The be subverted. If there were no | heavens and the earth. God, or if the world were not sub-psalmist likewise, when speaking ject to his government, religious of the Divine glory, in one of the services and institutions would not most beautiful and impressive only be useless, but egregiously psalms, instead of referring to absurd; since nothing could be some special revelation as the more unreasonable than to worship ground of faith, adverts in striking a God who had no existence, or to language to the testimony of nacall upon a being, whose friend-ture, and says, "The heavens deship or authority could have no clare the glory of God, and the influence upon our happiness. firmament showeth his handy work: Hence it is laid down in Scripture, day unto day uttereth speech, and as an axiom, which approves itself night unto night showeth knowto every man's reason, that with-ledge: there is no speech, nor out faith it is impossible to please language where their voice is not God; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of all them that diligently seek him. -- heard.' In like manner St. Paul, when discoursing with the Athenians in the court of Areopagus, commenced his address, not by Upon this ground we acknow- telling them of the Divine existledge that the Divine existence, ence, as a new doctrine, but by instead of being affirmed in Scrip- declaring the creative power, the ture, as an article of pure revela- spiritual nature, and universal tion, is rather assumed - as a truth sovereignty of that God, whom previously known and universally they ignorantly adored. In his recognised. A revelation, indeed, epistle to the Romans also, he pre-supposes a revealer, and the refers to the same evidences, and different dispensations which it at- affirms that "the invisible things tributes to his government, indicate of God, from the creation of the his prior existence and universal world are clearly seen, being unauthority; but it no where repre-derstood by the things which are sents this fact as a new discovery, made, even his eternal power and verified by miracles, but speaks of godhead, insomuch that all men are it as an independent principle, the without excuse." truth of which rests upon plain God is indeed a being, of whose and indubitable ground. It seems nature or mode of existence no idea as easy to know that God exists, can be formed by the human mind, as it is difficult to know what he is, and of whom we can find in the or by what means his purposes are worlds around us no adequate or accomplished. The latter can be suitable resemblance. But, though known only by a Divine revela- it is certain, that of God we can tion, while the former is proved comprehend nothing, except that beyond a reasonable doubt, by the he is incomprehensible, yet his existence and order of the material being, attributes, and government, world. may be rendered as certain to the Hence Moses, the Jewish law-mind as the realities of the material giver, instead of commencing the Sacred Volume by affirming that there is a God, takes that for granted, as a known and indisputable truth, and commences by informing us that God created the world, which we perceive by our natural senses. The feelings and powers of which we are conscious within ourselves, though unseen, are as indubitable as the objects that we behold, or the events and and power were equal to its production. That something has existed from eternity, is as certain as that something now exists; because, if there ever had been a time when there was no being, the first beings and things must have been produced without a cause, which is a palpable absurdity. A transactions we perceive taking | have formed itself, or been formed place around us. The existence by some being, whose intelligence of thousands and millions of the human race beside ourselves, whom we have never seen, and of whose persons and characters we can have no idea, except what is founded on credible testimony, is as certain as the existence of our friends and neighbours, with whom we are daily conversant; and to doubt of it, would be as absurd as to ques-being or thing which is self-existent tion the reality of our own being. Persons of the slenderest information, who have seen the ebb and flow of the tides, or noticed the changes of the moon, by which those tides are occasioned, however ignorant they may be of the laws of nature, are as certain in their own minds, as the greatest philosopher can be, that there are some causes by which those phenomena are produced. Upon the same principle, it is equally certain, that every effect we perceive in nature must arise from some the world produced itself, or came specific cause, whether it be known into being by what is called to us or not; and that every se- chance; it to suppose an effect condary cause must be traced without a cause, which is a gross through a series of events to the contradiction, that cannot for a first cause of all things, in which moment be imagined. The conwe perceive the uncaused self-viction is therefore impressed upon existent Deity. and eternal, however, must ne- the mind, as a necessary conseNow it is universally assumed quence, that the material universe, and acknowledged, that the beings with all its inhabitants, must be and things which we perceive traced to the agency of some inaround us are realities, which can- visible, self-existent, eternal being, not be denied, and that the per- whose wisdom, power, and goodceptions formed of them by the aid ness first formed all things, and by of our own senses, may be de- an absolute and uninterrupted supended upon as matters of cer-premacy, perpetuate the existence, tainty in the government of our and demand the homage of univerfeelings, the exercise of reason, and sal nature. the conduct of human life. If then Hence it is a fact, that amidst all the existence of the material world, the errors and follies, into which as perceived by our senses, be a mankind have