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cannot be proved to him-it is impossible these people do not believe anything.

R.-I beg your pardon, Sir. For instance, if you would just show me in the Gospel something like "Confess your sins to a priest," I should confess immediately?

Priest (to the father).—See what he asks now! When they have once. listened to that they stick to it, and they will not desist. Tradition is necessary to prove them that, for the Gospel is not complete?

R.-That is not true. Priest.-Do not insult me. R.-No, Sir, I did not come either to insult you or to be insulted; I only wish that you should prove to me, from the Gospel, what I have asked you?

Priest. The Gospel! Nobody can understand it, or rather it could not be understood until the Fathers had explained it.

R.-You say that we need the fathers and the theologians? Priest.-No doubt.

R.-Well, show me in the Gospel that we need the theologians?

Priest (to the father). I told you these people will not believe anything.

Do you believe that the Church has received the power to forgive sins?

R.-Yes, in the same way in which Peter and the other apostles could forgive, which is "If thou believest thou shalt be saved," and not if thou confess thyself, &c.

Priest. Go away.

R.-But that will not prove that we ought to confess to a priest. There is no other confession but that of St. Peter.

Priest. Leave there your St. Peter! (Turning himself towards the father.) It is 1800 years since we told them the same thing, and they will not believe any thing. Protestantism is no religion. Every religion must have a priesthood and a sacrifice, and you have neither priesthood nor sacrifice ?

R. What do you think that the priesthood of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice is nothing?

Priest.-It is 1800 years since this sacrifice is over.

R. But what does St. Paul say to the Hebrews? Does he not say,

"That Jesus Christ is Priest for ever; that his priesthood cannot be inherited by others; that He is sitting at the right hand of God, his father, able to save those that approach God through him, being ever alive to intercede for them; and that having offered himself once in sacrifice, he has consecrated, for ever, such as are sanctified."

Priest.-You are in existence only a few days, and yet you speak of the "sacrifice of Jesus Christ "

R.-We are in existence only a few days! But you said, yourself, that the same things are told us for 1800 years, and that we will not believe. There is a contradiction in your statement, Sir.

Priest. You see they will not believe anything (trying to take the father away).

R.-But until now you have not said anything I could possibly believe. Priest. You will believe nothing but the Gospel; how can I demonstrate you the truth?

R.-But is not the Gospel the word of God?

Priest.-Go away, as I told you already. (To the father) They are a set of ignorant people that do not understand anything. You ought not to admit your son into your house.

R.-I see what a successor of an apostle you are, Sir.

a

able to convince his son, hardly more than a boy, of the truth of the Roman religion. He went all through the market, and told the people of the embarrassment of the priest, and of the victorious assurance of his son, whom he believed to possess the true religion.

The next day, Sabbath, the priest preached, spoke of the Bible, which he compared to a book of medicine, that people cannot understand; and as it is dangerous to compose remedies and help one's self from the directions of such a book, so it is dangerous to read the Scriptures, to make one's creed out of them, and to conform one's life to their directions. How ever, added he, alluding to Protestants, they are good people, but you must not hear them when they talk religion.

DEATH OF POPE GREGORY XVI. (From the" Tablet.")

AND yet how weak is the faith of man; or rather, how weak is our faith. For with all the encouragements to hope presented by the events of the last fifteen-or, say, of the last fiftyyears, we cannot strain our eyes into the darkness of the time to come without trembling for the result. The stake is so great; the human instruments so feeble; the danger so immediate and so pressing.

On Thursday-the great Feast of the Body of our Lord-the Conclave of Cardinals was to meet in order to choose a successor to the defunct Pontiff. Let us hope that the assembling on this day is something more than a happy omen or a fantastic anticipation. Around this Conclave swells and surges a huge ocean of temporal intrigue. Now, at this moment, the Church is (as it were) in the hands of those very men who carried off Christ bound to Pilate.

Temporal sovereignty oppresses her. The power of civil despotism holds her in chains. At this solemn crisis we feel bitterly that the Church is not free that her hands are in manacles; that she has fallen into the grasp of cruel harpies who are her enemies. Even now they hover about her; obstruct the freedom of her action;

deny her that privilege which in England every dissenting sect enjoys; and impose upon her assembled princes a despotism which it was vainly sought to inflict upon Ireland, and which Ireland would not have endured even if rebellion had been the consequence of her refusal-we mean the Veto.

What makes this Veto, perhaps, less dangerous in practice makes it, however, more dishonourable in appearance. Four states have nominally the power of insulting the Church, by interposing their sacrilegious hands upon the free exercise of its lawful prerogative-Austria, France, Spain, and Portugal. We ask, why do they not add Russia and England? Shortly, we suppose, there will be war in Europe, or threats of war, to determine whether this Protectorate of the Church shall receive the extension we suggest. Of these four powers, Spain is not in the enjoyment of intercourse with the Holy See, and so blessedly forfeits its wrongful right. Portugal, it is thought, is too weak to presume upon the right. Through France, ruled by Deists and Heretics of all kinds, the Devil exercises one veto upon the choice of God's Vicar. Through Austria-which has enslaved the Church after her own fashion, basely plays the part of minion to the Northern Antichrist, and keeps the victims of his devilish tyranny in prison, lest their loud words should help still further to blast the character of the tyrant-the Devil exercises a second veto.

