St. John, not indeed (for the reasons given by him) recording all the things said and done by our blessed Saviour, but selecting from them sufficient to convince even the doubting Jew, that Jesus was the Christ, and to guide each candid humble inquirer to the Saviour, to peace, and to heaven.

Earnestly did he hope that the result of that evening's proceedings would be, through the Divine blessing, productive of good to all who had been present: that they would separate without bitterness of feeling; that Protestants, filled with that charity which rejoiceth in the truth, would more prize their privileges, and pity and pray for those in error: and that Roman Catholics would be induced to investigate for themselves, and be led out of the mazes of error in which Popery would involve them into a knowledge and love of the truth, as the truth is in Jesus." The CHAIRMAN then addressed the Meeting. A vote of thanks was passed to the Lecturer, and the Meeting separated after singing the Doxology.

66

ANTICHRIST, THE MAN OF SIN. PAPISTS, and even many who are opposed to Popery, will not allow that the two distinct appellations-Antichrist, and the Man of Sin, have ever been made out to apply, in a clear, literal, and satisfactory manner to the Pope of Rome, individually or successively, in any way. But it appears to the writer that both terms can be made out to the common understanding of all to apply to the Tridentine Monarch, and to none else.

To begin with Antichrist,-There never was but one book, and there is only one book in the world that informs us, in several distinct records, of the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ from heaven, and after his appearance on earth, and subsequent ascension, gives a faithful account of his mission through the records of his apostles, evangelists, and disciples. Need I say that this book is the Bible? Had this book, then, been totally extirpated from the face of the earth (and many were

the attempts of the heathen of old to accomplish this), it follows, first, that this benign and merciful testimony of God to his creatures, would never have reached us as it has done; and secondly, even now were it possible to withdraw the glad tidings contained in this precious volume, the knowledge of the only true God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, would soon perish from the face of the earth. If this be conceded, and I do not see how it can be denied (for we find that the knowledge of the true God was soon lost, both before and after the flood), let us see if any man, or body of men, have directly and insidiously made the attempt in modern times (following the example of old of the almost deified Greeks and Romans by our modern esprits forts), to extirpate the Bible, or where that could not be done, to lessen its hold upon the human mind, and promulgate only just as much of it as suits their own selfish purposes, that is in garbled and false translations. We need not go far to prove incontestably this postulatum, for we have the public testimony of Popes in numerous documents, bulls, rescripts, encyclical letters, in evidence of this marvellous wickedness. In addition to which the burning of the Bible by and through the instrumentality of Popish priests in Ireland, in North and South America, in Spain, in Portugal, and various other countries, are notorious facts of too frequent occurrence.

In Austria, where unmitigated Popery bears sway, the Bible is utterly forbidden, even travellers (having Bibles) are obliged, on entering the Austrian dominions, to deliver them up to the police. This is the work of the Pope and his subject Prince Metternich at present.

In short, in every country under heaven where the Pope can exercise his cruel despotism, this best gift of God to man is hid from his eye.

Here, then, we have a power of which the world furnishes no example, claiming temporal and secular sway over the ancient city of Rome, and a considerable territory around, together with spiritual dominion over the whole earth, and the potentates thereof, doing all in his power to

destroy, prohibit, stultify, or corrupt the only " CREDENTIALS OF THAT DIVINE AMBASSADOR FROM GOD, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS."

"Is not this Antichrist?

The proof is complete,
The Pope is Antichrist."

"By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. vii. 16), are the words of Christ himself.

In further proof it may be here remarked that the line of Popes from the first have been, with few exceptions, the most worldly, the most ambitious, and the most licentious of

men.

Secondly, as to the fearful designation in Scripture, the "Man of Sin." I would beg to put a question to my readers. If an individual were to appear, claiming Divine authority, affirming that he stood in the position of God to man on earth, and that he, a human being, was invested with power from the Almighty to forgive his fellow-mortals all manner of sin; that he, with numerous successors also treading in his steps, were enabled, in the course of ages, to persuade a great portion of the human race of the truth of these dogmas, and averring, that in addition he possessed the power of permitting them to indulge in every sensuality, and to perpetrate every, the most heinous crimes, for a certain amount in gold and silver proportioned to the enormity of the offence, of which offence he was to be both the judge as to degree of crime, and the amount of fine to be paid,*

* The pretence made for issuing indulgences and licenses to commit crimes for money is, that the proceeds go to the building of churches. No doubt part is so applied, but can the pure God receive an offering from such an impure source? It cannot but be an abomination in his sight. Even now we see the cathedral at Cologne rising its lofty pinnacles from such contributions, together with money derived from the lying stories of monks, regarding the coat of Treves, &c., &c., and "Oh, tell it not in Gath," a large sum swells the list from a Protestant Monarch, from a British Queen!!! Our Monarch can do no wrong; who were her advisers to the act? Did nothing else let or prevent this their application of the national wealth of a Protestant realm, the fate of James the Second, and Charles the Tenth (of France), might have operated as a caveat, as well as the spirit of the Coronation Oath.

