aggression of Rome, opens a wide question, into which it is not intended to enter. A powerful influence is silently acting upon the public mind, and a change so great as that referred to can only take place when "public opinion," or rather the mind of "the people," becomes so impregnated with such a view, as for it to act upon the legislature of the country.

No further allusion shall be made to the subject than by giving an extract from a work of some consideration and which in some degree bears upon the proposition.

"By what means, it may be asked, is the present system of ecclesiastical establishments to be superseded, and the new system introduced and allowed? Ever, we reply, with a just regard for existent interests, and in the spirit of equity and love. Let a parliamentary committee be appointed to inquire into the value and origin of church wealth; all that has been left to the Protestant Established Church by private persons is her own; let it remain, therefore, untouched. All that has been given by the prerogative of the ruling monarch, or by the votes of parliament, is the nation's, and has been given subject to the annual sanction of the nation's voice. It is given impiously, unwisely, unjustly; let it, therefore, be withheld, and devoted in no case to any religious sect, but to the general objects of government. All that has been left by Romunists for purposes which Protestants condemn, let it be given to such as can alone fulfil the intentions of those that bequeathed it; or if such intentions entail practices illegal and subversive of government, let it go, as is usual in such cases, to the Exchequer; it is certainly not the property of the Protestant Church. Then let all State patronage and State influence cease; let the Church become one of ourselves, AND SPEEDILY THE SECTS WILL RETURN, ONE BY ONE, INTO HER BOSOM, OR SHE WILL REST IN THEIRS, AND THE MILLENNIUM WILL HAVE BEGUN. "The nations shall walk in her light, and kings in the brightness of her rising. The sons of the stranger shall build up her walls, and their kings shall minister unto her; no longer forsaken and hated, she shall be made an everlasting boast-the joy of perpetual generations." Such shall be the honours and glory of the Church when "violence shall no more be heard in her land, wasting nor destruction within her borders.” "For brass she shall have gold, and for iron silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron; for her officers shall be peace, and her exactors righteousness." "In her humility all men, with loud hosannas, will confess her greatness.' ***

* THE VOLUNTARY SYSTEM. The Prize Essay, in Reply to the Lectures of Dr. Chalmers, on Church Establishments. By Joseph Angus, M.A. Jackson and Walford. London. 1839.

After the brief review of the origin and progress of TRACTARIANISM, with its results-the nature and secret operations of JESUITISM, and the more open and decided advances of professed ROMANISM, it may not be unprofitable to inquire, Where are the sacred depositories of Protestantism? Will they be found at Oxford and Cambridge ? With the emphatic declaration of LORD JOHN RUSSELL, as to the state of things in the Established Church, and with the "little hope" that many of its clergy "will not desist from their insidious course," for the advancement of papistical doctrines and practices-with the decided tone of sentiment conveyed in the resolutions of the United Dissenting Bodies, and also in the declaration of the Baptist Board upon the same subject, will it be said, that within the Establishment, with all its conflicting elements, is to be chiefly found the sacred depository of Protestantism? Dare it not be assumed that the strongholds and defences of true Protestantism are to be mainly found with Protestant Dissenters? They may have their sectarian differences, but upon the sacred and fundamental principles of Protestantism

THEY ARE AGREED.

However Protestant Dissenters may be looked down upon with contumely as schismatics, be stigmatized as "Methodists," and be allied with "Papists,"* they have in times of NATIONAL PERIL been tried and found faithful, as the safeguards of Protestantism in this country. What said that distinguished statesman, CHARLES JAMES Fox? He observed that "a candid examination of the history of Great Britain would, in his opinion, be favourable to the Dissenters. In the rebellions in 1715 and 1745, this country was extremely indebted to their exertions. During those troublesome periods they had acted with the spirit and fidelity of British subjects-zealous and vigilant in defence of the Constitution: at both these periods they stood forward the champions of British liberty, and obtained an eminent share in repelling the foes of the House of Hanover. Their exertions then were so magnanimous, that TO THEIR ENDEAVOURS WE OWE THE PRESERVATION OF THE CHURCH AND STATE. What was the reward they obtained? We generously granted them a pardon for their noble exploits, by passing an Act of Indemnity in their favour! Gentlemen should recollect, that at the times alluded to, the higher churchmen did not display much gallantry, for many appeared perplexed and pusillanimous. Hence the superior glory of the Dissenters, who, regardless of every danger, had boldly stood forth in defence of the rights and liberties of the kingdom. The Dissenters, regardless of the foolish Acts existing against them, drew their swords in defence

* Tracts for the Times.

of their fellow-subjects, AND MADE THE SCALE IMMEDIATELY PREPONDERATE IN OUR FAVOUR."*

Will it be said that Protestant Dissenters are at present less devoted to their principles than at the periods adverted to; and will they be found more reluctant in their places to join "hearts and hands" according to the sentiments expressed by the Baptists in 1688, "FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE PROTESTANT RELIGION AND THE LIBERTIES OF THE NATION ?"

The alarm which has been excited through the length and breadth of the land at the increase of the Papists, naturally suggests an inquiry as to its extent, as indicated by the increase of Roman Catholic chapels. What has been the increase for the last QUARTER OF A CENTURY, from 1825 to 1850?

By analysing the counties the following results are given :TWO COUNTIES.-Norfolk and Nottingham, a decrease of three chapels. SEVEN COUNTIES.-Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Hereford, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Sussex, and Westmoreland-no increase.

THREE COUNTIES. -Devonshire, Lincolnshire, and Wilts—an increase of one each.

