cares of government, abdicating the throne in favor of his son Philip. In his retirement, instead of pursuing his search of truth as we might have expected from the previous bent of his mind, and as he undoubtedly would, had the educational scheme been a sufficient antidote for Popery, we find him engaged in the most frivolous superstitions, and subjecting his mind to monkish rites and mortifications. If one so educated, so shrewd, so politic, having views so comprehensive, a resolution so unbending, and a will that brooked no restraint, could yet be the subject of this apostate spirit; then how can we expect from education an universal remedy? If it failed so signally in one whose circumstances were suitable to develope its efficiency, then what confidence can we place in it when applied to multitudes, having no such favourable circumstances? If it failed in a monarch who had been the master of the Pope, had him in his power, and had seen his absolute nothingness-then how can it but fail in those who have no power to resist? who know not how potent or how impotent, the usurper of power may be, and who, upon the supposition of his impotence, have neglected to fortify their hearts, and enlighten their minds with those solid truths which alone can form an effectual antidote. But could education effectually eradicate Popery, which it never can, yet would large numbers in every land be subject to its bondage. For how few ever attain, or seek to attain, anything beyond the simple elements of literature? And surely it will not be contended that these are a sufficient antidote for Popery, for these are possessed by very many who are yet the most confirmed Papists. As education fails to be an antidote to the Spirit of Popery, it may be asked, will legislative enactments? We answer decidedly and unhesitatingly, No. For no laws, human or divine, can change the human heart; and until this is effected the Spirit of Popery will remain unsubdued. Of what avail then are enactments? Simply to restrain the evil actions of men, to put it as far as possible out of their power to do evil; to make them feel that actions injurious to others, shall be equally, if not more injurious to themselves. This is the principal value of human laws. Therefore, when we advocate legislative restrictions, it is not that from them we expect an antidote to this spirit, but merely the restraint of its political consequences. What then is an effectual remedy? reply, the Gospel-the whole Gospel, We and nothing but the Gospel, received in its sanctifying power by a true and living faith, through the operation of the Holy Ghost. But He invariably operates by the word of God. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Hence the duty of every Christian to protest boldly and manfully against any mutilation of that word; against every competitor of that word. It, and it only, is the means of conversion; every attempt, therefore, to elevate any tradition into an equality with that word must be fatal to immortal souls, and must, therefore, be rejected with firmness and constancy by Christians. Equally must we protest against the ambitious claims of any and every body of men, be they priests, or clergymen, or ministers, or by whatever name they may be called, who shall dare to thrust themselves into the place of that word, and by perverting one passage of Scripture make void the rest. "Hear the church!" Our Lord commands us to search the Scriptures. Hear the church? Yes, if she speaks according to that word. That is the ultimate reference of all judgments. And he who arrogates to his party the only interpretation of that word, takes upon him a fearful responsibility, and one which demands the open and avowed protest of every true chris tian. We have thus seen that the Spirit of Popery has proved the most effectual antagonist to the spread of the gospel. That it is in its own nature not confined to the Church of Rome. But having there full room to luxuriate, its true character was fully developed in a long series of years.Antichrist, or opposition to Christ is its name. We have seen its early rise, its rapid progress; some of the causes of that progress we have just glanced at. Its present aspect therefore should arouse every Christian to watchfulness and prayer, and diligent study of the word of God. For the future state of the church of Christ, and its position in regard to antagonist principles, must depend, humanly speaking, much upon the scriptural knowledge and sound piety of the professors of religion. For an infidel population affords no barrier to this spirit, and ignorant formality is but too ready to acquiesce in all that is said with authority; consequently, those only who are enlightened with the Spirit of Truth, can offer any effectual antidote to the Spirit of Popery. No man is better armed for the great day than he who longs to be there without sin, because then he comes to Him, who can redeem him from all sin.