THE sublimity of this language, clothing an unalterable decree, at once, awful in its aspect towards the nations in rebellion against GOD, and most animat [...]g to those who bow to the scep­tre of his magestic sway, is well calculated to ex­cite in us humble and adoring thoughts of GOD, proportionate to the solemn and awful subject on which, in this place, he condescends to speak.

THE language falls from the lips of an angel, [Page 4] whilst he unfolds to the prophet the mystery of the four kingly powers which, in succession were [...]o arise upon the earth, and of the other kingdom [...]ich should arise after them, that should be [...] from the first and who should subdue three [...]. And he shall speak great words against the [...]ost High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most [...]igh and think to change times and laws: and they [...]hall be given into his hand, until a time, and times, [...] the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, [...] they shall take away his dominion, to consume [...]nd destroy it unto the end.

UNTIL of late, there has been but one opinion a­mongst protestant divines, as to the application of this descriptive branch of this very interesting prophecy. They have all united in applying it to the papal power. They have said it pointed, with precision, at the Bishop of Rome: That his standing is to be seen in several prophetic features in the field to which this passage belongs, and that the same is firmly supported by other correspond­ent predictions, and prophetic aspects to be found [...]n other parts of this book of Daniel, and in the writings of St. Paul and of St. John.

O [...] late, however, Divines seem less united in the application of these prophecies to the Bishop of Rome than they, heretofore, had been accus­tomed [Page] to be. Several reasons can be given for the change of sentiment. First, sympathy in the suffer­ings of humanity, in the excision of the papal cler­gy by the national rod: Secondly fear, lest the same fate may approach the border of the protestant houshold, so far as we may have exposed our­selves to the jealousy and fury of the lawful hus­band, by commiting fornication with the "kings of the earth:" and lastly, the mistake may have arisen from the very sudden, unexpected and violent means by which it is pleasing GOD to execute the exterminating decree upon the papal household. These things considered, there is little ground of surprise, that many protestant divines should have warped from the ancient, acknowledg­ed and just interpretations of this prophecy, and have labored to accommodate the prophecies more to the circumstances of their own safety, than what the ancient interpretation, in the light of Heaven's, present awful exposition, seemed to warrant them to do. But of what avail will the windings and twistings of mutilated and im­perfect parts of prophetic testimony be to those, whom the indignation of Heaven, by its all pen­etrating eye, is searching out!—Why hath not the falsity of papal interpretation screened the papal power? Why hath she not been able to parry the application of prophetic character from herself, by placing them to the account of Rome [Page] heathen, which hath gone down before her [...] Why hath she not been able to keep stedfast h [...]s dominion, and to preserve steadfast the section of the iron and of the clay, by declaring that [...] section of the image against which the stone [...] to inpinge was the section of the Roman [...]mpire, already carried away?—The answer is, the last section is formed of iron and of clay; of kingly and of priestly power combined: stiled, by themselves the holy Roman Empire, deriving its sanctity from the impious infusion of the wa­ [...]rs of the mystical whore into the cup of king­ly administration. The iron being gone; the iron and the clay combine, and form the ten toes of the Babylonish structure. Against this last section, the stone is now striking. By its power the image is shook, and seems likely, soon, to fall to the ground: As the downfall of mystical Babylon is reputed to be the counterpart to the introduction and prosperity of the kingdom of GOD, according to the spirit and hope of the l [...]tter day glory, it is of very interesting mo­ment, to settle our minds on this important question; that our faith, and hope, and practice, may follow those leadings of mind, which truth, and not error shall dictate to the honest [...].

[Page 7]LET it then be the business of the present dis­course, to shew,

• I. WHOSE dominion it is, that is to be [...] away, to be consumed, and to be destroy [...] unto the end.
• II. By what means, this power shall be [...]moved: and
• III. WHAT are the happy consequences, i [...]mediately to follow.

And the kingdom and dominion and the grea [...]ness of the kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

I. THE subject enquires, whose dominion it is that is to be taken away, to be consumed, and to be destroyed until the end.

LET a fair interpretation of the vision of Daniel, contained in this chapter and expounded upon by the Angel, afford to us an answer to this enquiry.

