ment of the kind in Rome. In 1827 Leo XII. named him first pastor of Spoleto, his native town, which he erected into an archbishopric. He occupied that see until the 17th of December, 1832, when Gregory XVI. transferred him to Imola, which, being one of the most important Episcopal posts, required a prelate both firm and prudent. The Bishop responded to the expectation of Gregory XVI., and soon gained the veneration and affection of the entire diocese. Reserved in petto at the Consistory of the 23d December, 1839, he was proclaimed Cardinal on the 14th of December, 1840. His reputation for talent and piety was general throughout the States of the Church, and at Rome the people used to say, when he appeared in public, 'Behold the successor of Gregory XVI.'" (From La Presse.) At a time when the attention of all Európe is drawn to the election of a new Pope, the following details as to the state of the Church and its Government will not be without interest to the reader. These details are necessary, to fill up the information published within these few days by the religious journals, and which has been republished by the major part of the other newspapers. The States of the Church, the temporal States of the Holy See, have remained much about as they were settled thirty-one years ago by Article 103 of the Congress of Vienna. This Article restored to the Holy See the Marshes, with Camarino and their dependencies, as also the duchy of Benevento and the principality of Ponte Corvo. In virtue of the same Article, the Holy See retook possession of the legations of Ravenna, Bologna, and Ferrara, saving, however, that part of Ferrara situated on the left bank of the Po, which Austria got given to herself, as well as the right of garrisoning the places of Ferrara and Comachio. The protest made by the Pontifica Government in favour of its ancient possessions, has hitherto remained a dead letter. The territory of the Church, as thus restored, extends over a surface of 2,250 square leagues, with, according to the last statistical accounts, a population of 2,908,115 inhabitants. The revenue is about 50,000,000 of francs, or 2,000,000l. sterling. If the duration of the Holy See, as a temporal power, did not rest on foundations above human prudence, it would be difficult to comprehend how its Government has been able to maintain itself during so many centuries. It must be admitted that the office of the temporal head of the State of St. Peter being elective, a head which often changes, since he is always elected from among old men, might be a good answer to the absolute partisans of hereditary thrones, if, as we have just remarked, everything in the Church was kept up by means of human policy alone. Be this as it may, the temporal Sovereign of the states of the Church is elected by the College of Cardinals assembled for this purpose in Conclave, in conformity with the apostolic constitutions. 318 [FROM A CORRESPONDENT.] THE TEST; OR, WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURE? BY X., A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. (Continued from page 206.) THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN. (29) OF HOLY ORDERS. Page 152. Q. What do you mean by the sacrament of holy orders? A. A Sacrament by which the ministers of Christ are consecrated to their sacred functions, and receive grace to discharge them well. (30) Q. In what manner is the order of priesthood administered? A. The person that is to be ordained, is to be presented to the Bishop by the Archdeacon, desiring, in the name of the Church, that he may be promoted to the priesthood, and bearing testimony of his being worthy of that office. Then the Bishop publishes to the clergy and people there present the designed promotion, that, if any one has anything to allege against the person that is to be ordained, he may freely declare it. If no one appears to allege anything against him, the Bishop proceeds THE PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN; OR, “WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURE?” (29) OF HOLY ORDERS. Christ only ordained two Sacraments, viz., Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord, with their correspondent outward signs (necessary to constitute a sacrament of the internal spiritual grace conferred). Water, the sign of regeneration, admission into covenant with God through Christ, and bread and wine, as signs and memorials of the stupendous sacrifice upon the cross, and the benefits we derive thereby. These two sacraments, instituted by Christ himself, were to take the place of circumcision and the passover, whereas the five additional ones in the Romish Church, besides wanting the outward sign which is necessary to constitute a sacrament, are plainly the invention of man alone, as the Scriptures will prove. (30) This, so far, is a most laudable practice, and worthy of imitation. OF HOLY ORDERS. to admonish him of the duties and functions of the priesthood, and to exhort him to a diligent discharge thereof. (31) After which both the Bishop and the person that is to be ordained prostrate themselves in prayer, whilst the Litanies are being sung or said, by the choir or clergy there present; which being ended, the Bishop stands up, and the person that is to be or dained (32) kneeling, the Bishop first, and then all the priests there present, one after another, lay both their hands on his head, which imposition of hands is immediately followed by the solemn prayers of consecration, and by investing him with the priestly ornaments; then the Holy