Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-13 00:00:00

IRISII SOCIETY.

. .
The antual meeting of the Liverpool Auxiliary of the
Irish Society, which was established in the year 1818, for
the purpose of promoting . the Scriptural education of
Irish-speakinm. Roman Catholics, chiefly through the•
medium of their own language, was held in Hope Hall,
HopeTstrect, last evening. The meeting, which was a
very crowded one, Was presided over by the' Rev. Dr.
MNeile ; and amongst those present were—Revs. G.
H. Ellaby, Alleock, Canon Stowell, W. M. Fannon, Dr.
Taylor, henry Carpenter, Joseph Bardslev W. Hunl-,
O. Powell, Greer C. W. Lawrence, Thomas Cowan. W.
Mayrand, D. An:ierson, Sampson, Ball, Watson, J. But-
ler, and Bannerman, Messrs. William Gregson, John
Eden, J. K. Rounthwaite, W. H. Moore, RfA. Payne,
G. Duncan.

On the motion of the Rev. H. Carpenter, seconded by
the Rev. Dr. Taylor, thb Rev. Dr. 31...Tei1e was called
to the chair.

The proceedings having been opened with prayer by
the Rev. E. Ellaby, the secretary,
-

The CIIIIRMIN said—My Christian friend:, the Irish
Society needs 'no introduction to you. It is all old
acquaintance. You are aware that -its object is to give
an elementary and Scriptural education, and to give
Christian instruction to the native Irish, elderly through
the medium of their own language. It has been in
operation now for many years, and
_the good accom-
plished by it is not to be. limited to, nor measured by,
the number of outward or avowed conversions from the
Church of Rome. It is gradually and surely producing
effects which, though not subversive, are counteractive of
that prostration Of mindand life which it is one great object
of priestly despotism to perpetuate among the people.
(Hear, hear.) That such effects. have been .produced
Appears upon the face of the narratives sent from tune
to time by the scripture readers employed by this
society. One for example ,writes that whereas formerly
the Sabbath-day was greatly desecrated in his neigh-
bourhood, mid the holy wells were numerously fre-
quented, now the Sabbath is well-kept, and the wells
almost deserted. (Hear, hear.) And yet in that
neighbourhood there has been no avowed conversions
from the Church of Rome. The process of improve:.
merit such as I have indicated is plain, because men
receive into -their mindS very often. truth-maeh truth,
without perceiving at the time its antagonism to the
falsehood that 'is already there; yet after -the lentil has
produded much salutary effect they are still ready to do
battle for the falsehood. The salutary influence pro-
dueed by this society has been hindered and is still
hindered by the priests and by the old women. (Laughter.)
Remarkable ! The old women of an expiring generation
in the Roman Catholic parts of Ireland, are, I believe I
may say with truth, the most inveterate Popish bigots in
Europe. Well,our part is to perseVere with our Irish school,
our scripture readers, our kindness, our courtesy, our gene-
rosity—returning good for evil—blessing for cursmee.
In order to do this, a continual outlay is necessary, and,
therefore, this Irish Society and its noble fellow-labourer
in the same field—the Irish Church Missionary
Society, —both require continual supplies. I am
glad to be able to say, that a gentleman, who
several times in years past has sent large donations
anonymously through me, has now again still
imposing upon me the necessity of concealing his name
has sent for the Irish SoHetv 4250. (Loud cheers.)
Having said this, I might sit down, and leave the fur-
ther-consideration of this work, and the, more urgent
appeals to your liberality, to those gentlemen who have
kindly come amongst us to give attraction and interest
and efficiency to this meeting. But the Irish Society,
which is, as I have said, an old acquaintance of yours,
is an old favourite of mine--(hear, hear)—and therefore
I hope you will excuse me while I keep you from the
treat you so naturally anticipate, and say a little more
concerning this old friendship. (Cheers.) I mentioned
language. That is one important
_point. Why shonld
they persevere in the use of that barbarous tongue ?
