persons who are even superficially acquainted with the history of Europe, do not need to be told that liberty is by no means congenial to Catholic climes, and that the instance is extremely rare in which they have enjoyed it. Perhaps the example of Switzerland is the only one of this kind recorded in history; and, to the circumstances which conferred on it a peculiar and insulated complexion, we have already adverted. In France, the most enlightened of the Catholic kingdoms, genuine liberty has never been enjoyed. Over her has despotism ruled,―assuming, at one time, a milder, at another time, a more ferocious aspect *. Of the Catholic nations in the south of Europe, this is still more emphatically true. Penetrated they once were by the rays of light; but scarcely had that light begun to spread, and to render visible the surrounding darkness, when its progress was arrested by the strong

The ruling powers in France were opposed to the Reformation: but, notwithstanding their formidable opposition, the reformed doctrines made early and rapid progress in that country. By persecutions, and wars, and massacres, did their enemies seek to extirpate them: but in vain. The opposition which they experienced served to further the cause, and to consolidate the energies of the Protestants. They fought for their liberties and they obtained them, and the Edict of Nantz seemed to indicate the commencement of a milder government, and a wiser policy in the French monarchis. Alas! it was not so. The Protestants were persecuted both secretly and openly, till, at length, the perfidious revocation of their guardian Edict, completed the destruction of their once flourishing and glorious church, of more than two thousand congregations, and sealed the doom of unhappy France. How different might have been her condition, and consequently the condition of Europe, if her monarchs, yielding to the voice of truth and of their people, had embraced the Reformation !

arm of power, and they were left amid the gloom of that moral and political degradation which is the inseparable attendant of priestly dominion. All this is pre-eminently true of Spain. Her history is awfully instructive on the subject of which we are treating. In her the superstitions and idolatries of Papal Rome have been displayed to all the world in their native deformity, and in all the disastrous influence which they exert on the dearest interests of mankind. O Popery! What revolting features are thine! How appaling is thine aspect, when stern necessity compels thee not to appear in milder array! Thou art the nurse of ignorance! Thou tramplest on free inquiry, and on every liberal sentiment! liberal sentiment! Thou triumphest in the overthrow of freedom, and in the groans of suffering and degraded men! Unhappy Spain! Holland, thy tributary in ancient days, is now free, whilst thou art more a slave than she was! Ill fated land! Is this the fruit of all that Britain has done for thy emancipation? Was it for this that her brave soldiers traversed and fought on thy soil? Was it for this that they signalized their valour by so many triumphs, and reared to their prowess so many glorious trophies? Did they shed their blood in the cause of thy independence, that the gloom of a more wretched despotism might envelope thee, and that a deadlier foe to thy welfare might seize thee in his grasp?

It is consoling, however, to think that, on this subject, we have ground to indulge cheering anticipations. Long has been the night of the Popish lands, and dismal has been its gloom. Humanity weeps at the

thought of the many centuries of degradation through which they have passed. But we despair not for them. The period of their debasement will have an end. Their long and dreary night will be succeeded by the joyful morn of a bright and lasting day. The impulse which was communicated to society by the Reformation has not ceased to operate. The progress of mind cannot now be interrupted. Rational liberty, the birthright of every member of the family of man, will pervade the world; and the degraded nations of the earth will participate in those blessings from which they have been long estranged.

A mighty angel took up a stone, like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus, with violence, shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."-Rev. xviii

21.

CHAPTER II.

OF THE EFFECT WHICH THE REFORMATION HAS PRODUCED ON THE INTERNAL SECURITY AND PROSPERITY OF THE KINGDOMS OF EUROPE, AND ON THEIR INTERCOURSE WITH EACH OTHER.

Ir, from contemplating the effect of the Reformation on civil liberty, we pass to the consideration of its influence on the internal security and prosperity of the European states, and on their conduct towards each other, we will find that, in both these points of view, it has been productive of important benefits; that, in the former, it has impressed on the minds of rulers and subjects their reciprocal duties, and has abolished many customs and institutions which tended to corrupt national morals, and impoverish national resources; and that, in the latter, it has destroyed those illiberal and unjust principles which governed the councils of nations, and has infused into their intercourse with each other, a spirit of candour and good faith, which was formerly unknown.

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During the long period in which Papal Rome possessed uncontrolled power, the nations of Europe held their security and their peace by a tenure of the most precarious kind. In almost the whole of them, the

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system of the Papal Church had been so artfully entwined with the affairs of government, and its doctrines had obtained so powerful an ascendency over the minds of their people, that the pontiffs actually possessed more power in them than their monarchs That the interest of the church is of supreme importance, and that it is the duty of every individual to seek the good of the church in preference, and even, if it should be necessary, in opposition, to the good of his country, was the monstrous maxim which they most assiduously, and, unfortunately for the happiness of mankind! most successfully inculcated. Awfully must the minds have been blighted, which could be prevailed on to cast themselves down before such a doctrine as this,-a doctrine on which even enlightened reason impresses the brand of infamy, and which was sufficient, without any other evidence, to cast the stigma of utter abomination on that religion which could lend it her sanction. Religion! The name, in this case, is misapplied. Religion is holy and heavenly; but is that system pure, can that system be descended from heaven, which seeks the extension of its interests at the expence of all the peace, and, consequently, all the happiness of human society?—which not only warrants, but, in very deed, commands its votaries to sacrifice at its shrine, the affection, and all the endearing bonds of friendship, and amid whose pestilential atmosphere, patriotism, the noblest of earthly passions, withers and dies? It is impossible. But such was the thing called religion in Europe before the Reformation; and it is revolting to every generous and noble feeling to read,