which are made by christians of all denominations for the universal diffusion of religious knowledge, it is, indeed, gratifying to reflect on the powerful influence which the Russian church, and the Russian people may exert on the progress of divine truth among the nations. Their capabilities in this view are extremely great, nearly surrounded as they are by many numerous tribes, who are sitting in darkness, and in the land of the shadow of death; and their zealous co-operation in the cause of revealed truth, may be regarded as one of those events, which, under the guidance of a Divine agency, bear the closest relation to the propagation of the gospel, and the immortal interests of the human race." p. 431. A From what is said of the inhabitants of the world, that "when God's judgments are abroad in the earth, they will learn righteousness," we are not to suppose that this effect will be produced by the events of providence only: the word of God, and the spirit of God will accompany them, and co-operate with them. Such appears to be the actual state of things already in some degree, and such we may expect will be their progress. These remarks may be thought to afford but little prospect of continued peace, but rather give us to expect a succession of judgments. I wish all success to every attempt at peace; but, so long as popery remains in the earth, I believe there will be no continued peace for it. "Is it peace, Jehu? What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel, and her witchcrafts are so many?" Prophecy apart, it cannot escape the observation of thinking men that popery, notwithstanding its being raised by recent events to somewhat of its former greatness, is still dissatisfied. It must be a persecuting enemy of true religion, or nothing. There is not a papal nation in being, of any account, but what has in it the seeds of discontent and future wars. The preponderaling powers of Europe will have to say, WE WOULD HAVE HEALED BABYLON, BUT SHE IS NOT HEALED! GAIUS. RELIGIOUS IMPOSTURE. "They shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was." 2 Tim. iii. 9. It is a lamentable consideration that persons should be found wearing the "form of godliness," whilst they "deny the power thereof:"" using a profession of the holy religion of Jesus as a cloak to cover their deformity, and to hide their depravity. That the mask should be employed by those whose avowed intention is to support an assumed character, is quite natural; and, any, who are willing to pay for such amusements, cannot complain of being deceived. But that the religion of Jesus should be employed for the purpose of deceitful transfor mation could never have happen ed, had not the heart been "deep," to devise delusive arts; and men in general sufficiently credulous to pay for such deceptions. That persons of this description have often been found among professed christians, it would be vain to deny. Even primitive christianity, with all its outward simplicity, and notwithstanding all the persecutions to which its professors were exposed, could not preserve the churches from such intruders. The apostle Paul in writing to Timothy, speaks of some of this sort who were so base that "they crept into houses; led away silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts." To carry on their deceptions the more speciously, they were, (he says,) ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." He furnishes a specimen of what "sort" these persons were, by instancing the case of "Jannes and Jambres," who withstood Moses, by attempting to imitate his miracles. "So do these also, (says he,) resist the truth;" not, be it observed, by speaking against it; but by aping the character and professing the sentiments, of the faithful servants of Christ; though at the same time, they were under the influence of "corrupt minds," and were "reprobate concerning the faith;" i. e. mere counterfeits in religion. saying, "Evil men and seducers wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." This account of religious im posture, founded on facts, which came under the apostle's own notice; and corroborated by an instance from scripture history; may be taken as infallibly descriptive of the whole class of Impostors, which, in succeeding ages, have infested the church of Christ; practising the grossest deceptions upon the credulous and unwary, for the purpose of gratifying a "corrupt mind;" thus making awful progress; but "waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." We learn from it, I. That persons who use religion for corrupt purposes, by deceiving others, most awfully deceive themselves. To carry on deception in religion, affords a proof of a depraved mind. It is one of the blackest marks of a wicked man; to "devise mischief upon his bed, that he may practise it, when it is in the power of his hand to do it." Is it at all surprising, that "the righteous Lord, who loveth righThe apostle further admits that teousness," and whose "face is such deceivers may go a certain against them that do evil," should length in practising their imitations suffer such hypocrites in heart to with success; as did the Egyp- be " filled with their own ways?" tian Magicians. The three first" Because they received not the miracles performed by Moses, love of the truth, that they might they contrived to make the peo- be saved; he gave them up to ple believe were wrought also strong delusions, that they might by them; but in attempting to believe a lie."