The answer is simple. It is that a very large number
of the people of Ireland—l won't venture to say now
how many—but a large number are in this respect very
much as ydu are yourselves=they are not acquainted
with any language but their own. Is not that the case
with you ? ..They can receive no instruction except
through their own language. They can't understand
a gentleman speaking to them except in their own lan-
guage. Is not that the case with you ? Perlieps, even
these accomplished gentlemen who are now taking down
\V LULU IL nay a.. tAts. ..e ter.
breakfast time in the morning,--perhaps even those
gentlemen are not acquainted with any other language
but their own ; . and that, if I were allowed to speak in
some other language than their own,, there would be a
gap in the report. (The reverend doctor then quoted a
Greek and Italian verse,. and concluded, by asking, in
French, what the gentlemen of the press thought of that?
Of course, there were peals of laughter.) Now see what
a barbarian I have made myself to my audience. Al-
though I have been speaking one of the noblest, and one
of the sweetest, and one of the most versatile languages
that ever issued from human lips. Now, just as hgen-
tleman, who would speak Greek and Italian or French,
is useless to you, so one of you with your noble English,
would be quite useless to the Irish Irish—(laughter)—
therefore we must have language. The object in view
is worthy the effort if the effort were greater than
it is ; for -what is the object in view, my friends? It is
to diminish the amount of Romanism in Ireland, and
thereby to abate the greatest nuisance that has ever
plagued the nations of the world. (Hear, hear, and
'applause.) Romanism, both in its ecclesiastical and in
its civil claims—for I cannot call either of the swords
-which it yields spiritual-but in its ecclesiastical and in
its civil claims is the plague-spot of civilised society.
Its false doctrines are strychnine to the true Christian
life—(hear, hear,)—and its claim of temporal doininion
is the etnbroglio of the nations of Europe. The temporal
authority of the Pope is unlike any other temporal
authority. It is not localised—it is not confined within
any territory. If the adherents of the Popedom were
confined to the inhabitants of the Papal States,
it would be comparatively easy to deal with
it—there would be no embarrassment ; but they
are scattered throughout all the states. They are
connected with, mingling in, and influencing.
all the governments of Europe, heneethe embarrassment.
The eyes of the civilised world arc fixed on Central Italy,
and all men who love freedom are desirous that those
States should have the power toehose,their own govern-
ment—(hear,' hear, and cheers)—to elect, if they will,
their own Dictator, or to annex themselves, if they
will, as one constittionalkingdom under the Crown of
Sardinia. (Applause.) Now, suppose that the Emperor
of the French were as willing as any of us can be that
that consummation should take place in Central Italy,
• dare he avow it ? If he avowed it boldly and decidedly,
and refused to allow any intervention by force either by
his own troops or by those of Austria, it would be
tantamount to the downfall of the temporal power of
the Pope. (Hear, hear.) And what would be the result
of it in respect of the hundred thousand Popish priests,
with their influerce over the people and the soldiers?
The Emperor dare not do it, for his own sake ; hence
embarrassment and perplexity. The voice of England
is for liberty.- -I suppose no Government of England
would venture now so to outrage the feelings of the
nation as to counsel coercion in Central Italy, and the re-
establishment of the-Dukes at the point of the bayonet.
And yet, if the British Cabinet were boldly and strongly,
and decidedly, to take the other side, what would it lead to
I do not now speak of a contemptible rebellion in Ireland.
It might lead to that, but that is easily done away
ei with
(Laughter and cheers.) What would it do? It would
precipitate a crisis in Europe—it would compel the Eni-
' peror of France to take his side, and in all
for he would chose the side. of the Pope—not for the love
he has for the Pope (laughter), but for his own sake,
and for peace •in his own dominions : all perturbation
and perplexity arising out of the temporal power of the
Pope. And what are we doing in the meantime in
England? Like the Jews of old, when threatened with
an invasion, we are endeavouring, by all the means in
our power, to render such a thing: impossible; and if
attempted, unsuccessful. But while the Jews were so
engaged—while they were strengthening their ram-
parts, repairing the breaches in their walls -2- while
• they were digging water-courses to drain their
reservoirs outside the wall, and bring a supply
to themselves within while they were burnish-
ing the armour that had been laid by in their
arsenal, the House of the Forest—an inspired prophet
was . commissioned to tell them that they were not
looking to Him who had made Jerusalem what it was—
they were not having due respect to Him that had
. fashioned it long ago. It had, indeed, become difficult
for them to make any national acknowledgment of their
God, because they had become a ruined multituie.