IN the visions of GOD, Daniel saw, and behold from the sea, a tempestuous estate, four great beasts came up, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion and had eagles wings. This [Page 8] [...]ndoubtedly presents an image of the Baby­lonish empire extending its sceptre, like the wings of an eagle, over one hundred and twen­ty seven provinces. The wings were plucked. The reins of government were taken from the hands of Nebuchadnezer. He was driven from men until seven times passed o [...]er him▪— He was lifted up from the earth▪ and made to stand upon his feet as a man, and a man's heart was given unto him. Like a man, changed from the character he once wore whilst in a state of estrangment from GOD, he exemplifies his con­version in the public confession he m [...]kes. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzer lifted up mine eyes unto Heaven and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion▪ and his kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: And he doth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say unto him what doest thou?

The head of gold, the crown of the Baby­lonish empire, was removed in the excision of Belsheszer according to the interpreta­tions of the writing by Daniel.—GOD hath [Page 9] [...]bered thy kingdom and finished it: thou art weighed in the ballances and art found wanting: thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. In that night was Belsha [...]er, the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom.

THE Medes and Persians▪ the kings of the east, forming the two arms and the breast of Ne­buchadnezar's Image succeeded to the order and kingdom of the head of gold. And behold ano­ther beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side; and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it, and they said thus un­to it arise, devour much flesh!

THIS kingdom is likened unto a bear because of the voraciousness of the animal; its embracing its prey as the Medes and Persians encompassed Babylon—it rose on one side of the Assyrian Em­pire, or from a state of connection with it:—it had three ribs between its teeth, denoting three eminent warriors in the Mede and Persian ar­mies; three presidents to whom the government was committed; or to three kingdoms which including itself, it held in its succession, as it were between its teeth: and the command to de­vour, presents the rapacity of its dominion and succession.

[Page 10] After this I looked, and [...] and, which had upon the back of i [...] four wings of a [...], the beast had also four heads, and [...]ominion [...] given to it.

THIS language paints to us the person, rapid strides and support of the Grecian warrior, Al­exander the Great. Like a leopard, spotted, sleek, and rapid in its movements, so was Alex­ander. The four wings upon the back doubly express the rapidity of his movements: the four pillars of his armies, on which he rested, are also represented by the four heads which this beast is said to carry: and to whom the dominion was eventually left.

After this I saw in the night visions and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong ex­ceedingly; and it had great iron teeth, it devour­ed and break in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it and it had ten horns.

THIS power is undoubtedly the power of Heathen Rome. It had the dominion in the days of the crucifixion of our LORD. At the hands of this power the LORD of life was put to death; moved thereto by the implacable enmi­ty of the Jewish Rulers. Over the whole world this dreadful and terrible beast maintained its [Page 11] [...] something of the Christian doctrine and administrations in its Im­perial [...]; it was over turned by the Go [...] and [...], between the fifth and sixth cen [...]ry of the Christian era. It had ten horns, d [...] ­noting [...] kings, who i [...] succession sat upon the imperial throne; or ten kingdoms over whom its s [...]eptre primarily [...]. Th [...]se horns were broken; th [...]se kingdoms were overturned; and the [...] hea [...]ings of the political [...] gave birth to an Empire; known in this prophecy under the stile and title of a little horn which had eyes like a man, and before, whom three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and a mouth speaking great things.

[...] properties of the little horn are, by all, imputable to the papal power. His empire, at first, was very small. He brought the [...]rovinc [...] and city of Rome under his pontifical jurisdic­tion. He next was helped to tear up the empire of Lombardy and of Raven [...] by the roots, and thus subdued three [...]onns of the ten from among which he sprang up. In the possession of the total jurisdiction of these three kingdoms or pro­vinces: in connection with an assumed, acknow­ledged, yet disputed ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the other seven; this papal power hath, in an higher or less degree, been en [...]bled to maintain [Page 12] its jurisdiction [...]ntil the day in which we have [...] its body given, thus for, to the burning flame [...] [...] all the pontifical air [...] assumed; nor the uni­ [...]sal jurisdiction claimed; nor the thunders of [...] power sent abroad; nor the great words it spake have availed to hinder that its foundation should not be shaken—its authority had in con­tempt, and its thunders trampled under foot. I behold then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake, I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

THIS exploit we now live to see performed. The convulsive scenes of European conflict are loosening the stones of this papal fabric; and more and more sapping the foundation of this antichristian structure.

