fact, and we must leave an impartial public to draw their
own conclusions. One thing is self-evident to every
virtuous and zealous Catholic, and that is, that there never
was a time when energetic and persevering efforts to
promote the interests of religion, and to counteract the
machinations of her enemies (and their name, in our time,
is legion) were more required than now; and that religion
never made progress by its professors conniving at the
conduct of the bigots-by their acting in a cowardly and
dastardly manner-much less by suppressing the truth
through motives of policy, human respect, and for temporal
advantages. If religion be worth professing, it is worth
maintaining. If it be worth speaking for, it is worth con-
tending for: if it be worth living for, it is also worth dying
for.
(To be continued in our next.)

XIII.

TO PARSON STOWELL.

&c. &c. The chair was filled by the senior pastor, Rev. R. Frith. After ample justice had been done by the good humoured and very respectable guests who formed the party, to the excellent refreshments that were set before them, an adjournment took place for a short time. At length all re-assembled in the lower school, and the Rev. Chairman having resumed his seat, re-commenced the business of the evening and the duties of his office by addressing the assembly. He congratulated his people on their being again assembled on the anniversary of their church, and he felt happy and proud that he was surrounded by a happy and contented assembly; for if the countenance of man be the real index of his mind, he was perfectly justified in concluding, from the fact of his being surrounded exclusively by joyous and contented faces, that there was but one feeling predominant in the meeting, and that was a grateful recollection of the rapid strides which Catholicity has made in this locality during the past fortyseven years-thankfulness for being preserved to witness these things, a privilege denied to many, who expected a longer term perhaps and a desire to manifest this thankfulness, on the present joyful occasion, in such a way as Sir,-At page 32, Mr. Lesley argues thus: "Nothing the circumstances of the case will permit, and by such can be infallible but what is likewise impeccable, and innocent means as shall have the sanction of Religion and therefore the church may as well maintain her impecca. her ministers. Again, he congratulated them on the presence of the respectable strangers who had honoured bility as her infallibility; for sin is the greatest error." the party with their company and approval: he was We answer, that every sin is not the sin of heresy, or an especially grateful to his Rev. Brethren, and he knew that error against faith; and if it be not, the infallibility of the he was merely echoing the sentiments of his people when church will not receive any harm or injury from it. It is he said that their presence was a subject of delight to all, therefore strange "that nothing can be infallible but what is and that all were not only grateful for the honour con- likewise impeccable;" for cannot God preserve a man, or ferred, but that the recollection of it would be long cherished as a record of the condescension of his Rev. a whole society, from errors in faith, though at the same Brethren on the one side, and of the warm and sincere time he permits them to fall into sin? St. John says, gratitude of his people on the other. He would have other and the truth is not in him," St. John 1, 8; yet he was "that he who pretends to be without sin, deceives himself, opportunities during the evening of addressing them, there-infallible in the writing of that epistle, and all the doctrine fore as some of the gentlemen present would be called upon to speak and as there would be songs sung, and pieces recited, &c., he would not then further trespass on their time or patience.

(To be continued in our next.)

MR. CLEARY'S TWO LECTURES ON

DR. ACHILLI AND THE SAINTS!

On Monday and Tuesday evenings, the 6th and 7th of May, 1850, Mr. Cleary, by particular request, delivered two very long lectures on the above notorious character, in St Patrick's Hall. The second of these lectures was the 95th which Mr. Cleary has delivered during the past eighteen months. On Monday the meeting was densely crowded, and though the lecture occupied two hours and twenty minutes in the delivery, it was listened to with the most breathless attention. The meeting was miscellaneous, for there were gathered together in one promiscuous heap, Protestant parsons, Dissenting preachers, English and Irish Catholics, Protestants of various communities, and policemen disguised, but not so much so as to prevent recogni. tion. On the whole the meeting was a very respectable, orderly and good humoured one; and it is very currently reported that the parsons will again visit the Hall, because they are compelled to admit that they heard there many startling truths relating to themselves and their mistress, old mother 39, which had been hidden from them in Oxford and Cambridge. Be that as it may, one thing is certain, viz., that a fair opportunity was afforded them (of which they declined to avail themselves) to refute the statements made by the lecturer. At the commencement, in the middle, and at the close of his lecture, he called upon his opponents to come forward and disprove anything advanced by him. Indeed he more than once offered to curtail his discourse, in order to accommodate any party willing to oppose him. But though it is evident that there were many violent partizans and furious bigots present, not one attempted to reply. It is not our business to say why they did not we have performed our duty in chronicling the

he preached; and so was Solomon when he wrote his proverbs; yet he was very far from being impeccable. In a word, Christ has promised infallibility, but not impeccability to his church; and therefore the one may be maintained without the other.