There were idolaters among them, bowing the knee to
the image of Baal; and there were Sadducean infidels
among them, refusing to receive any practical influences
from considerations of eternity. They were called to
humiliation for such a state of things, but they gave
themselves to reckless enjoyment, and they were fairly
told that the end must be ruin. Well, now look at
homy, The paragi is =Tycho.% What de we see

here? There is the sound of prepatation for war all
over England; volunteers aboond; artillerymen, rifle-
men, and corps arc formed; meetings are called, day
after day and night after night; enthusiasm is on the
boil ; the steam is upa the sdrill-serjeant is the man of
the m overnent ; and what has been the occasion of all this?
What has roused•the country—what is it that has.called
out oar men of peace and merchants to get themselves
ready for the battle? The Emperor of the French has
been making great preparations. He has a great army ;
and as they. say a man who keeps hounds must hunt, a
man who keeps soldiers must fight—so it is said.
(Laughter.) lie has been adding greatly-to his fleets ;
he has been storing his arsenals ; rifling his cannon,
and making himself in various ways exceedingly for-
midable. No man can prove that he has, or ever had,
any serious intention of invading England. (Hear,
hear.) But the supposition—the saspicion of the bare
possibility of the thing has inaugurated a most effective
and most wise counter-preparation. (Applause.) Where
now are the peace-at-any-price party ? (Hear, hear.)
They are at a discount. Apologists for Napoleon are
suspected; and our neutrals—those gentlemen who in the
magnanimity of their moderation say nothing on either
side, and do nothing, and pay nothing—(laughter)—
these are locked down upon as though they were only
half Englishmen. What does all this prove ? All this
proves that England is alive to the iniportaucc of her
political position, her civil privileges, and is determined
at all cost to maintain them. Well, do we find fault—
do wo men of peace find fault with this, or blaMe these
operations in the country ? Far otherwise. We com-
mend them all, as the prophet commended all' the
exercise of watchful sagacity—all activity in the use of
second causes. We commend all this ; bat then we
have more to say, and I am glad of this opportunity to
say it. We would say to our dear country—.and through
you I vesture to say it now, and through the
press —look to Him, Old England, who made
you what you are. -(Applause.) have respect to Him
who fashioned it long ago. Have respect to Him who
in the days of Edward and Elizabeth gave you, and in
the days of Cromwell increased and strengthened to you,
and in the days of William the Third—(cheers)—con-
solidateland established for you, a reformed religion—
(applause)—indispensable to that free inquiry which is
an essential 'element in the Anglo-Saxon character.
(Applause.) Have respect to Him. You do well to
defend the blessings that you possess you do well
to fortify your coasts, and to enrol your volunteers—
but look higher, I. say • look higher still. Remember
that the national safety dependson the national
character. Remember that the true secret of your
national superiority rests in those institutions which
have been gradually resulting from your national
character, 'and which cannot be extemporised by any
theories however sound. They have grown with your
growth ; and they never could have grown, nor you
with them, if you had not had a reformed religion. If
you had been kept down, if your minds had been en-
slaved, if your powers of inquiry and investigation had
been stunted, if you had been afraid of a dominant
priesthood, you never could have advanced in political
institutions. (Applause.) These institutions have now
given you balanced liberty well balanced liberty—
without the slightest apprehension on the one side
of anarchy or on the other side of despotism: Main-
tain the balance maintain the balance. There is
not the slightest risk of any such weight appear-.
lag on the side of prerogative as would tend towards
an ill-use of power. Take heed, then, that no such
movement shall appear on the other side, as would make
the prerogative kick the beam under the pretence
of more liberty to the subject. Keep the balance—
'cheers)—maintain the balance. Let no short-sighted
demagogues induce you, in the vain stretch after more
liberty, to disturb that balance. (Hear, hear, and ap-
plause.) A breach of that balance would be more mis-
chievous to you than the demolition of all the fortifications
around your coast. If you would maintain that balance,
cherish your national church—(cheers)—itself a ba-
lanced institution—(hear, hear)—prizing above every-
thing—above life itself—the essentials of Divine
truth, while it repudiates with instinctive detestation
the slightest approach to human perfection.
