On taking a review of these debates, there are but few minds that will not be filled with sentiments of dissatisfaction. Some, at the ascription to one religion alone, of the attribute of truth, and conformity to the word of God,others to behold a manly testimony on behalf of truth stigmatised as bigotry and intolerance — a steadfastness to principle ridiculed as the offspring of narrow-mindedness—and a high tone of moral and Christian feeling, mingled with that real charity which "rejoiceth in the truth," denounced as the language of cant, hypocrisy, and deceit.

The Protestant-who would preserve that Christianity-which, first planted in these lands in the purest ages of the Church, threw off at the Reformation those dark errors and superstitions with which Popery had overshadowed and obscured it whose religion is still that which

primitive Christianity was will behold with heartfelt sorrow every departure from that sound policy those wise and Christian principles, under whose ennobling and auspicious influence England has grown truly great,for the maintenance and supremacy of which his martyred forefathers struggled, and sacrificed every worldly consideration. Knowing the fate of all empires and of all men to be weighed in the balance of the sanctuary · that if found wanting there, the glory with which they may have been adorned is speedily departing he will consider that the reverse of those principles which made England glorious must lead to ruin; that forgetfulness and renunciation of God will lead to forgetfulness and renunciation by Him; that the attempt to cast off allegiance to the Supreme Governor of the universe. to administer affairs without reference to Him "by whom kings reign and princes decree justice"-will lead to His casting off those who would act with such audacity, such reckless, such bold, such arrogant impiety, and to a bestowal upon others more worthy those rich blessings which had been so profusely lavished upon them. Conscious that empire is held by a very frail tenure, that its responsibilities ought to be more regarded than its external splendour: - title and distinction will not, with all their grandeur and attractions, allure from the path of true glory. Sincere in his religion, and an ardent lover of his country,

he will hold the interest of each paramount to any personal considerations. Not seeking power for self-aggrandisement, nor rejecting it when called by Providence to assume it for the benefit of others, he will bear in mind that if, to retain authority, the empire of truth is to be invaded and overthrown, nothing short of the most signal failure can attend, till power becomes weakness; wealth, poverty; abundance, scarcity; and glory, shame! Filled with love to his divine Redeemer, holding fast, himself, "the form of sound words," and "earnestly contending for the faith which was once delivered to the saints," he will endeavour not only that it may be preserved at home in full purity and perfection, and be handed down unimpaired to the latest of his posterity, but that it may be promulgated far and wide, till the mighty extent of empire brought beneath our sway shall hear the same blessed tidings of salvation.

Not less anxious will be the Roman Catholic to see his form of faith triumphant. To the truly pious and devoted this is the predominant feeling, or rather passion, of their souls. Regarding Protestants as in a state of awful heresy, there are no exertions, no sacrifices (of their own) that they ought not to make, in order to reduce them to that church out of whose pale they believe there is no salvation. The evil from which they would rescue is an eternal one: to accomplish that, they would overlook the

temporal miseries that must be endured, and - as the pages of history inform us — have but too often had recourse to means the most nefarious, cruel, and unjust.* When minds are wrought up to a high degree of religious fervour and excitement — whether from early education, long continued habit, prejudice, with sometimes an intermixture of worldly motives —— they are too apt to forget the vileness of the means in the apparent sanctity of the end, and to "do evil that good may come." It were better, in the eye of some, to be under the sway of the Romish Church, though the tyranny of Spain, the superstitions of Italy, the slavery and wretchedness of the lower orders in Ireland, should take place to-morrow in England, than that she should remain great and glorious, rejoicing in those liberties which we have derived from our noble constitution, under the auspices of a pure and scriptural Christianity, free alike from civil servitude and the spiritual thraldom of the Pope. He (the Pope) cares for little, so that we might again become his vassals; temporal

* I must here again exonerate myself from any imputation of endeavouring to cast upon every member of the Church of Rome those reflections which have been, and still are, justly called for by the principles of that church, as exemplified in the conduct of many. Of the system, I cannot speak in milder or softer terms; making allowance, however, for those upright and high-minded men, who still lend to it their countenance and support.

power he can disregard, while seeking for spi-
ritual power.
Direct temporal power though
he hath not, a spiritual power he hath, equal to
all such emergencies. "As far as relates to their
persons, the Pope cannot ordinarily depose tem-
poral princes, even for just cause, as he can
bishops, that is, as an ordinary judge; but he
can change kingdoms, and take them away from
one and give them to another, as the highest
spiritual prince, if that be necessary for the sal-
vation of souls!"* And while many of his faithful
subjects in England are clamouring loudly for
that freedom and liberty of conscience and of
act, which they themselves allow to none where
force and decency do not compel it, he would
throw over us again those spiritual fetters
invisible, but not less binding—that bound our
forefathers, and exercising his power, with a
spiritual aspect, assume thereby the right of inter-
fering in our foreign or domestic policy, and
exert an influence not less deleterious than if
possessed of supreme temporal authority.+

* Antè, p. 126.

sional.

+ Into the nature of the confessional it was not my ob- The confesject and intention to enter in detail. It is, however, a most important point to be attended to. It may be said that this is going too minutely into the theological practice and discipline of the Church of Rome; and that, as affecting morality and religion, it is more a matter for those set apart for the spiritual office to inquire. Be it It may still be permitted me to set before my fellowcountrymen, a few of the indecent interrogatories to which

So.