stantial nature of that reputation which is commonly desired, than this disposition to obscure others that we may shine with greater lustre ; for who does not see that, if every man could be completely successful in this reduction of others' merits, the standard of reputation would be perpetually lowering and the applause of the world continually diminishing, so that reputation and praise would be at length reduced to an indefinitely contemptible quality, and worth would vanish entirely in the attempts of individuals to

monopolize it. Indeed it is an alarming consideration that the love of false honour is the sure and imperceptible waste of all that is honourable.

From these remarks we may be induced, and not without reason, to conclude that much of the estimation which is lavished in society is not of such intrinsic value as to be eagerly desired or prized as an attainment; and that the world is seldom permitted to be the dispenser of the honour that.cometh from God.

B.

THE following is an extract of a letter recently received from a distant correspondent, who has concealed his name :"I have lately, and for the first time, observed in the number for February, 1816, p. 47, these words :- If we speak it with reverence, we may say, that even Omnipotence cannot effect the conversion of a sinner without his consent.' I must confess that on the first reading I was sorry to see it, and not a full and explicit explanation given, which was in the power of the writer to have done.Twenty-four hours had not elapsed before this same passage was read to me by one who observed he could not subscribe to a doctrine like this. While I give you the fullest assurance that my best wishes attend you in the prosecution of a design congenial with the spirit of Christianity, as given by Christ and his Apostles, and in opposi

tion to that spirit of intolerance and conden.ation which has usurped the place of love, candour, charity and benevolence, among professed Christians; I most sincerely regret that any incautious expression, or unexplained matter, should appear, calculated to confirm the prejudices already too strongly riveted in the mind of any occasional reader, and produce that disgust against the truth of the doctrines and practices endeavoured to be supported, which may eventuate in a rejection of the whole mass of good matter, and uncontrovertible arguments contained in your periodical publication."

This friendly admonition demands the gratitude of the Editor. It is, however, not easy for him to foresee, in all cases, what explanations will be given of a passage to which he allows a place in the Christian Disciple. Nor is he informed how the pas

sage quoted was understood by the person who could not subscribe to a doctrine like this." It is however probable that it was supposed to limit the power of God, or to deny his agency in the conversion of the sinner; neither of which has the Editor any disposition.to do; and he presumes that neither was intended by the writer of the article. The object of the writer probably was this, strongly to express the impossibility of such a thing as the conversion of a sinner, without his own agency, will, or 66 consent;" and to dlarm those who live in a careless neglect of their souls, under the pretext of "waiting God's time for conversion." This will perhaps fully appear to the candid reader by giving the whole paragraph :

"As religion is a subject of choice, it is not to be forced upon us either by God or man. Nor are we to wait in careless indifference and indecision, expecting miraculous agency to turn us from a course of sin to the service of God. If we speak it with reverence, we may truly say, that even Omnipotence cannot effect the conversion of the sinner without his consent. For conversion implies the consent and choice of the mind to serve God."

The last sentence is a reason for the strong language in the preceding; and it rests on this supposition, that conversion and the consent of the sinner to serve God, are the same thing, or that they mutually imply each other. Had the writer said, that Omnipotence cannot produce the

• Practical Piety, p 150. Vov. V.-No. 6.

consent of a sinner to serve God without converting him, would the objector have said, "I cannot subscribe to a doctrine like this ?" It it presumed that he would not. Yet this would have been limiting the power of God as much as the other expression. It is believed that similar language for the same purpose, has been a thousand times used by those who are regarded as the orthodox of NewEngland. Indeed they have used as strong language on this point as the Editor of this work or any one of his associates is disposed to adopt. It is however granted that care ought to be taken in a work like this, to have sentiments expressed in language which is easily understood, and not needlessly to give offence to any class of Christians.

Miss Hannah More uses the following strong language on another subject: Repentance, if one may venture the bold remark, almost disarms God of his power to punish."* Had this originally appeared in the Christian Disciple, the abovementioned objector would probably have said "I cannot subscribe to a doctrine like this." People in general are not aware how much they are governed by their préjudices in judging of what they read. That which they will approve in one writer they will condemn in another. This inconsisteney is not confined to any one denomination of Christians; but it may probably be found in every denomination, and, in some degree, in every man.

24

lime

And saw-yet wist not what they

saw;

And heard-no tongue can tell What sounds the ear of rapture caught, What glory fill'd the eye of thought.

Thus far above the pole,

On wings of mountain fire, Faith may pursue the enfranchis'd soul,

But soon her pinions tire ; It is not given to mortal man Eternal mysteries to scan.

Behold the bed of death;

This pale and lovely clay;

Heard ye the sob of parting breath? Mark'd ye the eye's last ray?

It laps'd in immortality.

Could tears revive the dead,

Rivers should swell our eyes;
Could sighs recal the spirit fled,

We would not quench our sighs, Till love relum'd this altered mien, And all the embodied soul were seen.

Bury the dead;-and weep

In stillness o'er the loss; Bury the dead;--in Christ they sleep, Who bore on earth his cross, And from the grave their dust shall rise,

In his own image to the skies.

PIUS P. P. VII. VENERABLE Brother-Health and apostolic benediction. In our last letter to you we promised, very soon, to return an answer to yours; in which you have appealed to this Holy See, in the name of the other bishops of Poland, respecting what are called Bible Societies, and have earnestly in quired of us what you ought to do in this affair. We long since, indeed, wished to comply with your request; but an incredible variety of weighty concerns have so pressed upon us on every side, that, till this day we could not yield to your solicitation.

