THE CONFESSIONAL.

AWFUL GUILT OF THE ROMISH BISHOPS OF
IRELAND.

Translations from the Bull "Pastor Bonus," conferring
on the Papal Officer the Major Pænitentiarius and his
Delegates, the power of granting Absolutions and
Dispensations for Thefts, Robberies, Murders, and all
sorts of crimes. Set up by the Romish Bishops for
their Priests, to direct the consciences of the Roman
Catholics of Ireland. A.D. 1832. [See the eighth
vol. of Dens' "Theology," published in 1832,
under sanction of the Roman Catholic Bishops,
and adopted by Dr. Murray, Popish Archbishop
of Dublin, as the conference book of the priests of
the Province of Leinster.]

We have in the preamble of this Bull an instance of the blasphemous audacity of this guilty superstition, of which the Pope is the head, this "Man of sin, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped."

We see him here assuming a power, greater than all that is exercised by every earthly potentate, and greater than all that even the worshippers of any idol ascribe to their God, arrogating to himself the prerogative and power of pardoning sin, and thus, as far as his deluded victims depend on him, realizing the ambition attributed to the prince of darkness, that of aspiring to the throne of God. The first section is an amplification of the blasphemy of the preamble.

Section I." Therefore, beside many other matters, the tribunals of the Court of Rome established for various sorts of causes, have willed most especially, even from the most ancient times, that there should exist in it and be preserved perpetually, never to fail, the office of Apostolical Penitentiary, like the fountain open to the house of David for the washing of the sinner, to which all the faithful from every region of the Christian world might be able safely to betake themselves, each for their spiritual diseases, however secret, whether in person or by secret letters, even suppressing their own names, and might immediately obtain convenient medicine for their wounds by a secret and gratuitous cure, such as might be desired by all. The plan of which so renowned and so salutary an institution was very grateful to the heart of the Roman Pontiff for the time being, and such utility did they experience from the ministry of this office in the administration of the Church, that formerly they did not hesitate to commit to the same office to be settled, not only causes belonging to the interior forum of penance, but even many others, pertaining to the mercy and justice of the external forum."

Now let any rational being soberly consider the tissue of absurdity and wickedness that is here set before the miserable victims of this horrible system of superstition. A man daring to set himself forth to his fellow-sinners as the administrator of God, the vicar of Jesus Christ on earth, institutes a tribunal at his court, to which all his deluded followers are to have recourse from all parts of the world, and for all crimes which they can commit, and though they keep themselves and their names unknown to the Pope, yet the Pope can pardon all their iniquities, that is, (unless he possess the attribute of Omniscience,) he can pardon he knows not whom. But these unknown victims of idolatry and superstition, believe that this ex post facto license for crime will avail them before God, and that as Tetzel said, When the money tinkles in the chest the pardon is sealed in heaven.

It is no wonder the Popes plead for the utility of this traffic for the souls of men. Alas! how little do they reflect that the weight of money accumulated in this their merchandise, will serve but as a millstone around their necks to sink them deeper into the gulph of everlasting destruction.

higher degrees, but this may be by no means per-
mitted to them till after they have professed."

is:

So then when they have become professed, they
can take holy orders. Mark here what Popery
see how God and man
seal of judgment and abhorrence on the mur-
have set their
derer. But here we see that Popery is
privy to the crime-knows it, conceals it, pro-
tects it, opens its arms
into its sanctuaries, and there licenses the murderer
to receive it, takes it
to become a priest, to learn to drill the wretches
that come to his confessional, in the crimes of which
he has received the pardon and the profits himself.
What is there more infamous in the history of
human guilt than this, unless it be the fact that it is
all perpetrated in the name of Christianity, and
that the authority of the God of holiness and truth,
and love and mercy, is borrowed to sanction the
blackest dictates of the devil?

The reader has only to recollect that the out-
law and the murderer can find a refuge and a
welcome in the orders of the monks of the Papacy,
he has only here to observe, that there is no species
of crime that can incapacitate these regulars from
any ranks, dignities, and powers in the Church of
Rome; and then he need not be surprised at the
awful perjury with which the Popish bishops now
stand publicly charged before the Lord-Lieutenant
of Ireland.

it; as others, however, have strongly expressed a wish in the opposite way, we deem it the wiser course to adhere to the original plan, and shall, till its conclusion, on the terms as at first announced. therefore, bring out our journal three times a-week

Subscribers are requested to inform the publisher when any irregularity occurs in the transmission of their copies, as arrangements have been made at the office for the prompt and regular delivery of our periodical.

Our London subscribers should receive their

copies the day of publication, and our country subscribers by the following morning.

POST-OFFICE orders.

We request our subscribers and friends to be very careful in informing our publisher of the exact Christian and surname of the party in whose name Post-office orders are made payable, as otherwise considerable difficulty will arise at the Postoffice. It will further diminish the labours of our publisher if all Post-office orders in our favour are at once given payable at the General Post-office, London.

With this assumed power of pardoning thefts, robberies, homicides, murders, &c., we need no longer wonder at those Ribbon conspiracies which PROTESTANT ELECTOR FUND. render life and property insecure in Ireland—conspiracies that have been proved in several courts of Subscriptions and Donations will be received to justice to exist and to be exclusively confined to the account of "The Protestant Elector" with members of the Church of Rome-and which may be proved to result from the dangerous and anti-Messrs. Strahan, Paul, and Co., bankers, 217, social laws of the Papacy. Strand, London.

The above is one of the early publications of the Protestant Association. It is now out of print, but it is intended, we believe, to be reprinted as a hand-bill for extensive circulation.

