interpretation, be reckoned now among those to whom the awful duty is
assigned of binding and loosing upon earth.

The same unsatisfactory associations must be excited in the mind of
every one who takes a similar view of Christian worship with myself, by
the following supplication to various saints on St. John's day:

"Let the heaven exult with praises[99],
Let the earth resound with joy; {263}
The sacred solemnities sing
The glory of the Apostles.
O ye Just Judges of the age,
And true lights of the world,
We pray you with the vows of our hearts,
Hear the prayers of your suppliants.
Ye who shut the heaven by a word,
And loose its bars,
Loose us by command, we beseech you,
From all our sins.
Ye to whose word is subject
The health and weakness of all,
Cure us who are diseased in morals,
Restore us to virtues.
So that when Christ shall come,
The Judge at the end of the world,
He may make us partakers
Of eternal joy.
To God the Father be Glory,
And to his only Son,
With the Spirit the Comforter,