THE BRITISH

PROTESTANT.

No. LXXVI. MAY, 1851.

WILLET'S SYNOPSIS PAPISMI; or, COMPENDIUM OF THE PROTESTANT CONTROVERSY. Carefully Revised and Edited by the REV. JOHN CUMMING, D.D.

AFTER publishing so large a work as "Gibson's Preservative," it may be asked, why issue another work in some degree travelling over the same ground? Gibson's work is able and eloquent, but confessedly diffuse a storehouse in which the student of the Controversy may spend years with great profit-and it is much to be regretted that a larger impression was not issued.

Willet's Synopsis is the best English contrast of the Protestant and Romish doctrines. It is a compressed, clear, pointed compendium of the whole controversy. Every subject is treated in the fewest words-the arguments are the ablest-most numerous, and most conclusive; and as a reference book, for Clergymen preaching on the Romish Controversy, and for persons desirous of seeing with very little labour or trouble the best replies to the acutest objections and reasonings of Romish Priests, it is alike unrivalled and invaluable.

It is a first-rate Manual of the Great Protestant Controversy a book emphatically for the day-a treasury of inexhaustible argument, texts and facts, singularly needful at a crisis when, after all, we must rely for the maintenance of truth and the depression of Rome, less on statesmen, and mainly, under God, on the enlightening and Protestantizing of our population.

This republication is a contribution to this end. Its extensive circulation is highly desirable, and if influential persons could be prevailed upon to place a copy in every parish library throughout the kingdom they would

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materially aid the Protestant cause, and give the Pope little reason for congratulation that he had commenced an aggression which has been followed by such means of resistance. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty. On these with prayer and supplication we must now rely. Let each one do his duty, and remember that one stone laid on the earth is better than a thousand castles built in the air. Subscribing to the republication of this admirable work is one of the readiest and most available means for turning the efforts of the Court of Rome to good and useful results.

The work will be issued in Monthly Volumes, price Five Shillings each, corresponding in every respect with those of "Gibson's Preservative." The references will

be carefully verified, and stated at length-a matter of immense importance-and the whole completed in 10 volumes. Subscribers must bear the expense of carriage of their books, excepting in London, where they will be delivered free of charge.

As soon as a sufficient number of Subscribers' names is received to ensure the Society against loss, the work will be commenced.

Intending Subscribers, when sending their names, will please to state how they wish their books forwarded; and in order that the Monthly issue may not be interrupted all subscriptions must be paid, either in whole or in part, or each month in advance. Subscribers' names should be sent, without delay, to Mr. James Miller, British Reformation Society, 8, Exeter Hall, London.

*** ANDREW WILLET, born at Ely in 1562, Fellow of Christ College, Cambridge, Prebendary of Ely, and Rector of Barley, Hertfordshire, died in 1621. His great and learned work, written in English, is "SyNOPSIS PAPISMI."

REFORMATION SOCIETY MEETINGS.

BIRMINGHAM AND LEICESTER.

Two very large and, as far as it was possible to discover, interesting meetings were held at Birmingham and Leicester on the 11th and 25th of March. George

Finch, Esq. of Burley-on-the-Hill presided at Birmingham, in the large Town Hall, which was densely crowded, although all the tickets were charged for. The Rev. J. C. Miller, Rector of St. Martin's, and others of the local clergy, successively addressed the meeting; after which the deputation from the Society spoke for nearly two hours on the various topics connected with the recent Papal Aggression.

Nothing can be more decided than the Protestantism of this town, or more likely to be productive of permanent and important results.

At Leicester, Lord Berners presided over a very crowded meeting, which he addressed in most appropriate terms. Afterwards George Finch, Esq. and the Rev. Dr. Cumming addressed the audience both morning and evening. Mr. Finch's addresses have led to a published correspondence, which it is believed will do great good, especially in connection with the approaching return of Mr. Anderdon, late Vicar of St. Margaret's, Leicester, and now a priest of the Church of Rome.