Stand forth, thou potentate of Rome. Thou, who hast literally sold licences by ship-loads and by cart-loads, by wholesale and by retail, for the commission of every enormity,-stand forth, I say, and plead guilty,

THOU POPE OF ROME,

to the charge undeniably proved† against thee, to wit, that thou art the Man of Sin, especially designated in the second chapter 2 Thess. 3, 4.

Mr. Editor, It would be easy to give illustrations and examples further confirmatory of the truths abovementioned, usque ad nauseam, but I am apprehensive of trespassing too far on your valuable columns; should any one, however, communicate to you a disbelief or doubt of the facts, inferences, and application of documents cited (should you kindly give

+ It is narrated by a British circumnavigator (more than a hundred years ago), that during the Spanish war, a capture was made of a large Spanish merchantman literally laden with Popish indulgences, from the mother country going to Spanish America. The vessel was taken into port, and the British vessel requiring that her bottom should be looked at, and breamed (as it is technically called), that is, applying a flame to the wood before rubbing on the tar, the said lading was used for that purpose, and the Pope's precious paper for once was turned to a useful end. So much for ship-loads of lies; and for cart-loads, as an example, we may refer to Tetzel (coeval with the pious, and magnanimous, and honest Luther), who gave unwillingly the sanction of his own seal and signature, that a priest might be robbed, making the penalty, however, a good round sum, which he himself received, and a few days thereafter, going on a mercantile and sinindulgent speculation, was eased of the whole, the produce of many cart-loads, by the person who played him off, in his own coin, to wit, robbing and cheating.

MANCHESTER ELECTION.-The Protestant Committee have published the following handbill:- "FellowProtestants. Having called forth from those who ask your vote an expression of opinion on what we consider to be the vital question at issue, even whether further concessions are to be made to the Church of Rome ("concessions," we say, for we hold that the entire course of truckling policy latterly pursued towards that Church, has been nothing less but a series of concessions won by agitation and yielded by weakness), we now think it our duty to inform you, that we look upon all the replies as so unsatisfactory, that we cannot advise you to support any of the present candidates least of all, Lord Lincoln. We did fondly hope that we should be able to support his Lordship as a member of the National Church, and the son of one whose

name is illustrious for his uncompromising Protestantism; but we have been bitterly disappointed; how ever we may admire the candour of his Lordship's avowal, we are obliged to say, that we should deeply deplore his success, because it would be looked upon as a sanction on the part of this great constituency of a measure which we regard as alike false in principle, and fatal in policy. For our own part, if such were the alternative, we would rather be misrepresented by an avowed Chartist, than by a man who hoists Conservative colours only to betray them. The good sense of the nation would make the one powerless, its credulity would make the other dangerous. (Signed,

on behalf of the Protestant Committee), HUGH STOWELL, President.

ROMISH SUPERSTITION. To those who speak of the intelligence of the nineteenth century having altered the nature of Popery, we recommend the following short paragraph from the "Catholic Directory" for 1847:"A LIBERAL INDUCEMENT.-An advertisement in the 'Dublin Review,'

referring to the Popish Missionary College at Drumcondra, applies the following stimulus to the piety of the faithful :—“The holy sacrifice of the mass is offered up every morning for all the subscribers and benefactors, living and dead, and for their intentions; they will, moreover, be entitled to a participation in the merit of all the apostolic labours, conversions, masses, prayers, and other good works, which may be the fruit of this institution, throughout the world, to the end of time.""

POPERY.-It hath a restless spirit, and will strive by these gradations, viz. :-if it once get but a connivance, it will press for toleration; if that should be obtained, Papists must have an equality; from these they will aspire to superiority, and will never rest till they get a subversion of true religion.

CABINET.

TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST. The true knowledge of Christ alters and changes men, their judgment and

manners. It makes them as if made

again anew, and to consume the works which they before esteemed and judged to be good works. The believer prefers Christ, and the knowledge of him, above all riches or treasures of this world, showing us that it is better for us to be without all worldly riches than without Christ and his Word.

There is no getting to heaven as our home, but by Christ as our way.

Your Church, will ye not defend her?

Protestants, can ye tamely stand,

And your dearest rights surrender? Oh! think on the martyr's blood that flow'd

In the sacred cause of freedom, Think on the martyr-fires that glow'd, And then think who decreed them. Up! up! unite-rise all as one,

Up! if your bonds you'd sever; Quit ye like men, and the work is done

Sleep on, and they're fast for ever. Remember, it is for God's own Word; Speak out as ye love or fear it: A nation's voice, oh, it will be heard, And your rulers they must hear it. Oh! heed not party, where dupes and knaves

Will betray, as they have betray'd

you,

Look to yourselves, or live on, the slaves

Which they and yourselves have

made you.

It is written, Put not in man your trust,

Nor in princes-they shall fail you, Trust ye in God when your cause is just,

For He can, and He will, avail you. Choose men who but one straight path have trod,

Whose deeds and whose lives have shown it;

Who know no fear but the fear of God,

And are not asham'd to own it.

