There truly is nothing new under the sun. The depraved nature of man leads him in the same circle of rebellion and iniquity generation after generation. The incident before us finds its echoes in the news of the royal marriage recently announced. Both were contrary to the law of God. Both involved a union between two people whom God said were ineligible to marry. Both couples were determined to defy God. Herod and Herodias not merely defied God but became guilty of the murder of a faithful minister of Christ, John the Baptist. Charles and Carmilla have not had such a faithful representative of God in their company but rather they are surrounded by such time-serving reprobates as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. He has organised a form of service of blessing for the union. Whatever the source of this "blessing" it will not come from God. Both Charles and Carmilla have acknowledged adultery while married. Their circumstances ought to be a cause for shame and remorse within the royal household and the nation generally. Instead, a statement by the Queen said: The Duke of Edinburgh and I are very happy that the Prince of Wales and Mrs. Parker Bowles are to marry." It is but another step in the nation's downgrade.