SEPTEMBER 26, 1868.

civil affairs; to question which is a detestable | Italy may well take warning, and cease from all heresy." Truly does Thomas Scott observe, in endeavours to come to any terms of agreement his admirable commentary: "While the Roman with the Roman court; for, in proportion as pontiff opposes the worship of God by enjoining terms of agreement are come to with that power, the worship of images and of saints and angels, will the liberty which she now enjoys be diand the authority of his laws, to enforce subjec-minished, and the former state of tyranny and tion to his own edicts, he himself may be called ignorance be restored.-On St. Peter's-day, the great idol, as well as the great tyrant, of June 29th, the bull summoning the bishops the Romish church; as he demands the most and cardinals to the cecumenical council was abject submission and prostration from all men, issued in Rome. The bull was published with both in body and soul, and pours contempt on the formalities which used to be observed in the all authority human and divine" (On 2 Thess. middle ages, and then affixed to the pillars of ii. 3, 4). And in this he (Scott) is borne out by the three principal churches, and in the Campo bishop Davenant, who says: "We affirm that di Fiori, where the fires of the inquisition were the universal jurisdiction over the whole church first lighted. The summons to the bishops to of God, either by divine or human right, centres repair to this council is long; but the substance in no one, but is a mere anti-christian usurpa- of it is that Pius IX., who arrogates to himself tion." Of this usurpation the pious and learned the title of 'Supreme Head of the Church," Dr. Cooke, of Belfast, likewise affirmed in 1857: having marked the dreadful trials and difficul"The so-called church of Rome is literally not ties which are now assailing the church and a church at all, but a foreign monarchy grasp- society, inasmuch as the teaching and the power ing at universal dominion." And in more mea- of the apostolic see have been called in question, sured terms it was observed by sir Robert church-property stolen, bishops and clergy Peel: "Could any man acquainted with the despised, profane books and journals circulated, world doubt for a moment that there was en- education taken from the hands of the priests grafted on the catholic religion something more and entrusted to wicked masters, summons a than a scheme for promoting mere religion ?" general council in order to consider how these More distinctly, but not with less cogency of evils may be checked. It is evident from this truthfulness, did the "British Review" (1812, bull that the spirit which suggested the syllap. 108) describe the papacy as "the ambitious bus is the spirit which has also led to the proscheme of a secular priesthood to grasp the clamation of this summons, and that the council sceptre of the world. Its doctrines, its gor-will brand a desire for liberty of conscience, the geous rites, its penances and miracles, were all doctrine that the clergy are under the civil law, a sort of machinery by which men were either and the right of the state to appropriate the to be drawn or forced into the power of the church-property and to undertake the educapriests." tion of the people, as heresies, and will anatheROME.-The Reform in Austria: The Ecu-matize all who hold them. Much depends on menical Council, 1869.-"On July 22nd the this general council, and the support which it pope held a secret consistory at the Vatican, receives from the different governments. If it where he delivered two allocutions. In the first has been called with the consent of the different of these he proposed the publication of the pon-powers, then it cannot fail to do great harm to tifical bull convoking all catholic bishops to the the spread of the truth; but, if it has been asgeneral council of the church. The second was sembled without their consent, it may be one of chiefly occupied in deploring some of the events the means of destroying the system which it that had recently taken place, and some of the was intended to up-build" (Correspondence in laws which had lately been passed in Austria. "Evangelical Christendom"). There are few now who do not rejoice that religious liberty is spreading, and that men can worship God according to the dictates of their consciences. But the pope characterizes the law which was passed in Austria, December 21st, and which granted freedom to every religious persuasion to open places of worship or instruction, as an infamous law, productive of the greatest injury to the catholic religion. In the same terms he speaks of the permission granted to bury protestants in the cemeteries of the catholics, where no separate buryingground has been set apart for them, and of several other liberal laws which have lately been enacted. These ideas show how thoroughly opposed the papal religion is to all liberty, either political or religious*. The kingdom of *The events now taking place in Austria are such as should be seriously pondered over by Irish Romanists, who are clamouring for an increase of power to their priesthood. After centuries of suffering and degradation, the Austrian people have burst the bonds with which their clerical oppressors had bound them. The concordat which the holy fathers of the church imposed on Francis Joseph when a

