Popery. POPISH SAYINGS AND DOINGS. Grand Total £105,945 13 8 Of this amount, £23,406 1s. 1d. has been awarded solely for building purposes, and nearly one-fourth of the whole sum has been paid during the last year. Still, some things are encouraging. The Tablet, of August 21, says :— The Military School at Chelsea is probably considered as a great boon to the soldiers, who find there a good education for their children. The school is a good school, and the better it is the greater our grievance. It is now admitted that a third of the army is Catholic, but the Duke of York's School is for Protestants, and the dozen Catholics in it are rapidly melting away into Protestantism. The tone and temper of the school is Protestant, the spirit of the instruction is Protestant, and all its officers are of that peculiar persuasion. The management of that school is a grievance; the fruits of it are fatal to us, and we must try and either change the government of the school, or procure from the State another establishment for the children of its soldiers. Ireland has lately been the theatre of a gorgeous demonstration. Cardinal Wiseman has honoured the Emerald Isle with a visit, and been entertained at a banquet, attended by "upwards of 150 prelates and clergy of all degrees." This was, undoubtedly, a fair opportunity for a political harangue, nor would it have been surprising if the speech had been a little one-sided or somewhat unfair; but so utter a negation of all that had been done for Romanists, and so unscrupulous a recommendation to go on getting more, few men expected, even from the mouth of a Cardinal. The Cardinal talks of “union,” but what union does the reader suppose is meant? Not the union of the two nations of Great Britain and Irelandnor even that of all classes in Ireland itself-but the union of " the Catholics of both nations," and of the "bishops, priests, and people" of Ireland among themselves. The sole aim and purpose of this union is, that the Irish Romanists, being a numerous and therefore powerful body, may be enabled to combine with the Romanists of this island, to extort the objects of their joint desires from the Imperial Parliament. England is described as a "country in which the true religion has become almost extinct ;" the "dominant power in the State" is represented as given to "disregard the complaints and remonstrances" made by Romanists on behalf of their religion; but the strong phalanx of Irish Catholics are to reinforce their English brethren, and bring the united force of the two communities to bear upon the British Government, for such purposes as Cardinal Wiseman and his colleagues think proper. This is the union which is regarded as so glorious and promising; and accordingly the priests of Ireland are directly urged to "act as they so well know how to act." Englishmen will be apt to recollect that not only was the Emancipation Act duly and freely passed, but that its spirit had been liberally interpreted by the people of this country; that even the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, provoked by outrageous aggression, has been looked upon mainly as a national protest, and suffered to remain a dead letter, as these very proceedings de monstrated; that Maynooth has been endowed with impunity, as well as revenues; and that in all matters, not only of creed and ritual, but parade and pretension, Romanists are indulged with their full swing. Yet, at a gathering of Popish priests in this year 1858, not only are alleged grievances still harped upon as the most urgent topic, but everything is done to exalt the Papacy and the Priesthood above the Sovereign, the Government, and the People of this United Realm. The public will hardly believe that not only was the first toast of this priestly banquet dedicated to "Our Most Holy Father the Pope," but the name of Queen Victoria was absolutely omitted altogether; and, as if to define more unmistakeably the nature of the union and allegiance in favour at Ballinasloe, the Cardinal ventured to speak of the Catholics of England and Ireland as "subjects of the same Sovereign, but still more closely allied as members of the same Church." This is real, genuine Popery-the "Church”—that is to say, the ambition of its rulers, organized through its priesthood, and culminating in the Pope-elevated above every other authority and title, while all temporal government and all national claims are depressed to a subordinate rank. For many years a most spurious charity has prevailed with respect to Popery. As the nation has sowed, it will one day reap. In 1792 the Romish places for public worship were only 35; in 1858 they are 902. In 1841 the number of Romish priests in England and Wales had increased up to 552; in 1858, up to 1,181. The number of religious houses for women, in 1841, was 16; for men, 1. In 1858 the returns are-religious houses for women, 109; for men, 27; colleges, 11. Now the careful observer will here note that the advance of the Romish Church in this