REVENUE. Among the Parliamentary documents recently issued was one obtained by Lord George Bentinct on the revenue. A return was moved for of the net amount received upon each article paying duty to the amount of 1,000l. and upwards in each of the years ending the 5th of January, 1842 and 1847, as also of the declared value of the exports of cotton, woollen, linen, and silk in the five months ending the 5th of June, 1845 and 1847. It appears that in the year ending the fifth of January, 1842, the revenue, exclusive of the income and property tax, was 47,917,521, and in the year ending the 5th of January last it was 47,554,811, showing an actual decrease in the payments into the exchequer of 362,710. From the second branch of the return it seems that the declared value of the exportations of the four great articles of our staple manufactures in the five months ending the fifth of June, 1845, amounted to 15,802,191., and in the five months ending the fifth of June last the declared value was 14,831,4781.

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.

We have received communications from various

subscribers, objecting to the proposed alteration
of continuing our paper once a-week to the end of
the series.

The amount as yet received, by Subscriptions, Sales, and Donations, does not equal one half of the expendi ture incurred. Many staunch and influential friends of

the Protestant cause in various localities throughout the country have spent, or are prepared to spend, large sums in contested elections, for themselves or friends.

Hundreds and thousands of pounds have thus been freely given. This journal has been devoted to the cause they have laboured to advance, and its efficiency will be increased by receiving a portion of their bounty.

Subscribers who have not already paid their subscriptions are requested to remit the same forthwith, by Post-office Order, made payable to "William Adolphus Macknight." The amount is ten shillings and sixpence.

It has been resolved, on the suggestion of various friends, to continue our journal on an enlarged scale, as a Weekly Paper, to be published each Friday, price Sixpence, as soon as arrangements can be completed. It will then assume the name of "THE PROTESTANT STATESMAN, AND CHRISTIAN PHILANTHROPIST."

If each one who now takes our journal will become a subscriber of 11. 6s. for one year, and inform us of his willingness to do so, and will get one other friend to do the same, we shall see our way clear to proceed in the work. Subscribers. will not be called on to make any

We thank them alike for their support and for the interest which they have expressed in the Section 17.-" He (the Major Poenitentiarius) can dispense and order others to dispense, in either trisuccess of the "PROTESTANT ELECTOR," and the bunal, with homicides and outlaws, and other crimi- paper by which we hope it may be followed. nals, so that they may lawfully be received into a The proposed alteration was intended for the remittance till receipt of the first number. religious order, and make a profession in it, and so those who have committed murder, benefit of our readers rather than our own, as it (qui homicidia voluntaria commiserint) may be able to enter any of the religious orders as clerics, and would have entailed on us the additional expenses make a profession in it, on this condition, however, of an establishment for several extra weeks, and, Printed by ALEXANDER MACINTOSH, Printer, of No. 20, Great when it shall appear to be befitting, that they shall have consequently, a yet greater loss than we have first satisfied the exchequer and the party; and, moreover, by taking care lest in the time of their already incurred. Still, as some had expressed a noviciate they may take holy orders or ascend to wish for the alteration, we were willing to make

that even

New-street, London, at his Printing-office at the same place, and published by WILLIAM ADOLPHUS MACKNIGHT, of No. 6, Dorisstreet East, Lambeth, Surrey, at THE PROTESTANT ELECTOR Office, No. 3, Shoe-lane, London, where all communications (pre-paid) and advertisements are received.-London, September 8, 1847.

THE JESUITS AND SWITZERLAND.

Our attention seems to be almost imperatively called to this subject, in consequence of what has recently taken place in Switzerland. Many besides those who are immediately concerned in the

[PRICE 3d.

and those who sympathize with them, rejoice at DECISION FOR THE EXPULSION OF THE JESUITS. "At the sitting of the Swiss Diet on the 3d inst., such division of opinion, well satisfied that where the debate on the expulsion was renewed. The there is division there is weakness, and that without Redeputies who had not spoken at the preceding united forces, they have nothing to fear. sitting delivered the sentiments of their respective joicing, therefore, in this state of apathy, they will cantons, but as there was nothing new or striking not seek to rouse Protestants from it. Gaining contest have, for some years past, regarded with in their several arguments, we refrain from re-strength from this division of opinion, they will not lively interest the proceedings of the Swiss Diet.

These proceedings become of more interest and peating them, and proceed to give the results of the seek to promote union-satisfied rather to increase

importance day by day. It is not the extensive territory of the cantons, but the nature of the contest, that draws and fixes the eyes of Europe upon the

events of which Switzerland is the theatre.

The Jesuits are not the friends of society. They are not the friends of Sovereigns. They are not the friends of the people. Neither monarchies nor democracies can derive permanent power and stability from them. The interest of their order is of higher importance in their estimation than the interest of any particular Church or nation. They have played their part with such skill and adroitness as to succeed in the attainment of their object in many cases, by concealing that object from the view of those against whom their designs were more immediately directed.

As birds, snared by the fowler, know not till too late to escape, without loss,-if at all,-the danger by which they are surrounded,-so various communities have in time past been ensnared by the wiles of Jesuitism, and torn themselves from its fangs at the expense of severe loss and suffering. It is not the bigotry of Exeter Hall that has led to the decision for the expulsion of the Jesuits from Switzerland, or the admission, in future, of Jesuits into any one of the cantons of that country.

The Swiss have felt it necessary to their peacetheir prosperity-their independence-the right education of their children-and the welfare of their communities.

England has a long time ago done the same thing: so, too, has nearly every European state. And, ere long, we may rue most bitterly the readmission of Romanists to power,-the endowment of Maynooth, and the increased influence of the Jesuits.

votes.

"For not entering into the question, and consequently for withdrawing it from the order of the day, there were eight cantons and one half

canton.

"For declaring the measure a federal measure, and therefore for calling upon such of the cantons as have Jesuits in them to send them away, and never admit any of the order in future, there were twelve cantons and two half cantons.

such discords, in order to strengthen their own position.

Continued efforts are necessary on the part of Protestants. Romanism, like the thief, may best carry forward her stealthy progress in quietness. Darkness suits her better than light.