fallen, the existence reality, which it is impossible to and authority of a God, has been doubt, the doctrine of the Divine invariably perceived and acknowexistence would seem to be indu-ledged. There never was a period, bitably confirmed. For, if the ancient or modern, in which this world be not eternal, it must either truth was abandoned or forgotten, are rather or a people among whom no traces the want of light, or the natural of it could be found. Even savages, imbecility of reason, sunk to the lowest state of intellec-imputable to universal inattention tual and moral debasement, have and corrupt passions. On this some idea of a great spirit, or an ground, St. Paul affirms that the universal power, whose will may heathen were given up to their affect their happiness, and to whom own delusion, "because that, some kind of worship should be when they knew God, they gloripaid. And though, in civilised fied him not as God, neither were nations, one or two individuals in thankful: but became vain in their a century have been led by gross imaginations, and their foolish immorality, extreme ignorance, or hearts were darkened. Professing a false philosophy, to question the themselves to be wise, they betruth of the divine existence, it is came fools, and changed the glory obvious that they expressed the of the incorruptible God into an conjectures of a bewildered imagi- image, made like to corruptible nation, or the wishes of a depraved man, and to birds, and to fourheart, and not the sober and settled footed beasts, and creeping things; persuasions of a sound under- and changing the truth of God standing. Thus we perceive that into a lie, they worshipped and the practical atheism of some, and served the creature more than the the gross superstition, or contemp- Creator, who is blessed for ever; tible and debasing idolatry of Amen!" others, instead of resulting from PHILAGATHON. REVIEW. An Account of the Indexes, both prohibi- | Croydon, in a sermon at Paul's Cross tory and expurgatory, of the Church of" we must root out printing, or printing Rome. By the Rev. JOSEPH MEND- will root out us." HAM, M.A. 8vo. pp. xii. 187. 7s. London. 1826. Hatchard and Son. Price The ecclesiastics soon found, however, that it was no easy matter to root out printing, and that they must disWHILE books existed only in Manu- cover some means of restraining or script, their scarcity and high price modifying its influence. Nothing seemed necessarily prevented the bulk of the so likely to succeed as the preparation people from obtaining knowledge. But of catalogues of heretical and dangerthe happy invention of the art of print-ous books, and the exercise of a vigilant ing laid open the stores of wisdom to all, censorship of all productions of the and proved a powerful auxiliary in the press. Accordingly, bulls and mandates attack which was made on the abomi- were issued from time to time, prohibitnations of the Romish system, in the ing the publication of all works which early part of the sixteenth century. It had not been previously examined and was not therefore surprising, that the approved by the priesthood, under pain priests soon conceived a mortal anti- of excommunication and burning of the pathy to the printing-press. "We must books. The subject was taken up by root out printing," said the vicar of the Council of Trent, and a Committee N appointed to prepare an Index of prohibited books, and a series of rules for the examination of all works that should be published. These were printed in 1564. Numerous editions have been issued since that period, chiefly in Italy and Spain; and care has been taken to add to the list of condemned books such modern publications as are deemed unfit for a Roman Catholic reader. The last Roman edition was printed in 1819. In the "Rules" above mentioned, all books written by "heresiarchs," such as Luther and Calvin, are strictly forbidden; translations of the Scriptures are allowed only to those persons who shall receive a licence for the purpose from the priest or eonfessor; the same regulation applies to books of controversy between Catholics and their opponents; and no works are to be printed without a previous examination by the bishop and the inquisitor, who shall affix their approbation in their own hand-writing. the deputies, and obtained their licence, under pain of the confiscation of the books, or the infliction of such other punishment as the bishop or inquisitor shall deem proper, according to the contumacy or quality of the delinquent. Finally, it is enjoined on all the faithfal, that no one presume to keep, or read any books contrary to these rules, or prohibited by this Index. But if any oue read, or keep any books composed by heretics, or the writings of any author suspected of heresy, or false doctrine, he shall instantly incur the sentence of excommunication, and those who read, or keep works interdicted on another account, besides the mortal sin committed, shall be severely punished at the will of the bishops." Three varieties of the Index are now on our table. One is an improved and enlarged edition, published under the auspices of Clement VIII, in 1596. Another is the last Spanish edition, and was printed at Madrid in 1790: it is a small quarto, of 305 pages, being an abridgement of a larger work, published in 1747, in two volumes folio, containing about 1200 pages! The third is entirely expurgatory, and is a reprint of an edition published in 1571. select from these Indexes a few names of authors who are condemned, in whole or in part, by the Romish Church, and whose writings must not be read by Roman Catholics (unless in some very few instances wherein expurgation, i. e. mutilation, is allowed) on pain of excommunication; Wiclif - Luther Calvin-Bucer - Zuinglius -- Melancthon We "Moreover, in every city and diocese, the houses or places, where the art of printing is exercised, and also the shops of booksellers, shall be frequently visited by persons