from the Romish church, who has undertaken to perform that service gratuitously. It was touching to see both adults and children turn over the leaves of their Bibles and Testaments with their mutilated hands and fingers-some not only without fingers, but likewise with hands corroded to the very wrist, and putting to shame those who, in the enjoyment of perfect health, neglect the reading of the Scriptures. The more outwardly deformed some of them are, the more edifying is it to witness the effects of the grace of God working in their hearts and lives.

"John Gerts, the chapel-servant, who has been afflicted with this awful disease for at least twenty-six years, is nevertheless always cheerful, and an edifying example of a pardoned sinner. Once he told me, All my confidence rests on my dear Saviour, for I believe that He has taken upon himself my sin, and has died for me on the Cross. His Word is my comfort, and the food of my needy soul.' Whenever the missionary knocks at his window, as a signal to prepare for the meeting, he generally calls aloud to the inmates of the other rooms: Come on! come on! now it is time for the meeting! now let us go to Church!' Sometimes he has been even found in his room delivering a short discourse to his leprous brethren and sisters. A baptized leper declared to me one day after the meeting, 'When I was still a bondsman (my parents were from the land beyond the sea) I knew nothing of God, but I cannot thank Him sufficiently that He has delivered me, and brought me hither to hear his Word. I will now live to Him alone.'

"Though all the lepers are living and sleeping together in four large rooms, I never heard of quarrels among them during my stay there. On the contrary, I was pleased to observe that such as had the last joint of the thumb remaining, and who were thus able to take hold of something, were kindly assisting others who could not help themselves at all, in cleansing and

binding up their sores. Their charity and brotherly love, as members of the Brethren's Church, is favourably contrasted with the behaviour of the other patients at the interment of their comrades. For, while at the burial of the other patients no one is found to attend, not even their nearest room-companions, besides the coloured lunatics employed as bearers of the litter, and missionary and police constable, no leper who is able to walk or crawl about on his crutches, is wanting at the funeral of one of his brethren or sisters, either in the Church or as followers of the corpse, though the walk to the new burial-ground occupies nearly ten minutes, over a sandy and uneven tract.

"Once, when I officiated, three corpses, sewn into their blankets, were put together into one shallow grave, to await there the day of resurrection. This proves the extent of the mortality prevailing among these poor sufferers. Yet the number of patients does not decrease; the vacancies are continually filled up by new comers; and thus the pastor finds a mournfully interesting sphere of labour, not only among the members of his own Church, but also among the other patients. This service partakes also of the missionary character, as most of the coloured patients are unbaptized, many even unacquainted with the saving name of Jesus. A great number of them are confined to their beds. One of them, a paralytic, when asked by Brother Wiedeman, whether he did not regret his inability to walk any more, replied, No, for then I should perhaps be still walking in the way of sin, but at present Jesus Christ is my comforter; I love Him, for He is my Saviour, and I trust in his merits.' majority of the patients we found anything but averse from spiritual conversation; on the contrary, they thankfully received admonition and consolation from the Word of God."

The

RETIREMENT AND ACTIVITY.

NOTHING can more beautifully exemplify the duties of holy retirement and active benevolence than the life of Jesus. In the Gospels we read how incessant were his labours for the spiritual and temporal good of the thousands who followed Him. And there we also read, how "He went up into a mountain apart to pray;" how "when the evening was come, He was there alone;" how "He continued all night in prayer to God."

This He did, not occasionally, but frequently; thus setting us an illustrious example of ardent devotion, combined with an unceasing exertion for the present and future happiness of fallen man.

C. W.

EVENINGS WITH THE EDITOR.

EVENING THE THIRD.

Emm. Ir seems to be disputed whether Popery is gaining ground or not; what do you think, Mr. Editor?

Ed. Your question is rather too general, Emmeline. Do you refer to political or doctrinal ascendancy?

in

Emm. Well, I scarcely know; I think I mean gaining ground any way.

Ed. Yet it is important to regard it under these distinct aspects, so that we may form a right conception of what it now is.

Aug. Then, we may as well consider its political progress, if the word political does not frighten Emmeline.

Emm. I am not quite so easily frightened.

Mrs. M. I thought it used to be considered that Popery was almost a sort of worn-out thing-a decrepid giant, stiff with age, such as Bunyan sketches.

Emm. Yes, mamma; I can remember when quite a child hearing people talk about the Austrian bayonets, which were the only support of the Papacy.

