tions of the Vatican and Capitol museums, and the finest engravings of the Calcografia Camerale, splendidly bound. On the 4th, the King of Portugal arrived in Naples, on board a French Government steamer. The reception was of the grandest and most flattering description. All Naples was there to witness the landing. Mr. Oakeley, the Minister of Cardinal Wiseman's model church at Islington, styles himself, in his published works and official documents, "Rector of St. John the Evangelist, Islington, and Canon of the Metropolitan Chapter." This is another step in the onward march of Popery. It is understood that on the day of the Nativity the Pope will proclaim in full Consistory the creation of a new Order-the Order of the Immaculate Conception.-Record, Aug. 22. Notices of Books. Glimpses of Jesus; or, Christ Exalted in the Affections of his People. By W. P. BALFOUR. Second Edition. London: John Farquhar Shaw, 27, Paternoster-row. 1855. 8vo. Pp. 251. "To know Him." The great Apostle of the Gentiles desired this, above all created good. The Church militant must attain unto this knowledge here, or in vain may they hope to form the Church triumphant in heaven. Jesus must be, aye! He assuredly is, to the believer wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. In our day, knowledge of all kinds is "increased." The Gospel of Christ is doubtless spreading "for a witness among all nations; but it especially behoves all who have enjoyed the privilege of hearing of Jesus, to search their own hearts whether they really exalt Christ in their affections. He is, as Mr. Balfour remarks, at page 39, The "A precious cabinet of truth; it is the office of love and humility to lift the lid; the schools of this world not being possessed of either, Christ has often stood in their midst, as among the Jewish rabbins, unknown. ancient doctors had the letter of truth, and this was their plaything. They were more familiar with sounds than with sense. They thought more of words than ideas. They counted the letters of the law, but knew not its meaning; and lost the mind of God, through leaning to the comments of their brethren. Men may have much to do with religion, without being religious; and know much of the letter of truth, while destitute of its spirit. The men who had read the most about Christ, knew least about Him; and he who looks for the pearl of great price through the eyes of others, shall never find it. Commentators may be used, but should never take the place of the Great Teacher, nor should their comments fill the place of truth." "Men may write well upon the history of Christ, who know not the mystery of Christ; but even when both history and mystery are known, none may be followed implicitly; for the strongest minds are often leaky, and the clearest intellect in some things, may point the wrong way." 66 Learning, without grace, does but becloud the intellect, and often makes the light which streams direct from heaven appear as darkness.” The publication before us is rich in valuable remarks; and we feel that we can cordially recommend it. To insist upon the importance of an " open Bible" for all would seem almost superfluous in the nineteenth century; yet are there thousands who would have it a sealed book. At page 93, we find a chapter upon the passage Luke iv. 17-19, Christ, in the synagogue, expounding the prophet Esaias. The whole chapter is worthy of attention. We give a short extract, p. 95: "While speaking of Himself, Jesus conducts to the Word: He was not anxious to be seen simply, but to be seen through the truth to be heard; but his voice must be the echo of truth. Happy day for the Church, when all her teachers shall thus imitate her Lord, direct their hearers to the Word of God, and proclaim Him only to whom all the prophets gave witness." We would conclude by calling attention to one other part of our Lord's history, deeply interesting and instructive his discourse with the woman of Samaria-at p. 183, on the words, "Woman, believe me," &c. "How soon does the Great Teacher demolish her traditional religion, and write vanity upon the creed of her ancestors! "How faithfully he reproves her ignorance! 'Ye worship ye know not what.' "How many are there who make long pilgrimages to reach a certain building, to touch certain relics, to hear certain sounds, to gaze upon certain men, to participate in certain said, The true worshipper shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.""" The active spirit of the age renders caution necessary. We may be active in carrying on good works, and be yet destitute of spiritual life. Our author reminds us, at p. 113, that "It is not by fitful starts of activity that we discover the healthiness of the organs of natural life, but by their continued activity; and it is not by a few occasional groans, sobs, or sighs, that we discover the healthiness of spiritual life, but by the presence of the spirit of habitual prayer." Intelligence. BOYLE v. "L'UNIVERS."