the fever-stricken haunts of misery and ignorance are we to mark the insidious advance. But it is only there that it receives a hold on the community; priestcraft has not sway over the strong intellect of the English artizan. Even granting that the indications of progress here set forth are considerable, it must be borne in mind that England has always contained a large Catholic flock devotedly true to the faith of their forefathers. Catholics double their population by the same laws as Protestants. Admitting, too, that there are numerous conversions, what a small thing does all the statistical array seem, when measured by our teeming population. Seven hundred chapels, to TWENTY THOUSAND TEMPLES of Protestantism!' Let Protestant fears be stilled -Popery is making no railroad progress in our island."*

While these views may be somewhat consolatory to the friends of Scriptural truth, let it not neutralize Protestant efforts to repel Popish aggression-Romanists are awake and active, let not Protestants be lethargic and indolent-every movement of Popish antichrist demands a vigilant watchfulness for the prompt and determined application of counteracting agencies. Only let Protestant zeal keep pace with the activity of the Romanists, and, amidst all the opposing aids and exertions of the pretended friends and open foes of Protestantism, truth will prevail and triumph.

What are those counteracting agencies which should be employed? "Moral and religious means must be taken to give a more extensive circulation of the Bible among all classes of the community; to extend the benefits of education; to diffuse the knowledge of those great principles, both of scriptural Christianity and of civil and religious freedom which were asserted by the Protestant Reformation;" to increase the number of what are termed "City" or "Town Missionaries," (and other similar means,) who shall be daily going amongst those portions of the community who, from circumstance and indifference, are exposed to the delusions of Popery—and to the sophistries of infidelity. By those Missionary agencies, it should be the object not so much to sectarianize as to evangelize the people. These agencies are extensively employed in the metropolis by the City Mission, which, in 1850, had 242 devoted men constantly visiting the most neglected parts of London, and the most degraded portions of its population. Manchester† has about 60 Town Missionaries, thus

* The Monthly Christian Spectator, Feb., 1851.

+ The nature of the agencies referred to will be illustrated by furnishing a brief epitome for example of the operations of the Manchester City Mission. This important mission, so systematic in its operations and so efficient in its general

daily employed, and other towns have also in active operation these important agencies, by which the ignorant are instructed in the truths of divine revelation. Tracts are extensively circulated; the sick and dying are visited; and the results have been most salutary and beneficial. Lectures upon Popery, &c., with all its mummeries, absurdities, and atrocities, and the publication of suitable works, in the cheapest possible form, would be highly useful for the diffusion of information upon the principles of Popery-its conspiracies, and murderous and bloody acts† for the purpose of obtaining power and rule.

Ecclesiastical and general history gives a fearful development of what Popery has done, and is a class of reading not sufficiently regarded, and should form an essential branch of instruction in the working was established in 1838. It had, according to its last report, 60 missionaries, daily actively employed amongst the teeming operative classes of Manchester. In 1850 they paid 243,565 visits; distributed 89,000 tracts; held 5,666 public meetings attended by 85,519 persons; paid 32,278 visitations to the sick and dying; were instrumental in inducing 826 children to attend Lord's Day Schools. 10 infidels and 10 prostitutes have been reclaimed, and 133 drunkards reformed; 507 persons, "there is reason to believe have been savingly converted to God." Desiring to speak with the utmost caution as to death-bed repentance the hope is entertained that 503 individuals "died in the faith of the gospel."

From 1841 to May, 1851, the Missionaries have made 1,969,293 visits; have held 59,693 meetings, which have been attended by 1,192,101 persons; 3,096,224 tracts have been distributed. There is reason to hope 4,089 persons have been turned from the error of their way, or as it is said hopefully converted to God. There have been 211,092 visitations made to the sick, and 2,825 individuals of whom it is said they "hopefully died in the faith of the gospel." 198 infidels have been reclaimed; 123 prostitutes have been reclaimed; 838 drunkards reformed; 6,285 children have been induced to attend Lord's Day schools, and 5,036 adult persons induced to attend public worship. Such are the moral statistics exhibiting the results of missionary labour for the friends adverted to.

The truly estimable ISAAC CREWDSON, of whom it may be justly said—The law of kindness was upon his lips,'-from the establishment of the Mission to the time of his death, was its zealous and ardent promoter, and took a warm and lively interest in all its concerns.

The writer having had the privilege of being one of those engaged in the formation of the Mission with the zealous NASMYTH, and was for several years a member of its general and examination committees-he can refer, in terms of the highest satisfaction, as to the unsectarian and Evangelical character of THE MANCHESTER CITY MISSION, and also of the systematic and efficient mode of its operations.

