ADDRESS OF THE GUILDFORD PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION. 57

sent number of the Magazine. The facts therein stated will shew that the labours of this institution have been abundantly blessed, and productive to a wide extent of the greatest of all National benefits, namely, those of a spiritual kind. The case of the insurgent district around Newport in South Wales, at once suggests itself to the mind, as affording a decisive proof of the pressing necessity which at this time exists, of strengthening and extending the Church of England, and opening a wider sphere for the performance of the duties of the pastoral clergy. In the above district the voluntary principle seems to have prevailed to the fullest extent that its most ardent admirers could have wished. And what have been the results? Have we not witnessed the most deplorable and sanguinary scenes of Sedition, privy Conspiracy and Rebellion. Not only then as Christians, as Churchmen, as British Protestants, and therefore the decided supporters of our established Institutions both in Church and State, but as the Friends of social order, humanity and peace, we can pray for the prosperity of the Pastoral-Aid Society, and say in the language of the inspired Psalmist,

"Because of the house of the Lord our GOD, we will seek to do thee good."

ADDRESS OF THE GUILFORD PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.

We have much pleasure in submitting the following address to the perusal of our readers. The Guildford Association was formed at a very early period of the struggle, and has rendered essential service to the Protestant cause. We trust it will be productive, by the Divine blessing, of much spiritual benefit to the place. We believe we may add that the result of its establishment has been the expulsion of a Radical Member of Parliament from the principal town of Surrey, and we trust its labours will speedily lead to the triumph of Christian, Protestant and Conservative principles among all classes in the Western Division of that important county.

ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC.

"When Heretics (Protestants) are strong, commit them to God, when weak, to the EXECUTIONER."-Bellarmine, a standard of Maynooth College.

The Committee, at the close of another year, feel themselves again urgently called upon to appeal to their Protestant fellow countrymen, at a time when their dearest interests are, beyond all doubt, placed in imminent peril, such as they have not been since the days of James II., when Popery made her last grand struggle to enslave the nation. Her emissaries (not as formerly) now seek to seduce the ignorant and unguarded under the mask of liberality and charity, even of "Peace among Christians;'

58 ADDRESS OF THE GUILDFORD PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.

and it is to be feared that the greatest danger to be apprehended arises from the apathy which is but too apparent among Protestants, and that apathy resulting as it chiefly does from their ignorance of the true nature of Popery. Many think it but a mere difference of religious principles, when in truth it is notoriously a system of intolerance, persecution, and perfidy, based on political power, and levelled against all who differ from or will not conform to the cruel bondage of the Church of Rome. One of her fundamental principles is, that all persons who have ever been baptised, in any Church, or in any Country, are by baptism brought into slavish subjection to the Church of Rome, and it is declared that whenever she has the power, she has the right to compel heretics to return to her communion.

Some there are who are willing and simple enough to believe that Popery has changed her character, and is no longer what she was in former days; such persons, however, seem to forget, or rather not to know that she arrogates to herself infallibility and supremacy, and consequently is unchanged and unchangeable, her priesthood as well as laity being equally and as firmly bound as ever by her general councils; and the more effectually to enslave her votaries the creed of Pope Pius IV. was adopted, which is the oath of the priesthood and the creed of the laity, who are thus irrevocably bound in hatred to the very name of Protestant: were it not so, why are not her numerous, cruel, and perfidious laws, which, from time to time, have been enacted against Protestants, revoked; but so long as they remain unrescinded it would be worse than folly for Protestants to suffer themselves to be deceived and deluded by protestations however specious and solemnly made, for by the 16th canon of the third Lateran council, as quoted by Antoine, one of the standard Authors of MAYNOOTH COLLEGE; "Those are not to be called oaths, but rather perjuries, which are taken contrary to ecclesiastical utility and the institutions of the Fathers," which is thus explained by Reiffenstuel (another standard of Maynooth), "In every promissory oath, however absolutely made, certain tacit conditions are understood. Now, of these conditions which are tacitly reserved in the swearer's mind, one is this: saving the right and authority of my superior, where an oath is considered unlawful, and cannot be kept, which cannot be kept, saving the honor of the Apostolic See," so that no oath is to be kept by a Roman Catholic in which the honor of the Apostolic See is not preserved. Hence it must appear evident that there can be no safety, no compromise, “no peace with Rome."

The Committee, in conclusion, would earnestly implore all who value the inestimable blessings which the free institutions of this great, because Protestant, empire, guarantees alike to the rich and to the poor, to arouse themselves from that apathy which is but too conspicuous.

EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE.

Norfolk and Norwich Protestant Association.-January 4th, 1840.-Considering the few months the Norfolk and Norwich Protestant Association has been established, we may say that much has been done. Four thousand tracts against Romish Antichrist have been distributed, a large number sold, Lectures on the errors of Popery are preached every Tuesday and Wednesday Evenings, which are attended by attentive congregations, and a spirit of enquiry into the insidious designs and ambitious objects of the Church of Rome has been kindled, and continues to progress firmly; and it may fearlessly be affirmed, that the period is not far distant when it shall be seen that the greater number of the men of Norfolk and Norwich have not yet forgotten the treasons and cruelties of an ungodly priesthood, nor the heavy blows aimed at the civil and religious liberties of Britons by the intolerant Church of Rome, which are recorded on the pages of our national history.

The Association held a Meeting on Wednesday, 1st Inst., at which it was resolved that an Address to the Queen, and Petitions to the Houses of Parliament should be prepared.