But Mr. Lesley has found out a most expedient way to utterly defeat all God's promises, by tacking a condition to them, and by boldly asserting, "that there is no such thing as an unconditional promise," p.p. 28, 29, 30. But how does he go about to prove it. It would be too great a hardship upon him to demand a solid proof, when the matter will not bear it. First, then, he serves us up some whipped cream, and tells us, p, 28, "that as treason forfeits an estate or honours given by a prince, though in ever so positive terms, and without any condition expressed, because allegiance is always implied, so the church may forfeit her charter." But we answer him, that God's infinite bounty is not to be measured by our short line; and therefore allowing it to be true, that a prince cannot bestow a title or honour, but that a condition is implied, must this be a law to the Almighty, and tie up his hands from bestowing an absolute and unconditional favour?

After this little flourish, Mr. Lesley produces a few instances of conditional promises, and concludes from them, But there is a rule or that therefore all the rest are so. principle of argumentation, that "an universal consequence cannot be drawn from a few particular instances;" as we cannot conclude that all men are blind, because some are born under that misfortune. We grant then, that some conditional promises are to be found in the Scriptures; as that to Eli, I Sam. ii. 30; that to the Israelites in the desert, Num. xiv. 34 where God speaks of pulling down or building up any nation according as it shall deserve; and Mr. Lesley has made bold to join the word Church twice with the text, without haring Jeremiah's leave for it; which we think was not good manners.

But with what colour of reason can he infer from these few instances, that therefore all the promises made either to the Jewish or Christian church are conditional? Nay, that "All God's promises are as conditional as his threaten27 A 22

Stockport-Mr. J. Burns, Edgeley, ImmaJ” ji cầ

Printed and Published by EDWARD STAVELET, 117, Bedford-street. Hulme, in the borough of Manchester. Saturday, May 18th. 1850.

thirty-one years old, of which he had reigned twelve. Pertinax, an old man, was made emperor by compulsion, but reigned only eighty-seven days, always trembling for his own safety. Being esteemed too frugal and rigorous, he was slain; and the prætorian guards, who had often made and unmade emperors at pleasure, whom the nevergainsaying senate confirmed, on that occasion debased to the last degree the dignity of the Roman empire by exposing it to sale by public auction. Didius Julianus and Sulpicianus having several times out-bid each other, when the latter had offered five thousand drachms, Julianus at once rose to six thousand two hundred and fifty drachms, which he promised to give every soldier; for which price he carried the empire. The senate confirmed the election, but the purchaser being embarrassed to find money to acquit himself of his engagement, was murdered sixty-six days after; having dearly bought the honour of wearing the purple, and of having his name placed among the em. perors. Severus was next advanced to the throne by a part of the troops, and acknowledged emperor by the senate. Niger and Albinus were proclaimed by different armies; but Severus defeated the first by his generals in 194 and the Jatter himself near Lyons in Gaul, in 197. The Christians had no share in these public broils. Tertullian at that time much extols the fidelity of the Christians to their princes, and says, none of them were ever found in the armies of rebels, and particularly, that none of them were ever engaged in the party, either of Niger or of Albinus. (To be continued in our next.)

A

FALSEHOOD..

received was declared to be a delusion, and the spirit by which the visionary spoke, to be not the spirit of truth; the person, who had been the subject of the revelation, was declared not a holy man free from the dross of the senses and of self-love, but a man stained by sin, and deluded by unholy imaginations.