-LUTHER. POPISH RELICS. STEPHEN, in his Traite Preparatif a l'Apologie pour Herodote, says: "A Monk of St. Anthony, having been at Jerusalem, saw there several relics, among which were a bit of the finger of the Holy Ghost, as sound and entire as it had ever been-the snout of the Seraphim that appeared to St. Francisone of the nails of a Cherubim-one of the ribs of the Verbum caro factum (the Word made flesh), some rays of the star that appeared to the three kings of the East-a vial of St. Michael's sweat, when he was fighting against the Devil-a hem of Joseph's garment, which he wore when he cleaved wood," &c. &c. Henry III. of England was a great hoarder of relics. He informed his Council on one occasion, that the Grand Master of the Templars had sent him a vial containing a small portion of the blood of Christ, which he shed upon the cross, and attested to be genuine, by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. He ordered a procession the following day in honour of the gift. THE Chevalier de St. Gervais was imprisoned in the Inquisition on the following occasion. A mendicant, having come to his chamber, with a purse, begging him to contribute something for the lights or tapers to be lighted in honour of the Virgin, he replied, "My good father, the Virgin has no need of lights, she need only go to bed at an earlier hour." CORRESPONDENCE. THE EARTHQUAKE. To the Editor of the Penny Protestant Sir, Those who know anything of the working of Popery, and the Popish priesthood, will soon be ready with a reply. History will disclose to us the fact, that Rome first puts out a feeler, before she strikes the blow. She is doing so at the present time. An Irish prophet! declared that we Londoners would cease to exist after the 17th of March. It was believed by the Papists in England and Ireland; those in Ireland wrote to their friends in England, to return to the Emerald Isle, to escape the threatened judgment. Is this prophet a priest ?—if he is not, he is their tool or mouthpiece. The priests have not condemned the rumourmany say that they publicly declared their belief in its truth; but whether they believed it or not, they consented to it by their silence. If it did not emanate, or was not countenanced by the Popish priesthood, the Papists would not have received it, and have acted upon it. They flocked out of England to Ireland, to help those starve that are there already. The increased distress will fit them better for the agitation of the 'big beggarman' and his masters, the priests, in distress arises from the union, and they, behalf of Repeal: he will allege that there being in a state of starvation, will readily By this belief in their lying prophesies, the receive his proposals for their amelioration. priests will perceive the blind obedience of the Irish to anything they may command, and so by means of the confessional, can prepare the laity "themselves to strike the blow" at an appointed time. Where have the Irish, who were starving last winter, got the money from to return? Has the Roman Catholic Institute, or the Society for the Propagation of the Faith advanced it ?—or, has the Repeal Rent been applied to this purpose? Let then our poor Protestant brethren in Ireland have our prayers and help for their deliverance. A storm is arising for them by the Papists. They will take advantage of the absence of our troops the recent disasters in India, and employment of our troops in China, and the unsettled state of our treaty with France-by stirring up the Irish population to rebel against Victoria, whom the Orthodox Journal of March, 1841, declared was NOT the lawful heir to the British Crown, but Louis Philippe, the King of the French. All the Papists are actively engaged in behalf of Popery. They will join the Chartists, Infidels, and Radical Agitators in England, to give continual heavy blows and great discouragements to our Protestant faith; they will, and at this present time have, moved the Oxford Jesuits to cry out, "anathema to the principle of Protestant- unceasing attempts which it is making to ism;" they have left no means or opportu- gain converts, especially among the operanities pass by, without employing them to tive classes, now possess a considerable their unholy purpose. Let us Protestants degree of information, which will, by the be on the alert; let us watch the signs of the Divine Blessing, be made available for their times; let us cry aloud and spare not, and own safety against the wiles of Popery, and raise our voices like trumpets against these in raising up a number of staunch and machinations of the evil one, until we have zealous defenders of our common Protesrazed this modern Babylon even to the tantism. ground. Maynooth and the Jesuits have done all this. Let us all agitate for the non-support of one, and the expulsion of the other; no means ought to be left untried; every member of St. Stephen's ought to be burthened with our petitions against Maynooth, the "Seat of Satan,' and the Jesuits the senators thereof. Above all, let us be all of one mind, having compassion one of another, forbearing with one another in love, for, united, we stand, but divided, we fall.' Knowing that he that sitteth in the heavens will laugh his own enemies to scorn, for the Lord will have them in derision. 6 I have the honor, Sir, to be, RICHARD H. BINDEN. 