the church, the convent, the Vatican itself, has been imprisoned in unrighteousness. No one looks for figs upon such obvious thistles.

Will then the political changes abroad go far to rescue truth from such manifest degradation? Will they depress priestcraft for the happy coming and deeds of willinghood? Upon this issue much depends. We are disposed to take the affirmative of the questions, for reasons which appear to our minds conclusive.

Recent events, both at Rome and in the papal states, seem to intimate that the Pope, if not close upon being denuded of his temporal possessions, at least holds them by a very insecure tenure. The Italians of late have manifested anything but abject submission to their Papa. They for a time constitute themselves the state, imprison their once all-potent sovereign in the Vatican, compel him, against his will, to go to war with Austria, and, in fact, prove that he is little better than a puppet in their hands. Now the people having thus once boldly slapped the face of their pontiff as to his earthly dominions, cannot entertain such a very profound sense of his spiritual power. When Popes can, at the bidding of the popular will, be stripped of the sword, they will in due time be regarded as mere vulgar mortals. Since his sword is so powerless, it may occur to their minds that his crook is no better. The Italian mind free from civil thraldom, is likely enough, at no great distance of time, to cast off its ecclesiastical fetters. Austria, already, has bid adieu to the Pope; perchance but the first of an extended series of farewells. At all events the head of Popery is in a singularly weak state. Now the Papacy is a great organized system of hypocrisy. But break down the system, cut it up into parts, make it a thing of fragments, and its power, to a vast extent, is gone. Unity is its life and soul; greatly injure this, and you destroy the very sinews of its strength. In this direction, therefore, we see a great opening for the gospel. Truth, not as in the time of the Reformation put under the ban and keeping of earthly princes (which was the radical cause of its failure on the continent), but walking forth in its inherent vitality, would make that certain degree of progress which it always has done under such circumstances.

It can hardly be denied that amid this general "shaking of the nations," that the compulsory principle, as embodied in the idea of state-churchism, has received a severe blow. In the early phase of these revolutions, their aspect was decidedly adverse to the continuance of such an unnatural and unhallowed union. It was sufficiently visible that the popular mind on the continent, could it give unbiassed expression to its sentiments, would declare against the continuance of this unseemly alliance. The upheaving of national mind from its very depths revealed dislike to this unscriptural association. For the present this sort of national instinct will not be gratified. Neither in France nor Germany will so desirable a divorce be speedily consummated. But we think it has received a shock from which it will not recover. Throughout the civilized world, the compulsory system appears doomed. It may linger or limp on for a season, until a new set of circumstances

shall give it a death-blow; until the now partially ransomed people, conscious that the hour of its extinction has arrived, will consign it to its deep and eternal grave. Thinking and candid men have long viewed the church-and-state idea as a great fallacy; nor has it escaped their notice that, foreign to the sympathies of the people, it invariably has sided with the powerful and the oppressor. It may attempt to adapt itself to the altered state of circumstances by which it is surrounded, but the attempt will prove a failure; for that which in its very nature is compulsory, must at last come into collision with the people, must stop in its concessions, and when the day arrives, its crisis has come and its doom fixed. Classing, therefore, these probabilities with the great success of the anti-state-church movement in this country, we may embrace the hope that in no lengthened distance we shall see the departure of a system, the evil results of which defy calculation.

Suppose then the unity of the Romish Church broken up, and the StateChurch system shattered, what immense obstacles are removed from the highway of the gospel! Organized hypocrisy laid in the dustpriestcraft deprived of its most formidable weapons-creeds examined, not by the standard of human authority, but by the lamp of reason and revelation-persecution gone out of fashion-money, diverted from false systems, flowing into purer channels-the Bible, no longer bound either by police or bishop, would find its way to the perishing souls of men. Let truth, the truth as it is in Jesus, be set free from the officious patronage of the civil powers, or the yet more dangerous surveillance of a proud ecclesiasticism, and we cannot doubt but that it would march onward amid the nations, everywhere effecting the spiritual liberation of the human mind. Blessed harbinger would this be of the grand prophetic era, when "the earth will be covered with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the channels of the great deep."

