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church, confine themselves to the distribution of the scriptures. 2. Some, on the other hand, attack directly the abuses of Papacy. 3. Others, as forcibly struck, perhaps, with these abuses, and with the utter declension of religion in their church, aim rather to restore life and power to the subsisting forms, than to abolish these forms, or to change them. They would purify and reanimate what is already established. 4. Others, again, appear to be especially raised up by Providence to preach to their countrymen the pure and simple gospel; and, even to the present day, they have laboured in this work with an energy and an unction, which have produced the happiest results.

FIRST CLASS. This consists of individuals of almost every party. They are actively employed in propagating the scriptures, which are now spread in every direction, and with a profusion wholly unexampled. Professor Van Ess alone has distributed with his own hand, more than 300,000 copies of his translation of the New Testament, and he will soon publish that of the Old, which is eagerly demanded. Yet this devoted man is far from being alone in this blessed work. Priests and people in various places, and in great numbers, are concurring to promote the diffusion of the sacred volume. Owing to their exertions, Bibles are finding their way all over Silesia, Bavaria, and, indeed, most of the Roman Catholic states of Germany. Wittman, a priest at Ratisbon, has published a translation of the New Testament; and, within a few years, has distributed more than 68,000 copies. In the city of Munich, another priest, Gosner, of whom we have often spoken to our readers, has been equally assiduous in the same work; he has distributed, of his own version, even a still larger number than that just mentioned. Other editions of the scriptures have been disseminated by zealous Catholics, in equal abun

dance, either in Germany or the adjacent countries. Alsace, for instance, in less than a year has been enriched with 3000 Testaments. These, for the most part, were put into the hands of Papists, who received them with eagerness.

We have the pleasure to remark, in addition, that professor Van Ess has prefixed to a great part of the copies of his version, a large collection of extracts from the fathers of the church in all ages, in order to prove by their testimony that the reading of the scriptures is not only permitted to the people, but that it is as necessary for them as for the clergy.

SECOND CLASS. This includes all those who, not content with propagating the truth, boldly attack the error and denounce the abuse prevalent in the Romish church; thus supporting a theory that seems to be gaining ground in Germany, which consists in regarding Papacy and Catholicism as two religious systems, not only entirely different, but absolutely opposed to each other.

According to these persons, the spirit of true Catholicism existed in the original general decrees of the church, and in the acts of the œcumenical councils. But never, say they, has the true church sanctioned either error or abuse: her doctrine is pure. That which is usually taken for Catholicism is nothing else than a corrupt state of things, tolerated and fomented by a venal clergy, and above all, by a court indulging a boundless and unhallowed ambition; chargeable with the grossest simony, and cherishing, together with the most infamous practices, a secret, deep-seated infidelity. Never has the church approved of that vast multitude of superstitious and abominable books with which she has been inundated, and which her priests have vended even in the holy place. Never has she countenanced the sale of indulgences and exemptions. Never has

she sanctioned with her approbation, that master-piece of the works of Belial, the inquisition. Never has she taught us to implore aid or favour of any saint whatever. It is from Rome that these abominations have come forth. It is at Rome that the ulcer exists from which these festering corruptions have spread over the body of the church. It is at Rome, say these Catholics, that antichrist, the subtle and cruel enemy of the church, the serpent, the whore of the Apocalypse, has chosen

to dwell.

In the course of the last year we announced to our readers the recent publication of a work, which had excited a strong emotion, recognising these principles as just, and which was entitled, "The Bible, a book not designed, as many pretend, for the priest only, but also for the prince and the people. By a priest, who is not a Roman Catholic, but a Christian Catholic." It appears from the title page, that this tract is sold in several cities in which the Roman Catholic is the reigning religion; as Vienna, Munich, &c.

The very title of this pamphlet, the first bold avowal of principles which have been for a long time latent among a great portion of the Papists of Germany; the very title, discovers in the author a disposition towards an open rupture with the church of Rome. We give a few extracts from the work itself.

we say,

"Good God! how many things, not found in the Bible, have been imposed as a yoke upon us Catholics! Need we be astonished that since the time of Innocent III. the court of Rome has evinced an emphatic hostility to the holy voJume itself, and its propagation in the living languages? The reason is plain. There is nothing said in the Bible about cardinals, primates, and patriarchs; nothing about indulgences, processions, pilgrimages, Vows of the cloister, expiatory penance, &c. &c."

VOL. I.

In speaking of the countless forms of corruption in the court of Rome, and in endeavouring to prevail upon kings to shake off the yoke of the hierarchy, the author recites a fact that constitutes a heavy charge against the present pope, who is, however, usually looked upon as one of the worthiest of those who have filled the Papal chair.

