RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. THE subject of Education, is one which seems to us very inti-. mately connected with the present controversy. That the promulgation of truth is the best and most effectual mode of dispelling error, none perhaps will doubt. And at a time when the floodgates of iniquity seem to have been burst open-when Infidelity and Popery are striving to spread a worse than Egyptian darkness through our land-this ought ever to be borne in mind. To demolish error is comparatively an easy thing. But this is not what the Christian can be contented with. He goes farther. He wishes to see truth growing up in its stead. It would be of no use to prove Popery a lie, and Socialism an insult even to our degraded humanity-and then to leave the mind in a state of moral bankruptcy. The knowing we have been travelling on a wrong road avails nothing, except we are directed to the right one: it only aggravates without soothing our trouble,-and disturbs without directing us to the proper means of obtaining relief. And in speaking of Education, I mean not such a cold unsatisfactory scheme as that inflicted on unhappy Ireland, but an Education which is based on the Bible-which has the warmth of Christianity infused through its entire body-which knows no compromise with Popery-no unhallowed compact with that genteel and specious Infidelity called Liberalism. "Train up a child in the way he should go," is a command which at our peril we shall neglect. While we may be cheered by the promise that when he is old he will not depart from it. If the promise seem not always performed, it is not because God is unfaithful, but because we have failed in some point of dutyor been trusting to the means we used, rather than praying for God's blessing upon them. In childhood the heart is more capable of impressions, whether they be good or evil. The heart though disfigured and marred by original sin, is not that hard and brawny thing that it becomes after a long and perhaps successful course of customary sin. What minister is there who cannot bring his own experience as a proof of this? Who but knows that those truths which call forth the gushing tears of repentance from the young and conscience-stricken sinner, fall unheeded, and uncared for, on the dulled ears of the aged impenitent profligate. The souls of men are too costly to be trifled with-for they have been redeemed at the price of Christ's own blood: they are too enduring for their interests to be deemed unimportant-for they must live as long as eternity itself shall stand. How important then-and here we would urge the duty-for each one, whatever is his or her station in life, to do their utmost in the promotion of a Bible Education among the poor. When contemplating some little group of merry children, does not the thought of what their future destinies may be, stamp them with an interest more than transient? When with the mind's eye we behold them filling up the places in society that Providence has assigned them-surrounded by families to whom they ought to be examples or placed in a neighbourhood in which they might be blessings-must we not be conscious that it is our duty as well as our interest to see, that they are diligently brought up in the love and service of God? And here we would say a word to the young among us. It is a lamentable thing that upon going into almost every Sunday School, the lack of teachers is the standing complaint. If we ask how the school is going on, we are told 'pretty well, only we want more teachers. Now why is this? Is it because there are none near, capable of being teachers? Oh no, it is not that. It is not the want of ability, but willingness. It is that selfishness which is inherent in our nature, and which would persuade us that Christianity is not an active but a passive principle. We are too apt to be at ease in Sion; either thinking that there is nothing to be done, or that if there is, we are not the persons to do it. But this is wrong: it is not humility, but a cold indifference-a shrinking from the paths to which duty plainly points. We have not all equal talents-that we are willing to allow-but to those we have, a proportinate responsibility is attached. The man who had only one talent was punished for not using it to the glory of God, while he that had two was rewarded in that he had been faithful in a few things. We urge you then-you who are young-to become Sunday School teachers. The good which you may do by God's blessing is incalculable. Your clergyman will feel thankful to you, for his services at church are sufficiently laborious without the additional drag of teaching at the School-your own mind will be benefited by the exercise-and the feeling that you are in the path of duty will bring its own reward. And should you be the honored instrument of leading one stray soul to the feet of his gracious Saviour, will it not be more-infinitely more-than recompense for any little self denial on your part? Oh, ponder over the value of one soul! Remember that each has within him an undying principle, which is not his own but God's,-God's, by the two-fold right of creation and redemption-and which, when all the ages that man can now conceive, have rolled away, will still have an eternity of misery or of bliss to spend. It is recorded of Christ for our instruction, that "he went about doing good." This then is a plain duty which we have to perform. Christ is our example as well as law-giver, we must walk in his footsteps as well as read his word. - If then, all, who really feel that Christ crucified is everything to them, would only take a lively interest in the souls of their poorer and more ignorant countrymen, God would not fail to bless their prayerful endeavours, and our beloved country would indeed present a cheering sight. We know that God alone can touch the heart, but this does not release us from the obligation of using those means, which himself has appointed and promised to bless. If the sympathies of the rich could be called out on behalf of the children of our poor-which would prompt them to give not only their money, but their time and attention to their service-we do firmly believe that it would be the means of raising the most effective barrier against Popery and Infidelity that could be devised. Popery may boast her converts-but who are they? The ignorant and illiterate of the land-those who had no principle of truth wherewith to oppose error when presented to them. Let us then again entreat you, my readers, to take an interest in the scriptural education of the poor. By this means alone it seems to us that error can be crushed, and Christianity, with its attendants, Peace and Happiness, flourish in the land. The man who knows and loves his Bible will be proof alike against the blasphemies of Socialism, and the blandishments of the Papal Antichrist. W. T. V. POLITICAL PERJURY AND THE SUBORNERS OF IT. THE Bishop of Exeter has added to his claims on the gratitude of all Protestants by expressing his dissent from the Irish Municipal Corporation Bill in the House of Lords, on the 19th of June. To use the language of