Let the Catholics of this empire, those of America, and of all the world, know that the Church, in the election of their Spiritual Ruler, is the vassal of Austria and France-that they, in this particular, are the vassals of Austria and France! How long shall this disgraceful anomaly continue ? Is it said to be part of the Law of Nations? We know not the exact ground upon which the abusive practice is based, but we think that before long the Law of Nations will have to be altered in this particular. The freedom of the Church is a higher thing than any pretended sections of a law which force has imposed upon her. It must, and, please God, will, be altered and repealed.

MISCELLANEOUS. THE BIBLE TRIUMPHING OVER INFIDELITY.—It is within the recollection of many, that in the year 1792, on the Continent of Europe, the most desperate and the most deliberate effort was made to crush Christianity once for all. The most celebrated Infidels, Voltaire, and Diderot, and de Lambert, and Hume, and Rousseau, and others corresponded together; and the maxim they adopted was, "Crush the wretch," meaning the Lord Jesus Christ, the Divine founder of Christianity. They composed the most elaborate productions, penned the most subtle and ingenious essays; and they were so successful that (Be astonished, O heavens! and wonder, O earth!) they actually got an inscription written on the altars and temples of Paris, "No God!" and they got written upon the graves, beneath which the bodies of the martyrs lay, "Death is an eternal sleep "-and proud philosophy, as if to illustrate, by a living example, the close connexion between the Infidel and the fool, fell down and worhipped an infamous woman as "the Goddess of Reason:" whilst all France rang with the tocsin of congratulation, "Now Christianity is entombed, the Bible is destroyed, the Gospel is for ever overthrown!" But was it so? Far from it. What they imagined to he the tombstone of the Gospel, was the platform of its noblest and its most glorious triumphs; for at that very moment the Missionary Societies started into existence; The Tract Society and the Bible Society appeared as if in answer to a celestial impulse; and an effort was made by believers to disseminate the Gospel, the most unparalleled in the history of Christendom. It seemed as if Christianity, like the palm-tree, shot forth its boughs the more beautifully and extensively, the greater the pressure that was placed upon its roots. Oppressed Christianity rose and swept wide Europe with the speed and splendour of an angel's flight, and so successful have been the efforts then called forth, that the very printing press which Voltaire employed at Ferney, for the printing of his Infidel books, is now, or was lately, employed in the printing of Bibles; the very

house where Gibbon lodged in Geneva, and out of which he sent forth his dazzling speculations, attributing to second causes the work of the first Great Cause, came to be occupied by a branch Bible Society; and the very house at Edinburgh where David Hume lived, and wrote, and died, without God, and without Christ, and without hope in the world, became also a branch depository of the Edinburgh Bible Society.* The clever Infidels of France and Britain learned the lesson themselves, and taught it to Christendom in their utter discomfiture, that “there is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord.”

Upwards of 100,000l. has been raised within the last two years and a half, by the Congregational Union, for educational purposes.

Six thousand pounds have been voted by the Legislature of Jamaica for the building of churches, a portion of which has been set apart for the building of schools.

--

The

SYRIA. Jerusalem. A riot occurred in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, at Jerusalem, on Good Friday, between the priests of the Greek and Latin Churches. Latin Fathers repaired in procession to Golgotha, to adore the cross; the Greeks had, however, previously obtained possession of the chapel, and denied them admittance. After some altercation, the two parties came to blows, and the Governor of Jerusalem at length interfered to preserve peace, and ordered a Turkish regiment to clear the place!!

The Emperor of Russia has published a Ukase, ordering all the Jews in Russia to place themselves, before January 1, 1850, in one of the four following classes:-1. Among the burgesses of a town, by the purchase of a piece of land or a house. 2. In a corporation of artizans, after having given the proof of ability required by the law. 3. In one of the three corporations of traders; or 4, In the grand body of tillers of the earth, whether on their own property or under a proprietor. Such Jews as

*See the Rev. Dr. Cumming's Sermons, from which mainly these details are taken.

shall not have placed themselves, by the appointed time, in one of the four classes, will be subjected to such restrictive measures as the Government will think it right to employ.

The Pope is dead-well be it so,
No more they'll kiss his holy toe;
Another Pope his place supplies,
Thus superstition never dies.

CABINET.

GOD is a friend always able and ready to advise. Whenever, therefore, you are at a loss, spread your case before him. He can direct you by his word, or by his Spirit, or by his providence, and sometimes, perhaps, by all three, and lead you by a right way, though often seemingly dark and unlikely.

