and the Augsburgh unaltered Confession of 1530. When this was unanimously affirmed, the President exclaimed, with deep emotion, "Now is Sweden become one man, and we have all only one God!" Succeeding Monarchs and Councils did all that human wisdom could do to perfect the mechanism of the Church, and render it imperative on the

Clergy to go through much external toil in connexion with their office; and in this view of the subject perhaps no Church in the world presents a more complete apparatus for bringing the creed of the Church before the whole population, than that which is possessed by the Lutheran Church of Sweden.Evangelical Christendom.

ON Tuesday, the 6th of July, a Meeting was held in the small room, Exeter-Hall, to hear an address in Italian from the Rev. Giacinto Achilli, D.D., late Professor of Theology at Rome and at Naples, on the subject of the evangelization of Italy. A small, but attentive and interested, audience were assembled on the occasion. chair was taken by the Hon. Arthur Kinnaird; and on the platform, amongst others, were the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, the Rev. Owen Clarke, Signor Ciocci, the Rev. Dr. Di Menna, Signor Bruschi, Signor Crespi, Dr. Gilioli, Dr. Crawford, Mr. Tonna, &c.

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The Chairman opened the Meeting by calling on the Rev. Owen Clarke to engage in prayer. He then introduced Dr. Achilli, who, while actually holding a responsible and high office in the Pope's court, that of Vicario del Maestro del Sacro Palazzo Apostolico, had been led by the Spirit of the Lord to search the Scriptures, and in them to find the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blessed Gospel he now ardently longed to impart to his benighted countrymen.

REV. DR. ACHILLI'S ADDRESS. IN appearing before you, my English brethren, this day, the words with which the Apostle Paul introduced himself to the good Thessalonians occur to my mind: "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth ;' and I can cordially assure you that, in the words of the same Apostle, "I pray always for you, having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints." Indeed, "your faith is spoken of through all the world," and I have therefore long ardently desired "to see you, to impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end ye

may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me."

I appear, therefore, before you to make known to you some of the counsels of God, and of the marvellous dealings of his providence, touching the fair land of my birth, to which I am bound by the closest ties of duty and patriotism,-Italy, once the abode of pure Christian faith, now a den of superstition ! Poor Italy! to whose many other ills is added the heaviest of all ills, the yoke of Popery, by which she is rendered hateful to God, a proverb and a by-word amongst nations. Bear with me, then, dear brethren, bear with a son of that land, who, penetrated to the heart as he is by a sense of her sore affliction, endeavours to give some vent to his sorrow, by telling you some of the things she suffers, and how much she stands in need of help.

I will tell you, also, what are the earnest desires of all the faithful men in the land, and also about efforts which are being made, both within and without Italy, to free themselves from spiritual bondage, that worst of all slavery, which fetters thought as well as action, soul as well as body.

Italy's woes arise from the tyranny of the Priests. Little did she foresee to what tyrants she was committing the government of the hearts and intellects of her people, and in what way this upstart religion would lord it over nations, and at length even over Kings; little did she foresee how the Gospel would be abused, and a system wholly political be established on the basis of religion. But now she is awake to her past folly, and detests it; she curses the authors of this great delusion; and she longs to shake it off: and this is the contrast between the present and all preceding times, that renders the present epoch so momentous and interesting.

Italy pants to shake off Popery. Amongst all orders and classes there are multitudes who care no longer for confession, go no more to mass, laugh at indulgences, and make a jest of excommunication; and the Priest who attempts to urge these observances upon them is openly shunned. All this shows us that the Popery of Italy is confined to few. No, dear brethren, all Italians are not Papists, all the Priests and Monks in Italy are not Papists, all the Bishops and Cardinals are not Papists. The doctrines of Rome are losing followers day after day. But how fares Christianity amongst them? Alas! with few exceptions, men who have seen Popery and Christianity so intimately connected with one another, have not spiritual discernment enough to separate the one from the other, and, with the falsehoods of Rome, they reject the sublimest truths of Christianity. Where Popery fails to make dupes, she makes infidels. Italy is full of men who, ceasing to believe in the Romish dogmas, have ceased to believe in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

ture.

