dangerous characteristics. Popery great and good men have often dragged our forefathers to Smith, very incautiously used. Thus, for field, and gave their bodies to be instance, in a declamatory letter, burned. Popery massacred the lately published by the Rev. D, French Protestants, excited the Wilson,* he anticipates with ardent Irish Rebellion, introduced the In- hope, that, among other blessings, quisition, &c. &c. and therefore the we shall see the religion of Thomas timid are alarmed with racks, and a Kempis, of Pascal, of Nicole, of scourges, and flames, and unnum. Quesnel, and of Fenelon revived." bered attendant borrors. But these And what was their religion ?-be are not its greatest, its most appal. implies, indeed, its inferiority to ling dangers. The falsehood, the that of Jewel, and Latimer, and licentiousness, the lying wonders, the idolatry, the mischievous sys.

* This Letter, which originally appeared tem of compensating for crime by in the Christian Observer, and has since lasung, penance, Inany prayers, been reprinted and extensively circulated, alms, &c. the destruction of shame may be regarded as an attempt to justify and modesty by the practice of

the Author's Letter with reference to Mr.

Peel; and has by some been characterized confession ; the encouragement

as a master-piece of argument. To me given to sin by priestly absolution,

however it is only another instance of the indulgence, extreme unction, and effect produced by unexpected circumto crown all, purgatory: the intro- stances on partially informed minds. Mr. duction of other mediators, masses

asses W. is obviously ignorant of the actual

state of things in Ireland; he speaks of for the dead, pilgrimages, &c. the the sad progress of the Catholic religion, monstrous system of transubstan- its firmer hold on the minds of the people, tiation, requiring the violation of &c.' the very reverse of which is the case : all the evidence of sense and onen all the evidence of sense, and open

he then adverts to the opinion of several

Christian statesmen, scarcely any of whom ing the door to infidelity; these and

had visited Ireland, and the only one of similar evils and abominations have whom who had resided there any time scarcely been noticed in the recent was 80 indolent, and so deluded by discussions, and are little known or

Popish sophistry while there, as to have

provoked the pity of one class and conregarded by Protestants in general.

tempt of another; and yet after all, Mr. In short the immense and irrecon W.'s opinions remained little altered, until cilable difference between Popery he visited the continent, 'found every where and Protestantism has been lost that the conduct of England to her Roman sight of. Some of our ecclesias

Catholic subjects excited surprise and

indignation ;' discovered the delightful tics have devised schemes for uniting

harmony subsisting between the Catholics the churches of England and Rome. and Protestants in France, Switzerland, Many of our Dissenters have spo. and Germany, and came home ken of the church of England in

examine how things really were in Ire.

land-not to inquire whether the Papist terms which have led their people

does not enjoy in that country ten times to suppose ner to be as essentially the liberty the Protestant is favoured with corrupt and unscriptural as the Pa- in France; but to wait patiently until the pacy itself; and thus multitudes are

grand apostasy took place, and then to induced to fancy, that, after all, the

applaud that conduct as most noble, which

the large majority of Christian ministers difference between Protestants and

and people regard as highly disgraceful; Romanists is little more than that and to insinuate, that the opposition to the subsisting between Churchmen and

Relief Bill was almost necessarily obstinate Dissenters; between Baptists, Me

and irritating, and somewhat like factious;

which very opposition was led on and thodists, or Independents; and that

sustained by three Archbishops, many For modes of faith let angry bigots fight,

Bishops, the venerable Lord Eldon, and a

strong Phalanx of the most honourable and His can't be wrong whose life is in the right.

distinguished statesmen in both houses ;

thie is surely another exemplification of the This delusion has been much

prophetic exhortation, "Cease ye from strengthened by the language which man."

