a fierce look at his brother priest, "is it thus you abuse every offer of mercy, every endeavour to reclaim you? No, I will be no longer trifled with." Again he grasped her with a more determined hold, and breathing one imploring prayer to the avenger of his people, Clara descended to the gloomy dungeons.

What she saw, what she suffered there, no tongue can relate, for silence, deep, mysterious, impenetrable silence is thrown around the proceedings of these chambers of iniquity, from which comparatively few have returned, and these few have been bound by a solemn oath never to reveal what passed within them.

We pass over the next six weeks. Had Clara's life been left to the tender mercies of the Abbess, Father Joachim, or even of the deluded Frances, never had she seen again the pure light of heaven.

But He

for whose sake she suffered so ordered events that not a hair of her head perished, and she came at last like gold from the furnace.

Thoughts shut up want air,

London, Oct. 22, 1847.

And waste like bales unopened to the sun."-YOUNG.

MADAM, As you have appeared desirous that I should address you on the nature of the Romish religion, I have deemed it advisable that my communications should be conveyed through the medium of this Journal-as it is devoted exclusively to the interests of Protestantism, and opposed to everything that is antagonistic to its sublime and immortal principles. I have been disposed to this step, chiefly with the view that other inquirers, like yourself, may have the opportunity afforded them of becoming acquainted, in some degree, with the practices of the Papacy-so far, at least, as I am capable of informing them.

Your residence on the Continent has afforded you ample scope for observing the externals of Popery. How the lofty cathedral must have inspired you! How its majestic aisles and brilliant altars must have filled your soul with solemn amazement! No doubt your eyes have oftentimes been dazzled with the splendour that met their vision; and your ears (for they are musical) must have been entranced with the grand diapason of the matin and the vesper song! Few can enter a Romish chapel on the Continent, especially if they possess a taste for the sublime and beautiful, without sensibly experiencing that inspiration which the great in art produces! Mr. READE, the elegant author of "Cain the Wanderer," in his poem, entitled "Italy," bursts into rapturous sentiment on viewing the "mighty Dome" of Saint Pr's:

Look up-behold the pride, the boast of Rome!
Orbed as the world, and floating, as on air,

In dazzling light expands the mighty Dome:
Mirror of Heaven-but Heaven when she doth wear,
All galaxied with Stars her flashing hair!
Saints, cherubs, prophets, hierarchs are shown

Into beatitude ascending there,

Where, centering to a point, enshrined alone,

The Ineffable revealed sits on his crowning throne!

But then he contrasts the splendour of the temple with the superstition of the worshippers :

Oh! how the truth the exulting bosom swells :—
How Mind can make the mind immortal here!
Yet gaze beneath-what baser spirit dwells
In these fanatic slaves, who, kneeling near,
Cringe to the dust in superstitious fear?
Still worshippers of wood and stone they kneel,
As if the bronze could look, the marble, hear:
As if a kiss could wounded conscience heal;
Or wash away the past, or faith or hope reveal!

Every one possessed of reason must be strangely impressed on beholding the bitter contrast presented by those noble temples and the rites and ceremonies therein employed. I am sure you have often lamented such desecration as well as myself. True religion, unlike all false systems, needs no embellishment, for

"When unadorn'd, 'tis adorned the most."

Readily let us yield to the heathen the right of using all possible display in performing honours to their false divinities. Their religion is empty and lifeless, and has nought beside to recommend it! But let those who bow before the awful Throne of God-who is a Spirit"worship him in spirit and in truth," discarding all superfluous show as offensive and derogatory to the Divine honour. The Christian religion is a tangible thing, and has no need of unmeaning forms. It is a reality, not an ideal. A truth, not a fiction. It exists in the heart, not in the fancy; and exhibits its salutary influences in the life, not in exhibitions! pompous Wicked men of old erected altars in the very heart of Rome, and upon them deified their vices! They hallowed all impurities with frankincense, and thought their very transgressions formed steps which would ultimately conduct them to heaven! How many at the present day follow after similar devices ! The famous Pantheon, built by Marcus Agrippa, and dedicated to Mars and Venus, or indeed to ALL THE GODS in general, as the name implies (τ@v návrŵv Ðewv) still remains with little alteration, save the loss of some of the old ornaments. Boniface IV. converted this building into a Christian temple, and dedicated it to "ALL THÉ SAINTS!" though the ordinary name for it is St. Mary de Rotonda. Heretofore the worshippers ascended by twelve steps, whereas now they go down as many to the entrance! But there exists nearer points of resemblance between the ancient and the modern Pantheon. For herein, as of yore, pagan rites abound, and abounding, emit their noxious exhalations to heaven. Herein is dishonoured the name of that jealous God who will not give his glory to another," and who

