Page:Dr Stiggins, His Views and Principles.pdf/90

 from the careers of the late venerated Pastor of the City Temple! Yes, Democracy and Protestantism have led us far.

Well; to apply our test to the particular matter under consideration. I said that my brother ministers seemed to be unduly bound by obsolete eccelesiasticalecclesiastical [sic] tradition in discussing the sublime subject of our future eternal happiness; and I should like to ask some of them whether they honestly think they would be really happy in such a heaven as John (if it be John) describes for us. You know the vision: the description of the glowing and bejewelled Court of Heaven, the elders in white robes with crowns of gold, the seven lamps of fire, the vials full of odours (incense, I am afraid, were the truer translation), the prostration and adoration of the elders, the angel with the censer to whom was given much incense. If we are quite sincere, we must confess that all this is a description of a gorgeous and elaborate ceremonial; and I must add that it reads much more like an account of "High Mass" in a Romish or Ritualistic