with unspeakable joy. The pope went in procession to the church of St. Louis, to return thanks; and instructed his legate to congratulate the king on the success of a scheme, 'so long meditated, and so happily executed, for the good of religion.'

In England, in 1605, a considerable body of Papists, of rank and education, acting under the advice of a Jesuit, and in obedience to the Papal bulls, deliberately planned the massacre of the king, the royal family, and the whole of the nobility, at one blow. Forty years after, in Ireland, about fifty thousand Protestants were massacred in the course of a few weeks.

Thus we see, that from the first moment of the consolidation of the power of the Roman see, after emerging from the confusion of the dark ages, the apostate church has fully maintained its character, as "drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." So horrible a picture of human nature; so dreadful a specimen of something almost resembling demoniacal possession, is not to be found in the whole history of man, as is furnished by the wars, termed 'religious,' instigated by the Holy see.' But we are sometimes told, that all this has passed away; that religious persecution was merely the common error of a half-enlightened age; and that now, amid the light and moderation of the nineteenth century, no one, whether Protestant or Papist, would ever dream of reviving it.

This is a deceit; and it can scarcely ever happen that the party offering such an argument, does not know it to be a deceit.

Popery is now checked in her career of persecution by a variety of causes which deprive her of her

former power. One of these is the prevalence of infidelity on the continent. The indifference and scepticism which so generally prevails on the continent, permits popery to exist in a moderated form; but it would not bear the revival of active persecution. Perhaps we might more correctly say, that the terms of agreement between popery and infidelity, for the extirpation of Christianity, are not yet finally agreed upon, and that, till that treaty is concluded, infidelity will not permit religious persecution.

But the main hindrance to the exertion of Papal power in the suppression of heresy is, under God, the strength and power with which he has been pleased to endow Protestantism in the world.

In the days of Elizabeth, her life alone seemed to constitute the obstacle to the complete revival of Papal power. Hence the rage shewn, and the plots perpetually formed, against her.

Yet France and Spain believed that she must soon fall. Hence they delayed not the massacre of St. Bartholomew, or the persecution of the Protestants in France, and Belgium, and Spain, on her account. But now the case is entirely altered. England is the greatest power in Europe, and offers a refuge to the persecuted, wherever they may be. To attempt another crusade against religious liberty on the continent now, would only be to call forth the Protestant feeling of England, and to drive a body of valuable citizens to our shores. Hence it is that religious persecution is now both inexpedient and impracticable.

But all that Popery can do, it does. Whenever it can venture to do so without fear of consequences, it sheds blood. An auto da fe, in which a poor man was

burned to death, took place at Valencia in Spain, no longer back than the 31st of July, 1826. And when Dr. Buchanan was at Goa, about the year 1808, the inquisition in that country was in full activity.

And what is the present state of things in Ireland, but a religious persecution? Do we not see the insurances offices of Dublin refusing to effect a policy on the life of a Protestant clergyman, on any terms whatever! And is not this proceeding a very natural one, when they see the clergy, one after another, shot down from behind hedges and walls, without remedy and without detection?

Nor let it be said that these are mere tithe disputes. There is no man who has been more virulently assailed than Mr. Nangle of Achill, who claims no tithes, nor any other impost. But why is he attacked? Just because the priests, and even the bishops of the Romish church, denounce him from their altars as an enemy of the faith. The pitchfork is openly and explicitly called into action by ministers of a church calling itself Christian, and from pulpits which are said to be raised to proclaim the gospel of peace. What better proof can be given, that the spirit of Popery is inherently persecuting, and that were the power it formerly possessed once more in its hands, the use made of it would be essentially the same, as in the days of Dominic and of Mary.

Neither should our view be confined to Ireland; when half the globe is at this moment exhibiting tokens of the same unchangeable spirit. In Austria, the ruling powers are with the Romish priesthood, and accordingly we see a whole village suffering one sentence of exile and expatriation, on no other score

than adherence to Protestantism. But the same spirit which, in monarchs, refuses to tolerate Protestantism in their subjects,-in subjects, reckons Protestantism sufficient ground for conspiracy and revolt. Of this let Belgium, let Canada, let Newfoundland speak,—three countries far removed, each from the other, but all suffering under the same evil, -the unappeasable enmity of Papists towards Protestantism. In sovereigns this feeling shews itself, so far as the times will permit, in persecution; in subjects it manifests itself more readily, as more consonant with the temper of the age, in secret plotting and open rebellion. But the root of the evil is the same in both. Between Protestantism and Popery, where both are genuine and sincere, there must ever subsist an irreconcileable feud. The only difference is, that the Protestant will mingle his hatred to the idolatry with love to the soul of the deluded idolater, and will not even wish his bodily injury. Whereas the Romanist will combine his bitter detestation of heresy with an equal abhorrence of 'the heretic;' and will shew that abhorrence, whether by the faggot or the pitch-fork, whenever he can find a convenient opportunity.

XXI.

DESTINY OF ROMANISM.

THE PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE PAPACY.

WE have heretofore dealt with the Papal system in detail, discussing point by point of the multifarious aggregate, and disproving the unscriptural and unreasonable assumptions of that domineering church. We have reserved to the close one great argument, both because to have adduced it at the opening of the discussion might have seemed to betoken a wish to close up the question, and to avoid the consideration of the several points therein contained; and also because, from its awful and momentous character, it leaves nothing to be said in addition.

COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, THAT YE BE NOT PARTAKERS OF HER SINS, AND THAT YE RECEIVE NOT OF HER PLAGUES.

SHE SHALL BE UTTERLY BURNED WITH FIRE: FOR STRONG IS THE LORD GOD WHO JUDGETH her. (Rev. xviii. 4, 8.)

Protestants hold that these words refer to the church of Rome. If they are right in this view, then not another word need be said. But if they are