THE ten kings are loosing their dominion. The subjects of these papal branches are uniting in the common enmity, and with common con­sent, seem willing that this antichristian power should be consumed by the breath of that irre­sistable flame in which GOD is breathing forth his indignation upon it; waiting for the fatal and deadly blow this power is to receive at the brightness of his coming.

[Page 13]THE place will not admit of so much as a glance at the many and variegated, and re­peated prophetic characters in which this papal power, that is now falling, is spoken of, and re­presented as to fall in these days. Few can [...]e ignorant that the Old Testament and the New, are full of declarations to this point. The sins of this mystical Babylon are recounted. Her persecutions and bloodshed, her wearying of the saints of the Most High, and the universal mer­chandise of her ungodly traffic; and the circulation of the filthiness of her Babylonish cup, throughout all the regions of the mystical family, are repre­sented as abominations which call aloud for the perdition to be poured forth, to which she is ap­pointed in GOD'S great decree. Rejoice over h [...] thou Heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets, for GOD hath avenged you of her. And a mighty An­gel took up a stone like a great mill stone, and cast it into the sea, saying, thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers and musicians, and of pipers and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee, and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be shall be found any more in thee, and the sound of a mill stone shall be heard no more at all in thee. And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee, and the voice of the [Page 14] bride groom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth▪ for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. Perfectly, in concord with these declarations the text decl [...]es: But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

THE subject leads our thoughts

II. TO enquire by what means this apostate▪ papal, antichristian power is to be removed?

FOR information on the subject we must make our appeal to the word of GOD; and to the e­vents of providence which are now passing before us. In doing this we not only justify ourselves as following the best sources of instruction we can be favored with, but avoid the weight of the curse which lies at the door of those who consider not the work of the LORD, nor regard the operations of his hands.

THE information to be obtained from the oracles of GOD is general; reserving the fuller manifestation to the day in which the mighty seat of antichristion desolation shall be wrought. In fact, some part of every predic­tion is kept in the dark! It was never the de­sign of Heaven that its predictions should be [Page 15] fully understood until they were accomplished.— Men might combine to defeat them, and thus wage an unnecessary war with GOD. Men are left to the freedom of their own will, and un­constrained, seem left to fulfill the will of GOD by the thoughts they entertain, by the words they speak, and by the actions they perform. When the event predicted is performed then we behold with admiration the perfect coincidence of the event with the prediction it was or­dained to fulfil.

IN the interpretation of Daniel respecting the Babylonish image, pointing to the section re­presenting the papal power, in the feet and toes which were part of iron and part of clay; thou sawest said he till that a stone was cut out with­out hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and of clay and break them to pieces: then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold broken to pieces together and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floor: and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them, and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

And, whereas, thou sawest iron mixed with [...] clay, they shall mingle themselves with the [Page 16] seed of men! a union being formed between the sons of GOD and the sons of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, no particular attachments, more than ministers to private accomodation between the things of GOD and of men; even as iron is not mixed with clay.

Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was g [...]t out of the mountain without hands and that it break in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great GOD hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter, and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof is sure.

AND in the text, the declaration is: But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his do­minion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.— In Thes. II. 2nd— it is written respecting the man of sin, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called GOD, or that is worshipped; so that he as GOD sitteth in the temple of GOD, shewing himself that he is GOD; and then, shall that wicked be revealed; whom the LORD shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

THE antichristian power, falling in the char­acter of mystical Babylon, affords constant ground of exultation, on the part of those who have [Page 17] [...]en made to feel the weight of her rod. Re­ward her even as she rewarded you, and double [...] ­to her double, according to her works, in the [...] which she hath filled, fill to her double.

MANY exultations, are recorded, as springing out of the event of the downfall of mystical Babylon of which there is not now time fully to speak.

SUFFER me, in this place, to read in your hear­ing a brief sketch of the sentiments of the lear­ned of the day, on this subject It is taken from the body of a discourse preached by Doct. Liv­ingston, before the members of the New-York missionary society, conven'd on the 23d. of April in that City. The pamphlet I hold in my hand▪ page 45.