(Applause.) Maintain that institution; and take heed
how your hearken to plausible theories on the ground
of conscience, which come, I must say, with rather a
questionable shape ; because, if gentlemen had no con-
scientious scruples to become possessors of property, at
a value less than it would have brought had it not been
sacialea whit It. la, I nay, a cium-otAtinalulc co:aooicvno,
that pleads its scruples about paying the rates, and a
strange sort of conscience that amasses first the property
.of th Church, without offering any equivalent to the
former owner. (Hear, hear.) 'Maintain your national
Church—Old England. Again, I say, you have a
right to defend, and determine to maintain your civil
privileges and your political position. But still
remember, again, that all the high political position that
this country has attained to—her noble civil privileges,
her national mission to the world, her national Useful-
ness, her national happiness, her national honour, her
national safety-nare inseparably connected with her
reformed religion. (Applause.) Is it too late ? Is
our citadel so undermined that it cannot be repaired ?
That is a question for our defenders to answer, not with
the Minie rifle and the Armstrong gun, but with the
suffrage. (Hear, hear.) That is a question for our
defenders to answer, not on the field of battle, but at
the hustings and -the polling booths. (Hear, hear.)
You understand me. (Hear, hear.) Well if you
understand me I will tell you another secret. The
French invasion . would be an evil—you grant that
—a grievous evil, a disgraceful evil. (Hear, hear.)
I want to tell you of a greater evil still
—Popish corruption. (Loud applause.) It is not
only a wound in the extremities; it is a vital paroxysm
of paralysis at the heart. :Yes. What is a wound in
the extremities ? It is bad enough ; but a paralysis at
:he heart is worse. Now, this paralysis is felt ; it is
embarrassing the whole State—in Parliament, and
therefore in the Cabinet, in the Corporation' in the
parish, in the Vestry, in the poor-house, in the regi-
ments of our army; and now, into the ships of the navy
--no, they have not got there yet—the paralysis is felt.
This is your real danger ; these are your weaknesses.
It is not the strength of the French army, but it is the
embarrassment that is upon you, now really to acknow-
ledge as a nation the God that has made you the nation
you are. (Hear, hear.) For among you there is a
mixed multitude ; there are idolaters bowing the knee
to the image of the Virgin Mary—as great an abomi-
nation under the Christian, as the image of Baal
was under the Jewish dispensation—(applause)—:
for an image is an image, and bowing to an image is a
breach of God's commandment, as it was from the first.
(Applause.) And you have among you Sadducean infi-
dels—men who deify development, adore the order of
nature, and banish God from his own works. (Hear.)
Hence your difficulty—hence your embarrassment.
But I say to you—and would that it could reach the
ears and the hearts of all the sound followers of our
gracious Queen—God preserve her—(applause.)--cand
defend her against all her enemies—all the traitors in
her camp, as well as all her enemies in foreign' nations,
for traitors at home are worse than enemies abroad.
(Applause.) I would say to you, and I would say to,
them all—that .
- Her volunteers muster—her riflemen arm !
Not a Briton now seeks for release ;
But it is not for conquest—it is not for harm:
It is for country, for home, and for peace.
But England, oh England, distinguished so long,
Keeps the paths thy Reforniers have trod,
For by one sacred tenure alone thou art strong— '
Hold fast the pure truth of thy God.. - .
(Loud cheers.)
The Rev. Mr. ELLABY deputation secretary, moved
the first resolution as follows :—"That we have
great reason for thankfulness to Almighty God
for present results to the Irish Society, and
abundant encouragement to go on." One reason
hoa said that the appeal of the Irish Society
ell so feelingly and sympathetically by the
e Protestanto p l e * a s
Churchbecause theyf
Ireland. honoured
A vast and
change res-
pectedElrnsg lreceived
eh"
for the better had taken place in the moral character
prosperity of the people. These things
and the material
he could, he, thought, trace to the leaven of Bible truth
which had been infused amongst the people, and to the
knowledge of the gospel. He concluded by moving the
resolution.
The Rev. Mr. Aacocia., in seconding the resolution,
said the history of the Irish Society would form a link,
and a very important one, in the history of the Irish
Bible, and on this account it would form an interesting
page in the history of Christian missions. Since the
dawn of the Reformation in Europe, the history of the
Bible had been the history of Christian missions. It
was not till the year 1822, when the Irish Society had
commenced its operations, that the Bible was put in
the hands of the Irish speaking people of our sister
land. That Society was the first united agency
which commenced to circulate the Scriptures among the
peasantry, and to teach the peasantry the glorious gos-
pel of the grace of God, and the wonderful works of
God, in that language which they understood. Thou-
sands, he believed—and he believed he should be speak-

ing within the limits of truth when he •staa tens of thou-
sands—had lived and died witnesses to the truth, and
sonic of them martyrs to the truth, in the highest sense
of the term, who first drank from the fountain of life
through the means of the Irish Bible circulated by this
Irish Society; within the last thirty years. (Applause)
The motion was put, and carried unanimously..
