triumphantly in a recent number of the Contemporary Review。 And I am
sorry to say that； in my judgment； he speaks the truth。 There is no
longer that general dislike； dread； and aversion to Popery； which was
once almost universal in this realm。 The edge of the old British
feeling about Protestantism seems blunted and dull。 Some profess to be
tired of all religious controversy； and are ready to sacrifice God's
truth for the sake of peace。Some look on Romanism as simply one among
many English forms of religion； and neither worse nor better than
others。Some try to persuade us that Romanism is changed； and not
nearly so bad as it used to be。Some boldly point to the faults of
Protestants； and loudly cry that Romanists are quite as good as
ourselves。Some think it fine and liberal to maintain that we have no
right to think anyone wrong who is in earnest about his creed。And yet
the two great historical facts； （a） that ignorance； immorality； and
superstition reigned supreme in England 400 years ago under Popery； （b）
that the Reformation was the greatest blessing God ever gave to this
landboth these are facts which no one but a Papist ever thought of
disputing fifty years ago！ In the present day； alas； it is convenient
and fashionable to forget them！ In short； at the rate we are going； I
shall not be surprised if it is soon proposed to repeal the Act of
Settlement and to allow the Crown of England to be worn by a Papist。
The causes of this melancholy change of feeling are not hard to
discover。
（a） It arises partly from the untiring zeal of the Romish Church
herself。 Her agents never slumber or sleep。 They pass sea and land
to make one proselyte。 They creep in everywhere； like the Egyptian
frogs； and leave no stone unturned； in the palace or the workhouse； to
promote their cause； （b） It has been furthered immensely by the
proceedings of the Ritualistic party in the Church of England。 That
energetic and active body has been vilifying the Reformation and
sneering at Protestantism for many years； with only too much success。
It has corrupted； leavened； blinded； and poisoned the minds of many
Churchmen by incessant misrepresentation。 It has gradually familiarized
people with every distinctive doctrine and practice of Romanismthe
real presencethe massauricular confession and priestly
absolutionthe sacerdotal character of the ministrythe monastic
systemand a histrionic； sensuous； showy style of public worshipand
the natural result is； that many simple people see no mighty harm in
downright genuine Popery！ Last； but not least； the spurious liberality
of the ay we live in helps on the Romeward tendency。 It is fashionable
now to say that all sects should be equalthat the State should have
nothing to do with religionthat all creeds should be regarded with
equal favour and respectand that there is a substratum of mon
truth at the bottom of all kinds of religion； whether Buddhism；
Mohammedanism； or Christianity！ The consequence is that myriads of
ignorant folk begin to think there is nothing peculiarly dangerous in
the tenets of Papists any more than in the tenets of Methodists；
Independents； Presbyterians； or Baptistsand that we ought to let
Romanism alone and never expose its unscriptural and
Christ…dishonouring character。
The consequences of this changed tone of feeling； I am bold to say；
will be most disastrous and mischievous； unless it can be checked。 Once
let Popery get her foot again on the neck of England and there will be
an end of all our national greatness。 God will forsake us and we shall
sink to the level of Portugal and Spain。 With Bible…reading
discouragedwith private judgment forbiddenwith the way to Christ's
cross narrowed or blocked upwith priest…craft re…establishedwith
auricular confession set up in every parishwith monasteries and
nunneries dotted over the landwith women everywhere kneeling like
serfs and slaves at the feet of clergymenwith men casting off all
faith； and being scepticswith schools and colleges made seminaries
of Jesuitismwith free thought denounced and anathematizedwith all
these things the distinctive manliness and independence of the British
character will gradually dwindle； wither； pine away； and be destroyed；
and England will be ruined。 And all these things； I firmly believe；
will e unless the old feeling about the value of Protestantism can
be revived。
I warn all who read this paper； and I warn my fellow…churchmen in
particular； that the times require you to awake and be on your guard。
Beware of Romanism and beware of any religious teaching which；
wittingly or unwittingly； paves the way to it。 I beseech you to realize
the painful fact that the protestantism of this country is gradually
ebbing away； and I entreat you； as Christians and patriots to resist
the growing tendency to forget the blessings of the English
Reformation。