‘THE dispensations of providence, in connec­ion with the sure word of prophecy, justly raise our expectations, and may be considered as unequivocal tokens of signal success.— What ever may be the period from which the rise of antichrist is to be dated, it is evi­dent his usurpations and tyranny are draw­ing to a close. That wicked power which has so long resisted the progress of the gospel, but which for some time has been gradually consuming▪ will soon be destroyed by the bright­ness [Page 18] of the Redeemer's coming. The last strug­gles of the monster may be violent, and his expiring agonies protracted, but he is cer­tainly dying. The western and eastern an­tichrist, which with their combined influence, are perhaps considered in scripture as one, arose nearly at the same time and will fall to­gether.’

‘THE vials of wrath, now pouring upon those nations which gave their aid and sup­port to the man of sin: the desolations of war, the revolutions, terrors, and convulsions, unrecorded before in history, announce the approach of some period new and interesting. The REDEEMER is shaking the nations, and his people hope, it is to prepare the way for his coming. We presume not, with confi­dence, to ascertain "the times or the seasons which the father hath put in his own power" but as we know that when the fig-tree putteth forth leaves the summer is nigh: so when we see all these things, we know that the coming of the son of man is near, even at the door.’

‘TAKE, my brethren, a deliberate view of all these events. Collect them in a point, and feel the encouragement which they are [...]l [...]lated to inspire. Whatever may be the [Page 19] immediate consequence of your efforts, it will be accepted of the LORD, that it was in your hearts to build him an house. Whatever may be the issue of the individual or joint ex­ertions in this good work; it will not be long before the morning will break, and with its ri­sing lustre dispel the shades of night. Another season of refreshing is at hand. Another Pentecost will awaken the churches and amaze the world. The cruel conflict which must terminate in killing the witnesses, can afford the adversary but a short triumph. The spirit of life from GOD will again enter into them: or­der will speedily arise out of confusion: light succeed to darkness, and the REDEEMER take to himself his great power and reign. His breath will shake the slain multitudes, and na­tions be born in a day. The Jews are ready to hail their own Messiah, and all the ends of the earth, will see the salvation of GOD.’

‘HEAR the decree which ensures the final success of the Gospel, and the glory of the REDEEMER: He must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet; then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the king­dom to GOD, even the father: that GOD ma [...] be all in all.’

[Page 20]SUFFICE it, that the predictions of GOD are sure and certain, and so powerfully opperative as to ascertain the event announced. The event we now behold, of consequence are better capa­ble to designate the means by which this over­throw seems likely to be accomplished than to be totally dependant on the prophetic description.

ON the subject of our own experience, on the evidence arising from matters of fact, some­thing may be, with safety said.

IS it not evident, that the political stone which is now giving the deadly shock to the last section of the Babylonish Image, took its origin in these western climes? was it not cut out without hands from the Mountain of GOD'S universal provi­dence in these United States? was it not the weighty stone which we all helped to lift, during the introduction and progress of that political re [...]olution through which we have just now pas­sed? did it not get its birth, at the moment wh [...]lst the alarm of British usurpation, and threat­ned devastation was sounded in our ears? How like electric fire did the animating principle of liberty, and determined opposition pervade the abodes of our collonial realms? how, in rapture, did Columbia's sons start from their fires, seize their arms, and march to the tune of Victory or Death! Boston harbor received the tea, ren­dered [Page 21] poisonous, thro' the potion infused, by North's insidious hand. The Gaspee schooner was in flames; the king's authority was defied; and with arms in hand an appeal was made to Heaven for the justice of our cause. Twenty years expired, and these United States found themselves independent. Their standards were planted, where just now the proud insignia of the enemy braved the winds; threating never to leave our coasts until the keys of our graine­ries and of our commerce were laid at their feet! Delusive hope!—impotent wish! despotic thirst, for gold and for power, which the arm of proud despotism itself could not secure!

AT this moment the stone cut out without hands, may be said to have ripened into form. But previous to the twenty years of American growth, like the winds of Eolus, impatient to be gone, it stretches its way across the Atlan­tic. As a cloud of political glory it accompanies Washington's son· Against the throne of Papal despotism it lets off its fire. At the door of the first born of Babylon's sons it gently knocks; but that the decree of Heaven may be fulfilled, an iron rod demolishes the incrustation, strikes down the door posts, and lays this branch of the mysti­cal family level with the dust. Provoked at this [Page 22] event, like Bala [...] and Balaam of old, the despots of Europe, the civil and ecclesiastical luminaries of the Papal firmament seek to find enchant­ments against GOD'S irresistable decree. None can be found. The stone braves all opposition and advances and strikes with redoubled strength the feet of the mighty image: It trembles, it reels to and fro, and threatens to fall.

