of the present day would make a point of conscience of it.

Add to this that the Apostles have formally commanded their epistles to be read.

Col. iv. 16. "When this epistle shall have been read by you, cause it also to be read in the church of the Laodiceans, and read ye also that which is from the Laodiceans." Note, St. Paul speaks not of an epistle which he had written to the Laodiceans, as cardinal Baronius has well remarked after St. Chrysostom and Theodoret, in his Annals, A.D. 60. sec. 13.

1 Thess. v. 27. "I adjure you by the Lord, that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren." But in

this miserable age, they wrest these divine epistles from the people, while they permit them the reading of obscene books, and bawdy songs.

Rev. i. 3. "Blessed is he that reads, and that hears the words of this prophecy, and keeps the things which are written therein." If the spirit of God call those blessed who read the Apocalypse, which is the most difficult book of Scripture, how blessed ought we to deem those who read the gospels and the epistles of the apostles, which contain many things familiar and easy to be understood? Then wretched are the people of the Roman church, who are deprived of so great a consolation!

NOTES OF A TRAVELLER.

(Continued from p. 257.)

Liverpool,

Monday, May 26, 1828. Yesterday evening I visited the church in which the pupils of the Asylum for the Blind worship. The service commenced, as do all the publick religious exercises in the afternoon at Liverpool, at six o'clock, P. M. I paid one shilling at the door for admission, to a man posted there to receive it, who afterwards conducted me to a good seat. Though there is no actual demand made for entrance money, yet it is expected from every stran ger, and there is a printed notice on the door for this purpose. The services were, of course, after the form of the church of England. The chaunts were by the blind pupils: the voice of Rebecca, one of the most intelligent blind girls, was harmonious indeed; and when they all pronounced the frequent Amen, which they rather sung than spoke, the effect on the feelings was exceedingly touching. The musical performances of the pupils are perhaps more remarkable than their

skill in the mechanick arts: they play on the organ or piano some of the most difficult and complex pieces of musick, without omitting a word or making a false note. At the Asylum we saw, yesterday, their Musick Hall, which is well furnished with an organ and numerous pianos, and on which they practise a good deal. The sermon was not much; but I left the church highly gratified, if not much instructed. This morning I went with Mr. B., to whom I had letters, and who has been exceedingly attentive and kind, to see an annual exhibition of the flowers in bloom at this season. The company collected on this occasion was numerous and well dressed, though it poured down torrents of rain. This exhibition gave me an opportunity of seeing a good deal of the female fashion, and manners of the place. Except a few ultras, who wore long-tailed cloth riding habits, round hats and jockey whips, you would not have been able to distinguish the company from a collection of American ladies and gentlemen. The flowers and fruits exhibited were numerous and in a

by a Saxon arch, eleven hundred years old, under which we passed. The coffin of Hugh Lupus, in the chapter-house, and the tomb of Henry IV. emperor of Germany, were shown us. I was also interested at seeing a cenotaph on the wall, to the memory of Dr. William Smith, the translator of Zenophon, Thucydides, and some other works. The monument is of white marble, and represents a female figure weeping over an urn. Some parts of this old church have been lately repaired, but many more are in hopeless ruins, particularly the old cloisters. It is impossible for me to convey to another the feelings I experienced, when pacing the same pavements and viewing the same objects, that were seen and paced by the ancient pious and superstitious dead. I here first distinctly realized what was meant by ivied walls, dilapidated towers, stones discoloured and grey with time, and mouldering ruins exposed for ages to the weather. By the way, when you first look at such ruins, you can scarcely persuade yourself that they have not been exposed to the fire, so black and sombre do they seem. From the little specimen of antiquity in architecture which I have seen in this old place, I must say that the ruins of an abbey appear vastly more interesting on the pages of Irving and others, than they do in reality. Yet do not understand me to undervalue these things-I can truly say with Johnson, "Far be from me and from my friends, such frigid philosophy as will conduct us indifferent and unmoved over any ground which has been dignified by wisdom, bravery, or virtue: that man is little to be envied, whose patriotism would not gain force on the plains of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow warmer among the ruins of Iona."

The town of Chester is also remarkable for many of its shops, which are in the second stories of

the houses, and are so arranged as to afford a convenient covered walk, to all customers passing from one to the other.

About four miles from Chester is the seat of Lord Grosvenor, called Eaton Hall, a splendid mansion, built in the Gothic style, and which was the principal object of our visit. To us Americans, this residence of nobility was really overwhelming. The park, through which we rode to the palace, not only surprised us, by its great extent, but its high state of culture; every part of it seemed to have been beaten or rolled, and continually dressed, so as to present an even and smooth surface: here we saw hundreds of deer, reposing in the shade, or wandering near us carelessly over the lawn, or trooping across it, in silent herds at a distance. We now observed the Gothic turrets of the mansion rising above the tops of a grove of old oak trees, on the branches of which we soon heard the noisy clatter of a thousand rooks-birds with which the novelist always te nants his old ruins: they are here much prized by the nobility, though an American farmer would shoot them off his grounds, both from their appearance and their notes, as a parcel of worthless crows, which they certainly to an unscientific eye very much resemble. The housekeeper, who received us very courteously at the hall door, was a remarkably comely and well dressed female. She conducted us through all the rooms in the lower story, and then informed us that strangers never visited the other parts of the house. I can neither recollect, nor describe half that I saw of the interior of this place. The grand entrance hall, paved with variegated marble--the figures in armour in the niches and several other appearances, were perfectly new and surprising; then the state chambers, the saloons, and library, &c. &c. were all magnificent in a high

