248. His election was the result of six months' confinement to the electors. 249. The last of the fanatical popes.

250. The famous Ganganelli, who abolished the society of Jesuits in 1773. Though destitute of the advantages of birth or fortune, yet he and Benedict the XIVth united in their persons the grandeur of kings, the discretion of bishops, the elegance of courtiers, and the learning of philosophers. See his life, by the Marquis Caraccioli.

251. To agrandize his house and name was his prevailing passion; yet he was intelligent and liberal, and approved of the use of the Scriptures to the laity; "illi enim sunt fontes uberrimi, qui cuique patere debent ad hauri, endum et morum et doctrinæ sanctitatem." Thus acting in opposition to the Council of Trent, which seals up those fountains of salvation: "Indiscriminata lectio sacræ Scripture interdicta est."

252. Was chosen at Venice in 1800, when there were only thirty-four cardinals in conclave; was condemned by Bonaparte to an obscure imprisonment; absolves the French from their allegiance to the Bourbons; inaugurates Bonaparte. “ his beloved son in Christ" reproaches the toleration of the French government, re-establishes the Inquisition, and restores the Jesuits, who are once more let loose on the world to Christianize heathens abroad and to Heathenize Christians at home. Such are the claims which his holiness, now an octogenarian, will have on the love and admiration of the world.

I once more congratulate myself that my duty does not oblige me to close this article with any further remarks on the subject of this scheme of religion, or to express my real and candid opinion respecting it; since at every view that I take of it, its hay and stubble are almost the first things that present themselves to the eye of my mind.

CHURCH OF THE WALDENSES.

NAME.

THE Waldenses, who inhabit the valleys of Piedmont, profess the Protestant faith, and may be styled the proto-Protestants. They were indeed protestants against the Roman Catholic religion long before the term Protestant, in the sense it is now commonly used, existed. And, having all along opposed the errors of that church, they cannot properly be termed Reformed a name that can apply to those only who have renounced the heretical tenets they had formerly embraced. Some have erroneously supposed that they derive their name from Valdo, of Lyons, whom they consider as their founder; but the French name of Vaudois, or Italian of Valdesi (whence our word Waldenses), signifying valley-men, has always been their proper appellation.

HISTORY.

From the old records that are still preserved by the Vaudois churches, their antiquity may be clearly traced to the eighth century; and, according to one of their best historians, who wrote in 1669, even to the time of the Apostles. The bold protestations of Claudius, archbishop of Turin, against the abuses and innovations that the Roman pontiff wished to introduce into the church of Christ, drew down the thunders of the Vatican upon this people, who then belonged to his diocese; and from that period to the present day they have suffered more or less by fire and sword, imprisonment, massacres, proscriptions, vexations, and restrictions: so that the subjects of this article are descendants of a class of men who were, for a series of ages, "destitute, afflicted, tormented;" but" of whom the world was not worthy."

"So early as the twelfth century they were remarked for the purity of their religious doctrines and practice, and were called contemptuously, by their enemies, the Cathari-i. e. "the pure." In the thirteenth century, they and the Albigenses prevailed so extensively that the pope thought it necessary

to exert his utmost efforts to suppress them. For this purpose, the first crusade was proclaimed by Christians against Christians, and the office of the Inquisition was first instituted; the one to subdue their bodies, the other to enslave their souls. The most horrible cruelties were in consequence committed on this innocent people. Immense numbers were slain; multitudes compelled to forsake their native country; and others to take refuge in caverns, fastnesses, and recesses of rocks. From that time till 1800, their history is marked by a continual succession of cruel and oppressive edicts and inflictions. Piedmont having then become subject to France, the Waldenses were placed by the French Government on the same footing with their other subjects, and thus enjoyed a season of tranquillity; but no sooner was Victor Emanuel restored to his dominions, after the downfall of Bonaparte, than he issued a manifesto, restoring in full vigour all the edicts which had been published by his predecessors. They are now, therefore, reduced to the utmost poverty and distress. Some of their schools are shut up, for want of money to pay the schoolmasters; and their young men intended for the sacred ministry are entirely destitute of the funds necessary for their support*,"

DOCTRINES.

They receive, as canonical, all the books of Sacred Scripture which are recognised as such by the Church of England; which books, they affirm, teach the existence of an Almighty, All-wise, and All-bountiful Being, who created all things through pure benevolence, and formed Adam after his own image and likeness; but, through the envy of satan, and the disobedience of our first parents, sin entered into the world, and thus all men are sinners in Adam, and by Adam. They believe the promise made to the ancient fathers, who received the Law; the knowledge of which, and a consequent sense of their own unrighteousness and inability, (as the

Christian Guardian," 1821, p. 397.