IN this appeal to facts, an answer is found, as to the means by which this Papal power is to be removed. GOD hath carved out an irresistable stone; He hath brought a strong westerly wind from these western climes which threatens totally to dismantle the tabernacles of the mystical wo­woman; who in her doctrine, communion and government sits upon the shoulders of the kings of the earth.

THIS same event and operation may be seen in the dispensation of the white horse, seen by St. John in the Revelations. In a political pre­paratory and pioniering sense, George Washing­ton mounted this prophetic horse in the opening of the American revolution. The Marquis La Fayette was borne through the tempest of the French Revolution by the same figure, as far as he succeeded; being dismounted, to take a walk in the dreary regions of Austrian Castles▪ prisons and dungeons, to illustrate the fate of Sons of [Page 23] Liberty i [...] the hands of earthly despots: B [...] ­naparte l [...]ped upon the horse left by the M [...] ­quis; and, on his back, proudly pr [...]d through the states of Italy, put his hand into the pockets of his holiness, dried up the waters of the mystical Euphrates, and left the navigation of St. Peter's suc [...]ssor, at high water mark. To enforce this prophetic idea, already accomplished by many it is known, that in a literal and absol [...]te sense Washington, La Fayette and Bounaparte per­formed their exploits, mounted upon a white horse, a figure, with all leaders of victory, and of triumph.

CONTINUING to illustrate this prophetic doct­rine: Buonaparte is now smiting the River of Egypt in its seven streams. This was necessary to fulfill the scriptures—to give liberty to the Jews—to open the door of communication thro' all Countries where they reside, and to enter the wedge, which eventually may produce a fracture upon the Mahometan empire. Should the [...]ims of France penetrate to Syria weaken the Ma­hometan power on the east, and the same power bear upon this empire in the north the scriptures will be fulfilled also in the event. But tidings out of the east and out of the north s [...]all trouble him▪ therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to make away many▪ and he [Page 24] shall plant the tabernacle of his palaces i [...] the glorious holy mountain [...], yet he shall come to his [...] none sh [...]l [...] h [...]l [...] him.

HOW far the dispensation of the political stone shall be permitted to advance, casting down the buildings of the ol [...] wo [...]ld; before the ad­vent of the Kingdom of GOD shall speak peace to the troubled nations is a question of no small mo­ment. The sorrows of present scenes—the ex­pectation of many, and the testimony of Holy Writ all unite in teaching that the Great Day is at hand: the long expected jubilee trump is a­bout to sound.—The illustration of this point fall▪ under the last head of our discourse; which was to shew,

III. What were the happy consequences, im­mediately to follow at the overthrow of the em­pire of mystical Babylon.

THE text declares; And the kingdom and do­minion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the [...]ints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an ever­lasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."

OTHER passages of scripture confirm this doct­rine: the nature of the two contending powers [Page 25] establishes it. As error recedes, truth advances. As the night withdraws, the day dawns and the day star arises. As old Babylon fell, the city, temple and service of the Jewish nation was re­stored. In these days, on the same principles of action, and of re [...]action, a [...] the kingdoms of this world fall, the kingdom of GOD must arise.

THIS kingdom is so near, in fact and in reality, that its counterfeit is already manifest. The em­pire of darkness hath exerted itself to forge, in the inferior realms, the plan of the millennial day, and is now attempting to play off this game; and to palm this counterfeit millennium upon the sons of men, as tho' it was formed in the counsels of eternal truth, and had the sanction of eternal power. But where sir! can this ma­gic scene be discovered, you may be ready to say? we have heard of Jannes and Jambres who with­stood Moses, and of Satan who labored, by fair promises, counterfeit application of scripture, and by vain and pompous shews to gain the hom­age of the Savior of mankind to himself, in the gospel section; but we have never heard that any one had attempted to counterfeit the millen­nial section: the work must be too great! none could attempt to seize the reins of the milleni­al administration but such as GOD should appoint.

