do so? Could nothing be done for those who had been brought up as priests of the Church of Rome, but whose faith was shaken in that system? They seemed to be in what geologists termed a transition state. They had too much light to continue Roman Catholics, and too much darkness to become Pro

testants.

Ought not some asylum to be provided for them, not, indeed, to draw them from the Church of Rome by tempting offers, but to prevent their starvation, and to give the means for qualifying themselves for some different mode of gaining a livelihood in future? The tendency of Popery, and indeed of most systems, was to diminish individual responsibility. It was so especially as regarded the Church of Rome; and immortal beings were expected to risk their everlasting all upon the dictation of a self-styled infallible Church. There was great danger in that. A man is what he is in the sight of God. That principle of individual responsibility continually borne in mind would tend to dissolve and break asunder the magic spell by which multitudes are enthralled by system, to the ruin of their immortal souls. No edict of Council, no Act of Parliament, no Church theory, can rid man of his individual responsibility. No minister, no priest, no bishop, no Pope can do it. Each one must answer for himself, and alone each one must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.

In the present day we have to contend with superstition on the one hand, and infidelity on the other. We are not afraid of either. The contest may

be severe and long, but of the ultimate issue we can have no doubt whatever. True science and true religion will survive the ruin of philosophy, falsely so called. Astronomy and geology, the telescope and the microscope, and the discoveries of travellers, bear their testimony to the creative power, and wisdom, and goodness, and superintending care of the Most High.

Nor need we wonder at this. For the Almighty, who is the God of all wisdom, and power, and knowledge, is the God of our Christianity, the author and finisher of our faith.

Let nothing, then, shake our confidence in the Bible.

The thrones of monarchs never rest so securely as when established in righteousness, based in the hearts' affections of their people, and linked by the ties of true religion to the throne of the Eternal; and a people are never so happy as when the principles of the Bible pervade the Legislation and policy of their country and regulate the hearts and conduct of its citizens from the highest to the lowest, in the smallest as well as in the greatest of their transactions.

The result of this movement he had already observed, it was impossible fully to appreciate. Just as a stone cast into a lake creates a ripple which stops not till it has reached the

utmost boundary of its waters, so the movement now inaugurated here this day may have consequences too remote to be seen by us, and, radiating from the spot on which we stand, may tell to those near and afar off, even to the utmost confines of the habitable globe, glad tidings of temporal and spiritual good things which, but for our efforts, it might never have been their lot to know.

Mr. Lord thanked them for their attention on each occasion of his addressing them, expressed the deep sense of responsibility he had felt in doing so, the solemn feeling impressed upon his own mind that they never again could expect to meet in this world, and his unabated conviction that the sacred cause of Christianity, being the cause of Christ, must survive all opposition"And Jesus reign where'er the sun Doth his successive journey run, His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,

Till suns shall rise to set no more.'

GRANTS OF STANDARD WORKS ΤΟ SCRIPTURE - READERS, CITY MISSIONARIES, PUBLIC LIBRARIES, ETC.

In addition to grants of about 800 volumes of Protestant works granted in 1856, the Committee of the Protestant Association have recently granted about 200 volumes to the same class of persons as heretofore, and from the replies they have received they trust the books will prove of essential service to the recipients.

"Romanists," says one correspondefforts in order to corrupt the minds ent, "are putting forth all their of many of the working classes who repair to places almost every evening in the week in order to hear the oppo

sition of the one to Divine revelation sentation of the doctrines of the same or to listen to the corrupted misrepreby the other. I am sorry to have to add after three years' experience that the sympathy of the majority of the infidel advocate; and it is not to be working men is always with the supposed that those men who discard Divine revelation and ignore the being or existence of a God, as is the case with numbers in this quarter, should pay much regard to the dogmas of Romanism. Those of them who hold orthodox principles at a discount, or a Church whose main Article guarantees that nothing be taught as necessary to salvation that is not read in God's Word or may be proved thereby,' are not likely to give much heed to a system whose teachings outrage men's common sense and scepticism. But this system has its engender at the least a disposition to advocates. There is a young man

named

a Romanist, who publicly advocates in the open air, nay teaches, the doctrines of the Church of Rome. About a fortnight ago I stood by him for more than an hour in