country has been greater in the last seventeen years, from 1841 to 1858, than in the whole fifty years that preceded. This is progress at which the very stones of the streets ought to cry out. England is nursing a system the purposes of which can only be realized by her ruin! Ecclesiastical Affairs. CHURCH-MEETINGS IN WALES. SOME very valuable remarks have appeared lately in the WITNESS on Churchmeetings. Those made by the Canadian Independent are very worthy of perusal by all the churches. The non-attendance at these meetings should be complained of, and every effort possible should be made to remove the causes of the same, which are so destructive to the increase of the churches, and their growth in purity, love, and holiness. It indicates little or no interest in the society of the saints, and the welfare of the Church of Christ, when those meetings it has exclusively to itself are habitually neglected. Such must be in want of sympathy with things spiritual, and very deficient of brotherly love. They look with the same coolness and indifference upon brethren in the church as they do upon others in the large congregation, and are far from being as Paul said, "kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love ;" and certainly they cannot say as the Apostle John, We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." We have in all our Welsh churches weekly church-meetings, and these are deemed so essential by many, that they could hardly believe that a church could exist without them. It is but very few that have the weekly lecture; they think the church-meeting far more important, to exhort one another in love; to watch and pray, that they may not enter into temptation; to impress upon each other's mind the necessity of unceasing prayer for the influence of the Holy Spirit, to regenerate mankind; to confess their faults one to another, and pray one for another; and to declare to each other what the Lord has done for their souls. As a general rule, we have no reason to complain that few members attend these meetings, but we often complain that all do not; generally three-fourths of the number are present. As the Chairman of the Board of London Congregational Ministers stated in his valuable address, our attention as ministers ought to be carefully directed to the best mode of conducting these meetings, whenever held, weekly or monthly, so that they may be interesting and edifying to all present. When they occur weekly, the conducting of them becomes necessarily different to the monthly. After the meeting has been commenced with singing, reading, and prayer, the minister delivers a short, suitable address; then he acts as chairman, calling upon different individuals to speak. In the church the writer presides over, no less than thirty or forty invariably speak at these meetings. Sometimes we have a portion of Scripture under consideration, which has been mentioned at the previous meeting; at other times it is left free for all to speak whatever they feel at the time, when portions of the sermons preached on the previous Sabbath that were especially appropriate for the church are often repeated and applied. Also thus ample opportunity is afforded us of strengthening the weak, and of nursing the young. Babes in Zion get the benefit of the experience of the aged, "who have borne the burden and heat of the day." The greatest part of one meeting every month is taken up in transacting the business of the church; but as the church is accustomed to come together every week, that is attended as well as any other, so that the members in general are acquainted with all the affairs: they have a voice in their transaction, and have no cause to be jealous of any officer domineering over them. We are aware that there is a sameness in these meetings at some places. Many go to them merely from custom; they think or pray but little, we fear. If asked to speak, they say what they have said a hundred times before, in very nearly the same words. All know what they are going to say before they speak. But much of this can be avoided if proper care be taken to have occasionally some particular suitable subject to treat upon, and a sufficient variety of subjects, all bearing upon the rooting and building up of the church in love, and establishing it in the faith. We should not overlook the great importance of seeing that all obey from the heart the form of doctrine delivered unto them, the sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God. But it may be that getting a weekly church-meeting in many places would be quite impracticable-that many of our English brethren would deem it inexpedient and superfluous-that it would suffice to get a good attendance at them monthly-and that very little of the foregoing manner of conducting them is worthy of imitation. We are happy to state that generally we get a pretty fair attendance at church-meetings in Wales. People do not come to them merely as spectators and hearers, but every one in his turn has an active part; so we enlist the sympathy of all, very few comparatively excepted. Members look forward to this meeting with interest and delight, as becometh saints. