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stated that they would sooner die than see Popery established in Ireland. (Great cheers.) He (Mr. Gregg) was not the man either to approve of violence, or to advise it, and there was nothing that he should expect less from than from the encounter of battalions in a religious war. But he should have little hope for Ireland if he did not believe that there were thousands of Protestants who would take up the language of the men of Fermanagh, and in the spirit of martyrs resolve to provoke death in the most painful form, rather than tamely allow idolatry to be made the national religious profession of Ireland. (Applause.) The Reverend Gentleman, at great length, urged his views upon the Meeting, and concluded by moving the adoption of the Resolution. It was then passed unanimously.

SIMON ARMSTRONG, Esq., D.L. J.P., was then called to the chair, and the best thanks of the Meeting given to the Rev. Mr. Montgomery. The whole assembly then joined in singing the hymn, "Babylon is fallen," and then quietly adjourned to their

homes.

66

MISCELLANEOUS.

THE NEW POPE, and Dr. WOLFF.Dr. Wolff, in a letter to a friend, says, 'It is curious that the present Pope when only Conte Farretti was my fellow-pupil in the Collegio Romano at Rome, from the year 1816 to 1817, when I went over to the Propaganda. He is an amiable, zealous, talented, shrewd, pious, and liberal gentleman, and it is therefore to be hoped that he has transferred these qualities from the simple Conte Farretti to the throne of Pius IX."

Thus goes the world. One of two students, on almost equal ground, becomes a 66 Sovereign Pontiff," the other, though filling the world with his name, is the humble vicar of the small parish of Isle Brewers, in a retired part of the county of Somerset, where, however, he has the secret reward of ministering to the spiritual wants of an attached congregation, anxious to be taught.

SECESSION.-The Rev. J. G. Wenham, B.A., demy of Magdalen College,

is announced as having apostatized to the Church of Rome. He was recently sent out to Columbo, as chaplain; his Romanistic opinions were well known previous to his departure from England.

Amongst the topics of congratulation connected with the resignation of the Peel Administration, will be the removal, we trust, of the unprotestant staff accumulated at the Colonial Office, which we know has operated most unfavourably in the appointments to the Colonial Church.-Church and State Gazette.

CONVERSIONS FROM ROMANISM. In St. Audeon's Church, last July 5, four persons renounced the errors of Romanism, in the usual way, in that church, and signed the renunciation roll. One of the converts, Mr. Hugh M'Clelland, had been a protege of the late Rev. Justin M'Namara, Father Maguire's chairman in the Gregg discussion, and was intended for the priesthood in the Church of Rome; but he has now shaken off the yoke of Rome for ever, and embraced the pure faith of the early Irish Church. The Rev. G. Trevennick, Rector of Ballyshannon, read prayers on the solemn occasion, and the Rev. Thomas Scott administered the form of abjuration to the converts, and afterwards preached from the following words:-1 Chron. xxviii. 9, "And thou, Solomon, my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind, for the Lord searcheth our hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever."

Our readers may judge the amount of scriptural information that some of the converts have who occasionally renounce Popery in that Church, by the following fact: Thomas Kerr, a parishioner of St. Audeon's, educated in the schools of the parish, and a convert, obtained the first premium in the highest class, at an examination held in St. Mary's Church, on the 17th ult., by the Society for promoting "the Christian Religion, and the Knowledge of the Gospel."-Dublin Statesman.

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BRIDPORT.-REVIVAL OF POPERY. On Thursday last the Romish Chapel, situate at the back of the town, in the parish of Bradpole, was opened for public worship with all the gorgeous paraphernalia and pompous ceremony characteristic of the apostate Church of Rome. "High mass was of course performed on the occasion, in Latin, the (sham) bishop of the diocese or district, in full canonicals, being assisted therein by several Popish priests from Devon, Somerset, and different parts of this county. The sermon (in English) was preached by the aforesaid bishop, from the text-"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind-and thy neighbour as thyself." This was rather bold for one of the heads of a Church whose fundamental article is, that "out of its own pale there is no salvation!" The chapel was densely crowded in every part, chiefly by Protestants (!) of Bridport and its neighbourhood; several of whom, not being "incense proof," were obliged to leave for a purer atmosphere before the "mass was ended, notwithstanding a plentiful supply of "holy water" was at hand. The " mariolatry" of this church, image-worship, &c., was prudently kept for another opportunity by the preacher, whose sermon seemed to have pleased his Protestant hearers; they having, as is reported, contributed very liberally on the occasion! Vespers were chanted in the evening, and a Romish priest, from Birmingham (it is said), addressed a crowded audience of the same description as that of the morning, and with the like success! No new converts (or rather perverts) from Protestantism have as yet been publicly announced; whilst the novelty of the services on the one hand, and the want of sufficient accommodation for the parishioners at the Established Church on the other (so frequently adverted to in our columns), will, it is to be feared, ultimately induce some inconsiderate and lukewarm Protestants to spend a portion of their Sundays, at least, in a place where the poison of Popery will be cautiously though insidiously instilled

into their minds. Parents, guardians, and teachers of youth, among Protestants of all denominations, cannot be too circumspect and vigilant over those intrusted to their care in this respect.