Reinerus, an inquisitor, thus spoke of the Waldenses in the thirteenth century:-"Of all the sects which have been, or uow exist, noue is more injurious to the Church of God," (meaning the Church of Rome), "for three reasons:-1. Because it is more ancient. Some say it has continued from the time of Silvester; others, from the time of the Apostles. 2. Because it is more general. There is scarcely any country into which this sect has not crept. And, 3. Because all the others excite horror by the greatness of their blasphemies against God; but these have a great appearance of piety, as they live justly before men, and believe rightly all things cou cerning God, and all the articles which are contained in the Creed."

Vaudois assert) made them long for the coming of Messiah, who was to make satisfaction for their sins, and personally fulfil the Law. They maintain that the Messiah was born at the time appointed by God his Father-viz. at a period when all iniquity abounded; and that he came, not merely to promote good works (for all were sinners), but in order to bring grace and mercy to man, and to declare the faithfulness of God. They confess that Christ is our Life and Truth, our Peace and Righteousness, our Shepherd and Advocate, our. Victim and High Priest; and that he died for the salvation of all who believe, and rose again for their justification. They contend that there is no other mediator or advocate with God, besides Jesus Christ. They hold that the Virgin Mary was a holy person, humble, and full of grace; and that she and all the other saints in heaven are expecting the resurrection of their bodies at the day of judgment; and, moreover, that after this life there are only two places, called heaven and hellone for the saved, the other for the lost; and they deny altogether the place called Purgatory, considering it as the dream of antichrist, and contrary to the Scriptures of truth. They acknowledge only two sacraments, viz. Baptism and the Lord's Supper. They oppose the supremacy of the pope; admit the orders of bishop, priest, and deacon in the church of Christ; and approve the marriage of the clergy, as right and necessary. They judge that it is lawful to take an oath, provided the Lord's name be not taken in vain, which they think is not the case when the oath is taken for the glory of God and the good of our neighbour; and that it may be taken before a magistrate, whether upright or not, because he holds his power from God; and, further, that the taking of an oath in this manner no way contradicts what is written in St. Matthew v. 34. They declare, that kings, princes, and governors are ordained and established as God's ministers, to whom obedience is due; and that Christians are bound to honour them and pay tribute, for they bear the sword for the defence of the good, and the punishment of the evil; and (as they add) none is exempted from this obedience who wishes to be called a Christian, and to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many instances might be cited to prove that their loyalty is not an empty profession, only to be found in their prayer-book; for they have frequently been put to the test, and found faithful. To sum up all their doctrines in a few words, they receive the Apostles', Athanasian, and Nicene Creeds; and the former, as well as the Ten Command

ments and the Lord's Prayer, is continually recited in the congregation every Sabbath-day *.

WORSHIP, RITES, AND CEREMONIES.

The Waldenses preserve from their forefathers a sincere respect for pure and undefiled religion. Public worship is generally well attended by them, particularly on the days of celebrating the Lord's Supper, and the congregations are apparently serious and attentive. The men and women sit separately, and are remarkable for great simplicity of dress and manners, in both which they are easily distinguished from the Romanists. Between the morning service on Sunday, at half past eight, and the afternoon prayer at one, it is not unusual for families, who reside at some distance from the church, to assemble, in summer under a shady tree, to read the Scriptures and sing Psalms; and in winter they often meet in barns for the same pious purposes; and are said to take great delight in psalm singing.

Their ecclesiastical language is the French; their liturgy, that of Neufchâtel; and the festivals they observe are, Christmas, Easter, Ascension Day, and Whitsunday.

"I have witnessed three infant baptisms, one marriage, and one funeral. As some may be curious to know how the water is applied by these primitive Christians, I will briefly inform them. The babe, which was five days old, on one occasion, was held by one of the godfathers; on his right stood the female sponsor, and on his left another godfather. The baptismal service was read from the liturgy. The woman poured the water from a phial into the hands of the minister, who, on pronouncing the words, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,' let the water fall from between his hands on the face of the infant.

"The marriage was between two peasants; the couple were preceded by music, and accompanied by their relations and friends, to and from church; and a pink ribbon was presented to the writer by the bride, after the knot was tied.

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Nothing merits particular notice in the funeral rite, but the face of the corpse being uncovered, until ready to be committed to the earth; then the cover of the coffin is fastened with nails, after a napkin is spread over the face.

"Jewish Expositor," 1822. p. 90. "A peculiar regard for Holy Writ amidst ages of darkness, forms the glory of the Waldensian churches."Milner. See also Matthias's "Inquiry into the Doctrines of the Reformation," &c. Part 1st.