The Rev. Huhu STOWELL, of Manchester, on rising
to move the second resolution, was received with applause,
several times renewed. He had, he said, been requested
to move—" That the reception given and the response made
to the appeal of the Irish Society in linglaud are such
as to show that its history, object, and principle are
cordially approved by the Christian public." It had
been his privilege to take some little part in supporting
and setting, forward the younger sister society, and he
felt that his heart, and he thought he Might answer for
their hearts, was not so narrowed as that, embracing the
younger, they need to discard the elder. (Hear, hear.)
It seemed to him that there was room enough in
Christian sympathy, room enough in Christian liberality,
for the support and furtherance of both ; and, instead
of regarding them as antagonists, he regarded them as
fellow-labourers. Long be it from tlieM to abandon the
good old society, so long as the old society did not
abandon its principles. (Hear, hear.) He trusted, too,
that England would be true to it until it had
accomplished its glorious mission, by contributing
its part—and it had been no •• small part—
to ridding Ireland of - Popery, ridding it of
its bane, its blight, its curse. (Applduse.) The grand
principle of the Irish Society is the Word of God—the
Word of G6d altogether—the Word of God only—the
grand p.rinciple of all sound education. (Hear, hear.)
A principle so vital that we in Liverpool had done nobly
in vindicating and maintaining it,. and lie trusted would
continue to vindicate anal maintain it so long as Liver-
pool stood. . (Applaithe.) A principle for whieb the
Irish clergy had stood up in a unanimity, in a self
sacrifice, and in an uncompromised determination, which,
though, it had brought the finger of Popish scorn
.to
be pointed at them, and provoked the ridicule cf latitu-
dinarians, entitled them to the love, faith, and reverence
of the whole body of Christians throughout the World.
They might depend upon it that it was only the Word
of God, interwoven with the education of a people, that
would give to that people peace, prosperity, liberty and
duccess • and if England once set aside the Bible, she
would ;trip herself of her glory, and subvert the whole
glorious Constitution, her liberty,'and her prosperity.
If they wanted Italy to be free, they must give.ltaly the
Word of God in their own tongue. (Applause.) It
was not Louis qsrapoleone nor . was it-the noble Italians
themselies, that could free them of their own power and
accord ; they must be fitted to be free—they must have
the true principle of freedom,—the true power of being
free, and then it was neither Louis. Nnpoleon, nor
Austria, nor all the autocrats in Europe, with the Pope
to back them all, that could keep them down. (Cheers.)
Let the people be, fitted to be free, by fearing God, by
keeping His. laws, honouring the authorities that He had
appointed—let thern,be free by not abusing their freedom
to licentiousness, and men could not, and. God would
not, keep them daves. . (Hear, hear, and lond applause.)
It was the same in regard to Ireland. If they wanted
Ireland to be practically and ogee:daily feee they must
permeate it with the Word of God. Let them consider
the blessing that God was pouring down on. Ireland at
this moment, and the results that. were calling down the
blessings of the whole world. Be it that there was
somewhat of dimness and of smoke that darkened the
face—he it that there was much of man in the
movement, there was infinitely more of God; and
they might depend upon it that where the Word
of God was, the results would' be of God. The
coming of the glorious results that had been seen
in that country had been delayed. It was only the in-
corruptible seed that would ever produce eternal life in
the soul, and therefore it was the wide spread diffusion
of God's Word up - and down through Ireland, as it
appeared to him, that had prepared the way 'for this
gracious infusion of the Spirit of -God. It was not that
there were new revelations, or that there was an im-
portation of new, truths ; but rather that the old seed
lying dormant in the furrow, waiting the shower and
the sunshine, had at last received the shower and the
sunshine, and thus the incorruptible seed, dry and dead
as it appeared for a time, had retained the incorruptible
principle of life, and by God's _blessings showered upon
it, had sprung up out of the furrow, and showed that
however long it might have been buried, it had not, and
coma not nave, lest thil vital principle. (Cheers). There
had been a broadcast of the incorruptible seed in
Ireland, and there had been •an earnest looking
for to God to send the sunshine and the shower, and the
prayer for these was granted. • Let them not suppose
or imagine that • this blessed work had been produced
without the work of God. • He believed it was to be
traced to the Word of God and to prayer, which was the
great instrument in calling down the rain of grace upon
the seed which had been sown. God had vindicated the
fulness and sufficiency of his own written word. And,
although, some spoke of the necessity of ceremonial and
preaching he would say that, whilst not despising the
preaching of God's Word, he. believed that, without
preaching, without a church, without the interventisn of
any. human instrumentality, the Bible, in its simplicity,
its integrity, and its fulness was sufficient to make any
man and every man wise unto salvation, who studied it
as it ought to be studied, and prayed over it as it bade
him to pray over it. ' They found that, in Madagascar,
. there were 5,000 converts at this moment who had had
no preacher, no public ordinance whatever except what
had arisen amongst- themselves, and been called into
existence by the written word of God. (Hear, hear.)