It is by such agencies as these that simple truth must be diffused, and the ignorant instructed; forming as they will, most powerful and effectual antidotes against the prevalence of error; nor can it be for a moment imagined that means so multifarious and extensive can fail to have an important moral influence upon that section of the community for which they are more especially designed.

+"THE SCOTTISH PROTESTANT," presents in a cheap form, "THE BLOODY ACTS of the Papists. W. R. M'Phun, Glasgow.

education of the rising generation. A lack of information extensively prevails amongst a large section of the professedly Protestant adult community, with regard to the true principles of Popery and also of Protestantism. It is only by an intelligent acquaintance with the doctrines of the two systems, that the mind is qualified to demonstrate the delusions, the falsehoods, the cruelties, and it may be said also, THE PAGANISM* of the Popish system, or is prepared for the defence and advocacy of Protestantism.† What an exhibition does the page

* Dr. Middleton's "Letter from Rome" presents, in a clear and striking manner, the intimate relationship between Paganism and Popery. London, 1747. A cheap reprint of this work would be useful at the present period.

†The truly Protestant Vicar of Wellington, the Rev. B. Banning, M.A., has embodied in a concise form, an historical view of the "groundless claims" of Papacy to a moment's regard by any intelligent mind. Mr. Banning observes, "the authority of St. Peter cannot be proved in favour of any one of the practices of the Roman Church in subsequent ages; for instance, you find that it was not until the year 606, that the Roman Pontiff was invested with the title of universal Bishop, which was bestowed upon him by the Emperor Phocas, who had murdered his master and usurped the imperial throne, you will be at no loss to discover that this acquisition of power is destitute of any connection with the apostleship of St. Peter, and so must be viewed in the same light as any other leading fact in history, and its results appreciated accordingly.

THE INVOCATION OF SAINTS was not introduced into the Roman worship until the fourth century.

THE WORSHIP OF IMAGES was not approved and sanctioned until the year 787. THE INFALLIBILITY OF THE CHURCH was not introduced until the year 1076, by the received Council of Nice.

THE CELIBACY OF THE CLERGY was decreed in the year 1190.

THE SALE OF INDULGENCES received the Papal sanction in the twelfth century. THE DOCTRINE OF TRANSUBSTANTIATION-AURICULAR CONFESSION and THE SUPREMACY OF THE POPE were not introduced until 1215, by the Council of Lateran.

THE WITHOLDING THE CUP FROM THE LAITY-THE DOCTRINE OF PURGATORY -MARIOLAORY, or THE WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MARY-THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS-The Apocryphal Books-The Priestly intention necessary to the efficacy of the sacraments-THE DISTINCTION OF mortal and venial sins-all these were not imposed on the belief of mankind until the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Mr. Banning further remarks-"When you consider the other rites, doctrines practices and institutions of the Church of Rome, such as-THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS FOR THE DEAD-MONASTIC INSTITUTIONS-INSUFFICIENCY OF THE SCRIPTURES AS A RULE OF FAITH-THE PROHIBITION OF THE READING OF THE BIBLE to the laity-EXTREME UNCTION-WORKS OF SUPEREROGATION-THE HOLY INQUISITION, with all its cruelties-If the importance of the objection be borne in mind that if it cannot be proved that the Church of Rome was founded by St. Peter, whose infallible supremacy descended unimpaired to all his successors in that see, it is in vain to assume an authority in any subsequent, earlier or later, century which had no existence in the first, and which has never been duly authenticated or clearly demonstrated at any period of the Christian Church," "If, I

of history reveal of the hundreds of thousands "slain by the Beast" of Popish antichrist, described as "The Mother of Harlots," and "drunk with the blood of Saints."

Papists would fain have it believed that Popery in the nineteenth century is not the Popery of the sixteenth and preceding centuries. Are its principles altered? They are not. It has been justly remarked, as before quoted, referring to the sixteenth century, "The reign of ('Bloody') Mary is THE GENUINE PICTURE OF POPERY, and should be remembered by all true Protestants with abhorrence, the principles of that religion being such as no man can receive till he has abjured his senses, renounced his understanding and reason, and first of all the tender compassions of human nature.”

