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presses his admiration of the great Apostle of the Gentiles. We extract the quotation from the preface to Le Bas' Life of Wiclif.

"The voice of St. Paul was like the Cherubin of

the mercy-seat. Jehovah rested on the tongue of the Apostle, as he did on the forms of those celestial Virtues. Its utterance soared to seraphic heights; for what could the voice of a seraph pronounce more sublime than the exclamation, I am persuaded that neither angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesuis Christ.' Would I could behold the dust that formed that mouth, by which Christ spoke of such unutterable things, and by which the Spirit delivered his wondrous oracles to the world. For who shall tell the marvels which that mouth accomplished? it expelled demons-absolved sins-silenced monarchssealed up the tongues of philosophers-brought over the world to God-won barbarians to the study of wisdom-changed the whole frame and proportion of things on earth—and ordered at will the things which are in heaven, according to the mighty power that wrought within him. Would that I could behold the dust of that heart, which might truly be called the heart of the whole world—the fountain of blessings without number-the elemental principle of our very life, (for the spirit of life was thence dealt forth to all, and was divided to all the members of Christ) that vast and mighty heart, which embraced whole cities and nations; which was exalted above the heavens, and was larger than the earth; which was brighter than the sun, and firmer than adamant, that heart which was the tablet of the Spirit and the book of heavenly grace. Would that I could behold the dust of those hands which were galled with fetters, those hands by the imposition of which the

Spirit was dispensed, and from which the viper fell into the flame; would I could see the dust that formed those eyes which were so illustriously blinded, and which, for the salvation of the world, were soon restored to light; those eyes which looked on earthly things, but saw them not, and which beheld the things that are invisible. Would I could gaze upon the dust of those feet, which made the circuit of the earth, yet felt not weariness. Would I could see the sepulchre, where those arms of righteousness and light are now laid up; those limbs which are now alive, but which while he survived, were dead; those limbs which were crucified to the world, and in which Christ alone could be said to live. Would that I could look upon the ruins of that frame which was the temple of the Spirit; of that body, which, to this hour, girds the great city that contains it, with a defence more indestructible than the strength of wall or bulwark. -And would that we might not think upon him merely with veneration and astonishment, but fervently imitate his holiness, that we might be worthy hereafter to behold him, and to be made partakers of his unutterable glory."

ON REVERENCING HOLY THINGS.

If we indeed honour God, we shall for his sake reverence his Sanctuaries; keep holy the days set apart for his more solemn worship; obey, love, and support the Ministers of His holy word and sacraments, and not dare to profane any thing that is appropriated to his service.

They who dare be bold with the things belonging to God, generally at last despise God himself, and Atheism is too often the last refuge of the sacrilegious.

Rev. Nath. Spinckes, ob. 1727.
R.

STRAINING AT A GNAT AND SWALLOWING A CAMEL.

It is perfectly well known, that those, who upon the plea of Tender conscience" evade or oppose (contrary to St. Paul's express direction) the intent of the law on Church Rates, are in the constant habit of collecting mobs in the Church, to put into the office of Churchwarden, those who (instead of performing) will do all in their power to obstruct and defeat the purpose, for which Churchwardens are appointed. The Churchwardens were required to make oath, that they would "FAITHFULLY and

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TRULY execute the office. The Legislature, to satisfy the scruples of those, who doubt the lawfulness of swearing, has substituted a solemn declaration. This does not in the SIGHT OF GOD or of "COMMON SENSE" alter the nature of the pledge. It is still, in the sight of God and man, a declaration solemnly pledging the individual making it to act up to it "FAITHFULLY and TRULY," according to its plain meaning; and subjecting himself, in the case of wilful violation, or neglect, or unfaithfulness, to all the contempt and guilt, of perjury, lying, and fraud. If the man thinks to evade these consequences by secret reservations, or putting his own meaning upon the words, contrary to the known spirit, and intent of the office, he is only making the matter so much worse. For the man, who deceives in such a case by quibble, trick, or secret reservation, is worse than one who openly perjures himself and lies. The guilt of this shabby trickster is at least equal, and his baseness yet greater, than that of the open liar. A quibble has all the sinfulness of lie, rendered more disgusting and contemptible by the addition of cowardice and increased meanness.

But if these agents and tools of falsehood, perjury, tricks and fraud, be wicked, and contemptible, what shall we say of those, who are still more cowardly;

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those who use them, who join to vote them into office, and think to evade the guilt and penalty, by making them cats paws? What shall we think of those who profess to be great sticklers for religionnay, who call themselves Ministers of religion-nay more, who actually use TENDER CONSCIENCE a pretence what shall we think of those, who thus aid, and abet, and vote for others to commit PERJURY? In the name of "COMMON SENSE" we call upon serious Dissenters to consider what they are doing, what debasement, what disgrace, what guilt, they are bringing upon their cause, upon their characters, upon their souls. In the name of "COMMON SENSE" we appeal to the operatives and others, who are deceived, by false representations, to be made the tools of such baseness and wickedness. We warn them, as they would avoid the wrath of God, and not cast off the character of reasonable, and honest men; we warn them not to support perjury, abetted under the wretched cloke of “TENDER CONSCIENCE"! We say, that the man, who takes the office of Churchwarden, for the purpose of defeating the intention, for which it was appointed, and that every man who votes for, or supports him with that view; is guilty of perjury and fraud: To prove the truth of our assertion we print the oath, or solemn declaration, which a churchwarden is required to make, and usually in Church.

"You shall swear truly and faithfully to execute the office of a Churchwarden within your parish, and according to the best of your skill and knowledge present such things and persons, as to your knowledge are presentable by the laws ecclesiastical of this realm: So help you God, and the contents of this book."

Now those disenters, who put a man into office, known to be hostile to the Church, cannot mistake the plain intention of this oath or solemn declaration. The Church-warden is so called, because he is to

protect and take care of the Church, its fabric, the due performance of Divine Service, and to provide what is necessary, that all things relating to the service of God be done "decently and in order.” What shall be said of those "TENDER CONSCIENCES" who put a man into the office with the notorious intention, that he shall not, according to his solemn declaration, "truly and faithfully" execute its duties, but do all he can to obstruct the means of executing those duties? Are they not parties in a solemn lie and perjury? Nay-what should be our disgust and pity, if not conteinpt, of those who, under pretence of "Tender conscience" and "religious liberty," actually thrust into that office, one who was convicted and fined for having in his possession goods, for which he could not honestly account! We state this as a FACT. We have the copies of the depositions, and authentic proofs of the conviction. We dare the dissenters, to call us to the proof. We put it to the "COMMON SENSE" of the plainest and most unlearned man, who was made a tool in this outrage upon all decency, whether he has not been disgraced by being deceived to take a part in it; whether those, who have led him into it, are creditable, safe and honest leaders for him to follow. Can there be a more plain, a more decisive, exposure of the wickedness and impudence of the farce of "Tender conscience" and "Religious liberty"? "Tender Conscience"! seeking its ends how? By opposing the plain meaning of the law, and in order to do this abetting PERJURY, LYING, FRAUD, EQUIVOCATION? O shame! shame!

These "Tender consciences" cannot pay what the law has assigned to the support of the National Churches to enable the poor to worship God; but their tenderness is quite callous, when they are to encourage, and assist in the wickedness and baseness here mentioned. If this be not straining at a gnat, and swallowing a camel, we put it to the "COMMON

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