Thus speaks the Lord; and it is repeated, when St. Paul enjoins on parents to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, (Eph. vi. 4,) and felicitates Timothy, that from his infancy he had known the Holy Scriptures. (2 Tim. iii. 15.)

You see, then, that to estrange a child from the Bible, is certainly to put the prudence of man in place of the wisdom of God. Stranger. Nevertheless, the priest tells me that the Bible is only a printed book. Now what efficacy is there in paper and ink? Disciple. What reason! Thus then according to this priest, when a child or a young man at a school or seminary receives a letter from his parents, he is to throw it into the fire or refuse to open it, saying that it is only paper and ink!

And if on the contrary this child was instructed or touched by the written word of his father or mother, what right has any to tell us that the Letter of God, of our Heavenly Father, has less power and efficacy on the spirit and the heart of men, than the lines of their parents have on their minds?

The Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of life, is it nothing in the Revelation of God; and if the unbeliever, like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear, (Ps. lviii. 4,) finds only in the Bible printed sheets, is it the same to the upright man, who, as it is said in the first Psalm, meditates on that Word day and night, and who by it becomes as a tree planted by the waters, the leaf of which shall be green, neither shall cease frim yielding fruit? (Jer. xvii. 6-8.)

If then this Spirit of God opens the heart of Lydia, can it not effect that which the Word of God declares of it? If the Protes

tant who reads the Bible is thus blest, God will also give him an understanding that he may know Him that is true, (1 John v. 20,) as Jesus shewed to his disciples going to Emmaus, and also to the eleven Apostles? (Luke xxiv. 27, 45.)

But here, and at the very outset, Rome excludes the Holy Spirit from her religion; she dreads and repulses it, and with good reason; for if it speaks and causes the Word of God to be understood, it compels Rome to be silent, drives her back, and proves her to be utterly false.

Stranger.-Will you say that every Protestant, in his particular interpretation of the Bible, is inspired of God?

Disciple.-Inspired! No, no! but assisted, conducted, and taught by the Spirit of God, certainly.

The Protestant is neither a prophet nor a fanatic. He reads to hear what the Lord says, and respecting secrets which belong unto God; he reads and receives those things

which are revealed, which belong unto us and to our children: for the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. (Deut. xxix. 29; Ps. xxv. 14.)

He acts as the Bereans did, when they searched the Scriptures, that they might know whether Paul preached in conformity with them; and thus they obeyed Jesus, who has said, Search the Scriptures. (Acts xvii. 11; John v. 39.)

If then the Church of Rome claims the right of interpreting the Bible, it is to God only that the Protestant attributes it. Therefore when he reads, he says to God, Give me understanding, and open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law! (Ps. cxix. 33, 18. And an Apostle says, that the faithful become the epistle of Christ, written with the Spirit of the living God. (2 Cor. iii. 3.)

Stranger. So that you say, first, that the Bible is a living Word; and next, that it is the Holy Spirit which gives understanding?

Disciple.-Yes; and I add, that for this reason the Protestant, every time he speaks in defence of his faith, and especially with a Romanist, places the Bible above all knowledge and wisdom, and cites its declarations in preference to any others.

Therefore in my replies to you, I speak neither of the Fathers of the Church, nor even of the Doctors of Rome.

Stranger.Do you exclude then from this controversy the History of the Church, and the opinions of its ancient Theologians? Disciple.-Not at all.

Stranger.-You say then that the Protestant has read the Bible and can quote it?

Disciple.-The Bible is the Sword of the Spirit. (Eph. vi. 17.) A Protestant who is not acquainted with it, should be compared to a soldier who would enter into the battle without being furnished with his arms;must he not in that case expect to be vanquished?

(End of the Controversy on the BIBLE. The second Controversy will be on the Church.)

A PRACTICAL COMMENT.

THE ORPHAN HYMN.

