Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

they indicate how firm a footing was then obtained in this land, by that diabolical system.

Subsequent events in our states, which well accord with all, that has been noted in this section, are fresh in every memory, and need not be mentioned. But what has been passing, may well remind us of the following prophetic traits, in the character of Antichrist, and of his agents, viz. False accusers, fierce; despisers of them that are good; traitors; heady, highminded; crept in unawares; despising government; having men's persons in admiration because of advantage; presumptuous, selfwilled; not afraid to speak evil of dignities; beguiling unstable souls; promising liberty, while they themselves are the servants of corruption; filthy dreamers; murmurers, complainers; speaking evil of things, which they know not; ungodly men, walking after their own lusts; these be they that separate themselves.

Much has been seen, in modern times, on more than one side of the Atlantic, which appears like an inchoative fulfilment of these prophetic strokes. The rise of Antichrist is from the bottomless pit.* The devil gives him his power, and seat, and great authority. But the devil is a liar from the beginning. Falsehood then, is to be an essential mean of the propagation of the principles of Antichrist. Of the events of this period we accordingly read,† In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood; and judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the streets, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. What follows this passage, being a prediction of the battle of the great day, and of the commencement of the Millennium, decides, that the above prophetic picture relates to the rise and wickedness of Antichrist. the lying spirit of that day is no less than four times expressly noted in that concise prophetic description. Lying against the Lord-conceiving and uttering from

*Rev. xvii. +Isai. lix, 13.

And

the heart words of falsehood-truth is fallen in the streets—yea, truth faileth. Perfectly does the scheme of Illuminism accord with this description. And too perfectly does much, which our ears have heard, accord with it. We may expect when the above predictions are fulfilled, those, who propagate falsehoods, will by no means acknowledge this their wickedness, but will deny it, and highly resent every imputation of it. Their object is to fasten the falsehood upon others, and to propagate their own schemes, under fair pretences.

But the Holy Ghost says, they lie against the Lord; they conceive and utter from the heart words of falsehood; that with them truth is fallen in the streets; yea, truth faileth! And charity itself is by no means at liberty to disbelieve this distressing account! It will be found to be verified.

The prophecies relative to the last days are such, as may well lead us to expect, that this great nation of ours will not escape the Infidelity, dissensions, and judgments of that period. Old, corrupt, Popish countries, no doubt, will share more largely in the tremendous scenes of the last days. But we have no ground to believe our nation will escape. Six of the vials no doubt have an exclusive appropriation to the eastern continent. But we do not learn, that this will be the case with the seventh vial; which is to be more tremendous than all the rest. Though the seat of this, of the battle of that great day of God Almighty, will be at Armageddon, in Palestine, the judgment will roll through the Antichristian empire, and to the ends of the world. A whirlwind shall be raised up from the ends of the earth. The evil shall run from nation to nation. All, who partake of Babylon's sins, shall receive of her plagues. The whole earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. And the slain of the Lord shall be many, from one end of the earth, even to the other end of the earth. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies, to the isles he will repay recompense. So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his

glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a ́standard against him. For behold the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble, and that day that cometh stall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. And many other predictions are there of the judgments of that day, which seem evidently to give to them a far greater extent than the Roman earth.

Such being the tenor of the predictions, relative to the battle of that great day of God Almighty, America can by no means expect to escape its terrors.

The wicked agency and seductions of Antichrist then must here be experienced. We shall, to a greater or less degree, be partakers of his sins, and receive of his plagues. And we have reason, from these considerations, and from the general language of the prophecies, relative to Antichrist, and the last days, to believe that that licentious, and Atheistical influence must be at this time in full operation in this land.

Let none then deceive you, by treating lightly the warnings relative this subject; or insinuating that they are chimerical. People, who are inclined to Infidelity, as well as the real agents of Antichrist, will no doubt discredit every such warning. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own. There will be a strange blindness in the wicked world, relative to the agency and seductions of Antichrist. None of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. When any therefore despise the warnings upon this subject, consider well their characters, to what class they belong, and what connexions, or influence may induce them to wish to keep concealed the iniquity of the system, which is so manifest in the world. And take heed that no man deceive you.

SECTION VII.

The present views and conduct of the French Government.

I HAVE had no doubt but the essence of that profound scheme, which produced the French revolution, is now by the Imperial government of France employed with the most fatal success, in nations marked out for conquest. It was a system calculated to assume new colors and shapes, with the occurrence of new cireumstances; and to become an engine of mischief in the hands of any successive dominant power, that is wicked enough to flatter it, and adopt the use of it. Though for a time it had the subversion of all civil subordination, as well as of religion, for its object, yet when France fell under a military despotism, her great principal and his minions well knew how to take this powerful engine into their hands, and to accommodate it to their purposes of universal dominion. Since finishing the writing of this volume, I have found evidence directly in point, upon this particular, in a late publication, "On the Genius and Disposition of the French Government," by an American, recently returned from Europe. On perusing the book, I have been induced to insert this section, in order to exhibit some thoughts contained in it, interesting to the nations, particularly to our own, and corroborating the sentiments stated in the preceding section, relative to that diabolical, secret French agency. The author of that book disclaims all party views. He undertakes to disclose the truth, the result of his long inquisitive investigations as a traveller. He appears to be a man of first rate abilities and information; and a man of candor. He acknowledges that he had been greatly prepossessed against the British politics. He travelled for a course of years in Europe, on purpose to gain correct information. For a considerable time he resided in Paris; and had access to, and gained the confidence of, men of the first information. there. And his communications carry with them full evidence.

"Gentz

In this book, are the following sentiments concerning the views and conduct of the French government. The writer describes it as being "a power, which, circumscribed by no law, and checked by no scruple, meditates the subjugation of this, as well as of every other country." He further says, that "it is a systematic plan of the government of France to grasp at universal dominion;" that "we not only share with the British in the hatred, which is cherished against them by the cabinet of St. Cloud, but are equally marked out for destruction." He thinks, that France will no doubt have the dominion of at least the continent of Europe; that every essential barrier against this is giving, or has given, way; and the continent must fall before her arms. in his Fragment on the balance of power, enumerates three traits in the present constitution of France, which according to his idea, must render her irresistible. 1, The unlimited form of her government. 2, The decisive influence of the military character over the whole system. 3. Their successful employment of revolutionary instruments and means! Add to these the federal strength, which she has acquired by the extension of her limits; the torpor, which seizes almost every nation, even at the name of France; the subtlety of her statesmen; and the skill of her commanders; and it will be at once apparent that she may bid defiance to the united efforts of Europe, if by any possibility they could be united. The elements of such a union, however, are irrecoverably gone." It was long predicted by a great writer, who had studied the affairs of modern Europe, "that the continent would be speedily enslaved, should a nation, with the resources of France, break through the forms and trammels of the civil institutions of the period, turn her attention to military affairs, and organize a regular plan of universal empire." Gen. Jourdan exultingly exclaimed to the French Convention, when about to enact their law of the requisition; "The moment you announce the compulsory levy en masse to be permanent, you decree the power of the republic to be imperishable." The determination of France for universal empire, is "the result

« PreviousContinue »