But the watchman's duty is, to arouse the slumbering, to admonish the approach and nature of the foe.

It was by men faithful to our religion in the

"In pursuance of this vote the following decree pulpit, and resolved in Parliament to maintain our was issued :

"In conformity with Articles 1 and 18 of the compact, the Diet is bound to watch over the maintenance of order and the internal security of the Confederation.

institutions free from foreign Papal interference,
that, through the Divine mercy, the blessings of the
Reformation, with liberty, civil and religious, were
made the peculiar marks of our country.
Efforts are still required to retain them.

"Considering that the existence and the secret practices of the Jesuits are incompatible with the order and peace of Switzerland, and seeing, in fine, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION WITH their presence, particularly in Lucerne, one of the cantons of the Directory;

666 Decree,

ROME.

(From the Scottish Record.)

The question as to whether Great Britain should establish a political intimacy with Rome has been "1. The question of the Jesuits is within the of late much argued-and it has been said that in competency of the high Diet.

"2. The cantons of Lucerne, Schwytz, Friburg, and Valais, in which the Jesuits are established, are invited to expel them from their territories.

"3. The admission in future of Jesuits into any one of the cantons of Switzerland is interdicted."

PROTESTANTISM OR POPERY?

The question becomes daily of more intense interest.

The subject is one of no ordinary nature; the reasons for bringing it under notice are such as a few years ago would not have been supposed to

exist.

the case of Pius IX. there is a propriety and suitableness in making advances towards this consummation-this Pontiff as being liberal and enlightened requiring to have his hands strengthened and courage supported, amidst the frowning and powerful despotism by which he is surrounded. If, as some reason, Austria be hostile to the reforms of the Pope, our free and enlightened and great nation should cordially hold out to this excellent princeprelate the right hand of fellowship. The question it is not unlikely will receive some attention during the next Parliament.

Many people suppose that religious differences alone have placed in abeyance all diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Rome, and they argue on the inconsistency of having an Ambassador at Constantinople, while we have no representative at the head-quarters of Catholicism. There prevails a considerable degree of misconceptiou on this point, which it would be as well to endeavour to

We are aware that we must have to contend remove.

with the prejudices, or hostile feelings, of many
Many who think that Popery is not progressing,
others who imagine her nature to be changed-
some who apprehend no danger, even should her
influence extend yet further, and some who even
imagine that all efforts to stem the tide are
useless.

The

There is certainly about the Popish faith-in its peculiarities a vast deal to offend the enlightened Protestant-a vast deal of what Scripture condemns and reason itself disproves and dissipates. interdict on the free use of the Scriptures, which is of the essence of Romish tyranny, and its spirit of persecution and hate towards Protestants, are enough to repel us from all free political intercourse with members of the Romish regime. It is no easy matter to be on intimate terms of international amity Meanwhile, Romanists, and Romanizing teachers, with the sacerdotal Government which condemns us

as heretics and excludes us from salvation-which | notus" would ask Rome to exempt from "banning"
denies the validity of our ordinations, and teaches the national Churches which were not from the be-
that the Sacraments are in our Churches sacri- ginning subject to the authority of that see, and he
legiously administered, which repudiates Protestant doubtless classes the Churches of Great Britain
marriages, and bastardizes Protestant children. under this category.. We cordially agree with this
We repeat, it would be no easy matter to frater-view of the case, believing that there were in these
nize even through the medium of diplomacy with islands Churches comparatively pure in doctrine,
the head of a sect so ungracious in our case. who for a long season had not bowed the knee to
But whether tenets, which like vice are only to be the Baal of Popish usurpation. But submission to
seen to be hated, might not be so kept out of view in Rome is not to be determined by historical prece
the case as to allow of political intercourse between dents. Our forefathers too readily yielded to the
England and Rome need not now be discussed. chains which a domineering tyrannical power
There is another and important barrier to such inter- had forged for them, and were but too passive
communion which anticipates all reference to politi- under their bondage. They submitted to the
cal amenities. This country has kept aloof from Rome emissaries of the Pope as they did to the
because it has presumptously assumed the right of priests of the groves the Druids-both descriptions
deposing sovereigns and absolving subjects from their of tyrants flourished because their victims were
oath of allegiance-because even in matters of do- ignorant and debased. We should not like to fence
mestic arrangement and policy it has daringly about historical questions with Romish casuists.
placed itself above the civil power, and arrogated to With our faith or our liberty the Pope has happily
itself a dictatorship over temporal princes and Go- nothing to do. As little right has he to meddle
vernments. Besides all this, which applies to with our politics. The views of our forefathers on
sovereigns, whether Catholic or Protestant, there is the entire independency of these realms on the Bishop
a specialty in our case which many have never re- of Rome has been embodied in the Confession of
garded. It is a fact that in the eye of the Pontiffs Faith and in the Articles of the Church of England.
the Stuart family were regarded as the legitimate They were justly jealous of any such foreign and
Sovereigns of Great Britain and that by a divine unlawful claims, and they broke off intercourse with
and indefeasible claim of right. According to this Rome, not alone because the Papacy was corrupt,
doctrineour sovereign is an usurper, or one who reigns but because the Pope dared to intermeddle in the
only by the permission of Providence, which, in the temporal and political concerns of kingdoms and
present world, sometimes for comprehensive pur- states, claiming with wild ambition a universal
poses of good, allows might to prevail against sovereignty, and the power to dispose of the mo-
right. It is the general impression that the Stuart narchies and dominions of the world.
family is exhausted,-that in the person of the
Cardinal York the last branch of a stricken tree was
levelled to the ground. But, although in the way of
a direct succession, this be the case, yet agreeably to
the ordinary rules which regulate succession, the
representative of Henrietta of Savoy would, in the
eye of the Papacy, be better entitled to the throne of
Great Britain than the present illustrious family.
This is a serious matter, and by no means so specu-
lative and visionary as many people imagine. It is
well known, that while Prince Charles Edward
lived, he had the nomination of the Irish Catholic
bishops, although the Popish hierarchy in that
country would not allow the Sovereign of this country
a mere veto on the appointment of these function-
aries. A Correspondent of the Times, who signs
himself "
Ignotus," makes the following shrewd
remarks regarding intercourse with Rome, and the
conditions on which it should be allowed to take
place:-

