HE SPARKS 
 
 LIBRARY. 
 
 [MISCELLANY.] 
 Collected by 
 
 JARED Sparks, LL. D., 
 
 President of Harvard College. 
 
 Purchased by the Cornell University, 
 
 1872. 
 
nri T^..^ Cornell University Library 
 PR 5169.P8B5 1856 
 
 Bigotry; a satire, in hudibrastic verse, 
 
 3 1924 013 535 343 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013535343 
 
§igijtrg: a Satire, 
 
 |ii Jttbikastic f trse. 
 
 By GEORGE PHILLIPS, 
 
 AutTior of " Scriptural Reasonitigs m support of the Jewish Claims 
 
 to sit in the Commons House of Parliament," 
 
 and other Works. 
 
 WITH NOTES EXPLANATOEY, HISTORICAL, AND 
 CORROBORATIVE. 
 
 Speak of me as I am ; nought extenuate, nor set down aught in malice. — Shaksfere. 
 
 Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put 
 away from you, with all malice ; and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted 
 forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you. — Paul 
 
 THE APOSTLE. 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 LONDON: 
 PARTRIDGE AND CO., PATERNOSTER ROW. 
 
 1856. 
 
TO lUE 
 
 EIGHT HONOURABLE DAVID SALOMONS, 
 
 LORD MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LONDON, 
 
 ARE DEDICATED BY PERMISSION 
 
 THESE ESSAYS: 
 
 INTENDED TO PROMOTE 
 
 THE EXERCISE OF 
 
 PHILANTHROPY AND BENEVOLENCE, 
 
 AND TO INCULCATE 
 
 CHARITY AND FORBEARANCE 
 
 AMONG ALL CLASSES OF THE 
 
 HUMAN FAMILY, 
 
 IN THE PROFESSION AND PRACTICE OF 
 
 FAITH AND OPINION. 
 
 May \st 1856. 
 
Irelttbf. 
 
 GOD is Love ! Such, is the key-note of our harmony : 
 however imperfectly the chords are adjusted and 
 maintained ; so far as the sentiments are in unison 
 with the Sacred Word, may response be made in the 
 hearts of the Meek, the Merciful, and the Peace- 
 makers ; such as hunger and thirst after righteous- 
 ness, the result of hallowed feelings ; may these be 
 seen to vibrate in their conduct and conversation, in 
 accordance with the mind of Him, who went about 
 doing good, leaving tis an example that we should 
 follow his steps ; the love of God inspiring that we 
 may do the will of Christ our Master ; and this is the 
 love of God, that we keep His commandments. 
 
 To all, of every name and creed who love Our Lord 
 Jesus Christ in sincerity, this humble attempt to pro- 
 mote " Peace on earth, good-will among men, and to 
 give glory to God in the highest," is respectfully and 
 affectionately inscribed by 
 
 THE AUTHOE. 
 July, 1855. 
 
fiplinj: a ^atk^. 
 
 IN HUDIBRASTIC VERSE. 
 
 WANDERING crewliile with slow-drawn feet, 
 
 To seek a shelter from the heat. 
 
 And turmoil of this world's affairs. 
 
 Its pleasures, vanities and cares ; 
 
 Directed by celestial ray. 
 
 Through paths obscure and rugged way. 
 
 My Aveary steps were led to stray. 
 
 Where brother j)ilgrims held abode. 
 
 All travelling the self-same road ; 
 
 The narrow way that leads to God : 
 
 I found a welcome and a home ; 
 
 And now well pleased, no more to roam. 
 
 In hope rejoicing, and in peace, 
 
 I wait my gracious Lord's release ; 
 
 His will, the fiat to my heart. 
 
 Whether to stay or to depart. 
 
 How sweet the hour of early prime, 
 When nature freshens ; how sublime 
 The chaste clear blue of Eastern skies, 
 As the young rays of morn arise ; 
 And grateful thoughts, beam on the soul 
 Emerging from a night of dole : 
 
So raptured glows the mental sight. 
 When gladdening beams of sacred light 
 Illuminate the darkened breast, 
 In those first hours of heavenly rest. 
 When drawn away from earth and sense. 
 The soul subdued, no longer thence 
 Seeks satisfaction, but would soar 
 To Heaven's illimitable shore ; 
 There, eagle-winged, rise into day. 
 And fired with seraph-zeal hold way. 
 Aspiring to the sacred zone. 
 To seek communion at the throne. 
 With Him, the Man who sits thereon. 
 The Lamb of God, the Holy One. 
 
 But lessons, difficult and stern, 
 
 A wayward heart is called to learn ; 
 
 Probation is our task below ; 
 
 To lead the heart herself to know, 
 
 If faith give fruit from hallowed seed. 
 
 Glory, the practice and the meed : 
 
 The armour polished, clean and bright. 
 Braced blithely on, before the night, 
 May in the battle-field be soiled. 
 The combatant struck down and foiled. 
 Though gallant in the fight he toiled ; 
 Self-confidence may ride along. 
 And enter conflict with a song, 
 Discretion best becomes the brave. 
 True courage is not gay, but grave ; 
 He who with sin maintains a strife 
 And combats passions ever rife. 
 Need be bound up with Christ in life ; 
 
In Christ, the glory of his choice. 
 Trembling, he bids his heart rejoice. 
 And lifts to God a tuneful voice. 
 
 The roof-tree sanctified by grace, 
 
 Love constitutes a sacred place ; 
 
 Devotion animates the flame. 
 
 And one in sentiment and name. 
 
 Their faith and friendship, hand in hand. 
 
 The gentle inmates truthful stand 
 
 In fellowship, a holy band : 
 
 At distance stands another fane 
 
 In the broad square ; this in the lane ; 
 
 There, graceful, like a lambent fire. 
 
 Aloft appears the tapered spire. 
 
 Or swells majestic the proud dome ; 
 
 Humble this place, a modest home ; 
 
 There, mitres, scarfs, and croziers shine, 
 
 And pompous ritual, called divine ; 
 
 Pontiffs or priests lead worship there ; 
 
 That, saint's or angel's name must bear ; 
 
 This Scripture-named " The House of Prayer : 
 
 One Shepherd governs either flock. 
 Both know His voice, and though the rock 
 They pasture round, shows varied face, 
 'Tis the same rock ; although their place 
 Be far apart, 'tis the same mead. 
 Though seeking far apart their feed ; 
 They drink not in the self-same brook. 
 Yet to the Shepherd's eye they look ; 
 They flee the stranger, but His name 
 They know, to save his sheep he came ; 
 To seek the wanderers, bear their shame. 
 
Alas ! that difference of rite 
 
 Should christian brethren disunite ; 
 
 Leading to enmities and strife 
 
 To break the bonds of christian life ; 
 
 Antagonistic creeds and notions 
 
 Prove germs of envious emotions ; 
 
 And — -what is done — and — what is thought — 
 
 When to a diverse judgment brought 
 
 Goad on the mind^ with malice fraught. 
 
 To zealot venom and contention. 
 
 And bigot-hatred and dissension. 
 
 What changes pass beneath the sun ! 
 
 " See how these christians love," said one ; 
 
 How what confusion and debate ; 
 
 *' See how these zealot-christians hate ;" 
 
 Alas ! the tongue no man can tame, 
 
 A deadly evil full of shame. 
 
 Dh ! simple truths that Jesus spake. 
 
 Were but the mind to truth awake ; 
 
 Did the Good Spirit but impart 
 
 An honest credence to the heart. 
 
 And grace to act the christian part. 
 
 Hear what the " Faithfal Witness" saith 
 
 To church of old ; " I know thy faith 
 
 " Hath borne and laboured ; yet saith he 
 
 " Though with thy faith thy works agree, 
 
 " Yet have I somewhat against thee, 
 
 *' Because thy first love thou hast left; 
 
 " Repent ; for if I come, bereft 
 
 " Of name and place thou shalt be found 
 
 " Like tinkling brass, an empty sound." 
 
 Say ! how shall love to God be shown ? 
 How shall a christian love be known ? 
 
Ill neiglibour's good sought as thine own ; 
 
 In meek forbearance with a brother ; 
 
 And in kind deference for another. 
 
 Whose pliant judgment though not strong, 
 
 May to a true-born faith belong : 
 
 Lest ye be judged, do not judge. 
 
 Said gentle Jesus ; bear no grudge 
 
 Nor envy, nor dislike maintain 
 
 May give a fellow-christian pain ; 
 
 Hast thou a light of brighter ray 
 
 Vouchsafed to thee ? scorn not his day 
 
 In mist obscured ; though dull the beam, 
 
 And faint the influence may seem ; 
 
 Yet doth the self-same power impart 
 
 The glimpse of credence to his heart 
 
 That in fall brightness lights thy soul ; 
 
 Christ not divided, but Christ whole. 
 
 But who my neighbour ? Everyone, 
 
 Breathing mth thee beneath the sun ; 
 
 What saith the scripture ? There's the sway 
 
 Should govern all in gospel-day. 
 
 Now wait awhile ! Do you pretend 
 
 We should not earnestly contend. 
 
 And zealously the faith defend. 
 
 As once delivered to the saints ? 
 
 Surely, defend ! but not with taints. 
 
 Of rivalry or fierce evasion. 
 
 But emulate with grave elation ; 
 
 Not to usurp austere dominion 
 
 Of thought, and other men's opinion : 
 
 Defend the faith ! Yes ! which the prime 
 
 Of precepts, both in point of time 
 
 And quality of God-like worth 
 
 Bequeathed by God in Christ on earth ? 
 
10 
 
 " A new commandment^ friends, I give ; 
 
 " As I have loved, wliile you live 
 
 " Love one anotlicr ; then shall know 
 
 " All men, if mutual dove shall glow, 
 
 " Ye are disciples worthy me ; 
 
 " If faith, and hope and love agree :" 
 
 Let faith and practice mutual shine. 
 
 All shall concede the faith divine, 
 
 A golden rule to guide the mind 
 
 The Saviour gives ; " To good inclined, 
 
 " As you expect, or wish a brother 
 
 " Should do to you, do to another ; 
 
 " As thine ownself, so love thy neighbour 
 
 " And cheerful aid in care or labour." 
 
 Oh ! for a faithful mind and pen. 
 To plead for love with Christian Men, 
 Though not accordant, mind and word. 
 Yet to live loving, like their Lord, 
 Nor bear the sceptre, nor the sword. 
 Would that I might display the colours. 
 The habits, elements, and odours. 
 Of zeal intemperate, undue. 
 Mistaken often for the true ; 
 Might strip the pride of bigotry ; 
 Curb disputative sophistry. 
 And show their crude deformity : 
 Then to compare the mind elate 
 With morbid thoughts inordinate ; 
 Show niggard selfishness her aim 
 To intercept all other claim 
 To privilege, yet hold her own ; 
 None favoured but herself alone; 
 Self-love, self-will, and self-conceit. 
 Make a saint-egotist complete. 
 
11 
 
 Oh ! for the purity once known. 
 
 When at one table all sat down ; 
 
 Not equal light on all bestowed. 
 
 Yet love through every bosom flowed ; 
 
 Not all endowed with equal grace. 
 
 Yet all beheld the Saviour's face ; 
 
 So equal beams the golden ray 
 
 On herb and tree throughout the day ; 
 
 The modest daisy lifts her eye 
 
 In grateful homage to the sky ; 
 
 The rose, fall-dressed, in pride expands, 
 
 Trees yielding fruit, put forth their hands. 
 
 Creation smiles to His commands 
 
 Who bade the stars their circuits run. 
 
 Who blessed the earth, and gave the sun 
 
 To rule the day ; and through the night 
 
 Ordained the moon to shed her light ; 
 
 Cold rocks respond in cheerful tone. 
 
 Illumined by the mid-day zone ; 
 
 The hills rejoice, the meads are rife 
 
 With happiness ; and things of life. 
 
 Exulting in the summer sheen. 
 
 Rejoice beneath the cheerful beam. 
 
 And animation throngs the green ; 
 
 Nature reveals thy glorious face 
 
 Thou God of nature, God of grace. 
 
 To Heaven I look — Blessed Spirit, deign 
 To aid my verse : then not in vain 
 My verse shall Christian love sustain ; 
 Then bigotry disgraced shall hide. 
 And shame confound assumptive pride. 
 And Christians imitate their Saviour 
 In look and word and kind behaviour. 
 
Tlic circumscribed, ignoble mind. 
 Her zeal, irrational, purblind. 
 With microscopic eye surveys 
 Her fellow minds, but not to praise ; 
 Gathers rough birch, but rarely bays. 
 Deals censure with unsparing tongue. 
 Small commendation in her song. 
 And yet, when men and minds present. 
 Seldom may truth pay compliment ; 
 As face to face in water, verse 
 Should every feature plain rehearse ; 
 If lights abound, the gentle face 
 Will clear display her native grace ; 
 If darker passions are expressed. 
 The truthful pen may be distressed. 
 She may not fuller grace invest. 
 Fearing the portrait may oifend ; 
 Yet dignified, will not descend 
 By flattering tints to hide the blot. 
 And paint that fair, which fair is not. 
 
 The wondrous kingdoms of God's reign. 
 Reciprocal, his will exjjlain ; 
 One great unintermitting chain 
 Binds all the symbols of his power 
 Throughout all time, the mortal hour 
 One with eternity ; a thousand years 
 To Him but as a day appears ; 
 Yet would our twinkling speck of sight. 
 Fleet as the igneous spark at night. 
 As fleet, and evanescent too. 
 Presume a comprehensive view 
 Of truth, and claim to hold control 
 Over a Christian brother's soul. 
 
13 
 
 And Christian charity deny, 
 Sunk in the night of bigotry. 
 
 Truth holds her mirror to the day ; 
 One steadfast looks upon the ray ; 
 Another, glimmering, views the blaze ; 
 A third regards, with dubious gaze. 
 Cold pride demurs, proud will debates ; 
 Reason, with smiles, investigates. 
 While faith accepts the welcome traits. 
 Unravelling the intricate maze. 
 That hides the Godhead and his ways ; 
 But faith, if bound with stoic zeal. 
 Unmoved, nor joy, nor grief to feel. 
 As copper blank before the type 
 Is blank in commerce ; so unripe 
 Is faith, like fruit in sunless places 
 Pure golden faith shows royal face. 
 And current coin, bears marks of grace ; 
 But faith inert, a refuse heap. 
 Lays like the human frame in sleep ; 
 Strength is depicted in a corse ; 
 There are the limbs, btit where the -force ? 
 
 But other symbols take, to show 
 By evidence of what we know 
 In nature, as we just have said. 
 An object to the mind displayed. 
 By transcript mentally pourtrayed : 
 Look at this scorpion ! mind the sting, 
 'Tis an unquiet, spiteful thing ; 
 Round the foul reptile scribe a ring ; 
 Dark let the colour be, of blood. 
 Or better may be, black like mud ; 
 
14 
 
 'Tis true, such words are not refined. 
 
 But abject worm or turbid mind 
 
 Are best by turbid words defined ;. 
 
 Either will designate the spirit 
 
 Of the raven creature in it ; 
 
 Both emblems o£ untempered zeal. 
 
 Insatiate, which bigots feel. 
 
 As fire and water harden steel :• 
 
 Now observe the reptile action. 
 
 Turbulent as party faction ; 
 
 Ever groping, seeking, prying-,. 
 
 Sly surmisings, never dying ; 
 
 As the dog in jEsop's fable. 
 
 Snugly pent in foddered stable. 
 
 Heeded not the food himself ; 
 
 But, as miser with his pelf. 
 
 Fondly gazing, counts his coin. 
 
 So the dog sat on the foin : 
 
 Doctors will thus indoctrinate, 
 
 And moody, gloze on church and state ;; 
 
 Denouncing all without the pale, 
 
 Opinionists of no avail. 
 
 In danger of -eternal wail : 
 
 Then sectarists claim an equal right,. 
 And for their creeds do all but fight ; 
 Say those in surplice, gown, and band,. 
 " Our apostolic church thus teaches ;" 
 More simple, these on either han^, 
 " Our minister this doctrine preaches."" 
 Infallibility none claim. 
 Yet hold the thought without the name j 
 Stern, self-sufficient, would defend 
 Each one his doctrine to the end ; 
 
15 
 
 And pertinacious to his crotchet. 
 Would sit repulsory and watch it : 
 So scowls malignant the foul worm. 
 Whose nature typifies the germ 
 Of venomed thoughts which bloat the mind. 
 To bigot-sentiments inclined ; 
 Contracted in his dingy ring. 
 The leaden-hearted, surly thing, 
 Broods corrugant, in vicious humour. 
 Prepared to burst, like angry tumor : 
 Thus eager zealots, in their ire, 
 Blaze vi et armis forth, like fire, 
 Like wrathful brands defend a name. 
 And argument by sword and flame ; 
 Would hurl destruction on their foes. 
 By words vituperate, or blows : 
 
 The bigot, crouched within his cell, — 
 As tortoise underneath her shell, 
 Esteems the soil she gazes on, 
 A universe, and all her own — 
 So the type reptile in his bed. 
 His feet twined round his hateful head ; 
 He bloated lives, though all were dead ; 
 With eyes askaunt, the monster blinks 
 On all who think not as he thinks ; 
 But here the antitype we paint. 
 The reptile pictured in the saint; 
 The pseudo-saint we should have said. 
 So let the sentiment be read : 
 Saint ! the most noble title given 
 To man on earth by God in heaven ; 
 Let none, then, shamelessly profane 
 The word, nor heedlessly disdain 
 
16 
 
 The favoured one, the " set apart," 
 
 Renewed in nature and in heart ; 
 
 Enrolled in canons of the sky. 
 
