THE WESTERN OR ROMAN CHURCH

THE WESTERN OR ROMAN CHURCH
Styled in the Apocalypse
"MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS,
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
To understand tho Apocalyptic Vision of the Roman Church, it
roust be remembered that it derived all its authority, in the first
instance, from t e Byzantine or Roman Emperors, in whom was
Tested the absolute dominion of the Roman world;—secondly^ it was
afterwards confirmed and sustained in its tyrannical ambition by the
TEN EUROPEAN KINGDOMS, which, in the 5th and 6th centuries, aroee
out of the commotions, which then convulsed and broke to pieces tho
political heavens and earth of the Western World;—and thirdly, that
thus constituted, consensu omnium, by the consent of all, iho parties
to this ALLIANCE OF CHURCH AND STATE, set up an "IMACE* or
representative of the Imperial Power wfiich preceded it; and they
conferted authority upon it, and put to death as many as would not
acknowledge or obey him. Rev. xiii. In the Scripture of Truth,
thus quoted, wo have all this symbolically exhibited. An ECCLESIASTICO—
TEMPORAL TYRANNY consisting of an intimate combination of
the POPE, the CLERGY, and the KINGS;—being a grand conspiracy
against the rights and liberties of mankind. As the Pope and Clergy
gained the ascendancy over the Secular or Kindly authority, which
became a fearful instrument of vengeance in their hand for the subjugation
and extermination of "heretics;" it may with greator propriety,
be introduced to the notice of our readerp, ad