Montanus, a neophyte of Ardaban, a village in Mysia, on the borders of Phrygia, about the year 171, fell into a state of violent ecstacy, during which he predicted an approaching persecution, together with the judgments of heaven that should fall on the persecutors; he exhorted the faithful to contend vigorously for the crown of martyrdom, and to prepare for the conflict by lives of severe selfdenial. But his state was not the calm manifestation and fervour of a saint: it was a wild, fitful and fretful enthusiasm, bordering upon a fury, which retained entire consciousness, and upon which physical causes probably exerted a powerful influence. It has been supposed that Montanus and his prophetesses were at first the dupes of an unintentional delusion, and that visions in which he had formerly indulged were reflected in his ecstacies, but that in the course of time he practised voluntary deception upon his followers. Two rich and noble ladies, Priscilla and Maximilla, who had forsaken their husbands, became followers of Montanus, and immediately imagined themselves to have been elevated to the rank of prophetesses. There were soon found many in Phrygia, who gave entire faith to the revelations of the master and of these his prophetesses, and although the bishops of the province examined the affair in several syzods, condemned the predictions of the new prophets as false and profane, and excommunicated the authors of them, Montanism nevertheless soon spread even beyond Asia minor. The severity of life, and the appearance of sanctity which these infatuated people threw around their errors, seduced many better and wiser than themselves, even the great Tertullian, who dedicated his vast learning and high talents to defend their doctrine. The gift of vision and of prophecy was imparted to It appears that the heads of the party obtained an appromany of the faithful, in the first, the apostolical age of bation of the bishop from Rome; and by their deceptions the Church. Of the number of those who were thus they so far succeeded as to induce one pontiff, probably endowed, were Silas, Agabus, and the daughters of Philip. Victor, to declare a favourable opinion of the prophetic In the second century the Apologist Quadratus, and a fe- gift of Montanus, Priscilla, and Maximilla, and to receive (male named Ammia, also received the gift of prophecy. their congregations in Asia minor into the communion of To no gift of grace could deception approach so near as the Church. But a more accurate knowledge of the to this, because in nature there is something analagous to character and doctrines of the sect, which he received from - this foresight (vision in somnambulism) which, although the Phrygian Praxeas, and the authority of his predecesappertaining to the region of nature, is excluded from the sors who had sanctioned the decrees of the Asiatic bishops, kingdom of grace, but which can produce effects and ap-induced him to recall his letters of peace and communion. pearances similar to those of divine ecstacies: again,,, The principle of Montanism was, that Divine revelation because here man is exposed to the delusions and allure-as far as it regarded faith, was determined and perfected by ments of vanity and pride, and, in consequence of this Christ and his apostles; but that discipline, the rule of a perversion to demoniacal influence, by which he is made Christian life according to the precepts of the I Redeemer the organ through which the spirit of error and of lies may and his disciples, have not been fully regulated, and theres speak. It has therefore always been the care of the Church fore required further development and formations by a new strictly to examine those who have laid claim to the gift of revelation. To corroborate this doctrine, the Montanists prophecy, to prove by the spirit which she has received, appealed to that progressive order which the Almighty had the spirit which had manifested itself in these true or observed, in the economy of grace, in the Institution and imaginary prophets. Should the vision or the prophecies establishment of his Divine kingdom on earth; but of this which these seers announced as the effects of divine inspira- truth, they made an erroneous and anti-christian application, contradict in any respect the doctrines or the precepts tion. Under the law and the prophets, they said the of the Church, then the ecstacy in which they had been kingdom of God was in its infancy; during the preaching

DIVISIONS AND CONTESTS IN THE CHURCH
MONTANUS, AND THE MONTANISTS:
THE ALOGI-HIERACAS,

of Christ, it attained to the vigour of youth: still the maturity of age was wanting, but would be imparted to it by new revelations of the Paraclete. Christ and the apostles, even St. Paul, condescended to the weakness of their times: they therefore spared the people in many things, as Moses of old had yielded much to the hard hearts of the -Israelites. But the time of weakness and of indulgence had passed away: according to the promise of Christ, that the -Holy Ghost would reveal much which the disciples could not then bear, this revelation, perfecting the former, was now made through these his chosen instruments, to raise Christian discipline to its perfection; and it was therefore the duty of every Christian to subject himself freely and willingly to the new commands and precepts of the spirit of God. As the Catholics refused their submission to these pretended revelations of the Paraclete, they were viewed by ⚫ the Montanists as mere natural carnal-minded men, who' being void of the spirit, rejected his commandments; they esteemed themselves as men of truly spiritual minds, and their sect as the church of the spirit, whilst the Catholics could call themselves only the Church of the bishops.

(To be concluded in our next.)

