THE following Letters-with the exception of the last-were first published in two or three Provincial Newspapers. The object of the writer was limited to a desire to create some local interest in the place of his residence, on a question, which he deems of transcendant importance to the religious and social well-being of the community, and of the world. Various friends having expressed an opinion that good would arise from a more general circulation, they have been rescued from the fugitive form of publication in which they first appeared. If, in the midst of the excitement of the times, any, even the least possible attention should be producedespecially in his own religious community-on a subject which is likely, sooner or later, to come home to their bosoms and their homes with tremendous importance, the Author will be amply satisfied. THE DUTIES OF PROTESTANTS WITH REGARD TO POPERY. LETTER I. THE question, "Is Popery on the increase?" is often proposed. The answer varies with the politico-religious creed of the parties making it; the liberal invariably arguing that it is not unnaturally increasing, and the adherent of old English principles as firmly maintaining that its advances are fearfully rapid, and equally dangerous. Another question of equal importance demands the serious consideration of all parties interested, viz., What are the sentiments of the different classes, constituting the religious world, and the body politic ?-or in other words, What is now the hue, tone, aud gauge of the morale of the question regarding Popery ? A revolution of sentiment always precedes any great external changes in either religious or civil society. If the same feeling prevails now, as existed when the Stuart race was driven from the throne, because of their adherence to Popery, and the Brunswick dynasty was founded on purely Protestant principles; if the same indomitable resolution to spurn a foreign, priestly, and tyrannous dominion exists, which led to the affirmation of the nationality of the English Church, and laid her foundations in principles eternally hostile to the claims of the Papacy; and if the same spirit predominates amongst Nonconformists, which led them to dissent from the Episcopal Church, because it did not remove far enough from Rome; then in the prevalency of this pure, national, and Protestant spirit, the country is safe, and may bid defiance to the new crusade of Popery against her noble bulwarks of freedom and religion. The supreme importance of a living Protestant feeling, sufficiently deep, strong, and vigorous, to resist the encroachments of the enemy, is now most apparent; because it is evidently the only power, next to the truth, on which we have to rely. The time of penal enactments has passed away. Popish Priest is no longer a recusant in law, and the mass-house a proscribed temple of idolatry. Popery has been admitted into the precincts of Parlia A The |