Along life's road no parent's hand
My homeless footsteps led:
No mother's arms in sickness sooth'd
And raised my throbbing head.
But other hearts, Lord, thou hast warm'd
With tenderness benign:

For in the stranger's eye I mark
The tear of pity shine.

bent his steps to the castle, determined to make his case known to his lordship. Here again he was repulsed; the porter had received orders from the steward, and refused him admittance.

he

Donald turned away almost in despair, and resolved upon a bold measure, as his only chance of success. He climbed the garden wall in an unfrequented part, and entered the house by a private door. It so happened that no person was in this portion of the building, and Donald wandered on, fearing to meet a repulse, but determined to persevere. At length he approached the private apartments of the nobleman; heard a voice, and, drawing near, found it was his lordship's, and that he was engaged in prayer. Retiring to a short distance, he waited till the prayer was concluded, and could not but hear his lordship pleading earnestly with the Virgin Mary and St. Francis, for their intercession in his behalf. At length his lordship ceased. Donald, who had stood trembling with the novelty of his situation, the fear of interruption, and anxiety for the result, now gently knocked at the door. "Come in," was his lordship's reply; and Donald entered. "Who are you, man? What do you want?" was the inquiry, Donald stated his case, the steward's harsh conduct, and the certain ruin of himself and his children, after his ancestors had so long occupied that portion of the family estate. The peer listened, was touched with the tale, and having heard something of Donald, assured him of his protection, and that his lease should be renewed. Many artless, but earnest thanks followed, and he was departing, when a thought of anxiety for his noble master occurring to his mind, Donald returned, and spoke thus: "My lord, I was a bold man, and you forgave me, and have saved me and my poor family from ruin. Many blessings attend you! I would again be a bold man if I might, and say something further to your lordship." "Well, man, speak out." "Why, my lord, I was well nigh a ruined man, so I was bold and came to your lordship's door, and as I stood there I could not but hear your lordship praying to the Virgin Mary and St. Francis, and you seemed unhappy. Now, my lord, forgive me, but I cannot help thinking the Virgin Mary and St. Francis will do you no good, any more than your lordship's steward and porter did for me. I had been a ruined man if I had trusted to them, but I came direct to your lordship, and you heard me. Now, if your lordship would but leave the Virgin Mary and St. Francis, who will do no more for your lordship than your lordship's

steward and porter would do for me, and just go direct to the Lord Jesus himself, and pray to him for what you need, he will hear you, for he has said, Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.' Will your lordship forgive me, and just try for yourself?"

It is said, that his lordship was struck with this simple argument, and afterwards. found what a poor penitent sinner looking to Jesus always finds-pardon, peace, and salvation.

ROMISH SUPERSTITIONS.

(From McGrindell's English Governess, an interesting narrative of facts.)

One day, in the course of conversation on the mummeries of the Romish Church, Mrs. Ellerton related the following scene, which she had witnessed in Sicily some years before:-" It was the feast of la vara, and my curiosity led me to see the procession. A part of the pageant consisted of an enormous wire cage, which was dragged through the streets, much in the same way, I suppose, that the Hindoos draw the car of Juggernaut. On the top of it sat a man, dressed in long flowing robes, and disguised with a white wig, and a long bushy beard of the same colour. This audacious wretch was presumptuously and blasphemously placed there to personate the glorious, invisible, and awful Jehovah himself-Him, whom no eye hath seen, or can see! By his side was seated the most beautiful girl that could be found in the island, who, with clasped hands and upturned eyes, personated the blessed Virgin herself, as queen of heaven." A little lower were suspended brazen globes, representing stars, and made to revolve continually by machinery; and to each of these were fastened four beautiful children, whose parents had devoted them to this office, either through mistaken devotion, or in fulfilment of some vow. These poor little creatures were dressed in white, with wings, to represent angels; but were so terrified by their situation, and so giddy with the constant whirling motion, that they became objects of even distressing compassion to every feeling spectator. This enormous machine, with its human cargo, was set on wheels, and dragged through the town by the infatuated multitude. I could not help fancying myself in the streets of India, during the dreadful saturnalia of Juggernaut ; and the horrid clang of musical instruments, which was intended to drown the terrified screams of the helpless children, heightened

the resemblance almost to reality. It only needed that the kneeling votaries should throw themselves under the wheels of the idol car to complete the picture; but a character almost as tragical was imparted to it by the distress and agony of the poor babes, occasioned by the revolutions, which are generally productive of extreme sickness, and not unfrequently end in the death of the little victims, sometimes even on the very spot."

