Sinai on the consciences of my people, which was attended with success so fatal to me, that no less than three thousand were pierced through the heart at once and fell on the field of action. Now it was that my evil apprehensions were again alarmed, plainly perceiving that the artillery of the word was levelled against my person, and that the first end of the gospel was the subversion of my diabolical government. However I drew up all the forces which I possibly could in the hurry of that sur prise, and had just time to give one general discharge, my soldiers crying out as they gave the volley, "These men are drunken with new wine." It was but a poor opposition to doctrine so powerful, I allow; but it was the best that could at that time be made, for we were obliged to retreat in much confusion, and leave the Christian fishermen masters of the field.

As soon as we were a little recovered from the disorder into which that unexpected misfortune had plunged us, I summoned a council of war, in which the self-righteous Jews were the principal, next to our infernal train. I myself gave special orders that some method should be concerted effectually to destroy the name of Jesus; for, said I, "If we let them alone all the people will believe in their doctrine." In this council it was resolved, to raise an army of those who were the greatest adversaries to the name of Jesus, to whom orders should be given to kill, destroy, and cause to perish all who believed in this way, till the Christian religion should be banished from the face of the earth. This army was raised, and the command given to Saul of Tarsus, at that time a mighty zealot for us, and who for a season made dreadful havoc of all that believed contrary to the faith of the priests; for it ought to be observed, that the opinion of the priests has been esteemed true orthodoxy and the only faith, in all ages of countries.

But here another sad disappointment and loss befel me, for as this same captain Saul was on his march to Damascus to fight a pitched battle with the Christians, it so fell out that Immanuel himself was taking a tour in the valley to see how the pomegranates budded, and falling in with trusty Saul on his journey, unveiled his own personal excellencies to him, and laid him under an immediate arrest. As soon as he saw the beauties of Immanuel he felt the most sincere esteem for his person, and conceived the most exalted sentiments of his friendship and love. Yea, he was even so much grieved that ever he had drawn his sword against him, that he renounced the service of Infidelis on the spot, took the oath of allegiance to Jesus, and thenceforward hated my person and government with the most perfect hatred; and did what he could to overturn our state and subvert our government.

Immanuel having the most tender regard for Saul, gave him a new name written upon a white stone, appointed him one of his

prime ministers, and sent him on an embassy to my subjects to regociate a revolt from me.

You cannot conceive the astonishment the Jewish clergy were in, when swift-winged Fame arrived and blowed it abroad in every street, that Saul, who was formerly so zealous for our interest, was now become a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, and was likely to do us more mischief than all who had gone before him.

By this time several of the Jewish rabbins, rebelled against me, and joined themselves to the Nazarenes, who now made it their whole business to go from place to place exhorting my subjects to revolt, exposing my deformity and devilishness to all they met with. O those were trying times, for notwithstanding we had forces out against them in every quarter of the world to impede their progress, the word of God by their means prevailed in such a manner that it was beyond our power to suppress it: for if we burned one Nazarene, two more presently sprang up out of his ashes. Even Rome itself, then the metropolis of the world and seat of pagan virtue; Athens, where Minerva was said to have been trained up, were soon infested with this new doctrine, and very considerable numbers in them durst oppose our government and dispute our title to empire. They even alledged that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, and that all pagan virtue is but dross and dung in comparison of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

However, to cut my story as short as may be; after many hundred thousands of the Nazarenes were slain, my subjects became weary of the war. By this time they saw clearly, that persecuting them to death only served to increase their number and strength; so that if those restless devils, Malevolus and Crudelis, would have been quiet, they would gladly have dropped their weapons, and agreed to a cessation of hostilities with the Christians.

IMP. Little judgment as I am allowed to have of historical affairs, I myself have seen what effect opposition usually hath upon that class of people, for if in any place where my standard is most eminently elevated, there happen to be any of that sect, you shall find them more fervent in their study of virtue and zealous in their opposition to me, than in those provinces where morality or civility preside. Ah, gentlemen, we have had trying times past over us!

INFID. Trying times indeed. For notwithstanding the fervent zeal of Malevolus and Crudelis, the many sore campaigns they had served so enervated their arms, that although their principles remained implacable, they were even obliged to sit down in despair of ever being able to extirpate the religion of Jesus from the world.

But my fertile brain soon produced fresh devices; seeing

many of my temples forsaken, and my idols without mercy thrown to the pavement, I began to think of other expedients to impede the progress of Christianity. I laboured to introduce Ease and her handmaid Prosperity among the Christians, not without hope, that when they were full they would forget their God. The better to favour this deep contrivance, I persuaded the valiant Crudelis to scabbard his sword for a season, and leave the people of our hate to the possession of their tranquillity.

It was not long that this scheme had been put in practice, ere I began to reap the fruits of my wisdom, for ease and prosperity wrought more to my advantge than all the excursions of the devil Crudelis. When they were at ease from the lash of persecution, they were foolish enough to quarrel among themselves, grievously bit, and devoured one another, the cause of their strife for the most part being, who should be the greatest.

FAST. A very important question, much canvassed, but never as yet resolved. Had I been a clergyman instead of a devil, I had certainly been a great casuist in this part of school theology. Never was a point of doctrine more belaboured certainly than this, and never were people more divided in sentiments than about its resolution, even from the great church of Turkey down to the smallest dissenting congregation. The divines of the established church in Turkey stand stiffly to it, that Mahomet and themselves ought to preside over all the believing world. The doctors of France, Spain, and Italy, are as firmly persuaded that pre-eminence is due to none but his holiness and themselves; and that all who are not of the same opinion are certainly in a state of damnation.

