the criminal code of China is in some respects severe, making capital, offences scarcely known as such, in Europe, as striking a parent; and although their police is unrivalled; the number of those who suffer the punishment of death, is but about two hundred annually; or perhaps one in a million. Compared with this, the proportion of murders alone, in some Christian countries, (Catholic,) is more than a hundred to one.* Theft is so unusual, that except in the cities, bolts and bars are scarcely known. Of course, the morality of the suburbs of Canton, is no criterion of that of the empire at large. But I shall be reminded of their infanticide. And what is the infanticide of China, which in most cases has the plea of necessity, compared with the intemperance of Christian lands. And even in the article of infanticide, let it not be forgotten, that a species of this crime, more dangerous and pernicious in its consequences, and unaccompanied by the plea of necessity, is totally disregarded by Christian legislators.† If we consider less favored heathen nations, we shall find little reason to boast. More victims are immolated, in a single year, at the shrine of fashion, scarcely known as an "evil principle," in the heathen world, where dress, and modes, and forms of society, never

*In the United States of America, it is about ten to one. Paternal government, though despotic, good police, and paganism, on the one side; republican government, liberal institutions, and Christianity, on

the other.

† See Note (A.)

change, than are sacrificed, in the rites of idolatry, in a century. And even the dreary horrors of cannibal wars, will find a parallel, in a moral view at least, in the cruelties of the slave ship, and the modern atrocity of Burkism. But it will be urged, that those of Christian nations, who pursue a life of crime, are not Christians. And why is it so, since all or the most of them, have had opportunities of Christian instruction. The reasons seem to be these: first, that Christianity has not been presented, in its simplicity and purity; and second, that it has not been accompanied by those civil institutions, (I use the term in its most extensive sense,) which alone can render it uniformly efficacious. The solemn realities of a future state of being, can not be scanned by mortals; but is it presumptuous to suppose, that the above may explain the cause, why, in the dealings of an infinitely wise Providence, Christianity has been limited, hitherto, to comparatively, so inconsiderable a portion of the globe.

The evidence in the chapter of Ezekiel, a comment upon which follows, of the downfall of the individual system, is altogether indirect, but is not the less conclusive. It may not be amiss here, however, to advert to some of a more direct character.

Mystical Babylon, the fall of which is so eloquently described, in the eighteenth chapter of Revelation, is supposed to represent the individual

system. There are few, I believe, capable of appreciating the higher beauties of the sacred writings, who read this chapter, regarding it as descriptive of the fall of papal Rome, without a suppressed consciousness, that the description is too long. Instead of a graceful allusion to corrupt dealing, the metaphor is extended (traffick in general, ALL TRAFFICK,* being included,) into a sort of counting house allegory, altogether disproportionate. But considered as describing an entire change in the formation, the external mechanism of society; which would render the dwellings of men no longer suitable for the purpose, and give a lasting check to the pursuits of gain, the efforts of acquisition, in all, from the laborer and handicraftsman, who earn their bread, from day to day, by the sweat of the brow, to the merchant, whose revenues are those of a prince; of a burning, which will catch from village to village, from city to city, from continent to continent, till the earth is wrapped in the conflagration, and the recesses of the ocean are illumined by the blaze; in this view, such prominent particulars only, are mentioned, as are requisite for poetical effect. The length of time during which the mystic harlot has ruled the destinies of men, and shed the blood of prophets and martyrs, commencing with the earliest ages; the universality of her sway; the enormous, the incalculable extent of the evils inflicted; the greatness of her

* See verses 3, 11, 17, 19, 23.

fall, and of the deliverance of mankind; render a lengthened and expanded description, most highly appropriate. But I am anticipating; though with some, the argument might safely be left here. To others, evidence of a different description, will be more satisfactory.

We learn, beyond doubt, in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation, that Babylon includes all mankind. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Rev. xiv; 6-8. Little do they know, of the unrivalled precision of the sacred writings, and of their uniform adherence to the rules of just criticism, who can believe, that verse 6 comprehends all the nations of the earth, and verse 8, without the slightest intimation of a change in the sphere of agency, while similar general expressions are used, but a limited portion of them. I am aware, that verse 6 has been supposed to relate to the diffusion of the scriptures, &c. accompanying the reformation. But a slight attention to particulars will show the fallacy of this supposition. It will be admitted, by the advocates of the hypothesis, that

this chapter is intimately connected with chapter thirteen; and that the earth, in that chapter, designates those nations, subject to papal domination; and that the term has the same general meaning, in verse 6, of chapter fourteen. A more limited construction is not, I believe, contended for, by any; but, whatever portion of the globe be meant, the angel is, moreover, to preach the gospel to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. That is, to ALL other nations and descriptions of people. And accordingly, an angel, flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to every nation; and saying, Fear God, and give glory to him ; FOR THE HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENT IS COME; Ourselves have heard.

These views are strikingly confirmed in chapters seventeen and eighteen. The woman, or Babylon, appears in the wilderness; and a wilderness, by her enchantments, she has rendered all the world. How many, alas, have felt themselves in a wilderness, when walking the thronging streets of a crowded metropolis. She is sitting upon a scarlet colored beast, with seven heads and ten horns. It will be shown that this beast, in his last state, when he ascends out of the bottomless pit, and becomes the last of the eight kings, is the same power as the beast with seven heads and ten horns, in chapter thirteen; though at a later period, under different circumstances, and with limits greatly altered, by addition as well as excision. In verse fifteen we learn, that IN ADDITION to sitting upon