It is possible I may be repeating sentiments which have been published before, but as I do not recollect to have seen them where, you will if you think per give the following a place in your Repository.

suade that upright man to take leave of the God of his worship, when he found he would not come to his succour.

mighty any

pro

The first caution that the Al. would give to an intelligent being, if he gave him any, would certainly be not to suffer his attention to be arrested by the second causes of his happiness, but to carry them forward to the great First Cause, and let him be the object of his admiration and worship.

In the state in which the first pair are described as being placed, I see scarcely a possibility of their being guilty of sin, of a moral kind; they were exposed to no

On reading a critique on Dr. Clarke's hypothesis of the fall, it appeared to me not improbable that, although the account of the fall has been in general justly considered in the light of an allegory, yet there has been an error in imagining that it refers to sin in general. Upon this supposition it has been found extremely difficult to account for the introduction of temptation, nor could they well the leading characters of it, as the fall into any sin, except that of serpent, the woman and the for. paying a reverential homage to the bidden fruit. May not the distin. heavenly hosts, those splendid guishing part they act in this creatures of God, who by their drama, be fully explained, by the imposing appearances and useful supposition that the forbidden agency might seem to call for their ruit was idolatry; that the ser adoration. We are assured that •pent is brought in as the tempter, the first species of idolatry which because it was the earliest emblem sprang up in the world, was the of a false God; that the woman worship of the heavenly bodies, tempted Adam, in the same way and it was undoubtedly the most as the Israelites were tempted and natural. Next to them, the serdrawn into idolatry, by having pent was one of the first images of intermarried among their heathen Deity that were employed by neighbours, and as we read that man. Not that the serpent was the wife of Job also employed all deified; for this I am persuaded the flippancy of her tongue to per. was not originally intended, what

ever corruptions may have after- Egyptians, a wise and a learned
wards sprung up amongst idolaters. people; therefore, perhaps, the
But the serpent, for some reason fruit was said to be of the tree of
or other, perhaps for that sagacity knowledge, and among the Egyp-
for which he has been so much tians it was that the serpent was
celebrated by Mr. Bryant in his held in the highest esteem. It was
Ophion, and by others before him, the design of the author of this al.
.*
and for having wisdom and in- legory to intimate that amongst
telligence no way inferior to the evils which followed in the
man," was preferred by the ear- train of this greatest of crimes, the
ly Pagans as the proper represen- disrobing man of his innocence and
tative of Deity in their temples. his immortality were the first and
The serpent is therefore made the the greatest.
first moving instrument of mis-
chief.

The history informs us that he tempted Eve. The Jews, and all the eastern nations, considered the tender sex as much inferior in understanding to the males: and, as the running into idolatry was a strong mark of weakness, the writer supposes that the woman. would be first disposed to this weakness, and would be a proper instrument to lead her husband into it. Or, may it represent a weaker and more ignorant race of mankind, who first abandoned themselves to the worship of idols, and whose example was dangerous to the Israelites ?

1

The unwillingness of the man and his wife to meet the Lord in the garden after they had been guilty of so great a sin is now become a proper and a beautiful part of the history, and the sewing of fig-leaves together to cover their nakedness, strongly marks the weak and insufficient arguments by which the Israelites were disposed to justify their departure from the worship of the God of their fathers.

Without pursuing these thoughts
farther, or attempting to explain
the less important features of the
I am, Sir,
story,

Your obedient Servant,
J. W.