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And one main cause of this state of things is, their ignorance of holy ScripThe Bible is practically prohibited in Italy, except in Latin. translation by Martini is indeed allowed to some; but what with notes, the restrictions on free judgment, and the necessity of laying bare every idea of the mind before a Confessor for his approval, the permission to read it becomes merely nominal; and to women it is almost wholly forbidden. Martini's translation, moreover, is from the Latin, and not from the original, and favours all that Rome would teach. Diodati's more correct translation, and indeed all Bibles printed out of Italy, are absolutely prohibited. They are stopped by the Custom-House, and in some places are burnt, and in others rooms are filled with confiscated Bibles.

[The learned Doctor proceeded to show how the Church had become a Church of Priests alone, in which the people had no part, no feeling in common; and this he mainly attributed to the extinction of the Latin tongue as a spoken dialect, while the Church continued to retain it; thus making the Church of Italy a Latin, but not an Italian, Church.]

From this state of things poor Italy must be rescued. We have girded ourselves to this work by an impulse from the Lord. Our mission is a holy one.

We are resolved that our brethren in Italy shall read the Bible, shall hear of the Bible, and, if the Lord so will it, shall by the Bible reform their corrupted faith. We meddle not with politics, we only treat of religion; we respect laws and government, but we revere God above all. The rule of Kings must not interfere with the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

In many ways can the Gospel be brought to bear on our dear Italy; and I could tell you of many interesting circumstances within her own bosom, of families who read and meet for prayer and communion in their own beloved tongue; of Priests whose minds are awakened to, and whose hearts are touched by, the saving truths of the Gospel, and who only wait the moment to declare, that "they and their father's house will serve the Lord." But, although the Lord does not open to us a door by which the Preacher of the Gospel may go forth into Italy itself, and declare freely the truth as it is in Jesus, we are determined to spread our Mission around Italy, on the coasts and islands of the Mediterranean. And for this end several brethren have joined me during my sojourn in Malta, who purpose to undertake this work, together with myself; nay, we have already commenced it, and others will soon join themselves to us. We take God for our Father, and his dear Son Jesus Christ for our Lord and Master; the Bible will be our only guide, and the reformation of Italy our only end, and to which we shall bend all our energies; and in this cause we are willing to endure labour, and suffering, and persecution, and all that the adversary of good may be able to lay upon us.

My brethren, can I doubt the interest that this our undertaking will excite in your hearts? I ask no other help from you than your prayers. When you entreat the Father of mercies to preserve the truth of the Gospel in your own land, think of poor Italy, and ask Him to be pleased to make Italy a partaker of "like precious faith;" and should your hearts be inclined to assist us in any other way, follow the sacred impulse, and be the means in the hands of God in carrying out this the great design of his providence in gathering the heirs of glory out of every nation and every tongue. And thus religion becomes the best tie to bind people and nations in one.-Evangelical Christendom.

Many of the nobility make a regular trade of letting lodgings. One foreign family is accommodated by a Prince; to another a Count has the politeness to cede his first floor ready furnished; and we were one morning alarmed by the entrance of a chasseur in livery, with a sword and an enormous cocked hat and feather, into our drawing-room, to assure us that his mistress, the Marchioness, was most eager to make an arrangement to let her house for two-thirds of the price she had asked, to a family of our acquaintance. When she had previously shown us the apartment, we took her for the housekeeper. Yet the Marchioness kept her carriage; and so do many others, who are said to live on maccaroni and spare diet, in order to make this display. If a family wish to hire a good pianoforte, it can be had even from a Duchess for a sufficient price; and one of the royal Princes condescends to permit wine to be sold at his gate, whilst his palace is almost entirely occupied by his friends, or, in plainer language, his creditors. A Princess, who strains every point to go to court in her own carriage, to kiss the Queen's hand, probably maintains her family for eightpence a day, and never invites a friend to eat or drink within her doors. But it must not therefore be supposed that they are economical on principle, or that they fail to enjoy the pleasures of life. On the contrary, these pleasures are the engrossing objects of their pursuit, and almost every means is resorted to to obtain them, except honest labour. It is rare that what is considered pleasure in this country, does not go hand in hand with vice. Tait's Magazine for July.