Nor

is of too pure and holy a character to receive offerings tainted by the breath of superstition! Such worship and such honours might indeed be used to appease the ire and deck the brow of Jupiter-but they can never elicit the smiles of God! Rome Pagan and Rome Papal are united by the strong ties of blood. They are twin sisters! will Papal Rome deny the connexion, especially as the former comes not under the ban of a "poor relation," however the latter may! For the present Pope, upon ascending the Pontifical chair, found to his great surprise an empty exchequer! Of all misfortunes the want of money is the greatest. And hence the appeal to the Christian world to send their "pious offerings" to the shrine of Rome! It seems strange that just as we were deprived of one big beggar man," up should start another venerable personage in his place! Now instead of the "rint" we have "Peter pence.' I mean, of course, nothing derogatory to the "liberal Pope! Far be it from my unambitious pen to assail so sacerdotal a character. No! I would not even touch the hem of his garment!

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I remember that when first my attention was directed to the study of Roman Antiquities I was forcibly struck with the similitude which exists between the religious rites of ancient and modern Rome. Let me recal to your remembrance a few of the most remarkable coincidences.

Pagan Rome, as Rome Papal, had its Curia, or temples; its altars; its Pontifex maximus, or pope; its Luperci, or priests; its sacrifices; its Victima, and Hostia; its Libatio; its frankincense, wine, and water; its Dies Festi; its holy water; its Cybele, or religious orders; its vestal virgins, or nuns, who were to vow chastity for thirty years; and its Sibylline writings, or traditions! Thus you perceive that Papal Rome is indebted to her elder sister for most of the forms and ceremonies which she now possesses! These things ought not to be.

I know there is much in the Roman Catholic religion to captivate and attract, especially for imaginative minds and musical ears. Hence these are the class of character who most frequently fall victims to its powerful infatuation. There is, believe me, Madam, great danger in attending too frequently such places of worship. For when once. the fancy is attracted and feasted, the heart will soon follow the fancy. An instance just occurs to memory. Some time ago I was introduced to a lady of considerable attainments, and who possessed a very vivid imagination. She was the daughter of a Protestant naval officer, the widow of a deceased Protestant gentleman, and was from her infancy brought up within the bosom of the Protestant Church. A few years previous to my acquaintance this lady's mind became so powerfully wrought upon by Romish ceremonies, that unpremeditatedly she sought and obtained an interview with a Popish priest, and signified her desire to enter the pale of the "Catholic" Church!" She was received, after due trial-made her confession-and became apparently a most devoted Papist. When first I had the pleasure of seeing her she was dangling her silver beads. However, I am happy to say, I became, through the Divine blessing, the honoured instrument of her conversion ; and this led ultimately to that

of her children (one of whom was in a convent at the time), and a domestic. Now the beads are set aside, and the Bible resumes their place. After her conversion she declared to me that she never was attracted by the doctrines of the Romish Church (for she could never believe in Transubstantiation), but by its gorgeous and unmeaning ceremonies. "O, , my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united." (Gen. xlix. 6.) I do not quote this circumstance, Madam, as a warning to you. I have too much confidence in your good sense and judgment, and in the sincerity of your profession, to imagine that you could be " carried away" by such subtlety as is practised by those who mean to deceive. God forbid that you should ever experience that " strong delusion" which would cause you to "believe a lie," or make you prostrate your reason before an idol shrine !