58, Great James Street, Lisson Grove. March, 1842. THE TOWER HAMLETS ASSOCIATION Held their Annual Meeting on Tuesday, ANNUAL REPORT. IN reporting the progress of this Association during the first year of its existence, the Committee feel grateful to Almighty God to be enabled to say, that it has prospered beyond their most sanguine expectations. The formation of Associations among the Operative classes was a novel feature in the history of Protestant exertions; but the success attending this branch, as well as of those in other localities, sufficiently prove that the step was a judicious one. Those operatives who were previously almost ignorant of the nature of Popery, and of the necessity for guarding against the wily and The means which this Association has used to disseminate information, have been by the holding of public meetings and the circulation of tracts; the number of meetings held has been nine, five of which have been held in this room, for which we have to thank the Minister of this place, with other gentlemen. It has ever been the earnest wish of your Committee, that while the gentlemen who have so kindly taken part in the proceedings of these meetings, should faithfully and boldly denounce the great " Mystery of Iniquity," they should at the same time manifest a kindly feeling towards the victims of the Papal system; and it is with pleasure they have to notice that such has been the feeling evinced. The Committee regret that the want of funds has prevented them circulating so many tracts and other publications as they could have wished; but they feel assured that those they have issued (which have 'been chiefly supplied by the Parent Association,) have been productive of much good. The number of members at present belonging to this Association is 228, to each of whom the Penny Operative has been supplied since the commencement of 1842. In entering upon their second year, the Committee feel, although they have no very great results to report, they have, nevertheless (independent of the necessity which exists for their labours), much to encourage them to persevere in promoting the work of Protestantism among their brother operatives, and will do all that lies in their power to prevent Popery ever gaining the least ascendancy over them. They hope to be able shortly to arrange for the delivery of a course of lectures in some church in the Borough, on the leading errors of Popery. The Committee are also about to divide the Borough into districts, to solicit a clergyman to preside over the members of each, and to deliver periodical lectures to such members. The clergymen to be assisted in conducting the affairs of the Association in each particular district, by a Secretary, who will relieve the President of the laborious part of such superintendance. All the districts will be in connection with this Com mittee, which will continue to conduct its general business as heretofore. "It is hoped that by an arrangement of this nature, the amount of Protestant information circulated will be much greater; and the present, and future members of the Association rendered sound and intelligent Protestants. Measures will also be adopted for the better and more extensive circulation of tracts, and for obtaining signatures to the petitions to Parliament, which shall be recommended from the Parent Association, especially that praying for the withdrawal of every kind of public support from the Popish College of Maynooth; to which latter the Committee more particularly invite the attention of all the members and friends of this Association. Such is a brief outline of the past and proposed labours of the Tower Hamlets Protestant Operative Association; and while they express their earnest gratitude to Almighty God for his blessing hitherto, they wish to go on depending on his aid and blessing for the future, well knowing that Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lord keepeth the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain."-Ps. cxxvii. 1. 66 The Committee cannot conclude their report without thanking those gentlemen who have rendered them assistance in various ways, among whom they would notice more particularly their President, Henry Pownal, Esq. and the Revs. James Williams, Charles Day, and James Harris; also the Committee of the Trinity Episcopal Chapel, Cannon-street-road, and the Trustees of the Middlesex School Room, for their kindly allowing this Association the use of those rooms on several occasions for their public meetings. The thanks of the Association are due more especially to the Rev. Jas. Williams, for his kindness in granting the use of St. James' Church on the evening of the 5th of November last; also to the Rev. Thos. Mortimer, for preaching a Sermon on that occasion, after which, by the kind permission of Mr. Williams, a collection was made, when the sum of £10. 0:6 was received for the funds of this Association. The amount collected from members during the past year, including donations, also the collection on the 5th of November, has been......£ 29 13 5 The Expenses. 27 2 6 Balance in hand 2 10 10 GEMS FROM LUTHER. 13. "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling" (Ps. ii. 11). I find it difficult thus to demean myself toward God; but my little John can behave so to me, for when I sit in my study and write, or do anything else, then my boy sings me a song, and when he is too loud, then I check him a little; yet, nevertheless, he singeth on, but with a more mild and softer voice, and somewhat with fear and reverence. Even so will God have us to do-always to rejoice in Him, yet with fear and reverence. 