Say, ere ye send them forth to make

The laws that henceforth shall sway us,

One only pledge would we have you

take,

And it is-That you'll not betray us. Say, "Tell ye this to the powers that be,

Rome once with her grasp has curs'd us,

But never again—we will live free In the one pure faith that nurs'd

us.

Take what ye list-take land, take gold,

Take all, if the State shall need it, But the Bible-that to the death we'll hold,

For our sons' sons they shall read it."

Do this, and a rescu'd realm's applause

Shall be yours, tho' its rulers fail you:

Do it not, and the guilt of a ruin'd

cause

Shall, even in death, assail you. Then up in the name of God! up, all! Up now for your country's altars! A nation's curse for a nation's fall Shall cling to the slave that falters.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

A Wonderful and Horrible Thing! Lying Prophets, Usurping Priests, and a Consenting People, combined to bring back Popery into England. The substance of a Sermon preached at Walcot Church, Bath, on Thursday, November 5, 1846. By the Rev. PETER HALL, M.A., Rector of Milston, Wilts, and Minister of St. Thomas's Chapel, Bath. London: Whittaker and Co. Bath: Binns and Goodwin.

HAVING commented at length upon the various matters suggested by that portion of Scripture from which the text was taken, Jeremiah v. 30, 31, and taken a review of many important points, the Reverend Preacher thus concludes by exhorting Proin this crisis in the history of their testants to act up to their privileges Church and country:

"What, after all, may be the end thereof, as regards the institutions of our country, political, social, and religious, God only knows. I would hope the best: but I cannot help also fearing the worst. The word of prophecy informs me, that, though it be but for a season, the Antichrist of the Popedom will again rise and reign. And the signs of the times convince me, that the nations are

already preparing to give their power to the Beast. I fear the destruction of Protestantism, and I fear the restoration of Popery, as a national institution. For the Church, as by law established, I fear the blind leading the blind, till both fall into the ditch; I fear the timid and the timeserving given over to strong delusions to believe a lie; I fear the light extinguished, and the candlestick removed from its place. But for the body of God's elect, redeemed and sanctified in Christ Jesus, I fear nothing. Dark as the night, or dreary as the road may be, God will strengthen them to fight the good fight of faith, and make them conquerors, and more than conquerors, through Him that loved them.

"Beloved, your privileges are great: you have the Gospel of Jesus Christ faithfully preached in your churches, and brought home to your very doors. But as your privileges are, so are your responsibilities and obligations. What will you do? For myself I am resolved what to do, to live, and labour, and, if need be, to die, in this most glorious cause, the maintenance of the truth of God, and of the liberty of the people of God, against the lies and usurpations of Rome, however and wherever they appear.

But what will you do? Begin by giving yourselves to the Lord. Believe, obey the Gospel. Grow in grace. Strive against sin. Watch and pray. Ask God, What wilt thou have me to do? and whatever He shows you as the work of duty, do it, while it is called to-day.

"We must go back to the principles of the Reformers. Till we have done that, we can do nothing for our Church and country. But that is not enough: we must do more. Having gone back, we must go forward. They stopped, because they had done all they could. They were hindered from advancing, some by the constraints of policy, some by the pressure of opinion, some by death. The principles of the Reformation are the principles of truth, and will last for ever; but the acts and deeds of the Reformers came short. The Reformation itself still wants reform

ing; not in its spirit, but in many of its details, especially as bearing on the state and posture of the Church. Whom will God call to such a work as this? Blessed be he among men! Though chosen, it may be, like David, from the lowest and the humblest, he shall lead the thoughts and actions of the noblest: and neither Luther nor Melancthon, Calvin nor Zwingle, Cranmer nor Ridley, Knox nor Melvill, shall be deemed more worthy the admiration of the wise, or more happy in the favour and reward of God. Here, in the city of Bath, let the Reformation of the Nineteenth Century begin: but here it must not end. Scotland is ready: Ireland is ready: the Continent of Europe is ready: the isles of the South, and of the East, and of the West are all ready. Creation groans together. How long, O Lord, how long? Awake, thou that sleepest! Be strong, be bold, be resolute! And do your diligence, every one of you, to your country as Englishmen, to your Church as Protestants, and to your God as Christians."

Monastic Institutions; their Origin, Progress, Nature, and Tendency. By the Rev. SAMUEL PHILLIPS DAY, formerly a "Religious" of the Order of the Presentation : Author of "Rome's Intolerance; or, the Anti-Christian Spirit of the Papacy Delineated." With an Introduction, by the Rev. C. H. MINCHIN, A.M., Chaplain to the Lying-in-Hospital, Dublin. London: James Nisbet and Co., Bernersstreet. Manchester: Fletcher and Tubbs, Cross-street. Pp. 232.

THE accuracy of the statements contained in this book, must rest on the responsibility of the author. We have personally conversed with him, and the work is commended by the notices of many well-qualified to form an opinion on the subject.

The Dean of Leighlin states it to be a highly interesting and instructive book.

Its readers will no doubt find it such, and we are glad to see works appearing, and gaining a wide circu