popery and protestantism, and have dwelt upon it more at large, because I feel it to be a most fundamental difference. It is as between the religion of nature founded on fear, and the religion of faith founded on the revelation of God in Christ. The object of worship under every form of superstition, whether pagan or papal, is an offended deity; and the end of all its ceremonies, rites, penances, pilgrimages, and offerings, is to turn away by some method of expiation or meritorious sacrifice or satisfaction now offered the divine anger. But an offended deity is not an object of worship, approached with confidence; nor can the apprehension of his presence inspire delight. The religion of the cross, the religion of faith, is the only one that forbids the penitent to seek to propitiate God. Exhibiting him as already propitiated through Christ and himself, as tendering mercy, pardon, peace, and reconciliation to his offended creatures. Here we have ground for humility and confidence. We behold on the one hand sin inexpiable by anything the sinner can achieve or suffer. We behold on the other that the expiatory sacrifice has been made, "That while we were yet sinners Christ died for us;" and that God, the great, the infinite, the eternal God, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, is yet doing wonders; being just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.

Kentish Town, Feb, 20, 1839.

J. H. MANN.

A CHRISTIAN PATRIOT.

"Justior alter

Nec pietate fuit, nec bello major et armis."-VIRGIL.

"A nobler warrior never drew the sword,

Observant of the right, religious of his word."-DRYDEN.

It is animating to call to remembrance the worthies of former times, who have laid down their lives in defence of the reformed religion and protestant constitution of these realms, against the assaults of the church of Rome. The history of the brave and pious Col. Gardiner presents a bright example for the guidance and encouragement of every loyal protestant now struggling for the maintenance of those free institutions handed down to him by his ancestors, and, above all, for the preservation of that "precious faith" " once delivered to the saints."

Christian readers are in general well acquainted with the life of Col. Gardiner, the supernatural circumstances attending his conversion, and the zeal and sincerity which marked his subsequent religious course. To his character as a christian patriot it is thought that our attention in the present times may be profitably directed.

He lived at a period when the exiled house of Stuart made a last and convulsive effort to regain its forfeited supremacy. Col. Gardiner had long beheld the approaching storm, and long been seriously affected by the view of the perilous situation of his country. The following anecdote recorded by his biographer, will prove the deep impression produced on his mind by the threatening aspect of public affairs:

"Having been informed of the gaiety which so unseasonably prevailed at Edinburgh, where great multitudes were then spending their time in balls, assemblies, and other gay amusements, little mindful of the rod of God which was then hanging over them; he used this expression on the occasion: 'I am greatly surprised that the people of Edinburgh should be employed in such foolish diversions, when our situation is at present more melancholy than ever I saw it in my life. But there is one thing which I am very sure of, that comforts me, namely, that it shall go well with the righteous, come what will.' He had often expressed it as his desire that if it were the will of God, he might have some honorable call to sacrifice his life in defence of RELIGION and the liberties of his country.' And accordingly when this event seemed to him in all probability to be at hand, he met the summons with the greatest readiness. He was in a weak and languishing state of health when he marched against the enemy, yet he expressed the most noble contempt of life, when about to be exposed in so worthy a cause. On the morning of the fatal engagement at Preston Pans, he took his last farewell of his domestics, whom he dismissed with most affectionate advice. The little remainder of the time there is every reason to believe was spent in those devout exercises of soul which had long been habitual to him. The attack was made by the rebels before sunrise. On the first fire, the left wing of the British army immediately gave way and fled. Soon after the colonel's own regiment was seized with a panic and deserted him. He paused for a moment, but seeing a party of foot whom he was ordered to support, in danger of being cut to pieces for want of a commander, he placed himself at their head, and was killed whilst gallantly leading them on against a vastly superior force of popish rebels."

The foregoing account is transcribed almost verbatim from the well known memoir of the life of Col. Gardiner. Let us now consider the instruction to be derived from so eminent a pattern. of christian patriotism. He was a most affectionate and devoted follower of his heavenly Master, yet he thought it not inconsistent with his christian profession, that his mind should be occupied with the condition of his country and the state of public affairs. He did not turn away from questions connected with our protestant institutions because they were of a political character. Neither can we doubt that he was one of those who are repre

sented in scripture as "sighing and crying for the abominations of the land;" that he wrestled in prayer for his nation, and made it part of his christian warfare to resist, as he did even unto blood, the aggressions of her enemies. There is every reason to believe he had formed his resolution, "that he would not, in case of the flight of those under his command, retreat with them." He gave some intimations to this effect to one who visited him the day before the action; to whom he said: "I cannot influence the conduct of others as I could wish, but I have one life to sacrifice to my country's safety, and I shall not spare it."

*

If his habitual frame of mind was clouded with apprehensions for the state of the country at that time, when our protestant constitution stood inviolate, and when the Romanists were stripped of every remnant of public authority; what would have been his feelings, had he lived in our day, to have seen these Romanists presiding in our courts of justice, ruling the decisions of a British senate, and insolently dictating the policy, if not nominating the members of the British cabinet? Protestants! think of the anxiety evinced by Col. Gardiner, and then blush for your own indifference in the midst of dangers unspeakably more appalling.

