profligacy, and debauchery, and so making his better and immortal part that has been armed with almost divine faculties, the fettered servant and abject slave of his perishable body-yea, notwithstanding, "the wild beasts are in our ruins, and the dragons are in our pleasant places," and the scattered fragments of an image once so beautiful In whose looks divine The image of his glorious maker shone, Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure."-Milton. are hardly sufficient to show that it once existed-there is, however, a "still small voice" among these melan consideration, that should put us into fear for ourselves; but There Is Thence Not The Smallest Reason To Distrust The Truth Of Christianity. For, "what if some"-what if many-what if most-what if all the world, eight persons only excepted, were to disbelieve? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God of none effect? Shall the falsehood of men be carried by votes against the truth of God? God forbid. Let God be true, though every man be a liar. He will be justified in his saying, and clear when he is judged. Nay, he is justified: He is clear, in this very thing. Are there corruptions? Are there heresies? Are there dissensions and divisions? Is there a falling away? They were all foretold: The Spirit expressly speaks, that so it should be. If it were otherwise, the Scriptures could not be true. Hereby then an additional proof is furnished, that our religion came from him, who calleth things that be not as though they were." They that oppose the Gospel confirm it. Of The Eater Comes Forth Meat.' (See Sermons (Posthumous) of the Rev. W. Jones, A.M. F.R.S. Edited by the Rev. W. H. Walker, Fellow of Queen's College Cambridge, &c. vol. ii. p. 392-393. Rivingtons, 1830.). We may then say with the enlightened Pascal, who with the Arnaulds, and Quesnels, and Fenelons of France, is to be regarded only as an extraordinary exception from the dominant evils of the Romish communion-as an extraordinary anomaly to the universality of error- "How delightful it is to see with the eye of faith, Darius, Cyrus, Alexander, the Romans, Pompey, and Herod, labouring unwittingly for the glory of the Gospel!" (See Pensées de Pascal, Art. xii.—" Diverses preuves de Jésus Christ," vi. - Out The reader is recommended to consult most particularly on the subject of the Romish Apostacy being a positive fulfilment of Divine Prophecy-Bp. Newton's Dissertations, xxii. xxiii. xxvi. Bp. Hurd's Introduction to Prophecy, in his valuable Warburtonian lectures, Ser. vii. and viii. Kett on Prophecy, vol. ii. p, 1-61. A tabular view of these prophecies of the papal Antichrist, may be advantageously seen in Macknight's "Truth of the Gospel History," p. 576-600. In the "Protestant Journal" of January, 1833, there is choly ruins, which "reasons of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come." It may be true, that the faint murmurings of this voice, may die unheeded. upon the ear, amid the clamorous din, and tumultous strife of life; still it is sometimes heard, like the spirit of a departed inhabitant, unwilling to leave even the mournful ruins of the palace which he once had occupied ; and would still fondly linger among the miserable desolations and wrecks of the once magnificent mansion, at times bringing to remembrance the departed glories of his former greatness. These all-important truths have received the con a truly excellent translation of the very learned Dr. Whitaker's "Thesis de Antichristo,” p. 16-43. We sincerely trust that the powerful and earnest appeal which the "Protestant Journal" has made in the last March Number, will not be unattended to by the 20,000 of our Clergy, to whose sincerity, and for whose support. they have so justly and strongly appealed. This Journal, at the same time that it is surprizingly cheap, upwards of 60 pages for one shilling, displays in every one of its publications deep learning, faithful zeal, and accurate intelligence. What a contrast to a Paper called "The Record," whose principles are professed to be Christian and Protestant! But whose columns ever since the days of Emancipation almost weekly present to the eye, inconsistent and ludicrous tricks of shuffling, expediency, and contradiction. How unlike those unchanging truths so perpetually in their mouths! Such snakes in the grass are more dangerous than the open front of our avowed, and declared foes.). But let us quickly dispatch the subject, to which we have above alluded-that the promised sensualism of Mohammed's Paradise, is not widely different from the Popish draught of impure spiritual ecstacies. We have before us a very different object at present, than pursuing such a parallel to any lengthened extent. Of their