It is fomewhat wonderful that human and other animal remains are not more frequently found than they are; for at the period of the univerfal deluge (as is now generally, believed) the earth was more fully inhabited than at present, by reafon the life of man was confiderably longer. They, like other animals, taught by the inftinct of nature, would naturally flee from the approaching danger, and (as it is natural for us to fuppofe) climbed the mountains and pre-, cipices to avoid the mighty flood, and at laft perifhed toge ther by the violence of the overwhelming torrent. R. P. T METHODISTICAL IMPIETY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE. SIR, WRITE to you on a subject, which, if it meets with your ideas, you will not perhaps think unworthy of a place in your Magazine fo eminently fuperior to any other modern publication. 66 Returning to London the other day after a long abfence, I perceived a houfe near the Elephant and Caftle Inn with these words written upon it in large characters "THE HOUSE OF GOD."-Inquiring for what purpose the house that was diftinguished by fo facred a title was built or intended, I was informed it was a Methodistical Meeting.-Now Sir I think the perfons who have built this houfe and attached this title to it have been guilty of a crime of the moft impious nature. The houfe of God, as I always understood, is a place holy and facred, where God delights to fee and hear the fupplications of his people; where his divine presence is moft immediately fuppofed to exift; and where God or his presence is, there no evil thoughts, words, or works ought to approach" Draw not nigh hither," faid he to Mofes, when when he called to him from the midst of a bufh. "Draw not nigh hither, put off thy fhoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou ftandeft is holy ground."-Holy and fa cred not from the quality of the earth but from the divinity of God's prefence. Now Sir, let us view the house in quef tion, and fee whether it deferves the diftinguished appellation it affumes. It is built within a few yards of an inn, where more fwearing and more blafphemous words and expreffions may be hourly heard, than in most places in or about London. This ground then fo confpicuous for its blafphemy, is felected for the erection of what is called the house of Godeither the perfons who built it cannot really have meant the true construction of the words when they affixed them to it, in which cafe they have taken the name of God moft impioufly in vain, or if they did mean what the words are fuppofed to imply, how ignorant, how blind muft they be to fuppofe God will live or dwell where no refpect is paid to his name! This is my opinion of the perfons who built the house, and attached fuch an appellation to it. Did I attempt to point out the intentions of the perfons in fo doing, I fhould fuppofe in the first place that they muß have been aware of what I have advanced, and then the only fuppofition remaining is, that they must have intended the words, which ought to be refpected with piety and reverence, as a juggle, a mere delufion to attract people, otherwife well difpofed, into their meeting, and fo boast of their being able, if not by their doctrine, at least by their cunning, to increase the number of their followers. What the punishment of fuch men ought to be, I cannot prefume to fay, but I think it the duty of every one well difpofed to our civil and ecclefiaftical conftitution, to reprobate and restrain, as far as poffible, the increase of such infatuation, which, in the course of time, may perhaps otherwife lead to the worft confequences. I am, Sir, ΦΙΛΟΤΑΤΟΣ July 1807. 41 Extracts. ARCHBISHOP LAUD'S DEVOTIONS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S SIR, THE MAGAZINE. HE concluding divifion of Archbishop Laud's Daily Office being appropriated to that moft momentous part of the minifterial duty, the Vifitation of the Sick, will moft properly follow the prayer For the Sick, which concluded the laft portion of Extracts. In due order therefore we proceed to what their venerable author has fuperfcribed, AT THE VISITATION OF THE SICK. Are you PERSUADED 1. That no fickness or erofs comes to any one by chance, or at all adventures ? 2. But that they come from God, without whofe providence no body is afflicted with diseases ? 3. And that God being moft wife, never will fuffer any thing to befall us, but when it is expedient (to be) fo?) 4. And that this ficknefs or crofs which God has now fent upon you, is (therefore) expedient for you? 5. And moreover, that God has the affection of a Father. towards us? and that a Father, whether he be indulgent to his children, or whether he correct them, is a father alike. G Vol. XIII. Churchm. Mag. for July 1807. (in (in both) and that he does the latter with no lefs kindness, nay perhaps with greater than (he does) the former. 6. That for a long time he has bestowed good things upon you and though now he gives you evil things, yet he would not have brought the evil upon you, but only to be the occafion of greater good, i. e. that you may return to him? 7. That it is an effect of his (gracious) favour, that notwithstanding you have fo often rejected him, yet he does not leave you fo, but does vifit you at laft, and feek (after) you again. Now if this be the case, submit your own will in this matter to the divine will, a facrifice which is of all others, next to that of Chrift, (himself) the most acceptable unto God. Do you CONFESS, 1. That you have not lived fo well as you ought ? hay, that you lived ill, and that you have often and grievously finned ? 2. Is there any (particular) sin befides or above the reft? or are there any fins that lie heavy upon your confcience, so that you need the benefit of a particular abfolution? 3. Have you any scruple about those things which appertain to FAITH or RELIGION? 4. Do you call to mind the past years of your life in the bitterness of your foul? 5. Would you wish to feel greater bitterness for them than you are now fenfible of? and would you be glad if you felt more? and are you griev'd that you feel no more? 6. Do you defire to have your mind enlightened concerning those things which you are ignorant of, or which you have forgotten, that you may repent of them, and does it alfo repent you, that either you do not know them, or have forgotten them? 7. Do you purpofe, if you live, to judge (yourself) and (to) take vengeance upon yourself for your offences? 8. Do you purpose, if you live, to AMEND your life, and to avoid both the means, and (the) appearances of those fins which you have lived in? 9. Do you folemnly promise thus much? 10. And do you DESIRE to be freely admonished of this (your) promife? Do you BELIEVE, 1. Thofe matters that are contained in the articles of (the) Chriffian faith once delivered to the Saints ? ⚫. (And) 2. (And) that you cannot be faved unless you do believe them? Do you rejoice and give (hearty) thanks to God (for) that you were born in this faith, (that you) have liv'd in it, and that now you shall die in it? 4. Do you yourself defire, and would you have us, in your name, humbly to beg to God that this faith in him may not decay in you, and (efpecially) that it may not (fail) when you are just at the point of death? 5. Do you defire also that the fruit of this (your) faith, and chiefly of your faith in the death of Jefus Chrift, may not be loft at your death, how much foever it may have been loft in your life time? 6. If your fenfe should fail, or if (your) pain or weakness fhould bring you to that pass, that any expreffions fhould fall from you (that are) contrary to religion or its precepts, would you have them be accounted as not spoken (by you?) and dø you renounce them, as none of yours? Do you FORGIVE 1. Those that any manner of way have offended you, as (freely as) yourself would be forgiven? 2. And do you defire of God, that HE also would forgive them? 3. And do you forgive them the fatisfaction they are bound to make you upon account of those things wherein they have offended you (whether) in word or deed? 4. Will you have thus much fignified in your name to thofe that have offended you, that you, for your part, have forgiven them all their injuries? 5. Would you be ready to forgive them, if they had done you more and greater mifchiefs ? 6.Would you be glad if you had more (enemies) to forgive, that fo God might bestow on you a more plentiful remiffion of your sins? 1. If you yourself have offended any (others) do you beg pardon of them (likewise) (and defire) that they may forgive you. 2. Whom do you chiefly remember (that you have offended?) and would you have thus much made known to thein in your name? 3. Forafmuch as no forgiveness is to be hoped for of fins against the 8th or 9th commandment of God's law, unless |