abridged his influence in feducing mankind. Vifible examples are not wanting in confirmation of this truth. St. Gregory of Nyffa relates, that St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, having entered a heathenish temple famous for oracles, purified it by the fign of the cross and prayer, and compelled the demon that refided there to leave the place. This the demon himfelf confeffed to his votaries. We also learn from St. Chryfoftom, Theodoret, Sozomen, and others, that at Daphne, in the neighbourhood of Antioch, there was a temple dedicated to Apollo, much celebrated for its oracles; but that the body of the holy martyr, St. Babylas, being brought and laid in a church near the place, Apollo was inftantly ftruck dumb. Thus was the devil compelled to yield to a force he had not felt before. It was certainly fit that, when the Son of God appeared on the earth, then Satan fhould be obliged to withdraw, and his impofture give place to the light of truth.

But it ought to be here obferved, that this filencing of Satan was only a fmall part of the victory which Chrift claimed over him. The whole fyftem of idolatry which that enemy of God had introduced. into the world, was now by the propagation of the Chriftian faith fhaken to the very foundation, and in a little time tumbled wholly to pieces. It was what the Almighty had long before announced by his prophets. Thus fpeaks Ifaias: "In that day the Lord fhall be exalted alone, and the idols fhall be utterly deftroyed." Ifai. ii. 17, 18. "The Lord fhall confume all the gods of the earth," fays another prophet, Sophon, ii. 11. In proportion as the Chriftian religion was made known, the abfurdity and impiety of idolatrous worship became manifeft, the idols. were thrown down, the fictitious deities they reprefented were fcoffed at and ridiculed, and their minifters treated with the utmoft contempt. In the fame measure that He, who is the "Light of the world," fpread his influence, with the fame speed

the " Spirit of darkness" fled away, and retired

into obscurity.

By degrees the devil's power was fo weakened, that the meaneft Chriftian could by a word expel him from those miferable creatures he tyrannically poffeffed, and force him to acknowledge with confufion, he was a rebel angel, an enemy to God. This practice is fully attefted by St. Juftin, St. Irenæus, Tertullian, St. Cyprian, and all the primitive fathers, and was common in the three first centuries of the Church. Nor was this power of the Chriftians over the devil to be wondered at, as it was founded on Christ who had given his word for it. "Thefe figns," fays he, "fhall follow them that believe: In my name they shall caft out devils." Mark xvi. 17.

Facts fimilar to those above related are feen at this day in the idolatrous nations of the Eaft-Indies, where the devil has maintained for a long time a fettled worship and dominion. It is common there to fee perfons poffeffed, which he manages according to his will, and through their mouths delivers his. oracles, and answers the queftions put to him by his votaries. It is indeed no matter of surprise, that the devil enjoys fo much power in places where he is perfonally worshipped. But at the fame time there is feen the fame virtue and efficacy refiding in the Christian and Catholic religion, as in the primitive ages. The perfons poffeffed are delivered from the evil fpirit by the prayers or command of the Chrif tians, and his influence is obferved to decline as the gofpel gains ground. Thefe facts are certified by unqueftionable teftimonies of the Catholic miffionaries refiding in those countries, who are daily eyewitneffes of them. See Lettres curieufes et edifiantes.

CHAP. III.

A further Account of the first Age of the Chriftian Church.

THE firft feal, trumpet, and vial, have exhibited a general defcription of the firft preaching of the Chriftian religion, the perfecutions that attended it, and the divine vengeance on the authors of these perfecutions. But as the hiftory of the Church is highly interefting during this firft age, or firft three centuries, in which it took its birth and obtained its eftablishment, Chrift is pleafed to disclose to us, in chap. xii. of the Apocalypfe, more circumstances belonging to this period, and unfolds the origin of all obftructions put to the propagation of the Chris tian religion, the agents employed for that purpose, with the progrefs of their machinations and efforts for the fupport of idolatry, and for fuppreffing the worship of God and Chrift.

Apoc, Chap. XII. v. 1. "And a great fign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the fun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve ftars:

V. 2. And being with child, fhe cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered.

Here is a "great fign" or a noble figurative representation of the Chriftian Church. She appears "in heaven," as drawing her origin from heaven, by her Author, the Son of God: and fhe is reprefented under the form of a "woman, clothed with the fun, moon and ftars," the moft fplendid raiment the whole compafs of nature can furnish. She is clothed with the fun, as fhining with the brightness of her fanctity, and with the glory of her fpoufe, Jefus Chrift, who is the "Sun of Juftice," Mal. iv. 2. She holds the "moon under her feet," as victorious over all fublunary beings, over all earthly powers, and worldly charms. She bears on her head "a crown

e Spirit of darkness" fled away, and retired o obfcurity.

By degrees the devil's power was fo weakened, at the meaneft Chriftian could by a word expel him m thofe miferable creatures he tyrannically pofTed, and force him to acknowledge with confufion, was a rebel angel, an enemy to God. This prace is fully attefted by St. Juftin, St. Irenæus, Terlian, St. Cyprian, and all the primitive fathers, was common in the three firft centuries of the urch. Nor was this power of the Chriftians over edevil to be wondered at, as it was founded on rift who had given his word for it. "These

ns," fays he, "fhall follow them that believe: In y name they fhall caft out devils." Mark xvi. 17. Facts fimilar to those above related are feen at this y in the idolatrous nations of the Eaft-Indies, ere the devil has maintained for a long time a tled worship and dominion. It is common there fee perfons poffeffed, which he manages accordg to his will, and through their mouths delivers his. cles, and answers the questions put to him by his taries. It is indeed no matter of furprise, that the vil enjoys fo much power in places where he is fonally worshipped. But at the fame time there feen the fame virtue and efficacy refiding in the riftian and Catholic religion, as in the primitive

es.

The perfons poffeffed are delivered from the il fpirit by the prayers or command of the Chrifns, and his influence is obferved to decline as the pel gains ground. These facts are certified by queftionable teftimonies of the Catholic miffionas refiding in thofe countries, who are daily eyetneffes of them. See Lettres curieufes et edifiantes.

Over all f

CHAP.

A further Account of the first Age of the Chriftian Church.

THE firft feal, trumpet, and vial, have exhibited

a general defcription of the first preaching of the Chriftian religion, the perfecutions that attended it, and the divine vengeance on the authors of these perfecutions. But as the hiftory of the Church is highly interefting during this firft age, or firft three centuries, in which it took its birth and obtained its eftablishment, Chrift is pleafed to disclose to us, in chap. xii. of the Apocalypfe, more circumstances belonging to this period, and unfolds the origin of all obftructions put to the propagation of the Chrif. tian religion, the agents employed for that purpose, with the progrefs of their machinations and efforts for the fupport of idolatry, and for fuppreffing the worship of God and Chrift.

Apoc, Chap. XII. v. 1. "And a great fign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the fun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars :

V. 2. And being with child, fhe cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered.

Here is a "great fign" or a noble figurative reprefentation of the Christian Church. She appears "in heaven," as drawing her origin from heaven, by her Author, the Son of God: and fhe is reprefented under the form of a "woman, clothed with the fun, moon and ftars," the moft fplendid raiment the whole compafs of nature can furnish. She is clothed with the fun, as fhining with the brightnefs of her fanctity, and with the glory of her spouse, Jefus Chrift, who is the "Sun of Juftice," Mal. iv. 2. She holds the "moon under her feet," as victorious over all fublunary beings, over all earthly powers, and worldly charms. She bears on her head "a crown