ROME IDOLATROUS.-It is not the private opinion only of some particular and forward men in their zeal and heat against Popery, thus to accuse it of idolatry; but it is the deliberate, and sober, and downright charge of the Church of England, of which no honest man can be a member and a minister who does not make and believe it.-Archbishop Wake, in Gibson, vol. ii., p. 339.

CHURCH EXTENSION. THE CHURCH OF ROME'S RUMOURED DESIGNS.-Among the rumours respecting the spiritual measures now in contemplation, is one that the English hierarchy, in connexion with the Church of Rome, is to be increased from its present number of six bishops to the full complement of two archbishops and twenty-two bishops. The object of this provident scheme is, to make suitable berths for the members of Mr. Newman's party, who have already forsaken the Ânglican schism, and for those who are expected to follow their example. England is also to be favoured in the next distribution of cardinal's hats. Lord Clifford, son-in-law of the late Cardinal Weld, is about, we believe, to be raised to that dignity. As his Lordship is a Peer of the realm, a curious question in Parliamentary etiquette may possibly arise out of his elevation, viz,, is his Eminence, the Lord Cardinal Clifford, to to take precedence of his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury? The Lords, we know, are guided in the internal arrangements of their House by their own precedents. The last Cardinal who sat in the House was Cardinal Pole; and should no rule to the contrary appear in their Lordships' Journals, Cardinal Clifford's position in the House, will, in the ordinary course of Parliament, be the same as that occupied by his predecessor in the reign of Queen Mary. -Atlas.

POPERY PRODUCTIVE OF INFIDE-
Having," says the Rev.

LITY.

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ELIZABETH.

FRIENDS of the truth, daughters of
Britain weep,

For one who loved you lies in death's
cold sleep;

No more the lifeless clay feels joy or pain,

Nor shall the feeble pulse ere throb again.

Cold is that heart which late so warmly glow'd,

Silent that pen which late so freely flowed;

Yes, mourn, a friend, a faithful sister dead,

Blanco White, “to preach, in the execution of my office, to the Royal ON THE DEATH OF CHARLOTTE Brigade of Carabiniers who came to worship the body of St. Ferdinand, preserved in the King's Chapel (sic!), I chose the subject of Infidelity, on which I delivered an elaborate discourse. But the fatal crisis was at hand. At the end of a year from the preaching of this sermon, I was bordering on Atheism. If my case were singular; if my knowledge of the most enlightened classes of Spain did not furnish me with a multitude of sudden transitions, from sincere faith and piety, to the most outrageous Infidelity, I would submit to the humbling conviction, that either weakness of judgment or fickleness of character had been the only source of my errors. But, though I am not at liberty to mention individual cases, I do attest, from the most certain knowledge, that the history of my own mind is, with little variation, that of A GREAT PORTION OF THE SPANISH CLERGY. The FACT is certain. I make no individual charge. Every one who comes within this general description may still wear the mask, which no Spaniard can throw off without bidding an eternal farewell to his country."-Practical and Intern. Evid. against Cathol. pp. 7, 8.

CABINET.

FAITH AND LOVE. - Nothing is better than peace, whereby all war is destroyed, both of things in heaven and things on earth. Nothing of this is hid from you if ye have perfect faith in Jesus Christ, and love, which are the beginning and the end of life. Faith is the beginning, love the end; and both being joined in one are of God. All other things pertaining to perfect holiness follow: for no man that hath faith sinneth, and none that hath love hateth any man. - St. Ig

natius.

JOY AND SORROW.-Sorrows, by being communicated, become less, and joys greater; sorrow, like a stream, loses itself in many channels, and joy, like a ray of the sun, reflects with a greater ardour and quickness when it rebounds upon a man from the breast of his friend.- South.

Yet joy to think her ransom'd soul has

fled

To that bright world where joys perennial flow,

Beyond the reach of sin, dark source

of woe.

Rejoice to think on those blest words,

"Well done!"

With which her Master calls her
spirit home.

Thrice blessed hope! thrice blessed
Gospel, hail!

The peace thou giv'st not ev'n in
death shall fail.

How bright thy light which cheers the silent grave,

How great the love of Him who died

to save;

And oh! how dark, how blighting falls the sound,

Which, like the whirlwind, scatters on the ground

The

hope that sweetly dries the mourner's tear,

And calms to silence every throbbing fear,

That ere the much-loved form in death grows cold,

Its

spirit shall the Saviour's face behold.

How dread the sound of that abode of gloom,

More dark, more dismal, than the silent tomb :

Where ransom'd souls must penal fires endure,

And thus be made from sin's pollu

tion pure.

Did Jesus die that those who love his

name

Should burn and writhe in Purgatorial flame?