It is repeated, if Protestants are true to their protestantism and manifest a becoming zeal for its value and preservation, there is but little to apprehend. But let not Protestants be deceived by a false liberalism, from a belief that by advancing civilization, and the progress of liberal and enlightened views, Popery is more mild and more tolerant. It is unchanged and unchangeable; and, POSSESSED OF THE POWER, What guarantees are presented that there would not be a re-enactment of the massacre of St. Bartholomew's day, and a lighting up, for Protestants, the fires of Smithfield.*

repeat," Mr. Banning remarks, "you will maintain the validity of this objection, it will serve to relieve from the task of entering into endiess questions of disagreement upon other points, more or less essential-and will provide a sufficient answer to every cavil, and also tend to confirm in the truthfulness of Protestant principles. -The Groundless Claim of the Papacy, a Sermon, by the Rev. B. Banning, M.A., Vicar of Wellington, Salop. Houlston and Stoneman, London.

The foregoing topics, commented on by the respected vicar of Wellington, are highly adapted to lead the serious inquirer to pursue his examinations into a more extended acquaintance with the various subjects adverted to, and which would also develope the enormous extent of Priestcraft prevailing under the Papal system.

*Nearly twenty-five years ago the writer prepared a memorial for presentation to the corporation of the city of London, to grant a site in Smithfield for the erection of A MARTYR'S COLUMN and funds would have then been forthcoming for the purpose. Mr. Favell, who was one of the oldest members of the corporation, discouraged the measure, alleging that as the question of Catholic Emancipation was agitating the public mind, there was no prospect of the city authorities entertaining the object; and it would excite the angry feelings of the Catholics. No further steps were then taken.

Since the period above mentioned, there is a somewhat altered state of things Catholic Emancipation has been obtained; Smithfield Market is to be removed? Smithfield will become A CITY SQUARE and what more fitting central object than A MARTYR'S MEMORIAL?

There is the Cranmer and Latimer memorial at Oxford; there are columns to the honour of military and naval heroes studded through the country; and French

An extract from Resolutions adopted at a Meeting of Congregational Ministers of Lancashire and Cheshire, held at Grosvenor-street Chapel, Manchester, November, 1850, the Rev. Richard Fletcher in the chair, furnishes some suggestions as important correctives against the advancement of Popery in this country :

Republicans, in the Place de Bastile, in Paris, on the column there erected, have inscribed in gilt letters the names of the men who fell in the revolutionary conflict of July, 1830; but where has Protestant England her Martyr's Column, with the names of those inscribed "who suffered unto death?" not in a struggle for national conquest or political rule, but for the peaceful maintenance of the principles of truth and righteousness, in opposition to the errors and superstitions of the times in which the martyrs lived. Truly of them 'tis said by the Poet

"Their ashes flew

No marble tells us whither; and with their names

No Bard embalms or sanctifys his song;

And history, so warm on meaner themes,
Is cold on this; - it execrates indeed

The tyranny that doomed them to the fire,

But gives the noble sufferers little praise."

The advancement of the project referred to has to do, not with sectarian peculi= arities, but with THE RECOGNITION OF GREAT PRINCIPLES, and in the promotion of which ALL Protestants may unite.

Dr. Cahill has signalized himself by his zeal to promote the Roman Catholic faith. He would have been a most fitting agent for Catharine de Medicis, of France, and the Duke of Guise, or an efficient prime minister of the "Bloody Mary," a kindred spirit to associate with a Gardner and a Bonner.

The following sentiments are dated from the Catholic Seminary of Londonderry:

"But, fellow-countrymen, England shall not have everything her own way. We are now forming a society such as has never been seen in Ireland before. It will be a society fairly embodying the mind and the heart and the service of every nian, woman, and child in the kingdon, and we shall live and die in defence of the decision, (sic) of this new and glorious and, with the blessing of God, successful association. Depend upon it that England has sapped her own foundations. Depend upon it that France is not settled, and that France owes England a grudge which never will or can be forgiven. There is not one Frenchman or one Frenchwoman or one French child who would not dance with frantic joy at the glorious idea of having an opportunity before they die of burying their eager swords, and plunging their crimsoned French steel in the inmost heart of every man bearing the hated name of Englishman. Therefore, keep up your courage, and wait your opportunity in a strictly legal attitude, and England will very soon be in your power. We shall now demand perfect equality with our oppressors, we shall demand the complete annihilation of the temporalities of the Protestant Church, and I tell you we shall have all England at our back, we shall have the moral support of Europe, and of the civilized world."

Such are Roman Catholic tender mercies towards Protestants in England. If there be two national communities in the civilized world who should on various grounds be united in the bonds of cordiality, they are those of FRANCE and ENGLAND.