 Entitled to a seat on high. 
 
 Humble in spirit, meek his ways. 
 
 To God he consecrates his days. 
 
 And Scripture-taught, gives Scripture-praise. 
 
 But, say the schoolmen, there are found 
 In Scripture much of neutral ground. 
 Where disputants upon the text. 
 When creeds and systems seem perplexed. 
 And common sense gets sorely vexed ; 
 Like combatants may take their stand. 
 And parry, carte et tierce, the brand ; 
 " Good sense and reason were not given 
 " That men should blindfold go to heaven ; 
 " Bread is not made without a leaven :" 
 List to the man ! though deaf and blind. 
 He claims " integrity of mind ;" 
 Assumes the rank of power innate 
 To reason and investigate ; 
 But reason is not underived. 
 For man of reason stood deprived 
 When innocence,with judgment fled. 
 The understanding, dark or dead; 
 When Eve, presiimptuous, ate the food. 
 And evil chose to be her good ; 
 When Adam joined her in the sin. 
 And rendered all his race unclean ; 
 The heart depraved, the stubborn will. 
 To good averse, inclined to ill. 
 And wayward, choosing evil still. 
 
17 
 
 Say to the dead — rise Up and live ; 
 They lieed not ; canst tliou reason give, 
 "Wliere madness holds the wildered brain ? 
 Madness, deemed pleasure, not a pain ; 
 A wandering thought, a raving lip : 
 Mind fettered like an ice-bound ship. 
 In frozen billows of the deep ; 
 Such is fallen reason — a death sleejp : — 
 There's semblance of pure Avaters flowing. 
 And there the vessel, fair winds blowing ; 
 Yard arms are braced, the canvas spread. 
 The decks are manned, but all are dead : 
 The rudder frozen to the wheel ; 
 The hull transfixed from line to keel ; 
 The pennon lifeless in the blast. 
 Clung, like a death-shroud, to the mast ; 
 She looks, from stem to stern, " All well," 
 But none alive " What cheer" to tell : 
 
 Such is vain man, and such his state ; 
 Like a good ship— in pride elate. 
 She rises gallant from the main. 
 Impervious deemed to wind and rain ; 
 Sailing in pomp, a thing of power. 
 Unconscious of the stormy hour. 
 Until, in hurricane or gale. 
 To leeward borne, and torn the sail. 
 The compass broken, anchor lost, 
 The bark on shore is rudely tost ; 
 Or cast upon the sunken rock. 
 Or strikes the bar with sudden shock. 
 Or foundering in the deep sea-wave. 
 The brave ship with the seamen brave. 
 Lie buried in their ocean grave. 
 
18 
 
 But as the eye receives the ray, 
 
 And gives tlie mind a mental day. 
 
 So reason is the eye of soul. 
 
 Yet subject to the will's control, 
 
 'Tis wine gives value to the bowl ; 
 
 Reason and will ! sad guides to lead. 
 
 Where folly and presumption plead : 
 
 For pride, and prejudice, ambition. 
 
 Hold rival notions in derision ; 
 
 And adverse judgments in misprision ; 
 
 The will commands, and these obey. 
 
 For will hath ever found a way. 
 
 Although stern conscience should say — ^nay ! 
 
 It hath been said, and not said ill, 9 
 
 He that's convinced against his will 
 
 Is of the same opinion still : 
 
 Like achromatic glass at night 
 
 In darkness. Bigotry finds light 
 
 But reverts objects to the sight: 
 
 Conviction governs not, but pride. 
 
 When prejudice and will preside : 
 
 If vanity should domineer. 
 
 Or passion take the helm to steer. 
 
 Before the wind, borne on the tide. 
 
 Pleasure's gay burthen floats along. 
 
 Like the free cadence of a song ; 
 
 In vain would prudence seek to guide ; 
 
 Reason and will on board with pride. 
 
 When pleasure wildly takes her flight. 
 
 Vainly discretion calls — " alight." 
 
 She holds no leash that may restrain 
 
 The coistrel, pleasure, in her train. 10 
 
 Pleasure stilk sings her own refrain : 
 
19 
 
 Frail Reason then, or blind or dead, 
 And stubborn will may not be led. 
 How shall the mind to truth attain. 
 Since human knowledge is in Tain ? 
 The wise man saith, " It is no gain, 
 *' For in much wisdom is much grief, 
 " And knowledge but increaseth sorrow, 
 " Labour stiU findeth no relief, 
 *' For as the day, so is the morrow." 
 
 Since then, it is not found in man 
 That walketh, to devise the plan. 
 Which manifests the pleasant way. 
 May guide the footsteps, lest they stray : 
 Who may the narrow path make known. 
 That leads direct to wisdom's throne ? 
 
 Be humble ! if thou wouldst discern 
 
 The way of truth and wisdom learn : 
 
 Abase thyself! the posture meet 
 
 For learners is at Jesu's feet; 
 
 Humility ! the golden rule 
 
 'Scribed on the porch of wisdom's school: 
 
 Deny thyself! and take thy cross. 
 
 And count all other things but dross 
 
 When numbered with the precious name 
 
 Of Him, who self-denying came. 
 
 To teach thee truth, and bear thy shame : 
 
 "" And say not, who shall mount above 
 
 ■" To bring us tidings of God's love ? 
 
 *' Or who shall venture in the deep, 
 
 " To bring up Christ from those who sleep 1 
 
 " The word is nigh thee, plainly spoken, 
 
 *' By him whose word cannot be broken :" 
 
20 
 
 Dost thou plead guilty, conscience-smitten. 
 
 Deep in thy heart the word is written. 
 
 Here read the lines, " If thou believe 
 
 " And in simplicity receive 
 
 " The truth, and with thy mouth confess, 
 
 " Believing unto righteousness, 
 
 " That God raised Jesus from the dead," 
 
 " As Jesus had aforetime said, 
 
 " And in his name hast mercy craved, 
 
 " On Jesus call, thou shalt be saved." 11 
 
 On Jesus call ! a priest exclaims. 
 
 Our church such pert presumption blames : 
 
 Vile sinner, call upon some saint. 
 
 Or on the virgin ! this in paint. 
 
 Or that in stone to intercede. 
 
 Or ask some priest in case of need ; 
 
 No sinner for himself should jplead : 
 
 Sir priest ! forbear to lead astray, 
 Christ saith, " I am the truth, the way," 
 " I ara the life, who call on me 
 " For mercy, shall his mercy see :" 
 Sinner, though ruined, lost, undone. 
 The scriptures call. Hear God the Son, 
 " Come, whosoever, everyone," 
 " Ho ! everyone that thirsteth, come." 
 
 Two priests present, the one from Rome, 
 The other comes much nearer home, 
 Both apostolic in their creed ; 
 Both sing Te Deum as their meed ; 
 Both, right divine assume and plead : 
 A — claims infallibility ! 
 In his intractability. 
 Does he profess humility ? 
 
21 
 
 With, bold ostent he dares to vie. 
 
 In holiness and majesty, 
 
 "With God the Ruler of the sky ; 
 
 In God's own temple takes his place, 13 
 
 Vice-regent to dispend his grace ; 
 
 Dares to absolve the soul from crime 
 
 Or in eternity or time ; 
 
 With Satan's power in lying wonders 
 
 He issues forth unrighteous thunders ; 
 
 And scarlet dressed, with scarlet shame. 
 
 Sitting as God, blasphemes His name. 
 
 While worshippers in scarlet, bow. 
 
 To " Mystery" scribed on his brow, 13 
 
 And prostate, kiss the rubied toe. 14 
 
 B pleads continuous succession 
 Apostolic, in due progression. 
 Through hands whose errors he abjures 
 As antichrist, which death ensures. 
 Papistic hands, whose condemnation 
 Is sealed in Transubstantiation, 
 Exploded at tbe Reformation ; 
 Pretence, that virtually denies, 
 Christ, and His finished sacrifice : 
 So power is claimed by imposition. 
 After negation and contrition — 
 Of papal hands, at papal shrine, 
 Beatified, and called divine ; 
 Wbere hangs a figured Christ in wood. 
 Or crucifix, or holy rood. 
 So called ; in plaister, wood, or stone ; 
 Or carved in ivory or bone : 
 From sinful heart, and sinful hands, 
 B 
 
Absolved from guilt, and guilty bands. 
 
 By sinner freed, the sinner stands : 
 
 A solemn mockery ! to dare 
 
 With hands polluted to compare 
 
 The influence of Holy Diction, 
 
 With ceremonial and fiction; 
 
 To substitute for spirit-unction 
 
 Priest-absolution and compunction : 
 
 So ran the turbid stream of yore ; 
 
 But for two hundred years or more, 
 
 Influence is estimated given. 
 
 Through hands episcopal by Heaven ; 
 
 God's power imparted, clothes the priest 
 
 With God's prerogative ; at least. 
 
 So run the words, " They are forgiven 
 
 " Whose sins thou dost remit, for Heaven, 
 
 " By our uplifted hands, hath blessed 15 
 
 " The man whom we ordain a priest, 
 
 " To minister the gospel-feast." 
 
 Thus saith Jehovah ! " As I live, 16 
 
 " My glory I will never give 
 
 " To other. By myself I swear, 
 
 " The impious mortal who shall dare 
 
 " To bow the head, or bend the knee, 
 
 " To any other one than me : 
 
 " Or supplicate in any sense 
 
 " For grace ; or seek on vain pretence, 
 
 " For aid from any form or feature, 
 
 " Derived from heaven or earth ; a creature j 
 
 " That soul shall die ; I am alone ; 
 
 " The Sacred Thi-ee ; the Holy One." 
 
 Doctrine idolatrous, and deed. 
 
 Are here denounced ; the law decreed ; 
 
Sentence is passed ; what shall prevent 
 
 Their everlasting punishment? 
 
 Beware of Bigotry ! the plea, 
 
 A Saviour left for these and thee ; 
 
 For all, is one, " Christ died for me :'* , 
 
 All glory to a dying Lord ; 
 
 The gracious voice is on record 
 
 For such as these, in Christ's own word ; 
 
 " All blasphemy and sinful leaven, 17 
 
 " Of words profane shall be forgiven 
 
 " The sons of men ; who plead the blood 
 
 " Of Jesus Christ, the Son of God ; 
 
 " And by His spirit taught, seek grace, 
 
 " Through Christ to see the Father's face ;" 
 
 In smiles benign their prayers he hears ; 
 
 Their self-convicted hearts he cheers ; 
 
 And pardons all their guilty fears : 
 
 Ah ! should God mark our thoughts and words. 
 
 Without the grace that blood aiFords ; 
 
 Our heedlessness and sinfal deeds. 
 
 Without that mercy which exceeds 
 
 The utmost of man's mental ken 
 
 To image forth, God's love to men ; 
 
 What mortal could before him stand 
 
 Or hope for place at Christ's right hand ? 
 
 Misguided worshippers, who bend 
 To other than the Sinners Friend ! 
 Never, dear Saviour ! let me be 
 Severed by any one from Thee ; 
 While to Thy cross by faith I cling, 
 No merits of my own I bring : 
 No sinner righteousness excels ; 
 In Christ alone all fulness dwells : 
 
24 
 
 Yet spare them Bigotry ! they love, 
 Though blinded, in bye-paths they rove ; 
 Though led astray by bell and book. 
 Are superstitious, taught to look 
 On idle symbols and inventions. 
 And -wily men's absurd pretentions ; 
 Blind leaders of the blind, who lead 
 Their silly sheep to take their feed. 
 Not by the Rock in gospel-mead 
 Where living fountain water springs. 
 But to the den of hateful things ; 
 Where broken cisterns dark and dry. 
 Polluted, can yield no supply. 
 
 But zeal intemperate, unkind ; 
 
 Malicious, persecuting, blind j 
 
 Looms in remote historic page. 
 
 Anterior to the Christian age ; 
 
 So reason's martyr, died the sage : 
 
 Philosophers, great love pretended 
 
 To wisdom ; yet in wrath defended 
 
 Their dogma, and to death convey 
 
 The rival, more acute than they ; 
 
 And doomed the Athenian to die, 18 
 
 Who taught the soul's eternity, 
 
 A philosophic Bigotry — 
 
 Judged him to drink the poisoned bowl 
 
 Who God inspired, proclaimed the soul 
 
 Immortal rising to the gods. 
 
 To share the heaven of their abodes ; 
 
 And over these. One Great Supreme, 
 
 Who leads by influence or dream 
 
 The mind to walk in wisdom's way. 
 
25 
 
 And virtuous dictates to obey : 
 
 So saith the Book ! the Gentile law 
 
 Is in their hearts ; and if no flaw 
 
 Or breach be made, their thoughts excuse. 
 
 Else conscience speaking will accuse ; 
 
 Conscience, God's witness unto them. 
 
 To justify, or to condemn : 
 
 Yet, when before the Judgment Throne, 
 
 The secrets of all hearts are known. 
 
 And every thought proclaimed abroad ; 
 
 All shall plead guilty before God ; 
 
 Jew, Greek, and Gentile, lost in sin ; 
 
 A leprous race, without, within ; 
 
 Children of clay, allied to earth. 
 
 Through life polluted, and by birth ; 
 
 What shall for these to God atone ? 
 
 The blood of Jesus Christ alone ; 19 
 
 God hath declared, " He knows his own." 
 
 Can this be so ? They never knew 
 
 A Saviour ; nor obtained a view 
 
 Of Calvary, where blood was spilt. 
 
 May purge the foulest heart from guilt ; 
 
 The glory on the cross is built — 
 
 Woidd Bigotry deny the claim 
 Of all but men of Christian name. 
 To share in mercy through the cross ? 
 No ! Jesus shall not suffer loss 
 Of honour ; or the due renown 
 Of any gem that on His crown 
 Should shine ; since every virtue found 
 On Christian, or on heathen ground. 
 However small, or faint the sound 
 
26 
 
 Of kindliness, that fills the voice. 
 
 And gives the sufferer to rejoice. 
 
 To comfort mourners in distress. 
 
 The widow and the fatherless ; 
 
 Proceeds from Him who made the choicCj 
 
 "Where His good spirit should possess 
 
 The humble heart with rightfulness. 
 
 And favour nature by His grace : 
 
 Pre-eminence, our Christ must have 
 
 "With sylvan, savage and with slave; 
 
 Ignorance, must her tribute bring. 
 
 And knowledge magnify her king ; 
 
 Jesus shall triumph o'er his foe. 
 
 And Satan shall his justice know. 
 
 And trembling, see Christ's kingdom spread. 
 
 Triumphant o'er his bruised head. 
 
 And souls renewed rise from the dead ; 
 
 The chosen ones from every clime. 
 
 And name and creed, throughout all time. 
 
 Nations, and peoples, kindreds, tongues, 
 
 Kedeemed, shall join their million songs, 
 
 " Salvation to our God belongs :" 
 
 God rules supreme o'er time and space ; 
 
 Unless the Father give his grace. 
 
 No moral energy finds place ; 
 
 Virtue in temper, or in mood. 
 
 Is not confined in latitude ; 
 
 Extended, love will fill the heart | 
 
 If feeble, to the pulse impart 
 
 Motion, just indicating life. 
 
 Morbid, and not engendering strife. 
 
 Yet, like the heat of latent fire. 
 
 Kindling no flame ; a cold desire. 
 
27 
 
 Like to the diamond in the mine, 
 A diamond, though of little shine ; 
 Yet the weak lustre is divine : 
 
 Might we not ask, if all who know 
 And love the Lord ; find equal glow 
 Of heart to all who love the Saviour ? 
 Shining in word and kind behaviour 
 To brethren of Christian name. 
 Whether like creed, or creed the same ; 
 Expecting when the holy gate 
 Is open, none shall bid them wait. 
 But all shall enter to that rest. 
 One chosen company ; all blessed : 
 While here, in divers colours dressed ; 
 But summoned to the feast above. 
 Clothed in white robes the Saviour Avove ; 
 One shining band around the board. 
 Shall sit for ever with their Lord ; 
 Reproach not then with haughty brow ; 
 " Stand back ; I'm holier than thou." 
 
 If ye love me, the Saviour said. 
 
 Keep my commandments ; and the bread 
 
 He blessed; and took the cup of wine. 
 
 And instituted rite divine ; 
 
 " Do this, he said, till time shall end, 
 
 " In memory of your dying friend," 
 
 A feast of Love. Can Satan find. 
 