THE WOODEN CROSS.

From the German of Canon Schmid.

CHAPTER IX.

JOY AFTER SORROW.

While Sophia was praying in the garret, William sat sorrowfully upon the bench in the lower room. It was terrible to think of being driven from his house with his little children. He was oppressed with unutterable sorrow, and, to relieve himself from the feeling which overpowered him, he was obliged to open the window, that he might give free vent to his tears, which he had always suppressed in the presence of his dear Sophia. He prayed fervently to God for aid.

The two little children were playing in the room, and seemed not to observe their father; but, after a time, little Frederick saw that his father was weeping. He ran hastily up to him, left the little coach, with which he was playing, in the middle of the room, and asked, in a piteous voice, "Why are you crying, father ?"

"Dear Fred," said his father, "you know that our neighbour, Caspar, is going to drive us out of our home, and sell the house, and all that we have in the world. You saw and heard, the other day, how angry he was. He means to drive us from this to beg over the world. Help me to pray to our good God, that He may not suffer this.” Poor Fred began to cry bitterly, clasped his little hands together, looked up piously to heaven, and said, "Dear Father in Heaven! wicked Caspar is going to take our house from us-do not suffer it, I pray thee!"

with his knife, and intended to divide it between the children. He now took it up hastily, and gave it to the weeping child to pacify her, and Fred said in a tone of compassion, "Be quiet, dear Theresa, and I will leave you the whole apple for yourself. Don't cry any more (said he, though he was still erying himself), and believe me God will not fail to help us." The father cast a look of anguish to heaven. "Look down, merciful God!” said he, upon these children, and have compassion upon them!” At this moment the mother rushed in, with the cross in her hand. "God has come to our aid," she cried in a voice full of joy. "Join with me, all of you, in thanking Him for his mercy!"

She opened for her husband the wooden cross in which the diamond cross lay hidden, and told him how she had, that very moment, discovered the hidden treasure.

William cast one look upon the sparkling stones, threw himself upon his knees, and clasped his hands together. “O God!” cried he, "what a wondrous deliverance! The cross is of great value. We now shall be able to pay our debt, and need no longer fear to be driven out with our children to beg."

Little Fred could only see the under part of the wooden cross, with which he was quite familiar, and he could not observe anything remarkable about it; he stretched up his hand, and cried, "Dear mamma, let me see the cross closer. I do not understand why you and my father are so surprised and delighted." His mother shewed him the diamond cross, and told him that those sparkling stones were worth more than a thousand dollars.

"Ha," said Fred, "these little sparkling things are not amiss, but what use are they good for?" His mother told him that these precious stones were only for looking at, they sparkled so beautifully.

"Ah," said Fred, "if it were so, people would hardly give so much money for them. The little stones shine very beautifully indeed, but not more beautifully than the dew-drops which one may see by the thousand every morn ing for nothing, on the grass and the flowers.". Still little Theresa would have been disposed to give her beautiful rosy apple, which she still held in her hand, for the sparkling cross, if she were allowed to put it outreac

William could hardly compose himself after his surprise, "My dear children," said he, bursting into tears of joy, "you do not yet comprehend what a great blessing God has bestowed upon us. But believe me, I shall be able to pay our neighbour with the money I shall get for these jewels; and we shall be allowed to remain in our house, and to retain cur garden and all our property. Pomara

“Ah, then," said Fred, ff so it was not in vain we prayed to our good God. He is very good to hear us immediately.?! wurstan ni bis aby bus ylines to 2% n "That He is," said his father let us thank Him for

When little Theresa heard this, and saw her little The parents, clasping their hands, returned thanks to brother crying so bitterly, and looked into her father's God, and looked up with tearful eyes to heaven; the weeping eyes, she also began to ory and scream aloud. children, too, folded their little hands and swept for joy, The father took the poor child into his lap to calm her, and these tears, with which the parents, and the children but she continued to clap her little hands together, and offered thanks to God, were more precious in his sight than Cried out, "Dear God! pray, pray-help us, help us!” the costliest diamonds in the eyes of the world. folde Their father had left an apple on the window sill along 924 923 10 sual To be concluded in our nëxti)109 (neis galdoente en gitub :goostal elf al uw be le mobycie | aveď bei por donde ni postane odt med) Moran edt to