II.

A VIEW OF THE EARTH.

Before entering upon this section, we would make the following observations.

The Apostle John, in view of the day of darkness which he foresaw coming on the earth, in which men, through a mistaken idea of religion, should be liable to fall into the worship of the beast and his image, pronounced dreadful woes and penalties, as a caution against such danger, and as certain consequence of such apostasy. The beast may be considered the powers of this world, or the State Governments united with the Church and engaged in her defense and protection. The image is the form of godliness without the life, growing out of such union, as will be more fully illustrated in the last sections of this book. As the apostle John, in the Revelation, frequently uses the number seven to express the whole of any subject to which it is applied, as in his Salutation to the seven churches, only, though intending by them the whole body of christians. So we, now, though naming only seven of the most popular sects in our own neighborhood, call in question every sect and denomination of christians, and intend our remarks to be applied to the whole ecclesiastical system.

A VIEW OF Man's standing at this day.

1stly, As to his government. --We see the nations contending and smiting one against another; and dashing to pieces, like potter's vessels; and sinking like so many burnt mountains, whose volcanoes cause their terror to the living. And we also see internal divisions, treason, rebellions, riots and contention in every nation that is yet standing.

2ndly, As to his Religion. --We see it broken into numerous sects, --we see the Roman Catholic, the Church-man, the Presbyterian, the Baptist, the Methodist, the Quaker, the Seven-day Baptist; and tho' their principles are as different, one from the other, as black is from white, yet they all appear to be contending earnestly for the faith. And when they preach their doctrine, they will hold their Bible before them confidently testifying that the Bible is a witness by which they prove every part of their principles to be according to the word of God. And thus they are holding up their standards, according to their several abilities, unto every one that hath ears to hear -- saying; this is the way, walk therein. And what shall we learn by all this? for they all appear to be well suited with their principles; and our youth are continually growing up and landing in this chaos of confusion. Thus the earth is groaning and travailing with her inhabitants; and none of her sons that she hath brought up is able to take her children by the hand, and lead them in the plain paths of wisdom;; but they must exert their wits in contriving instruments of death for each others destruction. It might move our hearts with sorrow to see the innocent youth born into the world; a world that he was never in before, and therefore knows nothing of its good or evil; but must come up without experience, in such a time as this; though it may appear to some to be a time of peace and safety. For although, before destruction of the old world, and Sodom, it was no time of safety; "They were eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage." This is no time of safety; but a time in which God hath confounded our language, as at the destruction of Babel -- Gen. xi.7. "Go to, let us go down and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

We frequently use this proverb, "That every generation grows wiser and wiser"; and when we look upon the conduct of our forefathers; and think of the folly of bowing down to a graven image; burning incense to the sun and moon; and giving great sums of money to popes and priests to pardon our sins; we are apt to think it a true saying. And, indeed, it would appear very strange if the world could learn nothing from generation to generation; seeing we have so many cautions by the misconduct of our forefathers. But in what age of the world did disorder and confusion prevail more than at the present day? And when did there appear a greater schism in the christian body, or when did religion wear a more gloomy aspect than at this time? It causes people to reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunkard. For the inconsistency of so many kinds of religion being taught from one book of directions, induces people to believe that everything is right, or nothing. So some have turned Universlists, who conclude that Christ suffered to justify people in the breach of his own commands; that the Lord may accept all this confusion at some rate or other. And some have turned to be Deists, who conclude if the bible can be warped to favor so many kinds of religion it is all wrong -- so they have passed their judgment upon it; that it is a piece of confusion, and composed of its own opposites and inconsistencies. And well they may; for what man, having only the light of nature, to behold religion in this frame of disorder, and yet said to agree with the bible, can believe that the bible is a true guide, to lead men to happiness.

Now we may easily behold all this confusion in religion; but how shall we find the true and right way? It would be in vain for us, if we should undertake, to show the cause of all this evil, by holding up any common religious arguments, before this broken situation of the public mind. That has been tried out. For it has been the employment of all the teachers of the before mentioned seven churches or centuries past; who have now filled the world with their books and sermons. Therefore we shall examine this foundation before we build upon it. For it seems, that if ever satan deceived the world, it is now under the influence of his counsel.

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