 Even here, a plea to snare the mind ; 
 
 To instigate a zealot pride. 
 
 And kindle wrath on either side. 
 
 In Christians for whom Jesus died ? 
 
Alas ! even here, dark spirits lour. 
 
 Here, may be found a demon power ; 
 
 WMle Christian brethren lay a stress, 
 
 On dicipline, not righteousness ; 
 
 And stipulate, one siding way 20 
 
 To gain admittance ; rigid say. 
 
 The precept and example too. 
 
 Point out what Christian men should do ; 
 
 Produce the precept from the word. 
 
 And prove example from their Lord ; 
 
 Water alone, the Scripture saith. 
 
 Is evidence of Christian faith : 
 
 Though strong in faith, the Lord he know. 
 
 Though strong his love to Calvary glow. 
 
 Unless to Enon's stream he go. 
 
 Unwashed, the leper must remain 
 
 Apart, there's still the leprous stain ; 
 
 Though Christ unloose the legion chain. 
 
 Clothed, in right mind, and free from shame. 
 
 Redeemed, and bearing Christian name. 
 
 Still among tombs the man must roam ; 
 
 None may invite the stranger home. 
 
 Others find neither rite nor rule. 
 Yet sprinkle in the vestibule ; 
 By sponsors, answer for the creed. 
 Bound for the infants, thought and deed ; 
 Give pledge to God for righteous feeling, 
 Integrity of life, and dealing ; 
 Declare their hearts from sin set free. 
 Brought into gospel liberty ! 
 Regenerated, they attain 
 To righteousne"ss, assured to gain 
 
29 
 
 Eternal life. In early youth. 
 These are inculcated as truth. . 
 
 The catechist demands the name ; 
 " 'Tis M. — ^my sponsors gave the same 
 " In baptism, "when I was brought 
 " To God, and made — as I am taught, 
 " Member of Christ ; a child of God ; 
 " Inheritor of Heaven ; th.e road 
 " Then opened for me to the gate, 
 " Where Christ and holy angels wait, 
 " For such as keep God's law in this, 
 " To give me entrance into bliss ;" 
 The priest then sprinkled on my face 
 " Water, a sign of inward grace, 
 " Gave thanks to God that saved from wrath, 
 " I should become His child thenceforth ; 
 " Then signed my forehead with the sign, 
 " Should seal my heart to things divine •" 
 Thus I am taught that Heaven is mine : 
 
 Now Bigotry, plead thine own cause. 
 
 Issue is joined upon the laws ; 
 
 Give general issue on the case ; 
 
 Do those, or these God's will deface ? 
 
 Does the priest change the heart, or grace ? 
 
 May special plea be brought or found. 
 
 Or evidence, on Scripture ground. 
 
 To show in rituals so contrary. 
 
 Which from authority most vary ? 
 
 If those with Scripture truth agree. 
 
 In baptismal consistency ; 
 
 Or these commit a heresy ? 
 
30 
 
 'Twas the first great behest of power. 
 That Christ assumed in that dread hour 
 When agony his soul confessed. 
 And anguish writhed his labouring breast- 
 Yet steadfastly he kept His eye 
 Upon His work. He came to die — 
 " Father ! this bitter cup I take 
 " And drink it for my people's sake, 
 " Let Thy will, not my will be done, 
 " And thou shalt glorify Thy son ;" 
 No glarish ordonnance displayed. 
 No mitred priest in pomp arrayed ; 
 A humble table, cleanly spread ; 
 A cup of wine with household bread ; 
 With lifted eyes the blessing prayed : 
 
 Christ's dispensation is begun ; 
 The Jewish Paschal Lamb now done ; 
 Messiah suffers in its stead. 
 The seed to bruise the serpent's head. 
 Captivity is captive led. 
 No more the ram or bullock slain. 
 But precious blood from nobler vein ; 
 The Lamb of God, the gospel feast. 
 The victim, altar and the priest : 
 Simplicity marked deed and word ; 
 A blessing uttered and implored. 
 The Master lying at the board. 
 The loved disciple at His breast. 
 And loving words to all addressed ; 
 Such the grave scene of placid phase 
 Where angels reverential gaze. 
 In contemplation and amaze : 
 
ol 
 
 No-w from the quiet of that night. 
 Let us with onward time bear flight 
 Some centuries ; and take our stand. 
 Where cardinals and priests command 
 The pageantry of papal pride. 
 Beneath vast dome and chancel wide, 
 With sculptured saints on every side ; 
 Where marble altar, pictured pane. 
 And fables dight in ruby stain 
 Glimmer on ceremonials vain, 
 And mystify the untaught mind. 
 To superstitious thought inclined ; 
 As meteor lights to sight displayed. 
 But cast around a deeper shade. 
 The darkened soul yet darker made ; 
 
 To man alone these rites belong ; 
 
 All is fatuitous, the song, 
 
 Is chanted in an unknown tongue ; 
 
 The organ peals an empty sound ; 
 
 Voices effeminate abound ; 
 
 Priests bend before the idol stone. 
 
 Or wooden image to atone ; 
 
 In vain they bend with shaven crown. 
 
 No eye propitious looks down. 
 
 But Heaven regards with awful frown ; 
 
 So Baal prophets cried in vain. 
 
 Though cut with knives they cried in pain. 
 
 No voice was heard, the demon god. 
 
 Nor answered, or by look or nod ; 
 
 Till wrath sent forth the vengeful rod : 
 
 Again a host of priests ascend. 
 And low before the altar bend ; 
 
32 
 
 Again the organ peels a strain. 
 
 And songs of praise ascend again ; 
 
 Ascends a cloud of incense smoke. 
 
 Not God the Father to invoke. 
 
 But offered to the virgin-mother, 
 
 God's homage rendered to another ; 
 
 And prostrate to the idol paste, 
 
 Worship the bread, they dare not taste ; 23 
 
 Bells jingling on the ear denote 
 
 That ignorants should now devote 
 
 Especial -worship to the pyx. 
 
 And bow down to the crucifix. 
 
 Or to their saint pay adoration. 
 
 And seek from him, or her, salvation ; 
 
 Should kiss the wooden pax, and greet 24 
 
 The virgin mother ; and repeat 
 
 The paternoster many times. 
 
 As penitence for wilful crimes ; 
 
 Formalities addressed to sense, 
 
 A firaudful worship of pretence ; 
 
 Here Bigotry is rampant, fell ; 
 
 Savage ; the offspring imp of hell ; 
 
 Inflamed with persecuting ire 
 
 They doom their foes to endless fire ; 
 
 Beneath the wrath of papal frown. 
 
 In phrase too awful to write down. 
 
 Opponents curse from sole to crown : 25 
 
 Yet are among these devotees. 
 
 Some souls that seek the Lord to please. 
 
 And bend the heart on bended knees : 
 
 Seek in the superstitious rite, 
 
 A sin atonement infinite ; 
 
 Behold the Son of God incarnate j 
 
33 
 
 Who died to cleanse from sins of scarlet : 
 
 Yes, in these ruins may be found 
 
 Some jewelled names with, glory crowned ; 
 
 Thomas a Kempis — Ganganel — 26 
 
 With Blaize Pascal — Le Pere Quesnel — 
 
 Boudon — " Le Chretien Inconnu," 
 
 And Flechier and Bourdaloue, 
 
 Cambray's archbishop, Fenelon — 
 
 The Jesuit preacher, MassUlon — 
 
 Bossuet, L'Ev^que — Monsieur MaroUe — 
 
 Arnauld — the jansenist, NicoUe — 
 
 Savanarola, haK- convert. 
 
 He died for faith, though faith inert. 
 
 Yet, justified by faith, in flame 
 
 Died ; martyr for his Saviour's name 
 
 These plead Christ's merits, not their own. 
 
 Looking to Jesus to atone. 
 
 They trust His precious blood alone : 
 
 In God they trust, to Christ they look 
 
 In symbols ; might they read His book 
 
 And learn the simple gospel plan. 
 
 Devised by God for sinful man ; 
 
 And see the name emblazoned there. 
 
 The only name His lips declare — 
 
 Then would their vigils, fasts and prayer. 
 
 Teach bigot minds who scorn their zeal. 
 
 To mark their perseverance ; feel 
 
 Even such, exemplars to excite. 
 
 And -give devotion appetite ; 
 
 Might bring the bible-taught to shame. 
 
 Their energies for Jesus' name 
 
 So rarely burnt in equal flame ; 
 
o4 
 
 Vice in all grades the Spirit sees. 
 The pride of lofty Pharisees, 
 And haughtiness on bended knees ; 
 Or luke-warm heart, nor cold nor hot. 
 Which loves, as though she loved not ', 
 Better the pompous voice to rise. 
 Than apathy which pining lies. 
 Too indolent to lift her eyes ; 
 The hands of diligence make rich. 
 But indolence, like stagnant ditch 
 Corrupts the wind that round it blows. 
 And taints the water as it flows ; 
 Better, by far, a living dog. 
 Than a dead lion, like a log : 
 
 Blame not, but mourn for these deluded ; 
 "Who worship dead men's bones — ^precluded 
 By birth their ignorance to see. 
 And judge them not — " For who made thee 
 " By faith the Lamb of God to see," 
 And worship Him in purity ? 
 
 The beast received a deadly wound, 21 
 
 And seemed to lie in mortal swond ; 
 
 Three centuries the three-cro-svned priest. 
 
 Mourned a lost kingdom to the Beast, 
 
 And of his kingdoms, not the least j 
 
 The Jesuit host were chased away. 
 
 And Britain hailed a gospel-day ; 
 
 Papal dominion overturned. 
 
 And Wickliifites no longer burned ; 
 
 Prayers no more offered to the dead. 
 
 Nor superstitious masses said. 
 
35 
 
 But once again a table spread ; 
 No consecrated wafer raised. 
 Nor transubstantiation praised ; 
 But priest and people both partake 
 Of bread and wine for Jesus' sake : 
 
 Now persecution turns about, 
 
 And protestants drive papists out; 
 
 Hate and pursue sectarian brother, 
 
 " And bite and worry one another j" 28 
 
 Still Bigotry obtains a lurch, 
 
 Beneath the cry, " God save the church : 
 
 Then church of England raised in pride. 
 
 Dares all opinions to decide. 
 
 And over thought and conscience ride ; 
 
 Again a hierarchy is seen. 
 
 In scarlet, violet, and green. 
 
 Archbishop, bishop, priest, and dean: 
 
 The oaken table from the choir 29 
 
 Removed, and altar-stone raised higher. 
 
 Beneath the eastern window placed, 
 
 "With candlesticks and salvers graced. 
 
 And broidered altar-cloth enlaced : 
 
 The liturgy of common prayer 
 
 Is read with emphasis and care. 
 
 Not Latin jargon lost in sound, 
 
 A Roman tongue on English ground ; 
 
 But good old Saxon well expressed. 
 
 In humble prayers to God addressed ; 
 
 A manifest advance to truth. 
 
 Like the church militant in youth. 
 
 Before the mummeries of Rome, 
 
 Drove purity of creed from home ; 
 
36 
 
 So doth the Lord to promise true. 
 
 Keep his disciples in his view ; 
 
 And though the tares in wheat may grow. 
 
 His spirit will firesh grace bestow 
 
 To purify His church below : 
 
 But God permits an evil hour, 
 
 A bigot-Queen is raised to power ; 
 
 Again the monster rears his head. 
 
 And martyrs number with the dead ; 
 
 The pearl is found of greatest price, 30 
 
 And saints are formed for paradise ; 
 
 What though their pathway lay through flame. 
 
 Cheerful they passed in Jesus' name. 
 
 Embraced the cross, despised the shame ; 
 
 Nor is their blood or sufferings found 
 
 Like water spilled upon the ground ; 
 
 In prison they proclaim His worth. 
 
 While at the stake hold Jesus forth. 
 
 And preach in flames, with dying eyes, 
 
 Jesus ! the finished sacrifice. 
 
 From popish, persecuting crimes. 
 
 We hasten on to other times ; 
 
 The church had slept, the college walk 
 
 Long echoed philosophic talk 
 
 Of human excellence ; good morals. 
 
 Had lulled asleep the gospel quarrels ; 
 
 Some puritans still lived to preach 
 
 The doctrines Christ came down to teach ; 
 
 His apostolical descendents, 
 
 Plaintiff no more, became defendants, 
 
 Not to maintaiu plain gospel rules. 
 
 But Aristotle and the schools ; 
 
37 
 
 Not studious St. Paul to know. 
 
 But Socrates and Cicero ; 
 
 Profoundly read in classic lore, 
 
 But furnished ill from Bible store; 
 
 Their minds not skilled in gospel-page. 
 
 But in refinements of the age 
 
 Well versed, the buskin and the stage : 
 
 A blank ensues, the rebel nation 
 
 Rise, and abolish rank and station. 
 
 And swords are drawn and firebrands raised. 
 
 To prove how God can best be praised ; 
 
 Men from the clods of low degree. 
 
 Presume to browbeat majesty. 
 
 Lost to respect for dignity ; 
 
 The nobles selfish, filled with pride. 
 
 While commoners the peers decried. 
 
 And Bigotry ruled either side ; 
 
 Commotions agitate the land. 
 
 And right falls prostrate to the brand ; 
 
 Such is the current of false zeal 
 
 Whether in church or commonweal. 
 
 Once more the British constitution 
 Revives from party ebuUution, 
 And dissipates the revolution ; 
 King, lords, and commons are restored 
 And treacherous practices ignored ; 
 The nation, for their monarch own 
 The orphan prince, and would atone 
 Their violence toward the throne ; 
 No martyr -king though foul the blow 
 That laid the Lord's annointed low, 
 c 
 
38 
 
 He paid the price that traitors pay 
 
 Who would deceive but lose the day ; 
 
 He fell not in a noble cause, 
 
 A nation's weKare, or the laws, 
 
 Nor fell a hero in her wars ; 
 
 False to religion and his oath, 
 
 Coniirmed upon his royal troth. 
 
 His oath renewed, again he broke. 
 
 Deceiving, every word he spoke ; 
 
 Made solemn compacts, and again 
 
 Rendered his solemn compacts vain ; 
 
 Apostate to the creed professed. 
 
 The Jesuit rankled in his breast; 
 
 God overset his tyrant pride. 
 
 The nation became regicide. 
 
 By stroke retributive he died : 
 
 But anarchy is over -ruled. 
 
 By bigot-factions sorely schooled. 
 
 The people give rejoicing voice. 
 
 And hail the prince they made their choice ; 
 
 As when a burst of sudden sound 
 
 Against the cliffs in smart rebound. 
 
 Breaks, and sharp echoes shout around — 
 
 So voice to voice repeats and tells 
 
 Polyphonous, like ocean swells. 
 
 When undulating water dwells 
 
 Eecursive ; so exulting hosts 
 
 Welcome their king to British coasts : 
 
 The king ! a God-appointed sway ; 
 
 Whom God appoints let men obey. 
 
 And for his mild dominion pray : 
 
 Avert, Jehovah ! from our land 
 
 The hydra-monster to command; 
 
39 
 
 The many^headed mongrel power 
 
 That changes with the changing hour ; 
 
 All mouth, no head, a strange compound 
 
 Of confluent tongues, without a sound 
 
 Distinctiye to inform the ear ; 
 
 A Chinese gong, soft, sweet and clear, 34 
 
 Tones gentle, mild, say, queenly note 
 
 Should the brass disc be feebl y smote, 
 
 But if reiterated stroke, 
 
 Like rash democracy intrude, 
 
 Eeyerberatlng, loud and rude. 
 
 The mellowed harmony is broke ; 
 
 The dinning noises, boom and crash. 
 
 Oppressive, like the howling lash 
 
 Of boisterous winds when waters roar 
 
 Upon the foaming storm-vexed shore. 
 
 Again the court in splendour shines, 
 
 Doctors of laws, and grave divines. 
 
 Bow at levees, and church and state 
 
 Are recognised inviolate : 
 
 Now where shall Bigotry find place, 
 
 Hatbands exchanged for gold and lace ? 
 
 Alas ! the demon still bears sway 
 
 In human hearts, and finds the way 
 
 To hold the conscience in controul. 
 
 And revel spiteful in the soul : 
 
 The powers assume a despot voice 
 
 And prelacy denies the choice 
 
 Of faith and worship ; all must join 35 
 
 In ritual, pronounced divine ; 
 
 And persecution holds a key 
 
 To human forms and Bigotry : 
 
 The tide rolls on, and gospel-men 
 
40 
 
 Are prisoned in the noisome den, 
 
 While piety is made the sport 
 
 Of godless parasites at court ; 
 
 Vice holds her revels void of shame. 
 
 Disgraceful to the Christian name ; 
 
 And infidels obtain promotion. 
 
 Despised the men of pure devotion : 
 
 God's providence may seem to sleep 
 
 But God's designs, though dark and deep. 
 