"If Pius IX. be really seeking the welfare of mankind, and not merely the aggrandizement of the Roman See, and of his own power as chief of that communion, he has the remedy in his own hands. "Let him acknowledge Queen Victoria to be the rightful monarch of Britain, and cease to maintain that want of recognition which would enable him, without inconsistency, at any moment to advocate the claim of the representative of Henrietta of Savoy. Let him acknowledge that the bulls issued against Queen Elizabeth by predecessors pretending to depose her from the British throne, and inciting all her subjects to rise in rebellion against her, were unwarranted, both by the holy Scriptures and by the decrees of the Catholic Church, and impossible to be justified.

"Let him, lastly, openly acknowledge that 'withdrawal from obedience to the Roman Pontiff,' on the part of national Churches which were not from the beginning subject to the authority of that see, forms no just ground for sentences of excommunication and anathema, as alleged in the bull‘In Cœna Domini;' but is under the express sanction, authority, and direction of the Third General Council, as is manifest to all men.

"Let him do this, and who for a moment can doubt but that the advisers of the British Queen would recommend an immediate renewal of friendly relations with the Court of Rome, and if need be, hold a speedy and special session of the British Legislature for the removal of any statute which, passed under the previous state of things, might serve as an obstacle to such a renewal ? Or who can doubt that such an act of the British Government would be hailed with the acclamations (to speak generally) of all the British people?"

This is easier said than done, and we apprehend that if intercourse with Rome be suspended on such recantations and recognitions as are here suggested, the event will be delayed till the Greek kalends. "Ig

Will the Pope do what "Ignotus" regards as essential to intercourse between his Court and that of Great Britain? We apprehend not; and those who long for such an event must class it among the other desiderata, which, however good in themselves, are still unattainable.

CHARACTER OF THE JESUITS. The Jesuits, their power, character, and proceedings have been thus described:

SIR. EDWARD COKE'S OPINION OF THE JE. US The cat: having a long time preyed upon the mice, the poor creatures at last, for their safety, contained themselves within their holes; but the cat finding his prey to cease, as being known to the deviseth this course following, namely, changeth mice that he was indeed their enemy and a cat, his hue, getting on a religious habit, shaveth his crown, walks gravely by their holes, and yet perceiving that the mice kept their holes, and looking out, suspected the worst, he formally, and father-like, said unto them: Quod fueram non sum, frater, capit aspice tonsum-"O brother, I am not as you take me for-no more a cat; see my habit and shaven crown." Hereupon some of the more credulous and bold among them were again, by this deceit, snatched up; and therefore when afterwards he came, as before, to entice them forth, they would come out no more, but answered, Cor tibi restat idem, vix tibi præsto fidem-" Talk what you can, we will never believe you; you bear still a cat's heart within you." And so here the Jesuits, yea and priests too; for they are all joined in the tails, like Samson's foxes: Ephraim against Manasseh, and Manasseh against Ephraim; and both against Judah."-Speech of Sir E. Coke, Lord Chief Justice of England, in Roscoe's "British Lawyers."

PURITY OF THE BOROUGH OF HORSHAM.-At a dinner given to Mr. Fitzgerald, the unsuccessful candidate for the borough of Horsham, Mr. Coppard in the course of his speech made the following remarks:-" With reference to the late election he could say with the greatest propriety that the contest, as carried on by them, was as creditable for integrity and honesty as it was on the other hand discreditable and disgraceful on the part of their opponents, who, by their corrupt practices, had DEATH OF LADY JANE PEEL.-COVENTRY, MON- tempted the voters to barter their votes for filthy DAY.-This morning a deep feeling of regret was lucre, and to look upon the solemn and moral oblivery generally felt throughout this city on it being gation of an oath as a thing of no importance, disreannounced that the above distinguished lady expired garding the words of those who had said, 'I will yesterday, at Bagginton Hall, four miles distant give to the wicked the full punishment due to him.' from this place. It appears that a few days ago her He would ask, was there anything more disparaging ladyship, accompanied by several of her family, to mankind than this? There was a saying, 'that attended at the grand archery at Meriden, when, it a bribe was as disgraceful to the tempter as to is said, she caught a severe cold, which increased the tempted.' How great, then, must be the disgrace with fearful rapidity, and resisted every possible to those who tempted the voter to barter the high effort within the reach of medical skill, and under and holy privilege of his franchise for the sake of which she sank yesterday at five o'clock. Her lady- gold, and, at the same time, how great an honour ship has left behind her a family of sixteen children, was due to the man-with what an approving conten of whom are daughters. Her ladyship was science could he lay his head on his pillow-who universally esteemed for her benevolence, and her resisted the temptation? The borough had been loss will be deeply felt by the poor of the neighbour- sacrificed at the cost of treachery, and of treachery hood in which she resided. Intelligence of the sad of the most malignant kind. There was not a man event was immediately sent to Sir Robert Peel, who, who could meet him face to face and say this was not it is expected, will arrive here from the north to-day. the case. He had ample proof of it. What other He would no doubt have been here before; but the proof was wanting than that one who several times, shortness and rapidity of her Ladyship's illness pre-over and over again, promised upon the sacred word vented the possibility of an earlier communication.- of a man to vote for Mr. Fitzgerald, and then at the Morning Herald. last moment belied all his former promises? But why should he soil his tongue by mentioning instances like these? Surely conduct like this ought to be held by the public up to scorn."

