PREFACE.

EACH closing year tends to confirm the truth of our assertion, that concessions to Popery will be made in vain. Whether made on our part from a consciousness of power or weakness, they are equally unprincipled in their policy and unsatisfactory in their results.

As the grasping usurer rises in his demand just in proportion to the real, or fancied need, or prospects of the spendthrift, so the Church of Rome, imagining the concessions made to have proceeded from a sense of weakness on our part, has regarded them all as homage to her own power, and made each favour conferred the cause for fresh demands.

We must oppose these. To concede them, were to concede what we ought most resolutely to maintain. We must oppose unitedly, individually-publicly and privately-actively and prayerfully. Organized opposition is needful on our part, to meet and cope with the organized aggression of Romanists.

Ours is the cause of truth and Scripture. Ours will be the cause triumphant at the last. We have need for increased prayer, and increased activity; and whilst we have much cause for gratitude as to the past, shall rejoice to see throughout the year upon which we are about by the Divine permission to enter, increased determination evinced on behalf of our fellow-countrymen to uphold a cause which many of their ancestors shed their blood to plant and establish amongst us.

We subjoin the fundamental Resolutions upon which the Protestant Association was originally based, with the Rules and Regulations upon which its proceedings have been conducted. As one of the organs of that Society, we feel we are acting within our assigned sphere, no less than discharging a public duty, in urging upon our readers to take a more active part in the work, carried on through so many years of difficulty, by the instrumentality of that Institution, than hitherto they have done.

This they may readily effect. Great works, especially in the present day, are performed, not by the energies of one man, but by the united efforts of the many. Yet multitudes, we believe, stand aloof, not from being opposed to us; not from apathy; not from a sense of inability to do anything; but because, comparing what they think they can do, with what they perceive ought to be done, they allow themselves to be led away with the delusive idea, that their quota is so small, that there is no practical need for activity on their part.

We wish to see this illusion dissipated, and all our friends lending a helping hand in this hour of our Church and country's peril.

We have many readers who are neither subscribers nor donors to the Protestant Association. Yet if they look to the vast efforts made by Romanists in this day to reduce all to a state of obedience to Rome; if they consider the great sacrifices of wealth, and of personal ease made to propagate Romish error, they will perceive we have indeed some fresh inducement for new and increased activity on their part, to defend, uphold, advance the cause of Protestantism, which is the cause of Primitive, Scriptural, Apostolical Christianity.

We are not content to be stationary. Truth like light is aggressive. We are not simply to defend our own outposts. We ought to make inroads and advances upon the powers of darkness. But it is not only by becoming subscribers to the "Parent Society," that good may be effected. To organize new Societies in important localities; to renovate and strengthen those in existence; to aid in the circulation of papers and periodicals; and to maintain an efficient organization, through which those may from time to time be returned to Parliament, who are determined to uphold the Protestant cause, and give a scriptural tone to the policy of our Church and nation:—these are yet more important objects.

May our Protestant friends and readers, through the ensuing year, be blessed from above, with grace, wisdom, energy, and love, adequate to the demands and dangers of the approaching crisis!

FUNDAMENTAL RESOLUTIONS

OF THE

PROTESTANT

ASSOCIATION,

Established 1835,

IN DEFENCE OF THE PROTESTANT INSTITUTIONS OF THE EMPIRE
IN CHURCH AND STATE.

I. That the influence of true religion over a people, forms the best security for their individual rights, and the surest basis of national prosperity.

II. That the British Constitution acknowledges, in its principles and laws, the sovereignty of ALMIGHTY GOD, and the Supreme Authority of his Holy Word, and has provided for the scriptural instruction of the people by its religious Establishments.

III. That in opposition to this principle of the Constitution, doctrines have of late been promulgated, that religion is unconnected with the duties of legislation,—that in the eye of the State all religions are alike—and that support should be equally given, or denied to all.

IV. That under cover of these doctrines, the members of the Church of Rome are zealously exerting themselves to destroy the Protestant character of the Constitution, and that the first object to which they direct their efforts, is the overthrow of the Established Churches, as forming the main obstacle to their ulterior designs.

V. That to counteract these efforts, all who venerate the Word of GOD, and value the British institutions, should be

called on to co-operate in pointing out to the people the peculiar dangers of the present times, and in taking measures to inspire them with a just sense of the benefits and blessings of the Protestant Constitution.

RULES.

I. That the Association be under the direction of a President, Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, and a Committee not exceeding twenty-five, who shall have the power of appointing Secretaries.

II. That Annual Subscribers of Ten Shillings and upwards, and Donors of Five Guineas and upwards, assenting to the Fundamental Resolutions, be Members of the Association.

III. That a General Meeting of the Association shall be held at least once in every year.

IV. That the Committee be chosen annually out of the Members of the Association.

V. That the Office-bearers be, ex-officio, Members of the Committee.

VI. That the accounts of the Association be audited annually, by three Auditors, to be appointed at the Annual Meeting.

VII. That the Committee, of whom five shall be a quorum, shall have power to regulate all matters relating to their own Meetings, or those of the Association, to fill up vacancies in their body, and generally to conduct and manage the affairs and funds of the Association.