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teur" of the Church of Rome, is given; and an interesting description of the articles of the Syllabus, which, if defined, as is probable, by the Council as positive dogmas, “ will enrich the Church with a considerable number of new Articles of Faith hitherto unheard of, or absolutely contradicted." The authors then pass on to discuss Papal Infallibility. The dictum of the Jesuit Gretser is quoted—“When we speak of the Church, we mean the Pope"; and we are told that St. Paul's saying, “ In him we live and move and are,” is, by the Ultramontanists, transferred to the Pope. The starting point of Ul. tramontanism is stated to be, that “the Pope is infallible in all declared decisions, not only in matters of faith, but in the domain of ethics, on the relations of religion to society, of Church to State, and even on State institutions, and that every such decision claims unlimited and unreserved submission in word and deed from all Catholies.” They then go on to show, “ that to prove the dogma of Papal Infallibility from Church History, nothing less is required than a complete falsification of it." In ludicrous contrast to Dr. Manning's assumptions, the errors and contradictions of Popes are displayed in all their nakedness; the verdict of history is adduced, and the forgeries out of which the monstrous assertions put forward, and by which they are bolstered up, are enumerated in a most lucid and convincing manner. There is an interesting chapter on the College of Cardinals, showing how they have gradually arrogated power and influence to themselves, sometimes by the favour of, and sometimes despite the Popes. The injurious effect of the outrageous preten. sions of the Court of Rome upon the reunion of Christendom is demonstrated, and some amusing instances are recorded of the shrewdness and ability with which the Patriarchs of the Greek Church have repelled them. As an instance, we may quote the laconic answers returned by the Greeks to John XXII., related by Sir John Mandeville: “ Thy plenary power over thy subjects we firmly believe; thine immeasurable pride we cannot endure; and thy greed we cannot satisfy. With thee is Satan, with us the Lord.” In the concluding portion of the work striking instances are adduced of the injurious influence upon the Popes themselves of the blasphemous pretensions which they claim, and which are encouraged by the adulation of the sycophants who surround them. We earnestly trust that all our readers who have time for such studies, and feel interested in these important questions, will read this most remarkable book. Wonld, too, that our public men, who are now pandering so unscrupulously to Romish pretensions, would take warning betimes, and would pause in the remorseless destruction which is now going on of bulwarks which the wisdom of our ancestors erected against Popery. If they think Rome has changed, or has abated one whít of the most preposterous claims asserted by her in the Middle Ages, such is not the opinion of intelligent Romanists. They understand the possibility of such claims being postponed to some more convenient season, but not of their being relinquished or being counted as obsolete. We hope, at any rate, that common sense will not hereafter be insulted by statements which, if persevered in, it will not be easy much longer to reconcile with honesty,

PUBLIC AFFAIRS. The present season at home is one of preparation for an approaching session of Parliament. Many anxious questions are discussed, and the fears and hopes of statesmen are variously affected. The state and prospects of our own Church, and of the rulers of the Church, equally prompt us to look up for the repose of our minds. Abroad, the recent illnesses of the Emperor of the French and of the King of Italy have just revealed the tremendous social revolutions which may hang upon the breath of kings; and our thoughts are thus directed to Him “in whose hand is the breath of all mankind." In Spain affairs are as far from a peaceable settlement as ever. In Rome a so-called Ecumenical Council is to assemble within a few days, of which the issue may be the very reverse of that which Rome anticipates. Under all these circumstances, we are thankful to see that there is a call from many quarters to special and united prayer, which we trust may be abundantly responded to.

To one event in our home proceedings we must make a more special reference. The "Twelve Days' Missionin the London Churches has taken place during the last month, by an organised series of special religious services in more than one hundred churches of the Metropolis, with the object of awakening the unconverted and quickening spiritual life in the faithful. The scheme appears to have been proposed and arranged by individuals of the moderate High Church school; to have been cordially adopted by the Ritualists of every shade, even of the highest, and by very few of the moderate Evangelicals. It received prospectively the sanction of the Bishops of London, Winchester (designate), and Rochester. A Committee has been since appointed to draw up a statement of the various services held, and of the results, as far as they can be described. The movement presents a threefold character. It partakes of the character of Roman Catholic “Missions and Retreats,” of the early Evangelical Exercises, and of the more modern Revivals. In the Roman Catholic Church such special services have been accustomed to be held in Advent and Lent, when there has been a large increase of serinons and processions, and energetic appeals to the people to attend Confession and Mass.' In the Church of England, Whitfield, Wesley, Grimshawe, Berridge, and Venn incurred the reproach of irregularity by their endeavours to arouse the indifferent, by frequent meetings beyond canonical places or hours, and by inviting the people to unite in private meetings for edification. Down to the present day these efforts have been perpetuated in cottage lectures, open air missions, preaching in theatres, and a vast agency of lay helpers. In America there have been remarkable seasons of “Revivals,” when the spiritual solicitude and zeal of the people have led to the opening of churches, the multiplication of private means of instruction, and a large increase of prayer meetings.