14. God is always doing good, and forgetting ingratitude; and yet it is His lot in this world, to receive in return, contempt, yea, blasphemy, abuse, and wickedness. 15. Our unthankfulness for, and our light estimation of God's word, will do more than anything to help the pope into the saddle again. 16. If we do not practise the Divine word, our hearts will become like iron, which is eaten by rust, and we shall not know what we are about. 17. Let the whole world rob and do wrong,-until thy God, who careth for thee, is taken from thee, thou shalt never die of hunger nor perish, but shalt have enough. 18. Christ did not give himself for supposed or imaginary sins, but for real ones— not only for small and little sins, but for great and gross ones-not only for one or two, but for all-not for subdued and extinguished sins, but for unconquered, strong, and powerful ones. THE POWER OF TRUTH. Extract from Dalton's "What is Truth?” THERE is a might in truth which is too strong for death; there is a force in truth which lives when all else is dead. The death of the just is the great test of truth. If truth can soothe the last pangs of life, and shed forth beams of light and joy round the head of the saint as he sinks in the grave— can aught else do it? If it tells us that the dead are blest who sleep in Christ—if gales from a world more pure and bright than this breathe round the bed of death, and lays which are not of this world are heard, and a chant, how soft the notes, how sweet the words no tongue of man can tell; it these waft the soul from this scene of sin and woe; if the saint of God can say to those who crowd round his bed, "Weep not for me;" and if the wife who bends down at his sick couch can feel and say, "Thine the bliss, but mine the pain ;"-can aught else but TRUTH do all this? And is it not thus with the man who knows the truth? Yes, truth can-truth does do all this. Go to the bed of such a one, and watch there; see his cheek wax pale and his eye grow dim, when the slow heave of the pulse and the cold sweat on the brow tell the sad tale that his sand has run out to the last few grains, his sun gone down the sky, and that his days on earth are at an end. As death comes near, does he shrink? No; but his mind grows more calm, his heart more pure, his will more bent to God's; his soul rests in sweet peace free from care, or want, or fear. Ask him from whence this peace flows; from what source does his hope and trust spring. He will tell you, Christ. Christ, as the God of truth. He knows that Christ is the God of truth, for he has found him so all through a long life. He has known no want since he took Christ for his God; his life has been such as to put Christ to the test; the gold thread of love, wove by God's own hand, has run through all the woof; and though his days have been dark at times, he has had the bright ray of hope to cheer him on his march. He knows that Christ I will not fail him now; he has his word for it that he will not, and that is all he needs, He feels he is with for his word is TRUTH. his God; he knows he is in the hands of one who loves him. His soul is safe, and he can cry, "O death, where is thy sting?" and feel that the grave will be to him but the door to bliss. THE POPE AND QUAKER. PUBLIC controversy from the press may be of standing use to the present and to future times. But wrangling altercations in private company seldom have much good effect: they resemble the Pope's interview with an English quaker, where neither received any good from the other.-The Quaker visited Rome, in order to convert the Pope. Being admitted to his presence, the Quaker thus accosted his holiness: "Friend, I come to tell thee that thou art antichrist, and the scarlet whore of Babylon." The Pope, who was a man of humour, answered: Friend, I am glad thou art come, as it gives me an opportunity of telling thee that thou art a most egregious heretic. Thou mayest think thyself well off that I do not put thee into the Inquisition, and burn thee to ashes. So, get thee back to thy own country while thou art safe and sound." Thus each left the other as he found him. The Pope would not believe himself to be antichrist, nor the Quaker deem himself a heretic. CABINET. The grand business of life is to think of the end of life, to seek spiritual life, to come to Christ who is the true life, to lay hold on eternal life. Whosoever has Christ cannot be poor: whoever wants Christ cannot be rich. He that makes light of small sins, is likely soon to fall into great ones. We cannot begin to lead a holy life till we first look to Christ for pardon of sin. If a man lives and dies a mere professor, he had better have lived and died a mere heathen. Christ suffered instead of sinners; we have remission of sin through faith in His blood. POETRY. THE CHRISTIAN PATRIOT. And seize the moment as it flies- Till all unite with heart and hand But with fresh ardour go- Arm'd with the Spirit's might, Till all obey his laws, And walk in truth's own lightTill all with heart and voice shall bring, Their grateful thanks to God their king. Strong in the cause of truth, Make now a noble stand; Form now a warlike band; With blackness overcast ; Their cause can never last; |