Aug. And about the effect of education, in securing the mind from the absurdities of the Romish religion.

Ed. You are quite correct in describing these as opinions which generally prevailed a few years ago. It was thought that the Papal authority was fast verging on decay; and the most eminent of our statesmen deemed it, to the last degree, improbable that Popery could ever again raise its head, so as to be formidable. The Romanists, also, themselves asserted that their doctrines had quietly, but effectually adapted themselves to “the spirit of the age; and denied that their religious principles were disloyal and dangerous.

Mrs. M. And did not the then existing state of things favor the belief in the growing decrepitude of the Papacy?

Ed. Yes; facts of singular significance supported it. Both in Spain and Portugal-pre-eminently Popish-the wealthier monasteries and convents had been suppressed, and their revenues confiscated. A constitutional form of government was established; and throughout the whole Peninsula the Papal power seemed shaken to its foundations. In France, the Roman priesthood were odious to the great majority of the people. In Austria, the State, not the Church, had the greater influence, and democracy was dreaded more than heresy. In Prussia, its famous public educational system was held up as an antidote to Popery. Among the lesser powers its dominion appeared also on the wane. Disrespect for the Pope's authority was rife through out the Italian States, and amongst his own subjects. Even ir. Popish Belgium, a Protestant was permitted to occupy the throne. Holland was Protestant. In the smaller German States Rationalism, not Popery, was dominant. From one end of Europe to the other, Popery seemed not to have one stronghold.

Mrs. M. And how have things changed?

Ed Alas! in almost every country in Europe, Papal influence has made rapid strides. In Spain and Portugal the priesthood are regaining their influence. Spain has actually forbidden the profession of Protestantism by foreign visitors. In Southern Italy the King of the Two Sicilies is a most devoted adherent of the Popedom. In Northern Italy, the Grand Duke of Tuscany is a prompt and merciless agent of Rome. But the most startling and important changes are those which have occurred in the two great military monarchies of France and Austria. Austria has retrograded to the dark ages; the Protestant consistories have been placed under military control, while the Romanist clergy have actually been freed by the Emperor from all subjection to the civil power.

Aug. Why, this is the wildest pretension of the Papacy!

Ed. It is; and actually submitted to within the Austrian dominions. Then, in France, the Emperor is the close ally of the Pope. He and the priest party in France are identified.

Mrs. M. Has the effect of this altered position of affairs been yet felt?

Ed. Sensibly, in all the neighbouring states. It is the policy of Rome-confessed by themselves-" to disorganize, to disorder, to interfere with every business which a Protestant state may have to transact ;" and to "torment" even Roman Catholic states, which are not blindly submissive to Rome. Thus, in Sardinia-Popish, and yet liberally governed-the wise and moderate councils of the king are frustrated by the influence of Romish agents. The Pope enforces one law on marriage, and the Sardinian Parliament another. The same political game is played by Popish intriguers in Belgium. In Holland, where Popery was almost unknown, they now boast of having “reconquered and regained the influence which is due to nearly half a people." They have obtained full liberty in their relations with Rome. In Switzerland, Romanism is advancing. In Geneva itself, once the cradle of Protestantism, out of 60,000 inhabitants, there are now 27,000 Romanists. In short, in every continental nation the priests are the agents of confusion and division.

Emm. I suppose it was the increasing ascendancy of Papal power on the Continent which encouraged the Pope to make his audacious attack on England?

Ed. Doubtless; and as Lord John Russell truly said, "The Papal Aggression was part and parcel of a great plan, which is aimed against civil and religious liberty in every country in Europe."

Mrs. M. Should we not be thankful that our own land is staunchly Protestant? The truth has yet one stronghold.

Ed. Are you assured of that? Great Britain, with God's help, might stand, as it has once stood, against all Europe, provided only it be at unity with itself. But a contest in which a religious element prevails, is connected with a divided interest. Religion might pull one way, and patriotism another.

Mrs. M. But do you imagine this country will ever be involved in such a struggle?

Ed. I do seriously think, that if Great Britain should be left alone, with all the Roman Catholic governments of Europe opposed to her on account of her Protestant faith, she would not long be left unmolested.

Aug. But Russia and Prussia would probably come to our assistance.

Ed. Very doubtful that. Neither Prussia (with more than one-third Papists) nor Russia, would be likely to act in defence of religious liberty, against governments to which they would be