[Page 26]LAVATER, a celebrated Phisyognomist of Swit­zerland, after the reduction of that country by the French arms, writes to the Directory of France of the greivances which the people suffer: and in a masterly manner demands re­dress.—"You have" says he "sent us Liberty, but it is the LIBERTY OF HELL!"—Never did words fall, with more truth and precision, from the lips of man. The Liberty which the gov­ernment of France, now gives to conquered coun­tries is indeed the Liberty of Hell. It is a plan of liberty, specious in words and appearance, like the charmings of the serpent, whose writhings and twistings and whole field of enchantments labour but for the moment, when with the utmost cer­tainty, the prey may be swallowed alive. How many families, villages, towns, cities and king­doms have gone down to satisfy the insatiable ma [...] of these destroyers! The thousand lives, the numberless possessions, the immensity of wealth which this vortex hath swallowed up, are scarcely sufficient to form an observeable trait in the back ground of this Terrible Republic.— Their stile is ONE & INDIVISIBLE; that is UNI­TY and UNIVERSALITY. They design to form one universal Republic, at the head of which the voracious Directory is seated: and whilst on the principles of the sun-fish, extending and con­tracting, [Page 27] these men devour the riches of the earth, they would fain teach the poor sufferers, that it is Liberty they are giving▪ and that the Mil­lenial estate i [...] fast advancing! well might La­vater reply, it is the millennium of Hell! so it [...] it is the attempt of Satan to mount the mil­lennial saddle thro' the instrumentality of the Directory. This seat secured, and the Directory supported; it would not be within the reach of Michael and of his host, to introduce the peace­ful and prosperous reign of the Prince of Peace. This is the object and such the hope entertained, within the walls of perdition's palace!

BUT such object shall never be fulfilled; such hope never realized! all may wish this; many pray for it; and to some it appertains to know it. The inspiration of GOD presents, in five different places, the five headed monster of France. They always hold the dark side of the picture. They stand an off-set, and counter­part to the administration of the Deity himself, in the latter day. This doctrine can be illustra­ted and proved to a degree of exactness and pre­cision of which the world, with all its improve­ments, at present has no idea. Time will not ad­mit even if it were proper, to enter on this inter­esting and solemn scene on the present occasion. Suffice it, for the purpose of proving the approach [Page 28] of the administration of the latter day glory; that it be understood that its counterfeit is now upon the earth: that urged by the fury of the bottomless pit, this fallacious picture labors with a fierceness and perseverance unequalled, to secure its object; to execute its plan, and to seize upon its prey. And it will cost no high degree of [...]ith to believe, if things are so, that nothing will be able fully to restrain the impetuosity of these agents of in [...]ernal enterprize; but the ap­pearance and advance of that power to which all other powers shall yield obeisance, as unto GOD. To Him the dominion appertains. He is capable to resume it, and to give it unto his son. In the character of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, shall our Immanuel presently roar for his prey. He shall strike the sceptre from the hand of his enemies, and cause that the prey be delivered from the hand of the mighty. From design to bring this country into submis­sion to their all conquering power it is, that no reasonable terms of pacification have been ac­cepted by them. Our commerce has opened the door for maritime depredation▪ at the reins of our government they have wishfully locked▪ and in more ways than one, have thrown the harpoon at our national bag.—Yet we live!— Though the tempests threaten our federal ship▪— [Page 29] and▪ at times, the pumps can scarce keep her clear▪ yet▪ under auspicious Heaven, we may hope to ride ou [...] the storm, until the all spreading hand of the coming dominion shall touch our helm.

THIS day commemorates the event, the joy­ful event, in which our federal ship was h [...]ve [...]om the stocks, and launched upon the ocean of Independence. During her progress, for the first twenty years, she performed wonders; she [...]iled under the special eye of prophetic aspects; she brought our tribes from Babylon; she bra­ved the tempests of complaint, excited by the Tobiases and the S [...]nb [...]lle [...]ts of the day; she shewed her flag, and ever carried a good side in moments of expectation. The whole scene ac­complished, her prime navigator stepped on shore, and left the concern to them that should follow. The tempests have of late beat high; but dan­gers passed, shall but sweeten the felicities which are to follow. If Heaven first visit our land, in the spirit of the second revolution, as it hath in the order of the first, if it adopt the mountain of our administration, as the first mountain on which the kingdom of glory shall be established, it will be easy to see that the Constellation shall always set her compass for the Insurgents.