Hooker, and Hall, and Leighton, ed their conduct, observed what is and Beveridge,-yet still he obvi- really passing amongst them? ously esteems it highly. Whereas Alas ! how many of us have just their sentiments allowed them still convinced ourselves, that in their to continue in an idolatrous com- journey towards eternity, poor munion; and some of them were Papists bave been wounded and induced to give up the deliberate robbed, and yet like the Priests and conviction of their understandings Levites of old, we have passed by at the Papal mandate, and thus and left them half dead, without show, that however elevated their drawing near, pouring in oil and contemplations of Christianity might wine, binding up their wounds, and be, they had not the courage to taking care of them. Such inquiconfess Christ before men. We ries, if honestly conducted, will in may indeed hope that they were many cases, at least, lead to deep saved as by fire; but still it must personal humiliation. We have be remembered, that few such men sinned and done wickedly. We, have ever appeared among the our kings, our princes, our fathers, professors of the Romish faith, and all the people of this land That, on the contrary, Popery is at have not obeyed the voice of the once debasing and demoralizing; Lord. Whether the late relief bill and although the same letter con- is, as many conceive, a national tains intimations of its author's sa- sin, I shall not stop to inquire. tisfaction, that Papists and Pro. But that thousands and tens of testants dwell on the continent in thousands of us have sinned against such uninterrupted harmony, yet God, our fellow-men and consethe perusal of Mr. W.'s own quently our country, by our slothful tour sufficiently, though very indifference and supine ignorance painfully accounts for that har- on the subject and consequences mony. Why should Papists and of Popery, is to me perfectly obviProtestants quarrel about religion, ous ; and as national guilt is the when their religion is alike for aggregate of individual sins, we mal and lifeless-a body without are called to deep, personal, and a soul; a mere speculative un public humiliation before God, to influential profession : and yet such unfeigned repentance, and conseis obviously, from his own account, quent newness of life. the religion of a very large pro- If we really embrace such views, portion of the continental Protes. we shall be led immediately to attants, or at least of those Protestants tend to another and most important whom he met with in his journey. branch of duty, namely, to exert

I pause, however, in adverting ourselves for the enlightening and to the causes which have contributed conversion of those who are now to recent events. Many others perishing in Popish darkness and might be assigned; but I hasten delusion. It is to me a painful to append a few observations on subject of contemplation, when I present duty. We are called, Sir, observe how little is even attempted I conceive to serious inquiry and for the benefit of our Romish brediligent self-examination. Inquiry thren. I have no means of asceras to our sentiments, our conduct, taining what exertions are making our conversation. We have read, for the conversion of English Roand written, and preached, and dis- man Catholics, but I understand that puted, and petitioned about Popery the whole income of the Reformaand Protestantism ? Have we at all tion Society, which contemplates understood the subject? Have we Great Britain and Ireland, does not ever conversed with Papists? Have exceed £2000; and if we refer we witnessed their worship, examin-' to the various Education Societies,

to which more general approbation great and unavoidable expense, but is given, we find the gross on its own solid merits and peculiar amount of their united incomes claims. I fear, however, our little, if at all, more than one half whole charity system requires re. the sum raised for sending the gos- vision; few give with due regard pel to the heathen, by the Church, to their own ability and the intrinthe London, or the Methodist sic merits of the case. Missionary Societies. The claims There is, indeed, considerable of the poor Irish are every where danger, lest in attending to foreign allowed—but where is the fruit ? and distant objects we should negWhere are the contributions ? Into Ject those at home. It is our prewhose treasury is the money sent duty seriously to consider, poured ? I have heard, indeed, whether some effect may not be objections to these societies-one is produced in our own immediate under dissenting management, ano. districts and neighbourhoods. This ther employs Roman Catholics, may be called the age of societies, a third has been indiscreet in some and far be it from me to depreciate particulars, &c. But all this is their value and importance; but miserable trifling. Is what the if our contributions to societies, conductors of these Societies say whether those contributions be of to be at all depended on ? Do the money or influence, supersede or Roman Catholics desire that them- paralyse our personal exertions, it selves or their children should read may fairly be doubted, whether the God's word ? If so, I venture to general cause of Christian beneassert, that his Protestantism is of volence is not injured. Every a very questionable nature, who Christian family should be a cencan satisfy himself with withholding tre from which Christian princihelp when it is in the power of his ples and examples should emanate hand to give it, even supposing the and fill the surrounding circle; the objections above stated were as careful instruction and training up true in the main, as I believe them of children and servants; the reguto be unfounded. It is however, I lar attention to family and public contend, a positive duty in the pre- worship; the strict and well-ordersent day, for persons who have ing of a household are less sohwy money to dispose of themselves, or and imposing than a perpetual who have access to the purses of attendance on committees, public others, to be clearly informed as to meetings, &c. though upon the the real objects, merits and de.. whole they may be found more merits of different Societies. A effectual in the promotion and exsingle hour's patient attention to tension of true religion. Far be it one of their short statements, brief from me to speak against the accounts, extracts of correspond labours of committees, or the atence, &c. would enable persons to tendance at public meetings, they determine for themselves, whether are highly valuable and important; any particular society ought or but their tendency in the individual ought not to be supported. A instance is not always favourable to single letter of inquiry on doubtful growth in grace, to deep personal points addressed to the secretaries experimental religion, and I cannot of any institution, would obviate but feel that the bringing forward many a latent and paralysing objec. young persons as collectors or other tion, and the prosperity of an in- official agents in and for charitable stitution would then rest, not as is institutions, has often been pro. now often the case, on the eloquence ductive of serious personal injury, of a popular advocate, hired from though doubtless accompanied with the public purse, and travelling at beneficial results to others.

