doubt the course of events, and probably expecting the intervention of his foreign supporters to restore his temporal authority. If he do regain it, it must be in that way, for, if the testimony of the Times' correspondent be correct, the Romans are not likely to fetch their Sovereign back. He says, "Certain it is that a great change has taken place in public opinion; and from undoubted evidence which has come under my own knowledge, the people of Italy are beginning to throw off their blind adherence to Popery, and to assert for themselves the privi of thinking for themselves on religious matters. So far from believing the Pope can do no wrong, they do not scruple to rank him with the chief of evil doers." Nor does the Pope appear to have obtained perfect freedom by becoming an exile from the "Holy City." Ferdinand of Naples seems inclined to play toward him the part of supervisor. He has stopped all intercourse between the Pope and his subjects, by arresting the further progress of the Roman deputation at the Neapolitan frontier. America and France have each elected their Presidents. The new President of the United States is General Taylor. His election took place on the 7th of November; and was marked by almost unbroken order and quietude Though a General and a Slaveholder, in his election, it is said, moderation has achieved a triumph, and we have a guarantee against the meddlesome and aggressive policy which his predecessor has pursued. France has chosen as her first President, Louis Napoleon Buonaparte, and that by an immense majority. This act, as an expression of the feelings of the people, is variously interpreted, and the probable consequences to which it will lead are much speculated upon. But our business is to record events and not predict them, we therefore wait for the future till it becomes the present and the past. Egypt is probably on the eve of important changes arising out of the death of Ibrahim Pacha, who departed this life November 10th. He is succeeded by Abbas Pacha, who is about thirty-five years of age, and has been described as "a bigotted Mussulman, educated in the Harem by eunuchs, hating Europeanism, and hated by the Egyptains." The Anti-State-Church Association is pursuing its winter campaign with much spirit, and we should hope with some success. Large meetings have been held in London and many of the provincial towns, and the telling speeches delivered have enlisted the enthusiasm of thousands in the good cause. May the agitation go on and prosper, until in Great Britain religion become free from state control and state pay. We breathe this prayer the more fervently, because we believe the tendency of events is to shut us up to the alternative of government supporting all sects, or supporting none; and from patriotism as well as New Testament principle, we infinitely prefer the latter to the former; and should consider its consummation a catastrophe to be deplored by us, both as lovers of our country, and lovers of the truth. Yet, to human calculation, this is a state of things not at all unlikely to be brought about, and if our public journals are to be believed, the initiative has already been taken by her Majesty's ministers, in the drawing up of a bill for the endowment of the Roman Catholic priests in Ireland, to be submitted to the next parliament. This project however it is hoped will be nipped in the bud by the very opportune occurrence of several vacancies in the representation. One of these was for the important constituency of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the first candidate for which, a son of Earl Fitzwilliam, was driven from the field on this very question. This, with the retirement of one of the candidates for South Devon for the same reason, will in all probability lead government to abandon their project-that is, until a more convenient season presents itself. The Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel has seceded from the Established Church. He preached his farewell sermon to the congregation of St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row, London, on Lord's day, December 3rd. In this place of worship Mr. Noel has officiated for the last twenty-six years, and has been held in high esteem, by the people among whom he has laboured, for his excellence of character. His reasons for leaving the Establishment will soon be before the world in the form of "An Essay on the Union of the Church and the State." One journal thus comments on the occurrence: "When a man so imbued with the spirit of evangelical truth, so indefatigable in his holy mission, so beloved by his immediate congregation, and so respected by all classes, feels bound to separate himself from a worldly and Erastian Establishment, we are entitled to say, the Church is in danger. His secession is no ordinary event; it is the fall of a pillar The example will spread far and near, and prove a heavy blow to Episcopacy." DR. JOHN THOMAS ON POPERY. [Copied from the Glasgow Examiner.] MY DEAR FRIEND,-By yours of the 5th instant I learn that "every person is inquiring at you, what says Dr. Thomas now in reference to the signs of the times? It is gravely insinuated that both you and 'Fleming of immortal renown' have failed to forsee the true end of Popery, inasmuch as the reign of the Pope in Rome is now and forever at an end." In reply to this, I remark that I decline association with Fleming as an interpreter of prophecy. In the next place, I remark that the signs of the times are remarkably confirmatory of the views set forth in my lectures (in Glasgow and other places.) The "true end of Popery" hath not arrived; neither hath the "reign of the Pope," as every one may see. The true end of Popery will not come till Rome sinks down into hell beneath her; for then “no man will buy their (the Romish priests) merchandize (giving them gold, tithes, &c., for prayers, absolution indulgences, masses, and their various empirical et ceteras of soul saving) any more. See Rev. xviii. 8, 11, 19, 21. The "Reign of the Pope" is first ecclesiastical; and secondly, civil. His civil power is limited to the Papal States, which comprehends about two millions of men, women, and children. He first exercised ecclesiastical rule over Italy and the West; and 270 years after was converted into a civil ruler over the states of the Church, by Charlemagne. He is still acknowledged as Ecclesiastical Prince of all Italy and the West; though for the last thirteen days he has absented himself from his petty state. His civil authority in Rome may possibly never be restored, but his imperial ecclesiastial reign is still in full force over all European anti-Christendom. This is evident from the readiness with which 3500 French were sent to protect his person: the great respect shown him by the unprincipled government of Great Britain; and from the fact that there is not a Romanist or a priest in the whole hierarchy but still regards it the highest honour to obey his sovereign will. The mere expulsion, or voluntary absence of the Pope from Italy, is no evidence of his reign, or that of the Papal sovereignty, being at an end. Formerly the Popes resided from necessity at Avignon in France for 70 years; and within our own time one was a prisoner at Fontainebleau for several years. One of the next events in Rome's bloody history will be, as I have already published, a military coalition against her by which she will experience the fate of Vienna and other cities of the "Holy Roman Empire;" for the sentence against her is—“The kings shall hate the harlot (city), and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and BURN HER WITH FIRE." The Red Republican demonianism at work in Rome, by bringing about war with Austria and the Imperial German power, will compel the fulfilment of these words. When this hath come to pass the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah awaits her. Then Popery will be a drug in the soul-markets of the world. Earnestly desiring so glorious a consummation, I remain, yours faithfully, Lincoln, December 8, 1848. JOHN THOMAS. DR. THOMAS. DR. THOMAS has returned to London for winter quarters; where letters will find him, if directed to 3, Brudenel Place, New North Road. The great interest created in "the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus" by his exhibitions of the truth, has induced him to respond to various public requests for him to publish a volume that will meet this question, namely, "What system of things do the Scriptures as a whole reveal for our knowledge, faith, and practice?" The interpretations extant in this country failing to present a comprehensive, harmonious, or intelligible exposition of the Word; and, being persuaded that the views submitted by Dr. Thomas supply this great desideratum, committees have been appointed in Edinburgh and other places, to facilitate the publication of them in a portable and permanent form. The great object he will have in view will be to send the reader to the Bible with the veil removed from his understanding, which overspreads the public mind; so that he may in reading the Word be able to work out for himself, in the old Berean spirit, a faith which shall number him among the faithful of former days, "of whom the world was not worthy." His health has suffered by his arduous labours during the past five months, in which he has spoken upwards of a hundred times, besides being subject to much fatigue by very frequent and protracted conversations. He hopes to recruit his strength by January 1, 1849, when he will commence the volume, and continue at it until it is finished. He intends to make another tour through England and Scotland before he departs for the United States, in order to finish for a season the good work so auspiciously begun. By his visit to this country he has given a practical illustration of what may be accomplished by individual enterprize. He has aroused thousands to an interest in the Bible, who before could see nothing in it of more than common place interest, or hardly that. He has made the Word the topic of town-talk; he has caused the people