put it on him; and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it; and let us eat and be merry for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found." Luke xv. 17-24. No two things can be conceived as more unlike, than this beautiful picture and a view of the Romish Confessional. In the resolution of the Prodigal, "I will arise and go to my father," we are taught that the application of the repentant should be directly to that God against whom they have sinned.

3. The imposition of penance becomes a snare and a burden to tender consciences, while it deceives others by a false peace. We are not so uncharitable as not to believe that there are many sincere Christians, bound as with a chain by the superstitions of Rome-to whose priests may be applied the words of the prophet, "With lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:" Ezek. xiii. 22. The early experience of Luther affords a striking illustration of this truth. After he had commenced the monastic life, his mind was a prey to wretchedness. He had fondly hoped, that within the walls of a monastery, he should obtain permanent peace of conscience and victory over sin. Most strenuously did he labour for the accomplishment of these purposes. He fasted; he

kept vigils; he punished his body. He was frequent at confession, and assiduous in the observance of all ceremonies. Thus he hoped to secure the salvation of his soul. But all his efforts were in vain. The convictions which raged within him were from God, and no human invention could give him relief. He became more and more miserable. The other monks observed his distress, and made many friendly attempts to comfort him; but the case was far beyond their skill. Even as late as his journey to Rome the following is related :"One day, in particular, wishing to obtain an indulgence promised by the Pope to any one who should ascend on his knees what is called 'Pilate's Staircase,' the poor Saxon monk was slowly climbing those steps which they told him had been miraculously transported from Jerusalem to Rome. But while he was going through this meritorious work, he thought he heard a voice like thunder speaking from the depths of his heart: The just shall live by faith.' He started up in terror on the steps up which he had been crawling; he was horrified at himself; and struck with shame for the degradation to which superstition had debased him, he fled from the scene of folly."

4. It is a grand instrument for strengthening the unscriptural and tyrannical power of the priesthood. The confessor sways an almost unlimited dominion over the consciences of his deluded victims. The priest proclaims himself as

more than a human legislator-the commissioned representative-the vicegerent of God himselfthe appointed assessor in the court of God. Nor are these merely great swelling words of vanity: the commonest priest knows well how to turn to a practical account these high claims.* He lays the greatest stress upon his apostolic succession. We alone can administer the sacraments effectually How fearful the condition of the poor wretch to whom he should deny them! We alone can give absolution-his anger is to be deprecated as the sorest evil. To disobey or displease him is almost the unpardonable sin.

How directly opposed are these unholy pretensions to all the ideas we form of ministerial authority from the New Testament. How unlike all this was the authority exercised by the apostles. Paul writing to the Thessalonians says, "We were

What hope of salvation could the conscientious Roman Catholic freeman of Kerry or Carlow have, who dared to vote against the following threat:-Father John O'Sullivan said at the altar, before the election, that any person that would vote for that renegade the Knight of Kerry, he would not prepare him for death, but he would let him die like a beast, neither would he baptize his children. At the Carlow election, Father Walsh declared from the altar, any man who voted for Kavanagh and Bruen, would be refused all religious rites and would run the risk of everlasting punishment."-Report of the Select Commtttee on Bribery and Intimidation at Elections.

Maria Monk tells us that when she hesitated to confess some sin, the priest had immediate recourse to the following threat:-"I have power to strike you dead this minute; but I will not. I will spare you. Go and examine your conscience, and see if you cannot come back and tell me what you now conceal." Rev. J. Slocumi's Confirmation, Part ii. p. 76.

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gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. Ye are witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe. As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." 1 Epistle ii. 10-12.

LECTURE VI.

ON THE INVOCATION OF SAINTS, AND
WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MARY.

There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Tim. ii. 5.

The perpetual tendency to idolatry in all ages and among all nations affords striking proof of the universal depravity of man. It is the first principle of true religion that there is only one living and true God. Jehovah exclusively claims divine worship as due to himself alone, and has expressly forbidden the worship of idols of every kind as a crime of the first magnitude. Yet, in opposition to these pure and holy and wise commands, almost every thing in earth or heaven has been converted into an idol. The heavenly bodies were amongst the earliest objects of Pagan worship. The sun, it was perceived, had properties calculated to pro. duce impressions of reverence and awe. Its beauty was glorious to behold-its motion wonderful-its light and heat occasioned in some places fruitfulness, in others barrenness. It is not surprising that this immense globe of light riding in majesty through space, should have been regarded as the