other feeling, opinion, and institution. He has wished to give that spirit of equality to his creed which he has found every where, but which springs whence ?-from an equality of position connected, in a great degree, with an equality of possessions.

The religion which once taught obedience to the magnates of the earth has endeavoured to accommodate itself to the laws which have banished from France these magnates, and we find a catholic minister flaunting a republican flag before the eyes of a church, the high priest of which is, at this moment, supported by the bayonets of kings.

Some christians may blame the attempt! Let all turn their faces from its execution !

"And I was transported in spirit into the ancient time; and the earth was beautiful, rich, and fertile; and its inhabitants lived happily, because they lived as brothers.

"And I saw the serpent glide in amongst them; he fixed on many his powerful eye, and their soul was troubled, and they approached one another, and the serpent whispered into their ear.

"And the sun paled, and the earth took a funereal hue, as that of the winding sheet which envelopes the dead.

"There was heard a deep murmur, a longer plaint, and every one trembled in his heart.

"In truth, I do say unto you, it was as the day on which the abyss broke down its barriers, and the wide waters of the deluge burst forth.

"And fear went from cabin to cabin-for as yet there were no palaces,-and she said to each those secret things that make the blood run cold.

"And they who had said, 'we are kings,' took up a sword and followed her from cabin to cabin.

"And there there passed strange mysteries: there were chains, and weeping, and blood.

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And men were terrified, and cried Murder has appeared in the world,' and this was all:-for fear had palsied their soul, and taken the movement from their

arm.

"And they allowed themselves to be charged with irons, they, and their wives, and their children. And the men who said, 'We are kings,' hollowed out as it were, a vast cavern, and entombed all the human race therein, as animals are bound up in their stalls.

"And the winds drove the clouds before them, and I heard a voice, amidst the thunder, that said 'The serpent has vanquished again, but not for ever.'

“After that, I heard nothing but confused voices, and laughs, and sobs, and blasphemies.

"And I understood that Satan was to reign before God; and I wept, and I hoped.

"And the vision that I saw was true; for the reign of Satan is accomplished also; and those who said, 'we are kings,' shall, in their turn, be inclosed in the cavern with the serpent, and the human race shall come forth therefrom, and to that race it shall be as another birth, as a passage from death to life ;-so be it!"

Far be it from me to applaud the wild reveries and the mystic imaginings of M. de la Mennais,-execrated here as an apostate, worshipped there as an apostle! Let it be for those who lick the feet of royal authority one day, to rant forth all the wildest ravings, to administer to all the most ignorant desires and darkest passions of democracy the next!

A VISION.

1. There was a vast plain—a plain such as that which modern seers have seen of late days in their dreams.

2. And around this plain were seven high thrones, and around the thrones stood the great and powerful of the earth.

3. And by them were placed vast urns, containing all those beautiful and lustful things which have been called "the vanities of the world."

4. And, ever and anon, the figures placed on these thrones, holding swords in their hands, and wearing crowns on their heads, took from the vases, and gave to such as stood by.

5. And many pressed towards the thrones to share in the gifts.

6. And in the middle of the plain might be heard a deep but stifled murmur coming from the crowd, which said, "there should be a change in all this."

7. And by one of the thrones you might have seen a little man with a bright eye, who carried his head upon his shoulder, as if it had been the sacrament, and who, in walking, lifted up his feet high in the air.

8. And he cried unto such of the crowd as were near him, "Why do ye murmur ?"

9. And the crowd said, "We murmur because there are guards who keep us from yonder thrones, where our cries ought to be heard."

10. And the little man said, "Those guards are Cæsar's," and the Lord said, 'Let there be unto Cæsar his guards.'-"Why do ye mur

mur?"

11. And the crowd said, "The monarchs on yonder thrones say they are our masters, and we wish to tell them how they may rule over us, and make us happy."

12. And the little man said, "Cover your face, and stifle your voice; for the Lord has said your happiness is not of this world, and

you must obey blindly those whom God, even your God, hath set over you."

13. And lo and behold the sky was suddenly darkened, and you heard the flap of the tempest's wings.

14. And when the sun came again, six of the thrones still rocked and shook, and there was fear in the face of the legions who guarded them with spear and with shield.

15. And the seventh throne, the throne near which the little man had been standing, was tumbled down, utterly down, and all its guards and all its parasites were gone.

16. But where this throne had stood there was another throne, and this throne the people approached.

17. And the king who sat on the new throne held in his hand an olive branch, as the king on the old throne had held a sword; but the people were nearer the new king and the new throne than they had been to the old king and the old throne; and kings and thrones are seen to most advantage afar off.

18. So the people began to murmur even louder than before, and lifting up their voices on high, they said :

19. “The Lord destroyed one throne by the