BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW.

20. A Practical Exposition of the first Ten Verses of the Fifth Chapter of the Gospel by Matthew. In Forty-one Sermons: preached in the parish church of Dunoon, 1840-1842. By M. Mackay, LL.D., Minister of Dunoo nand Kilmun. In two volumes 8vo, pp. 472-474. Edinburgh: Whyte & Co. 1845.

21. Abstract Principles of Revealed Religion. By H. Drummond, Esq. 8vo, pp. 357. London: Murray. 1845.

22. The Heroine of a Week: Conversations for the Teacher and the Taught. 16mo, pp. 123. London: Seeley. 1845.

23. The Voice of Jehovah crying to the City: A Sermon, to which are added, Addresses to Commercial Men and Dealers in the City. With a strong Word to the Clergy, and to the Protestant People, on the present controversy with the Church of Rome. By Joseph Sutcliffe, A.M. 8vo, pp. 40. London: John Mason, 1845. 24. Ten Lectures, with Historical Notices, illustrative of the Antiscriptural Nature and Pernicious Tendency of the Doctrines of Puseyism. By James Fullerton, LLD., Minister of the Scotch Church, Pitt Street, Sydney. 12mo, pp. 219. Sydney, Morris, 1844.

25. Modern Babylon; or London viewed in regard to its power for good or evil, its religious advantages and disadvantages: with hints for its religious improvement. By John Brown, D. D., Minister of the Presbyterian Church at Aghadoway, &c. 18mo, pp. 36. London: Nisbet, 1845.

26. Fanny the Flower-Girl, or Honesty Rewarded. By Selina Bunbury, author of "The Indian Babes in the Wood," &c., 18mo, pp. 53. London: Wertheim, 1845. 27. The Blind Girl of the Moor, a Shepherd's Child. By Selina Bunbury, 18mo, pp. 31. London: Wertheim, 1845.

28 The Infant's Prayer. By Selina Bunbury. London: Wertheim, 1845. 29. The Nature and Import of the Sacrament of Baptism, and the duties connected with the reception of it. By the Rev. John Thomson, Minister of Free St George's, Montrose. Fcap. 8vo, pp. 109. Montrose Laird, 1845.

30. The Manifestation of the Son of Perdition: a Sermon, preached in the Free Church, Panbride, on March 23, in accordance with the recommendation of the Commission of the General Assembly, and in the Free Holburn church, Aberdeen, on April 9. By the Rev. Hugh Martin, A. M., Minister at Panbride. Published by request. 8vo, pp. 16. Aberdeen: Davidson, 1845.

31. A Plea for Toleration and Spiritual Independence, in answer to "The Spirit of Free Presbyterianism," by George Maxwell, Esq. W. S., Prior's Lynn, Cannobie. By the Rev. George Innes, Minister of the Gospel in Cannobie. Svo, pp. 15. Edinburgh: Kennedy. 1845.

32. Christ the First Fruits of them that Sleep a Discourse delivered on occasion of the Death of Mr Robert Adamson, student in the United College of St Andrews; with a Sketch of his Life and Character. By William Lothian. 18mo, pp. 43. Dundee: Middleton, 1845.

33. A Course of Lectures to Young Men, on Religion, Science, and Literature. Delivered in Dundee, by ministers of various denominations. Second Edition, 18mo, pp. 253. Dundee: Middleton, 1845.

34 The Signs of the Times in the East, a Warning to the West; being a Practical View of our Duties in the light of the Prophecies which illustrate the present and future state of the church and of the world. By the Rev. E. Bickersteth. Fcap 8vo, pp. 434. London Seeley, 1845.

35. The Church and the Slaveholder; or, Light and Darkness: an attempt to prove, from the word of God, and from reason, that to hold property in man is wholly destitute of Dvine warrant, is a flagiant crime, and demands excommunica

tion. Earnestly and respectfully addressed to the members of the approaching Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, and to the churches generally. By the Rev. James Macbeth, Minister of Laurieston Free Church, Glasgow: Author of "The Bible Argument for a Free Church." 8vo, pp. 36. Edinburgh: Johnstone, 1845. 36. The Doctrine of the Atonement. With Strictures on the recent publications of Drs Wardlaw and Jenkyn, on the Subject. By J. A. Haldane. Fcap. 8vo, pp. 320. Edinburgh: Whyte & Co. 1845.