Blessed be God! that our country has been freed from the thraldom of Rome; that we have been enabled to see "great light," and to rejoice therein; that we now experience that liberty to which our forefathers were strangers; and that we are delivered from the heavy yoke of Papal bondage under which they so long groaned. Liberty, all hail to thee! May truth and liberty go hand in hand until they shall sway the world!

God of our fathers! to thee we would raise

The incense of prayer and the tribute of praise;
Thou who hast fashioned the earth and the sea,
Creator eternal, and shield of the free,
Oh! open the gates of thy mansion above,

And shadow our homes with the wing of thy love.
I have the honour to remain, Madam,
Very sincerely yours,

(To be continued.)

DIVIDED ALLEGIANCE OF PAPISTS.

To the Editor of the Protestant Magazine.

S. P. D.

SIR,-Upon looking into a volume of the "Protestant Journal," I lately met with the following remarks from the pen of the Rev. William Digby, of Killashee, Ireland, on the divided allegiance of Romanists.

If you can find room for these remarks in the "Protestant Magazine," by appending them to the paper I have already communicated,. they may tend to establish the fact which it appears to me of so much importance to insist on, namely, that Romanists are not fellowsubjects. By so doing, we cast the ground from under those who contend for the civil rights and privileges of Romanists, upon the plea that they are fellow-subjects.

I am, Sir, your obedient, faithful servant,

AMICUS PROTESTANS.

". . . . It is perfectly evident that the worship, after the precise object of which we have been inquiring, and which I trust the candid reader will feel satisfied that we have found, in that image of secular

grandeur and secular tyranny, and-crooked court-policy, which is to be seen in the court of his Holiness,' as one of the crowned heads and sovereign princes of Europe-(as every almanac bears witness)—it is evident, I say, that this worship, or obedience, however it be glossed over with the name of ecclesiastical worship,' or 'obedience only in things spiritual,' is in reality altogether of a civil and temporal character; it is, in fact, civil allegiance to a Lord paramount upon earth, who is an ecclesiastic, and to us, British and Protestants, a foreigner and an enemy. And, as such allegiance or worship as this, which every Roman Catholic, who subscribes to the creed of Pope Pius the Fourth, promises, and if he be an ecclesiastic or a regular swears, to render to the visible head of their Society, is plainly incompatible with their duty to Him who has said, Call no man your father upon earth; for one is your father even God;' and 'Call no man your master upon earth, for one is your Master, even Christ;' so it has been, and will be found to the end of the chapter, and of the times of the Gentiles' (Luke xxi.), to be equally incompatible with the duty. which loyal subjects owe to the Government under which they are placed; and that, even when the religion of the State happens to remain Catholic;' and how much more where, as among us, it has been, or is, Protestant?

6

And so perfectly, after the working of Satan,' (2 Thess. ii. 9,) is this system of corruption of the best things, that it makes of the most conscientious and high-minded individuals the most fiend-like and the most dangerous; who, being slaves in conscience-slaves in the centre of their being, and therefore universal slaves, must, whenever 'the Church' requires it at their hands, disappoint the confidence that their country foolishly places in them, as well as that of their private friends, and those of their own household, like a broken tooth, or a foot out of joint. For divided allegiance is, after all, an anomaly; and it is therefore not doing Romanists in heart justice to object it to them. No; for no man can serve two masters; he will either love the one and hate the other, or hold to the latter and despise the former.' Ye cannot serve Christ, who requires you to render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's, and Antichrist-who requires you to render all unto himself. A man must, therefore, be one thing or the other-in religion, either of Christ or Belial-a worshipper of God, or a worshipper of idols, (which are many,) and in politics, either undividedly and purely loyal, or undividedly and purely traitorous-either holding a single domestic and constitutional, or a single foreign and unconstitutional supremacy; for a divided supremacy is as perfect an absurdity, both in theory and in practice as is a divided allegiance. My officers were not excommunication proof,' was the reply of Preston, the General of the rebel forces in Ireland, in the reign of the misguided Charles the First, to the Duke of Ormond, when taxed by that faithful servant of a master, who was not worthy of him, with his perfidy in violating a solemn treaty."-See a paper in the Protestant Journal for May, 1831, on the Worship of the Image of the Beast, by the Rev. William Digby.