-The Rev. Mr. Boyle has recently brought an action in the French Courts against the newspaper "L'Univers," with a twofold object; namely, in the first instance, to compel the Editor of that journal to place in the hands of a notary public the original letter, the translation of which was published in its columns on the 23d of May, 1854, and which translation, subsequently published in this country, constituted the ground of action which the Rev. Gentleman brought against the Cardinal in England. The second object of the proceedings in France was to recover 25,000 francs by way of damages, for the injury the plaintiff has sustained in his character by the publication of the said letter. The French Courts decided against Mr. Boyle, who is thereby saddled with all the costs of the proceedings. The defendant's paper, "L'Univers," in alluding to the trial, says, "Our own position is clear in this matter. Personally we have no contest with Mr. Boyle; and, as our learned counsel said upon the trial, we were ready to comply with his wishes as to the production of the letter if he could have obtained the consent of the Cardinal to his demand. The cause tried at Paris presents no other interest than as an incident in the cause (vide page 292,) now standing for trial at the Croydon Assizes, that trial being the third time the matter has been brought under the consideration of a jury in England." The "Univers" then goes on to say: "This time the evidence of the Rev. Mr. Ivers, which at the last assizes was sufficient to lead to the loss of the Cardinal's cause, will have no weight on behalf of the plaintiff, on account of the affidavits which have been filed in the Court of Exchequer, completely invalidating the testimony of that witness.' DR. WISEMAN AND THE REV. MR. BOYLE.-CROYDON ASSIZES, AUG. 13. -This morning the Court at Croydon was densely crowded, chiefly by per sons from London, who were attracted by an announcement that the case of " Boyle v. Wiseman," which has become so familiar to the public, would be tried for the third time. Mr. Oakeley and a large number of Roman Catholic priests were present, while Dr. Worthington and several other clergymen who sympathise with Mr. Boyle attended for the purpose of watching the proceedings. Before the Court assembled, Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., and Mr. Wordsworth, representing Mr. Boyle; and Mr. Serjeant Shee, Mr. Bramwell, Q.C., and Mr. Badeley, representing Dr. Wiseman, had a lengthened consultation, when it transpired that although the case had been specially fixed for this morning, several of Mr. Boyle's chief witnesses were abroad and in Ireland, and that it would be damaging to his case to proIceed without them. Dr. Wiseman's counsel intimated an intention to nonsuit the plaintiff, but this course of proceeding was subsequently abandoned, it being shown that by such means the case would only be deferred, as Mr. Boyle would be in a position to go on with it at any time when his witnesses might be forthcoming. A proposition was then made by the counsel on behalf of the Doctor, that if Mr. Boyle would withdraw the record, Dr. Wiseman would consent to pay the costs of the two former actions and also of the one now pending. The counsel for Mr. Boyle appeared willing to accept this offer, if the Doctor would consent to add thereto an apology for the libels he had written and published reflecting on the plaintiff, and which led to the several actions. This was rejected by the Doctor's counsel, and after some further discussion it was agreed that the case should stand over during the day, and if no arrangement should be come to, be called up next morning. Of this, however, there is little chance, as it is generally understood that although the case is nominally postponed, it is in fact virtually settled that Dr. Wiseman will pay the costs that have been incurred, and the public will hear no more of the matter. It transpired afterwards that the terms were that the defendant is to pay 100l. towards the cost of the abortive trial at Guildford, and the whole of the taxed costs of the trial at Kingston and the present action. Thus has ended these proceedings. The costs to be paid, it was said, would amount to nearly 1,2001. The AMERICA.-NEW MOVEMENT AMONG ROMANISTS.-Americans who profess the Roman Catholic religion, and many foreigners, who feel that in that country the temporal power of the Pope should be thrown off, have evinced a determination to establish an American Catholic Church. feeling pervades not only the laymen, but the priests; and in New York a wish is expressed that some leading paper would call a Meeting of the intelligent and independent laity to organize a number of independent Catholic Churches in that city, who shall and will own and maintain their own Church, and call permanently a priest at their own charge, who shall, if he so will, "marry," and that the whole service of the Church shall be performed in the English language, and that members of the Church shall be allowed the Bible in their families, and such other improvements in the worship as this enlightened age demands. This is requested by a priest, and a number of them stand ready, as soon as congregations are organized, to accept the calls and all the offices when demanded. It is stated also, that fully two-thirds of the priests of that city are ready to revolt from under the tyranny of John Hughes (Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York), but dare not till the independent laity begin.