ration of Constantine was followed by the promulgation of salutary laws, which left the Pagans at full liberty to exercise their superstitions, on condition that they forbore to speak against the honour of our Saviour, or molest the Christians. In a word, he would not allow that any degree of force should be used to convert a Pagan, nor were the Pagans allowed to exercise any control over their servants or children, to prevent them from embracing Christianity, on being convinced of its truths.

In concluding this first book of Fox's work, the editors have made some Remarks on the Vengeance of God towards the Persecutors of the "Christians." Many of these are so pertinent and apposite, while others require a little elucidation, that we feel it a duty to lay them before our readers, accompanying them with a few observations which we trust will throw some further light upon the subject. "We cannot "close our acconnt of the ten persecutions under the Roman emperors, write the editors, "without calling the attention of the Christian "reader to the manifestations of the great displeasure of the Almighty "against the persecutors. History evidently proves, that no nation or “individual can ultimately prosper, by whom Christ Jesus, the Son of "God, is contemned. During the persecutions of the holy martyrs " which we have related above, the Roman people were the victims of "the cruelty and tyranny of their rulers, and the empire was perpetually torn and distracted by civil wars. In the reign of Tiberius, "five thousand persons were crushed to death by the fall of a theatre, "and on many other occasions the divine wrath was evinced against "that cruel and merciless nation.

"Neither did the emperors themselves escape their just reward."Tiberius was murdered, as were his three immediate successors. Galba, after a reign of only seven months, was put to death by Otho, "who being vanquished by Vitellius, killed himself. Vitellius, shortly after, was tortured, and his body thrown into the Tiber. Titus is "said to have been poisoned by his brother Domitian, who was after"wards slain by his wife. Commodus was strangled. Pertinax and "Didius were put to death; Severus killed himself; Caracalla slew his brother Geta, and was in his turn slain by Marcinus, who, with " his son, was afterwards killed by his own soldiers. Heliogabalus was put to death by the people. Alexander Severus, a virtuous emperor, was murdered by Maximinus, who was afterwards slain by his own army. Pupienus and Balbinus were murdered by the prætorian guards. Gordian and Philip were slain. Decius was drowned, and "his son killed in battle. Gallus and Volusianus were murdered by Emilianus, who within three months afterwards was himself slain. Valerian was taken prisoner by the Persians, and at length flayed alive, and his son Gallienus was assassinated. Aurelian was murdered; as were Tacitus, Florianus, and Probus. Galerius died in a miserable manner, as did Maximinus of a horrible loathsome disease. Maxentius, being conquered by Constantine, was drowned in "his attempt to escape; and Licinius was deposed, and slain by his "soldiers.

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"The Jews, also, for their obstinacy and wickedness in rejecting the gospel so graciously offered to them by Jesus Christ, were signally

"punished. Forty years had scarcely elapsed from their crucifixion of our Saviour, when Jerusalem was levelled with the ground, and more "than a million of the Jews killed; innumerable multitudes sold for slaves, and many thousands torn to pieces by wild beasts, or other"wise cruelly slain. Indeed, the nation may be said to have been an“nihilated—its political existence was terminated, and the descendants "of that people, which was once peculiarly favoured of God, are now "scattered over the face of the earth-a by-word and a reproach among "the nations.

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"Thus (add the editors) it is evident that wickedness and infidelity are certainly, though sometimes slowly, punished, by Him who is 'just, although merciful; and if he has hitherto graciously refrained from visiting the sins of this nation with the punishment which they deserve, let us not be vain of that exemption; let us not attribute it to any merit of our own; but rather let it afford an additional motive "to our gratitude and praise; let us unfeignedly thank him for his ten"der mercies daily vouchsafed to us; and, while we bow before him " in humble adoration, let us earnestly endeavour to preserve our wor"ship of him free from that ungodliness and superstition of which it has "been happily purged and cleansed by the blood of the holy martyrs. So "shall we not only secure our happiness in this world, but, in the end, "attain everlasting joy and felicity, through the merits of our blessed "Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave up himself as a precious "sacrifice for our transgressions.

"If we (continue the editors) be negligent in the defence of the pure "religion which he has vouchsafed to impart unto us; if we allow that glorious fabric, which cost so much blood to raise, to be overturned by "the open attack of the Infidel, or the more dangerous sap and mine of the Catholic Emancipator; we alone are justly blameable for the con"sequences that will infallibly ensue, and on our heads will rest the dreadful responsibility of having surrendered the citadel of our security to those who await, in anxious expectation, the moment when "the weakness of some, and the indifference of others, shall allow the power to pass from their hands, under the delusive hope of seeing "it exercised with moderation."