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching." May the great Head of the Church baptize his people with his Spirit, that we may all seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and may be brought to "consider one another, to provoke unto love and good works;" that all who make a profession of godliness may make religion in all its duties a primary thing-the great concern of their lives; "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." Then we shall hear no more of " attendance at church-meetings." Rhos. The Lay Preachers' Corner. DR. OWEN AND THE SIMPLE PREACHER. THE biography of the celebrated Dr. Owen tells us that in early life, after he had for a time indulged hope in Christ, he fell into great spiritual darkness and depression. In this state of mind he went one Sabbath morning to hear Dr. Calamy, who was then non T. E. E. one of the most distinguished Noncon formist preachers in London; hoping to obtain that relief under his clear and searching discourses which he had in vain sought elsewhere. To his great disappointment, instead of Dr. Calamy, a stranger entered the pulpit, and his first thought was to leave the church and go to some other place of worship. But being seated, and almost despairing of help from any quarter, he concluded to remain. After a short and fervent prayer, the stranger opened the Bible, and took for his text that most tender invitation and gracious promise of our Saviour, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." It struck Mr. Owen as it never had before, and as the preacher proceeded to open the text, in a plain and simple manner, light broke in upon his mind, his burden was taken off, and he went away rejoicing. Who the stranger was, no one could tell him, and he never was able to learn, though he made many inquiries afterwards. He was a plain man, in all respects very inferior to Dr. Calamy; probably an obscure country minister, who was sent there that morning to "bring out of darkness into marvellous light" a young man of great abilities, who was to become one of the brightest luminaries of the Christian church. Had Dr. Calamy preached, as was expected, it was by no means certain that Mr. Owen would have found any relief. His dependence would probably have been more upon the preacher than upon Divine illumination. What he needed was not a great or eloquent sermon, but the Holy Spirit to "shine in his heart, and give him the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." This is what is always needed, when converts are left to walk in darkness, and can see no light; and it is the transforming power of the same Spirit, and not a Dr. Calamy or any other great preacher, which is needed to awaken and convert sinners. CONFESSION OF A SMOKING I HAVE left off smoking. I could give you, in my own experience in this habit, some items that I think must be a little troublesome to the conscience of any smoking minister. I indulged in it till I was thoroughly convinced that it was not only opposed to the refined socialities of life, but that it was detrimental to health, befogging to the intellect, and stultifying to the sensibilities. I will, however, trouble you with only a few details of its moral bearings. They will do to use against the habit, just as well as they would were they your own personal experience. Take this text of the apostle :-" If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth." A very practical text, but I was a smoker; and that habit was opposed to the best Christian sense of my brethren, and even by many who were not Christians was regarded as a vice. I must waive that subject, lest my people say, "Physician, heal thyself." I wanted to preach upon the duty of self-denial, a duty that needs often to be urged. But the idea of a smoker preaching such a doctrine was simply ridiculous. That must be delayed, then. I The subject of temperance came up. felt called to preach upon it. But I could find no sound premises from which to reason, that was not destructive to my peace as a smoking Christian, I wished to preach a sermon on benevolence, requiring to save the littles for Christ; but my cigar bill faced me. I could not well preach in the face of that. I wished to visit my people. But both my clothes and my breath indicated that I had been smoking. I had a little rather they would not know it; besides, it might be offensive to them. I must stay at home. I needed two or three hours of vigorous bodily exercise; but I sat down and smoked after each meal, and an hour and a half or two hours of the day were gone. A good smoke requires an hour. I could not spare the time for exercise, and I soon got so that vigorous exercise was irksome; in fine, I grew lazy. But I forbear. I do not know how others get along with these daily experiences, but I could not endure them longer, and I am no