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with the weakness and wickedness of Herod; | atrociousness of the murder, and the opinteaching us, at the same time, that the ion which the world would entertain of greatest of prophets and the best of men the murderer. But the tide, which had are not more secure from violence, than ebbed, soon flowed again, and obliterated, from natural death, but rather more exposed in a moment, what had been written on to it than the rest of mankind, if with fidel- the sand, during its recess. The love of ity and fortitude they execute the trust Herodias, the address of Salome, the fescommitted to them. tivity of the season, and the presence of the "lords and high captains," who had been witnesses of the promise, and might possibly approve the proposal; all these circumstances on the side of the temptation prevailed. And perhaps Herod, upon recollection, might think that the supposed obligation of his oath would afford him a better excuse than he should ever be master of again, for complying with the importunity of Herodias, and taking off a monitor troublesome to them both. "For his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her." Thus, if any extraordinary wickedness is to be transacted, religion must be made a cover for it. As if wrong became right, when acted in the naine of God; and it were more acceptable in his sight, to massacre a prophet, than to repent of a rash oath made to a foolish girl, at a drunken entertainment.

Herodias, by her lawful husband Philip, had a daughter named Salome, who condescended to grace the festivity by dancing before the company, in a manner which "pleased Herod, and them that sat with him " A pious prelate of our church, in his contemplations on this occurrence, observes, that "dancing, in itself, as it is a set, regular, harmonious, graceful motion of the body, cannot be unlawful, any more than walking, or running." We may add, that it hath in all ages and nations been one way, and that a natural one, of expressing an uncommon degree of joy and gladness; on which account it was adopted into the number of religious ceremonies formerly enjoined to be observed by the people of God. But for a young lady to appear, as a dancer, before Herod and his "lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee," probably when they were well warmed with wine, became only the daughter of an Herodias, educated by her own mother.

Herod, quite overcome and thrown off his guard by Salome's performance, makes her a foolish promise; and, as if that was not enough, confirms it with a rash oath; "Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, to the half of my kingdom." A very handsome recompense, one would think, for a dance! But it will appear presently, that the king had not offered enough. Half his kingdom would not do. Something was required more valuable than the whole of it, had it extended from Judea, quite round the globe. Nothing would satisfy, but his honor, his conscience, his soul; the price which sin never fails to ask! The glorious golden opportunity of revenge was not to be lost. Herodias is consulted by her daughter, and lo, the soft, tender, delicate Salome re-enters, all athirst for blood-" Give me in a charger the head of John the Baptist;" of a prophet; of a person whom thou knowest to be innocent, holy, upright. Make me this sacrifice, and I am content. With such eagerness and sagacity does "the adulteress hunt for the precious life!"

The Baptist's fate being thus determined, "immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought and he went and beheaded him in prison." This deed of darkness must have been done in the season proper for it, the middle of the night, and St. John was probably awakened, to receive his sentence, out of that sleep, which truth and innocence can secure to their possessor, in any situation. The generality of mankind have reason enough to deprecate a sudden death, lest it should surprise them in one of their many unguarded hours. But to St. John no hour could be such He had finished the work which God had given him to do. He had kept the faith, and preserved a conscience void of offence. He had done his duty, and waited daily and hourly, we may be sure, for his departure. He was now, therefore, called off from his station with honor; to quit the well-fought field for the palace of the Great King; to refresh himself, after the dust, and toil, and heat of the day, by bathing in the fountain of life and immortality; to exchange his blood-stained armour for a robe of glory, and to have his temporary labors rewarded with eternal rest; to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God; and as the friend of Bad as Herod was, the petition of Salome the Bridegroom, to enter into the joy of his at first shocked him. "The king was sor-ord. From the darkness and confinement ry." He thought of John's character, the of a prison, he passed to the liberty and light

of heaven; and while malice was gratified of God, whom they confessed in the world." with a sight of his head, and his body was carried by a few friends in silence to the grave, his immortal spirit repaired to a court, where no Herod desires to have his brother's wife; where no Herodias thirsts after the blood of a prophet; where he who hath labored, with sincerity and diligence, in the work of reformation, is sure to be well received; where holiness, zeal, and constancy "are crowned, and receive palms from the Son

So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed,
And yet anon uprears his drooping head,
And tricks his beams, and with new spangled ore,
Flames in the forehead of the morning sky-
He hears the unexpressive nuptial song
In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love.
There entertain him all the saints above,
In solemn troops, and sweet societies,
That sing, and singing in their glory move,
And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes.

2 Esdr. ii. 45-47.

MILTON.

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LETTERS ON INFIDELITY,

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,

A LETTER TO DR. ADAM SMITH.

The doctrine of Epicurus is ever ruinous to society: it had its rise when Greece was declining, and per haps hastened its dissolution, as also that of Rome; it is now propagated in France and England, and seems likely to produce the same effects in both. GRAY'S MEMOIRS, p. 202.

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