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Lectures on the Prophecies, proving the Divine Origin of Christianity: delivered in the Chapel of the Hon. Society of Lincoln's Inn, on the Foundation of the late Bishop Warburton.-By ALEXANDER M'CAUL, D.D., Professor of Divinity in King's College, and Prebendary of St. Paul's. London: 1846, pp. 171. John W. Parker, West Strand. THESE are lectures on a portion of Holy Writ which it appears to us is not sufficiently brought forward in these days.

Science may delight the intellectual, but intellect, whilst it will not be

clouded by religion, will be sanctified, hallowed, and improved by it.

Intellect, unsanctified by religion, is one characteristic of the lost spirits. Intellect, pervaded by the hallowed influences of a pure religion, conduces at once to the utility and happiness of He can then best render to his Maker a reasonable service.

men.

The lectures before us invite, and will receive, attention, as all the productions of Dr. M'Caul must do.

It is, however, to the last two that our attention has been more especially given, because they treat on a subject which has ever occupied our earnest thoughts.

The subject of these two lectures is, the fulfilment of the New Testament prophecies in the history of the Roman Church.

In Lecture VI. the following important passages occur. "The very words marked out by the apostles: 'Mother of harlots' is that which

Rome adopts as her distinctive title--a title necessarily distinctive; for there cannot be many mothers. One Church, and one Church alone, can lay claim to maternity. The Church of Rome declares she is that one, the only Church that ever pretended and righteous judgment of God to be the universal mother. O just upon her presumption ! O merciful dispensation of an all-wise Providence! O marvellous and judicial blindness of usurping Rome, that led her to adopt not only the character, but the very word specified by the Holy Spirit as the characteristic of the false and faithless Church, the pretender to catholicity. In her most solemn, her peculiar profession of faith, she calls herself the Mother of Churches, and their boasted uniformity of faith, and uniformity of worship, proclaims them to be harlots like herself. She is mother of harlots, and mother of their abominations. She claims to be, and they acknowledge her, as the centre of their unity, and the source of their doctrine. Thus far, then, the pseudo-catholicity of Rome proves that St. John was a true prophet. All that he has predicted concerning her idolatry and her diffusiveness has been fulfilled. We can compare what we now see with

what the prophet wrote, and the evidence of our senses will prove the Divine inspiration of the prediction. But there is another feature still so dreadful, so revolting, so unlike Christianity, as to cause some hesitation, or even to raise a doubt of the correctness of the prophetic picture, or, at least, of the propriety of the application. “St. John goes on to say, I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.' Is it possible that any community, calling itself Christian, and professing faith in the meek and merciful Jesus, should be found imbruing its hands in the blood even of idolaters or persecutors? Is it conceivable that any Church, even of heretics, not to speak of that society which calls itself the Church, the true Church, the only spouse and bride of Christ, should have to answer for the blood of the saints, and of the martyrs of Jesus. The wildest imagination could never have fancied anything more abhorrent from the spirit of Christianity. The feverish dreams of the wicked could hardly produce an image more unworthy of the Gospel. And yet it has been pourtrayed by the pencil of inspiration. St. John presents the picture of an idolatrous and pseudo-Catholic Church glutted with the blood of true and faithful Christians, and history bears witness that it is no phantom of a diseased imagination, but sober and dreadful truth."

INTELLIGENCE.

NAPLES.-Funeral Oration on

the late Pope.-The Débats publishes the following letter from Naples of the 7th of July:"The honours paid here to the memory of the late Pope were marked by an incident which is much spoken of. The duty of delivering the funeral oration had been confided to Monsignor Luca, Bishop of Aversa, a man of great talent. The Nuncio had sent him word that

the diplomatic corps was to be present, and had recommended him to avoid everything that could give offence, but being confined at the time to his bed by indisposition, the Nuncio had not ascertained what the Bishop intended to say. The orator, after his exordium, which embraced the whole universe, exposed the plan of his address. He commenced with France, and spoke of the commotions to which she had been exposed; deplored the scandal caused by the Eglise Française of the Abbé Châtel, and the errors of the Abbé Lamennais; and spoke of the support which, after so many trials, the Pope had found in the religious sentiments of the country, and in the virtues and piety of the King. He then proceeded to speak of Prussia, and alluded to the persecution of the Bishop of Cologne, and, in the presence of the Minister of Prussia, he declared that the late King had been punished by God; he concluded, however, by an eulogium on the present King. Russia came next. He commenced by calling the Emperor the modern Tamerlane ; stigmatized with great energy the persecution of the Catholics and the Poles: and then alluding to the interview between the northern despot and the late Pope, called Gregory XIV., another St. Leo, arresting in his nefarious designs the new Attila; and all this in presence of the Russian Minister! Spain, Portugal, and England

were treated with the same consideration; but what was strange is, that not a word was said relative to Aus

tria; Prussia and Russia had all the

honours of his attack. It is said that

the Ministers of these two Powers demanded explanations from the Nuncio, and received an assurance that he had no previous knowledge of the address. However, it is certain that this grave attack from a man so high in the Church has caused a great sensation."

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