SWITZERLAND.-Letters from Berne of the 28th ult. prepares us for the explosion of civil war in Switzerland, though many still hope that it may be averted. The seven Catholic cantons were indefatigable in organizing their means of defence, which were then nearly terminated; and there was every reason to believe that they would resist, with arms in hand, the execution of the decrees of the Diet relative to the dissolution of the League and the expulsion of the Jesuits. The Radical cantons, on their side, were not inactive. In Berne, warlike preparations were making on an extensive scale, and there was every probability that the Federal forces would be put in motion the moment the Grand Council should have issued its decree. The Swiss Diet came on the 27th to a decision with respect to the Federal officers who are connected by service with the Sonderbund. Twelve states and two half states voted for the proposition of the Directory for striking out of the lists of the Federal staff all the officers of whatever rank who may hold service under the Sonderbund; and eight states and two half states voted against it.

The English elections have attracted much attention in Paris, and the defeat of Mr. Macaulay and of Mr. Roebuck, the former especially, caused much surprise.

QUARRELS.-Don't quarrel with a neighbour, even though he denies you your just right. It is better to suffer in peace, than to get angry and maintain your ground. There is nothing so much to be deprecated as a quarrel. The tooth-ache is nothing to it. We can only compare it to a writ at your heels-and even this would not come nineteen times in twenty, had there not previously been hard words and hard thoughts. There can be nothing equal to a quarrel. If we were a preacher, once a year we should preach from the text, "Live peaceably with all men." Look at a neighbourhood, family, or church that is cursed with a quarrel, and what does it present! A cage of unclean things.-Hatred, envy, bickering; hard works and base insinuations move on the face of all that was lovely-destroying peace, joy, and virtue. And, alas! how difficult it is to end a quarrel when it gets into the Church or family. Every one feels right with himself—no matter what he has said or done that was wrong-and every one looks on his neighbour as an enemy and a scoundrel. We tell you to keep out of a quarrel. Don't permit it to enter a Church. It has a long tail, and before you can find its end, the Church may be torn in splinters and scattered to the four winds. Reader, avoid a quarrel-run from it as a pestilence.

STATE OF RELIGION IN ITALY.

The following extract from an address lately delivered in London, will be read with deep interest, both for the subject of which it treats and the person by whom it was delivered. The subject is the state of religion in Italy. The author, the Rev. Giacinto Achilli, D.D., late Professor of Theology at Rome and Naples. Dr. Achilli held a responsible and high office in the Pope's Court: that of Vicario del Maestro del Sacro Palazzo Apostolico. But it pleased God to open his eyes to the truth of his Gospel, and he was forced to seek in a foreign country that liberty of conscience which was denied to him in the land of his nativity :—

"In appearing before you, my English brethren, this day, the words with which the Apostle Paul in troduced himself to the good Thessalonians occur to my mind; 'We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;' and I can cordially assure you that in the words of the same apostle, I pray always for you, having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints. Indeed, your faith is spoken of through all the world,' and I have therefore long ardently desired' to see you to impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you

and me.'

"I appear, therefore, before you, to make known to you some of the counsels of God, and of the marvellous dealings of his Providence, touching the fair land of my birth, to which I am bound by the closest ties of duty and patriotism-Italy, once the abode of pure Christian faith, now a den of superstition! Poor Italy! to whose many other ills is added the heaviest of all ills-the yoke of Popery, by which she is rendered hateful to God, a proverb and a by-word amongst nations. Bear with me, then, dear brethren, bear with a son of that land, who, penetrated to the heart as he is by a sense of her sore affliction, endeavours to give some vent to his sorrow by telling you some of the things she suffers, and how much she stands in need of help.

"I will tell you also what are the earnest desires of all the faithful men in the land, and also about efforts which are being made, both within and without Italy, to free themselves from spiritual bondage, that worst of all slavery, which fetters thought as well as action, soul as well as body.

Italy's woes arise from the tyranny of the priests. Little did she foresee to what tyrants she was committing the government of the hearts and intellects of her people, and in what way this upstart religion would lord it over nations, and at length even over kings; little did she foresee how the Gospel would be abused, and a system wholly political be established on the basis of religion. But now she is awake to her past folly, and detests it; she curses the authors of this great delusion: and she longs to shake it off: and this is the contrast between the present and all preceding times, that renders the present epoch so momentous and interesting.

"Italy pants to shake off Popery. Amongst all orders and classes there are multitudes who care no longer for confession, go no more to mass, laugh at indulgences, and make a jest of excommunication; and the priest who attempts to urge these observances upon them is openly shunned. All this shows us that the Popery of Italy is confined to few. No, dear brethren, all Italians are not Papists, all the priests and monks in Italy are not Papists, all the bishops and cardinals are not Papists. The doctrines of Rome are losing followers day after day. But how fares Christianity amongst them? Alas! with few exceptions, men who have seen Popery and Christianity so intimately connected with one another, have not spiritual discernment enough to separate the one from the other, and with the falsehoods of Rome, they reject the sublimest truths of Christianity. Where Popery fails to make dupes she makes infidels. Italy is full of men who, ceasing to believe in the Romish dogmas, have ceased to believe in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

"And one main cause of this state of things is, their ignorance of Holy Scripture. The Bible is practically prohibited in Italy, except in Latin. The translation by Martini is indeed allowed to

THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

DODD'S PARLIAMENTARY COMPANION.

Among the featuress of the new edition are

some; but what with notes, the restrictions on
free judgment, and the necessity of laying bare
every idea of the mind before a confessor for his
approval, the permission to read it becomes merely
nominal, and to women it is almost wholly for-these-
bidden. Martini's translation, moreover, is from
the Latin, and not from the original, and favours
all that Rome would teach: Diodati's more cor-
rect translation, and indeed all Bibles printed out
of Italy, are absolutely prohibited. They are
stopped by the custom-house, and in some places
are burnt, and in other rooms are filled with con-
fiscated Bibles.