Ghost is invoked by the hymn Veni Creator. After which the Bishop anoints the hands of the (33) person ordained, and then delivers into his hands the chalice with the wine and water, and the paten with the bread, saying, "Receive (34) the power to offer sacrifice to God and celebrate mass, as well for the living as the dead, in the name of the Lord." Then the person ordained says mass with the Bishop, and receives the Holy Communion at his hands. At the end of the mass the Bishop again imposes his hands upon him, saying those words of Christ, (St. John xx. 22, 23,) "Receive the Holy Ghost; whose sins thou shalt forgive, they are forgiven OF HOLY ORDERS. (31) I have before adverted to what St. Paul says, on praying or singing in an unknown tongue.. (32) Prayer, and laying on of hands, shewn to be an apostolical practice, and agreeable to Scripture. (Acts vi. 6; also Acts xiii. 3.) (33) This differs from the beautiful simplicity of the apostolical practice. The additional ceremonies can be proved from Scripture man's invention and institution. (34) This is a "power" usurped by the Bishop, and unlawfully delegated, as the Scriptures will testify. See Heb. vii. 26, 27; also Heb. ix. 11-15, and 24 to end; Heb. x. 10-12. OF HOLY ORDERS. · them; and whose sins thou shalt retain, they are retained." After which he receives from him the promise of obedience, and gives him the kiss of peace. (35) ON THE SUPREMACY OF THE POPE. Page 156.-Q. How do you prove that amongst Bishops one should be head, and have a jurisdiction over the rest? A. Because Christ has so appointed, who gave that pre-eminence to St. Peter with respect to the rest of the apostles, as appears from Matt. xvi. 18, 19, and from John xxi. 15. Page 159.-Q. But how OF HOLY ORDERS. (35) ON THE SUPREMACY OF THE POPE. The Rock upon which Peter built his faith was Christ. 66 Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." See our Lord's reply to this confession of faith, ending with, "upon this Rock (not upon thee, Peter) will I build my Church." A building cannot have two foundations, "And other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. iii. 11; Gal. ii. 9; Eph. ii. 20, to end; 1 Pet. ii. 5—8.) If Peter was sole head of the Church, how was it that Paul also "went about confirming the Churches ?" and that "God wrought special miracles by his hands?" (See Acts xix. 11; also Acts viii. 14.) Here seems to be no distinction between the two apostles. Peter or Cephas was therefore but one of the stones of the edifice that was to be raised upon the immutable foundation Christ. "Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me ?" When our Lord thrice asked Peter, not calling him Peter or Cephas, ("by interpretation, a stone," which is very remarkable, but merely, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me ?" He might have purposed reminding Peter of his instability,that he had thrice denied Him! and cautioning him lest he should again dissemble, and that that zealous and affectionate apostle did so, St. Paul tells us, who withstood him to the face," (Gal. ii. 11-15,) because he dissembled, "and others with him." Shall we then build upon so unstable a foundation, in preference to the "Rock of Ages ?" 66 "Feed the flock of God which is ON THE SUPREMACY OF do you prove that the Pope ON THE SUPREMACY OF THE POPE. "Neither as being among you," &c. lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." (1 Pet. v. A. I prove it, first, be- 2, 3.) "No other ever does, or ever cause the Church never ac- did?" Not so fast; since it is well knowledged any other for known two Popes have, and more than her chief pastor, and no other once, struggled for dominion, and does, or ever did, put in a reigned at the same time, one at claim to the spiritual supre- Avignon, the other at Rome! as, in the macy in quality of Peter's fourteenth century, Urban and Clement successor; so that, sup--and, again, Benedict of Avignon, and posing what has been proved, Boniface of Rome! . . . We have bethat Christ appointed a chief fore seen truth obscured, distorted, nay pastor for His Church, the wholly lost sight of,-here again she Bishop of Rome must be entirely disappears. Moreover Scripthe man. Secondly, I prove ture, in contradiction to the Romish it from the current sense of Church, proves, Christ never appointed the holy Fathers and coun- such a pastor for His Church; for one cils that have acknowledged who assumes titles belonging excluthis supremacy in the See sively to the Supreme Being," Holiof Rome and her Bishops. ness and Infallibility"— is evidently that man set forth in Scripture as he "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God!" (2 Thess. ii. 4); or rather read the whole chapter. Also, Rev. xiii. Does not the Pope, indeed, receive honours unlawful for man, "whose VOL. VIII.-July, 1846. 66 breath is in his nostrils!" to receive?— when at times, (at his inauguration especially,) he is elevated upon a high altar, with his feet upon the other, and worshipped, or bowed down to, as Our Lord God!" and thus styled? Does this look like Christian worship? or does it not rather resemble Pagans, bowing down to and worshipping their heroes, their gods and demi-gods? See Acts xii. 21-24, especially ver. 22, "And the people gave a shout, saying, it is the voice of a god and not of a man,' "and the angel of the Lord smote him .... because he gave not God the glory, and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost." Christians! what god is this that you have set up in the place of Jehovah ?" New Series, No. 7. Y |