-If men are given up "proceed further," they were un- to" their own hearts lusts," they able to perform their purpose: will" walk in their own counsels." "their folly was made manifest to all men:" they were obliged to acknowledge, "This is the finger of God." As an inference from these facts, the Apostle concludes by Nor is it impossible that from their persevering in the pertinaci ous avowal of a "lie,"to be the truth; especially if by so doing. their pride be flattered, and their circumstances bettered, they at length believe their own lie to be founded in truth: at the same time" deceiving and being de ceived." In reference also to those expectations, founded upon deceptive representations; whilst the propagators of falsehood are "deceiving," the credulous and unwary are "deceived." What is said of idol worship is applicable to this case, "they that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.” II. That there is a point, beyond which, imitators of the works of God, shall not be suffered to proceed. It is highly probable that the Egyptian Magicians, to whom the apostle referred, used deceptive arts to impose upon their deluded followers. Legerdemain tricks have been in all countries carried to a great pitch of perfection; but even admitting that they exercised more than human power, we are safe in attributing it to satanic influence. Speaking of such persons, the Apostle says, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing, if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." Is there not ground for suspicion that those, of late years, whose ministry has been remarkable for striving about the law," while they theoretically, if not practically, deny its obligations upon the believer; ; are not "ministers of righteousness:" but men of corrupt minds, "transformed as mi nisters of righteousness?" Admitting this, we can easily account for their having been "high" "heady"-" fierce"-" despisers of those that are good:"lovers of pleasure, more than lovers of God." It is really amazing with what eagerness deceptive baits are swallowed by some, whose character for a better understanding had been generally acknowledged. But there are numerous instances, that when it is given out by any that they are "some great one," there are a great many personswho will believe their assertions to be true, though there be not the least evidence of facts to ren der them probable. The late case of that poor, weak, deluded woman, Joannu Southcott, who, doubtless, was both deceiving and deceived," furnishes abundant proof of the ignorance and credulity of a large portion of society in this country. That such base, and bare-faced imposture should have been attempted so long continued, and with so much success, at the commencement of the 19th century-and in England, the land of light, and of Bibles! will appear almost incredible to future generations. For such an illiterate silly woman to pretend to a spirit. of inspiration-to predict future events-to undertake the work of sealing the servants of God! It should seem that this woman was so deluded by the adulation of her numerous disciples, that she proceeded from stage to stage of deception, till she reached that point, when to support her pretensions, the established order of nature must have been subverted, and divine predictions falsified. Beyond this she could proceed no further, and her folly, and that of: her credulous "believers," has, by her death, and subsequent events, been made manifest unto all men.* * I The numerous impositions upón many religious people in England, during the last thirty years, afford a very humiliating lesson to those who speak of our superior national knowledge and religion! What multitudes listened to the pretensions of "Poor Help," the prophecies of "Richard Brothers;" to the miracles performed by Animal Magnetism," and the "Metallic Tractors!" What will be the next wonder it is impossible to conjecture; but it is probable, something equally ridiculous and contemptible. At the beginning of the last century, a class of enthusiastic impostors appeared, known by the name of the "French Prophets," who excited great attention, and imposed upon the deJuded multitude. Even persons of rank and learning joined their standard, and pretended, while in their fits, to utter predictions. At last they proceeded so far, as to give out that Mr. Emms, one of their followers, would, on a particular day, rise from the dead. Having atterupted, however, the work of God, they proceeded no further, "their folly was made manifest unto all men." The "corrupt minds of some of