efforts of the Jesuits. This order was originally established in 1540, to oppose the Reformation. Its principles have a fair and adequate exposition in the fact, that the name of Jesuit is everywhere a synonym with falsehood, chicanery, and covert crime. The order became so powerful, and so dangerous to the peace of Europe, that it was expelled successively from England, Venice, Portugal, France, Spain, and Sicily, and was at length, through the influence of Romancatholic governments, abolished and suppressed by Pope Clement XIV. in 1773; it was restored by Pope Pius VI. twenty-eight years ago, for the purpose of making aggressive movements against Protestantism. Many of the Romish priests in this country are known to be of this fraternity. A return was made to Government in 1830, by which it appeared that there were then fiftyeight individuals bound by the Jesuit vows in Ireland, and 117 in England. They possess educational establishments on a large scale, both in England and Ireland. Whatever truth there may be in the conjecture, that the revival of Popery is to be ascribed mainly to the restless zeal and activity of this order, the fact that Popery has wonderfully revived since their revival, is indisputable. We see it in heathen and semi-heathen lands. In Syria, in Persia, in Hindostan, on the coast of Africa, in New Zealand, in New South Wales, in Tahiti, in the Sandwich Islands, and in other countries, to which our Protestant missionaries have gone to dispense the bread of life to the perishing, they have been followed by Popish missionaries, who are as busily scattering the seeds of death. All our Protestant Missionary Societies complain loudly of the activity and interference of Popish agents. In China the Papal emissaries have preceded our Protestant missionaries.

The Protestantism of the Continent is also powerfully assailed by the inroads of the Jesuits and the growing strength of Popery. Our Protestant brethren in America are also under daily increasing apprehensions, from the vigorous and decisive demonstrations made by the Papacy in that land. Its rapid spread, and the multiplication of its large and prominent masshouses and schools in England and Scotland, when viewed in connexion with this brief sketch of its formidable progress in all quarters of the world, is surely enough to excite a general feeling of alarm among all reflecting classes of the British Empire.

Regarding Popery as a system, which is proved by its own avowed principles, by the whole tenour of history, and by the present state of all Roman-catholic countries, to be subversive of civil and religious liberty, and destructive to the spiritual welfare of man, we feel deeply convinced that there is, in the present aspect of affairs, a loud and emphatic call upon all sincere Christians to unite for the purpose of defending from its insidious assaults the rich inheritance of liberty and truth, which, by the mercy of God, we have received as a sacred birthright from our martyred forefathers.

There is one fact connected with the present revival of Popery, which should especially influence our Protestant fellow-countrymen, and that fact is this, that nothing is more clearly evident than that the Church of Rome has determined to spare no effort nor expense for the

purpose of securing extensive influence in this country, and thus so to expand her power that it shall be felt throughout the world. If the Protestant population of this country were alive to this subject, there would be no need of a Protestant Association; the entire Christian population of the empire would form one united and powerful association of firm hearts and enlightened minds contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. But the reverse is the fact to a melancholy extent, and it is this lamentable want of faithfulness to truth, this false liberality towards Rome, and careless indifference to the safety of the country, and the temporal and spiritual freedom of this great nation, that has awakened so much anxiety, and created so strong a necessity for a Protestant Association.

We are aware that this almost universal apathy is sought to be excused or palliated by the false plea that Popery is changed. We might expose the fallacy of this plea by referring to the boast of Popery, that she is "infallible," and, therefore, unchangeable. We might remind you that no evidence whatever has been produced, emanating from the Papal See, that it has abated its intolerant and ambitious pretensions, or laid aside its persecuting tenets.

We are not satisfied with the disclaimers of Roman-catholic laymen or the denials of Romish priests. We insist upon a renunciation from the only authority in the Church of Rome which has the power to make one. We demand that the same power which enjoined the persecutions of former days shall express its disapproval of them now, and repudiate the pretended right to prosecute for opinion's sake.

When proof of this description is produced, we may listen to the suggestion that Popery is changed, and has put off its ancient intolerance and quenched its old spirit of persecution.

In resisting the efforts now making to establish the system of Popery among us, we are influenced by no love of controversy, by no personal antipathies, by no sectarian or party ends, but by a grave and imperative sense of duty to our country, to posterity, and to God.

England, we might say Europe, owes all that she enjoys of civil and religious liberty to her opposition to Popery. The progress of the arts and sciences, the mitigation of social evils, the diffusion of knowledge, the improvement of mankind in rational and social happiness, have for the last three centuries gone hand in hand with opposition to Popery.

