughout the whole Catholic world."

The Society of Jesus was formidable in the very commencement of its career. horizon, like an awful comet, among the nations." It came

"It rose above the which scatters terror up out of the earth,

having two horns like a Lamb, but it spake like a Dragon." No sooner had the Comet risen above the horizon, than it scattered terror among the nations! No sooner had "the Beast" made his appearance above ground than his Dragon-Voice was heard!

A Beast denotes in Scripture a tyrannical idolatrous Empire. With respect to the idolatry of the Jesuits, it will be sufficient to observe that they most strenuously defend, and most assiduously inculcate the worst and most idolatrous doctrines of Popery. The worship of the Virgin, the adoration of Saints and Angels, the worship of Images, the doctrine of Transubstantiation, the sacrifice of the Mass, the existence of Purgatory, the use of Indulgences, these are tenets which Jesuits advocate. Father Paul informs us that in the Council of Trent there was some difference of opinion about the adoration of Images. 'The Archbishop of Lauciano said, no honour was due unto them, but by relation to the thing signified. But Laynez, the General of the Jesuits, who also was one of the Composers, added, that, when they were dedicated, and put in place of adoration, a worship did belong unto them, besides the adoration due unto the Saint worshipped in them, calling this Adoration Relative and the other Objective. He proved his opinion, because the vestments and vessels consecrated