 Are manifest ■when time brings round 
 
 The moment for prophetic sound ; 
 
 Man seems to guide his own career. 
 
 But God makes* all his counsels clear ; 
 
 The skilful pilot knows to steer. 
 
 Yet borne by winds, or waves aback. 
 
 He drives upon a leeward tack. 
 
 Or would he veer, he misses stays ; 
 
 So man, uncertain all his ways ! 
 
 He plans, determines and appoints, 
 
 God over-rules and dis-appoints ; 
 
 He comforts, or makes bare his arm. 
 
 Whether in tumult or in calm ; 
 
 His children may a season mourn. 
 
 Yet on His heart their names are borne. 
 
 The generation passed away. 
 Its vice, frivolity, and play ; 
 Like the ephemera, their day 
 Was spent; as insects in the sun 
 They trifled, till their day was done ; 
 Not so, the noble hearts that fought 
 The fight of faith, and steadfast sought. 
 With patience wrestling unto blood. 
 
41 
 
 God's love and grace — rock, caye, and wood 36 
 
 Responded to tlieir sighs and tears 
 
 And bare a witness to tlieir prayers ; 
 
 They loved the cross, embraced the shame. 
 
 The world not worthy of their name ; 
 
 In perils often, suffering wrong, 
 
 Yet suffering with a silent tongue ; 
 
 In fasting, cold, and nakedness. 
 
 And sorrows in the wilderness, 
 
 Yet triumphing in wretchedness ; 
 
 God was their hope. His Word their joy. 
 
 His praises their sad hours employ ; 
 
 Their Bigot enemies in vain 
 
 Bind them with manacle and chain. 
 
 Faith taught them constant to endure 
 
 Their hardships, and with conscience pure 
 
 Their gospel tenets to maintain. 
 
 Heedless of suffering or pain. 
 
 Knowing their labours and their love 
 
 Were registered with God above ; 
 
 His book enrolled their faith and fears. 
 
 His bottle held their many tears. 
 
 His grace preserved their pious aim 
 
 To hold in purity their flame 
 
 Of holy zeal for Jesus' name, 
 
 God may bear long, but they who scoff 
 
 At godliness will God cast off; 
 
 If prince or people disobey. 
 
 Though vengeance may awhile delay. 
 
 When their iniquity is full. 
 
 Wise to rppoint or disannul, 
 
 God speaks in wrath and casts them down. 
 
 Whether to slay or to dethrone : 
 
42 
 
 Three prince apostates, on pretence 
 
 The pope had power to dispense 
 
 With solemn vows made to a nation. 
 
 And ratified at coronation ; 
 
 Lost to the dignity of kings, 
 
 And honour which from virtue springs. 
 
 Seduced by Bigotry and pride. 
 
 And casting honesty aside. 
 
 Degrade their royalty and name. 
 
 And rank becomes allied to shame ; 
 
 When rank with shame becomes alloyed. 
 
 The House of Pride shall be destroyed : 37 
 
 For superstitiously inclined. 
 
 And bigoted in heart and mind. 
 
 Seeking to rule with iron sway. 
 
 They would the nation should obey. 
 
 Submissive to their scorpion rod. 
 
 Bending before their bigot nod ; 
 
 Their tyrant will, the will of God ; 
 
 They bowed indign to priestly beck. 
 
 And sought to yoke the franchised neck. 
 
 Once more to Rome and her dominion. 
 
 To Eomish custom and opinion : 
 
 How grateful is the cheerful day. 
 When storm and wind have passed away. 
 So rose the Revolution morn. 
 When gospel liberty came borne 
 On wings of light and life and peace. 
 To free the conscience, and release 
 The trammelled mind from foul controul. 
 And privilege the darkened soul. 
 
43 
 
 God's kingdom is by Christ compared 38 
 
 To " mustard seed ;" the Lord declared. 
 
 This modest plant should plainly show 
 
 The history of His church below ; 
 
 And should set forth the divers ways, 
 
 And heresies of future days ; 
 
 And idol worship, prayers, or praise : 
 
 The " tiny seed," the mustard plant. 
 
 Our Lord describes in this descant, 
 
 " Less than all seeds," he said, when sown. 
 
 But springing up and fully grown. 
 
 The pliant herb becomes a tree. 
 
 Rising in strength and majesty. 
 
 Shoots out great branches, and receives 
 
 The birds and fowls among the leaves ; 
 
 In seed, and plant, and then the tree. 
 
 Emblems, are beautiful to see 
 
 Of all the church of God shall be ; 
 
 Her state and aspect in the days 
 
 When men shall walk in crooked ways ; 
 
 And wandering, deviate from truth. 
 
 No longer simple, as in youth, 
 
 But in the vanities of show, 
 
 And not transformed, themselves to know. 
 
 Their thoughts conformed to things below ; 
 
 When loving pleasure more than God, 
 
 They leave the straight and narrow road ; 
 
 Deceived, deceiving, worse and worse, 39 
 
 Borne down by wrath beneath the curse. 
 
 And captive leading, captive led. 
 
 And conscience-seared ; cast out and spread 
 
 Like the seared branch among the dead ; 
 
44 
 
 Leaving the faith, which makes men wise. 
 
 For strong delusionsj holding lies^ 
 
 And old wives' fables, janglings vain, 40 
 
 Until the man of sin be slain. 
 
 And Christian truth revive again. 
 
 This tree shall stand through all turmoil. 
 
 The Husbandman prepared the soil ; 
 
 Through changeful scenes of earth it grows. 
 
 Still flourishing through chilling snows 
 
 Of apathy and listlessness. 
 
 Or torrid heats when foes oppress. 
 
 And persecute for righteousness ; 
 
 Like fog or mist upon the light, 
 
 Infestive errors, dark as night, 
 
 The verdure nipping, like a blight. 
 
 Or demon-spleen, like wind and hail 
 
 Upon the blossoms, faith assail : 
 
 Though shades of doubt and fears beguile. 
 
 As clouds obscure the summer smile ; 
 
 Yet trunk the same, the same the root, 41 
 
 The tree shall flourish and bear fruit ; 
 
 Christ gave the word, the "tiny grain" 
 
 Was sown ; and Heaven-infusing rain. 
 
 Descending by the Spirit's power. 
 
 Like gentle dew in morning hour. 
 
 Brought into life a thing of earth. 
 
 Yet, sprang the blade a heavenly birth ; 
 
 No human culture there was seen. 
 
 The tender plant of emerald green. 
 
 Pure as the water from the fount. 
 
 Like steadfast faith, that on the throne 
 
 Of God could look a " sardine stone," 
 
45 
 
 A "jasper faith," that on the mount 
 Should gem-like shine, nor fear the voice 
 Of thunderings, but in God rejoice. 
 And join the shoutings of the sky- 
 To Him that came on earth to die. 
 Atonement made, and lives and reigns 
 In triumph over all his pains ; 
 Who conquered in his dying breath, 
 Satan and sin, and hell and death : 
 
 Great mystery of godliness ! 
 Who shall thy power and truth confess. 
 Or comprehend thy righteousness ? 
 A worm of earth a child of clay, 
 Raised to behold a gospel-day. 
 But He who gave the blind to see. 
 May give to view the mystery ; 
 If God's good spirit but impart 
 His love and wisdom to the heart ; 
 And as the mirror shows the face. 
 So the enlightened mind may trace 
 The wonders of redeeming grace : 
 
 Man ! if not taught his state to see. 
 
 Abiding a wild olive tree. 
 
 Stands like a signal of distress. 
 
 Abortive in the wilderness, 
 
 A fading thing of wretchedness ; 
 
 No vital succulence is found, 
 
 A barren cumbercr of the ground. 
 
 His leafless branch dried up and bare. 
 
 Like the pest-tree infests the air, 43 
 
 Awaiting when the tempests blow 
 
 Shall hurl him in the gulph below : 
 
46 
 
 But not alone should dew or rain 
 
 The beauty of the tree maintain, 
 
 The primitive belief must flourish 
 
 Which God in providence will nourish ; 
 
 Blood must manure the precious seed. 
 
 And martyrs for their credence bleed ; 
 
 And heathen superstition know 
 
 That faith and holiness will grow 
 
 In Christ's disciples, who possess 
 
 His grace. His love, and righteousness ; 
 
 Pale Bigotry had not sprung forth 
 
 Like frigid wind from east or north. 
 
 To chill the love the Lord had shed 
 
 In Christian hearts, like soft wings spread 
 
 To soothe the breast, their placid days. 
 
 Like days of Heaven on earth, all praise, 
 
 Christ the companion of their way. 
 
 Their guard at night, their guide by day : 
 
 Wlien bearing witness to His name. 
 
 He whispers comfort in the flame — 
 
 When passing through the whelming deep 
 
 His voice is heard, " My own I keep" — 
 
 They sigh and mourn. He hears the sigh, 
 
 " Fear not my fair ones, I am nigh" — 
 
 They cry by reason of the way. 
 
 He breakes the clouds and makes their day- 
 
 The enemy with fierce assaults 
 
 In phalanx of accusing faults. 
 
 Would drive their spirits to despair ; 
 
 They seek their talisman by prayer. 
 
 And Satan flies, for Christ is there — 
 
 And " It is written" like a sword 
 
 Gives them to conquer like their Lord ; 
 
 No weapon like the written Word : 
 
47 
 
 The century wanes ; God's kingdom grown ; 
 
 The plant prefigured thrives His own, 
 
 Nourished by virtue of the root. 
 
 It springs and renders pleasant fruit ; 
 
 The labourers see their harvest home, 
 
 And end their course in martyrdom ; 
 
 Peter ! still ardent, the prefix. 
 
 Chooses reversed, the crucifix ; 
 
 Paul, knowing whom he had believed, 
 
 "With joy the two-edged sword received. 
 
 The good fight fought, the faith well kept, 
 
 His course was finished and he slept — 
 
 The loved disciple bowed his head. 
 
 Lord Jesus ! quickly come, he said. 
 
 And lay among the martyred dead : 
 
 But now the plant become a tree. 
 
 And parasite clings " Bigotry," 
 
 To violate its purity ; 
 
 And yet the sacred type holds good. 
 
 No longer herbage, but a wood. 
 
 Not milken fluid, water fed. 
 
 Pure aliment, like Kving bread. 
 
 But viscid sap from earthly source 
 
 Bising throughout a hard-grained course ; 
 
 And indurated, rugged, rude. 
 
 And hearts grown callous, like the wood ; 
 
 No longer pliant to the wind. 
 
 The gentleness of Christian mind. 
 
 Like gentle Jesus, ever kind ; 
 
 Bare the sweet inklings of first love. 
 
 Or melting thoughts of Christ above. 
 
 No longer seeking his return 
 
48 
 
 In hymns of praise and thoughts that burn. 
 Like oil upon the altar poured, 
 A holocaust to Christ the Lord : 
 
 But in the parable was shown, 
 
 That when the tree had fully grown. 
 
 Great branches shooting forth around 44 
 
 Should cover amplitude of ground. 
 
 And fowls should lodge within the shade 
 
 And refuge in the spreading head ; 
 
 Fowls of gross beak and heavy wing. 
 
 Which croak and chatter, never sing. 
 
 Deface the leaves, devour the fruit. 
 
 Impair the bark — but firm the root 
 
 Remains, deep-founded on a rock. 
 
 The steadfast trunk sustains the shock 
 
 Of winds tempestuous and hail. 
 
 Which like temptations fierce, assail 
 
 The steadfast heart well-nigh to faint. 
 
 But Christ preserves the tempted saint ; 
 
 The plant or tree His hand hath trained 
 
 Shall flourish, nor till glory gained. 
 
 Shall any branch dissevered be 
 
 Till Paradise receive the tree ; 
 
 Grace first gave impulse to the germ, 
 
 Grace kept the nascent plant from harm, 
 
 Grace like a sun gives light and dew. 
 
 And God with grace gives glory too : 
 
 But turn we to the sacred text. 
 The church becomes by contests vexed ; 
 When winter days and months draw near. 
 Leaves tumefy, and worms appear. 
 Thus synods, councils, recognitions. 
 
49 
 
 Bring discord, schism, and divisions. 
 
 And agitate the church, and lead 
 
 To hitter words and reckless deed ; 
 
 Three centuries elapse ; and then 
 
 Hypocrisy, as from a den. 
 
 Envy, deceit, and pride come forth, 
 
 Reckless of favor, or of wrath ; 
 
 So blighting winds with fearful gloom. 
 
 Destroy the promise of the bloom, 
 
 Like pious worth laid in the tomb. 
 
 Consigned mysterious, the youth, 
 
 A hopeful lover of the truth — 
 
 So these foul vices bring to shame. 
 
 And dim the glow of Christian flame ; 
 
 Christians in word alone, and name : 
 
 As in the tree no longer flows 
 
 The vital juice ; no longer knows 
 
 First love her generous burning glows. 
 
 Those eager pantings of the heart. 
 
 Loth from her Bridegroom-Lord to part ; 
 
 As among trees, the apple-tree. 
 
 Such was her Saviour wont to be ; 
 
 Then would she seek her Lord by night. 
 
 And hear His voice and with delight. 
 
 Prefer His love to oil or wine ; 
 
 Like ointment poured forth, divine 
 
 His name ; His lips like dropping myrrh ; 
 
 Who keep His counsels, shall not err — 
 
 But they who from His law depart. 
 
 Shall mourn with bitterness of heart : 
 
 Thus saith the Lord, while earth remain. 
 Seed-time shall see the harvest grain. 
 
50 
 
 And day and night, and cold and heat, 
 
 And winter shall the summer meet ; 
 
 Nothing shall cease of my decree, 
 
 The bow is covenant for me ; 
 
 From everlasting is my name 
 
 To everlasting still the same : 
 
 So interchange from faith to fear. 
 
 Our wavering hearts while prisoned here ; 
 
 Pride ! like a rock of ice stands bright. 
 
 Hard as the adamant to sight. 
 
 And shines like diamond in the sun ; 
 
 But ere the first brief hour be run, 
 
 The vapid mass dissolves away. 
 
 And lost to sight like closing day. 
 
 In transient lustre faintly gleams. 
 
 And vanishes on passing streams. 
 
 As autumn closes on the year 
 
 Gaudy the forest leaves appear. 
 
 Splendid the varied hues are spread. 
 
 The surface bright, the texture dead ; 
 
 So, hectic beauty on the cheek 
 
 Would health and happiness bespeak ; 
 
 Admiring eyes in vain would seek. 
 
 The ambush of the lurking foe 
 
 That undermines the core below ; 
 
 Thus the seared leaves upon the tree. 
 
 With the prophetic word agree ; 
 
 " Church in Thy house," no more is known, 42 
 
 Nor independent church, alone — 
 
 But district churches then began. 
 
 The patriarch, metropolitan. 
 
 These canons, and decrees enact. 
 
51 
 
 The Word of God no more intact ; 
 No more the church great hope desiring. 
 Nor to meet Christ the Lord, aspiring ; 
 Their garments no more white and shining. 
 But from simplicity declining ; 
 Eager for gain and competence. 
 And worldly rank and consequence ; 
 No more transformed their inmost mind. 
 But conformed, to the world inclined ; 
 Brother esteem and sympathy. 
 Bartered for hate and enmity. 
 And zeal exchanged for Bigotry. 
 
 Jewish customs superseded, 43 
 
 Another baptism is pleaded ; 
 
 A rite transferred from circumcision ; 
 
 Again, by very slight elision. 
 
 The Christian minister supplies 
 
 The Jewish priest in sacrifice ; 
 
 And as a victim for the rite. 
 
 The " wafer" becomes recondite ; 
 
 The church, assuming awful power. 
 
 Confers on priests an impious dower 
 
 To work the miracle — their nod 
 
 Converts the bread, and makes a god. 
 
 And ribald men declare the paste. 
 
 Still bread to sight, and touch and taste. 
 
 Becomes a transubstantiation 
 
 Of flesh and blood without evasion; 44 
 
 And elevated as the host. 
 
 The priest blasphemes the Holy Ghost : 
 
 Thus human fancies take the place 
 Of righteousness and saving grace ; 
 
52 
 
 And silly vanities are made 
 The staples of a priestly trade ; 
 A mass may save a soulj if paid 
 An ad valorem price ; for sung. 
 Or chanted by ennobled tongue, 
 The mystic words the gloom pervade, 
 And ease the pains as soon as said ; 
 For double worth gives double povt'er, 
 And frees from fire within the hour. 
 While lips plebeian may prevail 
 But slowly to redeem from wail ; 
 For purgatory demons know. 
 Though busily engaged below. 
 The weight, and value, and amount, 
 Received and placed to their account. 
 And in proportions to the gains. 
 The soul is lightened of her chains. 
 And shortened, her probation pains : 
 As fiery sparks from iron fly. 
 Beneath the hammer's potency, 
 So all the peccadillo stains 
 Are bleached, and purgatory pains 
 That tortured the polluted soul 
 Are soothed beneath the priest's control ; 
 Thus do the priests of Rome pretend 
 Money may purchase for their friend 
 Obedient to the priest's desire 
 Release from purgatorial fire ; 
 Audacious blasphemy, the blood 
 Of Christ alone can bring to God, 
 The blood that flowed from Jesus veins 
 Cleanses the heart from all its stains ; 
 In vain the wooden pax you handle, 
 
53 
 
 Unless you pay for priest-blessed candle ; 
 
 The saint inexorable looks down. 
 