ON this subject, to the mind of the writer, there appears little doubt. Much may depend [Page 30] on the faith of our political ark, acknowledg­ing GOD, as the chief pilot, in all her con­cerns. Nothing is lost to our government, that it hath left the concerns of religion and of another world to the teachings of every man's own conscience, as unto GOD. It is a slander against the Heavens, to pretend to say that the things of GOD are indebted to the things of men for their support. Let GOD be true and every man a liar in this concern!

NO sooner had she twenty years of our political operation built for us this political temple; than wisdom fell from GOD in re­spect to the millennial temple; from the bo­som of this federal edifice it was to break forth. Under its canopy it shall be nursed▪ and whilst European nations behold on these western shores of the Atlantic, the temple of freedom, over which our confederation spreads its wings; they shall see how delightful a pic­ture of the approaching millenial confedera­tion it presents. For three years hath the wisdom of GOD been occupied in training to knowledge the instrument, appointed as the or­gan of divine communication. Such is the course of that divine teaching, and so multiplied and universal its forms of instruction, that no [Page 31] event can happen, no piece can be named where instruction cannot be found.

THE mountain of the LORD'S house, now forming, will ultimately establish itself in the tops of the mountains, and exalt itself above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. Unto the mountain of the LORD, soon to be established in these United States, all nations, by their deli­gates, shall flow. They shall come to worship before GOD in Zion. It shall set, thro' this mode, GOD'S compass upon the [...]arth, and stretch his line under the whole Heavens. Ethiopia and Seba shall come and bow down: and upon the distant mountains to the ends of the earth, the mount of the LORD shall be acknowledged. Through the instrumentality of this organ, the Prince of Peace shall speak peace to the nations, and they shall beat their swords into plow shears, and their spears into pruning hooks and they shall learn war no more. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways, and he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives; not for price nor reward saith the LORD of Hosts; for lo! the labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature shall come over unto thee: and they shall be thine: in chains shall they come over and bow down, and [Page 32] make supplication; saying, surely GOD is in thee and beside, there is none else; there is no GOD. Surely thou art a GOD that hideth thyself O GOD of Israel the Saviour▪

LEAVING prophetic illustrations, and waiting farther demonstration in support of what hath been said, either in view of illucidating the cha­racter of mystical Babylon, or the means by which she is overthrown, or the happy consequences which shall follow, it may now be proper to re­vert to the consideration of a few things anal­ogus to the events of the day; of the present fourth of July 1799, which we are assembled to celebrate. This day commemorates the event of the declaration of our National Independence. That was an important day, both in relation to the benefits which it brought in its train, in a national point of view and in reference to the foundation of that national edifice from which is yet to beam forth, the light and glory of the world. Let, then, the day be celebrated as the hour which gave birth to the mighty events which of necessity, were needful to prepare the way for the peaceful empire of the Prince of Peace. Be astonished at the event which in the kingdom of providence, the hand of our GOD carved out thro' the instrumentality of such un­promising means! what could equal the enter­prize of the sons of July fourth, 1776, but the [Page 33] unequalled enterprize, perseverence and toil of those who first braved the tempest that they might plant the empire of civilization and of re­ligion in these western climes! had they foreseen what was to sp [...]ing from their loins, with what additional fervor of spirit might they have fol­lowed up the noble enterprize their thoughts had atchieved! But the fire of soul which was in them to possess, and to hand down to us, this fer­tile and extensive habitation, seems, by inherit­ance to have descended to us their sons! Hail ye departed souls! Hail▪ ye slumbering fathers! Arise from the dead and behold the wonders GOD hath wrought!

IF the benevolence of the Deity hath marked out for us such a possession, how loud the argu­ment that the same sentiment of benevolence should meet a joyful welcome to our own breasts! that we may be the children of our father which is in Heaven, who maketh his son to shine on the evil and on the good, and send­eth his rain on the just, and on the unjust! How can we so well improve the blessings of civil, of social, of rational, and of religious life, as to employ them in the purposes of a diffusive good will to all around [...] Doth inde­pendence of character—enterprize abroad, lit­ [...]rature [Page 34] and religion at home, grace the histo­ry of our nation, thus far, let us see it, that none of these characters are forfeited by a cold, an inanimate attention to the duties now before [...] or to the enchanting prospects which now ravish the intellectual eye!