EVANGELIZATION OF ITALY.-No report on this subject that we have seen is more full of encouragement and hope for the future than that of the Italian Evangelical Publications Society. This society was instituted in 1862 for the purpose of selecting and translating books suitable for publication, printing them at a cheap rate, and using every effort for their circulation. The importance of the work thus carried on may be gathered from the fact that more than 360 different books have been issued, and that the number of books and tracts sold in 1867 was 148,000, showing a large increase over the previous year, notwithstanding the depression of trade. These publications include original youth, and which, owing to its oppressive and iniquitous character, caused the loss of a large portion of his dominions, is no more; and the announcement that it has passed away caused a thrill of joy to pass through the hearts of the Austrian people. While in England the Jesuits are gaining influence, in Italy and Austria, strange as it may appear, the people are becoming hostile to them; and, in proportion as they pursue their present enlightened course, in such proportion will they become prosperous and powerful" (The Ballyshannon Herald," June 6th)

works by evangelical Italians, and translations | death, it appeared to us that we ought to celeof French and English works: among the last brate it. Now we have come to see you in order are sermons. In the present lack of evangelists that you may tell us something about this infor Italy, the circulation of good sermons, stitution; and, if you think we can, we would tracts, &c., is of great importance; but a serious like, before departing, to break bread, as the mistake would be committed if these should be apostles did.' This interesting infant church circulated in any quarters in the place of the has several times been visited by evangelists, scriptures: they should always follow, never and still continues faithful, notwithstanding the precede, the word of God. If certain Italians, many trials and persecutions to which it is subhaving nothing but the bible, "failed to gather jected by those who are influenced by the any precise idea of the vital truths essential priests. Instances of a similar kind frequently to salvation," the fault was not in the bible, but occur." in themselves; and we ought not to generalize THE UNITED CHURCH OF ENGLAND AND IREhastily from such instances, or to suppose for LAND THE BULWARK OF PURE AND INCORRUPT one moment that any works of men can be so TRUTH." Holy scripture says, 'In the last useful to souls as the inspired writings. The days perilous times shall come.' Those days Holy Ghost is the interpreter of his own word; seem to be at hand. The strange conflict of and we must beware of the notion-one of the opinion on almost all religious subjects, which roots of popery-that, in regard to essential shows how unsettled men's minds are on the things, the bible needs any other interpreter. most important of all matters, and the union of I extract one of the instances related in the parties naturally opposed to each other for the report, in which the Lord's blessing has con- destruction of time-honoured institutions, excite spicuously attended this work: "One day the the alarm as well as the astonishment of thinklate Sig. Gregori, on returning from a prayer- ing men. If there is any duty plainly incummeeting, found three men, who had come to bent upon a professedly-Christian state, surely Naples from Fragneto l'Abate, a distance of 120 it is the establishment and support of the relimiles, in order that they might receive some gion of Christ. If the truth of scripture be adinstruction from an evangelical clergyman. For mitted, 'By me kings reign and princes decree a long time they had wished to make this visit; justice,' then must the power held from God be and it was only by using great economy that used for God; for his honour must be upheld, at length they succeeded. On being asked how and his word and will declared to be law by the it was that they came to take an interest in state. And how can this be done but by prospiritual things, they related the following nar-viding means for making known his will and rative: Three years ago a friend presented us establishing his truth in the land? O how with an almanac called the "Amico di Casa." much, how very much, do we owe to the wisThis we may be said not to have read, but to dom and piety of our rulers in former times, that have devoured, for we had never before seen so they were led, in God's good providence, to interesting a book. That which specially reject the gross errors and (to use the words of pleased us were some verses of the bible, printed the 31st article) the blasphemous fables and opposite certain days of the year. These verses dangerous deceits' of the church of Rome, and produced in us an intense desire to read the to re-establlish the pure religion of Christ in the whole of the scriptures; but where were we to land! I say 're-establish, because England find them? We went to Benevento, which is had the pure religion of Christ long before the about twelve miles distant from our village; church of Rome gained a footing in the empire. and, though we searched anxiously, we did not Do we want any proof that our rulers were obtain what we wished. Shortly afterwards we guided by God in the steps they took to uphold returned to Benevento, and succeeded in ob- his honour and spread his truth in the land? taining a copy of the word of God. Full of We have it in the wonderful blessing that has joy, we returned home; and since then not a rested upon our protestant and reformed day has passed in which we have not searched church. It is not too much to say that it is the holy scriptures. As we read, our eyes were chiefly owing to the establishment of the religradually opened. We saw that there was sal- gion of Christ, pure and uncorrupt from human vation in none other than Jesus Christ, who additions, that Great Britain has enjoyed so bore our sins on the cross, that we might die to large a share of the divine favour, and has sin, and rise to newness of life; that Christ has been raised so high in the scale of nations. completely saved us by the one offering of him- Were not your hearts warmed when reading the self; and that it is therefore unnecessary that truly Christian sentiments uttered by lord his sacrifice be repeated; that, while we ought Redesdale in the house of lords, when moving mutually to confess the faults we have com- for a copy of the coronation oath? We, who mitted against each other, we ought to confess believe protestant truth, say that it is our our sins only to God, who alone can, and will, bounden duty to see that our doctrines are forgive us through Jesus Christ. In a word, preached in Ireland-whether that give offence after reading that book, we felt that we could or not-as they have been up to the present no longer conform to the errors which had so time. I lay it down as a broad principle, which long been taught us; therefore we ceased to no one can deny, that, in dealing with the temfrequent the services of the Romish church, and poralities of the church, you are to consider continued to read our bibles and pray in our solely and exclusively what is pleasing to God, own houses. One thing alone troubled us, the without considering what is pleasant to this or celebration of the Lord's supper. As it was in that body. Our aim should be to please stituted by Christ as a commemoration of his God, and God alone.' But what a melancholy

