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to incest, as it is possible to approach; and which, whether they acknowledge it or not, has already, from the principles of affinity, been proved to be that very crime? God forbid!

This is not a question of mere speculation and amusement, or of small and inconsiderable moment. It respects the authority of the divine law and involves the most serious consequences. "Your glorying is not good;" these are the words of the Apostle, in reference to this very sin, "your glorying is not good; know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?" ^*    Let incest, in any of its branches, or under any form and patronage, be once tolerated; let the abhorrence of that sin become derided, and consequently weakened and obliterated, which it most assuredly will, by such toleration; and a door will be opened to vices of every name and every grade. Adultery, the other mortal enemy to marriage and virtue, will soon find its public advocates, and the manners of our country be degraded to the scandalous level of the most debauched

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*   1 Cor. v. 2. 6. "And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. Your glorying is not good," &c.

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and abandoned people. - The watchmen who stand upon the walls and cannot discover the adversary, or who are afraid and refuse to sound an alarm, will become accessary to the ruin; but fearful will be the responsibility of faithless and slumbering centinels.