REVIEWS.

The Touchstone of the New Religion; or, Sixty Assertions of Protestants, tried by their own Rule of Scripture alone, and condemned by clear and express Texts of their own Bible. To which is added, the True Principles of a Catholic. By the V. and R.R. RICHARD CHALLONer, D.D. V.A.

THIS is one of a series of Tracts, published under the superintendence of the Catholic Institute of Great Britain; and we exceedingly regret that our limits will not allow of our taking up each argument with which they reply to our opinions as Protestants. Had we the opportunity of so doing, we would adopt for our motto the very same portion of the sacred volume which they have selected-namely, the 8th chapter of Isaiah, and 20th verse, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." We think we never saw a more barefaced piece of impudence and hypocrisy than has been displayed in the choice of this passage: it is impudence, inasmuch as the whole of their tract, from beginning to end, is a gross perversion of Scripture; a rude and most repulsive literal adoption of various ideas and precepts which were only intended to set forth a spiritual meaning; it is hypocrisy, inasmuch as it is publicly referring their readers to a book which they privately deny them the use of.

We have gone through the tract referred to, and as we have read we have made our comments in the margin with the hope of having found room in the GOSPEL MAGAZINE for their insertion; of this, however, we are compelled, at least for the present, to deny ourselves.

But we cannot despatch the present brief notice without stating, that we think Satan, through his agents, the Popish priesthood, never got up a more crafty, specious, and injurious production than that which now lies before us. It makes our blood almost boil with indignation, and causes us to pant for language to express our utter detestation of a system mis-called religion, which we unhesitatingly declare had its origin in the bottomless pit, and which, we doubt not, will lead thousands and tens of thousands of its hapless votaries to that dire abode.

When we came forward in the GOSPEL MAGAZINE waving the banner of peace over the heads of the spiritual warriors of the great Captain of our salvation, and exhibiting the standard of the Cross, we did, it appears, lay ourselves open to the charge of universality, and countenancing Popery, Arminianism, and a train of error, as some few letters which we have received from different correspondents will testify; but we reject the charge-we will not admit that there is any ground for

*Rev. xvii. 8.

such an assertion; and affirm that the error is in a want of discernment on the part of those who have made the declaration. Though our motto is "PEACE," it is not an overture of it to any but those to whom our Lord has spoken peace, or those to whom, though he may not yet have spoken peace, he has "thoughts of peace, and not of evil." But with POPERY, in whatever shape or form, we wage eternal war; and, God enabling us, we will never, never hold out to its cursed system an embassy of peace.

From POPERY we hear the cries, the groans of twice ten thousand martyrs, who have been made the victims of her blood-thirsty power. With all her craft, deception, and numerous apologies, she cannot deafen our ears to their cries for vengeance; nor can she hide from our view the tragic scenes of Spain, of France, and of our own favoured land. If, then, the cry of the martyrs still resounds in our ears, and her deeds of blood are still present to our imagination, what must be the position of POPERY in the eyes of Him respecting whom it has been said, "Shall not God avenge his own elect?"-In POPERY we behold that accursed fiend against which the judgments of the great day are preparing; when, even though she has had an existence age after age, and from one generation to another, yet "shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burnt with fire; for strong is the Lord who judgeth her."—In POPERY we behold "BABY

LON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF

THE EARTH, ," with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.*-In POPERY we see that mystic Babylon of which, blessed be God, notwithstanding her present increase, and, in our opinion, the certainty of her again triumphing during the prophet Daniel's "time, and times, and an half," the mighty cry shall yet be heard, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit." To such a cry we say, "Amen!-Come, thou glorious Immanuel. Ride forth in all thy majesty and glory, conquering and to conquer. Scatter the clouds which now overspread thy people; testify between those who know thee, and those who know thee not. Strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees of those who love thee in sincerity and truth, and yet who fear they shall not have strength to stand the fiery trial of a day which is now fast approaching. Thou art the true, the faithful God; thou canst not deny thyself; and thou hast said, that no weapon formed against them shall prosper, and that every tongue rising in judgment against them they shall condemn.' Encourage thy people, then, in the prospect of the trials that await them; sweetly assure them that in thee is their help found; that though weak and helpless in themselves, they are strong in thee,' the Lord, and in the power of thy might ;' and give them the blessed hope that though according to thine own declaration by the mouth of thy prophet Daniel, Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried,' yet after all these things, they shall

*Rev. xvii. 2, 5.

Dan. xii. 7.

Dan. xii. 10.

