could this have been said of the Papal hierarchy? Surely not. That was to continue for many centuries; even 1260 years.

"We shall find in the predictions to be noted, that it is the Roman beast, under his last head; and not the Papal beast; nor the little horn; nor the false prophet, that is to be found in battle array against Christ, at the time of the end, or of the seventh vial. Dan. vii, 11; I beheld then be cause 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. Here the great Power, predominant upon the ground, at the commencement of the battle of that great day of God Almighty, is the Roman beast, in distinction from the Papal power. This accords with the various descriptions of the same event in the Revelation to St. John. There we find that the Powers, then in array against Christ, are the beast and false prophet; the Roman beast under his last head, and Popery. In the various passages, where these Powers are mentioned at that period, they are found in this connexion. The beast is first and predominant. In Rev. xvii, we shall find this terrible beast is bearing the Papal harlot to her execution; and is to be her executioner. These representations all imply, that Antichrist was to be another Power beside the Papal hierarchy.

"The present state of this hierarchy utterly forbids, that she can be that vast terrific Power, in terrible array against Christ, in the last days. The Romish hierarchy has already fallen under the iron grasp of a far superior Power, who is inflicting the judg ments of heaven upon her. And to whatever degree of mischief to the people of God, this hierarchy may be made an engine of policy and ambition in the hands of this superior Power, she will never more be predominant. She will be nothing more than a political puppet in the hands of an Imperial master. The latter is the terrible Power, the beast, whose body is to be destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

"Antichrist,or the great Power predicted in Dan. xi, 36, is at, or near,

the time of the end, to be engaged in a war with the king of the north, and the king of the south; Dan. xi, 40. No such event as this was ever fulfilled with respect to the Papal power; nor can it ever be, according to any present probability. This one consideration must afford a full decision, that Antichrist, the terrible Power of the last days, is distinct from, and subsequent to, the Papal power. It will appear, I trust, in all the predictions to be noted in this Dissertation, that Antichrist is a distinct Power from Popery.

"When the reformation under Luther, the art of printing, and the revival of learning in Europe, had unveiled the abominations of Popery, millions, whose pride of heart would not permit them to embrace the doctrines of the reformation, would easily be induced to deny God, and the Christian religion. This was a process very natural in old, corrupt, Popish countries, after the mummery of their false system was exposed. And especially was this the case, among a people constitutionally licentious, vol. atile, haughty, and impatient of every moral restraint. Such a people would need only an association of subtle, Infidel philosophers, under the instigation of the old serpent, to institute a scheme which would give birth to the Antichrist of the last times. And such will appear to have been his origin." pp. 33-35.

It is very easily accounted for, that the early reformers, and subsequent expositors of Scripture down to the present age, should have mistaken the Papal hierarchy for Antichrist. That hierarchy constituted an awful apostasy from pure Christianity, and was much described in prophecy as a beast, or persecuting power, as the mother of harlots, and as the man of sin. It was natural, therefore, that those who had never seen the Antichrist should neglect, or misinterpret, the distinctive features in his character, such as

Atheism, Infidelity, (or a peculiar and avowed hostility to the Christian religion,) and the sudden and violent termination of his short existence. Of late, years, the great body of those, who have studied the prophecies, have been decidedly of the opinion, that the predictions respecting Antichrist apply with much greater precision to modern Infidelity and Atheism, than to any other display of wickedness which the world has ever seen. We have before us an extract from a manuscript of a plain, but sensible, private Christian written so early as 1794, in which the author lays hold of 1 John ii, 22, He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son, and gives it as his confirmed opinion, that the Deism, which then prevailed, was the manifestation of Antichrist. We do not recollect to have seen any thing in print to this effect, till the publication of Dr. Dwight's Centu

rial Sermon, in 1801. It is re-. markable, that a Jesuit, in 1634, gave it as his opinion, that whenever the wilful king, of Daniel, (by whom he understood the great Antichrist,) should be revealed, "he would be an Atheist, and would abolish, not only the worship of Christ, and the su perstitious idolatry of Paganism, but even the very name and adoration of the true God."* Bishop Horsley, in his letter on Is. xviii, says, "I fear I too clearly see the rise, instead of the fall, of the Antichrist of the West, who shall be neither a Protestant nor a Papist; neither Christian, Jew, nor Heathen: who shall worship neither God, angel, nor saint; who will neither suppli cate the invisible majesty of heaven, nor fall down before an idol."