III.—That in the great political revolutions under notice, favourable advance has been made towards the principles of international peace, which may be expected to greatly aid the progress of the Gospel.

Two things more than any others have contributed to favour standing armies. First, those foolish and iniquitous territorial treaties, which, by dint of arms, make a distribution based upon the results of the last continental war. Despots divide the spoil of the earth among themselves, and conscious of its iniquity, seek to maintain it by physical force. Secondly, rulers were determined at all events to keep down the ruled, although groaning under unjust laws. Passive obedience and non-resistance were standing and favourite doctrines, to be maintained at the point of the bayonet. To the full accomplishment of such a purpose, there must needs be a rigid system of passport, a police spread as net-work over the population, the ruthless suppression of the smallest indication of mental or spiritual independence, and the perpetual presence of standing armies. To these may be added another incentive to war, arising from a false and corrupt system of diplomacy, everywhere hollow and deceptive, and hence little

calculated in its action to preserve a solid peace between state and

state.

Now the manifest tendency of recent changes will be to break down dependence upon physical force, as the security either of internal or international peace. When the states of Europe shall have come out of their present disturbance and discipline, and found their whereabouts, under the guidance of just and impartial laws, they will be in a position to deal with each other upon high and sane grounds. Peace will be felt to lie at the very basis of their prosperity. What standing armies have failed to do, the spirit of international confidence, or friendly arbitration, will effect. The bonds of friendship, being no longer spun out of a common injustice, mutual jealousies will subside, and the spirit of peace will be welcomed by every state as the genius of health, progress, and prosperity. The Continental mind, military as it is, will stand astonished at the infatuation which led them so many years to seek a false peace by a cordon of arms, when, by the simple principles of truth, they secure such true and happy results.

The gospel loves the regions of peace. War blasts all her bland and most cherished objects. The humble messenger of the churches and the gospel, as he carries the glad tidings of Jesus Christ from city to city or from country to country, no longer startled by the din of war or rumours of war, unchecked in his progress by the soldier or police at every gate he enters, having to deal with minds in whom now the spirit of war is rapidly dying out, may well anticipate proportionable success. The river of the water of life will then have a free course to flow onward in its fertilizing source from nation to nation. The art of peace will be found to second the effort of the preacher of the gospel. Nations, turning away from strife and bloodshed, will at last become cemented by the bonds of that sincere friendship, and even holy love, which will be to them a source of deep satisfaction and elevated joy.

IV.-That upon the supposition that recent revolutions will tend to the advance of the Gospel, it seems not improbable that an impetus, given to the Gospel on the Continent, would be followed by the revival of religion in this country, which would greatly affect the ultimate progress of truth.

Intercourse between this country and the nations of the Continent is rapidly extending. With some happy exceptions, the points of contact and sympathy are rather of a literary than directly religious character. In fact, climate, the beauties of nature, learning, fine arts, and a multitude of other attractions, persuade men to cross the Mediterranean, rather than the glorious gospel of the blessed God. Alas! there is but a very feeble sympathy existing between the churches of England and those on the Continent. The moral scenery of France, Germany, Italy, and Austria is as bleak, sterile, and uninteresting as their natural scenery is picturesque, rich, and beautiful. But the set time for a change seems at hand. The portentous times in which we live, seem to point to those delicious vales and glorious

mountains as becoming studded with the churches of the living God. The bonds of civil bondage being burst, and the power of ecclesiastical oppression damaged, the pure truth of Jesus Christ will not only greet these nations, but, perchance, take a divine hold upon them more rapidly than we imagine. With recent facts and strange movements before us, imagination may soberly anticipate the wide Continent feeling the life-giving power of the gospel. Hoping the best, from recent political changes, the true church is now earnestly praying that such a joyful consummation may be brought about.

