tion with a view to give it to any particular person; and is punishable if this intention can be proved, and if the person so intended becomes actually presented to the living* What kind of evidence as to intention is required by the law, is another question: but it is a matter of moral certainty, that the greater proportion of presentations thus purchased, are purchased (in opposition to the law) WITH A VIEW TO PRESENT SOME PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL. Hence the special emphasis on the prospect of early possession-because some one is waiting for the purchased living. Sometimes the intention is plainly avowed, (morally it can scarcely be concealed,) as in the following advertisement which appeared in the Record, June 8, 1848. ADVOWSON WANTED.

THE

HE friends of a clergyman, of standing and experience in the ministry, are anxious to PURCHASE for him a desirably-circumstanced ADVOWSON, of from 500l. to 6007. per annum, where there is a prospect of very early possession.

Address, W. Ñ., care of Messrs. Mudie, Stationers, Coventry-street. All replies to this advertisement will be acknowledged.

Here the person for whom it is purchased is honestly referred to; and they who make no such reference in print, have a mental reference. How far those sharing in such benefits, can read the canonical oath with calmness, is a matter for their own consciences.

Who for instance, will purchase the following, without intending it for a particular friend?

CHURCH PREFERMENT.

be DISPOSED OF, the NEXT and IMMEDITAE PRESEN

TTATION to 2 CHURCH without Cure of Souls, in a seaport town,

on the borders of Cheshire. Income between 2007. and 300l. a year.(Midland Counties Herald, Jan. 9, 1851.)

We need say nothing here of the Church with a fair income and no cure of souls, a sad instance of spiritual corruption, which only the utmost passivity in Englishmen can tolerate,-the sale itself if effected, will most probably be a direct violation of the law;-a purchase for a fore-known individual.

But this legal view of the matter, involving as even it does a moral element, is nothing in comparison to the spiritual wickedness of such a system; by which religion is prostituted for gold; its most sacred offices made a matter of trade, purchased-not for the cure of souls,-but to secure the unrighteous mammon!

But the question becomes still more solemn and awful, when we consider THE OATH enjoined by the fortieth canon, to be administered to all entering any office in the Church.

This Canon is as follows:

"40. An oath against Simony at Institution into Benefices. To avoid the destestable sin of Simony, because buying and selling of spiritual and ecclesiastical functions, offices, promotions, dignities, and livings, IS EXECRABLE BEFORE GOD; therefore the Archbishop, Bishop, or other person or persons, having authority to admit, institute, collate, in* See Knight's Political Dictionary. Article, Benefice.

stall, or to confirm the election of any Archbishop, Bishop, or other person or persons, to any spiritual or ecclesiastical function, dignity, promotion, title, office, jurisdiction, place, or benefice, with or without cure, or to any ecclesiastical living whatsoever, shall, before every such admission, institution, collation, installation, or confirmation of election, respectively minister to every person hereafter to be admitted, instituted, collated, installed, or confirmed, in or to any Archbishopric, Bishopric, or other spiritual or ecclesiastical function, dignity, promotion, title, office, jurisdiction, place, or benefice without cure, or in or to any ecclesiastical living whatsoever, this OATH in form and manner following, the same to be taken by every one whom it concerneth, IN HIS OWN PERSON, and not by a proctor.

I, N. N. do swear that I have made no simoniacal payment, contract, or promise, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, by myself, or by any other, To MY KNOWLEDGE, or with my consent, to any person or persons whatsoever, for or concerning the procuring and obtaining of this ecclesiastical dignity, place, preferment, office, or living, respectively and particularly naming the same, whereunto he is to be admitted, instituted, collated, installed, or confirmed-nor will at any time hereafter perform or satisfy any such kind of payment, contract, or promise, made by any other without my knowledge or consent: So help me God, through Jesus Christ."