innumerable female Deities, Mediators, and Intercessors, we will but slightly glance at the Virgin Mary ; to whose sovereign nod, it will be found upon the most cursory examination of the authorized, and accredited Romish creeds, that the attributes of the Lord Jehovah—that the respective and characteristic agencies of each of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity -and that the supreme jurisdiction of the Church and of worlds, are absolutely, and exclusively subservient. We have been much provoked, and still more shocked, to be informed from various public journals, of the base and lying machinations of one Baines, on this very topic. This individual, is we understand, a sacrificing Priestling, who dubs himself a Romish Bishop! The scene of his intrigues appears to be at Bath. In one of a course of controversial lectures, which this man has been delivering within the last few firmation, and have been elucidated with remarkable vigour, by two of the greatest masters of wit and reason, that the world has produced-Bacon and Pascal. "The light of nature, (says our English philosopher) is used in two several senses; the one, that which springeth from reason, sense, induction, argument, according to the laws of heaven and earth; the other, that which is imprinted upon the spirit of man by an inward instinct, according to the law of conscience, which is a SPARKLE of the Purity of his first estate in which latter sense only he is participant of some light and discerning touching the perfection of weeks in that City, it is reported, that he gave utterance to the following sentiment-"It is said that we worship saints, &c. Our doctrine is, accursed be those who worship any creature as God,'but we honour them. Are not all who benefit mankind honoured,conquerors, statesmen, and all who in any way serve their fellowmen? Is it considered wrong to honour them? Yet they are only the friends of man. The saints are the friends of God: can it then be wrong to honour them?" We feel it our duty briefly to call the attention of our readers to this oft-repeated, unprincipled chicanery, and impudent falsehood. This species of charlatanry has been one of the numerous snares and covert ambushes of Popery, since the days of Bossuet, to entrap the unsuspecting, and the ignorant, whether Protestants or Romanists,-by divesting Romanism of its hatefulness, by concealing as much as possible its frightfulness,and by softening its harshness. It is thus that the papal advocates take advantage of the extreme laxity of an affectedly liberal age, and so too often dazzle their deluded vassals and partisans, with the gaudy exterior of a more engaging attitude; and contrive to give to their atrocious system a supposititious symmetry, form, and beauty: by which means as Gibbon truly remarked of Bossuet's Exposition de la doctrine de l'Eglise catholique". "The ten-horned monster, is, at their magic touch, transformed into the milk-white hind, which must be loved, as soon as she is seen.' It was just so from the beginning. We are assured that to the dupes of the " Mystery of Iniquity а strong delusion" is sent" that they should believe a lie" (Thess. ii. 11.). We know that Satan" is a liar and the father of it' (John viii. 44.). And we are warned that though he "is transformed into an angel of light" (2 Cor. xi. 14.), yet he at the same time "fills the heart to lie to the Holy Ghost" (Acts v. 3.). Knowing, therefore, that the papal, antichristian apostacy is distinctly marked out by the unerring finger of heaven as "a Lie," and being equally as certain who is the Author of it, we may be altogether assured, that the delegated emissaries of its infernal Parent, will employ for their diabolical stratagems those very weapons, which Revelation specially VOL. I. 66 the moral law: but how? sufficient to check the vice, but not to inform the duty. So then the doctrine of Religion, as well moral as mystical, is not to be attained but by inspiration and revelation of God." ("Advancement of Learning," Book ii.). In a similar but more extended manner, likewise, the great Pascal, when proving, in his wonderfully profound, and highly sublime thoughts on Religion, that the several contrarieties of strength and impotence— of greatness and misery, which seem most calculated to alienate men from the knowledge of any religion whatever, are the very things, which, with a proper 66 enumerates as the characteristic marks of Popery. We may be quite certain that the Satanic and scripturally recorded engines of "deceit -“ iniquity” carried on, enveloped in a cloud of dark and hidden" mystery' lying wonders all deceivableness of unrighteousness"- по love of truth"- -“ doctrines of devils”- speaking lies in hypocrisy "-" forms of godliness"-" deceiving and being deceived"- evil men and seducers -“ turning unto fables' "names of blasphemy"-" speaking great things and blasphemies against God" "fornications" and "whoredoms"—will be all vigorously, and industriously plied, to bewilder not only the "ignorant and unstable,” but to "deceive" likewise “if it were possible the very elect" (Compare 2 Thess. ii. 1-10; 1 Tim. iv. 1-3; 2 Tim. iii. 1—5. 