longer a smoker. I relate these experiences to you, because I know you have a disposition to trouble people's consciences about this sin so far as you can. But a sinner knows best how a sinner feels, and the above items may help you. Besides, I owe you this confession, as an evidence of approval of your efforts and arguments for reform in this matter. Astronomy. THE HEAVENLY BODIES. THE Public have of late been much interested and excited by the Comet, which, from night to night, has been looking down upon us. The wonder has arisen from the novelty, since it was a very insignificant object compared with those which are daily open to our view. Let us glance at them in order, commencing with THE SUN. The diameter of it is computed to be 890,000 miles, which is more than equal to a hundred diameters of our earth. As to its substance, the general opinion is, that it is a body of fire, the heat of which is preserved by its prodigious bulk, and that light and heat are emitted from it, as from an enormous mass of red-hot iron. The distance of the Sun from our earthly abode is truly astonishing, it being more than eighty millions of miles a distance so prodigious, that a cannon-ball, flying at the rate of 480 miles an hour, would not reach us in nineteen years. And yet the rays of light which issue from it, are said to be no longer than seven or eight minutes in their passage-a rapidity so marvellous, as to be nearly equal to seven times the circumference of our world in a moment. Our merciful Creator has placed the earth at the most convenient distance from the sun, near enough to be sufficiently warmed by it, yet not so near as to be consumed. The sun is now generally acknowledged to be in the centre of our system: it does not perform a circuit round the earth, as, from appearances, we should naturally conclude, and as the ancient philosophers supposed: it revolves only round its own axis; and does this once in the space of twenty-five days, six hours. Various experiments have produced evidences in favour of the present, or, as it is commonly called, the Copernican hypothesis; and such, indeed, as almost amount to demonstration. To these testimonies may be subjoined the doctrine of eclipses. The cause eclipses is obvious: when the moon passes between the earth and the sun. When the earth is interposed between the moon and the sun, then the moon is eclipsed, and this is only at the time of the full moon. of Who can think of the bulk of the sun without calling to mind its glorious Creator? He is emphatically styled "the Father of Lights." If the material sun be so great, how inconceivably greater must He be who spake, and it was made; who commanded, and it stood fast! The fixed stars also, which, on account of their immense distance, appear to us so very small, are, it is very probable, so many suns equal in magnitude to ours, and answering the same purposes in other systems. Each of them seems formed to communicate light and heat to a certain number of inhabited planets, kept by gravitation within the sphere of its activity. With what an august conception does this furnish us of the works of the Creator! Thousands of thousands of suns, attended by ten thousand times ten thousand worlds, all in rapid motion, yet calm, regular, and harmonious, invariably keeping the paths prescribed them; and those worlds peopled with myriads of intelligent beings! Oh, how great, how wise, how good must He be who made and governs the whole ! In proportion as our thoughts of God are enlarged, we must feel ourselves diminished, and say with David, "When I consider the heavens, Lord! what is man, that thou art mindful of him ?" What are the dimensions of the heavens, vast as they are, compared with those of Jesus' love? "Could we with ink the ocean fill, Were the whole earth of parchment made, Nor could the scroll contain the whole, The sun is one of the brightest images of the Divine goodness. The idea of the power which formed it should impress us with holy awe; but the goodness displayed in furnishing such a source of blessings, should fill us with gratitude. He It is an invaluable blessing to us that the sun does not make his appearance in a sudden and abrupt manner. comes forth from his chamber full of mildness; he darts his rays with gradually-increasing force, until he attains his meridian height; and then as gradually retires. When a certain confessor of the Romish Church, who had been for many years confined in the dark prison of an Inquisition, was brought forth to suffer death, he no sooner beheld the light of the sun, than he cried out-" Who that has reason can worship any other than the Maker of that glorious creature?" For this devout exclamation, so derogatory to the worship of images, he was immediately gagged. Blessed be God, our tongues are at perfect liberty to record his sublime perfections who made this great luminary, and who continues it as the instrument of light, heat, and vegetation to the earth. Surely then "An undevout astronomer is mad." |