to forget the man in their astonishment at the wondrous truth; and has left an impression behind him which time cannot obliterate. Circumstances have greatly favoured him. Reports of his lectures have been published in various newspapers; 2000 copies of his Lincoln lectures have been nearly distributed; 2000 tracts made up of minor articles; 2500 circulars on the European Sisterhood of Nations, which has also been republished in the Banner; and 1000 on the Three Frog Power of the Sixth Vial, shortly to issued together with the remarkable times in which we live, are things which have all conspired to open the way before him. We venture to predict, that multitudes will yet have to bless the day, that the partizan insensibility and prejudice of the New World, caused him to seek to find scope for the "Word of the Truth of the Gospel" in the Old.-Communicated. QUERY. Correspondence. MR. EDITOR.-An idea is entertained by some of our brethren, and almost universally by our Baptist friends, that it is the duty of congregations to pay their pastors. As little has been said on this subject through the medium of any of the periodicals in connexion with the reformation in this country, perhaps you, or some of your able correspondents, will be so kind as to reconcile any seeming contradiction that there may be in the following passages of Scripture, in reference to this subject, Acts xx. 33, 34, 35-1 Tim. v. 17, 18, Gal. vi. 6, and furnish an answer to the question, Is it, or is it not, the duty of pastors to support themselves ? T. B. NEWARK. OUR beloved brother Dr. Thomas has been amongst us here for good. Instead of the church been divided into factions, it is more than ever united. Four excellent lectures have been given by him; and the intense interest exhibited by the public was such, that our meeting room, spacious as it is, was insufficient to accommodate them, hundreds each evening going away disappointed, not being enable to get near the door. The conclusion of each lecture was marked by such demonstrations which must have been agreeably received by the Dr. The brethren were much disappointed that brother Thomas could not sit down with them on the Lord's day, on account of previous arrangements at Lincoln. The visit of our brother has been a great intellectual treat and well appreciated by all who heard him. J. H. THE CONDUCTING OF THE BROTHER HUDSTON.-I have been anxiously looking for the statement of accounts which appears with the December number of the Banner, as affecting the sale of this valuable periodical. I am anxious to show my sympathy for you, by ordering 12 copies for each month of the coming year. Your appeal must certainly meet with a noble and generous response from the brethren, when they know how the balance sheet is. I must add my humble testimony to the fairness shown to all in its pages, and to the able and pleasing variety of its contents. It is an excellent medium for solving the greatest problem of the day, "What is truth?" and as another pioneer for truth, it demands our best and most generous support. Wishing you success, I subscribe myself, Yours in Hope, J. L. Another brother writes: BROTHER HUDSTON -During the last year, many eyes have been fixed upon your progress with intense anxiety. The proud title you assumed-The Gospel Banner-at once raise you to a conspicuous, important, and arduous situation. The standard-bearer always occupies a position of peril in the centre of the fight, and is the chief object of assault; he requires therefore to be firm, courageous, and watchful; that by his example he may encourage, stimulate, and lead forward his fellow-soldiers in the cause of truth, and righteousness; against ignorance, error, oppression, and corruption. This, brother, you have calmly, firmly, impartially, and fearlessly achieved; at the sacrifice of friends, subscribers, and money; but you have gained for yourself the esteem and confidence of the best of your brethren, and what is still better, the approbation of your own conscience, and the approval your God. of Lead on, dear brother, for another year, in the cause of truth and righteousness, in the same impartial, self-denying, and uncompromising manner, and as the standard is the rallying point of the courageous; so, though opposed by all who are afraid to have their deeds and creeds brought to the severe ordeal of public investigation, yet the Banner will be upheld by all impartial, independent, and true-hearted reformers, who have access to its pages, and you will enjoy the favour of God, which maketh rich and addeth no sorrow. Dear brother, &c., 0. The Poet's Corner. BIRTHDAY REFLECTIONS. How sweet are birthdays, when the flow Bright visions of futurity. A ray of hope, a cloud of fears The morn of life has scarce begun, Though thunders roll, and lightnings play, When round life's path clouds gather black, Beneath high heaven's blue canopy. Life's dream ends in death's mystery. Aught that would mar its history. Newthorpe, November 13, 1848. M. MAKIN. Then for thyself in meekness, Thy great Redeemer's name. 线 |