And need encouragement. 'Tis a lovely sight
To see an old disciple beckoning forward
The timid traveller and yet lovelier still
To hear him tell, with fervent, glowing words,
The mercy, care, and power of Zion's King.
His countenance, having so oft enjoyed
The smilings of his heavenly Father's face,
Appears illumined with celestial light,
Just like the evening sky, when it retains
Some lingering coruscations, though the sun
Itself has sunk to rest.

Communion equally befits the saints
As the war-council doth field-officers,
When the position, stratagems, and strength
Of the opponent are debated: when former means
Of triumph are declared: and all the forces
Are pre-arranged for battle. So likewise should
The soldiers of the thrice-victorious cross
Concert such measures as may peradventure
With the Lord's blessing, foil the enemy.
So should they study to acquaint themselves
With all the tactics of a warrior's science,
Which never can be learnt so readily
As from the lips of elder champions.
Such can revert to by-gone combattings,
When the great foeman, stronger than ever,
Appeared at onset sure of victory;

At length his hopes were killed, completely killed,
On the arrival of most welcome succour

From the Great Captain. And then they gladly tell
Of prayers ascending from their fainting hearts;
And then of grace, and faith, and deathless love
Joining their company-with victory.

To walk with God, to converse with the Lord,
Is the saints' chiefest privilege: but next thereto,
A holy intercourse among themselves.

This, when the blessing of the Lord attends,
Strengthens weak faith-confirms expiring hope—
Elicits love-enkindles heavenly joy-

Puts every grace in lively exercise

Makes the rough path appear a beaten road,
And fills their bosoms with anticipation.

The joy of heaven will be to sit among
The congregation of the justified;
And, gathering from the Tree of Life its fruits,
Tell, with more eloquence than seraph tongues,
Its numberless virtues. And shall not saints
Who, traversing the wilderness, sometimes catch
A luscious fruit, dropt from its laden boughs;
Or healing leaves borne on the wind of heaven,
Which make the cup of bitters sweet indeed.
Shall not these tell their fellow sojourners
The exhilirating nature of the first,

And sanctifying blessing of the last?
If they did not they would be stoical,
Senseless, and dead: which the recipients
Of grace are not.

IOTA.

City Press, 1, Long Lane, Aldersgate Street: D. A. Doudney.

And need encouragement. 'Tis a lovely sight
To see an old disciple beckoning forward
The timid traveller: and yet lovelier still
To hear him tell, with fervent, glowing words,
The mercy, care, and power of Zion's King.
His countenance, having so oft enjoyed
The smilings of his heavenly Father's face,
Appears illumined with celestial light,
Just like the evening sky, when it retains
Some lingering coruscations, though the sun
Itself has sunk to rest.

Communion equally befits the saints
As the war-council doth field-officers,
When the position, stratagems, and strength
Of the opponent are debated: when former means
Of triumph are declared and all the forces
Are pre-arranged for battle. So likewise should
The soldiers of the thrice-victorious cross
Concert such measures as may peradventure
With the Lord's blessing, foil the enemy.
So should they study to acquaint themselves
With all the tactics of a warrior's science,
Which never can be learnt so readily
As from the lips of elder champions.
Such can revert to by-gone combattings,
When the great foeman, stronger than ever,
Appeared at onset sure of victory;

At length his hopes were killed, completely killed,
On the arrival of most welcome succour

From the Great Captain. And then they gladly tell
Of prayers ascending from their fainting hearts;
And then of grace, and faith, and deathless love
Joining their company-with victory.

To walk with God, to converse with the Lord,
Is the saints' chiefest privilege: but next thereto,
A holy intercourse among themselves.

This, when the blessing of the Lord attends,
Strengthens weak faith-confirms expiring hope-
Elicits love-enkindles heavenly joy-

Puts every grace in lively exercise

Makes the rough path appear a beaten road,
And fills their bosoms with anticipation.

The joy of heaven will be to sit among
The congregation of the justified;
And, gathering from the Tree of Life its fruits,
Tell, with more eloquence than seraph tongues,
Its numberless virtues. And shall not saints
Who, traversing the wilderness, sometimes catch
A luscious fruit, dropt from its laden boughs;
Or healing leaves borne on the wind of heaven,
Which make the cup of bitters sweet indeed.
Shall not these tell their fellow sojourners
The exhilirating nature of the first,

And sanctifying blessing of the last?

If they did not they would be stoical,

Senseless, and dead: which the recipients
Of grace are not.

IOTA.

City Press, 1, Long Lane, Aldersgate Street: D. A. Doudney.