(From a Clergyman.)-Nov. 25, 1839.-I am obliged to your Committee for the resolution (a copy of which you have kindly conveyed to me,) relative to my humble effort to serve the great cause of our dear Protestant christianity. I shall at all times be happy to act with them or for them in any way that I can. All is not yet lost, and thank God we have very many sons of religious truth and freedom prepared to die rather than yield. Keep to your principles, and you will find your Society supported as it ought to be. It is no proof of your unchristian character that you are stigmatized by Dissenters. The political allies of popery are not likely to sympathize with you even in a defensive warfare upon that wicked system. They are beginning, however, to find out their mistake, and presently they will have nothing to say against you, except that you are too much attached to the Anglican Protestant Church. With me, that is, of course, one of your great recommendators, the Church of England is the citadel of truth, and the stronghold of Protestantism.

January 3, 1840.

Sir, It was with great pleasure that I read in your Magazine a proposal for united prayer in behalf of our country, which in the eyes of every Christian is too evidently fallen under the Divine wrath. Surely there never existed greater cause than there is at present for all that love their country and seek the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, to put forth their energies in opposing the vigorous efforts which are being made, in some places secretly and silently, in others manifestly and openly, by

the emissaries of Satan. The prospect must make the stoutest heart quail, which relies on an arm of flesh, while they that trust in the Lord have weapons which are not unavailing. "When the enemy cometh in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." This is the effectual fervent prayer of righteous men-the seven thousand in Israel which have not "bowed the knee to Baal," but that "cry and sigh for the abominations which are in the land." As one among many instances of the effect of prayer, let us remember, it was the prayer made without ceasing of the Church unto God, which delivered Peter from prison.

The Roman Catholics feel the duty of prayer, and we learn from Mr. Percival that every Thursday Evening prayers are offered for the conversion of England!

Feeling the duty of special prayer thus urged upon them, two or three under-graduates of one of our Colleges of Oxford agreed, some months ago, to remember our church and nation in their private petitions to the Throne of Grace, every Thursday Evening. Thus our enemies have excited a holy emulation in the very place which they falsely flatter themselves is leading the way to a surrender of our Sion into their hands. I pray God that by this means, he will strengthen them that do stand, convert them that are in error, and finally beat down Satan under our feet! that His name may be glorified, and we may serve him without fear all the days of our life.

Allow me, Sir, to ask, if the righteous cause in which you are engaged might not be greatly promoted by means being taken to engage the interest of the younger members of our Universities in its favour. If a lively sense of the dangerous condition of their country, both in Church and State, to which they are enthusiastically attached, could be awakened and cherished while in the Universities, when they disperse for the vacations they would carry the good seed with them, through the length and breadth of the land. I should like to see a Protestant Association in each of our Colleges, and the young sons of our church provoking one another to unity, and the good work of maintaining our Protestant Church-that inestimable gift of God! With my sincere prayers and hope, that "like as we have heard, so shall we see in the city of our God, God upholdeth the same for ever."

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

ΑΝ ΟΧΟΝΙΑΝ. P.S.-Might not good result follow, if we more diligently taught children hymns which embodied similar sentiments with that spirit-stirring national hymn, "God save the Queen?" If such were written expressly for their use, and printed on cards, I should think it would beget an attachment to our institutions, which every thing that is evil is, in these days, labouring to destroy.

REPLY OF GEORGE III. TO LORD GRENVILLE.

We have received the following request on this subject.

The insertion of this little piece' will oblige many of your readers, and at the same time will rescue a most noble sentiment, which at present is of great moment, from utter oblivion.

The answer of our Protestant King George the Third to Lord Grenville, when his lordship applied to His Majesty upon the Roman Catholic Bill, March 1807.

"My Lord, I am one of those that respect an oath. I have firmness sufficient to Quit my Throne and retire to a Cottage; or to place my neck upon a block on a scaffold, if my people require it; but I have not resolution enough To BREAK AN OATH-an Oath I took in the most solemn manner at my CORONATION."

Magnanimous reply! worthy to be written in letters of goldworthy to be imitated by every Protestant king and queen. God Almighty grant that our most gracious Queen Victoria may perceive and feel the justice and wisdom of the noble sentiment of this illustrious monarch, and act accordingly. That she may consult the happiness of her British Protestant subjects, is the prayer of many!

M. M. M.

ADDRESS TO THE KING OF PRUSSIA FROM THE

WARRINGTON PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION. We are much gratified in being able to lay before our readers the following address of gratitude and thanks from the Warrington Protestant Association to the King of Prussia, for his noble and christian conduct in supporting the Protestant cause, and affording an asylum to the Exiles of Zillerdale from the persecutions of Rome.

"To His Majesty the King of Prussia.

"May it please your Majesty,

"We, the undersigned, being subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, inhabitants of the Town and neighbourhood of Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, and members of the Protestant Association of that place, beg most respectfully to approach your Majesty with feelings of sincere and heartfelt gratitude for the firm and christian part which your Majesty has lately taken in upholding within your Majesty's dominions the sacred cause of Protestantism.

"It is delightful to us, in common with all lovers of truth, to see those, who with your Majesty have been called by Almighty God to be the rulers of nations, exercising the power so intrusted to them in the cause of the Lord, in upholding his blessed word, and in opposing the machinations of an apostate church, which is again putting forth all her strength to subject Christendom once more to her temporal and spiritual bondage.