The Christian Observer has, during the long course of its career, justified the extra-ritual zeal and practices of the Evan. gelical clergy from the reproach of irregularity. The present movement, under its episcopal sanction, has thrown up a defensive rampart far in advance of any Evangelical aggressions ; so that henceforth the Evangelical clergy may pursue their extraritual exercises to the utmost extent of their desires, without the reproach of irregularity which their predecessors incurred. But far beyond this cause of satisfaction, we rejoice in the hope that the blessing of God may have made this movement effectual to the bringing of souls to Christ. This has been nobly put forward as the object of the “ Twelve Days' Mission”; and as far as it has been kept in view, spiritual benefit must have accompanied it, and it will assuredly lead to an increased spiritual efficiency in the ministers who have been in any measure blessed with such seals to their ministry.

But we are bound, at the same time, to put in a solemn protest against certain adjuncts to the movement, of a decided Romanistic and pernicious kind. It has been made the occașion, by advanced Ritualists, of a grand display of processions by day and by night, of auricular confession, of celebrations of the holy communion as a sacrificial act which benefits the spectator, and of much else of the rubbish of Popery. As far as these proceedings have taken effect, they have proved a hindrance to souls seeking Christ, and turned their enquiries towards the abyss of superstition and false worship. We must also put in a caution against the dangerous attempt into which our American brethren have sometimes fallen, “to get up a Revival,” by forming separate “penitents'" benches in their churches, and inviting strangers to take their seat upon them, which was practised in some instances in these twelve days, and by other such expedients as tend to put the external act in the place of the secret influence of the Holy Spirit.

We wait, however, for further accounts before we attempt to balance the good with the evil of this remarkable movement. While perusing the descriptions of these events in newspapers, which regard them as new and strange exhibitions of religious philanthropy, we have reflected with thanksgiving to God upon the many cases in which the very results aimed at, of bringing souls to Christ, are secured by the quiet unobtrusive labours of many an Evangelical minister, through the agency of weekly sermons, cottage lectures, district visitors, and tract circulation.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. “ THE Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures," “ The Blood of Sprinkling,” “Ar

mageddon and its Anticipations," * Missionary Work in New Zealand," "Old Wine in New Bottles, " “Short Hints on Church Building and Fittings,"

“Servitor," have been received, and are under consideration. ERRATUM.-In our last Number, the line at the top of p. 917, should stand,

instead, at the top of p. 833.

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America and England, amicable settle

ment of dispute, 158, 239. 640.
Ancient Hebrew Inscriptions in the

Crimea, 356.
Auricular Confession and Absolution in

the Church of England, 241.
Bathurst (Sydney), appointment of

Bishop of, 880.
Believers, the anointing of, 43.
Bible in France, Modern ignorance of,

531.
Bridges, Rev. C., Obituary of, 471.
Children in Religious Hoåseholds, 11.
Christian Knowledge Society: Election

of Members of Standing Committee,

48.
Church Discipline Bill, 399.
Church of England, Auricular Con.

fession and Absolution in the, 241.
Church Missionary Society, the Com.

mittee Room of : A Scene, 142.
Church Reform, on, 881.
Colonial Church, Is it without Law?

362.
Continent, the state of, 79.
CORRESPONDENCE:

Armageddon, 634, 873.
Dr. Northcote and his Reviewer,

942.
Correspondents, Answers to, 80, 240,

480, 720, 950.
Crimea, Ancient Hebrew Inscriptions

in the, 356.
Cross, the Reason of the, 178, 274, 369,

539.
Crowther, Bp., Annual letter to Abp.

of Canterbury, 648.
Editorship of the "Christian Observer,"

change of, 321.
Education Question, with reference to

Compulsion, 568.
Excursus on Job xix. 23—27, 429.
Exeter, Bishop of, death of, 300.

Female Education, 655.
Fifty years ago, 561.
France, general election in, 560, 640.
French Revolution and the Church, 857,

897.
General Election, the result of, 77.
Germany, prevalence of infidelity in the

Protestant States of, 719.
Harvest, results of the, 800.
Indian Recollections: Government Edu-

cation, 337, 501. .
Innovations, oa, 921.
Inscriptions in Ancient Karaite Hebrew

MSS., 505.
Irish Church Bill, 238, 318, 399, 478,

559, 639.
Irish Church, the disestablished, pro-

ceedings of, 718, 879.
Irish Romish Priests, demands of, 799.
“Irony," Notes on, 285.
Isaiab vii. 14-17, on the true inter.