ROMAINE*.

spectacle is now presented to our view! Men, who think themselves wiser than God, are seeking to separate religion from the state; as if man AMONG the spiritual worthies of the last cenneeded not religion to make him a good citizentury, William Romaine has a prominent place. and a faithful subject of the queen! Papists His portrait, prefixed to his works, is an index and infidels, ritualists and broad churchmen, of the mind and character of that gifted man— liberationists and radicals, half-hearted protes- intelligence, firmness, tenderness, benevolence, tants, and many more, of whom we hoped better and cheerfulness beaming forth from it. He things, each with a different object in view, are lived from 1714 to 1795, thus outliving by many now banded together for the destruction of the years his great contemporaries, Gill, Doddridge, established church in Ireland. And who is the Whitfield, Toplady, and Hervey, with the exleader of this mostly host? One who has for ception of John Newton. His father was years been an eminent statesman, and fitted by a French refugee, who his talents to be a great benefactor of his coun- had fled to England after the revocation try, but, to meet the exigencies of his party, of the edict of Nantes, and settled at Harhas betrayed the church which he once pro- tlepool. William was his second son, a boy fessed to hold in honour, and seeks to destroy full of genius, early indicating strong intelthat noble institution which he once ably de- lectual powers, writing with ease and freefended-a church that has now far stronger dom on abstruse subjects, and mastering the claims than it ever had upon the respect and Hebrew language at a precocious age. That he affection of the nation, because of its increased was early brought to the feet of Jesus is eviactivity and zeal in the cause of truth. O how dent. We get from himself the following detail great a fall in a statesman, who once stood high of his early experience: "God's dealings with in the estimation of the great and the good in me have been wonderful, not only for the royal the land! But let us take care that he does sovereignty of his richest grace, but also for not return to place and power to carry out his the manner of his teaching; on which I cannot revolutionary schemes. The storm which he look back without adoring my meek and lowly has raised must not pass away till we have done Prophet. He would have all the honour (and what he and the enemies of our church never he well deserves it) of working out and also of expected or desired" ("The Rock"). applying his glorious salvation. When I was in trouble and soul-concern he would not let me learn of man (many years ago I chose my motto, Cease ye from man'). I went everywhere to hear; but no one was suffered to speak to my case. The reason of this I could not tell then, but I know it now. The Arminian methodists flocked about me and courted my acquaintance, which became a great snare unto me. By their means I was brought into a difficulty which distressed me several years. I was made to believe that part of my title to salvation was to be inherent-something called holiness in myself, which the grace of God was to help me to. And I was to get it by watchfulness, prayer, fasting, hearing, reading, sacraments, &c.; so that, after much and long attendance on those means, I might be able to look inward, and be pleased with my own improvement, finding I was grown in grace, a great deal holier and more deserving of heaven now than I had been. I do not wonder now that I received this doctrine. It was sweet food to a proud heart. I feasted on it, and to work I went. It was hard labour and sad bondage; but the hopes of having something to glory in of my own kept up my spirits. I went on day after day, striving, agonizing (as they called it), but still found myself not a bit better. I thought this was the fault, or that which being amended I should certainly succeed, and therefore set out afresh, but still came to the same place. No galley-slave worked harder, or to less purpose. Sometimes I was quite discouraged, and ready to give all up; but the discovery of some supposed hindrance set me to work again. Then I would redouble my diligence, and exert all my strength. Still I got no ground. This made me often wonder, and

HER MAJESTY'S CORONATION OATH, &c.-This solemn oath was taken by her majesty queen Victoria, on the day of her coronation, under 1 Wm. and M. ch. 6, and 5 Anne ch. 8. The archbishop of Canterbury, addressing her majesty, said: "Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of this united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dominions thereto belonging, according to the statutes in parliament agreed on, and the customs of the same ?" Queen: "I solemnly promise to do so." Archbishop: "Will you, to your power, cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgments ?" Queen: "I will." Archbishop: "Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God, the true profession of the gospel, and the protestant reformed religion established by law? And will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the united church of England and Ireland, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established, within England and Ireland and the territories thereunto belonging? And will you preserve unto the bishops and clergy of England and Ireland, and to the united church committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them ?" Queen: "All this I promise to do." The queen then proceeded to the communion-table, and, laying her right hand upon the holy gospel in the great bible tendered to her by the archbishop, kneeling and uncovered, took the oath, saying these words: "The things which I have here promised I will perform and keep; so help me God."

Extracted, with some abbreviation, from "The Gospel Magazine."