7—9. 13. iv. 3-4; 1 John ii. 18-19. 22. iv. 3. Rev. xiii. 1-18. xviii. 1-8.). To overlook the heaven-marked predictions, and strikingly descriptive characters of the Romish Heresies and Apostacy, is, therefore, a fearful disregard of the truths of Revelation—a tasteless insipidity in marking the wonderful fulfilment of Prophecy-a thoughtless contempt, and stupid ignorance of those principles which induced our glorious Reformers, and blessed Martyrs, to “separate and come out from among them," and to obey the "voice from heaven" which commanded them and us, saying-"come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not her plagues" (Compare Rev. xviii. 4. with 2 Cor. vi. 17.). It is in truth a reproach, and despite to the teachings, and warnings of the Spirit of grace-to turn aside in cold indifference from some of the most remarkable declarations of God's Holy Word, and which formed the powerful motives, that constrained our apostolic Fathers to bring about, under the guidance of Heaven, the most stupendous event, that has occurred in the history of man, namely, their abandonment of Babylon when it had “become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird" (Rev. xviii. 2.). But let it not be so in our case. Let us, however we may compassionately pity, or mourn over every manifestation of the Man of Sin, regard each and every such attempt, of regard to original corruption, should most effectually avail to guide them to the true-makes the following deeply searching reflections-"The greatness and the misery of man are both so manifest, that it is essential to the true religion, to recognize the existence in man, of a certain principle of extraordinary greatness, and also a principle of profound misery. For that Religion which is true, must thoroughly know our nature in all its grandeur, and in all its wretchedness, and must understand and comprehend the source of both"-" For my own part, I avow, that as soon as the Christian religion reveals this one principle whatsoever kind it may be, as an astonishing, and indubitable verification of the oracles of divine Prophecy. A few particular examples will illustrate the above general remarks, and show in what light, the deceitful prevarications, and lying hypocrisy of this Baines, or any other such Romish advocate, are to be regarded. In the “Catechism of the council of Trent” which is now regarded and universally upheld, as an authoritative publication of the Church of Rome, the following instruction is given to the Clergy." With good reason the holy Church of God has added to this giving of thanks, prayers also and imploration addressed to the most holy Mother of God; in in order that we thus might piously and suppliantly have recourse to her to reconcile (!) God by her intercession to us sinners, and to obtain for us those good things which are necessary as well for this life, as for life eternal (!!!) Therefore we exiled sons of Eve who inhabit this Vale of Tears, ought constantly to invoke the mother of mercy, and advocate of the faithful, that she may pray for us sinners, and by this prayer we ought to implore help and assistance from her, of whom no one, without impiety and nefarious wickedness, can doubt, both her pre-eminent (!) merits with God, and her very great willingness to assist mankind” (Catech. Trident. Par. iv. cap 5, ad finem.). In the above passage there is blasphemously ascribed to a fallen, sinful creature that office, which our Gracious Redeemer exclusively claims, as the fruits of his cross, passion, and all-perfect righteousness which he paid to the law for man. For of the Messiah only was it prophesied, that he should “make reconciliation for iniquity and bring in everlasting righteousness" (Dan. ix. 24.). In confirmation of this great truth, we have the numerously repeated declarations of the Evangelists and Apostles:-"Having made peace (says St Paul) through the blood of his cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto himself, by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven" (Col. i. 20.); and we are told that God hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ (2 Cor. v. 18.). And as to eternal life we are instructed that whosoever believeth in Christ shall have eternal life" (John. iii. 15), “and I give unto them Eternal Life (says 66 |