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ANECDOTE OF LORD NORTH.Lord North, at a city dinner, having announced the receipt of intelligence of an advantage gained over the "rebels," and being taken to task by Charles Fox and Colonel Barre, who were present, for applying such language to fellow-subjects in America," exclaimed, with the inimitable talent for goodhumoured raillery which distinguished him, "Well, then, to please you, I will call them the gentlemen in opposition on the other side of the water." This has been told me as a traditionary anecdote not hitherto in print.-Lord Campbell's Lives of the Chancellors.

CHILDHOOD IN FRANCE.-I observed some French children: the very small ones, fantastically dressed up as play things, seemed petted, caressed, and spoiled; but the elder ones, from ten to sixteen, looking care-worn, conceited, independent, and miserable. Everything is gay in Paris but childhood. Old age is gay, pleasantly so, even when fantastically so; and death itself is tricked out in garlands, and "turned to favour and to prettiness." Why, then, are the children so joyless? It cannot be that they are too harshly restrained, or ruled by fear; for a cruel discipline is no part of the French character, or the French educational practice; on the contrary, a French boy is soon his own master, and lounges as he pleases. Is it not that there are no firesides,-no homes ? It seems a fine independent thing for a Parisian shopkeeper to dispense with the plague of domestic servants; take every day, with his wife, the freedom of the restaurant and the café; and when he shuts up his shop, leave it to take care of itself, while he lounges, or dances, or smokes, or reads a journal, or does all these, in some public garden,— or, better than all, goes to the play. But the pleasures and comforts of children are of home growth, and require a home shelter. They are here only sad, wearied, wondering spectators of the gaieties of their parents, which are all associated with coquetry, gallantry, and feelings akin to these, in which they do not participate; and though some amends are made by an early initiation into their essences, and an earlier emulation of their symbols, still children, as children,' have no food for their affections in the whirling kaleidoscope which dazzles them. In Prussia, children are happier, because they are under a stricter discipline; but England, with all its imputed sins of fagging and flogging, and excess of Latin versification, is the place where childhood is most happy as childhood: happy in restraint, happy in indulgence, happy in the habits of obedience, and respect, and filial love! You would not find such a set of care-worn, pale, unhappy faces in any charity-school in England, as you may mark in a throng of wandering dissipated boys in the gardens of the Tuileries.-Sergeant Talfourd's Vacation Rambles.

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NOVEMBER 13th, 1845.-The "Triton " arrived from Feejee on the 21st instant she was in here a fortnight, taking in wood and water, and making preparations for her voyage to NewZealand. We had some profitable services with the men on shore. Captain Lillewall does all in his power to oblige the Missionaries, and to make them comfortable while voyaging with him. is truly devoted to God, and to his cause, and esteems it an honour to be thus employed in promoting the welfare of those engaged on these interesting Missions. Mr. and Mrs. Kevern left us with heavy hearts; and we all feel much at having to give them up for a season, just when their services are so much needed. But we hope they will be returned to us in good health. Yesterday I was at three islands, preaching and renewing the tickets of the members. There is no great move among them: some are very clear in their experience; but these are only few.

18th. At Utui, I preached and renewed the tickets of the members. Many were affected to tears during the sermon. We held a short prayer-meeting afterwards; and the Lord was with us in a blessed manner. There have been some profitable meetings at Neiafu, and other places, of late; and I hope the people are being revived a little.

28th. A canoe has come to desire King George to go with all haste to Tonga, as Josiah Tubou is very ill, and not likely to live many days. The King left immediately with seven canoes, and

as many more will attend him from Haabai. Should Tubou be called hence, we fully expect George will become his successor. The Heathens of Tonga have made some efforts to prevail upon Tubou to be carried to some devilhouse; but this will not be allowed either by himself or his friends.

Sunday, 30th.-I was at Mataika and Feletou, to preach and give tickets. I examined the infant-schools, and was well pleased with the scholars. They repeated a chapter of the Scriptures, three chapters of the Conference Catechism, and many other lessons.