"In the Council of Trent, says he, Sess. 24, de reform. matrim. c. 5. we find the following decretal: In contrahendis matrimoniis dispensatio gratis concedatur. (Licenses for marriages shall be granted gratuitously). Now, every pope at his induction into office, swears not only religiously to observe, even in the minutest points, the edicts of the œcumenical councils, but also, to adhere to the sacred canons and rules of the holy pontiffs as divine and celestial mandates. Here you see what Pius VII. has sworn to. Has he been true to his oath? With tears in his eyes has the writer of these pages read the declaration of a vicariat, who was obliged to refuse to an inferior priest, licenses for marriage, which he himself, at the instance of the priest, had solicited in behalf of several poor petitioners; the declaration adding, that the holy father at Rome would not grant the licenses without the payment of the sum of 56 crowns; an expense, which, added to other incidental charges, would amount to more than 15 louis. Three times did the vicariat urge at Rome the most weighty reasons for his claim, and represent to the pope himself, the poverty of the petitioners. All was fruitless. (Thy money perish with thee! said Peter in the apostolic acts.) The most holy father and his court persisted in their most holy inflexibility, and refused the li censes; unquestionably for no other reason, than that the unfortunate applicants could not, with all their sweat and blood, procure the requisite sum. And was not this an act of perjury, of inhumanity, of

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Again: "If, with the money of Protestants; if, with the generous donations of England and of Russia, we publish Bibles and Testaments approved by popes and bishops, is it fair, is it reasonable, is it Christian, is it worthy a representative of Jesus Christ, to denounce among interdicted and diabolical books, the scriptures of God, for no other reason than that Protestant silver has defrayed the expense of printing them? Biblia opera hereticorum impressa vetitis libris accenseri! Bibles printed by heretics (that is, Protestants) to be numbered with forbidden books! And those who read them to be excommunicated! Why not excommunicate Pius VII. himself, for having owed his liberation to the hands of Protestants ?"

These passages will enable the reader to judge of the character of the work. Further extracts were needless.

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THIRD CLASS. In this class we shall particularly designate professor Sailer, one certainly chosen of God to effect a great and noble work in the bosom of Papacy. Sailer is a man of consummate sagacity, and has the art of throwing an impenetrable veil over his real views. For a while he was strongly inclined openly to declare himself on the side of the pure gospel, and to take a decided stand against the errors of Papacy. For some years past, however, he has to appearance been drawn closer to the court of

Rome. This cannot be denied. But whatever may have been his motives for this management, we recognise, notwithstanding, in Sailer a Christian, who acknowledges as Christians all that are truly such, to whatever communion they pertain. We see in him a Roman ecclesiastic of high standing in his own church, and having, at the same time, many intimate friends among Protestant Christians, and so availing himself of his relation to both parties as to promote most effectually the interests of the gospel. Already has he achieved extensive good. A school, of which he is the whole soul, has furnished not only for Bavaria, but also for almost every part of Germany, a large number of evangelical preachers, exemplary by their Christian virtues, illuminated not with the false lights of human philosophy, but with the true light from heaven, and though still somewhat imbued with certain prejudices in favour of their own communion, fulfilling, nevertheless, the duties of ministers in the spirit of the gospel. Sailer has in his writings and in his instructions, a manner of which one can scarcely form a just idea, except from the perusal of his works. În general, his object is to explain to his pupils and his people in what spirit such and such a ceremony or doctrine was primitively instituted. This we have before mentioned as one of the chief characteristics of the class to which he belongs. In the present state of the Romish church, forms are for him but empty vessels, capable, however, of being richly replenished. Owing to this, his aim to restore the true spirit to every thing, he frequently falls into a very abstruse train of discussion. His views are deep, and his principles lead much farther, perhaps, than one would at first suppose. Hence it is that it is so difficult to discover his real sentiments. At a certain period of his preaching, when it seemed to be, as it now is, his assiduous and sincere endeavour, to de

clare the truth, the agents of Rome were busy in heaping reproaches on the spirit of his discourses, and yet they could find nothing positively exceptionable. "All this, said they, is not Catholic enough; give us for once something decidedly ortho

dox."

This celebrated professor is still employing himself at Landshute in the work to which he has devoted nearly half a century. God is to be praised for having placed such a shining light in the midst of the spiritual darkness of that region.

FOURTH CLASS. This consists of evangelists properly so called; men raised up by God in the bosom of that church. Such are the Booses, the Gosners, the Lindles, and all who are treading in their glorious steps.

