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THE COVER OF CURRENT COIN.

THE COINS on the Cover are Coins of TIBERIUS CESAR in the Ist century, the Roman Emperor under whom JESUS CHRIST was crucified, and whose image and superscription He pointed out to the Jews,CONSTANTINE, in the 4th century, under whom the Roman Empire adopted Christianity,- -a unique Coin of CONSTANTIUS, Son of CONSTANTINE, with the Labrum or Banner which appeared in the skies to the army,and a 19th century Coin of VICTORIA by the Grace of God Queen of Great Britain.

It appeared to me that this symbolism, at first sight somewhat fanciful, really struck the key note of almost all I have attempted to teach.

Truth, like the precious metals, is the same in all ages; but the form of its currency is continually changing: in other words, the old coinages of Truth wear out, and from time to time have to be melted down before the pure metal, re-coined, can once more obtain a real currency.

It is quite within the bounds of possibility that the same particles of Gold or Silver which entered into the composition of the piece of money once shewn to CHRIST, stamped with the heathen CAESAR's head, may have been re-stamped with the Christian CONSTANTINE'S, and have then been melted down into church plate, or passed in currency to Britain. After many other vicissitudes, it may have been re-coined even in our own age, and stamped with the head of VICTORIA; and when in time that head becomes effaced, the metal will have to be again re-stamped with the reigning head of the period, before the Coin can be made current.

This parable of "CURRENT COIN" thus seemed an apt illustration of the way in which the pure Gold of Religious Truth has to be re-stated. -and re-stamped, and changed over and over again in outward form, as the ages roll on; and the Medievalist who would make the Athanasian, or even the Nicene Creed, the fittest expression of Religious Truth in the Antiquarian who should seek to supersede the e with that of TIBERIUS or CONSTANTINE.

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