(To be continued.)

*Fab. i. 240, in a note.

THE twelfth annual meeting of the Massachusetts Missionary Society was held in Boston, on the 28th and 29th days of May last. The meeting was attended by a respectable number of ministers, and other members of the Society. The exercises were introduced by singing the 72d Psalm, L.M. The throne of Divine mercy was then addressed in solemn prayer by the President; after which, the follow ing report of the Trustees was read by the Secretary.*

THE Board of Trustees, agreeably to their duty as enjoined by the Constitution, respectfully submit to the So

The report, as now published, is somewhat more ample than the report read before the Society,

ciety the following report of their own transactions, and of the General Missionary concerns, for the year which now closes.

At the commencement of the year six missionaries were appointed by the board; the Rev. John Sawyer, for eight months, in such parts of the District of Maine, as in his judgment should promise the most extensive usefulness; the Rev. Jotham Sewall, for six months, in the same District, the field of his labors to be left at his own discretion; Mr. Samuel Parker, for six months, in the western parts of New York; the Rev. Samuel Niles, for three months, in the State of Rhode Island; Mr. Harris, for three months, in the circuit of the Winnipis. iogee pond, in the state of New Hampshire; and the Rev. John Lawton, for

three months, in the state of Vermont. Two hundred dollars were appropriated towards the support of a mission, among the Wyandot tribe of Indians. Not having received journals in detail from all our missionaries, it is found impracticable to make a report so complete as could be wished. But from a communication of the Rev. Mr. Sawyer we learn, that in fulfilling his appointment, he labored the greater portion of his time in the northern settlements between Kennebeck and Penobscot rivers; particularly in the towns of Lincolnton or Garland, and Elkinston, where existing circumstances required, in his opinion, special attention, and peculiar exertion. "From the fifteenth of June last, to the twentieth of May instant," he observes, "I have been in the service of the M. M. Society 27 weeks and two days; during which time I have administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper, and assisted in its administra. tion, 5 times, twice to the church in Bangor and vicinity, and three times in Garland. I have admitted 4 persons into the church in Garland and Elkinston, baptized one adult and twenty five children; attended six funerals; preached on the Lord's days, and upon all other occasions as opportunities offered; attended conferences and church meetings as circumstances seemed to require, and distributed about 50 Bibles; some of Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns; some Primers, Magazines, Tracts, &c."

The abstract of the Rev. Mr. Sewall's journal is as follows. "I have spent 30 weeks in the service of the M. M. Society. In which time I rode nearly 2000 miles; preached 256 sermons; visited 236 families; visited 13 schools; held 17 conferences, two of which were church meetings for attending to the subject of discipline; attended 5 prayer meetings, 2 wed. dings, 2 funerals, one association, one consociation, and the annual meeting of the Maine Missionary Society. I also attended 2 church fasts, the an nual state fast, one private fast, and 2 councils; administered the Lord's supper 15 times; admitted 5 persons to church fellowship; baptised 4 a. dults, and 73 children. I visited about 45 destitute towns and planta

tions in the counties of Oxford, Somerset, Kennebeck, Lincoln, and Hancock, was generally well received, and attentively heard.

"Although the different sects of Christians prevail in some places; in others, things have a more favorable appearance with respect to the cause of truth. Destitute churches, by the blessing of God on the ministrations offered them, appear to lie in a more prosperous situation than in times past. Although I have witnessed no very special attention to religion among them in general, and was ready several times before I closed my mission, to conclude that I should have occasion to complain, "Who hath believed my report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed!" Yet with abundant joy, and the praise of sovereign grace, I can now say, that there is reason to believe God was pleased to bless my visit to Waldoborough in March last, to the conversion of several souls. The last meeting which I held there, exhibited one of the most solemn and affecting scenes I ever witnessed. It proved the beginning of a reformation. The last accounts which I have received, state, that 16 persons in that place have obtained a hope that they have passed from death unto life: and that others are under concern of mind about the awful realities of eternity."