Every one present was shocked at this account of the cruel practices countenanced by the Romish Church, and the young ladies remarked, that it was quite as bad as that of the heathen, who sacrificed their children to Moloch.

"I saw another exhibition at Malta," pursued Mrs. Ellerton. "A child, in one of the processions, covered with a white sheepskin, profusely ornamented with bows of blue ribbon in every direction, and on enquiring the reason of this singular costume, I was told, with the most perfect sang froid, that made my very soul shudder, that this fantastic exhibition represented the LAMB OF GOD!!"

A pause of horror succeeded this revolting account; every heart recoiled from the idea of such daring blasphemy. At length Clara broke the silence by asking Mrs. Ellerton if she considered the Greek Church less idolatrous and corrupt than the Roman. “I am sorry to say," replied she, "that the difference, if there be any, is very slight indeed; at least, if I may judge from what I have seen and heard during the seven years we have resided in the Ionian Islands. You may form some opinion of it from what I am going to tell you. While we were at Corfu we saw a great deal of their superstitions: San Spiridione is the patron saint of the Island, and to him they pay great honour. This saint is no other than a mummy, which they carry in procession through the streets once a year, in order to sanctify the town; and the poor deluded Greeks lay the sick and afflicted in its path, in the firm belief that if the shadow of the idol can but rest on them their cure is certain.

"Besides this public yearly visit of the saint, he is in the habit (so say the priests) of walking out in the evening, though of course unseen, and blessing the fields and vineyards; and his shoes are exhibited, covered with dust in summer, or snow in winter, after his walks over the mountains. Of course he requires a new pair every time, and the priests appropriate to themselves those he has worn.

"The Greek Church is quite as fertile in legends and miracles as the Romish, and

the following story may, I think, vie with any of them in absurdity. A very devout woman was in the constant practice of giving money to the priests to procure masses for the souls in purgatory. Her husband, who was not of the same mind with her, frequently took possession of the money which she intended to devote to this purpose; in order, therefore, to secure it, she adopted the expedient of burying it in a particular spot in her garden, till she found an opportunity of giving it into the hands of the priest. This she did for some time successfully; but one day her hoard was stolen, whether by her husband or any one else, I know not, and she could no longer deposit it there with safety. She afterwards planted a pomegranate tree on this spot, and it sprang up with most miraculous rapidity, and, though it was out of season, was soon loaded with beautiful fruit. She sent some of the finest pomegranates as a present to the bishop, and the right reverend father, on opening one of them, found in every seed a human soul, which had been rescued from purgatory by the masses purchased with the good woman's money, and now flew away towards heaven on being released from their confinement.”

"So you have seen the painting of purgatory, my little friend," remarked Mr. Rushbrook, "and pray what do you think of it?"

"O, Sir, it is a shocking, frightful thing! but it is only intended to make people give money for their masses; for there was a priest by it, holding out a box, and chaunting in a most doleful voice, something about las almas en el Purgatorio."

"There was one at the inn at Algeziras," said Cecilia, "who was begging of everybody, with a similar box, and the same horrid sepulchral chaunt."

"You would find them at every inn in every town, if you travelled in Spain. But the picture of purgatory here, is very inferior to many that I have seen. Some of them indeed, are so horribly like reality, that it is impossible to look at them without feeling the blood creep through your veins."

"It must be admitted," observed Mrs. Wentworth, "that the Church of Rome has certainly enlisted all the fine arts into her service. Their paintings, statues, and other church appendages are eminently calculated to take captive the imagination, and lead the judgment astray."

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They know the power of such appeals to the senses, and use them accordingly. Each Church in Spain values itself on some favorite painting, and the priests connected with it would fain persuade you that there exists