But upon the most sober calculation, with our sanguine feelings well reined in, we may anticipate the increasing existence of true churches of Christ in every part of the continent. Let these things be felt at home. Let the young, fresh, luxuriant piety of the nations abroad greet the christian traveller, arrest the attention of the christian reader, pour upon the pleased ear of the christian hearer, then life would beget life, love create love, and the increase or the fulness of continental piety would become to us as life from the dead. If such a great moral impetus shall be given to the Gentile church by the conversion of the Jews, how probable is it that the revival of the truth on the continent will impart to the church at home a resurrective influence. If anywhere, surely it must be in the church of God that the power of sympathy is manifested. If one member rejoices, then all rejoice. The bursting forth of a living piety abroad would kindle the same divine glow in many a heart at home, until the living influence brought about a general revival. Let spiritual verdure appear even but in increased patches on the continent, and how greatly would it revive and animate the prayers and hopes of God's people everywhere. Oh, that the happy and glorious day were already arrived!

But we must bring these remarks to a close. Let it not be imagined that we foster a too warm and unwarranted hope. There is another side of the picture from which we turn not away. Much of previous statement may be modified by unexpected changes. Indeed, since these remarks were first penned, re-action has transpired beyond general anticipation. The broad and palpable features of the final character of existing changes is by no means evident. Much may yet occur to overthrow all reasoning, and blot out the most sober conjecture. What attitude Russia may finally take, although at present apparently pacific? whether re-action in France may not overturn even the Republic itself? the faint probability that Italy will free herself from Austria; the uncertain position that even democracy may take; the immediate strengthening of aristocracy in this country, brought about mainly by the follies of chartism and the madness of leaders in Ireland; the churchand-state idea may longer retain its hold upon nations than we imagine; the Romish church may make a last and desperate effort to regain lost power;-in a word, progress on the whole may be much slower than we anticipate. It would be unfair, unwise, to put these things out of consideration. God does not, as a rule, make haste in any of the great movements of his providence. If nations are not ripe for the action of

great principles, they will allow them to pass by unimproved, and must bide their time. Let this, however, be as it may, we do not see how they mar the general principles upon which this essay is founded. Enhance human liberty, set free truth itself, put aside the military spirit in the world, and in proportion as this is really effected will the gospel progress. The position seems to us impregnable, that the true freedom of the human mind and the gospel of Jesus Christ go handin-hand. Let us still be up and doing in the great work of man's regeneration; use rightly the advantages already gained; pray mightily for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon these partially ransomed nations; go forward in the strength of our master; and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ. M.

III. THE MISSIONARY'S WIFE.*

"THE Soul knows only the soul." It is nought but a missionary's spirit that can comprehend and tell the griefs, bitterness, heroism, and joys of the missionary's life. That life is a noble poem, 'where endurance, human sympathies, and the love of God have borne their rich fruit in desert lands, amidst privations, sickness, disappointment, success, and death. A missionary can best delineate in the life of another, that which is a matter of constant experience in his remote and peculiar sphere of labour; and if a poet, he may touch with power those chords which vibrate with sympathy in every loving heart. Fanny Forester is both a missionary and a poet. In the exquisite volume before us, she has elicited tones of mingled sorrow and joy from the missionary's harp such as none but a poet can produce. This biography of her predecessor in toil is one prolonged symphony; here the wailing moan of the mourner penetrates the soul, then the glad song of the rejoicing spirit rouses the emotions of the heart.

Sarah Boardman Judson was born at Alstead, in the state of New Hampshire, November 4th, 1803. She was the eldest child of parents whose circumstances allowed but few opportunities to their daughter to acquire little more than the elements of education. But she was thoughtful and studious, picking up with a diligent hand those flowers of knowledge which circumstances strewed in her path. A poetical talent early displayed itself, and some pleasing proofs of her ability are given in the memoir before us. Of her early religious life we know nothing; but

"At the age of sixteen there came a change-a spirit-birth. The lifeless chord was touched at last, and angels bent to hear the music. It was a melody which angels could appreciate; but it may yet find an echo in many a human bosom. I have this day (June 4th, 1820), in the presence of the world, the

* The Memoir of Sarah B. Judson, member of the American Mission to Burmah.' By Fanny Forester. New York: L. Colby. 1848.