We have been truly shocked at this most crafty device, by which the very foundations of religion are undermined; and having, because of the great importance of the subject, conferred in council with our venerable brethren, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, we have, with the utmost care and attention, deliberated upon the measures proper to be adopted by our Pontifical authority, in order to remedy and abolish this pestilence as far as possible. In the mean time, we heartily congratulate you, venerable brother, and we commend you again and again in the Lord, as it is fit we should, upon the singular zeal you have displayed under circumstances so dan gerous to Christianity, in having denounced to the Apostolic See, this defilement of the faith so imminently dangerous to souls. And although we perceive that it is not at all necessary to excite him to activity who is mak ing haste, since of your own accord you have already shown an ardent desire to detect and overthrow the impious machinations of these innovators; yet, in conformity with our office, we again and again exhort you, that whatever you can achieve by power, provide for by counsel, or effect by authority, you will daily execute with the utmost earnestness, placing yourself as a wall for the House of Israel.

With this view we issue the present Brief, viz. that we may convey to you

a signal testimony of our approbation of your excellent conduct, and may also endeavour therein still more and more to excite your pastoral solicitude and diligence. For the general good im periously requires you to combine all your means and energies to frustrate the plans which are prepared by its enemies for the destruction of our most holy Religion: whence it becomes an Episcopal duty, that you first of all expose the wickedness of this nefarious scheme, as you have already done so admirably, to the view of the faithful, and openly publish the same, according to the rules prescribed by the Church, with all the erudition and wisdom which you possess ; namely, "that the Bible printed by Heretics is to be numbered among other prohibited Books, conformably to the Rules of the Index (§ No. 2 and 3.) for it is evident from experience that the Holy Scriptures, when circulated in the vulgar tongue, have, through the temerity of men, produced more harm than benefit.” (Rule IV.) And this is the more to be dreaded in times so depraved when our holy Religion is assailed from every quarter with great cunning and effort, and the most grievous wounds are inflicted on the Church. It is. therefore, necessary to adhere to the salutary Decree of the Congregation of the Index (June 13th, 1757) that no versions of the Bible in the vulgar tongue be permitted, except such as are approved by the Apostolic See, or r pub. lished with Annotations extracted from the Writings of the holy Fathers of the Church.

We confidently hope that, in these turbulent circumstances, the Poles will give the clearest proofs of their attachment to the religion of their ancestors; and by our care, as well as that of the other Prelates of this kingdom whom on account of the Faith, we congratulate abundantly, justify the opinion we have entertained of them.

It is moreover necessary that you should transmit to us, as soon as possible, the Bible which Jacob Wuiek

published in the Polish language with a commentary, as well as a copy of the edition of it lately put forth without those annotations, taken from the writings of the holy fathers of our Church, or other learned Catholics, with your opinion upon it; that thus, from collating them together, it may be ascertained after mature investigation, that certain errors lie insidiously concealed therein, and that we may pronounce our judgment on this affair for the preservation of the true faith. Continue therefore venerable Brother, to pursue this truly pious course upon which you have entered; viz. diligently to fight the battles of the Lord for the sound doctrine, and warn the people intrusted to your care, that they fall not into the snares which are prepared for their everlasting ruin. The Church demands this from you as well as from the other Bishops, whom our rescript equally concerns; and we most anxiously expect it, that the deep sorrow we feel on account of this new species of tares which an adversary has so abundantly sown, may, by this cheering hope, be somewhat alleviated: and, we always very heartily invoke the choicest blessings upon yourself and your fellow Bishops, for the good of the Lord's flock, which we impart to you and them by our apostolic bene

diction.

Given at Rome, at St Mary the Greater, June 29th, 1816, the 17th year of our Pontificate.

PIUS P. P. VII.

Remarks on the papal Bull a

gainst Bible Societies." While we deplore the blindness of the Pope and his Cardinals in denouncing one of the most benevolent institutions which the world ́has ever witnessed, and while we lament that such an obstacle has been thrown in the way of eirculating the Scriptures among the Roman Catholics, we may derive some consolation from the promise that all things shall work together for good to them that love God." It is in the power of him who governs the

universe so to overrule this act of the Pope, as to make it the means of opening the eyes of many papists, and of overthrowing that intolerant hierarchy by which they have been kept in darkness and bondage. This, however, is not all the good y result. Various denominations of Protestants may be led to compare this act of the Pontiff with some other things of a similar character, which have been done by those who have professedly renounced popish principles.

which

may

This" Bull" is a "Pastoral Letter;" and in its spirit, bears a strong resemblance to another which issued from the synod of Philadelphia in the same year. In what light would the members of the synod regard the Bull of the Pope, in which Protestants are considered as "heretics”—and the most benevolent projects of Bible Societies as "impious machinations of innovators"-or as the most crafty device by which the very foundations of religion are undermined”—and in which all the Bibles printed by herétics," that is, by protestants, are denounced as "prohibited books!" Are not the members of the Synod astonished at this arrogance, blindness, and folly in the Pontiff and his Cardinals? Let them hence infer in what light their own "Pastoral Letter" must be viewed by Hopkinsians, and by all the sects who have been involved with them in censure and condemnation. The conduct of all Protestant ecclesiastical bodies who have assumed the power of denouncing dissenters from them is viewed by others in much the