with the last, that "it is more fit for convincing heretics!" Surely, if it is not the true reason, it ought not to be employed to convince anybody! It appears then, that Bellarmine gives a decided preference to the third of "the four opinions of the learned." Then let us see what that opinion is worth, and what it leads to: It is to this effect :-That the saints see in God, as in a mirror, the prayers offered to them on earth. Now, besides the fact that this, after all, is but a matter of speculation, see what a round-about and circuitous course it involves. a. The prayer goes direct to God; b. From God it is reflected back upon the saint; Now I would much like to know what is gained by this circuitous route what is gained in point of time or of influence? Does it not altogether ignore that straight and appointed line of direct intercession, "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. ii. 5.) Here is the true and living way-God in heaven, and man on earth; and between the twain is Christ, the one Mediator. Thus the prayers of men are conveyed direct through Christ to God. And while all this uncertainty of mere "opinion" hinders the Roman Catholic worshipper from worshipping in the certainty of faith, we have no such drawbacks and no such hindrances. We know that God hears; that Christ hears; that "the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James v. 16); that our prayers "enter into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth" (James v. 4). Of which of the saints in heaven could such a blessed promise as this be spoken ?—" And this is the confi dence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we desired of Him" (1 John, v. 14, 15). And while all this certainty of faith and promise attaches to prayer offered to God in Christ, what of the Roman Catholic suppliants worshipping those who cannot hear their prayers? May we not address, or at least apply to such, that which was the sting of the sarcasm of Elijah to the prophets and priests of Baal, when they too cried, but there was none to hear "Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked!" (1 Kings xviii. 27.) F PROTESTANT CLASSES AT FOLKSTONE. (From the Folkstone Gazette.) MOLKSTONE has been called the stronghold of Ritualism, and certain it is that the High Church party are making enormous efforts to make proselytes, apparently only to lose them again by their be coming converts to that more advanced style of Ritualism-Romanism, or (shall we say ?) going from the child to the parent. Only last week a meeting took place in the Town Hall, in which a Ritualistic clergyman not only upheld the Tractarian movement, but sought to throw a stain * “Tamen posterior sententia est magis idonea ad convincendos hereticos." on the memory of those two great upholders of Protestantism-the brothers Wesley-by stating in the most absurd manner that they held Ritualistic dogmas in reference to the Eucharist. Mis-statements may be made plausible, facts may be distorted so as to mislead, but statements of this nature have not even the advantage of wearing a semblance of truth. While this sort of teaching is propagated, we can only hail with delight and pleasure an announcement which has been sent us of the formation of a Protestant Educational Class in connection with the Protestant Educational Institute, and London Organisation of the Scottish Reformation Society. The object of this class is to endeavour to spread a little knowledge of the Romish doctrines and dogmas, which are being copied by the Ritualistic Churches; and we are pleased to see amongst the lecturers the name of a clergyman whose energies have always been devoted to keeping his Church free from a superabundance of those outward forms and ceremony which have lately so extensively taken the place of purer religion. The other lecturers are the Revs. A. J. Palmer, and Rev. A. W. Mearns, M.A., and these three gentlemen will deliver lectures on Monday evenings, for young men and ladies alternately, throughout the winter, on religious subjects chiefly in reference to the Roman Catholic Creeds. At the conclusion of the course a written examination will be held, and all who have attended the course of lectures will be entitled to compete. We can only express a hope that this class will be the means of impressing many with a further aversion to those imitations of Popery which are being at present carried on so extensively in Episcopalian churches. A ARCHBISHOP MANNING AND THE EDUCATION ACT. It T the Roman Catholic churches in London and the suburbs, a communication from Archbishop Manning was conveyed to the congregations by the clergy to the effect that, as the election of the members of the London School Board was approaching, it was a time for Catholics, as friends of religious education, to be active. The members of each congregation who are ratepayers were requested to send their names and addresses to the priest of their parish, and they would be communicated with in a short time, with a view to joint action. was also announced that a public meeting of Catholics would be held in London in connection with this subject. Archbishop Manning, who preached at the morning service at the church in Spanish Place, Manchester Square, prefaced his sermon by some observations referring to the same topic. He said that it was of vital importance that the ratepayers should vote for the candidates who would show themselves most likely to endeavour to procure religious education for the people. The sermon being partly an appeal for funds for the Spanish Place mission and schools, the Archbishop added that now more than ever was it necessary for Catholics to show their zeal for the religious education of the poor by generously supporting the schools connected with their churches. In one sense he rejoiced at the poverty of the Catholic Church in England, for poverty is apostolical: but in another sense he regretted it, as it prevented the establishment of more schools. Under the new education laws schools not Catholic would be multiplied; and he hoped that the knowledge of this fact would rouse the sleeping charity fo those who hitherto had been negligent.