An ancient New Year's Gift.
Islington, Jan. 1st, 1812.
SIR,

I lately met with an old book, entitled "Priestcraft in Perfection, or a Detection of the Fraud of in serting and continuing this Clause

This supposition on the account of the fall, is much corroborated by the consideration of the time when, and the person by whom it was written. It has been sup. posed to have been written by Moses; and at a period when the subject of idolatry seems to have The Church hath power to deoccupied all the thoughts of both leaders and people among the Jews. The former using all their energies to deter the congregation from idolatry, and the latter ex. hibiting the strongest predilection for that vice. They had taken their love of false gods from the

Believe this who will.

cree Rites and Ceremonies and Authority in Controversies of Faith, in the Twentieth Article of the Articles of the Church of England. London., 1710.” In running my eye over its contents, I found the following curious note, which I transcribe without any remarks for the use of your Mis

cellany. Indeed the article speaks D. Wherein is the idolatry, may

for itself, and your intelligent rea. ders may be gratified with its insertion. Ian Sir, Yours,

it please your majesty ?

Q. In the cuts resembling angels and saints, nay grosser J. EVANS. absurdities-pictures resembling the BLESSED TRINITY!

I

think it would offend your majesty when I intended it for a New Year's Gift.

no

"Dr. Nowell, Dean of St. D. I meant no harm, nor did Paul's, having gotten several fine cuts and pictures representing the stories and passions of the saints and martyrs, caused them to be Q. You must needs be ignorant bound up in a Common Prayer then. Have you forgot our proBook and laid it for the Queen's clamation against images, pictures use in the place where she com- and Romish relics in the churches? monly sat, intending it for a New Was it not read in your Deanery? Year's Gift to her Majesty and D. It was read. But be your thinking to have pleased her fancy majesty assured I meant therewith. But it had not that harm when I caused the cuts to effect but the contrary, for she be bound up with the service considered how this varied from book. her late injunctions and proclamations against the superstitious use of images in churches, and taking away all such relics of popery. When she came to her place at St. Paul's, she opened the book and perused it and saw the pic tures, but frowned and blushed and then shut it, and calling the verger bad him bring her the old book wherein she was formerly wont to read. After sermon in.

stead of taking horse, &c. she inmediately went into the vestry and applied herself to the Dean thus:

Q. Mr. Dean how came it to pass, that a new service book was placed on my cushion?

D. May it please your majesty, I caused it to be placed there.

Q. Wherefore did you so? D. To present your majesty with a New Year's Gift.

Q. You could never present me with a worse.

D. Why so, Madam? Q. You know I have an aversion to idolatry, to images and pictures of this kind.

Q. You must needs be very ignorant to do this after our prohi■ · bition of them.

D. It being my ignorance, your majesty may the better pardon me.

hear it was your ignorance rather Q. I am sorry for it, yet glad to than your opinion.

D. Be your majesty assured it was my ignorance.

Q. If so, Mr. Dean, God grant you his spirit, and more wisdom for the future.

D. Amen. I pray God.

Q. I pray Mr. Dean how came you by these pictures? Who en. graved them?

D. I know not who engraved them, I bought them.

Q. From whom bought you them?

D. From a German.

Q. It is well it was from a stranger, had it been any of our subjects we should have questioned the matter. Pray let no more of these mistakes or of this kind be committed within the churches of this realm for the future.

D. There shall not.

This matter occasioned all the clergy in and about London, and the churchwardens of each parish to search the churches and chapels, and caused them to wash out of the walls all paintings that seemed Romish and idolatrous, and in lieu thereof suitable texts taken out of the holy scriptures to be written. Strype's Annals of Q. Eliz. pages 238, 239."

Unitarianism in Wales.

SIR,

Hackney,

Dec. 23, 1811.

among the learned, whether the sacred writers of the Old Testament had any expectation of sur viving the stroke of death. There are undoubtedly many passages, particularly in the Psalms and in the prophets, which seem to intimate that they had this hope, but if, after all, their original import is so doubtful as to admit of a different construction on principles of just criticism, it must be allowed that no great stress can fairly be laid upon them.

