"Thou hast not yet seen, nay, not even
among infidels shamelessness so barefaced and public as this," said the
Angel, "but so it is, I am sorry to say, there is no worse corruption
than the corruption of the best." {28a} Then they went to communion, and
everybody appeared fairly reverent before the altar; yet through my
friend's glass I could see one taking unto himself with the bread the
form of a mastiff, another, that of a mole, another, that of an eagle, a
pig or a winged serpent, and a few, ah, how few, received a ray of bright
light with the bread and wine. "There," he pointed out, "is a Roundhead,
who is going to be sheriff, and because the law calls upon a man to
receive the sacrament in the Church before taking office he has come here
rather than lose it, and although there are some here who rejoice on
seeing him, we have felt no joy at his conversion, because he has only
become converted for the occasion. Thus thou perceivest that Hypocrisy,
with exceeding boldness, approaches the altar in the presence of the God
that cannot be deceived. But though she wields great power in the City
of Destruction, she is of no avail in the City of Emmanuel beyond those
ramparts.
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