stantiation. This astonishing doctrine arose from taking figurative words in a literal sense; and the Romanists do not shrink from the direct inference, that if their interpretation be just, Christ took his own body in his own hands, and offered it to his disciples. But all minor difficulties may be easily overlooked, when the flagrant absurdity of the doctrine itself is regarded. For, according to the Church of Rome, when the words of consecration have been pronounced, the bread becomes that same eternal body of flesh and blood in which our Lord and Saviour suffered upon the cross: remaining bread to the sight, touch, smell, and taste, and yet substantially ceasing to be so. ... and into how many parts soever the bread may be broken, the whole entire body is said to be contained in every part."

A great difference of opinion prevailed upon this subject in the western church in the ninth century, nor was it until the eleventh century that the Popes Leo IX, Victor II, Nicolas II, and Gregory VII, supported transubstantiation with a high hand, and condemned to silence Berenger and his followers, who violently opposed it. Hitherto the disputants on both sides, for the space of more than a century and a half, had proposed their jarring opinions with the utmost freedom, unrestrained by the despotic voice of authority, since no council had given a definitive sentence upon this matter, nor prescribed a rule of faith to terminate all inquiry and debate (Mosheim).

"Nevertheless, it prevailed, and was finally declared by Innocent III. at the fourth Lateran Council, to be a tenet necessary to salvation. Strange as it may appear, the doctrine had become popular with the people, for its very extravagance, with the clergy because they grounded upon it their loftiest pretensions. For if there were in the sacrament this actual and entire sole presence, which they denoted by the term of transubstantiation, it followed that divine service was something more than a sacrifice and service of prayer and thanksgiving; an actual sacrifice (of atonement) was performed in it, wherein they affirmed that the Saviour was again offered up, in the same body which had suffered on the cross, by their hands. The priest, when he performed this

stupendous function of his ministry, had before his eyes, and held in his hands, the Maker of heaven and earth; and the inference which they deduced from so blasphemous an assumption was, that the clergy were not to be subject to any secular authority, seeing that they could create God their Creator! Let it not be supposed that the statement is in the slightest part exaggerated: it is delivered faithfully in their own words."-Book of the Church, by R. Southey, LLD.

OPERATIVE AUXILIARIES OF THE REFORMATION SOCIETY.

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. M-.

Somers Town Operative Auxiliary.

July 2nd.-The Rev. J. Cumming delivered an eloquent and interesting lecture to the Auxiliary, which was listened to with almost breathless attention by a crowded and respectable auditory. Some Romanists (for there were a great many present) put several questions to the Rev. Gentleman, which were most satisfactorily and conclusively answered. The Rev. gentleman spoke about two hours.

Operatives increase in numbers weekly, eight of whom distribute the Society's Tracts in the neighbourhood regularly every week. Weekly meetings are held -a great number of (respectable) Roman Catholics attend them. Discussion has been carried on for four successive Wednesday evenings between Mr. Giannini, a Roman Catholic, (from Italy) and Mr. Ballard on the Romish doctrine of Transubstantiation. Mr. Ballard opened the discussion by reading from the Creed of Pope Pius the Fourth and the Canons of the Council of Trent, and then proceeded to comment on the idolatrous worship given to the consecrated wafer by

the Church of Rome the gross and inextricable absurdities; the manifest impossibilities and contradictions; the open and awful impieties; the horrible blasphemies of Transubstantiation; and to shew that it is against sense, reason, faith, Scripture, and matter of fact; that it overthrows the humanity of the Saviour; that it dishonors his body into the figure of a round cake, that has neither shape nor part of a true body (as is asserted in the Catechism of the Council of Trent); that the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, may be enclosed in a wafer, which has been devoured by wicked men, has been cut in pieces by swords and knives, or has been eaten by animals.

Mr. Ballard further shewed that there is no more proof in the Scripture of the transubstantiation of the bread into the body of Christ, than there is of the transubstantiation of the cup into the New Testament, or of the transubstantiation of the disciples into salt: for it is as positively asserted by the Redeemer that his disciples were the salt of the earth, as it was that the bread was his body. Mr. Giannini has not given any proof of transubstantiation-has not proved that the apostles worshipped the Host, or that they believed the bread to have been transubstantiated in any way. He occupied the whole of his time by introducing argument (if it could possibly be called argument) quite irrelevant to the subject, and has quoted several things most falsely, which were detected and exposed by his oppoWe have heard from good authority that he intends shortly to give up the discussion.

EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. BALLARD,

General Operative Secretary.

THE Operatives increase much in knowledge of the controversy, and in love for the cause of the Reformation. Two or three private and public operative meetings are held every week. They are exceedingly well attended, both Protestants and Romanists have invariably seen that the Romish doctrines cannot possibly be supported by Scripture or facts.

SIR,

DISCUSSION AT ISLINGTON.

To the Editor of the "British Protestant."

A meeting of Roman Catholics and Protestants was held in July at the Temperance Hall, Church Lane, Islington, T. Morgan, Esq. M.D. in the chair, the speakers were Messrs. Horwood, Spurgeon, Wiggins and Ballard. Messrs. Horwood and Wiggins addressed the meeting on the necessity for Roman Catholics and Protestants to read the Word of God for themselves, and to inquire whether the doctrines of their respective churches were conformable to it. Mr. Spurgeon began to expose the Romish doctrine of Transubstantiation; whereupon some Romanists frequently interrupted the speaker. The Chairman then rose, and said that no interruption could be allowed, but any respectable Roman Catholic would be heard in defence of the Romish Church, if he wished to speak from the platform. Mr. Miller, a Roman Catholic, and apparently a leading man amongst them, then came on the platform; and it was agreed that Mr. Ballard and he should discuss the subject. Mr. Ballard first stated the circumstances which occasioned this meeting to be held, viz. that he had entered a meeting of Roman Catholics in Islington, and discussed with their leader, Mr. Hogan, on the authority of the Bible; that his opponent gave up the discussion the first night, and that he, Mr. Ballard, was refused admittance the second time. Mr. Ballard then followed out the remarks of Mr. Spurgeon on Transubstantiation, and exposed it with his usual ability. Mr. Miller then addressed the meeting, but was quite unable to defend his cause. However, he promised to attend again the next week. On the Monday following a second Meeting was held; Mr. Miller made his appearance, but it was evident to the friends of his own cause, that he had no chance of

success.

Mr. Hogan (Mr. Ballard's opponent, alluded to above) rose up and said, “Catholics, I beg you all to leave the meeting. Mr. Miller is not able to discuss with Mr. Ballard; he will make as bad a mess of it as poor Graham did," (and he might have added, as bad a one as I have made myself); when to our great surprise, about half the meeting went out, two thirds of which were Roman Catholics; but many remained till the discussion closed. Mr. Miller refused to meet his opponent again. On Wednesday a third meeting was held. Mr. Miller was not present. Mr. Giannini (Mr. Ballard's opponent at Somers Town) was present. Mr. Ballard replied to a tract distributed by Mr. Giannini, and exposed some Romish books of devotion, and wished Mr. Giannini to reply; which he refused to do. Mr. Spurgeon then addressed the meeting. An Auxiliary was formed at the close.

W. T.

THE GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THE excitement begun by Ronge seems to increase; but it is feared there is much that is earthly and unscriptural in it. It is now especially desirable to introduce sound, scriptural, and evangelical statements there; and we are happy to inform our readers that a great number of the Reformation Society tracts have been sent for from Germany, in order to be translated and circulated. Popery is shaken on the continent to its foundations.