 Unless from sixpence to a crown. 
 
 Be dropt within sacristan chest. 
 
 The larger sum is much the best — 
 
 For sinners who can nothing pay 45 
 
 Should not expect the priest to pray ; 
 
 Or saint to listen to their say ; 
 
 Make not confession, unless willing 
 
 To pay the father-priest his shilling. 
 
 Nor without pence seek absolution ; 
 
 The Romish church knows not confusion — 
 
 " Attending to this very thing," 46 
 
 Just in proportion as you bringj 
 
 So much her merits you shall share. 
 
 Whether her penances or prayer ; 
 
 Thus, " with right hand, men hold a lie" 4T 
 
 And blasphemous, God's word deny : 
 
 " Come Avithout money, come and buy : 
 
 On ashes feeding, turned aside. 
 
 The heart, by sacerdotal pride 
 
 Deceived, falls prostrate to a god. 
 
 Whose hand may wield, nor staff, nor rod. 
 
 Foul Bigotry ! let go thy hold 
 
 Of wretched sinners, Satan-sold, 
 
 By priestly craftiness for gold : 
 
 If in the dry such things are seen. 
 What shall be said^ when in the green 
 Of Christian life dark spots abound. 
 And Christ's disciples wanting found — 
 With Bible page wide open spread. 
 Are Bible-christians, Bible-led, 
 
 D 
 
54 
 
 Not seeking diligent the Word 
 
 To bring them nearer to their Lord, 
 
 And give their throbbing hearts to know, 
 
 And taste His Iotc by what they do. 
 
 Careful His precepts to pursue ; 
 
 Not heeding what the Saviour saith. 
 
 But in disputes on terms of faith ; 
 
 In discipline distinctions making. 
 
 The new commandment often breaking ; 48 
 
 As in the eye dust hides the view. 
 
 As when a stone is in the shoe. 
 
 The foot will halt ; so Bigotry 
 
 Impedes the strabid eye to see ; 
 
 And holds a crutch to zealotry : 
 
 Now read this tale from olden rhymes — 
 
 A bed was wrought in ancient times 49 
 
 As punishment for divers crimes. 
 
 Ingenious the cruel thought. 
 
 An apt invention, malice fraught — 
 
 The man was stretched upon the frame. 
 
 And if his measure were the same. 
 
 He saved his honour, life and name, 
 
 Without more torture, free from shame ; 
 
 But if too long for the dimension. 
 
 And limbs drawn out, required declension. 
 
 The tyrant gave despotic word. 
 
 And they were shortened by the sword ; 
 
 And if too short to reach the foot. 
 
 Submitted to an engine-boot, 
 
 The limbs were racked with engine-strength. 
 
 To give the wretched sufferer length. 
 
 So conscience-benders seek to bind 
 
55 
 
 Conviction in the conscious mind : 
 
 Whether a fabled tale, or true. 
 
 Placing the narrative in view. 
 
 Philosophers this moral drew ; 
 
 That truth though in herself the same. 
 
 In different aspects, often came 
 
 Presented to the mental sight. 
 
 In dubious, or transparent light : 
 
 The reasoning wrong, the vision right — ' 
 
 Now to apply this fact or fiction 
 To modern judgment or conviction ; 
 For in the uti possedetis , 
 Lies all the merit of the thesis — 
 Thus creed-makers prepare a frame 
 Of propositions, which they claims 
 All to subscribe, on pain of scath, 
 As dogmas of unerring faith. 
 On pain of excommunication, 
 Or loss of sympathy and station : 
 
 Say, whence arise these varied notions 
 Of faith and order and devotions? 
 A simple subject, simply taught, 
 By simple exposition brought 
 To minds possessing " ears to hear" — 
 Like water, strongly marked when near 
 The nombril spot where fell the stone. 
 That gurgling, sinks with purling tone, 
 But more diffused when farther off; 
 So those receive, while these may scoff; 
 And as the wind upon a river 
 The placid flowing waves dissever. 
 And break the waters into shiver. 
 
56 
 
 So the church-body split to fractions. 
 Spreads and divides in rival factions ; 
 Some, lost in maze of false opinion j 
 Again, who soar on wildered pinion ; 
 There are, who grovel, never rise; 
 Others so lofty woo the skies. 
 Not to approach the golden throne. 
 But to build castles of their own. 
 And rear a Babel should surmount 
 All altitudes of mortal count: 
 
 Is it not strange that faith is found 
 For any folly on the ground. 
 Or but existing in the sound ; 
 That airy fancy may wing flight 
 -And credit any dream of night ; 
 And revel in poetic glow 
 Of sounds and sights of things below. 
 Though fleeting as the river flow ; 
 And as substantial and as true 
 As landscape painted to the view. 
 Upon the passing tidal stream. 
 Or morning clouds before the beam ? 
 
 If the Greek patriarch dictate. 
 
 His serfs to saints will bow prostrate : 
 
 If Latin councils are convened. 
 
 Their dicta are dogmatic deemed : 
 
 The pope assumes to oVer-rule 
 
 From vergers in the vestibule. 
 
 To cardinals within the choir ; 
 
 And bulla, sealed with Peter's ring, 60 
 
 Is reverenced a holy thing. 
 
 On pain of everlasting fire : 
 
5T 
 
 The Jesuit his superior greets. 
 Although esteemed the prince of cheats ; 
 Binds down his conscience to his will. 
 Detects the fraud, obedient still. 
 Though Bigotry ordain to kill .- 
 
 These are beliefs of foreign soil. 
 
 But British creeds present a foil ; 
 
 Our parliament is deemed supreme. 
 
 To will belief on any theme ; 
 
 And if the commons' house decree 
 
 A postulate ; so shall it be : 
 
 In times of yore,, the trammeled mind,. 
 
 To priestly creed and craft confined ; 
 
 By protestant or popish sway. 
 
 Or under puritanic rod. 
 
 Bowed impious in the name of God ; 
 
 When conscience-bound, the shackled thought 
 
 Aspired, amid continuous drought. 
 
 Never to full conviction brought ; 
 
 Or if convinced, tongue-tied, the prayer 
 
 Though swelled the heart, lay buried there ; 
 
 Aye ! when the trumpet wakes the skies, 
 
 Such prayers, soul-tombed, shall all arise. 
 
 In thundering accusing voice ; 
 
 While such incipient saints rejoice ; 
 
 These might command pope, patriarch, priest j. 
 
 And all give credence ; from the least. 
 
 That ignorant, know not their creed. 
 
 To princely brows ; who will not read :. 
 
 If Pharisees and elders teach 
 
 Traditions ; well, but though Christ preach. 
 
 The truths of scripture on record. 
 
58 
 
 How slow the heart receives the word ; 
 So Israel of old would bring 
 Oblations, not to Judah's king. 
 But to their idols in the woods. 
 To images, and heathen gods — 
 If God command a seventh day 
 For men to rest, and praise, and pray. 
 And from their six days work abstain ; 
 There are, who deem the precept vain ; 
 But if the church her days ordain. 
 To keep a fast, or make a feast. 
 All pay obedience to the priest ; 
 The saint is honoured on his day, 
 God's sabbath set apart for play; 
 Yet breach of festival, or time. 
 Denounced unchristian, and a crime ; 
 Twice in the year are sacred crises. 
 Seasons, pursuant man's devices, 
 'When conscience-cleansing work is done- 
 Indifferent, to the sabbath sun. 
 The sabbath hours unheeded run. 
 
 Thus sects ajid sections sit apart 
 And cast the controversial dart ; 
 Strange inconsistency of zeal. 
 An acumen which cannot feel ; 
 A light of splendour in the mind. 
 To render mental eye-sight blind — 
 The gospel shines, they grasp the ray. 
 But shut their hearts against the day ; 
 Some hail the Saviour as their guest. 
 Yet hold divisions in their breast ; 
 Pyofcss to make His laws their guide. 
 
39. 
 
 Yet set His rule of love aside,. 
 
 And while tliey greet their Elder Brother^ 
 
 Shut fast the door against the other, 5 1 
 
 Mayhap, a younger, tender one. 
 
 And let him stand without, alone -^ 
 
 " Doth he the grace of God possess ? 
 
 " Doth he the name of Christ profess ? 
 
 " Doth he believe that Jesus' blood 
 
 " Alone can ransom him to God ? 
 
 " Do you believe his faith sincere, 
 
 " His evidence of glory clear ? 
 
 " Is he consistent in his life, 
 
 " No lover of the world, or strife ? 
 
 " His wallc, good promise of his end ?" 
 
 All this we witness of our friend ! 
 
 Then why forbid him to your board. 
 
 Both the disciples of one Lord ? 
 
 All you admit is in his favour, 
 
 Sound faith, great love, and good behaviour j- 
 
 What more should Christian manifest 
 
 To render him a welcome guest ? 
 
 " Though pure his faith, our creed demands 
 
 " He follow out our Lord's commands ; 
 
 " His faith, restricted, cannot see 
 
 " Baptismal proper mode to be 
 
 " By baptism alone. — Immersion — 
 
 " And we admit no other version :" 
 
 Now then to Scrij)ture ; "What the plea ? 
 
 " His faith with scripture don't agree" — ■ 
 
 And thou good friend, is thine. quite right. 
 
 Or dost thou read with blinked sight ? 
 
 '* Him_ that is weak in faith receive" 
 
60 
 
 " Nor feeble brother-Christian grieve j" 
 
 " We that are strong, the weak should bear, 52 
 
 " Sooth their infirmities, and share 
 
 " The griefs that crowd their thorny way, 
 
 " And cheer when clouds obscure the day." 
 
 Who these in shining vestments drest ? 
 
 Name not the church nor creed professed. 
 
 Lest creed and church be deemed disgraced ; 
 
 These ; ministers of Christ ! Oh ! shame. 
 
 Opprobrium couches on their name ; 
 
 Reformed, and protestant in creed. 
 
 They chant to Romish notes and plead 
 
 For customs, protestants abjure ; 
 
 Hold Romish tendance, gospel cure ; 531 
 
 And Satan-trapped, set Sajan-snare, 
 
 To mislead souls within their care ; 
 
 Amphibolous, with Janus-face 
 
 They plead for rites, yet pray for grace; 
 
 The proverb saith. Though freed from taint„ 
 
 The dog again will turn — the saint 
 
 Half-hearted, like the once washed swine. 
 
 Will still to sordidness incline. 
 
 And like the herd seek dirty pool ;. 
 
 With violence run down the steep. 
 
 And perish in the troubled deej) — 
 
 So mortar -brayed, unconscious fool. 
 
 Though with a pestle brayed in wheat. 
 
 Doth not his foolishness forget ; 
 
 Still hood-winked, will not wisdom learn 
 
 But will to foolisliness return ; 
 
 Will not from foolery depart. 
 
 But witless still, hold pride of heart— ^ 
 
61 
 
 As rain in summer, or the snow. 
 Unwelcome falls, and cold winds blow 
 In harvest days, so on the brow 
 Of simple ones are honours placed ; 
 Fools raised on high are fools disgraced — 
 Vain is the sacramental oath. 
 Without the Spirit pledge the troth. 
 Though surplice-clad and bishop-blessed. 
 Girt with silk scarf and satin vest. 
 Unless God's love allume the flame, 
 Man's love to God is but a name ; 
 Who bends before an idol shrine. 
 Christian or heathen — ^not divine 
 His worship, but a guilt and shame ;• 
 Honours not Christ, blasphemes His name. 
 
 Turn we our eyes another side. 
 
 There we see bigotry and pride ; 
 
 Christian ajid Jew will persecute 
 
 And show their fangs, like brute with brute. 
 
 In words of rancour and dispute ; 
 
 Insult and vilify each other — 
 
 Yet is the Jew, the elder brother j 
 
 A scion of that thrice-blessed stock. 
 
 Whence came the Christ, the christian Rock ; 
 
 " Will come," the Jewish shibboleth; 
 
 " Is come," the pious christian saith. 
 
 Types are fulfilled, the shadows flown. 
 
 And sacrifice no more is known. 
 
 The veil is rent, the law is ended. 
 
 Gentile and Jew in one are blended : 
 
 " Will come," the Jewish rabbi reads. 
 
 And Jacob's benediction pleads ; 
 
62 
 
 " Never the sceptre shall depart 54 
 
 " From Judah" — written in his heart 
 
 " Till Shiloh come the law shall reign, 
 
 " And God's authority sustain, 
 
 " Till the great gathering shall take 
 
 " Of Judah's sons for Abraham's sake, 
 
 " And graft them in the tree anew" — 
 
 Boast not against the branch, the Jew ; 
 But if thou boast, wild olive tree ; 
 Thou bearest not, the root bears thee : 
 The latter-day, foretold shall come. 
 When God shall call His wanderers home ; 
 When Jewish orators shall preach 
 And in the Spirit's unction teach 
 Salvation through their own Messiah, 
 In thoughts of flame and words of fire ; 
 Then, shall men gather round the Jew, 
 Cling to his skirts, " We go with you, 
 " Thy God be ours — " so Jesus praise. 
 The Jew shall sing in latter days. 
 
 Christian ! go worship at the gate. 
 Where God is throned in gracious state. 
 Enter, with joy the holy place. 
 Where Christ reveals a smiling face. 
 There laud His providence and grace ; 
 Whether in phrase of Common Prayer, 
 Or in thoughts aspirated there. 
 Outpourings of a glowing soul. 
 Or breathings of a mild controul ; 
 Either, in confidence and love. 
 The voice on earth, the heart above :. 
 
63 
 
 Yet let not supplications rise. 
 To majesty who rules the skies. 
 In other name, by other say. 
 Than He has taught His sons to pray. 
 Through Christ, the only living way ; 
 And while thy pious claims ascend. 
 To God, thy Father, and thy Friend, 
 In Him who for thy sinfulness 
 Atoned ; and for thy righteousness. 
 Prepared a robe for thee to shine 
 Before the purity divine — 
 Remember all around thee spread. 
 In follies and transgressions dead ; 
 Like thee, all sprung from dust defiled. 
 Their nature fraU, their hearts beguiled. 
 The man presumptuous, vain the child ; 
 All hastening from the first-drawn breath. 
 To meet their doom, appointed death ; 
 Eemember that the soul untaught. 
 In ignorance, a thing of naught ; 
 Untrained in good, will evil ways 
 And evil love, throughout his days : 
 
 Then are the rulers of the land. 
 
 Responsible to God's command, 55 
 
 To take in hand to educate — 
 
 Let churches join in with the state. 
 
 That idle hands and sullied feet. 
 
 Wandering by thousands in. the street. 
 
 Be brought within religious rule. 
 
 And wholesome discipline of school ; 
 
 There, taught to read, and sing and pray. 
 
 And holy keep the sabbath day : 
 
64 
 
 Yet dissidents take great alarm 
 And deprecate approaching harm, 
 Cry out " The union, church and state, 
 " Possesses influence too great; 
 " Her power and wealth accumulate ;" 
 Better the masses yet remain 
 Untutored, than our creeds sustain 
 A loss in their ascendency ', 
 Proportionate dependency — 
 Better be ignorant than know 
 Doctrines we think no good bestow ; 
 Our teachings make the simple wise. 
 And lead to truths beyond the skies : • 
 
 Thus Bigotry on either side. 
 Would turn commands of God aside. 
 And those professing deepest awe 
 To know God's will, and keep his law. 
 Would sacrifice, to sect and station 
 The graver interests of the nation ; 
 Profess desire to train a race 
 Of erring creatures for a place 
 Of comfort, usefulness, and peace ; 
 Profess desire to see increase 
 The gospel-kingdom, and to bring 
 Rebellious nations to their King, 
 Yet wotild reject a righteous plan. 
 Should rear the boy, so raise the man : 
 
 Knowledge lay hid, the prison key. 
 Grasped in the hand of Bigotry ; 
 The soul fast chained in ignomy ; 
 Now the gold portals wide are thrown. 
 
65 
 
 All may ■walk in, and take their own : 
 
 Who now should seek the gate to close, 
 
 Would impious, God's will oppose, 
 
 And seek again to bind the limb ; 
 
 No sympathy be felt fol- him-^ 
 
 Gire him a cup filled to the brim ; 
 
 A cup df wrath, and let him sup. 
 
 With shame, the bitter potion up : 
 
 Till self-abased, confessing wrong. 
 
 He crave for grace with suppliant tongue. 
 