-Record, Aug. 22. It is said that M. Lucien Buonaparte, son of the Prince de Canino, is to be made a cardinal at the next Consistory.-Record, Aug. 22. BOOKS RECEIVED. "The End." By Rev. Dr. Cumming. Shaw, Paternoster-row. "Select Works of Dr. Chalmers." Vol. V. Natural Theology. Constable and Co. "Sabbath Morning Readings on the Book of Numbers." By Rev. Dr. Cumming. London: J. F. Shaw. "Sunday at Home," &c., &c. Macintosh, Printer, Great New street, London. THE PROTESTANT MAGAZINE. OCTOBER 1, 1855. "FOREIGN CATHOLIC AFFAIRS." ROME Papal claims a jurisdiction as universal as that enjoyed in olden time by Pagan Rome. In the name of the meek and lowly Jesus, she demands the obedience of princes and people to her sway, or threatens temporal, not to say eternal vengeance to the disobedient. Christians, however, now, both at home and abroad, are becoming awakened to the hollowness of her pretensions, and the mischievous tendency of her domination. They would gladly shake off the yoke so long and so ignominiously placed upon the neck of Christendom, and enjoy a purer faith than Papal Rome has it in her power to bestow. If the nature of religion is to be decided by the effects which it produces upon men and nations, Popery stands selfcondemned. Not only is she weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and found wanting, but the kingdoms of the world rise up in judgment against her and condemn her; while that proud city from which have emanated decrees that have convulsed empires, trembles for her fate; and the miserable inhabitants ground down by superstition, oppression, and tyranny, and reduced almost to a state of beggary and starvation, turn with disgust from the Pope, and long for England to send them deliverance. Such are some of the results of a false religion. True religion is from the Almighty. It tends to his glory, and the welfare of mankind. The only written revelation vouchsafed in ancient time, by which a knowledge of the true God was given to man, and by which the acceptable mode of worshipping Him was declared, is to be found in the writings of the Old Testament. The Jewish theocracy was a national protest against surrounding ungodliness. It was a national testimony, also, of the overruling providence of God, alike in the affairs of nations as of men. Had the Jewish nation conformed to the requirements of Him, who "Himself was their King," they would have continued a prosperous, instead of being a blighted, outcast, and wandering people. But they forsook "the Lord their strength," and were punished by Him. They despised their blessings, and they were taken away. They neglected to walk by the light, and it was removed. No instance is on record of any nation being destroyed, while acting in conformity with the Divine will; and England must stand or fall by her faithfulness or her unfaithfulness. Next to the Jewish nation, England stands forth as more highly blessed and favoured than any other people with the clear, long-continued light of Divine truth, and surrounded with providential blessings. Long may she continue in the enjoyment of them, and be enabled to make a right use and due improvement of them. Yet her position as regards Rome, and what has been done for Rome, is anomalous, not to say critical. And many national transgressions, like dark clouds across a summer sky, tend to intercept the full measure of Divine blessing which might be otherwise vouchsafed. Misled by a false expediency, statesmen in times past, and some even in the present, have played into the hands of the Papacy. But we hope that events now passing, may lead those to whom now or hereafter may be committed the conduct of affairs, to extricate our country from its critical position in this respect. A review of "foreign Catholic affairs" presents abundant cause, apart even from religious considerations, why Popery should be discountenanced by those who wish well to their country and the human race. A Correspondent of the "Times," writing from Rome, under date of September 10, says : "If I am not misinformed, indeed, serious alarm has lately been felt for the tranquillity of Rome itself, and an additional Swiss regiment has been ordered in on account of the reduction of the French garrison, which does now not exceed 3,000 men. The French authorities are said to have contemplated assuming the entire control of the police, because of the great discontent prevailing, and the impossibility of doing more than hold the Castle of St. Angelo with such a small body of troops, in case the people should be driven to extremities by the present irritating system. To avoid such a crisis would naturally be the object of every rational Government, but the Papal police, on the contrary, has become more rigorous with the increasing discontent, and the annoying regulations of the precetto di contr'ora, or making persons under suspicion answer their names at certain hours at the police office or in their own houses, has lately been reimposed after a relaxation of two years." |