held up for nefs. Can this then, the Reader afks, can this be the power, that, dazzling the world by the rapidity and the extent of its conquefts, and the affertions of its happiness and glory, attacks our faith in the Providence of God, by the Splendor which feems to furround acknowledged wickednefs? Can this be the power the imitation, for the friendship of nations? It is.But let us liften to the awful explanation of this phenomenon-" I will give to all nations my cup of tremblingand they shall be given up to a strong delufion, and they shall believe a lie—because they have not kept my teftimonies, nor walked in my statutes, but have perverted their way before me. I have spoken, and they would not hearken unto me; I have 'called, and they would not anfwer; therefore fhall this evil come upon them, faith the Lord of the whole earth.” I repeat, that the hiftory of this Revolution will fully authorize this dreadful representation. But fuch is the nature of thofe deeds, which have blackened this period of human mifery and difgrace, that though too horrid to be particularly detailed, my plan requires that I should briefly ftate VOL. II. ftate authorities to prove the power in France to be indeed that of the Infidel Antichrift, fo accurately foretold by Daniel and St. John, and according with the principles and views already stated in this Chapter. The French Revolution was begun and carried on upon principles of demolition. It aimed at the complete overthrow of the religious and civil establishment; and every engine that the wit of man could devise, was fet to work to accomplish its purpose. As preparatory steps to its commencement, Royalty was rendered odious and contemptible-the characters of the King and Queen were libelled in pamphlets, and calumniated in converfation :-Religion was held up to ridicule as prieftcraft and impofture-Its minifters were made the objects of fatire and scorn.-The jargon of equality, of the rights of man, and the divinity of human reafon, were industriously circulated among the ignorant multitude -and the tics of law, of order, and of morality, were loofened. Thus the great fprings of Infidelity and Anarchy being fet in motion, the mafs of t he people, particularly the crowds of Paris and the other large 9 large cities, were placed in a state of preparation to execute whatever plans of deftruction the ambitious and defigning demagogues, who had been educated in the school of the Philofophifts, were ingenious enough to project, and flagitious enough to propose. The Infidel Revolutionifts well knew that Christianity was the fureft pledge to the government for the obedience of the people they knew likewise that in the minds of the people the character of the Clergy, their dignity and independence on the ftate, the refpectability of their external appearance, as well as the regular exercife of public worship, are all intimately blended and connected with the precepts and the doctrines of Christianity itself. They therefore directed their attack against the Establishment as combined with Religion, and against Religion as combined. with the Establishment. They made no compromife, no referve, or exception in favour of any Reformed fyftem of Chriftianity, fuch as was actually presented to their view in Proteftant countries; becaufe they were fully convinced that the precepts of a Chriftian Church were abfolutely Q 2 lutely incompatible with the meditated horrors of Revolutionary atrocity, and they were befides actuated by direct `and inveterate hatred against Christ, and his religion. That fuch were their principles, the following relations of facts, chiefly extracted from the accounts of the agents of the Republic, or its advocates and admirers, will furnish very fufficient proofs. "The first step taken by these enemies to all religion was, to destroy from the foundation that difcipline which is confidered by all fincere members of the Roman communion as of holy origin, the fubject of Spiritual authority alone, and an effential of their religion. To require the Clergy therefore to take the new oath to the Conftitution, was to require them to renounce the folemn vows of their religion, and to commit an act of perjury. Every engine was fet at work to perfuade or intimidate the clerical order of the affembled ftates into a compliance, but with little effect. Not above thirty out of three hundred freely obeyed, and about twenty more were with Jan. 4, 1791. New Annual Register, 1796, p. 241, &c. Ann. Reg. 1792. p. 85, 197. See the note in the laft mentioned page. difficulty induced, by cafuiftical interpretations of different kinds, to conform-the reft nobly facrificed their means of subfiftence, rather than wound their confciences." "In 1792, the Jacobin Club having confulted the Ecclefiaftical Committee (of Constitutional clergy) through Mr. Voidel, had been told in a circular letter, that whatever lengths they might go, they should be supported. They of course commanded all the violent and turbulent characters of the neighbourhood, and in fome places they feduced the common people to take a part, by using the name of the King, who had fanctioned the decree. In different parts of the country, many, who declined taking the oath, were killed at the doors of the churches; and in Brittany, even thus early, feveral priests are said to have been hunted through the forefts, where, after enduring every extremity of hunger and fatigue, they perifhed miferably, and their mangled carcafes were afterwards found torn by briers, and half de February, 1792. Ann. Reg. p. 90, 91. voured |