 And join free voices in their song : 
 
 Though, like a field in beauty spread. 
 The mind imtaught is beauty dead; 
 A fallow mind demands the spade, 
 When tilled, the soil is fruitful made ; 
 At morning daM'n cast in thy seed. 
 And let the evening, for thy meed. 
 Behold thy labour ; dost thou know 
 If this or that, shall meed bestow ? 
 Be diligent in thy estate 
 Thy tender plants to cultivate. 
 The tender plants their fcuit shall yield. 
 And odours sweet fihall grateful rise 
 Like incense to the favouring skies ; 
 Then shall the Master of the field 
 Behold, and give thee righteous pay 
 In realms of everlasting day ; 
 While thou shalt cast thy honours down. 
 And place thy guerdon on His crown 
 Who sent his Spirit to instil 
 Love in thy heart ; and gave thy will 
 Submissive, like a child at school. 
 To bend before the Father's rule > 
 
66 
 
 And when he chastens, kiss the rod. 
 Thy docile will, the will of God. 
 
 Reader, farewell ! our work is done ; 
 
 The hours draw near our setting sun ; 
 
 Life, like a riyer's ebb decays. 
 
 The stream runs down ; in vain our gaze 
 
 Would seek to scan the unknown shore. 
 
 And bright realities explore — 
 
 "While yet upon the river flow. 
 
 And favouring breezes round us blow. 
 
 Let us our watch and ward maintain^ 
 
 Till the good ship her port shall gain ; 
 
 And though on divers tack they sail. 
 
 Our sister barks ; let cheers give hail. 
 
 Bid them " God speed ye" on their way. 
 
 From rock preserved and breaker spray ; 
 
 Thus, sailing peaceful on, abreast. 
 
 Gain safe with them-— ^" Fair Havens" — and rest : 
 
 There shall glad cherub voices greet 
 
 The home-bound vessels of the fleet ; 
 
 There, safely moored in placid lee, 
 
 In admiration we shall see, 
 
 And to our angel-friends shall tell. 
 
 Our Captain, or in calm or swell, 56 
 
 Great, wise, and good, did all things well. 
 
 THE ENT). 
 
IJotes, dt. 
 
Notes. 
 
 1. Philip, ii. 12. — " Wherefore my beloved brethren. . Work out your own 
 Salvation with fear and trembling : for it is God which worketh in you both 
 to will and to do of his good pleasure." It should be observed that the 
 Apostle exhorts not to work salvation, but to work out. He had just shown 
 that salvation had been worked or completed by Him, to whom every knee 
 should bow — but work out — by conduct and conversation becoming the 
 gospel, received and acknowledged as grace shown and righteousness im- 
 parted. " Be ye as men having their loins girded, waiting for their Lord ; 
 quit you like men, be strong ; let all things be done vrith charity.'' 
 
 2. Coloss. ii. 18. — I would suggest that this paragraph be thus trans- 
 posed and read, "Let no man, being a voluntary in humility and in worship- 
 ping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly 
 puflFed up by his ileshly mind, not holding the head (even Christ, Eph. iv. 15) 
 beguile you of your reward, or judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect 
 of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath. Wherefore, if ye be 
 dead with Christ &om the elements of the world, why, as though living in 
 the world, are ye subject to ordinances after the doctrines and command- 
 ments of men ? touch not, taste not, handle not ; which are all to perish 
 with the using'' — which things have indeed a show of wisdom in wUl- 
 worship, and humility, and punishing of the body — but not in any honour 
 to the satisfying of the flesh.'' 
 
 These portions of the Word of God are placed in the furefront of Our 
 array, as presenting the gist of the argument sought to be maintained ; and 
 authorising the animadversions so freely passed upon the abuses which have 
 existed, or do yet exist in various sections of the Chi-istiau church. 
 
 3. Pliny — Letter to Trajan. 
 
 4. 1 Cor i. 13.— Is Christ divided ? Eph. iv. 5,— One Lord. 
 
 5. Luke xxiv. 45.— Then he opened their understandings that they might 
 understand the scriptures. 
 
11. NOTES, 
 
 6. Calmet observes that the Scorpion fixes so violently on the person as to 
 be plucked off with difficulty : the Scriptures generally join the Scorpion 
 with the Serpent when such symbols are proper ; Our Lord contrasts the 
 Scorpion with the Eg^ : Lamy says, "The Scorpion is very like an Egg, 
 it is very nearly the same in size, and the head may scarcely be distinguished, 
 so that similitude is judiciously preserved, between the object offered and 
 the thing asked for.'' 
 
 7. Thrusts in fencing — the arm being prone or supine, and the foil, con- 
 sequently, being above or beneath the adversary's guard. 
 
 8. The awful catastrophe here adduced in illustration is related by the 
 captain of a whaler, who discovered the doomed ship transfixed in an 
 iceberg : the crew were lying in various positions, even as death had 
 surprised them, victims of cold and famine ; provisions had been exhausted, 
 the water-tanks were empty. The captain seated in his chair had been 
 writing an account, yet unfinished, of their sufferings ; his wife with her child 
 lay extended on the cabin floor, the green taints of decomposition staining 
 the flesh of their cheeks and hands. 
 
 9. This trite axiom is from the pen of Butler, but is not to be found in 
 his poem of Hudibras. Having thus mentioned this ingenious satire, I 
 would suggest a careful study of the scriptural lessons of Christian respect 
 and forbearance powerfully sustained in the lines of that performance. 
 There is a literary anecdote connected with this work, almost unknovm to 
 the present generation. Voltaire, with his characteristic vanity, while in- 
 dulging sneers at English poets and English poetry, declared that the 
 intractable ryhthra of Butler's verse would render a translation of the poem 
 into the French language impracticable, arising from the delicate sensibility 
 of that tongue. The envious disposition and the supercilious humour, of this 
 infidel critic, educated a Jesuit withal, received a smart rebuke very shortly, 
 by the appearance of an elegant translation of the whole poem, accurately 
 giving the peculiar cadence and tripping foot of the singular measTire — 
 mot d mot, together viath the poignant turn of satirical phrase in the 
 keen style of the" witty author. This masterly performance was the work 
 of a young English gentleman, of the Towneley family, an Attach^ in the 
 exile court of James II., at St. Cloud; English born and educated at the 
 College Henri Quatre, he became an accomplished master of both languages. 
 
 10. The Coistril ; a degenerate hawk ; a bird never having been taught 
 the reclaim, or signal of recall ; which is made either by the voice, or by 
 motion of the fingers upon the leash in connection with the varvels, or silver 
 rings, attached to the legs of the bird ; but the figure would hold good were 
 
NOTES. Ill- 
 
 it applied to the trained bird, since the casualties of hawking are often fatal 
 to the hawk, as are the pursuits of pleasure, whether temperate or un- 
 restrained. The heron may gain the ascendency, and by a sudden stoop, 
 piercing his foe with his lance-like bill, will destroy him. 
 
 11. There is a remarkable coincidence in the abuses of wiU- worship, 
 ■which have uniformly taken rise in the dictates of human reason, assuming 
 authority to alter or modify Divine commands. Cain substitutes the &uits 
 of the ground as homage -to the Creator, in lieu of an atoning lamb — ^he 
 approached the altar, not as a rebel to the footstool of an offended Bene- 
 factor, through an appointed mediator, but as an approved tributary present- 
 ing himself to his Sovereign. He offers the products of his own skill, the 
 peach and the pomegranate, the olive branch and the vine, and these 
 probably adorned with selections from the flower-bed, as more appropriate 
 emblems of the Majesty which had spread the earth with fruitfulness and 
 beauty. Job notices the progress of sabian worship in his time, the 
 idolatrous worship of the host of heaven, and declares himself guiltless of 
 the superstition — become so common as to call for legislation. " If I 
 beheld the sun when it shineth, or the moon walking in brightness and my 
 heart had been enticed, and my mouth had kissed my hand, this were an 
 iniquity, for I should have denied the God above." Job, like Abel, faithful 
 to the Divine command, offers the slain victim, and sheds the symbol of 
 atoning blood which should thereafter be poured out for the sin of the 
 world. If we descend through time to the days of our Lord's sojourn in the 
 scene of his humiliation, we observe the purity of the Mosaic ritual obscured 
 by hiunan inventions, and priestly authority claiming for human traditions 
 preference to God's appointments. " Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, ye 
 make void the law by yoiu- traditions, but in vain do ye worship me, teach- 
 ing for doctrines the commandments of men." With a view to give greater 
 splendour to the temple, rites and ceremonies had been adopted, in com- 
 pliment to Herod, and to cultivate the friendship of their heathen neigh- 
 bours. While on this subject we may notice, that the simplicity of primitive 
 Christian worship greatly irritated their Roman masters. The Christians 
 had neither temples, nor sacrifices, nor images, nor oracles, nor sacerdotal 
 orders ; they needed no intermediate human intercessors with Heaven ; their 
 sole Mediator had ascended to his Father, presenting their praises and 
 prayers incensed by his own merits, to supply their wants from his own 
 fulness and to give protection by the power of all things committed to Him. 
 The Pagan worshippers around, beheld them as atheists, and as such they 
 were condemned by the Roman law, which declared atheists to be "pests to 
 society" ; hence arose the persecutions they endured. But in the fourth 
 century we find this simplicity of worship had totally disappeared. Both 
 Heathens and Christians had a splendid and pompous ritual, and differed 
 
IV. NOTES. 
 
 scarcely in their external appearance ; gorgeous rotes, mitres, tiaras, wax 
 tapers, crosiers of elaborate -workmanship — derived from the lituus or 
 augural staff— processions, in imitation of the " Supplicationes" at which 
 the chiefs of the nation,' followed by the body of the people, approached the 
 temples of the gods, thrown open by the senate to all, without distinction of 
 sex or rank. ■ To these may be added, lustrations, images, vases of gold and 
 silver, grand candelabra, and other pageantry. Toward the close of the 
 fourth century, arose two sects of opposite doctrines, the Antidico-Marianites 
 and the CoUyridians — the former maintaining that Mary did not always 
 preserve her immaculate state, but that after the birth of the Messiah, 
 she received the embraces of her husband — the latter, so called from the 
 oblations of coUyridie or of oaten cakes, offered to the Virgin as a goddess, 
 whether to seek her favour and protection, or to appease her supposed 
 anger by libations and sacrifices. Nestorious in the fifth century was cited 
 before the Council of Ephesus, a.d. 431, where imperious Cyril presided. 
 He was condemned unheard on the charge of blasphemy against the Divine 
 Majesty, because he refused to give this epithet to the virgin — Mother of 
 God ! — a title that conveys no meaning, but to the ignorant and imv.ary 
 presents impious and monstrous notions. 
 
 12. The Pope ! 2 Thess. ii. 2 4. " That man of sin be revealed, the son 
 of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, 
 or that is worshipped ; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shew- 
 ing himself that he is God." 
 
 13. The word "Mystery" was formerly emblazoned upon the Pope's 
 tiara, but it was represented to the consistory that this title designated the 
 beast spoken of in the Book of Eevelations, and was among the signs of the 
 apostate church and antichrist, whereupon the blazonry was removed. 
 
 14. On the day of St. Peter, those who approach to render obeisance to 
 the reigning Pontiff, ascend the dais on which he is enthroned, bending and 
 kneeling on each step, and having prostrated, with much reverence they 
 kiss an enormous ruby of exquisite fire, enchased upon the toe of an 
 elaborately embroidered slipper. 
 
 15. Church Prayer Book. Fonn and manner of ordering of priests : The 
 bishop shall pray in this wise, "When this prayer is done, the bishop with 
 the priests present shall lay their hands severally upon every one receiving 
 the order of priesthood, the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees, and 
 the bishop saying " Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a 
 priest in the church of God, now committed unto thee, by the imposition of 
 our handi ; whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven, and whose ns 
 
NOTES. V. 
 
 thou dost retain, they are retained. And be thou a faithful dispenser of the 
 word of God, and of His holy sacraments ; in the name of the Father, and 
 of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.'' Then the bishop shall deliver 
 to every one of them, kneeling, the Bible into his hands, saying, "Take thou 
 authority to preach the Word of God, and to administer the Holy Sacra- 
 ments in the congregation where thou shalt be appointed thereunto.'' 
 
 (a.) Apostolical succession ! This doctrine has neither Scripture nor 
 reason in support of the pretentions of its interested advocates ! The Saviour 
 laid his hands upon those whom he had chosen to be his witnesses, as Peter 
 declared on the memorable day of Pentecost to the men of Israel ; " Ye 
 denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted 
 xmto you, and killed the Prince of Life whom God hath raised from the 
 dead, whereof we are witnesses. Again: when Peter stood up before the 
 assembled disciples, the number being about 120, to select one for the office 
 of an apostle, he describes the proper qualification of an apostle, " Of these 
 men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus was in 
 and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that day that 
 he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a Witness of his 
 Resurrection. Paul also claims apostleship solely, "that with his bodily 
 eyes he had seen the Lord Jesus.'' In the accounts given of ordinations in 
 the New Testament, it is expressly stated that they are appointed &s fellow- 
 workmen, not as apostles or as successors to the office. And remark, that 
 Our Lord commences the reproaches made to the churches of Asia by re- 
 buking this first presumption, " Thou canst not bear them which are evil, and 
 thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast 
 found them liars — yet have I somewhat against thee ; because thou hast left 
 thy first love" — such was the consequence of boasting, and of vain pre- 
 tentions to unauthorized power. 
 
 (b.) Mosheim observes, that the bishops of the primitive and golden age 
 of the Christian dispensation, in the youth and purity of the church of 
 Christ, though bearing the same name, with bishops of succeeding ages, 
 may not be assimilated to them, nor yet confounded with their character and 
 manners — they differed in every respect. During the first and second cen- 
 turies, the bishop occupied himself in the culture and care of the Lord's 
 vineyard, in one assembly only. There he conducted himself — not as *' a 
 lord over God's heritage" — with the haughty authority of a master, but with 
 the zeal and diligence of a servant. He preached to the people and in- 
 structed them from the oracles of God, to which he earnestly entreated 
 their attention, he performed the offices of the sanctuary ; attended the sick 
 and the poor, exhorted and catechised young converts, administered to the 
 wants of his flock, who looked to him for the supply of their need. The 
 office was laborious, and onerous, exposing him as the teacher of the 
 doctrines of Christ to obloquy and persecution, although the revenue was of 
 small amount and without worldly honour or worldly esteem. 
 
VI. NOTES. 
 
 16. Isaiah, xlvii. 8. I am Jehovah, that is my name, and my glory -will 
 I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 
 
 17. Luke xii. 10. "Whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of 
 man it shall be forgiven him, but unto him that blasphemeth against the 
 Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven. Math. xii. 33. Mark iii. 28. 
 
 18. Plato has preserved to us the admirable defence of Socrates before 
 his judges. " An honest man need fear no evil, either in this life or in a 
 future state of existence ; the gods take care of all his concerns ; for what 
 has now happened to me, is so far from being the effect of chance, that I am 
 convinced it is infinitely better for me to die than to live, and therefore God 
 who regulates my conduct did not interpose for me to day. — Now to our 
 respective offices ; you to live, and I to die ; which is best is only known to 
 the Great Supreme. Being condemned and about to drink the cup of 
 poison ; his friends gathered around, and endeavoured to persuade him to 
 depart from Athens, and to make his escape ; he calmly entered into an 
 argument to show the dishonesty of such a step, whether as a wise man or as 
 a good citizen, and a lover of philosophy who professed to have respect to the 
 will of God. Having brought a powerful argument upon the immortality of 
 the soul to a close by a very remarkable passage, he appealed to his friends 
 to declare their assent to the truth of what he had advanced, or to state 
 their objections. As they remained silent, he resumed his discourse, " The 
 occupation of a reasonable man in this life should consist in habitual 
 restraint of animal passions, in tranquility of mind, and in the employment 
 of reason to discover what is true, divine, immutable ; sustained by the 
 purity of truth in this course, while the soul is imited to the body — after 
 death it will be reunited to that essence from which it sprang, Simmias 
 expressing some doubts of parts of the argument, Socrates replied, " One of 
 two things must be done. We must either learn the truth from others, or 
 find it out ourselves, and if both fail, being after all but human modes, we 
 must patiently wait for that revelation, promised as I have heard, in which 
 we may venture to accomplish the dark voyage. Simmias again replied 
 that he had been told that the soul was simply a harmony of qualities 
 suitable to the condition of the body. Socrates replied, Similies are but 
 colours of truth— not truth itself. The soul and its essence exist before it 
 comes to inhabit its appointed covering — and if the soul were a perfect 
 harmony, there could not be a vicious soul. Simmias again asked of 
 Socrates, How he would designate that self-existent essence, of which he 
 had spoken. " By essence, he replied, I mean the principle from which the 
 soul has derived its being, and which has no other name, than "That which 
 is," most wonderfully corresponding with the divine declaration of Jehovah 
 to make known his name, " / am that I am," He then exhorted his friends 
 
NOTES. Vll. 
 
 to a course of life consistent with, reason and virtue as the only source of 
 happiness, to adorn the soul with the suitable ornaments of temperance, 
 justice, truth, fortitude, and liberty — such an one, confident of the future, 
 will patiently wait the appointed hour of removal from the lower to the 
 higher sphere of his existence. Crito asked him. How he would be buried ? 
 " How you please if you can catch me ; Crito confounds Socrates with the 
 case that encloses him. Socrates will go to enjoy the felicity of the blessed.'' 
 His three chUdien were brought by the women ; he embraced them all, and 
 dismissed them, that their cries might not interrupt his tranquillity ; having 
 bathed, he sat down upon the bed. The officer came in to acquaint him 
 that the poison must be prepared, weeping as he spoke. Crito remarked 
 that the sun was yet upon the mountain tops, that time did not press. 
 Socrates quoted to him a, verse of Hesiod, " That it was ill sparing when 
 one is near the bottom." ApoUodorous now wept aloud as the slave 
 brought in the mixture. "What do you say of this bowl," said the sage, 
 " Would it be lawful to pour it out as a drink offering ?" Socrates ; we only 
 brew for one dose, said he. " I understand, but at least, it is lawful for me 
 to pray to the gods, that they would bless this voyage, and render it happy. 
 And lifting up the bowl, he said, " This I beg of them with all my soul.'' 
 Then, with great calmness he drank off the whole potion. Seeing him 
 swallow the fatal draught we could no longer refrain. " What are you 
 doing!" said he, my good friends, "Where is your virtue? Have I not 
 exhorted you to constancy and courage ? I dismissed the poor women lest 
 they should exhibit their native weakness." Ought not a virtuous man to 
 die tranquilly, blessing God ?" His last words were, " Crito, we owe a cock 
 to Esculapius, discharge this vow for me, and do not forget it." The slave 
 entered, and felt his limbs, he said the limbs were cold and shortly the cold 
 would reach his heart. Lactantius and TertuUian condemn this last passage 
 of Socrates, charging him with superstition, but Theodoret takes a just 
 view — " I am persuaded that he ordered this to be done to show the 
 injustice done in his condemnation. The cock is the emblem of life. He 
 acknowledged Esculapius as the emblem of physic. He would say, " I 
 surrender my soul into the hands of the great physician who can alone heal 
 and purify. He had been condemned for owning no god — not their gods. 
 He owns a God who needed no other homage than piety and virtue. — ^It 
 may be observed, that Socrates with great meekness and placid manners, 
 had given proof of heroic valour in the service of his country, at the siege of 
 Potidea, and at the battle of Delium. 
 