The close attention to personal of religion can be anticipated, until and family religion will gradually the energies of numerous lay agents lead on to exertions for the benefit are called furth, in a way which of the immediate neighbourhood. ordained Ministers seem not to The visiting of the sick, the caring anticipate. I dwell with most pleasfor the poor, the reading to the aged ing anticipations on the accounts and the ignorant, the assisting in given of the labours and usefulSunday and other Schools, will all ness of the Scripture Readers in follow in due order, and hence Ireland, and wish that in every town access will gradually be obtained to and village throughout the united almost every family in the district; empire there were persons of both while each family may, through the sexes who would lay out themselves divine blessing, become a fresh in reading to the poor and ignorant centre of operations; and thus wave not only the Holy Scriptures, upon wave may follow, till the but also other books of an instrucwhole stagnant lake is moved by tive and devotional kind. To preach the efforts of active benevolence in the public assembly is exclu

Much has lately been said on the sively the duty of the minister; to pastoral care, and systems of paro read in the sick chamber, in the chial visitation have been devised, family circle, in the day or Sunday by which every family and indivi- School, is the privilege of the private dual shall in a given time become Christian, and may in many inthe subject of ministerial exhorta stances be attempted by the modest tion and inquiry. Such systems, and retiring female, without any where practicable, may doubtless violation of simplicity and delicacy. prove most beneficial; yet they In this way I conceive access may often remind me of the expression be obtained to Jews, Papists, and of Moses, “I cannot hear all this other ignorant and benighted perpeople alone.” Where the minister sons, who may thus be gently and is situated in a small parish, the plan affectionately drawn to the contemmay be practicable; but where the plation of a compassionate and merplace is populous it becomes almost ciful Saviour. impossible, without an expenditure I must, however, hasten to draw of time, strength, and spirits, even these hints to a close, though tually fatal to that attention to much remains still to be said. Let reading, meditation, and prayer, us all seriously consider that we are which is indispensably necessary to now in a situation entirely new and the due discharge of the public untried. A situation of danger and duties of the ministry. And where of difficulty; where sloth, negli. such plans are adopted, private gence, worldly conformity, may Christians are often led to desist lead to the most fatal and injurious from exertions which they might results. Let us therefore, gird consistently make, and a line of up the loins of our minds, and demarcation is drawn between watch unto prayer. We are called the Christian minister and the to diligence, to exertion, to watchChristian layman, more nearly fulness, but above all to prayer. If resembling the distance between the a spirit of prayer and supplication Jewish priests and people, or the is poured out upon us, we may Romish clergy and laity, than can safely conclude that God will be be justified by an appeal to the New intreated for the land; but if we Testament Scriptures. What the confide in our own strength, rely minister is in the great congrega- on our own wisdom, presume on tion, the Christian is in his own our own exertions, we may expect family and circle; nor do I con- a fearful—an awful time. ceive any great and extensive revival Such apprehensions are censured

by many as weak and groundless, wisdom and expediency, to go on as implying a distrust of the excel. simply dependant on His promises, lence of the Protestant cause, a diligently using the appointed forgetfulness of the Divine pro. means, and looking confidently for tection : ‘God will take care of his the Divine blessing. If such is our own church. Doubtless he will; character and conduct, we may well but how? by keeping his people say, “God is our refuge and strength, in the path of watchfulness and we will not fear what man can do to prayer, by leading them to separate us." “ The Lord of hosts is with from theungodly, to have no fellow. us, the God of Jacob is our refuge." ship with the workers of iniquity, to shun the dictates of worldly

H.O.

*** We omit for the present month our Review, in order to allow of more

copious Extracts from the Reports, Speeches, &c. delivered at the late Anniversary Meetings.

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