'standing, whose confirmed habits I had thought indelible as the leopard's spots, was yielding to the victorious power of the Gospel, and your Majesty's subjects on every hand, deserting in great numbers. In fact, the aspect of things was such, that I was once almost resolved to despatch a messenger, and entreat the instant return of your majesty. But proud ambition fired my heart to secure to myself,if possible, the renown of stemming these impetuous torrents, and weathering this tremendous tempest alone; and as invention failed me, I resolved to have recourse to the 'Book of the Chronicles of Hell!' in which are registered the memorable exploits of him. who was once sun of the morning, when he contended against patriarchs-against prophets-against apostles-against the angels of light-and against one mightier than they all;-trusting that there I might find some blacker plot, than my own ingenuity was able to devise. Nor did I search in vain. I soon discovered that it had been a darling scheme with your Tartarian Excellency, when religion was like to become prosperous, to kindle a flame of political jealousy against the people of God, denouncing them as enemies of the state, who designed to subvert the civil government under which they lived; and thus you often succeeded in bewitching the ruling powers, and driving them into a transport of phrenzied jealousy, till the altar of popular fury was drenched with the blood of the innocent and the unoffending.

At this mention of what he valued as his master stroke of aliabolical policy, Lucifer sprung to his feet-dilated his dreadful form-clenched his sable sceptre with convulsive violence, and shook it furiously in the lofty vault of the cavern, while he cast upward a fierce and daring glance, as if hurling defiance at heaven, and taunting and reproaching the Holy One, with his former victories over the saints. At once, the crowd of his subalterns,

'Peal'd the banner cry of hell,'

and from all parts of the assembly, the monarch was cheered with reiterated shouts of applause, and enthusiastic admiration. As the tumultuous acclamations died away, with hasty and hurried strides he measured the cavern from side to side, again and again: then adjusted his robe, composed his disordered countenance, and took his seat, saying, "Proceed Belial, proceed!"

"When the worshippers of Jehovah began to grow numerous in Egypt, that you might work their destruction, you filled the heart of Pharaoh with dastardly fears and political suspicions, "And he said unto his people, behold the people of Israel are more and mightter than we; come let us deal wisely with them, lest when there

falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies and fight against ́§.' And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, 'Every Son that is born, ye shall cast into the river.' The barbarous and bloody cdict, was pushed into extensive execution; and long, and luxuriously did the scaly crocodiles of the Nile, fatten on the infants of Israel.

"Again: When, in the days of Ezra, the captives returned from Babylon, and began to build the temple of their God at Jerusalem, your Majesty saw the danger of idolatry being brought in to disrepute, and covered with confusion, if the light of Israel again blazed up in the promised land, and threw its lustre over the surrounding nations. And your Majesty excited many of the leading idolaters in the neighboring nations, to accuse these worshippers of God, to the Persian monarch, of political designs hostile to his kingdom. Be it known now unto the king,' said they, that if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.' The simple monarch took the alarm, and the building of the temple was stopt.

"Not far from this time, when Ahasuerus was king, you had welf nigh effected a universal massacre of the servants of Jehovah, throughout his 120 provinces, by infusing into the royal mind through Haman your favourite, that they did not keep the king's laws therefore, it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.-If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed.' But suddenly things took an unexpected turn, and your prime minister, Haman, was unceremoniously hanged on his own gallows. I also noted, that while the pious captives were in Babylon you perpetually harrassed them by exciting your minions to reiterate with unblushing impudence, the charge that they were unfriendly to the politi cal government in which they lived, and disregarded the lawful monarch. The accusation at one time ran thus: "Thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, antl Abed-nego: these now, O king, have NOT REGARDED THEE.' At another time, thus: "That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree which THOU hast signed.""

"True, Belial, true," said the gloomy chief, interrupting him, "but at a later period I wielded this most potent engine of diabolical contrivance, in circumstances most extraordinary and daring:--

ay, and wielded it with success-triumphant success,-such as none in heaven or in hell believed possible, till they saw the matchless exploit.

