12, "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet, but receive power as kings one hour with the beast." 13, "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast." Reader, you have often heard and spoken of the ten kingdoms of Europe. They did not exist when John wrote, and they were not to begin to exist until the pope should begin to rule, for they were to have their power at one and the same time with the beast, during one and the same hour. If you had lived several hundred years after the death of St. John, and had seen the pope or the eighth power begin to rule in Rome, you might have known then, not merely that ten kingdoms would be made of the fragments of that empire, but that ten should arise of such as would support the pope's authority. It is only the man who has read modern history who can see the full force of these words as he reads them, "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast." They did indeed! And in all the changes, revolutions, and overturnings of things in Europe, for more then a thousand years, there still were somewhere near ten powers (horns) who ruled at the same hour with the pope, and gave him their strength. Reader, it has been common for writers, when about to describe the multitude at large, to take for their emblem a wave of the sea, which rises, and foams, and roars, and sinks away to rise no This mode of description they have taken from the holy book. On the page of prophecy it is the figure used uniformly, we believe. Verse 15, "And he saith unto me, the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." After the unbeliever had read the 16th

more.

verse, he fell into a train of reflection which, dear reader, it might profit you to imitate. 16, "And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate, and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire." His thoughts were such as follow:

"These ten horns were, it seems, according to verse 13th, to favour the whore, all of them. But from this other verse, it seems they are, after a time, to begin to hate and to impoverish her. England has long since withheld her revenues. France did not begin to withhold or to impoverish her in any way until she (France) became an infidel nation. But have all the ten, all of them to waste her! So it states. And indeed two more, Spain and Portugal, have already half-broken their bonds of allegiance. These, as France has done, and as Austria and others probably will do, as soon as they discovered that the priests had been teaching nothing but imposture for centuries, not only cast away their old faith, but the Bible along with it! Is not atheism (or something resembling it) the natural outlet or termination of a false Christianity? The work of making desolate and naked has certainly been going on long. It is becoming more and more distinct. Recent events make it still more marked. But how is this? What is this I see, and what is this I hear?" and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire ?" This is to come yet. Will it really be brought to pass? If eighteen hundred years of events have fitted the prophetic declaration so accurately, it is most likely that the last items also will not fail."

Reader, we have said that perhaps you would do well

to meditate thus seriously. We will offer to you one reason for this advice. As sure as that burning (described in the 18th Chap. Rev.) ever comes to pass, so certainly some other things will take place which synchronize with it, and which concern you. There are many things which cannot be very far before us, and which will come unexpectedly upon those who continue contentedly ignorant of God's book; and they are of pressing import, in the case of those who now live. We know that there are countless thousands, whose ignorance is so extensive and entire, in sacred things, that even a plain verse of the inspired page appears dark to them; these of course, will think other parts unintelligible to any one. We can only say to such, begin to practise the precepts; (for these all understand, and they all speak lies to their Creator, who say they do not,) read and read on. If it is dark at first, continue, and accept the aid of a commentary. It will not be long ere you will understand enough (such as the chapter we have read) to make you wish for more.

We must give other instances, showing that we may be reminded of an instructive and beautiful fact, without copying or obeying others. We may have pointed out to us, in all the sciences, and in all the branches of earthly knowledge, most precious truth, and be benefitted, without asking others to think for us, or imitating improperly their faith and views. But we will first devote a chapter to the history of a reading infidel.

CHAPTER XXXI.

CASE OF AN INFIDEL WHO BEGAN TO READ.

THERE was a merchant of East Tennessee, who belong. ed to that class of men calling themselves deists, who increased much in number, immediately after our revolutionary struggle. All of them advocated morality of deportment, and few of them practised it; but this one of whom we are writing did, and his walk was exemplary. Truth he advocated and practised. Any defect in this virtue, seen in an acquaintance, was enough to forfeit his esteem ever after. Dishonesty, or any deceptive dealing, had his unmitigated scorn. He had, in short, taken many of the Bible precepts, without knowing where they came from, and practised them with unceasing vigilance. He would not believe that the favourite principles of his practice came originally from the Bible, for he who scorned the very name of Bible, acted on these rules, whilst many church members (professed lovers of the Bible) violated them shamefully. So long as the conduct of many professors near him would by no means compare with his own, he was not likely either to give credit to the Bible for what principle his mother, or others for her, had taught him from it; or to become uneasy at his condition, or convicted of sin. His honour, hospitality, patriotism, benevolence and other excellencies made him a favourite with the world. But if the world praised or admired him, how much of an idol must he have been in the eyes of his children as they grew up. On their education, he

spared no pains. For their happiness in life, he advanced all that good example, advice, money, vigilance, His children or unceasing parental kindness could do.

loved him, as they might be expected to love such a father, who possessed both amiableness and ardor of af. fections. They grew up, hearing as early as they were capable of hearing, and knowing ever after, that he smiled with scorn at the very name of Christ. Part of the result may be anticipated. His eldest son was an infidel. He would not condemn Christianity, with that vehement confidence which belonged to older men, for he professed more modesty than many young persons, who are reared as he was. He would even confess that many amiable men, who had read more than ever he had, did reverence the Bible, but he did not believe. He would even confess that investigation would not be amiss for him, on this subject; but enjoying the amusements of life as he did, there was no likelihood that he ever would go through the toil of a faithful research. His father had succeeded in teaching him excellent moral principles, to the extent which he himself practised, and he was crying peace to his conscience with but little cessation, if any. It was at length observed, that when professors of religion acted amiss, and he spoke in disapprobation of their conduct, there was more detestation of countenance, and more bitterness thrown into the tone of his voice than usual. He be. gan to notice their ill deserts more frequently and more readily than those belonging to other men. The hill down which he was sliding, was plain enough to the eye of those who know something of the human heart, and of the different avenues by which men can reach