the Scriptures simply must be appealed to in proof of what Christ taught and required; and 2ndly, That the Roman Catholics themselves admit (in this very publication) all that we charge upon their system, transubstantiation, purgatory, invocation of Saints, &c. &c. The Popish Tract above mentioned contains sixteen octavo pages, price ld. In this place numbers are falling away to Popery; and a School is now in operation to which about 40 children have been allured.* It strikes me that too much prominence could not be given at this time to an immediate effort to follow the Declaration of the 18 Popish Bishops who approve and sign it, by some simple expository counter-statements, whereby the unwary might be warned, and Roman Catholics humbled in their proud vauntings and successes. I beg to remain, dear Sir, WM. MUDGE. POPERY LIKE INFIDELITY. St. George's, Southwark. (To the Editor of the Protestant Magazine.) IN common with perhaps some others of your readers, I have often been disposed to question the close affinity that you alledge to exist between Popery and Infidelity. A little examination however has removed all my scruples. In history I remark, how often the loose morals and sceptical principles of a finished courtier have flourished under the Cardinal's hat. I remark in Catholic nations, France to wit, how easily they have exchanged their superstition for Infidelity; and how, in our own land, the prevailing Infidelity is running parallel with, or becoming subservient to, the growing Popery. And a recent occurrence at a public Vestry Meeting at the Church of St. George the Martyr, Southwark, furnishes a remarkable illustration of the same alledged truth. It appears that an Act of Parliament requires the Parish to make an annual church rate for the Rector's stipend and other incidental expenses, as a kind of commutation of the Rectorial tithe. A churchman perfectly qualified was proposed as the collector of this Church rate, when to the disgust of every con * It cannot be too generally made known that there is a Statute still in force which makes it a penal offence for Papists to allure to their schools the children of Protestant parents. sistent man, a Roman Catholic was proposed and appointed in his stead!! It is quite notorious to the whole Town, that St. George's, Southwark, has long been at the mercy of an Infidel faction, who at every vestry meeting throw off their ribaldry at things sacred, and whose only object is by putting contempt upon the Establishment, to facilitate her anticipated overthrow. And here we find this same faction publicly joining hands with Popery; declaring their agreement with her Principles by patronizing a Member of her Body; promoting her objects by joining in her Hostilities; and [taking advantage of the Public apathy of the Protestant Body] lifting into an office of Trust and Emolument about the Protestant Church [to the exclusion of one of her own Sons], a Professed Roman Catholic, who can only be faithful to his Trust in the proportion that he is false to his Creed! One in their Sentiments, we see them one in their Measures, and the overthrow of the Establishment is the common effort of Infidel and Papist. Built however on the Bible, our Protestant Church stands secure. But let the Papal spirit of indifference to that word of truth prevail; let the Papal tenet of Human Tradition before the Word of God; and the Papal doctrine of Human merit before the Sacrifice of Christ prevail; and the Church thus accustomed to look to Human authority, and Human agency, in place of Divine, will be quickly subverted to the Arch-apostacy; and her foundations based on the Rock, will speedily become exchanged for the treacherous Sand! Mr. Editor, (To the Editor of the Protestant Magazine.) I beg to call to your remembrance an article that appeared in the last October number of your valuable Magazine, entitled, 'The Monument,' in which you direct the attention of your readers to an inscription on that column ascribing the great fire of London to the machinations of the Papists. Allow me to inform you, Mr. Editor, that no such inscription at present exists, having been entirely obliterated very shortly after the passing of that disgraceful measure "The Catholic Emancipation Bill." In the hope that some one of your numerous readers able to explain the cause of this Jesuitical transaction, may be I remain, your obedient Servant, Islington, Nov. 11th, 1839. A SUBSCRIBER. (To the Editor of the Times.) Sir, When I tell you that I am in the 90th year of my age, you will not wonder that I should add I have seen many and great changes. I well remember George II., his death, the accession of George III., the arrival of Queen Charlotte at Harwich, and my being taken to meet her on the road thence. I well remember my joining the late Sir W. Curtis in the cry of " Wilkes and Liberty," when that idol of the populace was sent to the King's Bench Prison, and when Allen was shot on that occasion. But I remember no change so great as that which has recently taken place between Whigs and Tories; the former becoming what the latter were, and vice versa. In former times the Whigs were the most implacable enemies of Popery and absolute power, and, on the contrary, the Tories were considered as friendly to the Stuart family, to Popery, and consequently to tyranny. Witness the case of Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester. But now the tables are turned; and the Whigs have become the friends and supporters of Popery, and yet most inconsistently retain the name of Whigs. None but the most ignorant and weakest of mankind can be deceived by O'Connell, when he professes to be a friend of civil and religious liberty, because if his profession were sincere, he would not be a Catholic, but a Protestant. This leads to an observation on Church rates. Dissenters who refuse to pay Church rates do thereby undermine the foundation of their own places of worship; for were it not for the Church of England there would not be a Dissenting place of worship in the land. The Church of England is a bulwark of defence for the Dissenters against the persecutions of Popery. If the Church fall, then falls every Dissenting place of worship with it. If, Sir, you think these remarks, the result of long experience and observation, worthy a place in your highly valuable journal, they are at your service. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, SENEX. Nov. 6, 1839. THE CABINET. COUNCIL OF TRENT.-(Addressed to a Romanist.)-The Protestant may reject the opinions which Scripture or reason convince him are absurd. The Romanist is permitted to reject nothing which his church has once sanctioned. The undeniable fact is, that the Council of Trent has sanctioned, and confirmed, and strengthened all your past errors. The Council of Trent has fettered your communion with its bonds and chains, and you cannot be free. You are like the imprisoned eagles. You have wings that can soar to heaven, and eyes that would meet the mid-day sun; but your wing droops, and your eye is blinded; for the Council of Trent has legislated in darkness, and the morning is past, and the day of knowledge is come, but you may not, you cannot fly, nor gaze. Townsend's Accusations of History against the Romish Church. POETRY. CHRIST THE FOUNDATION AND CORNER STONE. From the 118th Psalm. Behold the sure Foundation-stone, Chosen of God, to sinners dear, The foolish builders, Scribe and Priest, Yet on this Rock the Church shall rest, And envy rage in vain. What though the gates of hell withstood, ACHILL. "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.' *These words, with "Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone," form the appropriate motto inscribed on the central building of the missionary settlement. No: to one spot my mind returns, Couch'd 'neath thy rugged height, Slievemore, To tread the sacred place once more. There slopes the garden richly green, Sad emblem of our fallen world- Long had thy children, Achill, slept, At length to Nangle's hand was given, With this he dar'd the priestly ban, Till light thro' Popish darkness broke. Alas! that men should hug their chain! When but one sinful soul believed. The stone that strikes the placid lake The dreariest spots on Nature's breast Sept, 25th, 1839. * Dr. McHale gave the island this name, let us hope, prophetically. He declared that before the heretics came, and before any protestant devils were on the island, it had been the "Garden of the Lord."-And this of a place sunk in the grossest ignorance, and entirely uncared for by "His Grace" until the aforesaid heretics arrived there. VOL. I. December 1839. Q |