From Mr. Samuel Parker, we have received the following communications: "During the 27 weeks of my missionary labors, for the M. M. Society, I have ridden 2412 miles; preached 134 times, attended ten conferen ces, and visited several schools. I have also visited families for the purpose of communicating religious instruction. I have been kindly received wherever I have been, almost without exception; and generally have had full and attentive assemblies. Many have expressed gratitude for the benevolent attention of the Society in sending the Gospel among them, and expressed a desire for its contin

uance.

The missionary field is very extensive; but the laborers are very few. Though the enemies of the cross are numerous, and the adversary of souls appears to be engaged as if his time

were but short; yet many things, which have an influence on the cause of religion, appear encouraging. Religion is more attended to, the ministers of Christ are more respected, and instead of curious speculations, the inquiry among the people, principally respects the nature of vital religion. Missionaries have done much in the regions which I have visited, towards promoting the settlement of ministers. Where Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Covenanters, Seceders, &c. meet in a new settlement, they consider themselves as so widely apart in religious opinions as to think it impracticable to unite in the settlement of a minister; yet they readily unite in hearing such missionaries as are sent to labor among them. This circumstance affords a favorable prospect of their uniting hereafter, in the establishment of the Gospel ministry. Although I have not so many things of an encouraging nature to communicate as might be wished; yet, if a kind reception from the people whom I have visited, more applications to preach than I have been able to comply with, and the hopeful conversion of some, be encouraging, you have, gentlemen, no ground discouragement in the great and good work in which you are engaged."

can

for

Asno communication has been made by Mr. Harris, the Trustees are not able to state, whether he has perform ed his mission agreeably to his appointment.

From the Rev. Mr. Lawton's acCount of his missionary tour and la. bors, we make the following communication: "I have performed missionary service, for three months, agreeably to my appointment. In this service I have visited 14 towns; two more than I visited the last year; which are Chester and Somerset. I find by my daily journal that I have preached 58 sermons; attended three funerals, and 7 church conferences; visited 2 schools, and catechised children on other occasions. I have administer. ed the ordinance of the Lord's supper 3 times; baptised 19 children and 4 adults, and received 14 persons to communion. I have visited the sick as occasions offered, and families from house to house, as strength and time

would permit. These visits I have considered as the most profitable part of my services; since familiar and serious inquiry, diligent instruction, affectionate exhortation and prayer in family circles, have apparently arrested more serious attention than public discourses.

"The state of the missionary field in which I have labored is much the same as it was the last year, in relation to the call for missionary assistance. And I am happy in being able to state, that there appears to be so much fruit of my labors, as to encourage the hope, that by perseverance, much more will be received. Although of the towns which I have visited I cannot say so much as Icould wish, with respect to the success of my labors; yet in some of them the aspect of religion is favorable and encouraging; particularly in Acton and Peru. In the former town a desirable revival of religion took place the winter past, when about ten persons gave hopeful evidence of being born of the Spirit; and a considerable number more were impressed with a sense of their dan gerous condition. Religion in this place, a short time since, was almost entirely neglected; but the people now, when destitute of preaching, meet on the Sabbath to read sermons, unite in prayer, &c. and a number, who have not made a profession of religion have set up the worship of God in their families. In Peru, where, lately, a religious character was scarcely to be found, a church is now formed, respectable in number, and sound in the faith; and the people in general are well united in Congregational principles. They attribute their meliorated condition and encouraging prospects, chiefly to the instrumentality of missionary labors among them.

"I am almost every where cordially received, and a good degree of attention is paid to my ministrations."

The Rev. Mr. Niles was prevented, by an afflictive providence among his people, from executing his mission, excepting that he spent about a week in missionary labors. In this time he preached 6 sermons, and visited 22 families.

At the semiannual meeting of the