"There was one who came to earth with the proud pretension of 'destroying the works of the devil.'-He bore credentials that none could counterfeit; and to discredit them, baffled the skill of the assembled congress of ruined angels. When I mustered my force to oppose him, I found that the mightiest of all the cherubim who fell, bore back from the light of his eye. Stung with desperation, I hurried to mix with Adam's children, by whom he was surrounded. I whispered to the chiefs of the assembly, 'His origin is low-his appearance mean;-he is unattended by worldly pomp and splendour.' But in spite of my devices, 'the common people heard him gladly.' As he poured into the ears of his audience such language as I had not heard since my expulsion from heaven, I urged the proud Pharisees to say to the people, 'He hath a devil and is mad; why hear ye him.' But at that moment, the air rent with the shouts of the multitude, 'Never man spake like this man!' As he performed his miracles, I said to the chief priests, 'Go, publish through the crowd, he casteth out devils through Beelzebub, the prince of devils.' But, as I was giving the order, my ears were stunned with their acclamations, glorifying God for the things that were done, saying, a great prophet is risen in Israel.' The father and mother were rejoicing over their son that had been born blind; his eyes were now opened; the widow was blessing her benefactor, as she led home her child, restored to life while she was bearing the body to the tomb; and the sisters, in tears of ecstacy, were again and again embracing their only brother, called from his grave, after a burial of four days. I saw this would never do. The pillars of my empire must crumble before such repeated and awful shocks. Determined to make a desperate push, and effect my dire design, or let all be lost, I excited the chief priests and rulers to lay hands on him, and accuse him before the Roman governor, that he might be put to death. It was done. But Pilate at once saw through their frivolous and false charges, and determined to let him go, for Pilate was timorous and cautious; having had previous information that he was an extraordinary being. But, knowing that the Romans were exceedingly jealous of their political institutions, I hastened to the Jewish rulers, and said, accuse him with being an enemy to the Roman government,-say he wishes to overturn the present administration, and set up an ESTABLISHMENT of his own Urge this,nrge it with vehemence! And they were

6

instant, with loud voices, saying, we found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute unto Cæsar, saying, that be himself is Christ, A KING:-if thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cæsar.' The effect was electrical, and the victory complete. Pilate gave sentence against him, and the crown of thorns, the rugged iron spikes, and bloody tree of Calvary, can tell the Fesult. All hell kept jubilee,-It was the proudest moment af my existence."

Here, he drew up his person to its full height, and towered above bis fellows, 'Like Teneriffe or Atlas.'

After a few moments of self-gratulation, he proceeded:

"The same matchless stratagem I afterwards practised against the Apostles, and with the same success. I proclaimed them as movers of sedition,' who sought to undermine the civil governanent. And I had James killed with the sword of Herod-Peter crucified-Paul beheaded-and John banished to a waste, desolate Island."

"But, Belial, thou hast not ventured to bring this charge against the christian community of the present day. I thought of this, as a last resort while I was in China; and heard of the enormous advances of religion in this land. But, after mature by considering the matter, I was convinced that it would not answer now:-the christian population is too numerous,-they have too much influence in moulding public opinion, There can be no chance of getting up, by this device, such an infuriated and maddened popular excitement, as would serve any profitable purpose." "May it please your Majesty," answered Belial, "I did not bring the charge against the whole christian community."

"O! you selected the largest denomination, and brought it against them exclusively;-that was well thought of."

Belial. "Not the largest denomination, if they all report their numbers correctly. I urged it with all the vigour I possessed a gainst the Calvinists, especially the Presbyterians, and those con nected with them."

Lucifer. "Against the Calvinists-the Presbyterians!-Well, on account of their odious doctrines,-standing up for partiality and injustice as they do, I am glad you pounced on them. "But he put his hand to his brow as if in the act of recollection,-"but Belial, there is one perplexing, troublesome matter-of-fact comes in there, that throws an ominous and dreary shade over the whol scheme!"

Belial. "What is that, your Majesty?"

Lucifer. Why, it is the decisive, dauntless stand, which that people took in the revolutionary struggle. O! that a few years more bad rolled by. But now there must be many, many still living through all parts of the country, who know the unquestiona ble fact. The project must sink with this mill-stone about its neck. Belial, I am astonished: I have rarely found you miscalculate; and that a fact of such prominence and notoriety should have escaped your eye, is most wonderful!"

Belial was about to reply: but the Chief stamped with impatience and displeasure, "Hear me Belial, hear me.-I was in the hall of Congress when Jefferson brought in the Declaration of Independence. I trembled with apprehension: for, in a land of Bibles. nothing is so ruinous to the cause of darkness, as liberty of con science with free unshackled inquiry. I had busied myself in scattering doubts and cowardly forebodings among the members,whispering to one, be cautious, be cautious;' to another 'Don be rash, tempt not too far the vengeance of Britain;' when the attention of all was called to the memorable instrument. It was read. The house hesitated-wavered-and for several seconds the liberty and slavery of the nation seemed to hang in even scales.. It was then an aged Patriarch arose: a venerable and stately form: his head white with the frost of years,-every eye went to him with the quickness of thought, and remained with fixedness of the polar star. He cast on the assembly a look of inexpressible interest and unconquerable determination; while on his visage, the hue of age was lost in the burning patriotism that fired his cheek.

"There is,' said he, when he perceived the house wavering there is a tide in the affairs of men-a nick of time. We perceive it now before us. To hesitate, is to consent to our own slavery. That noble instrument upon your table which insures immortality to its author, should be subscribed this very morning by every pen in the house. He who will not respond to its accents, and strain every nerve, to carry into effect its provisions, is unworthy the name of a freeman. For my own part, of property, I have some-b reputation, more; that reputation is staked on the issue of the contest that property is pledged. And although these grey hairs must soon descend into the sepulchre, I would infinitely rather they should descend thither by the hands of the public executioner. than desert at this crisis, the sacred cause of my country.'*

See Camming's fourth of June address, delivered at Newark New

Jersey