This is a fearful oath, especially when we remember the extensive trade in livings; it would be strange if some consciences are not ensnared in this ordeal;—is it not true that some pay out of their own pockets, by means of a lawyer or a friend; do not some pay through their parents; and do not those who pay nothing often accept a living which they know has been purchased, and thus violate the spirit of their oath, which is to be interpreted by the introductory clause, that simony, or the buying and selling of ecclesiastical livings is a detestable sin, execrable before God? Will it then make any material difference, who buys, if we accept? Do we not thus live on the fruit of acknowledged execrable and detestable sin? Do not the spirit and express terms of this canon, condemn all sales of presentations, &c.? Are they then held guiltless, who though they may not directly share in the trade, yet knowingly live on the profits? And is not every one believing this canon, bound in conscience to refuse or vacate a purchased living:—would not this silence a large number?

This whole question of selling and swearing, is a melancholy theme; and affords too fair a chance for the sneer of the infidel at all religion; it tends to blunt the arrows of truth from the pulpit, as the careless or hardened remember the cost of the living, and look upon the whole as a machinery of state and commerce, not a divine institution demanding obedience to its message of mercy from heaven.

These are the State chains, the political and worldly defilements to which Christianity in England will ever be subject, till it is free from the pollutions and bribery of an alliance with the State.

JOHN WYCLIFFE.

IV.

SCEPTIC'S RELIGION.

Under this department, sceptical objections, and systems or principles advocated as hostile to Christianity, are dispassionately considered.

THE ATHEIST'S BOX; OR THE ARGUMENT FROM DESIGN. [To the Editor of the Bible and the People.]

DEAR SIR,

From the title of your periodical, and the plain straight-forward way in which your keys unlock the questions on which many of us are mystified; I conclude that your efforts are in a great measure intended for the working classes. And as a humble member of those classes, I presume to offer you a few thoughts, on the "Infidel Press."

Perhaps you may not have seen the parts to which I beg leave to call your attention; and if my simple observations are of any service, it will give me great pleasure.

I hope you will not forget to watch whether the Free-thinking organ gives any fair answer to your remarks on their way of doing things, or rather as we say, their way of doing people. For there seems some priestcraft amongst infidels; though some honest persons are led away by a sort of smartness which looks a good deal like wit. But to keep to my point, there is another publication, (the Elder Brother, or at least a very near relation of the Free-thinker,) with which you may not be acquainted; though your name and undertaking are familiar to its readers.

I forward you herewith an Article headed " an Appeal, &c.," on your behalf; which was written about the time you were dissecting the Freethinker. "Our energetic opponent" says the Editor, "lately issued the following lithographed circular. Through weary weeks we have looked for "The Bible and the People', and now that December has set in, we are unable longer to remain in silent suspense." He little thought what was coming: they do not like that way of dealing: they say you are "facetious; and the Bible and the People will be a sort of evangelical Punch."

Now sir, we perhaps want a little of this, for why should the sceptic have all the laughter on his own side? Those should laugh that win; and therefore we need not be so melancholy in this business. The scoffer does not like to be answered according to his folly; but prefers a grave divine who will cast pearls to be trampled.

But different methods are required for different purposes. When they

argue, answer them; when they misrepresent, expose them; when they jeer and burlesque, shew them that it is no joke at all; and they will believe though they may not confess.

By the way, can you tell me how far the following is true;—it is a reference to one of your friends, by this near relative of the free-thinker : "Edward Baines of the Leeds Mercury, being put forth as a patron of a publication for the people, who denies them public knowledge, is a rich joke." It is perhaps my obtuseness, but there seems nothing rich, but only a slander,—which as I take it, is no joke. Does this gentleman really deny public knowledge" to the people? I have heard of his paper as being a widely extended enlightener of the public, and so am much puzzled in my judgment. If a person who spends his life in honestly writing, is said to deny the people public knowledge, one may well wonder who are the friends of instruction.*

66

Perhaps this writer enjoys "the fellowship of kindred minds" with the oracle whose responses you examined last month. He however appears very kindly disposed towards you, for he observes, that "as a very few persons, so far as we can learn have taken any notice of this solicitation, we will show his circular to our readers."

