THE following exquisitely-beautiful apologue, inadvertently ascribed to Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and inserted in his works, is copied from the conclusion of Bishop Taylor's Liberty of Prophesying.' "I end with a story, which I find in the Jews' books: When Abraham sat at his tent-door, according to his custom, waiting to entertain strangers, he espied an old man stooping and leaning on his staff, weary with age and travel, coming toward him, who was a hundred years of age; he received him kindly, washed his feet, provided supper, and caused him to sit down; but observing that the old man eat and prayed not, nor begged for a blessing on his meat, asked him why he did not worship the God of heaven? The old man told him, that he worshipped the fire only, and acknowledged no other god at which answer, Abraham grew so zealously angry, that he thrust the old man out of his tent, and exposed him to all the evils of the night, and an unguarded condition. When the old man was gone, God called to Abraham, and asked him where the stranger was? He replied, I thrust him away, because he did not worship thee;'-God answered him, I have suffered him these hundred years, although he dishonoured me, and couldest not thou endure him one night, when he gave thee no trouble?' Upon this, saith the story, Abraham fetched him back again, and gave him hospitable entertainment and wise instruction:-Go thou and do likewise, and thy charity will be rewarded by the God of Abraham."

VOL. I.

E

A SERMON,

PREACHED IN THE

CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF DURHAM,

JULY 30, 1806;

AT THE ASSIZES HOLDEN BEFORE THE

HON. SIR ROBERT GRAHAM AND THE HON. SIR THOMAS MANNERS SUTTON, BARONS OF HIS MAJESTY'S COURT OF

EXCHEQUER AT WESTMINSTER.

Published at the Request of

THE HON. AND RIGHT REVEREND THE LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM.

(York, 1806.)

E 2

A SERMON, &c.

ACTS XXIV. 26.

HE HOPED THAT MONEY WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN HIM OF PAUL, THAT HE MIGHT LOOSE HIM: WHEREFORE HE SENT FOR HIM THE OFTENER, AND COMMUNED WITH HIM.

THE eloquence of St. Paul may be compared

to that of Demosthenes, the greatest of all the ancient orators. They both excel in energy of language, and sublimity of thought. Yet, where the tender emotions of the heart are to be excited, or the understanding to be convinced, it has been justly remarked, that the Athenian must yield the palm to the Christian orator.

But it is not my design to compose a panegyric on the eloquence of this great Apostle. I wish rather to commiserate him in the situation, in which he was placed at that critical period of his life when, to rescue him from the plots of his inveterate enemies, he was conducted under a military guard from Jerusalem to Cæsarea, the residence of the Roman governors of Judæa. Behold him then as a private citizen, despoiled of his liberty, and appearing in the garb of a prisoner. Harassed by tedious delays, he has no prospect of redress. In vain does he protest