 19. All BJn must be atoned for. How that precious blood shall be 
 applied so as to satisfy the justice of God, and render a virtuous heathen 
 pure in His sight, and to give such an one entrance into the blood-bought 
 family — if it be so — wiU be revealed among other mysteries of natui-e, 
 
Vlll. NOTES. 
 
 of providence, and of graee ; but we do know, "That men shall be justified by 
 their words, and by their words they shall be condemned"— that every idle 
 word they shall give account of at the day of judgment — this dictum of the 
 blessed Saviour— THE VIRTUOUS MAN— is brought before the reader, as 
 veredict to the sentiment advanced, of the final state of blessedness of such 
 men as Socrates, Plato, Cicero, and the like virtuous persons of the heathen 
 world. — Rightfulness, or the love of right action, may be submitted as the 
 equivalent in the natural mind, to righteousness in the Christian heart- 
 since both can only be the result of holy influence superinduced by God's 
 Spirit. The Proverbs contain many " apophthegms,'' illustrative of moral 
 rectitude, available to the heart, before the grace of God shall have 
 exhibited its pollutions and by conviction of its sinfulness shall have urged 
 the cry, " God be merciful to me a sinner.'' 
 
 20. Engagement in a faction — the shibboleth of a party — countersign or 
 ■watch- word of a troop. 
 
 22. A direct contradiction of the Apostle's elaborate' argument in the 
 3 Galatians — " For we^are all the children of God 'by faith in Christ Jesus." 
 A shrewd advocate of believer's baptism relates the following conversation 
 held by ministers of opposing creeds : 
 
 Churchman. — We observe this rite as it hath been handed down to us 
 
 from primitive times. 
 Independent. — We agree wjijli you brother, that the children of believers 
 are proper objects to present to God as proofs of our own faith — 
 but why retain the popish custom of signing their foreheads with 
 the cross ? 
 Baptist. —Oh ! no doubt to preserve conformity with the original institu- 
 tion, for observe, that wherever precept or example is given in the 
 Nev/ Testament, for the baptism or sprinkling of infants, it always 
 follows, " And sign them with the sign of the cross." 
 In a work lately published by the excellent Rev. H. H. Beamish, on Bap- 
 tismal Regeneration, we extract the following : " We believe that we 
 may dedicate our children to God by baptism, and we bless God for the 
 permission ; we believe that on our part it is an act of faith and an act 
 of duty. We do it, not in order to save the children, but to glorify God, 
 and to put our children within reach of all the means of grace, and all the 
 privileges of the Christian church. Although we believe the child could be 
 saved without the rite, that is not a reason for neglecting it. We believe 
 the blood of .Tesus Christ to be effectual for the salvation of every member 
 of the human family before actual transgression — although incapable of 
 repentance, that creature will be presented without spot or wrinkle, through 
 that blood, before the presence of an all-searching God. We believe that the 
 
the child niay be saved without baptism, and because we believe, we baptize 
 the child. But it may be asked, doth not our church affirm that the bap- 
 tized person, whether child or adult, is " regenerated or bom again?" She 
 does, but it is on the supposition that all the conditions she requires are 
 complied with ! She does, and we regret that she does so — for the reason, 
 that in most cases she can have but little hope that those conditions can be 
 complied with. Her denial of discretionary power to her ministers to return 
 thank?, or at least, hypothetically to return thanks, hath wounded more 
 honest hearts, hurt more tender consciences, and multiplied more seceders 
 from her pale, than all other forms and obligations connected with her 
 system, — To all whi)m it may concern at Rome, at Oxford or Cambridge, or 
 elsewhere, be committed the task to explore the acute reasoning, and to trace 
 the logical deductions of this argument ! 
 
 23. In the Roman church, the examinations preparatory to a reception 
 of the Eucharist consist, principally, in superstitious directions for the mode 
 of receiving the wafer, which the young communicant is taught to believe 
 to be " very God.'' No saliva must be in the mouth, above all not on the 
 tongue. In receiving the wafer, the mouth should be opened wide, the lips 
 apart, the hallowed morsel must not be breathed upon, and on no account 
 tasted. The young minds are taught, that the priest who has elevated the 
 host, and has converted the bread into a god, is most holy, and even the 
 shoes on his feet and the place on which he stands should be had in 
 reverence. The feast of the Adoration of the Host was initituted by Hon- 
 orius III, in the thirteenth century. 
 
 24. The Pax is a small plate, commonly of silver, bearing an engraved 
 representation of the crucifixion which is kissed by the priest at the per- 
 formance of a certain part of the mass, and afterward by the assistants in 
 token of fraternal charity. Innocent I. in the early part of the fifth century 
 originated this superstition. A small figure of the Saviour carved rudely in 
 wood for the common people, but of ivory or silver for the higher classes, is 
 also named the Pax : before leaving the porch, when using the holy water, 
 this symbol receives the kiss of peace — whence the designation. Chapman, 
 a dramatist, 1644, puts into the lips of one of his characters, "Kiss the pax 
 and be quiet like your neighbours." The heathen women bore about their 
 persons, usually in their bosoms, an obscene symbol, which was exchanged 
 in the fourth century for this penate and worn in the same manner — the 
 superstition being equally depraved. 
 
 25. The bull of excommunication prononouced against a nation or in- 
 dividual who may have incurred the anger of the see of Rome, presents a 
 
X. NOTES. 
 
 tissue of blasphemy, and impudent assumption of power, totally at variance 
 ■with the meekness, seen and heard in the dictates and actions of the son of 
 God, the Saviour of men, " who came, not to destroy men's lives, but to save 
 them," 
 
 26. Ganganelli — ClementXIV — sometimes called the "Protestant pope" 
 He issued the famous bull which dissolved the order of Jesuits, and which 
 relieved the French church from their pestilential influence and gave scope 
 to the pure practice of the Jansenists. In his discourse on zeal he presents 
 amiable traits of a benevolent mind. " Jesus gave a rule for the practice of 
 zeal in his forbearance with Sadducees and Publicans ; he ate with the one 
 and tolerated the other. Scribes and Pharisees he denounced as hypocrites 
 who clamoured for the rites of the law, while they neglected the holy 
 precepts- — these were the loudest to cry " Crucify Him'' — and the examples 
 evince that intolerance keeps even pace with incredulity." He observes 
 further, "False zeal is an abomination in the sight of God; "Why do not 
 men distinguish the toleration of persons from the toleration of error — then 
 we should not hear of burnings and massacres — animosity would not rage 
 among the different communions, were but the pure spuit of the gospel 
 the guide of their hearts and understandings." Pope Clement XIV. dis- 
 played the same simplicity and modesty when pontiff that had signalized 
 him as a friar of St. Francis. He loved prayer in the cell and in the choir. 
 Of Benedict XIV. it was said, "He wrote much," and of Clement XIV. 
 " He prayed much.'' Eev. Robert Hall in his treatise on " Terms of Com- 
 munion'' presents a thought in unison with the benevolent Ganganelli — 
 "The pedo-baptists differ with us in the interpretation of a precept, but 
 they worship with us the Legislator of aU Christian precepts — the antidote 
 to their error lies in dispassionate argument, not in the exercise of power!'' 
 
 Elaize Pascal, a Komanist of eminent piety ; he was a profound ma- 
 thematician, the inventor of trigonometrical arithmetic. The vast calibre of 
 his mind, full of the Divine Spirit, is manifested in " Les Pensees," a work 
 esteemed by all classes and creeds of Christian men who delight in truth, 
 yet — " Proh pudor'' — this giant of reason and pillar of faith, introduces a 
 chapter on the "Decorous worship of the Virgin;" dedicating himself to her 
 worship. Pascal was also author of the celebrated work upon the vicious 
 dogmas of Jesuitism, entitled " Les Lettres provirtciales,'' exposing the 
 corrupt doctrines and practices of the disciples of Loyala. Boudon, a pious 
 Jesuit writer — author of " ie Chretien inconnu," and many excellent works — 
 but tainted also with Maryanism to a deplorable degree. Flechier, Bour- 
 daloue, Fenelon, Massillon, estimable as Christians and preachers of right- 
 eousness. Arnauld and NicoUe with Pascal, leaders of the Jansenist con- 
 trovery in conjunction with the monks of Port Koyal. The disputes on 
 
NOTES. XI. 
 
 efficient grace, took rise in the fifth century, occasioned hy the Pelagian 
 heresy. Jesuits and Jansenists both appeal to Augustine, quoting sxich 
 passages from his writings as appear to favour their views, garbling the 
 text on both sides — but the latter taking the plain import of the language — 
 the Jesuits, according to their usual habit, seeking i]ie direction of intention. 
 Augustine insisted, that in the worli of grace leading to conversion and 
 sanctifioation, all was to be ascribed to Divine energy — nothing to human 
 agency. This contest commenced in the fifth century; under varied phase 
 and name, has been continued to the present day. Savanarola was born at 
 Florence, in the year 1498. 
 
 27. Rev. xiii. " And the dragon gave power to the beast, and his seat, 
 and great authority ; and I saw one of his heads wounded to death and his 
 deadly wound was healed: and all men wondered at the Beast." The 
 Reformation under Luther and Cahin struck at all the fundamental errors 
 of the church of Rome, and the worship of God was established according 
 to the simplicity of the primitive times — but ahhough modified, the systems 
 of Protestantism presented the same features. Bishops stiil lorded over 
 God's heritage — the people still made Cliristian by generation, not by re- 
 generation. Prayer, a form, not an inspiration. The rule of life founded on 
 the law, not according to the gospel. Power to absolve from sin, conferred 
 upon the priest by human authority. Throughout the protestant modes of 
 worship, the same characteristic errors prevail — not the faith of the man — 
 but the opinion of the church or place constitutes " a sure and certain hope 
 of a glorious resurrection." Baptism, by faith in the sponsors, not in the 
 heart of the candidates. Traditions yet accepted as parallels to scripture ; 
 and the dicta of a creed in the mouth of the servants presuming to over-ride 
 the commands of the Master. 
 
 28. Gal. v. i. The law is fulfilled in one word, " Love thy neighbour as 
 thyself, but if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not 
 consumed one of another.'' 
 
 29. Cranmer dismantled the popish stone altars with their images, and 
 placed the communion table in the centre of the chancel, the communicants 
 standing round and receiving the elements at the hands of the deacons, as 
 ■was the practice in the first century. 
 
 30. In the series of prophetic parables delivered by our Lord to his 
 disciples in Matthew's gospel, we read, "A woman took leaven and hid in 
 three measures of meal until the whole was leavened.'' How it has 
 happened that divines and learned men have adopted this word as a figtire, 
 
XU. NOTES. 
 
 to express the silent but holy unction of the spirit of God in the conTersion 
 of sinners, and to the spread of the Gospel, is a marvellous inattention to the 
 true meaning of the word, and consequently to the purport of the passage. 
 Leaven signifies a poison, a deterioration — and in that sense it is used 
 throughout the word of God, both in the old law, and by the prophets, and 
 by every -vvriter in the New Testament. If the place of this parable in the 
 series be carefully observed, it explains itself; it follows to that of the 
 mustard seed, which is sown, is grown, " which is the greatest among herbs, 
 and becomes a tree so that the birds lodge among the branches.'' The 
 history of the church and of anti-christ, is thus prophetically given, when 
 the woman (church of Kome) leavens the three graces, faith, hope, luve, 
 tmtil the religion of Jesus becomes disfigured and altogether depraved. 
 
 34. The gong is made of brazen metal, composed of copper, zinc, tin, and 
 bismuth; a tone of great sweetness responds to one blow of a wooden mall, 
 but if blows are repeated with increasing force, a rush of distracting sounds 
 oppress the ear beyond endurance. This metal drum is used in Eastern 
 countries to regulate the march of troops in processional pomp, and also to 
 call cattle from the field. 
 
 35. The prelatic persecution under Charles II. expelled 2,000 zealous 
 divines from the pale of the national church, on the pretence of noncon- 
 formity. 
 
 36. To Neale's history of the Puritans, the reader is referred for details 
 of the sufferings of evangelical dissenters during the bigoted times of this 
 fiivolous monarch, and his bigoted successors. 
 
 37. Prov. XV. 25. " The Lord will destroy the house of the proud, but 
 he will establish the border of the widow." Three Prince apostates. It is 
 scarcely necessary'to enumerate the two Charles, and James II. The reign 
 of the Stuart family ended in queen Anne, whose sudden death pieserved 
 her name from ignominy as a persecutor. The commission had been issued 
 under her sanction, when the presbyterians assembled fcr prayer to God 
 that he would avert from them the anticipated evil ; the prayers were 
 prolonged beyond midnight. The queen gave up the ghost that same night; 
 and her successor, George of Hanover, pursued a more christian-like course 
 — establishing tolerance of creed and warship. The Stuart race was cut off 
 in the person of cardinal York, who died a refugee in the papal court, in the 
 year 1807, having lived upon a pension furnished from the privy purse of 
 George III. In the year 1788, he assumed the barren title of king, and 
 caused a medal to be struck, bearing an inscription "Henricus nanus Rex — 
 and on the obverse, " Gratia Dei, non voluntate hominum." 
 
NOTES. XUl. 
 
 38. There are several varieties of the mustard plant enumerated by 
 botanists. Sir Thomas Browne observes, " that, springing as a plant from a 
 small seed, the herb gradually thickens in the stem and becomes wood. 
 Linnseus speaks of the Sintppi ei'ucoides possessing this property. An 
 arborescent vegetable is found indigenous to the Mediterranean coast in 
 large number. Writers in the Talmud have adopted the figure. A tree of 
 this kind is mentioned, being of sufficient dimensions to cover a large tent. 
 The Alyssum clypeola aud Clypeola thlaspi are of this class of plants. 
 
