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5. The first criterion, reasoning on the Puritan's own principles, does not fail. It stands firm. Indeed he virtually yields the point in debate, where he says, (p. 6,) "The voice of nature teaches that such marriages are to be reprobated—that there are reasons why they should be forbidden by the laws of the land, on grounds of high expediency." Again, on the same page, he says, "We, having the light of inspiration to read the book of nature with, find no difficulty in reading out of the book of nature a law against such marriages."

When, we ask, was this law enacted? when inscribed in the book of nature? The light of inspiration was imparted as soon as Moses began to write the Levitical law, and before his