in the evening, where he was surrounded by a number of persons, principally Romanists, who aid and abet, and who are styled by some the 'Irish Brigade,' or Body Guard,' so called from the fact that every advocate of Romanism is sure to be surrounded by Romanists ready, upon the defeat of their champion (if such should be the case), to heap all kinds of abuse and bad names upon the Protestant advocate, and to give all possible interruption to the same. I repeat that

stood by for more than an hour, and heard him read from a

written paper, in the form of a large old-fashioned copybook a statement and defence of almost every doctrine ead statements on the rule of faith, of the Church of Rome. I heard him tradition, original sin, books of Scripture, transubstantiation, purgatory, the seven sacraments, communion

under one species, &c., &c. This young man may be seen constantly in the week-evenings reading under a gas lamp on the controverted points. "Another man named -, alias

-, may be seen with a stock of books, having in addition the authorized version of the Scriptures and the Douay with him in order to oppose Protestantism.

"Such is a brief sketch of what is going on in the east of London, both amongst infidels and Romanists, in the open air, and that continually.

"I do not know how this information may be either useful or acceptable to you; as a reason therefore for my troubling you with these few remarks, you will permit me to add that for the last three years and better I have occupied frequently the infidel platform in in order to oppose their principles and defend Christianity.

They willingly afford me the use of their platform, when I choose to give a lecture in defence of the doctrines

of Revelation. I am mixed up with them constantly in the open air, and have been engaged four or five times in discussion with the young man

before referred to. I have studied the Romish controversy for twenty-eight years; but, in an age like the present, with its growing intelligence and effort on all sides, I should desire much to add to my stock of material, in order that I may be prepared to bring forth out of my treasury things new as well as old, for the maintenance of truth.

Having heard of your 'Standard Works,' of so great repute on this particular controversy, I should deem it to be a great advantage to be in possession of such a source of information on matters so essential, as it is most probable my life will be spent in the study and advocacy of the great principles of the Reformation.'

"It would ill become me, therefore, if I was not disposed at a reasonable inconvenience to myself to secure such a valuable addition to my present stock.

"I have little doubt but you will kindly inform me what indulgence I may hope for from your respected Committee in this matter if favourably regarded."

A Scripture-reader, engaged in a populous and destitute district, thus writes in returning thanks for a grant of books:

"July 8, 1857. "Gentlemen,-I have just received the eight volumes of your Association's Standard Works,' which you kindly granted me some time since, for which I feel deeply indebted to you.

"I have but just glanced at them at present, but that is sufficient to show me that I shall find in them a treasury of useful and most important matter; and that I shall, after a careful perusal, be much better equipped for the contest with that deadly foe of God and man (the Papacy), than I have hitherto been.

"They form a most valuable addition to my library, and I trust I shall become more and more useful in the great struggle going on as I become better furnished with weapons of war. Praying that God's blessing may crown with very abundant success your earnest endeavours to stem the torrent of Popery in the land,

"Believe me, &c."

From a Scripture-reader :— "Aug. 8, 1857.

"Dear Sir,-It is with heartfelt thanks that I acknowledge the receipt of the books, &c., your Committee was so kind as to make me a grant of. They are just what suits the present state of things, and I must say that I feel your Society is a great boon to England at the present crisis. May the Lord increase its store, and so bless it as to enable it to be an abundant blessing to the many that are perishing around and are likely to perish in the snare of Romanism, that master-piece of Satan. Societies whose objects are to uphold the glorious truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to expose the Antichristian character of Rome's teaching are much wanted at the present day, for Rome is working to overthrow the truth in this country secretly, but very zealously, and with amazing success. Our church-going, as well as our non

church-going people are falling victims to their subtlety, and even our Sabbath-school teachers are more or

less infected with the fatal poison; and what makes the case doubly sad, is, an universal apathy prevails.

"Romanism is looked upon as Christianity, and no voice, but one here and there, at great distances, is raised to arrest its onward progress; and those voices are far from meeting with the encouragement they should receive; but we must not mind this, we are not to seek to be men-pleasers, and we know that God's will is, that 'we contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints;' and we must act upon the principle, as for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord.'