As for their reverences in England, though they will deny no honour to his popeship which really is his due, they will submit to none as the leading priest but his Grace of Canterbury, and consider that church which they are the pillars of, as the purest establishment that the lower world can boast of. Others indeed there are who greatly question his Grace's right to preside, and therefore refuse to bow to his mitre, and will have a pope of their own choosing, resolving to be enslaved in their own way. Hence, although the reverend members of the associate synod cannot in conscience submit to the corrupt governors of the kirk of Scotland, all of whom they have long since recommended to the care of the devil, much less can they bow to a metropolitan, whom they call the image of the pope, they can very cordially submit to the government of the reverend Mr. Adam Gibb; because they themselves had the pleasure of choosing him. That goes a great way. And hence it is, every society has its pope.---The venerable submit for the same and the .... of ...... to the

reason to the great Rev.

.

of

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at

so that it is not submission itself that is objected

to, so much as the mode of it: for gentlemen will be submissive enough may they but choose a pope for themselves. But remember this, whoever is chosen the pope of a party, is by his partisans always deemed the greatest. For instance, at the Foundry none is so great as the Rev. Mr. John Wesley, some time fellow of Lincoln college, Oxon. And at the ... none ever preached or wrote like the great . . . . . . D. D. author of ...... and of . . . . . . and of . . . . . . &c. &c. &c. But amongst them all, a very few are found who consider Jesus Christ as the greatest, and who properly call him Master.

AVAR. I thought Immanuel had settled that point long agone. Did not he establish this rule for the observance of his disciples, "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant ?" Did not the divines abide by his determination?

FAST. No, Avaro. Quite the reverse: for the schoolmen will have it, that he who is chief shall be lord over his brethren; by these means they have annexed a certain degree of nobility to their religion, which Jesus never intended to be joined with his. But we hinder the reverent Infidelis proceeding with his story.

INFID. Those female fiends, the ladies Prosperity and Ease, as plenipotentiaries for Belzebub made great proposals to them, and indeed they soon established kingdoms, principalities, and powers, of the Christian name.

Then were the Christians able to maintain themselves against their pagan neighbours, my profest subjects. This I patiently bore, believing that the martial spirit of the Christians a little indulged for the present, would greatly make for our interest and the final establishment of my kingdom.

Those revered ladies, Prosperity and Ease, had not been long amongst them, ere many who bore the Christian name were desirous of coming to terms of agreement with me; but upon this express condition,

"That in the treaty of amity betwixt them and me, it should be stipulated that they still be called by the name of Christ, for it was now become scandalous to bear the name of another." This request I thought reasonable enough, and that to grant it would be no very great concession on my part, therefore I readily agreed and the treaty was confirmed. It is an invariable rule with me, that it is not very material whether a man is called a Christian or not, provided I have but safe possession of his heart: for names do not change the nature of things.

This amiable fiend, lady Prosperity, rested not in her pleasing operations till she had quite reduced the oriental nations to such a degree of reason, that they petitioned my personal return among them, and, as my loving subjects, returned to their allegiance. Having now secured the oriental, the splendid lady and me

undertook the conquest of the occidental church; and the better to succeed in our enterprise, we fixed our abode at Rome, famous both for ancient and modern paganism. As for me, I knew it was necessary I should remain incognito, till a fair opportunity should offer for my emerging out of darkness; but my lady Prosperity decked herself in her richest attire, and openly resided among the Christians, who were so ravished with her excellent beauties, that he was deemed the most happy man who could prevail with her excellency to take up her lodging in his house. Her ladyship, you know, is not to be won by every one who addresses her; here she acted according to previous instructions, and made free with the bishop's house, as best suited to our purpose.

Wonderful were the works which she performed there; for at her first arrival the bishop was no more than a plain honest man, having but one congregation in his diocese; but first she created him, Reverent; then, His Lordship; then, His Grace; and after that, His Holiness, &c. Indeed the vast dominion and immense revenues which she conferred on him, so swelled the haughty prelate, that not contented with the honours then possessed, he claimed dominion over all as the father of the whole world. Even this was short of giving content, unless he should also reign over heaven and hell; therefore he hath seized the gates of both, and lets in and out just whom he pleases. Nothing short of arrogating to himself the prerogatives of the Almighty, could satisfy his ambition, such as his holiness, infallibility, supremacy, &c. The devil himself never aimed at higher things. In the mean while her ladyship at her leisure hours waited on those who were of any account among the Christians, who for the most part had nothing of Christianity but the name. indeed were firmly attached to Immanuel, who could not be bribed even by her largest offers; but their number was comparatively small. Seeing the progress which Prosperity made, they went about the streets complaining in some such words as these: "This harlot Prosperity will be the ruin of Christianity."

Some

In process of time I was sent for to the bishop's court, he being entirely reconciled to me. The worthy prelate received me with all the reverence due to my person, and laid before me a beloved scheme which he had designed, and of which he desired my opinion.

Having maturely digested his plan, I replied, Worthy and self-adoring sir, has your holiness power sufficient to defend your deityship, providing your divinity should be called in question?" To which his holiness replied, "Yes, yes, yes, I have--I have---There are several potent princes who will conspire to make me omnipotent. They will spend their substance---depopulate their dominions---destroy their bodies, damn their own souls, and the souls of their subjects, in defence of my godhead.