Popery in a Walnut Shell.
A FEW years ago some friends were anxious to establish a Bible association in the Netherlands. A meeting was held, and a Romish priest, supposed to be favorable to the cause (but really hostile to it) was present. On his arrival he was asked to propose a resolution. He then assented, and, when he rose to speak, took from his pocket a freshly gathered walnut. “This walnut,” said he, “is an emblematical representation of three churches, viz., the Lutheran, Calvinian, and the holy Roman Apostolical Church. The green husk, you know, is bitter, nauseous, and useless; this represents the Lutheran Church. I will now take off the husk. Here you see the shell, crabbed, brittle, and worthless; such is the Calvinian Church. Now I will show you a just similitude of ‘the only true church.’ You will see it in the rich, nutritious kernel.” Thus saying, he boldly cracked the shell, and lo, it was completely rotten.—Sel.