deputed for that purpose by the bishop or his vicar, conjointly with the inquisitor of heretical pravity, so that nothing that is prohibited may be printed, kept, or sold. Booksellers of every description shall keep in their libraries a catalogue of the books which they have on sale, signed by the said deputies; nor shall they keep, or sell, nor in any way dispose of, any other books, without permission from the deputies, Bullinger — Oecolampadius — Beza under pain of forfeiting the books, and being liable to such other penalties as shall Tyndal — Cranmer — Ridley — Latimer— be judged proper by the bishop or inquisi- John Knox-Coverdale - Bishop Hooper tor, who shall also punish the buyers, Fox, the Martyrologist — John Huss readers, or printers of such works. If any - Jerome of Prague — Addison - Algerperson import foreign books into any city, non Sydney - Lord Bacon- Boerhaave— they shall be obliged to announce them to Bayle Bochart the deputies; or if this kind of merchan- Robert Barclay dize be exposed to sale in any public place, Broughton-Brucker-George Buchanan the public officers of the place shall signify -Buxtorf Camden Cartwright to the deputies, that such books bave been Casaubon - Castalio — Cave — the Magbrought; and no one shall presume to give, to read, or lend, or sell, any book which he deburg Centuriators — Claude — Le Clerc or any other person has brought into the the Critici Sacri -- Drelincourt — GlasGrotius Sir Matthew Halecity, until he has shewn it to the deputies, and obtained their permission, unless it be a Father Paul — Kepler — Lavater — Leuswork well known to be universally allowed. den - Locke - Mead (his Medica Sacra) "Heirs and testamentary executors shall Menno Simon Milton - Mosheim make no use of the books of the deceased, nor in any way transfer them to others, until Quarles - Dr. Robertson (his history of they have presented a catalogue of them to Charles V.)—Bishop Sanderson-Sandys sius - - -Saurin-Scaliger-Scapula-Schmidt | that priests are subject to princes-Selden-Sleidan—the Spectator Dr. that salvation does not flow from our Swift-Jeremy Taylor-- Vossius—Wal- own merits that the Scriptures are ton (the Polyglott)-Willet-Dr. Young | easy to be understood and that the (the Night Thoughts) — and, to close reading of them is to be enjoined upon all, Robinson Crusoe, and Buchan's Do- all men." Chrysostom had affirmed all mestic Medicine!!! What an excellent this, and much beside that was equally library might be formed from the "Index opposed to popery: yet they have not librorum prohibitorum!" condemned Chrysostom (he is one of the Saints in their own Calendar), but only the unfortunate Editor who has reported his opinions! In the same way have these lovers of darkness dealt with the apostles, yea with our Lord himself. An edition of the Bible, published by Robert Stephens, contained an Index, stating the doctrines of Scripture, with references to the We have observed, that a Roman Catholic must not peruse the above writers without a licence. In Burnet's History of the Reformation the form of one of these licences may be seen: it was given by Tonstall to Sir Thomas More. Such a licence, we presume, Mr. Butler has been favoured with to enable him to read Southey's Book of the Church, and other heretical publica- | texts wherein they are found. The foltions, which he has taken so much pains to answer, but which he dared not peruse till his superiors gave him the requisite permission. We envy him not his feelings on receiving it. 66 lowing propositions, with many others, are ordered to be expunged, as suspected, tanquam suspectæ :”. "He who believeth in Christ shall never die, John ii. 26. The heart is purified by faith, Acts xv. 9.—We are justified by faith in Christ, Gal. ii. 16.—Christ is our righteousness, 1 Cor.i. 30. —No one is righteous before God, Ps. cxliii. 2.Every one may marry, 1 Cor. vii. 2." Here, notwithstanding the flimsy pretence of condemning only the Editor, it is evident enough that the sentence is in fact issued against the Saviour and his inspired servants: for though they are not in express words censured for uttering the foregoing sentiments, yet as Robert Stephens is condemned for asserting that they have uttered them, it is plain that through him our Lord aud his apostles are attacked. This is truly "the mystery of iniquity." The expurgatory Index above mentioned furnishes clear proof of the object which the Church of Rome has in view in these nefarious proceedings-viz. to crush evangelical truth. This is especially evident from the manner in which the editions of the Fathers are treated. In the "Contents" appended to the volumes of Augustine, Jerome, Chrysostom, &c. by Protestant Editors, the theological sentiments of those illustrious men are arranged in alphabetical order, with suitable references to the pages. Now, to contradict the fathers would never be endured; yet it was felt that on many important points their opinions symbolised with those of these Reformers. In this dilemma, it was determined to condemn those opinions, as they were given in the "Sum-insight into the character of the Indexes maries," or "Contents," compiled by the Editors, and not in the text itself! The following propositions, contained in the "Index" or "Contents" to the works of Chrysostom, are therefore ordered to be expunged-"That sins are to be confessed to God, not to man- that we are justified by faith only-that Christments, discovering so openly the spirit and forbids us to kill heretics—that it is great stupidity to bow before images But we must close. The above specimens will give our readers some little of the Church of Rome, and will, we trust, excite their gratitude to Almighty God, for our happy deliverance from Popery and slavery. Mr. Mendham very justly observes "When we consider, that these docu principles of Romanism, are not an old and dead letter, but at this moment in full life and vigour, that they do not lie dormant in |