37. The Mirror of the Gospel. By J. R. Balne, the Author of "The Lever of the Gospel," and "Human Life Considered." Third Thousand.

18mo, pp. 135. 38. A Warning against Popery: being the substance of a Discourse preached in Free St Stephen's, Edinburgh, on the day appointed by the Commission of Assembly of the Free Church, for testifying against the Errors of that System. By James Buchanan, D.D. Fcap. 8vo, pp. 32. Edinburgh: Johnstone, 1845.

39. Chapters on National Education. By the Rev. R. M. Macbrair, M.A., Author of "Geology and Geologists," "Goodness of Providence," &c., 8vo. Pp. 126. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. 1845.

40. Christian Experience; being the Second Series of Peace for the Dying Christian. Containing some Striking Instances of Peace and Joy in the prospect of Death; many of which are original memoirs, or such as have been printed only for private circulation. Selected by H. Drummond, Author of "The Christian Mourner." With a Preface, by the Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel, A.M., and an Introductory Notice, by Rev. D. T. K. Drummond, A.B., Fcap. 8vo. Pp. 350. burgh Kennedy. 1845. :

Edin

41. A Discourse on Theological Education; delivered on the Bicentenary of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, July 1843. To which is added, Advice to a Student Preparing for the Ministry. By George Howe, D.D., Professor of Biblical Literature, Theol. Sem. Columbia, S.C. 18mo. Pp. 243. New York: Leavitt, Trow, & Co. 1844.

42. The Apocryphal Works of the Old Testament, proved to be Corrupt Additions to the Word of God. The Arguments of Romanists from the Infallibility of the Church and the Testimony of the Fathers in behalf of the Apocrypha, Discussed and Refuted. By James H. Thornwall, Professor of Sacred Literature and the Evidences of Christianity, in the South Carolina College. Post 8vo, pp. 417. New York: Leavitt, Trow, & Co. 1845.

43. A Warning from the East; or, the Jesuits as Missionaries in India. By the Rev. W. S. Mackay, of the Free Church of Scotland's Mission, Calcutta. 8vo, pp. 48. London: N. H. Cotes, 1845.

44. Providence, Prophecy, and Popery, as exhibited in the First Seven Chapters of the Book of Daniel. By the Rev., W. White, of the Original Secession, Haddington. 12mo, pp. 577. Edinburgh: Kennedy, 1845.

THE

PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW.

OCTOBER 1845.

No. LXX.

ART. I.-Evidence of more Roman Catholic Injustice; being a Defence of the Narrative of RAFFAELE CIOCCI, against the misrepresentations contained in an Article in the Dublin Review." By RAFFAELE CIOCCI, formerly a Benedictine and Cistercian Monk, Student and Hon. Librarian of the Papal College of San Bernardo, Alle Terme Dioclesiane, in Rome. London: James Nisbet & Co., 1845.

THE old serpent has been trodden on and is writhing with pain and rage. Stung to the vitals by the exposure of enormities from which all but demons would revolt, Rome has roused herself and sprung into an attitude of self-defence against an assailant whom she at the same time professes utterly to despise. It is not often that she will condescend to measure swords with her opponents. But she has been driven to this hard necessity. It must be humbling and mortifying to her. Nevertheless it must be done.

The tale of Raffaele Ciocci's sufferings has rung through Britain. Intensely interesting in itself, and doubly so from its connection with Rome, it has already passed through five editions, and been circulated wide and far throughout the land. The name of Ciocci has become familiar to Protestant lips, and sympathy has flowed out towards him from thousands of British hearts. The unaltered and unalterable character of Romish perfidy and wickedness has stood out to view, and even some whose liberalism would fain persuade them that all that is hateful in Popery has passed away, have been made to see that in whatever respects that Antichristian system may have changed, her thirst for blood and torture remain the same, and her atrocities can brave even the enlightenment of the nineteenth century.

VOL. XVIII, NO. III.

T

Ciocci has convicted Rome of being to this day all that she was in the ages of darkness. His narrative is a supplement to the history of the Inquisition, bringing down its annals to the present day. We needed such a supplement, and it has been given in a form the most impressive and authentic.