They had no human preacher, but the little leaven
.had resulted in five thousand converts. (Loud cheers.)
They had got the water, not second-hand and muddy
from some of Our muddy -ecclesiastical cisterns—
(laughter,)—but had drank of it in its purity. (Hear,
hear.) -He had often wished they could ga now to the
fountain-head, and thus have our Christianity far less
piebald than it.was; and with fewer sections, we should
not-hear of Methodists, and Wesleyans, and Mormonites
—(renewed laughter,)—but we should become like'the
Madagascar Christians, knowing nothing but brotherly
tote and union. Christ would never shut such men
out, however high Churchmen and Papists might shut
them out—(laughter and applause,)—for heaven's door .
would neverbe barred against him asking, as he was, in
the name of heaven's King •, washed in His blood and
sealed in His Spirit, no church could bar him out,
and no man , could hinder him from receiving
acceptance at the eneat day. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) •
Now, in Ireland the Bible was rapidly undermining
every system that was antagonistic to it. The ecelesi-
.asties of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland had not
• now nearly so much influence as formerly they had over
their flocks. Look at the Popish bishops sounding the
tocsin and seeking to make war on the piebald national
education, which had so little of the bible in it that even
the Protestants were brought in antagonism to it. And
' vet the Roman Catholics thought 'that system had too
iriuch light for 'them. Romish - ecclesiastics and'emis-
saries had such tender eves, like the orris and the bats,
'that not only did they shrink from. the blaze of noonday:
but they winked at the little twinkle of the farthing
candle if it was held up to them. (Roars of laughter.)
But the time Of Ireland's liberation and emancipation
was fast approaching; and the day was not far distant
when there should be sympathy ''amongst all hiassea of
the people, and when there should be no such wretched
principles.of disunion and discord' as were introduced
andperpetuated by Popery. (Loud cheers.) Then we
should live in pedco together; two countries under one
Qiieens-eunder one God, from whom -she derived her
title to reign, and whose title no Pope on earth had any
right to question or to interfere with her in the possession
of it. (Tremendous cheering.) Why was it that
whenever there ;was a' talk of an invasion, the eyes of
the nation were directed to the coasts of Ireland ? It
Was because of the divided loyalty of the people, and the
only true remedy for, that was the open Bible. (Loud
applause.) . •
A hymn was here sung, during which the collection.
was made..
• - The Cshinstsos said his paper of instructions con-
tained no name of any gentleman to second the resolu-
tion. He had appealed to his: friends on the platform—
Dr. Taylor, Mr. Bardsley, and Mr. Falloon—to under-
take the duty, but they had respectfully declined. What
was he to do.? (Several of the audience called en the
rev. doctor to second it himself.) Very well, he would
second it, if no one else would. (Applause.) There
was One question which he wished to answer—why should
the reading of the Bible deliver a man from priestly
thraldom ? Now, what was the. bondage in which
men were kept by priestly tyranny under the
Church of Rome ? It was that the work on which
the salvation of sinful man depended was not finished,
but was left in the hands of the priest to carry on; and
so long as a man believed that it was in the option of -
the priest, so long, in proportion to his sincerity, watn
the abject slavery in which he would be held.. Now the
Bible proclaimed that the work on which the sinner's.
salvation rested had been finished, it was not left in the
power of man to arrest it; it was not left with the

NORTIMN IMILY TIMES