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ever been able, even to the present day, to offer for the monstrous absurdity of their system The duty of preaching was left to the lowest and most illiterate of the monks. The following anecdote will give a lively idea of their mode of preaching :--“The prior of the Black Friars at Newcastle, in a sermon at St Andrews, asserted that the Paternoster should be said to God only, and not the saints. This doctrine not meeting the approbation of the learned of that city, they appointed a Gray Friar to refute it, who choose for his text, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” which he illustrated in this manner. Seeing we say, good day, father, to any old man in the street, we may call a saint pater, who is older than any alive; and seeing they are in heaven, we may say to any of them, "Our father who art in heaven;" seeing they are holy, we may say, 'hallowed be thy name;"> and, since they are in the kingdom of heaven, may add, "thy kingdom come;" and as their will is God's will, "thy will be done;" but when he come give us this day our daily bread," he was much at a loss confessing it was not in the power of the saints to give us our daily bread;" yet they may pray to God for us," he said, “that he may give us our daily bread.” The rest of his commentary being not more satisfactory, set his audience a laughing and the children on the streets calling after him, Friar Paternoster, he was so much ashamed that he left the city. The only device by which they attempted to bring back the people to their allegiance was equally unfortunate and imprudent; they had recourse to false miracles, which the vigilance of the