their leaders were soon discovered. John Lacy, Esq. a member of Mr. Calamy's congregation at Westminster, without giving the least notice, got up one morning, left his lady in bed, quitted his This view of the character of Joanna Southcott, is abundantly confirmed by the following statement, by one of her Medical Attendants. "Her predictions were loud and frequent-full of comfort and happiness to her own subjects-dreadful denunciations of woe to the rebellious creatures, that did not acknowledge her sovereignty, and trust in her prescience; but of their fulfilment I never heard. And her life was very differently ordered from those, who aforetime had the name, character, and office of Prophets. They fasted often,—watched incessantly—and prayed continually-they lived coarsely, and were more coarsely clad: they upon all occasions, but when otherwise com- · manded by Him, whose servants they were, avoided publicity, and studiously shunned the busy haunts of men: but Joanna, on the contrary, upon all occasions sought publicity; to this end, when one method failed, another was resorted to. I never could learn, that she either watched, fasted or prayed. On the contrary, she passed much of her time in bed-in downy indolence- ate much and often-and prayed-never. She loved to lodge delicately, and feast luxuriously:" The name of this man was Samuel Best. About the year 1784, he was a pauper in Shoreditch Workhouse; and employed himself in making representations of God in straw work!! Being remarkable for a strong memory, and " an extensive knowledge of the contents of the Bible; he would look at the palm of a person's hand, and refer him to a passage of scripture, descriptive of his character and future destiny! To this "Prophet," it is said, thousands of persons in London resorted-" preachers of various denominations, churchmen, dissenters, methodists, and quakers; ladies and gentlemen in their own car-, riages; as also tradesmen, mechanics, and servants in hackney coaches, or on foot, some of them repeated, and many of them highly extolled, POOR HELP. See a Pamphlet, entitled, Imposture Detected," or Thoughts on a Pretended Prophet, and on the prevalence of his Impositions, By John Martin, 1787. 46 house and children, and taking a few necessaries with him, went to live among the prophets. There he took to himself for wife one Betty Gray, who had been a snuffer of candles at a play-house, but never passed for a person inspired. This transaction, in one of his inspirations, which Mr. Calamy saw, he called a quitting Hagar, and betaking himself to Sarah, and declared, he did it by order of the Spirit. The government of Queen Anne manifested both weakness and intolerance, by punishing these persons" for wicked and counterfeit prophecies, and causing them to be printed and published, to terrify the Queen's people." At length, the Queen's ministers followed wiser counsels, and "let them alone," when the consequence was, that in a little time they sunk into contempt, and their party dwindled to nothing. Sir Richard Bulkley, who was very short and crooked, expected under the new dispensation, to be made strait and handsome; but to his great disappointment and mortification he died before the miracle was wrought.* From this story, it should ap'pear, that there is no new thing under the sun. "The farce has been nearly re-acted by Joanna Southcott and her believers. We congratulate Our countrymen, however, on the superior wisdom of our Governors, at this period, who "refrained and let them alone," till the deception was defected, and "their folly has been manifest unto all men." IOTA. By an advocate, is understood one who, in the absence of his client, is employed to plead his cause, and to defend him against the charges of his accuser, in the presence of his judge: to this there is an allusion in that expression of the Apostle, "ye are come to God the Judge of all—and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant." The first of these observations suggests considerations truly alarining to a guilty creature, who, from a conviction of his own turpitude, is ready to say, " How shall I come before the Lord:" he perceives the unsullied purity of the divine character, the holy law which he has violated, and the majesty that vindicates its honours, with terror and despair; but the humble believer, comes not only to God the Judge of all, but also to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant: in Jesus he finds an Advocate of supreme ability-" Who is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." The Advocacy of Christ is connected with his meritorious obedience and his expiatory death: it is indeed so important a part of his mediation, that his exertions for our happiness would have been incomplete without it. The jewish high priest was required not only to offer an atonement for the sins of the people, but likewise to appear in the most holy place, with the names of the tribes of Israel on his breast, and to add * See Wilson's Hist. of Diss. Chur: Vol. IV. p. 77-79. |