-From the Courant, of 1st November, 1870. Can our Protestant ministers not recommend their congregations to act at least consistently, and as Protestants in such matters? THE A NEW MORTARA CASE. HE Roman Correspondent of the Daily News states that the Italian occupation has been the means of bringing to light another case of the inveiglement of a Jewish boy. It took place six years ago (July 25, 1864), and the kidnapped boy, Giuseppe Coen, was then nine years old. A shoemaker, to whom he was apprenticed, was persuaded by a priest to give him up, and without the consent of his parents the child was placed in a monastic establishment. The poor mother flew to the establishment of the Catecumeni, and entreated that she might be allowed to see her child, but she was not allowed to cross the threshold, and from the agony of the bereavement she soon lost her senses. Some time before becoming quite distracted, she was wont every day to remain for hours opposite the building in which she knew her boy to be immured. This proceeding was regarded as offensive by the Papal authorities. They seized her and threw her into prison. At this stage, when she had become quite frantic, the representative of the French Government at Rome felt himself bound, for the credit of that Government, in the face of civilised Europe, to interfere, and his interference led to Fortunata Coen's release. The whole family then emigrated to Leghorn, where through the happy effects of a skilful and soothing treatment, the poor mother, though ever since terribly broken down in her general health, became restored to reason. After the Government under which such atrocities were possible was overthrown, there hurried amongst the foremost exiles eager to re-enter Rome, these two Jewish parents. They went straight to the Orphan Asylum of Santa Maria in Acquiro, where the boy was kept. The parents were refused admittance. They then addressed themselves to the Italian police. The police authorities gave orders that a inquisition should be made. The manager knew nothing. The boy had suddenly disappeared. An active search was made, and at last the boy was found to be stowed away in the private dwelling of one of the employés of the Orphan Asylum, close to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The boy was found; his mother would again embrace him; but she no longer embraced a son. Cold, callous, utterly unmoved, the young Catholic seminarist received, without one responding look or tone of filial affection, the passionate embraces of a Jewish mother. "Now," said the manager of the Orphan Asylum, "you can judge for yourselves; Guiseppe has become perfectly unrooted from his former domestic and Jewish soil." The boy refused to return to his parents. The parents claimed back their child. As the boy was still a minor he was formally given up to them. The parents bound themselves to respect the religious convictions and usages of their son. It is added that the family have left for Leghorn, and that the Italian authorities are taking measures for the arrest of the responsible priest, Father Imperi. THE PROTESTANT ALLIANCE, 7 Serjeants' Inn, Fleet Street, E.C. FRUITLESS SUPERSTITION. "THE Empress is a daily devotee at the shrine of Our Lady of Victory. She comes incognito, repairs to the shrine, prays, deposits her offering, and departs. When the army set out for the Italian war, she presented Our Lady of Victory with a splendid candelabra, which was duly honoured with a distinguished place in that Lady's cabinet of religious curiosities. Her Majesty has just added another similar gift to the same cabinet. It is a somewhat curious sight to see the Virgin's chapel lighted up, as it is every night now, with scores of tapers on the triangular wooden frame, attached to the illuminatory service of the shrine, and around and about a literal crowd of kneeling women engaged in silent prayer."-The New York Tribune. "WITH OUR LIVES." "Protestants will have nothing left to give but their bodies to be burnt! Are they prepared for that!"-The Rock. YES, for the honour of Jesus' name, Yes, for the truth of God, Like the martyrs of old we could brave the flame, We could tread the path they trod. For He who sits on the throne above, Who died for us on the cross, Has filled our souls with the faith and love That for Him count all things loss. And oh! His arm is as mighty now To give us the strength to die, And still He holds for the martyr's brow As fair a crown on high. And still His truth is a dearer thing Than wealth, or kindred, or life We have loved it through long, calm days of spring, Give us the dungeon, the chain, the stake, His truth shall be still our own; From our children's children the foe shall take "With our lives!" Let history speak, and tell How widely the Gospel echoes swell, How the man of God may be bound and slain, But the truth of God shall untouch'd remain, We may not yield to the priestly claim Give us the dungeon, the chain, the stake, And our children's children in peace partake 2 Tim. ii. 9. -The Rock. |