Another circumstance in this affecting history deserves our attention. It is said that the colonel gave his advice to attack the enemy, and when he found that he could not carry his point, he dropped some intimations of the consequences which he apprehended, and which did in fact follow. We have seen that the popish rebels made the attack and gained a complete victory. Is there not something analogous, figuratively speaking, in our present conflict with the church of Rome? That church is now acting the aggressive part, whilst we remain secure and sleeping at our posts. Protestants are the party in possession, and to whom the right belongs; yet the popish invader has been suffered to advance into the heart of the territory, and to lay waste our institutions around us on every side. He has cast up his entrenchments against the fortress of our protestant constitution, and when it is completely invested, our end may be like that of the lamented Col. Gardiner-we may perish vainly contending against an overwhelming superiority. Let us not, however, yield to desponding anticipations, but rather endeavour to attain to the "strong confidence" expressed by this heroic commander on marching to meet the enemy. 'The rebels," said he, are advancing to cross the Firth; but I trust in the Almighty God who doth whatsoever he pleaseth in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth.”

* The Chief Baron, Master of the Rolls, and one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland, are Romanists.

LITERARY NOTICES.

The State of Popery and Jesuitism in England, from the Reformation to the period of the Roman Catholic Relief Bill in 1829. By the Rev. Thomas Lathbury, M.A., author of "A History of English Episcopacy," &c. 12mo. pp. 301. London: Leslie.

Or the value of such a work as this, it is scarcely necessary to speak. Its utility must be apparent to every one who casts the most superficial glance over the portentous signs of the times" with which the surface of British society is crowded. The rapid strides of popery, the restless zeal and activity of her proselyting priests, the subtle manoeuvering of jesuits who swarm the country, with the intolerable apathy of nominal protestants, and the suicidal folly of dissenting apologists for the church of Rome, all combine to render essentially necessary an authentic compendium of the history of popery since the reformation, that the similarity of her efforts in every reign, to subvert the established religion of the country, and regain her lost supremacy, may be clearly kept in view in contending in the present day for "the faith once delivered to the saints.'

The principles and practices of the papists are ably exposed in this volume, and the various means successfully employed by our protestant forefathers to oppose popery are detailed with precision and accuracy, in the hope that we may be encouraged to imitate their example, and to derive from the record of their triumphs an encouraging assurance that similiar exertions will still be crowned with a like success.

The pulpit and the press were the grand engines by which the victory of truth over error was achieved; and in the reign of Elizabeth both these weapons were used by the reformers with overwhelming effect against their opponents. The church of England from the commencement of the reformation proclaimed by her acts and her recognized documents, eternal war against the corruptions of the papacy. It becomes therefore the imperative duty of the clergy to peal from their watch-towers a warning of the bursting storm; to proclaim, trumpet-tongued, from every pulpit of the land, their solemn protest against the errors of the church of Rome; to exert their influence to the utmost to stem the proselyting march of popery, and to point out to the people the harvest of misery and wretchedness they may assuredly expect to reap, if with a pure and fervid zeal they struggle not valiantly for the truth, and resist her impious and enormous claims.-Indeed, as Mr. Lathbury justly remarks, "Should the clergyman of the church of England so manage his pulpit ministrations as to give no offence to the papist, he would be a betrayer of that trust committed to him by his Divine master."

The work contains in a popular form, a clear and well-digested narrative of the various attempts of popery to undermine the national establishment, and leave her destructive system of lies and idolatry on its ruins.

We would most strongly, most impressively commend the volume to the attentive perusal of our readers. A calm investigation and consideration of its contents cannot, we think, fail to kindle the flame of patriotic, operative protestantism, in the breast of the cold apathist; and the warmest and most active friends of the sacred cause will, we feel assured, rise from its perusal, with their zeal quickened, their hopes enlivened, their hands strengthened, and their spirits animated and encouraged to renewed and yet more important labours in defence of the altar and the throne.

Immanuel; or the Incarnation of the Son of God. By the late Archbishop Usher. Revised and edited by John Norman Pearson, M.A. London: Jackson and Walford. 32mo. pp. 103.

WELL may Mr. Pearson say that the name of Archbishop Usher carries with it its own recommendation. Dr. Johnson pronounced him the greatest luminary of the Irish church, and with all his erudition and his gigantic powers, his immeasurable superiority over other men, and accustomed as he was to the homage of all that stood highest in Europe for intellectual and moral qualities, he has nevertheless been justly characterized as "the mildest, humblest, and meekest man alive of his infinite reading, knowledge, and parts." The protestant worthies of other countries could not hear his name mentioned for years after his death without being affected even to tears.

The preface contains a brief but interesting epitome of this truly great man's life. The excellent little volume, which is printed in a cheap and most convenient form, is worthy its illustrious author. We cannot describe it better than in the words of Mr. Pearson :

"The scholar will be repaid for the perusal of it by finding a deep subject of theology, one of the corner stones of the christian temple, treated with masterly skill, and at the same time with such a reverential spirit, as well becomes the greatest human minds in approaching these sacred mysteries. To christians generally it will commend itself by the happy illustrations here and there thrown into a sublime discussion, by the vein of sanctity which runs through every page, by the evangelical doctrine it brings out to establish, by the manly and fervid eloquence which comes fresh from the writer's soul, and by the practical remarks scattered throughout, and bearing the peculiar stamp of his elevated wisdom and piety."

Increase of Popery. By James Rudge, D.D. London: Painter. 12mo. pp. 94.

DR. RUDGE has performed a valuable service to the cause of protestantism in giving this able pamphlet to the public. It is a