"the

So far at least is certain, that the hopes and fears of a future life, made no part of the Mosaic As an instance of the progress code, the sanctions of which were of Unitarianism in Wales, I beg all temporal: yet the law, in the leave to relate a circumstance language of an Apostle, was which was mentioned to me a few school-master to bring men to months since by a respectable Christ." By this introductory clergyman of the established dispensation they were taught the church on the spot. One of his knowledge of the one living and parishioners, and formerly his very true God-the theopathetic affecconstant hearer, was induced to tions were excited and cultivated, join a Baptist congregation in the a purer morality was enforced, neighbourhood, with whom he and the great duties of justice and continued two or three years and humanity were called into exer. then returned to his parish church. cise. But, if the various texts, On being questioned by the cler- already alluded to as seeming to gyman as to the cause of this point towards a future state, are change, he assured him his senti- capable of being interpreted on ments remained the same as when different principles, it will follow, he joined the Baptists, and had that no sufficient evidence appears their's continued the same also, he from their writings that the Jewish would never have left them, but worthies had any definite expecta that latterly the whole congregati- tion respecting it. tion had (to use his own expression) "run Unitarians."

If this should be deemed worthy a corner of your valuable Repository, its insertion will oblige,

Yours respectfully,

S. C.

Hebrews' Hope of a Future State.

SIR, Sep. 22, 1811.
It has been much disputed

Here then a great difficulty occurs, for how can it have happened that whilst the philosophers in the Heathen world express such extreme anxiety on this momentous subject, that these eminent Jews, who in common with them, had their allotted share of afflictions and trials in this life; were alike subject to sickness and sorrow, and eventually to death,

should remain so entirely silent? irradiate the mind and cheer the When the author of that affecting desponding heart of the philosophic composition which in strains so sage; but by what doubts and pathetic, on the banks of the Eu- difficulties was he not frequently phrates, describes the anguish of assailed? How often would the his own mind and that of his com- perplexing inquiry occur-'Who is panions in captivity, driven from this great Being and what is his their country, despoiled of their name? Does he indeed govern property, and bereft of every thing the world? Are men, feeble, they held most dear-in circum- weak, imperfect, worthy of notice?? stances so afflicting, was it nothing Does his power extend beyond to them, whether this fleeting life the grave? Has he given any were the whole of their existence intimation that it does, or entered How then shall we account for this into any engagement how he will extraordinary phenomenon? In use it ? Well might solicitude and my own opinion, Mr. Editor, it fear take possession of mens' hearts admits but of one solution: these in such circumstances" They eminent persons, Isaiah, Jeremiah looked for help but there was no and others," of whom the world man, neither found they any to was not worthy," had such just comfort them." conceptions of the Supreme Being, were so habituated to look up to Him in all circumstances, "who alone livech and reigneth" "from everlasting to everlasting," to put their whole trust in God, whom they knew to be "abundant in mercy and truth;" were so constantly in the habit of devoting themselves entirely and with such filial confidence to his service, that even in respect to their future destiny, although no promise had been vouchsafed, "perfect love had cast out fear." Does the dutiful child, who has full and întire confidence in the wisdom,

I should be glad, Mr. Editor, if some of your numerous correspondents would favour us with their sentiments on this curious. and interesting subject, which cannot fail, whatever may be the result, to shew in a very striking light the unspeakable value of the pious and devout affections, and of those divine dispensations, the Jewish and the Christian, on which they principally rest for their support. I remain Sir, your constant Reader and well-wisher, AN INQUIRER.

the goodness, the affection of a be- Adult Baptism in connection with

loved parent, fear to follow

wherever he may lead?. Neither did they fear "though they should

Church Discipline.

Maidstone.

Is it probable that a more eli

walk through the valley of the gible mode can be devised, of disshadow of death." Contrast with tinguishing between the serious this, the wretched state of mind of the forlorn wanderer in polytheistic darkness. Some faint traces in deed of the footsteps of infinite wis. dom, goodness and power did occasionally break through the gloom, to

professor of christianity and the wavering and unthinking, than the use of that rite, which was instituted by Christ himself, as the instrument of setting apart his disciples?