"[The Learned Doctor proceeded to show how
the Church had become a Church of priests alone,
in which the people had no part, no feeling in
common; and this he mainly attributed to the ex-
tinction of the Latin tongue as a spoken dialect,
while the Church continued to retain it, thus
making the Church of Italy a Latin, but not an
Italian Church.]

"From this state of things poor Italy must be rescued. We have girded ourselves to this work by an impulse from the Lord. Our mission is a holy one. We are resolved that our brethren in Italy shall read the Bible, shall hear of the Bible, and, if the Lord so will it, shall by the Bible reform their corrupted faith. We meddle not with politics, we only treat of religion; we respect laws and government, but we revere God above all. The rule of kings must not interfere with the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

I. Two hundred and twenty-three persons who had no seats in the House of Commons at the period of its dissolution have been returned to the New Parliament. Of course a corresponding number have been ejected, or have retired from public life.

So large an amount of change has not taken place since the election of the first Reformed Parliament, the numbers having been,

On that occasion, 280 persons,

In 1834-5, at the general election, 184 persons,
In 1837, at the general election, 121 persons,
In 1841, at the general election, 183 persons,
On the present occasion, 223 persons.

II. The composition of the House of Commons has also undergone the following changes: there have been returned,

A greater number of railway directors, engineers, and contractors,

A greater number of barristers,

A greater number of merchants,

A greater number of retail tradesmen,

A greater number of political writers and lecturers,

A smaller number of naval and military officers, A smaller number of persons connected with noble families,

A smaller number of country gentlemen, than on any other occasion since this Annual commenced.

III. Many pledges have been exacted by electors, respecting

&c.

The endowment of the Roman Catholic clergy,
The maintenance of the Navigation Laws,
The further extension of Free-trade principles,

These have been carefully recorded as additions to the old party designations by which Members have hitherto been distinguished. Every reader will, therefore, be enabled to discover readily

"In many ways can the Gospel be brought to bear on our dear Italy; and I could tell you of many interesting circumstances within her own bosom, of families who read and meet for prayer and communion in their own beloved tongue; of priests whose minds are awakened to, and whose hearts are touched by, the saving truths of the Gospel, and who only wait the moment to declare that they and their father's house will serve the Lord.' But although the Lord does not open to us a door by which the preacher of the Gospel may go forth into Italy itself, and declare freely the truth as it is in Jesus, we are determined to spread our mission around Italy, on the coasts and islands of the Mediterranean. And for this end several brethren have joined me during my shjourn in Malta, who purpose to undertake this work together with myself; nay, we have already commenced it, and others will soon join themselves to us. We take God for our Father, and his dear Son Jesus Christ for our Lord and Master; the Bible will be our only guide, and the THE HARVEST.-While we deplore the awful reformation of Italy our only end, and to which we sufferings of the people by the "starvation policy shall bend all our energies; and in this cause we of the Whigs," there is every ground for anticiare willing to endure labour, and suffering, and perse-pating much better times. Providence has blessed cution, and all that the adversary of good may be able to lay upon us.

our undertaking will excite in your hearts? I ask
"My brethren, can I doubt the interest that this
no other help from you than your prayers. When
you entreat the Father of Mercies to preserve the
truth of the Gospel in your own land, think of poor
Italy, and ask him to be pleased to make Italy a
partaker of like precious faith; and should your
hearts be inclined to assist us in any other way,
follow the sacred impulse, and be the means in the
hands of God in carrying out this the great design
of his providence in gathering the heirs of glory out
of every nation and every tongue.
gion becomes the best tie to bind nations and
peoples in one.

And thus reli

"The Rev. Baptist Noel earnestly commended to the Meeting the interesting work in which Dr. Achilli was engaged, and called upon to all to assist him with their prayers.

"The Rev. Dr. Achilli pronounced the blessing in Italian, and the Meeting separated."

LIBRARIES FOR THE POLICE-The Secretary of State for the Home Department has presented the sum of 201, to each division of the metropolitan police, to be disposed of in the purchase of useful books to be placed in the various libraries attached to the stations for the use of the men. The station libraries are already possessed of several hundred volumes, and the men pay one halfpenny per week subscription for their use. It is intended to form reading rooms at all the station-houses in the metropolis.-Globe.

There are thirty-six members of the bar in Parliament, and seven of the Members are or were practising solicitors.

The supporters of Sir R. Peel's policy,
The friends of Lord J. Russell's Government,
The adherents of Lord G. Bentinck,
The advocates of "the People's Charter,"
The Irish Repeal party, as well as

The other minute subdivisions into which the

present House of Commons has resolved itself.

the land with a most abundant harvest. The Galway blessed by the bountiful hand of God with a more Mercury thus speaks of it:-"Never, within the memory of the oldest man living, was the earth abundant produce. All descriptions of crops yield every quarter around us sure evidence that Provimore than an average return, and there appears in and barley are fully one-third more than in the last dence has again blessed the land. Wheat, oats, year, and though there are in some few instances marks of disease in the potatoes, on the whole we may venture to affirm that no general blight has set in. There is every reason to hope from the appear. ance of the harvest home, and the extent of the supplies from abroad, that food will be plentiful, and at very moderate prices, in the coming season." In Scotland, the harvest is proceeding rapidly; and in the south cutting will soon be finished. A great

extent of barley and oats have been cut down. In high districts of Haddington, the gale of Sunday some some localities, as about Kelso, and in the week did considerable damage, especially to wheat; but in general little harm was done, and that little was rendered less by so much grain being safe in the stack. In Morayshire, the harvest has been a good deal impeded by daily showers of rain, and fogs at night. Reapers appear to be plentiful, and engaged at 1s. to 1s. 6d. with victuals. The crops are in the best possible condition. On the whole, they are fully an average-in some cases above an average. The effect of our prospects is already seen in the grain markets of the United States, where, notwithstanding a brisk demand, prices and freights were falling when the Hibernia left. The potato crop may now be considered generally safe; the symptoms, or what were taken to be symptoms of the rot, are rapidly disappearing.