It has not been thought safe to despise this narrative. Its accusations are too grave, its proof too staggering, its success too alarming. So serious a matter is it deemed, that Rome summons her best champion into the field to defend her from the crushing charges adduced against her by one who knew her well. No less a knight than Dr Wiseman is called to enter the lists against this young and unknown Italian. What a confession of weakness! What a pleading guilty to the charge!

If the reader ever had a doubt as to the fidelity of Ciocci's narrative, it must give way now. The article in the Dublin Review has in our estimation amply established its truth. That could be no paltry fiction which has so terrified Rome as to lead her to such a defence. The flower of an army is not despatched against mere shadows. It must be a real and formidable enemy against which the men of an hundred battles are ordered to march. What general would so befool himself as thus to act, if he himself did not believe the danger to be real, and the foe to be no despicable one. Doubtless this does not authenticate Ciocci's tale. But it is a very strong presumption in its favour; so strong that we are persuaded that in this thing Rome has overreached and outwitted herself. For who can fail to see that she herself believes it true, since she has taken such desperate alarm at the exposure? Who does not see that the conductors of the Dublin Review believe it, since they have with such eager haste rushed forward to the rescue? Who does not see that Dr Wiseman, the author of the article, believes it, seeing he has not only undertaken the defence of his church, but seemingly put forth his whole resources of wit, sarcasm, abuse, and logic, to overthrow the credibility of Ciocci? He is evidently in deep earnest. He jests, but it is the jest of a man burning with wrath against the object of his ridicule. He condescends to smile, but it is the smile of one who would fain make his reader believe that he is quite cool and unalarmed, when it is manifest that he is both smarting and quaking all over under the consciousness that Ciocci's narrative of horrors is a faithful picture of Rome.

We regard then Dr Wiseman's article as being first of all a testimony to the success of the Narrative, and the apprehensions entertained by Rome concerning its exposures; and secondly as a virtual acknowledgment that the Narrative is substantially true. These are things that lie upon the very surface of the discussion, and cannot fail even to strike a hasty reader. We should think that even a

stanch partizan of Popery would be led to ask, why this forth-putting of strength and championship? Why, if Ciocci be an impostor, and his Narrative a falsehood, take it up in such serious earnest, as if it were a blow so weighty that the best buckler in the Vatican was required to parry it?

Has the Jesuit then outwitted himself? So far he has. He has by his very defence contrived to raise suspicion against himself. Yet he has done something to ward off the blow. He has put forth all his information as well as all his ingenuity to disprove the Narrative. And that he has said some plausible things may be granted without much hazard. What cause is there, in behalf of which an expert advocate may not urge many plausibilities?

6

But after all what is the amount of these plausibilities? What is the exact line of argument pursued? Just this. There are some inaccuracies, or, if you will, contradictions in the book;-therefore, the author is a liar and his work a piece of fiction! No positive testimony is adduced. The witness-bearing is of the negative kind. So that after all there is nothing to prevent the tale being true, though a hundred Romish witnesses could stand up and say we never heard of such things, or persons, or places.' Nor shall we deem the work less credible because lacking in some documentary proof which might have been desirable, when we take into consideration the following statement of the author, many papers which would have supplied irrefragable proof of the statements in the narrative were left in a trunk at San Bernardo; and D. Girolamo Bottini, procurator-general of the Cistercian order, has refused to let them be sent, if the writer's communion with the Holy Chair were not evident.**

There

In the course of the review Dr Wiseman ventures upon certain statements contradictory of the narrative, and subversive of its author's veracity. Ciocci at once gives a broad denial to these assertions of the Jesuit, which be it observed depend on his own authority. The Jesuit doctor imputes both language and conduct to Ciocci, which the latter unhesitatingly disavows. Of course, on these points, we have the mere averments of the two parties. are no documents produced, or producible, for the scenes to which they refer in private. But certainly there are presumptions on one side which are not on the other. Ciocci in making such assertions and in holding by them, is incurring the wrath of the whole Romish Church, and especially of the Jesuits. And who in his circumstances would venture upon such a step unless conscious of integrity? It is a step most hazardous to himself, and there is nothing to balance the risk. But in the case of Dr Wiseman he is under the

* Preface, p. iv.