Luther be dazzled, could he for a moment lift his head out of the grave, and behold the brilliant splendour which, has incircled the heads of his worthy sons in Great Bris tain. How would his old frame tremble again with.ex ultation, could he but return from the cold grasp of death, and behold the godly scene of reformation, exhibited in this our great city of London. Protestant Associatis ons! Societies for the Suppression of Vice-Societies for the Propagation of the Gospel in the East Indies-Societies for the conversion of the Jews! and to include all in one word, BIBLE SOCIETIES. Good heavens! England is then once more become the land of Saints! We abound so much in morality and in the Gospel, that we are enabled from our fulness to dispense it to every nation around us. So fierce and so multifarious are the forms of attack we make against the kingdom of Satan, that his throne should long since have been overturned, and shattered to atoms, had our weapons possessed but the smallest degree of temperature.

I have read in the inspired writings, and authentic histories of primitive Christianity, that the exertions of one have made legions of the apostate angels complain of the violence offered them. And I should of course be led to expect that hell trembles to its foundation at the sight -of so many formidable phalanxes marshalled against it, each with angry visage and spear erect," intent up

on its instant destruction.

Now in serious earnestness, what is the effect of all these mighty preparations? what good have they all done?* The question is `natural and just. · I have a right to ask it. What good has Protestant Britain done by all its Religious Institutions? Catholic reader be prepared, for the answer to so serious a question is most extraordinary. You have been accustomed to hear of the rapid, nay miraculous conversion of whole nations by your own Apostles. You have read that St Peter, by his first sermon, converted 5000. You have probably read in the conversion of your own country to the Catholic Faith that St. Paulinus, the first Bishop of York, was employed thirty-six whole days from morning till night, in baptising his new, converts in the river. You have heard that your own countryman,

13.

St.

St. Boniface, after receiving a commission from the Pops,converted a very great part of Germany. You have seen in later days, St Francis Xavier, renew the times of the Apostles, and bring innumerable souls to the faith of Christ, in China, Japan, and other parts of the East. You have seen St. Francis of Sales bring back thousands of strayed sheep to the one only true fold. You have read this, and you will probably expect a distant imitation of something of this kind, as the result of our Protestant attempts at conversion. But, ob, how we are disappointed! Read the accounts of the foreign missions as published by themselves. These will shew you that we alone are the converters of nations. That quality is a diamond in the crown of the Catholic Church, which no other mortal hand can either snatch from us, or rival in themselves. But I will give you the proofs of my position. I have not now by me Missionary reports, and I regret their absence much; a few extracts would have afforded a delicious repast to a Catholic palate. But I will give you a subtitute equally orthodox and satisfactory. In the debate upon a clause in the new East India Bill, for the introduction of Christanity into those countries, much curious information was given to the public upon this subject. Sir Henry Moutgomery, as reported in the Globe of June 23, 1813, spoke to the following effect, and remained uncontradicted, even by the zealous and pious Patriarch of Clapham Sr Henry Montgomery began by observing that he was a friend to the established Church, and brought up his family in its Doctrines. From personal observation he was convinced the character given to the Hindoos by Colonel Monro was just. It was true Lord Teignmouth differed from him, but his Lordship's knowledge was confined to a small portion of India. Even he however had allowed that he had never known a Hindoo converted to the christian religion, or had he ever heard of an individual of that denomination having been converted, except one, who be came a proselyte to M. Shwartz, of Tanjore. Sir Henry knew Mr. Shwartz to be a pious missionary, but he was no Sant. He possessed great political power in the country, as he had been employed in almost every negociation by

* Mr. Wilberforce.

the Government.

But with all his influence he could not make converts. In the season of scarcity indeed he had a number of followers, who were denominated Rice. christians; but the moment the season of plenty returned they invariably deserted him, &c" So much for the conversion of the Indians. Do the good people of England know that for these fruits threy pay annually out of the money with which they ought to feed and clothe their own children, £24,135. 19s. 6d. the estimate of foreign mission, as produced yearly in the House of ComMOAS. The kingdom of Christ is not of this world, but in this respect it differs from the Protestant Church, which, with such a pecuniary subsidy, with all the influence of a mighty monarchy, cannot convert the land of which they are the temporal Lords. What a theme for reflection? I have often thought that the manner in which Catholic and Protestant missionaries are supported, would * form as remarkable a contrast, as the success of their undertakings does. The former go with a scrip and a s'aff— a few beads and a crucifix, singing the litanies, as the good monk St. Austin came into this country to convert our Saxon forefathers.