But the most extraordinary article, and that to which I wished to request your attention, is the following on the value of the argument from design, for establishing the existence of God.

For these free-thinkers are professed atheists; and the periodical herewith sent to you, is to favour the world with public knowledge-the denial of the God that made us.

These sentiments will shock many of your readers: but the defence of them will not terrify any thinking persons.

By a kind of happy temerity, the writer has prefaced his attack on the existence of God, by an extract from the Edinburgh Review, which (if you have room to insert it), will shew the folly of the atheism appended to it, as a vain and ridiculous attempt at refutation.

And therefore should my plain and simple remarks, not appear a sufficient answer to this bold dogma or negation, your readers will still have the bane and antidote before them.

The following is the entire article:

"WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE DESIGN ARGUMENT.

THE Edinburgh Review, for October 1849, contains a very able article entitled 'Reason and Faith; their Claims and Conflicts,' from which the following extract, commencing at page 512, is made:

'Without entering into the many different sources of argument for the existence of a Supreme Intelligence, we shall only refer to that proof on which all theists, savage or civilized, in some form or other rely-the traces of an 6 eternal power and godhead' in the visible creation. The argument depends on a principle which, whatever may be its metaphysical history or origin, is one which man perpetually recognizes, which

Our correspondent is quite right; slander is no joke; but some writers can succeed best, either in misrepresenting the cause, or slandering the characters of those they should refute.-[EDITOR.]

every act of his own consciousness verifies, which he applies fearlessly to every phenomenon, known or unknown; and it is this-That every effect has a cause (though he knows nothing of their connection,) and that effects which bear marks of design have a designing cause. This principle is so familiar that if he were to affect to doubt it in any practical case in human life, he would only be laughed at as a fool, or pitied as insane. The evidence, then, which substantiates the greatest and first of truths, mainly depends on a principle perfectly familiar and perfectly recognized. Man can estimate the nature of that evidence; and the amount of it, in this instance, he sees to be as vast as the sum of created objects; nay, far more, for it is as vast as the sum of their relations. So that if (as is apt to be the case) the difficulties of realizing this tremendous truth are in proportion to the extent of knowledge and the powers of reflection, the evidence we can perfectly appreciate is cumulative in an equal or still higher proportion. Obvious as are the marks of design in each individual object, the sum of proof is not merely the sum of such indications, but that sum infinitely multiplied by the relations established and preserved amongst all these objects; by the adjustment which harmonizes them all into one system, and impresses on all the parts of the universe a palpable order and subordination. While even in a single part of an organized being (as a hand or an eye) the traces of design are not to be mistaken, these are indefinitely multiplied by similar proofs of contrivance in the many individual organs of one such being as of an entire animal or vegetable. These are yet to be multiplied by the harmonious relations which are established of mutual proportion and subserviency amongst all the organs of any one such being. And as many beings even of that one species or class as there are, so many multiplies are there of the same proofs. Similar indications yield similar proofs of design in each individual part, and in the whole individual of all the individuals of every other class of beings; and this sum of proof is again to be multiplied by the proofs of design in the adjustment and mutual dependence and subordination of each of these classes of organized beings to every other, and to all; of the vegetable to the animal-of the lower animal to the higher. Their magnitudes, numbers, physical force, faculties, functions, duration of life, rates of multiplication and development, sources of subsistence, must all have been determined in exact ratios, and could not transgress certain limits without involving the whole universe in confusion. This amazing sum of probabilities is yet to be further augmented by the fact that all these classes of organized substances are intimately related to those great elements of the material world in which they live, to which they are adapted, and which are adapted to them; that all of them are subject to the influence of certain mighty and subtle agencies which pervade all nature and which are of such tremendous potency that any chance error in their proportions of activity would be sufficient to destroy all, and which yet are exquisitely balanced and inscrutably harmonized.

The proofs of design arising from the relations thus maintained between all the parts, from the most minute to the most vast, of our own world, are still to be further multiplied by the inconceivably momentous relations subsisting between our own and other planets and their common centre; amidst whose sublime and solemn phenomena science has most