churches; pressing for an immediate discharge of the duty,

pular and favourite confessors also, and are most resorted to by the devout. Thus these two great engines, Preaching, on high days, and the Confessional, are chiefly wielded by them. In Rome their churches are the most frequented of all. The general theological and even literary education in the University and Colleges, has almost entirely fallen into their hands. It is the universal opinion of Protestants in Rome, that they are the means employed to carry out the different schemes of the Church.

PROTESTANT MOVEMENTS.

1. During the last ten or fifteen years, great advances have been making towards orthodoxy among the theologians. A better practical spirit in the Church may be dated from the discussions called forth by the Reformation Jubilee, (the third centenary).

2. This is especially remarkable in the Missionary Spirit, which is daily becoming more prominent. The society of Basle has now branches in the various large towns. Many professors give separate courses on the history of missions. Great activity is also shewn in connection with the Bible Society, circulation of tracts in Catholic countries, and the like.

3. For some time back the great body of the evangelical clergy have, by means of PASTORAL CONFERENCES, been striving to create and direct a spirit of Christian organized activity and practical efficiency in the Church. Great steps have been taken in connection with the improvement of their ecclesiastical constitution-with the duty of union among all bodies of true Christians -with the establishment and final settlement of a purer creed, by stricter adherence to their symbolical books. Meetings in churches for prayer, and in connection with missions, are frequent. The churches of the Rationalists are comparatively deserted, and especially in Berlin, Westphalia, Wittemberg, &c. there is a vast accession to the body of faithful preachers. A great spirit of inquiry is abroad as to the state of foreign Evangelical churches, and a general desire is expressed for closer Christian fellowship with them. The greatest result and proof of this tendency to organisation and activity in the church, is in the case of the GustavusAdolphus Society for the assistance of poor congregations in Catholic countries, especially Bavaria and Austria. It too has its branches all over Protestant Germany. The King of Prussia is patron.

4. Ronge's Movement. His letters have been translated into

seeing that the time is short; and as to the mode and manner of discharging it, saying, in all sincerity,

"si quid novisti rectius istis

Candidus imperti; si non, his utere mecum.'

several languages, and are read with equal avidity by Protestants and Catholics alike. Independent congregations have now been formed in Breslau, Dresden, Leipsic, Berlin, Magdeburg, &c. The Bishop of Mayence has published a pastoral letter, strongly opposed to what has taken place; and, it is stated, that Rongé has been already denounced in Rome. Some suspense of judgment, in regard to this work, may be necessary, until we know how far it is deeply evangelical, or is simply an honest recoil from the flagrant impostures of Rome, and the holy coat of Treves. Meanwhile, the critical position of the man entitles him to our prayers; and we cannot but admire his lion-like and Luther-like port, his fearless defiance of wrong, and that trumpet sound which has startled Popish Germany to its centre.

I find that have omitted to state; that in Hungary much greater religious freedom exists than at any former period; and that the position of Austria seems a medium one between two extremes. In Hanover, great excitement has been created by one of the bishops reviving an old Jesuit catechism.

In regard to France, we may refer, for an exposition of the progress of Popery and Jesuitism, to a remarkable article, in the present number of the North British Review, written, evidently, by no religious alarmist, but by a calm observer; while, as to the reviving influence of Evangelical Protestantism, every day brings us new testimonies from godly ministers, and missionary societies, that the fields are white unto the harvest.

LECTURE II.

THE INDEPENDENT EASTERN CHURCHES.

BY JOHN WILSON, D.D., F.R.S.

OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND'S MISSION AT BOMBAY.

LECTURE II.

THE INDEPENDENT EASTERN CHURCHES.

ASSOCIATIONS CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF THE EAST-PREVAILING IGNORANCE OF THE STATE OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE EAST-THE GREEK CHURCH-THE ARMENIAN CHURCH-THE SYRIAN CHURCH-THE NESTORIAN CHURCH-THE COPTIC CHURCH-THE ABYSSINIAN CHURCH-THE GENERAL CLAIMS OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES-HOW HELP MAY BE IMMEDIATELY EXTENDED TO THEM BY SCOTLAND.

THE East is associated with all that is interesting in the past history, and glorious in the future prospects, of the world. It was in a twofold sense the cradle of the human race, for there our first parents were created, and their descendants lived in the times which preceded the flood; and there the ark rested, and the preserved family of man again grew and multiplied, and spread abroad over the face of the earth. It was there, that, in utter forgetfulness of God's judgments and impious neglect of God's revelations, those forms of idolatry, superstition, and delusion, were generated and matured, which have changed the glory of God into a lie, and which have injured, and are now injuring, unnumbered millions of immortal souls to their eternal destruction. It was there, that, amid the general apostasy of our race,

D

the