the whole people as a nest, and as one gathereth eggs that are left; and there was none, that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. With this singular mass of wealth in their possession, they raised armies, in different years amounting to 5, 7, 9, and 12 hundred thousand men: the strongest and most formidable body, which was ever assembled upon this globe. This incomprehensible multitude they emptied out upon every neighbouring state. The lava did not run in a stream, as in the eruptions of the natural world. It flowed down all the sides of the immeasurable crater at once and like an ocean, rolled its waves of fire over the whole face of the world, within its reach. Nothing withstood its power. The life, liberty, and property, of every bordering nation, was consumed; and a boundless scene of desolation every where marked its course. The power, and pride, of Spain were broken down. Italy was overrun. The king of Sardinia was driven from his country. Switzerland, Belgium, Batavia, Germany, Prussia, and Austria, bowed successively to the French arins; and were undone. Every republic on the eastern side of the Atlantic was blotted out from under heaven; and every kingdom, also which policy, or the convenience of the conquerors, did not compel them to leave independent. It made no difference whether the nation was a friend, or a foe; was in alliance with them, or at war. Whatever was thought convenient for France was done; and done in defiance of every law of GOD or man ; of the most solemn treaties, of the most absolute promises.

At the very commencement of their career, the legislature made three great public promises; for which they pledged their faith to the world. One was, that France would make no conquests. Another

was, that she would make war only upon tyrants. The third was, that she would give liberty and equality to all people, whithersoever her armies came. With the first of these promises in her mouth, she began the work of conquest at her entrance into the field of conflict; and has done nothing but conquer, or attempt to conquer, to the present hour. While she was resounding the second over the face of the whole earth, she swept away with the besom of destruction the republics of Lucca, Pisa, and Venice; the thirteen republics of Switzerland; the republics in alliance with the Switzers; that of the Seven Isles; that of St. Marino; all the free cities of Germany; and the republics of Genoa, Geneva, and the Netherlands. One only remains on the face of the earth; and that, merely because the giant was unable to wade through the billows of the Atlantic.

The work of destruction is still going on; and with no less zeal than heretofore. Nor is there any reason to believe, that it will terminate, until the means of accomplishing it shall fail; or until mankind cease to resist; or until the world is desolated; or until GOD shall consume in his wrath these enemies of earth and heaven.

Such is a summary account of this astonishing series of events; a parallel to which cannot be found in the annals of time. I will now proceed to examine the great parts of this tragedy, for the purpose of illustrating the principal point proposed; their connexion with these remarkable prophecies. For this purpose I observe,

1. That the infidels, in question, sprang up in the very place, pointed out by the prophecy.

They came out of the mouth of the Dragon; the secular persecuting power, combined with the Romish Hierarchy, and were composed to a great extent of the nobles, the gentry, and the literati, or the Roman Catholic countries; particularly of the two principal ones, France and Germany.

They came out of the mouth of the Beast, or ecclesiastical persecuting power. To a great extent they were composed of the secular clergy, which, with the pontiff at their head, peculiarly constituted the Hierarchy. A great multitude of these, particularly of the higher orders, were embarked in this design; and were among the most efficacious instruments of carrying it into execution. Few persons rendered the system such important service, as Briennes, archbishop of Thouiouse.

They came out of the mouth of the false prophet, or the Beast, which had two horns, like a Lamb; which exercised all the power of the first Beast before him. The regular clergy have, from an early period, possessed, and exercised, the persecuting power, here referred to; particularly that terrible branch of it, named the Inquisition. The Jesuits were, early, infidels in great numbers; and contributed not a little by their writings to unhinge the minds of men with respect to religious doctrines, and moral practice.— Weishaupt completed what his predecessors had begun, and advanced.

But it is sufficient for my purpose, that they sprang out of the countries, under the control of the Hierarchy.

2nd. They were spirits of Demons.

This is not only abundantly, but wonderfully, evident in the diabolical nature of their great design;

the destruction of Christianity, and the subjugation of mankind. Equally evident was it in the means, which they employed for the accomplishment of their purpose. These were the publication of an endless number of falsehoods; lying, without limits; perjury; treachery; treason; murder; robbery; oppression. At the same time they were blasphemous, atheistical, and more furiously hostile to GOD and religion, than any other men since the deluge.

They were like frogs; endlessly loquacious on this subject; immeasurably loathsome by their debasement of mind, by their obscenity, their lewdness, their abjuration of all moral principle, and the peculiar pleasure, which they discovered at the sight, and in the perpetration, of sin in every form, and degree. They were intrusive in a manner unexampled.— Like the frogs, brought up upon the land of Egypt, they went up, and came into the house of the prince, and into his bedchamber, and upon his bed, and into the houses of his servants, upon his people, into their ovens, and into their kneading troughs; and, after they had perished, the ill savour, which they left behind them, was not less offensive or overwhelming. There was not a situation, not an office, not a place, where mischief could be done, but it was occupied by them. They were clamorous. The press groaned with their labours on all subjects, handled in all forms, which promised to be injurious to Christianity. From the magnificent Encyclopedie down to the farthing pamphlet, the hand-bill, and the song, infidelity descended in a regular progress, without blushing at her degradation, satisfied if she could only oppose GOD, and destroy mankind; and rejoicing in the means of mischief, however humble, if they were on

ly efficacious. At the same time they were equally sedulous with the tongue in the legislature, at the levee, in the drawing room, in the private circle of friends and neighbours, and even in the tavern club.

3dly. They have wrought Miracles: that is, have done things of a marvellous nature.

For proof of this position I refer to the history, which I have given; and shall only add, that the world has been in a state of unceasing astonishment, ever since their designs, and their efforts, were fairly opened to the view of mankind.

4thly. They have gone forth to the kings of the earth, and the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of GOD Almighty.

The earth, in the language of this book, usually denotes the Roman empire. It has been the favourite labour of these men to insert themselves into the cabinets of princes, and peculiarly into those offices, which were the seats of business, the sources of all the great movements of empire, of all great national exertions. Here, into the very cabinets, the very households, of monarchs, they have silently crept; and wound themselves around their hearts with a motion so lubricous, so soft, so insensible, that neither their snaky character, nor even their approach, was perceived. Here they have charmed their miserable victims to destruction, and stung them to death.

The battle of that great day of GOD Almighty, dues not, I apprehend, denote a single battle; but a war, or series of wars, commenced, and carried on, in succession for the same purpose: just as the word, king, denotes, in the language of the same prophecy, that succession of rings, which rule over a given kingdom during its continuance. This battle has been erroneous