wanted an institution-a Society that is wanted in the present days of rebuke and blasphemy, and most wanted, Sir, where it is least valued. When I consented to attend this meeting, I was fully aware of the varied responsibilities my act involved me in-responsibilities I could ill-bear the weight of, were I not fully assured that I was in the plain path of duty. Distrustful of my own opinion on many occasions ; when I differ from my Christian friends, I am doomed to undertake and carry on many things in painful doubt and hesitation, but, whenever, in the way of seeking after the precious souls of Roman Catholics, who are victimized by Popery; or in stirring up and keeping alive the zeal of Protestants for Reformation principles, I lift up my voice in the pulpit, or on the platform, against the deadly doctrines and heathenish superstitions of apostate Rome; I feel that I am but simply discharging a debt I owe my Church, as a watchman on her walls, and a debt I owe my God too, who counted me worthy-a poor frail earthen vesselto carry the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to preach amongst perishing sinners, the glorious gospel of the grace of God. I have in truth, Mr. Chairman, no sympathy with those who object to this valuable Society, simply because of its controversial character. Some of my friends think because they are ministers of peace, and professors of a religion of peace, that they ought to discountenance it on this ground-this is, in this day especially, a popular objection that sways the minds of, I fear, too many, and should be answered. The objection is a plausible sophism, well calculated to captivate a pious but unreflecting mind.-Where are we told in God's Bible, that we are to abstain from exposing error and proclaiming from the house-top the truth, for peace sake-were we not commanded to fight as good and hardy soldiers, the battles of Christianity, and to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the Saints?" Such peaceable persons forget that Christ, who was "the Prince of Peace," said that he came not to send peace on the earth but a sword." And to set a man at variance against his father-and

the daughter against her mother;" and that Christ made this declaration at the solemn moment that he commanded his apostles to go forth and preach the gospel of peace-well knowing that in Him alone they were to have peace, "but in the world tribulation." Such persons may, if they like, call out peace, peace, where there is no peace, and daub over with untempered mortar, but their peace is a false peace-a treacherous peace, and must result in death and destruction, when the tottering wall they have daubed over, falls in upon them and crushes them beneath its ruins. We must, sir, have purity before peace, for St. James tells us that the wisdom which cometh from above is first pure, then peaceable." We have war merely with sin and ungodly systems, but we cherish peace in our own hearts, and bring gospel peace to sinners. But Christianity must carry on war and be an aggressive system until the Devil shall have his head bruised beneath our feet by one styled the God of peace, and bearing the title at the very moment of crushing the serpent's head. I hope then, sir, we shall hear no more about their peace. But feeling the humiliating distance between their conduct, and the conduct of the Apostles of Christ, they shift their ground, finding it untenable, and say, that Romanism is Christianity, and that we are bound to live in peace with it. My friend, Mr. Blakeney has met this by charging (and substantiating his charges too) so far as the intelligence of this large meeting is concerned, the Church of Rome with Idolatry-so, Idolatry cannot be Christianity. although the evening is far advanced, I would wish to confirm by documentary evidence, the charge of the Rev. Gentleman. He has given you the principles of Romanism, I will now give you the practical working of the system. My friend has given you an interesting account of the Scapular and its supposed efficacy; now, let us look at the use the Irish peasantry make of it.The Rev. Gentleman here read a newspaper account of a young woman who attempted to burn her father, mother, and family, and then drowned herself; but previous to her diabolical crimes, the very day before, she bought a Scapular, and put it on her to screen her