THE TRUE CHURCH.

(From "An Homily concerning the coming down of the Holy Ghost, and the manifold Gifts of the same." For Whitsunday.)

The true Church is an universal congregation or fellowship of God's faithful and elect people, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head corner-stone. (Eph. ii.) And it hath always three notes or marks whereby it is known: pure and sound doctrine, the sacraments ministered according to Christ's holy institution, and the right use of ecclesiastical discipline. This description of the Church is agreeable both to the Scriptures of God, and also to the doctrine of the ancient fathers, so that none may justly find fault therewith. Now, if you will compare this with the Church of Rome, not as it was in the beginning, but as it is at present, and hath been for the space of nine hundred years and odd, you shall well perceive the state thereof to be so far wide from the nature of the true Church, that nothing can be more. For neither are they built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, retaining the sound and pure doctrine of Christ Jesus; neither yet do they order the sacraments, or else the ecclesiastical keys, in such sort as he did first institute and ordain them; but have so intermingled their own traditions and inventions, by chopping and changing, by adding and plucking away, that now they may seem to be converted into a new guise. Christ commended to his Church a sacrament of his body and blood; they have changed it into a sacrifice for the quick and the dead. Christ did minister to his apostles, and the apostles to other men indifferently under both kinds; they have robbed the lay people of the cup, saying, that for them one kind is sufficient. Christ ordained no other element to be used in baptism, but only water, whereunto, when the word is joined, it is made, as St. Augustine saith, a full and perfect sacrament. They being wiser in their own conceit than Christ, think it is not well nor orderly done, unless they use conjura tion, unless they hallow the water, unless there be oil, salt, spittle, tapers, and such other dumb ceremonies, serving to no use, contrary to the plain rule of St. Paul, who willeth all things to be done in the Church to edification. (1 Cor. xiv.) Christ ordained the authority of the keys to excommunicate notorious sinners, and to absolve them which are truly penitent; they abuse this power at their own pleasure, as well in cursing the godly with bell, book, and candle, as also in absolving the reprobate, which are known to be unworthy of any Christian society: whereof they that lust to see examples, let them search their lives. To be short, look what our Saviour Christ pronounced of the Scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel: the same may be boldly and with safe conscience pronounced of the bishops of Rome, namely, that they have forsaken, and daily do forsake, the commandments of God, to erect and set up their own constitutions. Which thing being true, as all they which have any light of God's word must needs confess, we may well conclude, according to the rule of Augustine, that the bishops of Rome and their adherents are not the true Church of Christ, much less then to be taken as chief heads and rulers of the same. Whosoever, saith he, do dissent from the Scriptures concerning the head, although they be found in all places where the Church is appointed, yet are they not in the Church; a plain place, concluding directly against the Church of Rome. August. contra Petilian. Donatist, Ep., cap. 4. Where is now the Holy Ghost, which they so stoutly do claim to themselves? Where is now the Spirit of Truth, that will not suffer them in anywise to err? If it be possible to be there, where the true Church is not, then is it at Rome; otherwise it is but a vain brag, and nothing else. St. Paul, as ye have heard before, saith, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is not his." And, by turning the words, it may be truly said, "If any man be not of Christ, the same hath not the Spirit." Now, to discern who are truly his, and who not, we have this rule given us, that "his sheep do always hear his voice." (John x.) And St. John saith," He that is of God, heareth God's word." (John viii.) Wherefore it followeth, that the Popes, in not hearing Christ's voice, as they ought to do, but preferring their own decrees before the express word of God, do plainly argue to the world that they are not of Christ, nor yet possessed with his Spirit. But here they will allege for themselves, that there

