communicated person; to utter an unguarded expression respecting the papal authority; or even to manifest natural affection to the dearest earthly friend, who had incurred the censure of the church. In consequence of such an extensive interpretation of the crime of heresy, the life of almost every man was put under the power of this most extraordinary tribunal. Soon after the establishment of the inquisition, positive crime was not necessary in order to bring persons under the cognizance of that ruthless court; it was sufficient to be suspected of heresy; and the slightest degree of suspicion, however destitute of foundation, was enough to involve those to whom it attached in proceedings which might terminate in their temporal ruin, and their death. Even when no ground for suspicion existed, accusations were basely fabricated, and the innocent and unsuspecting were imprisoned, that their property might be forfeited, and their all sacrificed to the avarice and villany of the church.

The mode of proceeding which this court adopted in the prosecution of its victims, was not less extraordinary and unjust than that by which they were brought under its power. Secrecy, dishonest and tyrannical secrecy, under cover of which the most flagrant crimes might be perpetrated, was its peculiar characteristic. The apprehension of the unhappy victims of inquisitorial villany was not permitted to transpire. Generally, in the dead hour of night this deed of darkness was done; and with so much dexterity was it conducted by the familiars of the holy office, that not only those who lived in the same neighborhood, but even those who were members of the same family, in many instances knew nothing of it. One striking example of this is mentioned by the historian of the Spanish inquisition, in the case of a father, three sons, and three daughters, who, although they lived together in the same house, were all carried prisoners to the inquisition, without knowing anything of one another's being there till seven years afterward, when those who were alive were brought forth to an auto-da-fe!

Lest any of its infernal secrets might be disclosed, no sounds were permitted to be heard throughout the dismal apartments of the inquisition. The poor prisoner was not allowed to bewail his fate, or in an audible voice to offer up his prayers to Him who is the refuge of the oppressed; nay, even to cough, was to be guilty of a crime, which was immediately punished. A poor pris

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A SEA-CAPTAIN AND A ROMAN PRIEST.

oner, we are told by Limborch, was on one occasion heard to cough; the jailers of the inquisition instantly repaired to him, and warned him to forbear, as the slightest noise was not tolerated in that house. The man replied that it was not in his power to forbear. A second time they admonished him to desist; and when again the poor man, unable to do otherwise, had repeated the offence, they stripped him naked, and cruelly beat him. This increased his cough, for which they beat him so often, that at last he died, through the pain and anguish of the stripes which he had received!

O popery! popery! how horrible is thy charity! how cruel thy benevolence! Painters sometimes exceed nature, and go beyond life; orators make frequent use of hyperbolical expressions and poets are often madly extravagant: but imagination labors in vain to portray the malignant spirit by which thou art animated. A serpent, whose poison is instant death, lurking undiscovered until he hath inflicted the fatal wound; a hungry lion, sharp set, and ready to seize his prey; the vapor of pestilence, which depopulates an empire'; a fury, entwined with scorpions; an ideal monster, sour, livid, full of scars, wallowing in gore, disgusted with every object around, and, most of all, disgusted with itself, is harmless and inoffensive in comparison with thee. Blood is thy aliment, thy element, and dreadful has been, or will be, thy retribution. Their intolerance, the effect of mingled passions, spreads itself in the lapse of time, or is corrected by nobler sentiments; but the principles of persecution are established by infallible councils, which lapse of time can not alter, which no tenderness of sentiment can correct.

A SEA-CAPTAIN AND A ROMAN PRIEST.-A sea-captain of New York some time since was in Portugal, and became familiar with one of the Roman priests. On a certain occasion, after having witnessed the devotees at confession, the captain remarked to the priest: "Do you really believe that you can pardon the sins of the people?" The priest replied: "Why do you follow your business at sea?" The captain said: "To make money." To which the priest very candidly rejoined: "And it is my business to forgive the people's sins."

Ir is indubitable that the monastic system is one of the most depraved and anti-republican departments among all the machinations of popery. Aware of that fact, and conscious that protestant money can not be obtained in the United States, for the erection and endowment of male and female convents, direct application is made to American citizens, for pecuniary aid in behalf of those pestiferous institutions, only in peculiar circumstances. All the large sums which are constantly transmitted from Europe for papistical purposes, are especially applied to the establishment of the monastic system; for it should be remembered, that every jesuitical institute, whether deceitfully named seminaries or colleges, or asylums, are only male or female convents, which are subject to all the monastic discipline and regulations.