Since I received your grant the Lord has been pleased to give me some fruit for my labours, and in the

use of means I have come in contact

with some of Rome's secret workings. The nuns of this town succeeded in bringing a young woman under their influence, they wrote a note to her mother requesting she should come to them, that they wanted to see

her. The mother came, and had an interview with the nuns by herself, but the nuns made a most diabolical use of this visit. They told the daughter her mother did not care about her, and that she had bestowed all her affections on her other daughter. Their next step was to entice the young woman to leave home, that she

might be removed from under parental influence, and one of the nuns went so far as to tell her not to let her see her face again till she was leaving home. I came in contact with her shortly after, and the result, with God's blessing, has been-the nuns have done with her, or, at least, she has done with them; and they now say many evil things of her.

"I am, dear Sir, with sincere prayers that God may prosper your work, yours very truly, &c.

REFLECTIONS ARISING OUT OF THE LATE INDIAN MUTINIES. THE late terrible revolt in

India, with all its attendant atrocities, is instructive both in a religious and political point of view.

It confirms the truth of the

scriptural account of the depravity of the human heart, which is there represented as deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. At the same time it teaches us that no confidence ought to be placed in men who are destitute of Christian principles, nor should power be entrusted to them. What an enormous mass of human suffering would have been prevented if these principles had been better understood and acted upon! should never be forgotten that man is what his religion makes him. It is the tendency of all false, superstitious, and idolatrous religions to degrade man below the level of the brute and transform him into a fiend and a demon. We see this in the case of all Antichristian powers when the wholesome restraints which keep them in strikingly exemplified in the check are removed. It is

It

blood-stained career of Mohammedanism and of Popery. Mussulmen regard us as infidels, and Papists look upon us as heretics. Both would exterminate us from the face of the earth if they could. Respecting the latter the "Times "" says, "The vengeance of Rome against heretics is measured only by her power to punish them." And Mr. Burkett, in his notes on the New Testament, observes:"Rome Papal is certainly as

idolatrous, as cruel and bloody, as ever Rome Pagan was of old; yea, perhaps, much more so beyond compare." Doubtless the sanguinary Third Canon of the Fourth Lateran Council would be enforced in the present day if Romanists were in a position to do so. Those who look down upon us as infidels or heretics, and thirst for our blood, are wholly unfit to be entrusted with power. The dictates of common sense, as well as the laws of self-defence, obviously require, if they acknowledge allegiance to our Protestant Queen, that they should be kept in due subjection, and looked down upon with suspicion and distrust. To place confidence in such persons is simply absurd.

So long as men remain Hin. doos, Mohammedans, or Papists, they do not worship the God of the Bible, who forbids idolatry or image worship; but they are the poor deluded victims of superstition and imposture, and are consequently in a fearful state of moral degradation. So far as Popery is concerned, the present state of Rome speaks volumes.

Treachery and cruelty are the two main pillars of Satan's kingdom, and his emissaries constantly have recourse to these unhallowed practices for the furtherance of their wicked purposes. In this respect they resemble him who was a liar and a murderer from the beginning.

AMICUS PROTESTANS.
September 24, 1857.

Entelligence.

HOUSE OF LORDS, JULY 30.

PRELAND.-OUTRAGES TO SCRIP

TURE-READERS.

Viscount DUNGANNON, in pursuance of a notice which he had placed on which was very numerously signed by the paper, rose to present à Petition the inhabitants of the parish of St. Nicholas Without, in the City of Dublin, and by the ministers and tected from mob violence, and that churchwardens, praying to be protheir ministers, Scripture-readers, and school children might have awarded to them the protection of the British law, and that magistrates and the police force might be compelled to an impartial discharge of their duty. In presenting that Petition he wished particularly to call their Lordships' attention to certain outrages which had been committed in that locality by a Roman Catholic mob on Tuesday evening, the 12th of May last. On that evening a Roman Catholic mob had not only insulted, but assaulted, a teachers to the Protestant school, and number of persons who were going as among them were many ladies of the highest respectability; and yet, when the police were called upon to interfere, they not only declined to do so, but by their gestures they appeared to encourage the mob in their lawless proceedings. Not only were those persons assaulted in the streets, but houses were attacked and windows and furniture broken. Now, the persons thus treated stated that they did not bear any ill-feeling to their Roman Catholic fellow-subjects, but they consider that they had a right, enjoy the protection of the law; for, in the performance of their duties, to if it be otherwise, they state that Roman Catholic emancipation may end in Protestant thraldom. The miimpeded and annoyed, and apparently nister of the parish was constantly without the power of obtaining redress. He regretted having to present a Petition of such a nature, but it was still more to be regretted that equal justice was not within the reach of all the inhabitants of the sister island; and it had constantly been