tutional defenders of the church, whose opposition (the advocates of the measure themselves admit) must have been fatal to the bill, had left London for the performance of their episcopal duties. This circumstance shews the dexterous management of those who brought forward the measare. They were afraid to attack the citadel while the garrison was on the alert, and to be found at their posts; but no sooner are those defenders withdrawn, than they seize the opportunity to attack, and by a surprizal and a coup de main, to carry the fortress. The right reverend bench, indeed, are very highly and plausibly, but rather aukwardly and unseasonably, complimented by a noted Unitarian, (Mr. Belsham,) as " withholding their opposition to the measure, and concurring with liberal and meritorious unanimity in suffering it to pass." I should conceive, that not one of those right reverend fathers would feel himself entitled to a compliment which would represent him as giving his sanction and support to the circulation of unscriptural doctrines; as relinquishing his belief, or relaxing from his convincement, that the doctrine of the blessed Trinity is the true doctrine of the holy scriptures, and that the opinions of those who deny it are "impious and blasphemous, and contrary to the fundamental truths of christianity;" as the declaration of King William's parliament, and his injunctions and proclamations, describe them. For be it observed, that the repeal-bill in question is not a measure affecting merely the church of England, considered as a true branch of the church of Christ, but as striking at the root of some of the most important doctrines of the Christian religion. Consequently it is a measure of the highest moment and concern to all Christians, involving the true faith of Christ, the sanction of moral obligation, and the religious institutions of our pious ancestors. Let us not, then, be led away by the fallacious device and misapplied commendation of liberality. We know full well the meaning of the word in the Unitarian vocabulary; and the experience of twenty five years has lamentably illustrated its practical application in the overthrow of thrones and altars.

The Unitarians having thus gained one grand point, having obtained licence and permission, or, more truly speaking, encouragement to libel their "great God and Saviour," and to preach and publish their erroneous and dangerous tenets; is it likely that they will be content to stop here? Is is not rather to be apprehended that this is but one link of the chain which is preparing for us? Emboldened by success, (a success however, be it remarked, obtained only by dexterous management,) will they not be eager to advance a step further, and attempt to procure a repeal of the test and corporation acts? Now suppose them to prove successful in such an attempt, as they have been in the present instance of the repeal

bill, consider then the consequences likely to result. All officers of trust and power, under a Protestant government, would thus become open to every sect of religionists and irrelegionists, whether Atheists, Deists, Socinians, Unitarians, Jews, Turks, Infidels, or Heretics, with an end, less variety of divisions and subdivisions. The House of Commons in particular, the grand object of ambition, would quickly exhibit a counterpart of Barebones' Parliament. We should have a Deist vilifying the holy scriptures; an Infidel sputtering libels against the Christian religion, and its divine author; a Jew sitting on the ministerial benches, because the minister supported the monied interest, or stood in need of his services in a loan; and a Mahometan bringing in a bill to naturalize that good Mussulman, Ali Buonaparté, if ever he should come to honour this country with his residence. All this would serve to pave the way for the introduction of Roman Catholics into the legislature; for having admitted persons of any religion, or of no religion at all, men who blaspheme the holy Trinity, and " deny the Lord that brought them," on what ground could it be refused to admit persons who profess the religion of Christ, who believe in the doctrine of the holy Trinity, and other fundamental articles of that religion? It may be said perhaps, that such persons oppose the king's prerogative, deny his ecclesiastical supremacy, and, acknowledging a foreign jurisdiction, pay only a divided allegiance to their lawful sovereign; and that these are sufficient reasons for excluding them from the national legislature. It is true, that these are sufficient reasons. But they are to be considered as more properly reasons of state-policy. And if ever matters come to such a pass, that legislators in their enactments lose sight of every religious consideration, and suffer themselves to be influenced by political motives only, "actum erit de republicâ,”—we may then begin to despair of our country. For it may be depended on for a certain truth, that if the religious establishment of the country, were to be overthrown tomorrow, its political constitution would go the day following. To prevent such awful consequences, consequences to be dreaded and deprecated by every true friend of his country, your labours, Mr. Editor, are most usefully and beneficially employed, as "the Protestant Advocate," and the opposer of the Roman Catholic claims. In the hope that the foregoing observations, in support of the same good cause, may find a place in your " repertory of Protestant intelligence," I remain, Sir, yourfobedient servant,

Dec. 13, 1814.

CLERICUS ANGLICANUS.

PASTOR BONUS.

A Popish Congregation in a Protestant Church.