At a time when a multitude of political movements were agitating Europe, who would have thought that in Austria, in Bavaria, in Suabia, faithful men of God were sounding forth into the heart of these popish countries, the happy tidings of salvation by the blood of Christ and faith in its merits; and that this work was going on even with considerable power, for the space of nearly thirty years. The zealous Boos, then in the vigour of his age, was preaching the gospel in the midst of persecutions. Having come to the knowledge of the truth by simple meditation, by studying the scriptures, and by the inward work of grace in his heart, he was for a long time a Protestant without knowing it, and the first time a Lutheran book fell into his hands, he perceived, and not without trembling, (such is the force of prejudice) that he too was a Lutheran. Recovering soon from his alarm, he preached with great fervour to his people salvation by Jesus Christ, and the necessity of regeneration in order to our entering into the kingdom of heaven. This doctrine, equally offensive to all worldlings, whether Catholics or Protestants,

was nevertheless cordially embraced, and out of 5000 parishoners, 4000 declared in favour of their preacher. They listened to him with tears of joy; and many a time when this good pastor has left his church, have his people thronged around him with the cry of benediction, God reward you! God reward you!

rous.

But at present we cannot enter into details. It will give us pleasure to be more particular hereafter. We will only say, that persecution quickly burst forth. Boos was arrested, and shut up two years in prison. A great part, however, of his old companions in study, knowing him to be the most pious among them, embraced his principles. Conversions became numeCatholics were accused of becoming Protestants, and Protestants of the vicinity, who had lifeless pastors, men drowned in the love of this world, became Catholics. But the spirit of the inquisition seemed to be kindled. Boos removed to another place, was soon dismissed, then restored, then imprisoned anew for a year, and again by order of the emperor, released. At length, after having experienced a series of trying vicissitudes, being compelled for a long time to wander from place to place, often in want, sometimes concealing himself in the depths of forests, an object of implacable hatred to the world, but dear to the saints, this devoted servant is now settled at Sayn, near Coblentz, where, in the faithful discharge of his duties, he patiently awaits the close of his labours. The prayers of all Christians should bear him in remembrance.

About the same time, though in a different manner, Sailer and his pupils were employing themselves, as we have said, in the same cause. And not far from this period also, similar movements were taking place in many other quarters. Some years after (ten or twelve perhaps) appeared Gosner, awakened by the

preaching of Boos, or rather raised up by God as an agent in the same work; for now had come the day of grace for Bavaria, and the grand display which we witness at this day was then about to commence. This faithful Christian, endowed by nature with peculiar ardour of soul, a mind of rare acuteness, and a fearless intrepidity, began to declare at Munich the same doctrines which Boos had proclaimed in other parts of the country. The most signal effects immediately followed. With untiring industry, he published a series of different works replete with piety, in several of which he assailed the errors of the papal church with as much address as courage. Persecutions of

course soon arose.

Some years after, Lindle began his labours in Suabia, with the same success, and soon experienced the same treatment as Boos. Like him, he had the honour of being imprisoned for the testimony of Jesus Christ. His confinement lasted eleven months, but as is almost invariably the case, persecution served only to add fuel to the flames which it sought to extinguish. On his liberation from prison, he became fixed at the village of Gundremmingen, near Dillingen and Ulm, where he beheld the grandest effects resulting from his labours.

The

people of the whole adjacent country, by ten and twelve thousands, flocked to this village, and listened to the preaching which announced salvation by the blood of Christ. The writer of this article has himself known travellers to stop on Saturday eve, and spend the night three leagues from Gundremmingen, because, at a greater proximity, the public and even private houses were completely thronged.

These three great lights have disappeared from Bavaria in the space of two years. Boos is at Sayn,

Lindle at Odessa, Gosner at Petersburgh. God's thoughts are not our thoughts. No doubt he has glorious

designs with regard to the countries whither he has led his servants, and we know that the regions they have left are not wholly deprived, by this loss, of evangelical preach

ers.

On the contrary, the number of such is still large, and though labouring with less eclat at present, than formerly, perhaps the Lord's work is not really less successful.

There are other Roman Catholics concurring to promote this happy reform in their church; for we are far from having designated all. Especially there is a numerous class of Papists, who in their hearts conciliate their adherence to their church with true faith in Christ as the Saviour of the world. In a word, there are Christian Papists, who, because they are Christians, are making vigorous efforts to revive every where the spirit and life of Christianity, and who are therefore labouring, without suspecting it, to accomplish the overthrow of the papal power. The dominion of Christ in the hearts of men will sooner or later cause all human delusions to vanish away, and the truth to be immoveably established.

Extracts from the Report of the Board of Missions to the last Ge neral Assembly.

(Continued from p. 143.)

MR. WILLIAM M. ENGLES Has performed a mission of three months, at Wilkesbarre and the adjoining country. Your missionary was well received and kindly treated. His audiences were large and attentive. From appearances on several occasions, it is to be hoped, that good was done. The Assembly will permit the Board to read some select portions of Mr. Engles's journal, and then the general remarks with which he closes it. Previously however, it is proper to mention distinctly the liberality of Judge Hollenback, who presented your missionary with a donation of

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