But let us proceed to the Society for the Conversion of the Jews. The lofty terms in which I see the success of this establishment eulogised, would lead us to expect some more favourable results. Mr. Frey, one of the fortunate sons of Abraham, who had reason to find that the Messiah is come, exclaims in ecstacy, ་་ It is a matter of astonishment to see what has been done in these latter days. The happy effects of this institution have no parallel in the annals of Britain, or the history of the Church of Christ, since the times of the Apostles In the space of a FEW YEARS, no less than .. Dear reader, what number would you suppose is coming? guess at something which has no parallel in theChristian Church! Some number, which of course will much surpass that which I mentioned above to have occupied St Paulinus thirty-six days baptising in the river. But no- -I will not sport

"

with your feelings any longer. You are again destined to disappointment. The modest Mr Frey, then continues no less than FORTY-TWO Jews have been baptised."

This however is something, but let us pursue the enquiry a little farther. Perhaps among these forry-two there may be some, who bear a resemblance to Mr. Shwartz's Rice-christians. Perhaps the sons of Israel too have their days of plenty and of scarcity. I have myself been informed that the sweets of baptism (either spiritual or temporal) are so great as to allure the carnal Jews to a frequent repetition of it under a different name to avoid detection; but as I love honest warefare, I do not require that surmises of this nature shall be admitted in evidence against them. I will have them judged only from their own mouths. I wish that in arguing against us, they would have recourse to the same honourable weapons. Mr. Frey then observes (page 8. Report of 4th Anniversary)" that in this society, as well as in all others, some instances of deception and disappointment had occurred, but he observed that the most sanguine could not have expected it would be otherwise in an institution novel in its kind." We are indeed told in a letter from Upper Lucatia, inserted in this same pamphlet, that many in Poland were received into the Catholic Church, but we presume they will possess modesty enough not to assume to themselves the merit of that, "I hope," says Basil Wood, (4th anniversary, page 6.) "I hope in the progress of this institution that multitudes will join in Hosannah to the Son of David." Poor man! Mr. Wood hopes, we however believe, that he is doomed to disappointment, or should he ever be gratified with the sight of multitudes crying out Hosannah, we fear that joining with their forefathers in the salutation of their King, before the expiration of eight days, they would have no objection to join with them also in their infernal yell, Crucify him, crucify him.

But are there forty-two sincere converts? I proceed with my extracts. Your Committee think it prudent to forbear saying much about the number of adult Jews, who have applied for instruction. They can however refer to the forty-one persons received by baptism into the Christian Church, of whom, we are happy to say, that with three exceptions only, they have walked worthy of their profession." (4th Report of Committee.) It wouid however appear from the next extract that the Society undertakes

not

not only to instruct them, but to provide for them. must own. I do not like this circumstance; it throws a dark shade upon the whole business, and renders the conversions more than suspicious. We have not need to have recourse to the perfidy of the Jewish character to find men base enough to be hypocrites for the sake of a livelihood. "The most difficult part in the labours of your Committee has been to provide the means of support for those adult Jews, who have applied to them for instruction." (Do. page 9,)“ In ONE instance at least your Committee have been informed that a family of opulence lately quitted Judaism in consequence of the perusal of the publications of the Society." (Page 10.) There are also reports of many auxiliary Societies, but they do not even pretend to have heard of a single conversion, much less to have effected one. The result then

of the whole business is this, that the Society has been informed, that one family, whose motives of conversion were placed beyond temptation by the offer of a livelihood, has quitted Judaism. It will not however be thought unfar, as the term we are informed seems to imply doubt, to demand if that information be correct, and whence they received it. Why were not the particulars of time, place, name, and all the circumstances of so singular a plicnomenon announced to the public? They surely were wor thy of record. I hope a Protestant if ever he gets hold of this, will excuse me if I appear rather sceptical-for I must ask again, what is the meaning of that cantious expression has quitted Judaism? Has then that fami ly merely forsaken the religion it formerly professed, and not adopted another? Or was it perhaps converted to the Catholic Faith? Or is it considered a work of Bened ction to have overturned the principles of a Jew, without substituting any others in their place? Absint hæc lon ge a me. I am tired of pursuing a theme which affords so melancholy an illustration of the parable of the blind leading the blind, and I can with much sincerity pity the simplicity of my countrymen, which is imposed upon by the crafty. For I am not one of those, who are so ignorant of the nature of man, as to suppose that nobody des rives any profit from the Institution. I verily believe

that