Exactly in proportion as opposition to Popery has been relaxed in any Protestant country, superstition and infidelity have increased, vices have abounded, ignorance and discontent have prevailed among the people, and every great national interest has deteriorated.

pre

If confirmation of these statements be required, we have it in the sent relative condition of the principal Protestant and Roman-catholic countries: compare the Protestant Netherlands with Italy; compare the Protestant cantons of Switzerland with the Roman-catholic; compare Spain with England; compare Mexico and the South American Republics with the United States. The superiority of the Protestant countries is known and read of all men. To what is it owing? Not to the physical cause, certainly; for in these the Roman-catholic

countries have the advantage. Look at Spain, for example; luxuriant, beautiful Spain, with her vine-clad hills and her genial climate, the very garden of Europe. There was a time when her name was a tower of strength among nations: now, the decrepitude of a premature dotage is upon her. What has turned this Eden into an Aceldama? What has spread the pall of death over all that was lovely, and generous, and refined in that land of song? The answer may be given in one word-POPERY. Popery persecuted the Reformation out of Spain, as it did out of Italy. It summoned to its aid the chains and fagots of the Inquisition, and with relentless fury drove it from her soil. The martyr blood which was then shed has not yet ceased to cry to Heaven for vengeance: Spain permitted Popery to rob her of the pure Christianity which was offered to her, and God gave her up to serve the master she had chosen. There, for three hundred years, Popery has swayed an undisputed sceptre, and the result is before us. In climate and soil, Spain is unchanged; for these it was beyond the spoiler's power to blast. Everything else he has blighted and cursed; everything in her morals, everything in her thrift and industry, everything in her literature, everything in her laws, his curse is in her cities and in her hamlets, in her cottages and in her palaces. And the history of Spain is more or less the history of all other papal lands. Ignorance and superstition, social degradation and political oppression, follow in the train of Popery as naturally as death follows the plague. The nation which surrenders itself to its control is a doomed nation. We appeal to our fellow-countrymen, as possessed of reflecting minds and patriotic feeling, whether we are not justified in opposing a system, in its hostile attempts upon our country, which has uniformly produced such fruits as these.

We appeal to the sober judgment of Englishmen, whether they ought not to encourage and support an association which aims only to avert from our country the countless evils which have invariably followed the triumphs of Popery.

We still more strongly appeal to all that is moral and virtuous in the country, whether the desolating march of Romish principles, with their inevitable train of evil practices and corruption of the public morals, should be endured without a systematic attempt to arrest its progress and prevent the ruin of the nation. We appeal more strongly still to the followers of a Saviour who came to bear witness of the truth, whether in a day when souls are continually perverted to Popery, which is daily drawing its meshes closer around us, to the dishonour of Christ's glorious gospel and the danger of multitudes of precious souls, a united, bold, and faithful stand should not be made against this predicted enemy of the church of the living God; and whether the country ought not to be roused from its apathy, and solemnly warned of the peculiar dangers of the times, before a false and spurious liberality has paralyzed the nation, and consummated the ruin of the empire and the triumph of Popery.

Your Committee cannot but look upon the notices of motion entered upon the books of the House of Commons, by Roman-catholic members, during this present session, as strikingly significant of the increased boldness of Rome. Amongst others, Sir V. Blake, it will

be remembered, has placed a notice upon the books of the house "to abrogate the oaths of Supremacy and Abjuration."

Your Committee now proceed to lay before you the various departments of work in which the machinery of your Association has been employed for the past year. In doing so, it will not be necessary to weary you with minute details, as the Society's operations have been so frequently reported in the pages of the "Protestant Magazine." MEETINGS.-Protestant Meetings have been held during the past year at Liverpool, Derby, Manchester, Birmingham, Hackney, Southwark, Saffron-Walden, Sudbury, Clare, Colchester, Bury St. Edmund's, Norwich, East Dereham, Dover, Canterbury, Sandwich, Ashford, Edmonton, Spondon, Brailsford, Newhall, Matlock. A meeting was also held in the Society's Rooms, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at which one of our Vice-Presidents, John Hardy, Esq., M.P., presided, and the Rev. Edward Nangle, of Achill, delivered an interesting statement respecting that colony.

The Metropolitan Operative Protestant Associations, who have held repeated meetings during the year in their several localities, held their second annual meeting in Exeter Hall, on Tuesday, the 13th of September, 1842, at which Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq., F.R.S., F.S.A., presided, and the hall was densely crowded in all parts. The success of your Society's labours amongst this interesting and important class of the community continue to give your Committee much satisfaction. Your Committee have also to inform you, that on the 5th of November a most valuable sermon was preached before the members and friends of the Society in St. Dunstan's Church, Fleet-street, by the Rev. Edward Bickersteth, rector of Watton. The sermon has since been published, and more than six thousand copies circulated, which have been most extensively useful.

PETITIONS.-Your Committee have during the year been engaged in promoting petitions to parliament against the annual grant to the Popish College of Maynooth, against the Irish system of education, and for the restoration of the Protestant character of the British constitution.