God may sometimes permit the enemies of his people and children to triumph over them. Satan, and all his instruments in his hand, cannot move a step without Divine permission. When we are hurried with worldly business, let us remember Jesus, who said, "Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that which endureth to everlasting life." When assaulted with the fiery darts of the wicked one let us remember Jesus, who was in

all points tempted as we are, yet with

out sin.

power,

England! thou spring of might and
[brave!
Thou birth-place of the bright, the
Never," not even for one hour,"
Give place to her that would enslave.
Oh never! never! be it said,

Should, by the wily serpent led,
That hearts all noble, bold, and free

Yield and succumb to Popery,
This be thy long, thy lasting word,

In lands abroad or streets at home,

Long as thy voice shall e'er be heard, No treaty with apostate Rome!! IOTA.

NOTICES OF BOOKS. The Ancient Faith of the Holy Catholic Church, demonstrated in a Lecture delivered in the Rotunda, Dublin, April 18, 1846, and tested by an Appeal to the Roman Catholic Archbishops of the Four Provinces. By the Rev. ROBERT J. M'GHEE, A.M. London: Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley, pp. 72. WE have fully referred to the above. Learning, eloquence, and piety per

vade the whole. The tabular form will be found particularly useful, to all who wish to have a clear and succinct view as to the creeds of the two Churches of Rome and England.

INTELLIGENCE.

ENGLAND.-It is rumoured that the Rev. F. W. Faber, late Fellow of University College, Oxford, and Rector of Elton, Hunts, is about to become

the founder of a new order of religion, the special principle of which is to be submission to the will of God, as expressed in its motto, Voluntas Dei! The patrons are believed to be St. Thomas of Canterbury, and St. Wilford, and the brothers of the order will be instructed to exhibit Christian character principally in its aspect of cheerfulness, and will be employed in assisting parish priests in all the duties which may be properly intrusted to laymen.-Cambridge Advertiser.London.-French Protestant Church.-On Sunday, May 30, a most interesting scene took place in the French Protestant Church, St. Martin-le-Grand, where two (formerly) Roman Catholic ladies, firmly convinced of the truth of the Protestant faith, and converted under the pastoral guidance and instruction of the minister of the church, presented themselves for the purpose of publicly renouncing the errors and superstitions of the Church of Rome, and rejecting the delusions of Popery, to embrace the religion of Christ.Kingston-on-Thames. An elegant new Catholic Church is rising rapidly towards completion in this place, or we should more correctly say, at Saberton, a village situate midway between New and Old Kingston. The situation is admirably chosen. It is on the banks of the Thames, having only the high road between it and the river. The length of the church is eighty-two feet, the width fortyeight feet, the height of the tower seventy feet. It will have a nave, aisles, and chancel. There will be a Presbytery, school-room, and cemetery attached, occupying about an acre of ground. The whole is the gift of Alex. Raphael, Esq., and will amount to 10,0007.-Tablet.

IRELAND. Tipperary. The Papists of Tipperary have memorialized the Board of Works for a loan of 1,000l. to build a chapel in that

town.

COLONIAL.-Nova Scotia.-Popish churches are in course of erec

tion at Petite, in the district of Windsor, and at Fergusoni, Cove, and Herring Cove.

FOREIGN.-Rome. On May 5, at Rome, Cardinal Acton received into the bosom of the Roman Catholic Church the Rev. J. D. Ryder, his wife, Mrs. Ryder, his sister, Miss Sophia Ryder, and his three eldest children. The Rev. J. Ryder, is the second son of the late Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, nephew of the Earl of Harrowby, and first cousin of Ambrose Lisle Phillips, Esq., of Grace Dieu Manor. Mrs. Ryder is the sister-in-law of the Bishop of Oxford, Dr. Wilberforce.-The Beacon.Breslau.--The German Gazette of Frankfort, in a letter from Breslau, 21st May, states, that the Jesuits were seeking to obtain a footing in Prussia. Several young men who had commenced their studies in that place, were about to set out for Rome, to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the doctrines of that Society, when they would return to the former city.

DEATH OF HIS HOLINESS THE POPE.-On Saturday evening the French Government received a telegraphic despatch from M. Rossi, the French Ambassador at the Court of Rome, dated June the 1st, announcing the sudden death of his Holiness Pope Gregory XVI. that morning between nine and ten o'clock. The real name of Gregory XVI. was Mauro Capellari. He was born at Belluno on the 18th of September, 1765. He was elected Pope on the 2d of February, 1831, and took his seat on the pontifical chair by the name of Gregory XVI.

ELECTION OF A NEW POPE.-The conclave of the Sacred College lasted only two days, opening on the 14th, and terminating on the 16th of June. The new Pope, Cardinal Mastai Ferretti, on ascending the throne of St. Peter, takes the title of Pius IX. He is only fifty-four years of age, and therefore one of the youngest popes ever elected.