 39. 2Tim. iii. 15. " Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, 
 deceiving and being deceived." The close of the first century witnessed the 
 rise of the sect of the Gnostics, which sprang from ihe vain thought to 
 commingle the principles of Oriental philosophy with the holy principles of 
 the gospel of Christ ; at the same period arose a sect of Jewish christians 
 who sought to combine the customs of the Mosaic law with the ordinances 
 of the New Testament. The first great heresy appears to have been, a 
 denial of the real humanity of Christ, or that he wiis clothed with a real 
 body ; also denying that Messiah suffered on the cross, but that he came to 
 deliver the heaven born soul from a degraded body, and again to unite the 
 divine mind to the Father of Spirits. This tenet appears to have been the 
 germ from which the infinite complexity of opinions took their rise during 
 the first and second centuries. Dositheus, the Samaritan — Simon Magus, 
 also a Samaritan ; and Menander, another Samaritan— ihese all taught the 
 doctrine of Eaons— each of them pretending to height of power. The morals 
 of these Gnostics were impure, as their doctrines were absurd. Cerinthus, a 
 Jew, appeared after these men, advancing in impiety ; foi amalgamating 
 the doctrines of Christ, together with the common errors of both Jews and 
 Gnostics, his notions of the Saviour were absurd and blasphemous. In the 
 second century arose Ammonias Saecas, who establi>hed the sect of the new 
 Platonics. He combined the sentiments of Hermes the Egyptian, with the 
 doctrines of Plato. He acknowledged Christ to be an excellent man, and 
 the friend of God, but he denied that Jesus intended to abolish the worship 
 of demons, who were to be considered as messengers and ministers of 
 Providence. Origen and many chri,-tians of this age adopted the wild 
 notions of this subtle man, who to maintain his authority observed great 
 atisterity of life, and introduced a system of indolence and seclusion from 
 the ordinary occupations of life; from this impure source sprang the various 
 sects of the Mystics; and from these, mjriads of idle monks, hermits, 
 ascetics, stylites or pillar saints; together with a multitude of foolish 
 personal privations and rules of abstinence and seclusion, proclaiming these 
 useful to holiness, and a means of salvation. Hence began the contests 
 between faith and reason, religion and science, piety and genius, which are 
 to this day the heirlooms of standard sects of error and folly. 
 
Xiy. NOTES. 
 
 40. 1 Tim. iv. 7. "Refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise 
 thyself unto godliness." The end of the commandment is charity out of a 
 pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned, from which some 
 having swerved, have turned aside unto vain janglings. Victor, bishop of 
 Rome in the eleventh century issued the first bull of excommunication 
 against the Asialics upon the question of keeping Easter, these, observing 
 the Paschal supper on the fourteenth day of" the first Jewish month ; hence 
 arose sharp and violent dissensions between the Asiatic and Western 
 christians. The venerable Polycarp endeavoui'ed to compose the dispute, but 
 without effect. 
 
 41. John XV, "I am the true vine, my Father is the husbandman." In 
 this sublime discourse, the source of christian love is shown to be in Christ, 
 "who loved us and gave himself for us." Therefore, should christian men 
 love one another. No sooner was philosophy grafted upon the gospel-tree 
 than love faded, and faith decayed, and holy practice withered. At length 
 love expires, and the Word is fulfilled in them " Tliey hated without a 
 cause.'' All this is seen in the history of the church, from the close of the 
 second century until the present day. 
 
 43. The Upas tree, flourishing in the island of Java. Of the Urticea 
 family, the same as the nettle, the mulberry, and the bread fruit ; it often 
 attains to the height of 100 feet, and to a diameter of six feet. An incision 
 being made in the smooth bark, the poisonous sap flows freely. The 
 emanations from the tree are not alike infectious to all persons or animals, 
 nor under all circumstances of time or weather. The Strychnos, a species of 
 vine, also growing in Java, is most deadly. This parasite clings tenaciously 
 to trees, and reaches to their highest summit. The branches being cut and 
 boiled, yield a gum resin, from, which the poison is prepared. 
 
 44. In the fourth century commenced the controversy between Arius 
 and Anastatius upon the divinity of Christ ; dividing the christian body into 
 two great branches. After the conversion of Constantino to the faith, the 
 struggle for supremacy commenced, being claimed by the patriarch of Con- 
 stantinople in the Greek cliurch, and by the bishop of Rome as head of the 
 Latin church. " Great birds'' — assuming ecclesiastical power in the person 
 of Heresiarchs, and in the rival pretentions of new orders of bishops and 
 dignitaries of the church — the simplicity of early Christianity having now 
 merged into arrogance and luxury. 
 
 42. Great Priscilla and Aquila. Likewise the church in their house. 
 Eom. xvi. 3. and in the epistle to Philemon, and to " church in thy house.' ' 
 
KOTES. XV. 
 
 43. By allusion to Jewish titles — the bishop of a church was considered 
 to have taken the place of the high priest ; the elders or preshvters were 
 saluted as the priests, and the deacons were said to represent the Levites. 
 In process of time these iigurative forms of speech became the acknowledged 
 privileges of these orders, and their distinctive garments, with other circum- 
 stances of grandeur were assumed ; togetlier with tithes, first-fruits, and also 
 rites and ceremonies analogous to Mosaic worship. From tliat time the 
 Eucharist was asserted to be a sacrifice, and not a remembrance. 
 
 44. A doctrine was introduced into the church in tlie fourth century, 
 upon which the elevation of the host in the celebration of the Eucharist was 
 instituted, together with the use of the censer and incense. Gregory, 
 sumamed Thaumaturgus, or the wonder-worker, established the practice of 
 dancing, sporting, and feasting at the tombs of the martyrs, and substituted 
 christian festivities in lieu of the pagan observances in honour of their gods. 
 
 45. A scale of price for absolution, called an indulgence, was drawn up 
 and published by Tetzel, who made the infamous assertion upon one 
 occasion, that the efficacy of the pope's indulgence was such, " that even 
 had any one ravished the mother of God, he had power wherewithal to 
 efface the guilt." — see Moshiem — Eurther, he boasted publicly, when offering 
 his papers for sale, " That he had saved more souls from hell than had the 
 apostle Peter by his preaching." 
 
 46. Rom. xiii. 6. " For this cause pay ye tribute also, for they are 
 God's ministers attending continually upon this very thing.'' This apostolic 
 direction to christian men to submit conscientiously to the government of 
 their country, and to contribute cheerfully to the demands of the state, is 
 ■wrested by the popish church to defend the exactions of a covetous priest- 
 hood. 
 
 47. Isaiah xliv. 19. "None considereth in his heart, neither is there 
 knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire ; 
 yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh 
 and eaten : and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall 
 down to the stock of a tree ? He feedeth on ashes, a deceived heart hath 
 turned him aside, that he cannot deliver hiis soul, nor say, " Is there not a 
 lie in my right hand." Eev. xiii. 16. " The Beast caused all, both small 
 and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right 
 hand, or on their forehead." 
 
 48. John XV. 12. " This is my commandment ; that ye love one another 
 as I have loved you.'' Rom. xiii, 9. "If there be any other commandment it 
 is briefly comprehended in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 
 
XVI. NOTES. 
 
 49. Procrustes, a robber chieftain of Attica, who subjected captive 
 travellers to this inhuman ordeal. Theseus the son of Egeus among other 
 exploits in imitation of the labours of Hercules, seized the tyrant and killed 
 him, by attaching his limbs to the trunk and branches of a bent pine tree, 
 which being lil,erated, sprang up and tore him asunder. 
 
 60. The bull for a universal jubilee granted by Clement XIV., Ganganelli 
 ■ — in pursuance, as he states, " according to the ancient practice of the 
 sovereign pontiffs, our predecessors, trusting in the mercy of Almighty God, 
 and in the influence of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and in virtue of 
 the sovereign power of binding and loosing, we hereby grant by these 
 presents, to those who shall visit certain churches in Rome or out of Rome, 
 a plenary indulgence and remission of all their sins, to all faithful christians 
 of either sex, who shall in the space of fifteen following days, reckoning 
 from the time appointed by the bishops or vicars or curates.'' Then follows 
 the usual form. "Given at Rome, St. Marie Major, under the Fisherman's 
 ring, 12th Dec. 1769. First year of our pontificate.'' 
 
 51. Rom. xiv. 1. "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to 
 judge his doubtful thoughts ; or not to doubtful disputation." 
 
 52. " We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the wealt, 
 and not to please ourselyes'' — and forward to the end of the chapter. 
 
 53. 2 Peter ii. 21. " It had been better for them not to have known the 
 way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy 
 commandment delivered unto therti ; but it is happened unto them according 
 to the true proverb. The dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow 
 that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." 
 
 Letter from the Rev. Dr. Worthington, of the Church of the Holy Trinity, 
 St. Andrew, Holborn, to the Rev. J, W. Bennett, M.A., of St. Barnabas, 
 Chelsea:— " For some time the Tracts for the Times gave forth a noble 
 spirit, but they gradually sunk in tone into wretched Romanism; non 
 naturals, absurd estimates of symbols, paltering equivocation, and reserva- 
 tion in teaching the whole truth; tl ese things led me to feel the utter 
 impossibility of supporting the system that was contained in them. I traced 
 Newman placing the Virgin in the hypostasis of the Trinity ; I saw Dods- 
 worth equivocating on the question of the Intercession ; Oakley uttering 
 flat Papistry, and Pusey advocating a ooporeal presence in the elements, 
 and claiming similar credence for the traditions of men with that due to the 
 word of God." 
 
rroTES. xvu. 
 
 54. If the pimotuation of this passage be corrected this prophecy 
 ■vvUl be rendered clear, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah." The 
 sceptre has not departed. Matthew ii. 2. "Where is he that is bom king 
 of the Jews" — declared of Jesus at his birth ; and at his death on the cross 
 the superscription was written of him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and 
 Hebrew — " This is the king of the Jews.'' The second clause of the blessing 
 asserts, that the lawgiver shall not depart from Judah, as David declares in 
 the 60th Psalm, v. 7. " Judah is my lawgiver" — or lawkeeper. The Jews 
 do tenaciously hold to the law, and will do so, until Shiloh come." ShUoh 
 has not come yet, for the gathering of the people has not taken place, nor, 
 until the King comes to receive the kingdom shall the law depart from 
 Judah. 
 
 55. Dr. Kay Shuttleworth, Report of Minutes of the Committee of 
 Council on Education: — "The statesman who endeavours to substitute 
 instruction for coercion ; to procure obedience to the law by intelligence, 
 rather iJian by fear ; to employ a system, of encouragement to virtuous 
 exertion, instead of the dark code of penalties against crime ; to use the 
 public resources, rather in building schools, than barracks and convict ships ; 
 to replace the constable, the soldier, and the gaoler, by the schoolmaster, 
 cannot be justly suspected of any design against the liberties of his country, 
 or be charged with an improvident employment of the resources of the 
 state.'' 
 
 " In every instance in which the authority of the state to interfere for the 
 education of the people has been questioned, the doubt has been suggested 
 by some antagonistic authority. The abstract justice of the exercise of this 
 power of the state, would never have been called in question if it had not 
 appeared to threaten some existing interest, or failed to acknowledge some 
 social right. The abstract objection has been prompted, either by some 
 practical grievance, or by the desire of some dominant majority, or by com- 
 bination of the two causes. If the appointment of public inspectors be con- 
 Bideredj objections to the educational scheme must vanish. The inspector's 
 duty requires bim to report solely on the literary improvement of the 
 scholars, it remains with the school committees to examine the efficiency of 
 the religious instruction, whether general or special. On the report of the 
 managers that they are satisfied with the state of the religious instruction 
 the Committee of Council will require no other proof." 
 
 "The Committee of Council intend to avoid making any requirement 
 beyond that of the minute, December, 1839. " That the daily reading of a 
 portion of scripture shall form part of the instruction of the school, nor do 
 their Lordships require attendance on any particular Sunday school, or of 
 eny particular place of worship ; but will be satisfied if at the close of each 
 
XVIU. KOTES. 
 
 year the managers of the school certify, that the pupil-teachers and the 
 scholars have been attentive to their religious duties." 
 
 56. Josh. V. 14. "And Joshua went unto him and said unto him, Art 
 thou for us or for our adversaries : and he said, Nay ! but as captain of the 
 Lord's host am I come." 2 Chron. xiii. 12. " Behold ! for he is with us 
 for our captain." Heb. ii. 10. " Por it became him for whom all things 
 and by whom all things, in bringing many sons unto glory to make the 
 captain of their salvation, perfect through suiferings." 
 
Cj)ur<:| ^tlls. 
 
A TRAIN of pleasing thought has often passed the mind, as the 
 steps proceed on a Sabbath morn to the Sanctuary., The Mas- 
 ter of assemblies appears to be looking down upon the throng 
 of worshippers of every tribe, and tongue, and kindred. They 
 prepare to offer their creatiu-e homage, each in the voice of his- 
 creed to the God of his Fathers. At such a time the humbled 
 individual is constrained to consider, not the amount of Truth 
 dwelling in the hearts of the diversity around him, but to 
 retire into the secrecy of his own breast, and examine himself, 
 " Whether he be in the faith." 
 
CHURCH BELLS. 
 
 I LOVE the sound of Sabbath bells. 
 
 Though not from superstition ; 
 
 But in their sound there's something tells. 
 
 From early intuition, 
 
 That this day is a day of rest, 
 
 A day for man which God hast blest : 
 
 Though not from heart persuasion. 
 
 From long association. 
 
 There's music in their sound to me. 
 
 Chiming in pleasant harmony, 
 
 Awakening hallowed fire ; 
 
 And as I see the decent folk 
 
 In bonnet trim, and russet cloak, 
 
 "With ordered pace and placid look ; 
 
 The ladies with the squire : 
 
 There's something tells me that our land ; 
 
 A land so highly favoured — 
 
 Obedient to God's command. 
 
 Gives rest to those who laboured ; 
 
 To high and low, the learned, the rich. 
 
 To those who hear, and those who preach ; 
 
 Whether arrayed in gown and band. 
 
 Or in simplicity they stand. 
 
 With only Bible-book in hand; 
 
 Whether from law or gospel text. 
 
 None will admit — on no pretext — 
 
 To lose or desecrate the day. 
 
In dissipation or in play. 
 But sanctify the Sabbath : 
 
 If on this point we should agree, 
 
 It would not signify to me. 
 
 What the man's sentiments might be ; 
 
 Whether at Rome he fear the pope ; 
 
 In Church of England place his hope ; ■ 
 
 With Unitarian hold a pew ; 
 
 The Sabbatarian or Jew; 
 
 These keep the last day, those the new ; 
 
 Or with Moravian or Friend, 
 
 Make piety his aim and end ; 
 
 With Methodists hold christian faith ; 
 
 Or hear what Presbyterian saith ; 
 
 With Baptist, Independent pray ; 
 
 Let him observe the Sabbath day. 
 
 And in God's house glad homage pay : 
 
 Then if there's error in his heart, 
 God, from that error may convert. 
 And on His own mysterious plan. 
 Convince the mind, and save the man ; 
 So Nature's darkness turned to light. 
 The heart renewed, shall in God's sight, 
 Observe his precepts with delight ; 
 And born again through grace ; the soul 
 Rejoicing in divine controul. 
 Shall hold communion and pray. 
 With HiM, who once was heard to say, 
 " For man was made the Sabbath day : " 
 
 Beseech you now ; don't say or think, 
 I'm latitudinarian ; 
 
Or deem me on perdition brink, 
 Witli Infidel or Arian ; 
 Since liberty I seem to give ; 
 To all, wbatever they believe — 
 No ! "while I claim to bold my own, 
 My neigbbour's faitb I leave alone. 
 And tolerate Mm — tolerate — 
 Tbe selfisb word I execrate ; 
 Beshrevf tbe tbougbt ; no king or queen, 
 That may be, or tbat may bave been ; 
 No commoner of bigb estate. 
 However kind, or good, or great; 
 No peer, nor minister of state ; 
 Nor pontiff, presbyter, nor priest ; 
 Nor bigb autbority, nor least ; 
 No one sbould dare to say to men, 
 I ! give you leave to sue to Heaven 
 For peace, or joy for sins forgiven : 
 I ! institute another day. 
 For men to fast or feast, or pray. 
 More holy than the Sabbath day : 
 
 But if indifferent I seem 
 
 To creeds which others think or dream, 
 
 I am not heedless of my own ; 
 
 With God I have a great concern 
 
 Of life and death, when through that bourn 
 
 From which no travellers return 
 
 I hasten on to see His Face ; 
 
 A welcome find in his embrace. 
 
 Or lost — for ever mourn : 
 
 Great Spirit ! show my feet the way 
 And teach me where and when to pray 
 
To read Thy "Word, when read, obey-^ 
 Give me my fellow-man to love 
 Let kindness all my thoughts approve. 
 Seek for no faults, but know my own. 
 Humbly confess before Thy throne ; 
 There, plead through Him, the Holy One ; 
 Make every vain desire to flee 
 Would injure faith, dishonour Thee : 
 And lead me to that blood-stained cross, 
 Than which all other things are dross ; 
 There weeping my Redeemer see. 
 Who bore the curse, and died for me ; 
 Who taught His followers to pray. 
 And kept, with them, the Sabbath day : 
 
 Thy gracious influence impart 
 To keep me holy, hand and heart ; 
 Let all the actions of my life 
 Be free from vanity and strife ; 
 From worldly cares and passions free. 
 So render mind and soul to Thee ; 
 Then my glad soul shall wing her way 
 To everlasting Sabbath day : 
 
 In perfect vision then, my sight 
 Shall ever dwell in God's own light, 
 Transcendently shall joyful trace. 
 The glorious beauties of His Face ; 
 With angel-hearts shall muse and tell 
 Of Sabbath sounds and gospel bell.