the Standard-" We pray the attention of all honest men to the parallel drawn by the Bishop between the proclamation signed Daniel O'Connell, and the oath sworn by the same individual." "It was perfectly frightful to contemplate the envenomed hostility of which that Church was the object. An individual, who was a member of the other house of parliament, and to whom he would not allude but that it was absolutely necessary, had made the following statement lately in an address of the National Association of Ireland to the people of Ireland, which address was signed ، Daniel O'Connell, Chairman of the Committee:'-' The ecclesiastical state revenues of Ireland are applied to the church of a comparatively very small minority of the Irish people. This is a master grievance; whilst it continues there may be a parchment or a legal union, but there is no real union. To redress this grievance is the first and greatest object of our Association.' This address had been widely circulated; a copy of it had been sent, he believed, to every one of their lordships. He (the Bishop of Exeter) had received a copy from Dublin, forwarded, apparently, by the Association. He must, therefore, do that with unwillingness which he felt that the oc casion made necessary, as he entertained no hope whatever that the offence would not be repeated. Now, what was the oath which had been taken by this individual, who thus proclaimed himself bent on destroying the Established Church in Ireland? It was this:- I do hereby disclaim, disavow, and solemnly abjure any intention to subvert the present Church Establishment, as settled by law, within this realm; and I do solemnly swear, that I never will exercise any privilege to which I am or may become entitled to disturb or weaken the Protestant religion or Protestant government in the United Kingdom; and I do solemnly, in the presence of God, profess, testify, and declare, that I do make this declaration, and every part thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense of the words of this oath, without any evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation whatsoever.' The word 'establishment' was wisely introduced into this oath to prevent any person from availing himself of the miserable quibble (which had, nevertheless, been attempted) of denying that the Church itself was assailed. 'Observe,' this person had said, 'I don't mean to attack your Church, but your property.' But what he had sworn was not to subvert the establishment,' in other words, the property. The solemnity of the latter part of the oath made it painful to any mind to contemplate that such an oath should have been violated. He asked their lordships, or any one of them, to get up (and if any member of their lordships' house entertained such an opinion he hoped to hear his reasons) and state whether he did not consider that the individual who had taken the oath contained in this paper had not perjured himself. Upon a former occasion he (the Bishop of Exeter) had been told by the noble and learned baron the Chancellor of Ireland, that 'to make a charge of this description was to charge all those who supported that individual with subornation of perjury.' To be sure— he meant that. He had intimated so much then, and he repeated it now. He did not hesitate to state his belief that every individual who was cognisant of this gross violation of a sworn pledge taken by that person -every one who did anything to increase the power of that individual, or showed him favour-was guilty of subornation of perjury.' EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. INTRODUCTION OF THE BIBLE INTO PARLIAMENT. Ir is always a gratifying and animating part of our duty to record encouraging instances of a growing zeal and interest in the Protestant Cause among our operative friends and fellow-subjects. We therefore hail, with peculiar delight, the pious suggestion contained in the following communication from "A Protestant Operative." The inspired Psalmist exclaimed when meditating on the word of God,-"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." Why then should not rulers and statesmen take the Bible for their guide, as well as churches and private christians? It may be said that the attempt is hopeless, and will only excite ridicule. We reply, that the duty is evident and cannot be denied, and therefore imperative on a Christian State, like that to which we belong. It is the work of the Lord, and His cause in which we are engaged; therefore we may confidently rely on divine assistance, in the strong assurance of faith, that "with God nothing shall be impossible." A Chaplain is already provided, at the public expence, for either House of Parliament. And we are sure that every Christian will agree that in no case could the time of the House be so profitably employed, as in reading a portion of the word of God appointed by the church for the lesson of the day. "My Lords and Gentlemen, "It has been very often attempted, at different times, by ministers and persons of influence, by presenting petitions for introducing the Bible into the Houses of Parliament, to have the Lessons for the Evening read, with prayer, before business commences. Thus using the word of God (which is sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing asunder of bone and marrow,) to fortify the understanding against erroneous and false principles, and teach the wisdom from above, that is first pure, then peaceable, and gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy; that our rulers may be not only able men, but men of truth, fearing God, hating covetousness. One "Would not the introduction of the Bible into the Houses of Parliament be well worthy the energies and resources of The Protestant Association, appointing persons to receive signatures at different parts of the Metropolis, making it known by placards in all thoroughfares; and publish for all towns throughout Britain to adopt the same measures. All but infidels would join in raising the laws of God as the standard of appeal in forming the laws of the nation. John Newton remarks, 'My principal method for defeating heresy, is, by establishing truth. proposes to fill a bushel with tares; now if I can fill it first with wheat, I shall defy his attempts.' That religious opinions are the cause of political opinions, I copy from your Magazine for May, 1840, p. 133,A man's religion is in his mind and motives; a man's politics are in his body and actions. What then is spiritual supremacy? It is supremacy over mind, over motives, over causes; and is it to be separated from supremacy over effects? No. Supremacy in religion involves, ever has involved, and ever must involve, supremacy in politics. Religion of some kind, and political consequences, are as inseparable in this world, as soul and body in a living man.' "Submitting the above and praying the attention of the Society to the subject, if worthy their consideration, 66 I am, My Lords and Gentlemen, "Most respectfully, your humble Servant, "A PROTESTANT OPERATIVE. "Enclosed I send £ 1. and will send another as soon as able, which I hope will not be long." |