For Christ's sake； for the sake of the Church of England； for the sake
of our country； for the sake of our children； let us not drift back to
Romish ignorance； superstition； priestcraft； and immorality。 Our
fathers tried Popery long ago； for centuries； and threw it off at last
with disgust and indignation。 Let us not put the clock back and return
to Egypt。 Let us have no peace with Rome till Rome adjures her errors
and is at peace with Christ。 Till Rome does that； the vaunted re…union
of Western Churches； which some talk of； and press upon our notice； is
an insult to Christianity。
Read your Bibles and store your minds with Scriptural arguments。 A
Bible…reading laity is a nation's surest defence against error。 I have
no fear for English Protestantism if the English laity will only do
their duty。 Read your Thirty…nine Articles and 〃Jewell's Apology；〃 and
see how those neglected documents speak of Romish doctrines。 We
clergymen； I fear； are often sadly to blame。 We break the first Canon；
which bids us preach four times every year against the Pope's
supremacy！ Too often we behave as if 〃giant Pope〃 was dead and buried；
and never name him。 Too often； for fear of giving offence； we neglect
to show our people the real nature and evil of Popery。
I entreat my readers； beside the Bible and Articles； to read history
and see what Rome did in days gone by。 Read how she trampled on your
country's liberties； plundered your forefathers' pockets； and kept the
whole nation ignorant； superstitious； and immoral。 Read how Archbishop
Laud ruined Church and State； and brought himself and King Charles to
the scaffold by his foolish； obstinate； and God…displeasing effort to
unprotestantize the Church of England。 Read how the last Popish King of
England； James the second； lost his crown by his daring attempt to put
down protestantism and reintroduce Popery。 And do not forget that Rome
never changes。 It is her boast and glory that she is infallible； and
always the same。
Read facts； standing out at this minute on the face of the globe； if
you will not read history。 What has made Italy and Sicily what they
were till very lately？ Popery。What has made the South American States
what they are？ Popery。What has made Spain and Portugal what they are？
Popery。What has made Ireland what she is in Munster； Leinster； and
Connaught？ Popery。What makes Scotland； the United States； and our own
beloved England the powerful； prosperous countries they are； and I pray
God they may long continue？ I answer； unhesitatingly； Protestantisma
free Bible and the principles of the Reformation。 Oh； think twice
before you cast aside the principles of the Reformation！ Think twice
before you give way to the prevailing tendency to favour Popery and go
back to Rome。
The Reformation found Englishmen steeped in ignorance and left them in
possession of knowledgefound them without Bibles and placed a Bible
in every parishfound them in darkness and left them in parative
lightfound them priest…ridden and left them enjoying the liberty
which Christ bestowsfound them strangers to the blood of atonement；
to faith and grace and real holiness； and left them with the key to
these things in their handsfound them blind and left them
seeingfound them slaves and left them free。 For ever let us thank God
for the Reformation！ It lighted a candle which we ought never to allow
to be extinguished or to burn dim。 Surely I have a right to say that
the times require of us a renewed sense of the evils of Romanism； and
of the enormous value of the Protestant Reformation！
IV。 In the fourth place； the times require of us a higher standard of
personal holiness； and an increased attention to practical religion in
daily life。
I must honestly declare my conviction that； since the days of the
Reformation； there never has been so much profession of religion
without practice； so much talking about God without walking with Him；
so much hearing God's words without doing them； as there is in England
at this present date。 Never were there so many empty tubs and tinkling
cymbals！ Never was there so much formality and so little reality。 The
whole tone of men's minds on what constitutes practical Christianity
seems lowered。 The old golden standard of the behaviour which bees a
Christian man or woman appears debased and degenerated。 You may see
scores of religious people （so…called） continually doing things which
in days gone by would have been thought utterly inconsistent with vital
religion。 They see no harm in such things as card…playing；
theatre…going； dancing； incessant novel…reading； and Sunday…travelling；
and they cannot in the least understand what you mean by objecting to
them！ The ancient tenderness of conscience about such things seems
dying away and being extinct； like the dodo； and when you venture to
remonstrate with young municants who indulge in them； they only
stare at you as an old