The number of petitions presented against the Maynooth grant in 1841 was 306, with 69,177 signatures; in 1842, 211, 88,960 signatures. Your Committee have also to state, that they have twice in the course of the year memorialized her Majesty's government on the subject of the Infidel lectures delivered, and shops opened for the sale of blasphemous publications in the metropolis.

PUBLICATIONS. With respect to publications, your Committee have the gratification of informing you that they have opened a new and promising field of exertion in this department of the Society's labours. Having taken into their serious consideration the extensive use made of the press by the members of the Church of Rome, and those who sympathize with her in this country, and the dangerously seductive character of the numerous works put in circulation by the enemies of the gospel, from the plausible and fascinating style in which many of them are compiled and brought out, have resolved upon issuing in an attractive form, A SERIES OF POPULAR WORKS, calculated to extend sound Protestant principles, and to counteract the rapid spread of error in the land.

To accomplish this, they opened a separate fund to be devoted to the special purpose of printing standard Protestant works, by popular writers, in a cheap and attractive form. This fund is still open, and they affectionately invite the kind pecuniary support of the public, and the co-operation of their Christian friends throughout the country. Contributors to this fund, as well as annual subscribers to the society, are entitled to the privilege of purchasing the works of the society at a considerable reduction of price. The following works have already been published-viz. :

1. D'Aubigné's History of the Great Reformation. Abridged by Edward Dalton, Secretary to the Association. One volume, 18mo, cloth, lettered, 507 pages, with frontispiece, price 4s. to non-subscribers, 3s. to subscribers.

2. The Divine Warning to the Church at this time, with information respecting the Diffusion of Infidelity, Lawlessness, and Popery. By the Rev. Edward Bickersteth. 18mo, cloth lettered, 3s.

3. The Jesuits; their Principles and Acts. By Edward Dalton, Secretary to the Association. One vol. 18mo, 3s.

The following works are in the press :—

1. Life of Edward VI. By the Rev. R. W. Dibdin, M.A.

One vol. 18mo.

2. Thoughts on Popery. By the Rev. Dr. Nevins; revised by Isaac Taylor, Esq., author of Natural History of Enthusiasm," "Ancient Christianity," &c. &c. One vol. 18mo.

3. Serious Dissuasives from Popery. By Archbishop Tillotson, and Bishops Hall and Jeremy Taylor. With Introductory Preface, by the Rev. Edward Nangle, of Achill. One vol. 18mo.

The following works are in a state of preparation for the press, and will be published as soon as the fund shall be sufficient to warrant the Committee in so doing :

:

1. History of the Inquisition. By the Rev. R. Macklin, M.A. One vol.

18mo.

2. No Peace with Rome. By Bishop Hall. With Introductory Essay by the Rev. Edward Bickersteth, M.A. One vol. 18mo.

3. The Pope's Looking-glass. Revised by the Rev. Dr. Marsh.

4. The Papal Antichrist. By Bishop Hurd. With Appendix from Bishop Newton, and Introductory Remarks by the Rev. R. W. Dibdin, M.A. One

vol. 18mo.

5. The Life of Luther. One vol. 18mo.

6. The Gospel Lever applied to Romanism. By the Rev. Edward Nangle, of Achill. One vol. 18mo.

7. Memoirs of the British Reformers. One vol. 18mo.

8. On the Idolatry of the Church of Rome. By the Rev. A. S. Thelwall, M.A. One vol. 18ino.

9. Select Protestant Biography. One vol. 18mo.

The success already attending this series of publications fully convinces your Committee that they were right in their anticipations of a beneficial result from such an extension of their labours.

The general publications of the society issued in the course of the year have been the following-viz.:

1. A Dialogue on Maynooth College, between Peter Surface and John Search. 32mo, in coloured wrapper, price 1d., or 7s. per 100.

2. The Lyonese Martyrs. 32mo, in coloured wrapper, price 1d., or 7s. per 100.

3. A Warning to Protestant Parents against sending their Children to Popish Schools. By the Rev. B. Richings, M.A. 3s. per 100.

4. Loyalty and Patriotism. 1s. per 100.

5. The Fifth of November, with many wood-cuts. 32mo, 3s. 6d. per 100. 6. A Solemn Appeal to the Protestants of the British Empire. 3s. per 100. 7. The Church of Rome proved to have the Marks of Antichrist. By the Rev. Hugh M'Neile. 3d., or 20s. per 100. 8. The Child's Book of Martyrs. Illustrated with wood-cuts. Parts I. and II., price 1d., to be completed in twelve monthly parts.

The application for grants of your Society's publications from clergymen and others desirous of counteracting the spread of Romanism by the circulation of Protestant tracts, have continued to increase, and your Committee regret to say, that though they have felt a pleasure in voting such grants to the extent of their ability, yet the limited income of the Society has prevented them doing so much as they would have desired. The issue of the Society's publications during the year has been (inclusive of the circulation of the "Protestant Magazine" and