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THE

TRIUMPH OF INNOCENCE:
A VISION.

DELIVERED

AT THE

DISSENTING CHAPEL,
HOSPITAL STREET,

NANTWICH;

ON

Sunday Evening,

SEPTEMBER 2d. 1821,

BY

THE REV. F. KNOWLES.

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that
condemneth the just, even they both are
abomination to the Lord. SOLOMON.

All these things spake Jesus unto the mul-
titude in parables; and without a parable
spake he not unto them. MATTHEW.

PRINTED BY E. CARVEN, NANTWICH;
And Sold by R. HUNTER, St. Paul's Church-
Yard, D. Eaton 187. HIGH HOLBORN,
LONDON,

And Booksellers in General.

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EXODUS, XX. 7. HEBREWS, XIII. 4. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

It is not my intention, my christian friends, to give any illustration of these words in a regular discourse. I adopt them merely as mottos.

Nor is it my intention, to address to you

a sermon.

What I shall offer on the present occasion, will be in the form of a vision, supposed to be presented to the mind.

As I would not be misunderstood, allow me to repeat it.

What I shall address to you, on the présent occasion, will be a Fiction; in the form of a vision, supposed to be presented to the mind. I shall have nothing to do with either real characters, or real scenes. Those that I shall present before you, will be fictitious; such as the créative power of fancy may call into birth.

B

I am aware, that this is a material deviation from the usual mode of preaching: but does it not, at the same time, bear a very near resemblance to that adopted by our Saviour; and adopted by him almost invariably? viz. the parabolic. The parables which he delivered, were fictions; founded probably, in some respects, on facts; but still, in themselves, they were fictions. And as he is our pattern, may we not imitate him? And being a perfect pattern, can we imitate him, and do wrong?

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I proceed, therefore, without further preface, to the object before me; only entreating your serious and candid attention, to what may at present be delivered.

Philander was a man of noble and dignified sentiments. He had read much, but he had reflected more. He was a Christian in truth, and in deed; not from education, or from fashion; but from inquiry, and conviction. He had examined the evidence for the Christian Faith; and his own was founded upon a rock.

Neither was he a Christian in speculation, but in practice. Truly might it be said of him, that"The Kingdom of God was within him." His spirit was modelled by that of his Master's; fervently pious towards God, his heavenly Father; ardently benevolent towards mankind, his brethren, It was his wish, it was his daily prayer, that the world might be good and happy; all

A

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