One of the great delusions which pervades all classes of the American community is this-that Romanism is now, and in the United States, of a totally different character from its attributes in Europe or South America, and during the dark ages; and also, that although nunneries may have been the mere brothels of Roman priests, and "filthy murderous dens" in France, Italy, and Spain, prior to the reformation, yet in this country they are now abodes of piety, purity, and wisdom. We know not how to account for this indescribable and infatuated skepticism, except by fearing that the awful declaration of the Apostle Paul, 2 Thes. ii. 8-12, may be fulfilling in the experience of our citizens, and even of our churches. "That WICKED is revealed, whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders; and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe THE LIE; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

JESUITS KEEPING LENT.-One of the vicars general of New York drinking tea with some popish ladies the day after Lent was closed, about two weeks since, most joyfully expressed his delight that the season of Lent was over-"I am tired,” said the pope's deputy, "of living on fish and soup maigre."

WE call attention to the following extracts from a small work entitled "Secret Instructions of the Jesuits." We hope they will

be deeply pondered over by every native-born American:

1. Emmanuel Sa, Aphor., p. 41. "The rebellion of Roman priests is not treason, because they are not subject to the civil government."

In the face of this article, we have between two and three hundred Roman priests arriving yearly in this country, and instructing catholic foreigners to vote for men of their own religious principles.

2. Bellarmin, Controvers., lib. v., cap. 6, p. 1090. "The spiritual power must rule the temporal by all sorts of means and expedients when necessary. Christians should not tolerate a heretic king."

Our constitution denies this principle in toto. If Christians should not tolerate a heretic king, they certainly should not tolerate a heretic ruler. A small majority of our present rulers are "heretics" -consequently they should not be tolerated by catholics.

3. Salmeron, Comment Evan. Hist., vol. iv., pars. 3, tract 4, p. 411. "The pope hath supreme power over the whole earth, over all kings and governments, to command and enforce them, to employ their power to promulge popery; which mandate of the pope they are bound to obey, and if they resist, he must punish them as contumacious."

Then the pope must have supreme power over this government, and can command our rulers to obey his orders, and to compel the authorities in this land to use every means to increase popery, notwithstanding it is diametrically opposite to the letter and spirit of our constitution and our laws.

4. Sanctarel, Tract de Hæres., cap. xxx., p. 296. "The pope can depose negligent rulers, and deprive them of their authority." 5. Lessius, lib. 2, cap. 42, Dub. 12, p. 632. "The pope can annul and cancel every possible obligation arising from an oath." We would ask, then, in what manner the oath of allegiance, which is taken by foreigners in this country, can be binding on catholics? -for it appears that the pope can at any time annul and cancel them. Were the pope at any time to say that the oath of allegiance to this country was not binding on his subjects, and should "annul

LUTHER'S MODE TO FOIL SATAN.

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and cancel every possible obligation" arising therefrom-we should suddenly find in our councils, and through our land, a number of individuals, enjoying equal rights with American citizens, who are in truth foreigners, and owing allegiance to a foreign potentate. With such facts as these in the face of our native citizens, we trust that they will come forward, and aid us in ejecting from office men who hold principles so entirely opposed to our present constitution. It can not be said that opposition to such principles can be intoleration. Is it not rather a natural using in self-defence? Is it not saying that we wish the eyes of the American people opened, and the secret principles of foreign demagogues exposed? They now openly state that in a few years they will ask no favors of us; and when that time comes, Americans will learn that they will grant none. May God long put off that dreadful day!

LUTHER'S MODE TO FOIL SATAN.

WHEN thy conscience is thoroughly afraid with the remembrance of thy past sins, and the devil assaileth thee, going about to overwhelm thee with heaps, floods, and whole seas of sins, to terrify thee, and draw thee from Christ, then arm thyself with such sentences as these: "Christ, the Son of God, was given, not for the holy, righteous, worthy, and such as were his friends, but for the wicked sinners, and for his enemies:" wherefore if Satan say, "Thou art a sinner, and therefore must be condemned;" then answer thou and say, "Because thou sayest I am a sinner, therefore will I be righteous and be saved;" and if he reply, "Nay, but sinners must be condemned;" then answer thou and say, "No, for I fly to Christ, who hath given himself for my sins, and therefore, Satan, in that thou sayest I am a sinner,' thou givest me armor and weapons against thyself, that with thine own sword I may cut thy throat and tread thee under my feet."

6

POPE LEO XII. THE INFALLIBLE.-Leo was most cordially hated; his original name was Della Genga, and like other profligates, when he became cardinal and pope, he would have no intercourse with those who had been the victims of his unbridled licentiousness. To the family of Pezzoti, was he kind. At the time of Pezzoti's