December 26th.-Some very important events have taken place since I last wrote. On the arrival of King George at Tonga, he found that Tubou had been buried a week. He was received with every mark of respect by the Christian Chiefs and people of Tonga; and though some fortresses have not fully consented, yet they have not made any opposition to his being appointed the Tuikanekabolu of the Friendly Isles. The Lord has honoured George, and has now raised him to the highest civil honours among this people. But I shall not say anything of the inauguration of King George, as those on the spot will describe this more fully.

Our watch-night was one of the most solemn and profitable that I have enjoyed for some years: all the speakers were much assisted, and many have spoken of the good they received during the services.

January 7th, 1846.-This day we have

renewed the covenant to be the Lord's as a church and as a people. The prayermeeting commenced at six o'clock in the morning, and it was a time of refreshing to many. At nine o'clock, A. M., the sermon began, and afterwards we renewed our covenant. All were very serious, and seemed to feel the importance of the transaction. At one o'clock we met to commemorate the death of Christ. There were about seven hundred persons present. I had only to reject one person. At five o'clock, P. M., I met the Local Preachers in their Quarterly Meeting, and was happy to witness such harmony among them. The services of the three past Sabbaths have been attended with a very gracious influence, and I am cherishing a hope that we shall yet see better days. I have received a letter from King George, stating that he has been unwell, but hopes that he is now better. He is a valuable man; and were he to die, we should be painfully circumstanced; for there are none who could fill his place.

20th. A delightful day. The children of the infant-schools have been examined, and have got through their lessons in a manner which does great credit both to themselves and to their Teachers. They were all neatly dressed, and entered into the service with spirit. The centre of the chapel was reserved for the scholars, teachers, and visiters of each school; and the fence of the chapel has been taken down, to allow the people to see and hear with advantage.

21st. I have finished the examination of the schools in two days, instead of three, as was expected. We have sat from six o'clock in the morning till twelve, and from two o'clock till sunset: every school was in readiness, and went through their lessons without confusion. The children of each school repeated one chapter of the Scriptures, from one to four chapters of the Conference Catechism, together with Geogra phy, and Spelling; they also repeated the multiplication table, and Roman figures up to one thousand.

Never were there any institutions here so interesting as these schools, both to young and old. The young are thankful that they live at such a time, and the old praise God that they did not die before witnessing this anniversary. The school at Neiafu was the last examined. The scholars were dressed in fine Samoan mats. They repeated the seventh chapter of Genesis, and answered all the questions which I put to them upon the chapter. They then repeated the first

six verses in English, and told the meaning of each word in Tonguese. They afterwards repeated the first chapter of the second part of the Conference Catechism, and repeated the scripture both in native and English. The school received the applause of all present, and many wept for joy when they heard the lips of infants repeat the word of God.

But there is something still better to relate which took place at the school anniversary, and which delights my soul while thinking of it. In the evening, I had the principal Teachers of every place in the Circuit, and the Visiters of the infant-school at Neiafu, in my study, to take tea, and to talk over what we had witnessed. After continuing together for some time, we pleaded before God for the prosperity of his great cause in the Circuit; and while thus engaged, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon us in an extraordinary manner, and we were all filled "unutterably full." One proposed that, as God had so abundantly blessed us, we should beat the native drum, and call the people together to tell them of the great things which God had done for us, and also to encourage them to expect the same themselves. The people were surprised to hear the drum beat in the night, and about one hundred soon found their way to the chapel, and were blessed. But the night was cold, and I was afraid to remain. We returned to my study, and some followed us who had received good, and others who were desirous to obtain it. The study was soon surrounded some were weeping, and others crying out for mercy.

At five o'clock in the morning we rang for the native prayer-meeting, and the chapel was soon crowded. People were seen running on all sides, some to see what was the matter, and others to mock. But in a little time all were more or less affected; and the whole of the people assembled seemed almost overwhelmed before God. The Leaders were soon seen rejoicing in the salvation of God; the most desperate sinners became affected; and nearly all those who were at Neiafu for some misdemeanour, were deeply convinced of sin, and were actually crying out from disquietude of soul.

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Men, women, and children were praying for mercy on every side. work began somewhat in the same way as in 1833; and bore the same marks of the gracious energy of the Holy Ghost. The meeting continued for three hours, when we allowed the people to have the great feast which they had proposed the day before.