are divers necessary points not expressed in Holy | tyrant was Pope Boniface the Eighth. What shall
Scripture, which were left to the revelation of we say of him that made Henry the Emperor, with
the Holy Ghost; who being given to the Church, his wife and his young child, to stand at the gates
according to Christ's promise, hath taught many of the city in the rough winter, bare-footed and
things from time to time, which the apostles bare-legged, only clothed in linsey woolsey, eating
could not then bear. (John xvi.) To this we nothing from morning till night, and that for the
may easily answer by the plain words of Christ, space of three days? Shall we say that he had
teaching us that the proper office of the Holy God's Holy Spirit within him, and not rather the
Ghost is, not to institute and bring in new ordi- spirit of the devil? Such a tyrant was Pope Hilde-.
nances, contrary to his doctrine before taught; but brand, most worthy to be called a firebrand, if we
shall come and declare those things which he had shall term him as he hath best deserved. Many
before taught, so that they might be well and truly other examples might here be alleged; as of Pope
understood. "When the Holy Ghost, saith he, Joan the harlot, that was delivered of a child in the
shall come, he shall lead you into all truth." (John high street, going solemnly in procession; of Pope
xvi.) What truth doth he mean? Any other than Julius the Second, that wilfully cast St. Peter's
he himself had before expressed in his word? No. keys into the river Tiberis; of Pope Urban the
For he saith, "He shall take of mine, and shew Sixth, that caused five cardinals to be put in sacks,
unto you." (John xvi.) Again, he shall bring you and cruelly drowned; of Pope Sergius the Third,
in remembrance of all things that I have told you. that persecuted the dead body of Formosus his pre-
It is not then the duty and part of any Christian, decessor, when it had been buried eight years; of
under pretence of the Holy Ghost, to bring in his Pope John the fourteenth of that name, who having
own dreams and fantasies into the Church; but he his enemy delivered into his hands, caused him first
must diligently provide that his doctrine and de- to be stripped stark naked, his beard to be shaven,
crees be agreeable to Christ's holy Testament; and to be hanged up a whole day by the hair, then
otherwise in making the Holy Ghost the author to be set upon an ass with his face backward toward
thereof, he doth blaspheme and belie the Holy the tail, to be carried round about the city in
Ghost to his own condemnation.
despite, to be miserably beaten with rods, last of all,
to be thrust out of his country, and to be banished
for ever. But to conclude, and make an end, ye
shall briefly take this short lesson; wheresoever ye
find the spirit of arrogance and pride, the spirit of
envy, hatred, contention, cruelty, murder, extortion,
witchcraft, necromancy, &c., assure yourselves that
there is the spirit of the devil, and not of God, albeit
they pretend outwardly to the world never so much
holiness. For as the Gospel teacheth us, the spirit
of Jesus is a good spirit, an holy spirit, a sweet
spirit, a lowly spirit, a merciful spirit, full of charity
and love, full of forgiveness and pity, not rendering
evil for evil, extremity for extremity, but overcoming
evil with good, and remitting all offence even from
the heart. According to which rule, if any man
live uprightly, of him it may be safely pronounced,
that he hath the Holy Ghost within him: if not, then
it is a plain token that he doth usurp the name of
the Holy Ghost in vain. Therefore, dearly beloved,
according to the good counsel of St. John, "Believe
not every spirit, but first try them whether they be
of God or no." (1 John iv.) "Many shall come
in my name," saith Christ," and shall transform
themselves into angels of light, deceiving (if it be
possible) the very elect." (Matt. xxiv.) They shall
come unto you in sheep's clothing, being inwardly
cruel and ravening wolves. They shall have an
outward show of great holiness and innocency of
life, so that ye shall hardly or not at all discern
them. But the rule that ye must follow is this,
"To judge them by their fruits." (Matt. vii.)
Which if they be wicked and naught, then it is
unpossible that the tree of whom they proceed
should be good. Such were all the Popes and Pre-
lates of Rome for the most part, as doth well appear
in the story of their lives, and therefore they are
worthily accounted among the number of false pro-
phets, and false Christs, which deceived the world
a long while. (Luke xxi.)

Now to leave their doctrine, and to come to other points. What shall we think or judge of the Pope's intolerable pride? The Scripture saith, that "God resisteth the proud, and sheweth grace to the hum ble." (Matt. v.) Also it pronounceth them blessed which are poor in spirit, promising that they which humble themselves shall be exalted. And Christ our Saviour willeth all his to learn of him, because he is humble and meek. (Matt. xi.) As for pride, St. Gregory saith, it is the root of all mischief. And St. Augustine's judgment is this, that it maketh men devils. Can any man, then, which either hath or shall read the Popes' lives, justly say that they had the Holy Ghost within them? First, as touching that they will be termed universal bishops and heads of all Christian Churches through the world, we have the judgment of Gregory expressly against them; who, writing to Mauritius, the Emperor, condemneth John, Bishop of Constantinople, in that behalf, calling him the Prince of Pride, Lucifer's Successor, and the Forerunner of Antichrist. (Lib. iii. Fpist. 76, 78.) St. Bernard also agreeing thereunto, saith, What greater pride can there be, than that one man should prefer his own judgment before the whole congregation, as though he only had the Spirit of God? (Serm. iii. de Resur. Dom.) And Chrysostom pronounceth a terrible sentence against them, affirming plainly, that whosoever seeketh to be chief in earth shall find confusion in heaven; and that he which striveth for the supremacy shall not be reputed among the servants of Christ. (Dialogorum, lib. iii.) Again he saith, To desire a good work, it is good; but to covet the chief degree of honour, it is mere vanity. (Chrysost. sup. Mut.) Do not these places sufficiently convince their outrageous pride, in usurp ing to themselves a superiority above all other, as well ministers and bishops, as kings also and emperors? But as the lion is known by his claws, so let us learn to know these men by their deeds. What shall we say of him that made the noble King Dandalus to be tied by the neck with a chain, and to lie flat down before his table, there to gnaw bones like a dog? (Sabel. Ennead. 9, lib. vii.) Shall we think that he had God's Holy Spirit within him, and not rather the spirit of the devil? Such a tyrant was Pope Clement the Sixth. What shall we say of him that proudly and contemptuously trod Frederic the Emperor under his feet, applying the verse of the psalm unto himself," Thou shalt go upon the lion and the adder, the young lion and the dragon thou shalt tread under thy foot? (Psalm xci.) Shall we say that he had God's Holy Spirit within him, and not rather the spirit of the devil! Such a tyrant was Pope Alexander the Third. What shall we say of him that armed and animated the son against the father, causing him to be taken, and to be cruelly famished to death, contrary to the law both of God, and also of nature? Shall we say that he had God's Holy Spirit within him, and not rather the spirit of the devil? Such a tyrant was Pope Pascal the Second. What shall we say of him that came into his Popedom like a fox, that reigned like a lion, and died like a dog? Shall we say that he had God's Holy Spirit within him, and not rather the spirit of the devil!

The Lord of heaven and earth defend us from their tyranny and pride, that they never enter into his vineyard again, to the disturbance of his silly poor flock; but that they may be utterly confounded and put to flight in all parts of the world; and he of his great mercy so work in all men's hearts, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, that the comfortable Gospel of his Son Christ may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed in all places, to the beating down of sin, death, the Pope, the devil, and all the kingdom of Antichrist, that like scat tered and dispersed sheep, being at length gathered into one fold, we may in the end rest all together in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, there to be partakers of eternal and everlasting life, through the merits and death of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

CONTROVERSY.-I never loved those salamanders that are never well but when they are in the fire of contention. I will suffer a hundred wrongs rather than return one; I will suffer many ere I will complain of one, and endeavour to right it by contending. I have ever found, that to strive with my superior, is furious; with my equal, doubtful; with my inferior, sordid and base? with any, full of unquietSuch a ness.