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We cordially agree with the "few plain Christians," who have undertaken the publication of the present edition of the Book of Martyrs of John Fox," that wickedness and infidelity are certainly, though "sometimes slowly, punished by Him who is just although merciful;" and had they turned their eyes to the real history of their own country, and looked more closely into the transactions that have passed upon the continent, since the breaking out of what is called the reformation of the sixteenth century, they would have found that the vengeance of God has been as awfully manifested towards the promoters of that event and the persecutors of Catholics, as against the persecutors of the primitive Christians. These "few plain Christian" tell us, that they "united themselves for the purpose of diffusing among their fellow“believers a knowledge and love of the genuine principles of Christianity, "and CONSEQUENTLY, (they add) a hatred and abhorrence of the cor"ruptions and crimes of Popery and its professors." Now, we will tell these few plain Christians" in return, that they know not, or at

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least they practise not, the "genuine principles of Christianity," by endeavouring to excite a "hatred and abhorrence" of their fellow-men, since one of the principles of Christianity is, to love our neighbours as ourselves. The Christianity professed by these "few plain Christians' is as widely different from the Christianity of Constantine and the Catholic church, as the North is separate from the South pole. Constantine, when he forsook the superstitions of Gentilism for the sublime principles of Christianism, did not foster a resentment against the persons of such as could not see as he did, though he detested the errors to which they still adhered; so the Catholic church, as we have before stated, though she condemns the erroneous opinions opposed to her divine truths, yet she labours to bring back the strayed sheep, not by compulsion, but by prayer and mental conviction. The "few plain Christians" talk of "the defence of pure religion;" of the " glorious "fabric that cost so much blood to raise ;" and insinuate that this glorious fabric" is in danger of being "overturned by the open attack "of the Infidel, or the more dangerous sap and mine of the Catholic emancipator." Here for the first time we have the word "CATHOLIC" mentioned in John Fox's Book of Martyrs, notwithstanding the "glorious fabric" of "pure religion," fertilized by the blood of so many "godly martyrs," was the HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH, so. designated by the apostles themselves in the creed or symbol of belief which they drew up as a mark of the unity of their faith, previous to their separating to carry the doctrines of their crucified Master to the -utmost bounds of the earth. We have shewn that the most eminent and learned of these martyrs maintained the same doctrines as the Catholics profess now; and we have, at the same time, complained of the suppression of these doctrines by John Fox and his editors, for the purpose of keeping their readers in a state of ignorance and delusion; we must therefore be allowed to smile at the silly conceit of these wise men of Gotham, who expect that the Catholic church is to be overturned by the liberal emancipator of Catholics from civil slavery. We are aware that these "few plain Christians" may retort upon us and say

that the " pure religion" and " glorious fabric" they allude to is the

system of Protestantism. To this we rejoin, that Protestantism is no system; for the term system means a commixture of many things united in order; but there is neither order nor unity in Protestantism, nor can there be such, since its fundamental basis is, that every man has a right to propound a religion for himself, and so many has been propounded, that the same confusion exists among them as among the builders of the tower of Babel, after God had struck them for their pride and conceit. But in the Catholic church there is a system of divine faith which preserves its unity and perfection throughout all the nations that have embraced it, thus forming a "glorious fabric" of pure and undefiled religion, not the work of human hands, but the production of an all-wise God, whose finger is extended to protect it from all danger.

As to this" glorious fabric" being overturned, have the " few plain Christians" never read the scripture? Or have they read the word of God only to pervert it? Have they not seen the promise of Christ recorded therein, that this "glorious fabric," this seat of pure religion

"which he has vouchsafed to impart to us," is founded on a rock, imperishable, and impenetrable by error, for neither earth nor hell, he assures us, has any power to injure it. We have seen it brave the storm of ten persecutions in three hundred years, emitting during that period the light of faith to nations long enveloped in Pagan blindness; and even now it exists in as perfect purity as in former days. The "plain Christians," with more impiety than wisdom, speak of the necessity of endeavouring" to preserve their worship of Him free from that un"godliness and superstition of which it has been happily purged and "cleansed by the blood of the holy martyrs." If they would endeavour to tell truth and shame the devil, they would be much better employed. What ungodliness! what superstition! has yet contaminated the pure religion imparted to the world? How can such a thing occur, unless the divine Founder of that religion has falsified his promise? And where is the Christian that dares openly to charge the God of Truth with being a Liar? Yet do these "few plain Christians" dare insinuate, that a pure religion, which was never to be sullied, according to the solemn declaration of God himself, has been "purged and cleansed by "the blood of the holy martyrs!!!" That it was fertilized by their sacred blood, and produced abundant fruit by their sufferings, we readily admit; but a religion once contaminated can never recover its purity, and it was the conviction of the invulnerability of the Catholic church that caused so many martyrs to prefer dying in it, than to live. in the mazes of error and infidelity,