We present our readers with an extract of a letter from a worthy clergyman in Ireland to a noble lord in this country. It affords a pregnant proof of the mighty power of truth over bigotry itself; and may shew the wisdom of being "instant in season and out of season," and taking every opportunity of preaching the great and awful doctrines of pure christianity, even to people who are supposed to be prejudiced against them. The letter is dated Sunday, Nov. 27, 1814;-we do not choose, for obvious reasons, to print the name of the place where it was written, or that of the good curate, the writer. We know him well, and can bear ample witness to his zeal in the cause of Protestantism, whilst our readers may evidently see that his zeal is under the guidance of discretion. "After I had read the morning service, and had gone up into the pulpit, I found that some person had with chalk marked a cross upon the place where the cushion should lie, (we have no cushion in our pulpit,*) and had written the word crucifix under it. Whether this was meant as a rebake I know not; as to the latter, I do not take it upon myself, for I do (as I trust I ever shall) preach CHRIST CRUCIFIED; and, on the very same principle, continue to oppose the pernicious doctrines and practices of those persons who would seck other mediators between God and man, and compel their fellow-subjects to become partners in their idolatry.-I suppose this was done by some person who may have come hither in the course of last week; for our churchyard is one of the greatest burial places for ancient Roman Catholic families of any in the province of

"Some few weeks ago, my lord, a funeral of a Protestant, very namerously attended, took place here, just as I had finished divine service on a Sunday. The number of Roman Catholics at it was very great, and feeling myself accountable for improving an opportunity thus unexpectedly thrown in my way, I had the body brought into the church, which was soon crowded with what I deemed an interesting congregation indeed. In profound and attentive silence they heard me read our impressive burial service, and preach a sermon on this text,-"Who shall abide the day of his coming, or who shall stand when he appeareth?" Attached to

O poor Protestantism! how shalt thou maintain the field against the "pride, pomp, and circumstance of" Popery! Thou shouldst utterly be driven out of the land, were it not for "the word of truth, for the power of God, for the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left."

the Protestant religion, and active in supporting it, as your lordship knows me to be, I preached to a church full of Irish Papists, (for, excepting the elations of the deceased, there were few in it beside,) and preached not only without giving offence, but not without some marks of approbation. Your lordship may guess, from the text, that I must have touched upon some tender points, and that it required some deviation from my written notes, (for I do not attempt to preach without them,) to accommodate a sermon on such a text to the singular circumstances of the occasion, and the peculiar opinions of such an audience; and I believe I succeeded, without omitting what was needful, without offending their feelings, and I trust to the edification of them all.".

We have already spoken our sentiments with regard to this good clergyman-may we be permitted to express a wish that the state of the churches in Ireland, their condition and furniture, and the vestments of the clergy, were inspected, and put upon such a footing of decent orna. ment, that an accidental congregation of Papists may not spy out the nakedness of theland, and be induced to make invidious comparisons ?— This, however, is the business of the archdeacons in the several dioceses.

ERRATA.

In the Protestant Advocate for December, p. 118, line 5 from the bottom, read by Philip II.

In the advertisement on the second page of the blue cover, offering a premium "for the best essay on the evidence that St. Peter never was at Rome, &c."-for twenty read ten pounds; a premium of ten pounds is proposed for each essay deemed the best, on the subjects there announced.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, &c.

With singular reluctance we are obliged to postpone Melancthon's very interesting letter, which we hoped to have printed in the present number.

The list of outrages perpetrated by the Popish multitude in Ireland must also stand over. We had prepared it for the press, but we have not room for it.

A Constant Reader and Subscriber sent our publisher, from Portsmouth, an account of the late cause tried before Mr. Justice Day, at CorkDonovan v. Rev. O'Brien. We thank our good friend, and hope to insert his letter in our next.

Indagator in our number for March ;-a fragment of a letter from Ireland, &c. &c.

THE

PROTESTANT ADVOCATE

For MARCH 1815.

"CHRIST hath said, in the sixteenth of St. Matthew's Gospel, to Simon the Sonne " of Jonas," I say unto thee, Thou art Peter." Hence an opinion is held in the "world, that the Pope is universall Head of all Churches. Yet Jesus said not, "The Pope is universall Head of all Churches," but "Tu es Petrus," "Thou art "Peter."- -HOOKER.

BULL OF POPE CLEMENT XIV. FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE JESUITS.

(Continued from our last Number, page 197.)

"THE late apostolic letter of Clement XIII. of blessed memory, our immediate predecessor, by which the institute of the company of Jesus was again approved and recommended, was far from bringing any.comfort to the holy see, or any advantage to the Christian republic. Indeed this letter was rather extorted than granted, to use the expression of Gregory X. in the above named general council of Lyons.

"After so many storms, troubles, and divisions, every good man looked forward with impatience to the happy day which was to restore peace and tranquillity; but under the reign of this same Clement XIII, the times became more difficult and tempestuous; complaints and quarrels were multiplied on every side; in some places dangerous seditions arose, tumults, discords, dissentions, scandals, which weakening or entirely breaking the bonds of Christian charity, excited the faithful to all the rage of party, hatreds, and enmities. Desolation and danger grew to such a height, that the very sovereigns, whose piety and liberality towards the company were so well known as to be looked upon as hereditary in their families, we mean our dearly beloved sons in Christ the Kings of France, Spain, Portugal, and Sicily, found themselves reduced to the necessity of expelling and driving from their states, kingdoms, and province, these very companions of Jesus; persuaded that there remained no other remedy to so great evils; and that this step was necessary in order to VOL. III. [Prot. Adv. March 1815.]

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