Everywhere throughout the country it is abundantly evident that the Protestantism of the land is neither dead nor asleep. There is needed simply an enlightened, spiritual, energetic, and persistent agitation to render it beneficial to the present and everlasting interests of our people and country.

EDINBURGH.

Most important work has been going on in this metropolis.

At the close of January a series of four meetings were held in the Music Hall, and addressed by Dr. Cumming and Mr. Blakeney, as a deputation from the Reformation Society.

In addition to this, Dr. Cumming preached in some of the churches, and Mr. Blakeney delivered a course of eight lectures in St. Andrews, which were attended by large numbers of Roman Catholics. We are happy to say that these efforts have been most successful.

Prizes to the amount of £200 have been offered by John Hope, Esq. to those who shall answer best in the

Romish Controversy, amongst students in divinity and other classes.

This has excited considerable interest. Mr. Hope has acted, altogether, in the most Christian and liberal

manner.

KENDAL.

We are happy to observe that a course of controversial lectures has just been delivered in Kendall by the Rev. W. S. Sargent, the Rev. R. Morewood, and the Rev. J. A. Latrobe-local Clergy.

Mr. Sargent opened on the important subject of the Rule of Faith, and the right of the laity to read the Scriptures. Mr. Morewood discussed the question of Infallibility, Mr. Latrobe that of Purgatory, and Mr. Sargent closed on the question of the Idolatry of the Church of Rome.

The lectures, which have been published in the Westmoreland Gazette, were very able, and reflect high credit upon the talent and faithfulness of the gentlemen who delivered them.

Mr. Sargent for many years back has proved himself an uncompromising and zealous advocate of Protestant truth. His lectures, not only on this occasion, but at all times, have been able, convincing, and eloquent.

NORTHAMPTON.

Last month a meeting was held in this town, and addressed by the Rev. R. P. Blakeney and the Rev. W. Clementson, as the deputation, and by the Rev. Mr. Wales, the chairman. The attendance was respectable

and numerous.

BANBURY.

The Rev. Mr. Blakeney, on the following evening, delivered a lecture in the National School Room; the Rev. Mr. Wilson, the Vicar, in the chair. The attendance was large.

RUGBY.

A meeting was held in this town on the succeeding evening, the Rev. Mr. Page in the chair. Mr. Blakeney attended as a deputation. The attendance was good.

Mr. Wilberforce, late of East Farleigh, is now in Rugby, and makes it a point, we are informed, to go from house to house, in the advocacy of his views.

It is lamentable that so much zeal should be so ill directed. Mr. Page has very ably and faithfully responded to some of his publications.

An Edinburgh Newspaper of Jan. 9th has an article on the subject, which curiously illustrates the panic dread with which the Protestants regard the Holy Catholic Church. It is also of interest in a national point of view ::

"In the very heart of our own city-the capital of the Reformation, as D'Aubigne styles it-we find a formidable mass of as genuine Popery as ever existed in any age or land. We do not believe that there is at this day any city in Spain or Belgium-we name not Italy, for certainly, whatever that country may be, it is not now Papal-so intensely Popish as the Cowgate. Within a few hundred yards of the spot where Guthrie mounted the ladder, and Argyle laid his head upon the block, purgatory is as firmly believed in, the Virgin and the Pope are as devoutly adored, as they ever were in any age of the world. The Protestants are still a decided majority of the inhabitants of Edinburgh; and it is owing to that circumstance, and to that circumstance alone, that we have not had an Inquisition in St. Mary's Wynd, and an auto da fé of Protestant heretics twice every year in the Grassmarket, with Priests Gillies and Rigg, and all the worshipful fraternity, officiating thereat with crucifixes and flambeaux. Every hour the question grows in importance, what are we to make of the Popery that is daily arriving on our shores? We must think of some means of thawing this mass-of converting this Popery into Protestantism. We must destroy it, or it will destroy us. Such means are already in