dation of the whole edifice of Popery, but a compound of pride, ambition, covetousness, fraud, cruelty ? The doctrine of merit is at the root of all. The heads of that Church have no object in view but to promote their own secular interests and power. They draw from the votaries of their religion all which they can by any means exact. A system of lying won- ders is maintained, to delude their followers: and the most horrible cruelties are exercised towards those who submit not to their impious ordinances and institutions. The Heathen themselves are not more flagrant in their idolatries, than they who exalt the Virgin Mother above their Incarnate God.
I say these things in reference to the Romish Church, be- cause the ear of Protestants is open to receive the truth in relation to a Church from which they have separated. But, if Protestant Churches are freed from some of the grosser abominations of Popery, are they not on a par with Papists themselves in relation to the evils from which Popery has sprung ? Do we not find Protestants, whether priests or people, as secularized as any of the votaries of Popery can be ? Do we not find them as full of pride, ambition, covetous- ness, fraud, cruelty, as Papists themselves, only not exercising these dispositions exactly in the same way ? The truth is, that, amongst the generality of Christians, there is little found except the name : and that, if they had been brought up as heathens, they would have occupied much the same place in the scale of morals, as they do at this hour.]
Would to God we could except from this censure the worshippers of the inner court !
[On the two first occasions, the prophet was directed to the outer court of the temple ; but, on the last, God himself, in his vision, " brought him to the inner court of the Lord's house'." Come we, then, to inspect that part of the Church which professes more of sanctity, and boasts of greater near- ness to God. Are there no abominations to be found there? Are there no evil practices indulged by those who would be thought to excel in piety ? It is well, perhaps, that the world do not know all that passes in the secret inclosures of the temple : for they would be far more stumbled than they are by the inconsistencies and impieties which would there be found. They do wrong, indeed, in casting reflections on reli- gion, on account of the faults of those who profess it. " To speak evil of the way of truth k," and to "blaspheme the name of God '," on account of the falls of professors, is absurd in the extreme: for religion discountenances evil of every kind; and, as far as it prevails in the soul, it restrains evil. And therefore
> ver. 16. k 2 Pet. ii. 2. ' Rom. ii. 24.