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guilt from the vengeance of heaven. Her parents too, at her wake, not only kept the Scapular which was found on her drowned person, but put on the other rags which my friend Mr. B. has exhibited before you tonight-and a report was circulated, that although the Scapular did not keep her from drowning, yet it had miraculously kept her dry in the water. I now hold in my hand a letter from an intelligent person in Philipstown, who assures me that the people there take off the clay from an holy Priest's grave, to eat and otherwise use as a specific remedy for every internal disease. "I have seen," he says, a pit sometimes two feet deep, made over the grave by taking away the clay, which if boiled in new milk can cure all diseases." He says the pit is filled up from a neighbouring ditch, which becomes holy the minute it touches the holy grave. Let us turn, sir, from the painful but natural results of Popish principles, for Romanism has more superstitious practices than all the Heathen world besides, and let me ask the persons who object to our excellent Society, does not Ireland want a Reformation Society? My friend, who wrote this letter is, it seems, a politician, and although our Society carefully avoids all politics, yet I am tempted to give the concluding paragraph of his letter, and if we had Sir Robert Peel and Sir James Graham here, they would find that a very poor man could, with his Bible under his arm, be taken into the Privy Council. He says, "Legislators may impute to this or that cause the misery-the degradation and poverty of this unfortunate country, and Christless people, and Wellington, Peel, Graham, and Stanley, may legislate until the end of the 19th century, if they could live so long, and the curse would remain, unless they assist the preaching of the Gospel, and let the word of God be brought before the people to destroy their superstitions." I am glad to find by your cheers that you approve of my friend's policy for Ireland. To certify you that the Church of Rome has put the Virgin Mary in the place of Christ, as the Saviour of sinners, I will quote one particular blasphemous passage from a work of authority, in that Church, as the author of it (Liquori) was canonized seven years ago, in 1839. In

page 204 you will find it. "We read in the Chronicles of St. Francis, that brother Leo once saw in a vision two ladders, one red, at the summit of which was Jesus Christ; and the other white, at the top of which presided his blessed mother. He observed that many who endeavoured to ascend the first ladder, after mounting a few steps fell down; and on trying again were equally unsuccessful, so that they never attained the summit; but a voice having told them to make a trial of the white ladder, they soon gained the top -the blessed Virgin having held forth her hands to help them." Here we have the best man the Church of Rome can produce on his knees-and (this is the best way to find out the real religion of any man) what do we find all through the prayers of this book? Nothing but a series of blasphemies against the Lord, and against his Christ. We want, Mr. Chairman, the Reformation Society in every part of Europe and the United Kingdom-we want a Reformation Society in Parliament, and I see that every day more clearly-we want one in all the towns through England, wherever there is a Missionary Romish Priest--we want one in Oxford College, and Doctor Pusey and Co., in my own Church, want to confer a little with my good friend Mr. Blakeney, and Penrith too wants a Reformation Society -and I must not conclude without expressing the thankfulness I feel at seeing this room so full, and presided over by one whom (on account of consistency and religious principle, as well as on account of rank and influence) the whole town looks to for advice. This, indeed, is a glorious day for Penrith-and I trust that when again another deputation from the Society visits the town, that all who respect true religion will rally round the unfurled standard of Reformation truth. provoke you to good works I would mention that the Romanists have within the last six years built fifty-four new Roman Catholic Chapels throughout England, and that the poor poverty-stricken Romanists of Ireland subscribe £700 each month for the conversion of England and Scotland to Popery. Imitate their zeal, and remember that there is a plate at the door. The Rev. gentleman sat down amid the applause of the

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meeting, and after a vote of thanks had been given to the Chairman, the meeting separated highly delighted with the proceedings.

PROTESTANT MISSIONARY MEETINGS.

THE following extract from a speech of the Rev. Hugh McNeile, at a meeting in Manchester, so well delineates the usefulness, and in fact necessity of such meetings as those of the Reformation Society, that we transfer it to our pages, and earnestly beg the attention of our readers to its conclusive reasoning.

"He said that unless the people of this country were instructed in, and determined to maintain the reformed religion, the blessing of a reformed church would very soon be taken from us. How were the people to be instructed? it might be said. In answer, he would say, that he believed mostly in Churches; but such meetings as the present were calculated to extend Christian instruction. He believed they had arrived at that crisis, at which one of their very best services was to give Christian instruction at such meetings, direct and indirect, positive and negative; to teach the audience what they hoped some knew, what none knew enough, what they all ought to know-true religion, real Christianity, and to teach them what was that false religion which was aiming at universal supremacy over the world. Objections were made to talking in a serious tone at such meetings as the present. It was said that that was preaching. And why should it not be made preaching? They were commanded to preach the word in season and out of season. And he believed that they were not to take for granted that the people knew that word. He was also of opinion that the heresies of the few were made dangerous by the ignorance of the many. Romanism was a corruption which the devil had introduced, and which was delighted in by the carnal or natural man; while true Christianity was a