pretation of, 62.
Isaiah ix. 1—8, on the interpretation of,

188.
Isaiah, the second portion of the Pro-

phecies of, its genuineness proved,

252.
Jews of Abyssinia. 938.
Judgment of the Privy Council in the

Case of Martin v. Mackonochie, 80.
L'Abbaye aux Hommes," 836.
“Like-minded one to another, accord-

ing to Jesus Christ," 306.
Lunar Seenery, 170.
Macrorie, Rev. W. K., Consecration of,

as Bishop of Maritzburg, 400.
Marian Worship, the rise and progress

of, as exhibited in Roman Monuments,

817, 903.
Masses, present condition of traffic in,

814.
Materialism, Modern, 378.
Ministrations, The two, 812.

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Missions, Modern, Is "the fulness of

time" come for ? 26.
Monumental Inscriptions, Stray thoughts

on, 609.
Negro Bishop, the, 641.
New Books, Notices of, 72, 153, 233,

317, 396, 475, 555, 637, 716, 795,

875, 947.
New Zealand, massacre of Europeans,

320, 480.
Nonconformists and the Rev. T. Binney,

238.
Notes on " Irony,” 285.
OBITUARY:-

Bridges, Rev. C., 471.
Carlisle, Bishop of, 567.
Simcoe, Rev. H. A., 149.
Ecumenical Council, proposed Meeting

of, at Rome, 719.
Parliament, Meeting of, 238.
Parliamentary Proceedings, 238, 318,

399, 478, 559, 639.
Penitent Thief, the, 481.
POETRY:-Night, 232.
Privy Council, Judgment of in the case

of Martin v. Mackonochie, so.
Providence, The leadings of, 294.
Psalms, The Book of, 721, 801.
Public Affairs, 77, 158, 238, 318, 399,

478, 559, 639, 717, 799, 878, 949.
Reformation in England, History of the,

324, 406, 487.
REVIEWS:-
Bayley on the Epistle to the Galatians,

302.
Birks on Church and State, €90.
Blunt's History of the Reformation

in England, 324, 406, 487.
Bonnechose's Histoire Sacrée, 531.
Burrows' Lectures on Constitutional

Progress, 511.
Child's “Benedicite," 312.
Clement of Alexandria, the Writings

of, 34.
Correspondence on the Doctrine of

the Holy Eucharist, 135.
D'Aubigné's History of the Refor.

mation, 650.
Dale's Christ and the Controversies

of Christendom, 792.
Elliott's Confirmation Lectures, 846.
Essays on the Ritual of the New Tes.

tament, 629.
Fairbairn's Revelation of Law in

Scripture, 599.
Farrar's “ Former Days not better

than these," 391.
Farrar's Seekers after God, 197.
Flad's Falashas of Abyssinia, 938.
Gladstone's “Juventus Mundi,” 755.
Goode's Sermons, 666.

Halévy's Excursion chez les Palacha

en Abyssinie, 938.
Hatherley on the Continuity of

Scripture, 464.
Hinds' Free Discussion of Religious

Topics, 766.
Hippolytus, the Writings of, 119.
Howson's Metaphors of St. Paul's, 451.
Leathes' Boyle Lectures, 776.
Lecky's History of European Morals,

553.
Life and Writings of Cæsar Malan,

585.
Littledale's Lecture on Innovations,

921.
Mill on the Condition of Women, 618.
Milman's Annals of St. Paul's Ca-

thedral, 677.
Moule's Poems on the Acts of the

Apostles, 933.
Northcote's Account of the Roman

Catacombs, 817, 903.
Perowne's Hulsean Lectures, 416.
Protestant Sisterhoods and Romish

Convents, 454.
Pressené's French Revolution, 857,

897.
Quesnel's Commentary on St. Mat.

thew, 261.
Ryle's Bishops and Clergy of other

days, 52.
Sermons by Dr. Vaughan, 129.
Shairp's Studies in Poetry and Phi.

losophy, 344.
Shipley's Invocation of Saints and

Angels, 632.
Tertullian, the Writings of, 705.
Thorold's “ Presence of Christ," 687.
Tozer's Researches in the Highlands

of Turkey, 762.
Trench's Realities of Irish Life, 433.
Waterland on the Eucharist, 135.
Westcott's History of the English

Bible, 523.
Ritual Commission, the, 1, 81, 478.
Ritual Dispute, decision of the Privy

Council, 160.
Ritualistic Irregularities, alleged Evan-

gelical, 161.
Sermon by Rev. J. Venn, 294.
“ Schools of Thought," 127.
Schools, Endowed, Bill relating to, 319.
Science, Meeting of Association for the

advancement of, 719.
Simcoe, Rev. H. A., Obituary of, 149.
Slave Trade on the East Coast of Africa,

240, 782, 850.
Spain, the state of, 79, 159, 240, 320,

479, 560, 800, 880.
“Take heed and be quiet,” 708.
Tasting the powers of the world to come,

401.

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