Two COUNTIES.-Dorsetshire and Herefordshire-an increase of two each.

THREE COUNTIES.-Essex, Hampshire, Monmouthshire-an increase of three each.

FOUR COUNTIES.-Derbyshire, Shropshire, Somersetshire, and Worcestershire-an increase of four each.

Two COUNTIES.-Cumberland and Northampton-five each.

Two COUNTIES.-Kent and Northumberland-an increase of nine each.

THREE COUNTIES.-Middlesex, Surrey, and Cheshire-an increase of twelve each.

Derbyshire, six; Leicestershire, seven; Staffordshire, fifteen; Warwickshire, sixteen; Yorkshire, seventeen; Lancashire, twenty-six. Increase in England for twenty-five years, two hundred and seven chapels; or an average of rather more than eight per annum, with all the more strenuous efforts made by the Papists particularly within the last ten years.

SOUTH WALES.-Brecknockshire, Glamorganshire, Pembrokeshire, have an increase of four chapels.

NORTH WALES.-Caernarvonshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, show a decrease of two chapels; so that the entire increase in North and South Wales consists of two chapels in twenty-five years.

* Debate on the Test and Corporation Acts, 1790.

FOR SCOTLAND the statistics quoted from do not give the same dates, but from 1846 to 1850.

IN THIRTEEN COUNTIES.-No increase.

THREE COUNTIES.-Edinburghshire, Stirlingshire, and Wigtownshire -an increase of one each.

THREE COUNTIES.-Forfarshire, Perthshire, Rossshire-two each. Lanarkshire-four. Total increase, thirteen chapels, or an average of rather more than three per annum during the period given for all Scotland.*

It is desired that this branch of the subject may be referred to with all due concern for its importance; but with all the increase of Roman Catholic Chapels, as shewn by the preceding numerals for a quarter of a century, when collateral circumstances are to be properly taken into account, is there much to excite fearful apprehension ?

It will be said, Look at the increase of the Roman Catholics in England, a London Journal has observed, "Take away the Irish, and the Roman Catholics in this country would have to count, not by millions, but only by myriads. They are numerous only in a single county, (Lancashire,) and have never formed more than an insignificant portion of the middle and working classes."+

IN IRELAND, the decrease of Papists is shewn to a large extent by the extraordinary diminished number of the population, within the last ten years, as shewn by the late census,

1841......
1851....

8,175,124
6,515,794

or a decrease in the population of Ireland of one million six hundred and fifty-nine thousand three hundred and thirty. It could be also made to appear that Protestantism has much increased in that country.

Popery has but little influence in Scotland, and still less in Wales. In estimating the increase of Romanism in this country, let the following elements in the question be taken into view. The natural increase of the Catholic population;—the considerable immigration from Ireland spread through the different counties for the last twentyfive years; the constant importation of Popish priests from the sister country added to it also-marriage, and 'relative' conversions-tractarian adhesions; and all the strenuous means for proselyting which have been employed, with also the priestly power and influence over the living; and the priestly terrors to the dying with regard to

* Analyzed from Tables given in Supplement to Baptist Magazine, Dec., 1850. + Patriot, August 25th, 1851.

bequests,*-and what have been the results? Miss Talbot's £80,000 would have furnished funds for thirty or forty Catholic chapels. Reference might be easily made to the means which have been, and are now being employed for the raising of the funds for the erection of Catholic edifices throughout the kingdom.

The sentiment may be expressed without treating with 'slight regard' what the Romanists are doing. The increase of Popery amongst the native English, even including the Oxford and Cambridge perverts, is not of a nature to imperil the Protestantism of the country.

Let Protestants be true to their principles and promote those legitimate counteractions against the advancement of papal antichrist which they have at command, and which it is their duty to extend, and there is no ground for alarm at what the Church of Rome, with all its emissaries, can accomplish.

'It is often asserted,' writes a London periodical, 'that the progress of Romanism in England is alarming. It is true, the people are not thoroughly educated, and Tractarianism has striven, generally, to reduce them back into the slavery of the intellect, but we believe the religious sentiment of England is now more truly Protestant than at any period since the Reformation. Tractarianism may flourish a little longer, a fashionable folly of the hour, charming sickly sentimentalists with its tinsel shew, but it has clearly not one popular attraction. Real Romanism has more attractive powers. It is a faith to some extent popular amongst the poorer ranks of society in places where the priesthood daily minister. There lies the rivalry to Protestantism—not in the stately Catholic temples which Pugin has erected in this land, but in

* LORD ABINGER, in a speech in the House of Lords (Feb. II,) to shew the power and influence exerted by the Popish priesthood, observed-" Some Roman Catholic priests got hold of the son of a deceased wealthy solicitor in this country, who was possessed of £200,000, they set the family at variance and got them out of the son's house, and acquired complete control over him. He tried to run away, but was brought back, and never went out of the house again, he shortly afterwards died, nobody knew how! The priests produced a will in their favour, and by Mr. William Follet's advice, the family were obliged to accept £10,000 as a compromise. It was not only the death-bed that was invaded, young women of property were being inveigled into nunneries.-A young lady entered an asylum, who was entitled to £8,000, and £4,000 was parted with by her advice, but the family were refused account or explanation." Lord Abinger properly inquires, "Why should there not be a rigid police inspection of these places, we look after the insane,and prisoners there were, he believed, women detained in convents against their will."

These examples are quoted not to exhibit the exception, but the rule of, the system. The inquiry is naturally forced upon the mind-Are persons and property safe under such a system? Mr. Lacy's Religious Houses Bill would have exercised a protective, and a salutary check against such priestly invasions.