The "plain Christians" further insinuate, that God "has hitherto graciously refrained from visiting the sins of this nation with the punishment which they deserve;" this may, and we believe is the case, for much does it still deserve at the hands of divine Vengeance. But let it not be supposed that it has been exempt from punishment, for if we look back, and take a cursory view of the events that have taken place since the dawn of the reformation so called, we shall see as strong manifestations of the great displeasure of the Almighty against "persecutors," as any detailed by the editors of John Fox, before quoted. It is a fact that cannot be disputed, that the introduction of the Catholic religion, in the time of the Saxon heptarchy, was followed by the establishment of the most just and salutary laws; laws calculated to secure the liberty of the subject and render a nation happy. Under the great Alfred, many wise institutions were formed, particularly the trial by jury, and so moral were the people at that time, that it is stated by historians a purse of gold could be left on the highway for successive days without being touched. Edward the confessor, a saint of the Catholic church, added to the immunities and comforts of the nation; and the great lord chancellor Fortescue, who died about the year 1471, says, that the people of this country, in his days, had plenty of every necessary of life, and wanted for nothing. These are periods of Catholic ascendency, we will now then take a few examples under "Protestant-ascendency."

'. It is well known to all, that Henry the eighth was the first monarch that renounced the spiritual supremacy of the bishop of Rome, which was acknowledged by Constantine the great, on embracing Christianity, and also by every Christian sovereign of this realm, from the time

of the conversion of Ethelbert, by St. Augustin, at the close of the sixth century, to the twenty-fifth year of the reign of Henry, embracing the space of nearly ONE THOUSAND YEARS. Harry, it is true, could not be said to be himself a Protestant, but the germe of Protestantism took root through this monarch's disposition, injustice, and oppression. The first measure we shall notice was the suppression of forty monasteries at the instigation, and to gratify the ambition, of cardinal Wolsey. This proud churchman also first put into the king's head the scruples respecting his marriage with Catharine, his rightful queen, which led to the king's claiming the spiritual authority of the church of England. Wolsey soon after fell under the displeasure of Henry, was stripped of his possessions, and died a beggar of a broken heart. Catharine was divorced, but maintained her honour and character with dignified courage and fortitude, whilst Anne Boleyn was raised to her place. This latter lady was looked upon by Cranmer, who was promoted to the primate's chair of England, as the prop of the Protestant interest. She was an adulteress, being with child by the king before a divorce ensued between him and Catharine, and was actually married to her privately, previous to the public separation being announced between Harry and his lawful wife. But a short time elapsed however before this prop of the Protestant cause, this Anne Boleyn, was accused of adultery and incest, and her days were shortened by the axe; the last of which was the bridal day of her royal master to another bed-fellow. The memory of this Protestant lady is still stained with dishonour, her innocence not being clearly established. Here let us note, that before the marriage of Anne, and while the king was dallying with her, a sweating sickness appeared among her female attendants, and spread among the gentlemen of the king's privy chamber. So great was the progress of the disease, that public business was suspended, and numbers were carried of by it in all parts of the kingdom.Another measure acted upon by this monarch was the further suppression of monasteries for his own use. Cromwell, a blacksmith's son, was chosen to be the instrument to carry this act of pillage and injustice into effect. He was made secretary of state and vicar general, a new office never before known in the kingdom. Cromwell executed his office with remorseless cruelty and oppression, and he soon met a violent death, being condemned without a trial and beheaded. Another of Harry's Protestant queens was ripped open to give birth to a son, who afterwards succeeded his father to the throne. A fourth was divorced-his fifth was executed for adultery—and the sixth had nearly experienced the same fate, but had the good luck to escape. When Henry came to the throne, his exchequer was well filled; the destruction of the monasteries yielded him more money than all his predecessors for five centuries had received; yet at the latter end of his reign he was compelled to issue a base coinage, not only of tin and copper, but even of leather. In short, to accomplish his views he corrupted parliament, the members of which in return passed bloody laws and created new treasons, thus placing the lives of the people at the sole disposal of the king; he beheaded and burned without distinction those who opposed his will; his life after assuming the spiritual supremacy was one of disquietude and vexation, his death without the con