degree. In this last place I was glad to see the works of our countryman, Irving. As the housekeeper conducted us over the building, and talked about the old earl, the countess, and lady Amelia, as she showed us their pictures, I realized some of the romantic scenes of Mrs. Radcliffe, which charmed my youthful imagination. We saw but a few pictures or statues in the apartments we examined, but this deficiency, if such it can be called, was made up by the splendid furniture, tastefully arranged in every room-magnificent sofas and eastern coucheschairs embossed with a profusion of gold, and tables and cabinets inlaid with pearl and ivory, were every where to be seen. I was also very much struck with the beauty of a number of large Gothic windows of stained glass, representing the ancestors of the family. The full length portraits of the present earl and lady Grosvenor, which are suspended in one of the rooms, were interesting. The countenance of his lordship is both intelligent and amiable, but that of Mrs. G. wants both of these expressions.

After writing our names in an album, and presenting the housekeeper with a fee, we explored the gardens, hot-houses, and pleasuregrounds. I cannot say I was much gratified with the prospects around the palace; the country is too level, and the monotony of view thus occasioned, though here and there interrupted by a few clusters of ancient oak, did not come up to the idea which I had formed of the magnificence of English park scenery. At the back of the hall there is an artificial lake of some extent, supplied with water from the Dee, on which we saw a small pleasure boat moored among the trees. The garden occupies several acres, is laid out with some taste, and contains much fine fruit. The hothouses through which we passed, are kept, according to the gardenVOL. VII.-Ch. Adv.

er's account, always at a temperature over 100° F.; they appeared rich in exotic fruits and flowers.

As this is the first nobleman's seat I have visited, I have given you a more particular account of it, than I expect to trouble you with on any future similar occasion.

After dining at Chester, Messrs. R. and S. and myself took a post chaise for Manchester, leaving Dr. G. to visit his Irish friends, and then to join me in London. The country over which we rapidly passed was highly cultivated and picturesque, and we arrived at Manchester about 9 o'clock.

FOR THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

THE BEARING OF APOSTOLICAL PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE ON ABSTINENCE FROM THE USE OF ARDENT

13.

SPIRITS; an Essay on 1 Cor. viii. By the President of the Young Men's Association of the City and County of Philadelphia, for the promotion of Temperance.

AN "offence," in Scripture language, is a moral stumbling-block. To "make another to offend," is to lay such a stumbling-block in his way-to advocate such principles, or to pursue such a line of conduct, as will lead him into sin. Our apostle affirms, "if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend"-If an indulgence, though apparently innocent in itself, be the occasion of leading others into sinful and ruinous courses, it shall be instantly and forever disallowed.

The principle involved in the determination here expressed, might be legitimately applied to a great variety of cases. It would serve as a wand, to exhibit in their true deformity various practices, not now deemed improper by many, because not literally forbidden in Scripture. 2Q

But we must first ascertain the application of this principle made by the apostle in our text. The "meat" he speaks of is that which was eaten in the temples of idols. Parts of the animals were offered in sacrifice: the worshippers, in token of social friendship, ate the remainder in common, in certain apartments of the edifice. The more devout among the Christian party soon began to question the propriety of participating in these festivals.But self-denial was not more palatable to loose professors then, than now. They could reason plausibly, and their arguments were like oil, to smooth the surface of a ruffled conscience. But the matter in dispute was referred to the apostle's decision. Let us examine the reasoning and refutation, in connexion. 1st Argument. Professor.-An idol has no real existence. We Christians, who do not believe in even the existence of those objects, cannot be chargeable with idolatry, when we eat a little meat in a temple!-v. 4-6.

Apostle-If all had this disbelief in the existence of idols, the act of eating meat in an idol's temple might be a harmless indulgence; but the case is materially altered when we reflect, that many believe in the existence of idols, and regard them as proper objects of worship. These are seriously injured and hardened in idolatry, for they regard the act as an act of homage to the idol.-v. 7.

2d Argument. Professor.-The eating of meat is one of the innocent enjoyments afforded us by a beneficent Providence. To eat with thankfulness is not sinful-to abstain from eating is not meritorious. Persons may innocently deprive themselves of the enjoyment if they see fit; but let them not find fault with those whose principles

are

more Catholick, while their hearts are equally sincere.-v. 8.

Apostle-But an act not improper in itself, may be sinful when

done in peculiar circumstances. Beware lest this alleged Catholicism of yours "be a stumbling-block to them that are weak."-v. 9. Such persons entertaining a high respect for your superior attain. ments, and not comprehending fully your motives, are led into sinful excesses. v. 10. Your superfor attainments and influence, instead of ministering to the edification of others, is of ruinous tendency to your weak brethren. A compliance deemed innocent on your part, and perhaps even kindly in its design, is of serious detriment to those whose interests ought to lie near your heart;-v. 11-and because injurious to such, it is offensive to the Saviour.-v. 12. In view of these fatal results, there could be no doubt as to the path of duty, and ought to be no hesitation in pursuing it. Immediate and entire abstinence from the indulgence in question, is a dictate of the "new commandment."-v. 13.

As if to console them under this verdict, the apostle in the succeeding chapter unfolds at large his own unquestionable "rights." He had a right to the luxuries of life-v. 1—4: he had a right to a wife-v. 5—6: he had a right to an ample worldly maintenance-v. 7-14: but in view of the peculiarities of his situation, he chose to waive all those rights-v. 15. Nor in making this surrender of abstract rights was he influenced merely by an icy sense of duty he even deemed it a privilege (v. 16) to imitate Him who