CATHOLIC MAGAZINE,

For June, 1812.

THE POPE.

Many false prophets shall arise and deceive many. Matt. xxiv. 11.

The Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets. Chron. xviii. p. 22.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

MALE and female false prophets about the downfal of the Pope, or the entire annihilation of Popery, are, ever since the reformation in church concerns, swarming in England. A whole volume of those wonderful productions in nature is printed, including children of both sexes, from the age of five years and upwards; and, wonderful to relate, they all agree in foretelling the downfal of the Pope and the annihilation of Popery. I have tried to go through the reading of it, but my patience was exhausted by its nonsense, before I had read a tenth part.

Moore's almanac owes the success of its extensive circulation, to foretelling or prophecying every year, for more than two centuries, the entire annihilation of Popery; so that ever since the times of Henry VIII. prophecying has been a lucrative speculation in this country. Modern prophetesses seem now to have the ascendancy over the prophets. Johanna Southcote; Mary Bateman, her partner in that lucrative trade, and who was lately hanged ;* Marga

*They both sold many hundreds of seals, or free passes to Heaven, at one guinea a piece.