them by his counsel, and so "making them meet for In "trembling hope" commemorate the night of woe the inheritance" above. All this was to be theirs, the that gave apostle says, through faith in Christ Jesus.-Bishop The Son, the spotless Lamb of God, a sin-lost world of Chester's Exposition on Colossians. Poetry. THE ASKED-FOR SONG*. SING to me of the days that are gone, Ere the dawning visions of life had flown; Sing of those days to me. Sing to me of those parted hours, Sing of those hours to me. Then change thy song to a saddened strain, A cloud has o'ershadowed that world of light, But sing to me of that world above, SACRAMENTAL THOUGHTS. BY COLONEL BLACKER. (For the Church of England Magazine.) THE table of remembrancet within yon fane is spread: Beneath that covering fairt are placed the chalice and the bread : They figure forth, that wine and bread in decent orders laid, The all-atoning sacrifice, the mighty ransom paid. The table of remembrance! O let me hasten there, In faith's commanded feast of love my grateful part to bear Be clad in meek humility, in penitence sincere, The table of remembrance! O let me look within, From "Scattered Leaves." Dublin, 1844. "This do in remembrance of me" (Luke xxii. 27). "Covering the same with a fair linen cloth" (Rubric). "Let every thing be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. xiv. 40), to save. The table of remembrance! no altar there we see, Where bleeds the slaughtered victim the soul from guilt to free: Once offered upon Calvary "our Passover is slain*," Triumphant o'er the conquered grave, he suffers not againt. The table of remembrance! O ever let me dwell On scenes which beams of mercy gild, and dread with doubt dispel, In strains of glowing thankfulness my grateful voice upraise, And, rapt in love and charity, my God, my Saviour praise. The table of remembrance! look down, all gracious Lord, On all that to that table draw, obedient to thy word, And, as thy creature-comforts man's wasted strength restore, So let thy grace refresh our souls, and fit us to adore. THE COMING OF CHRIST DESIRED. (For the Church of England Magazine.) But some death-dirge fills the air, Care avaunt!-life's roses bloom! Blithely moves a festive train : Bier and men are moving slow; "Christ our passover is slain" (1 Cor. v. 7). +"Christ being risen from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him" (Rom. vi. 9). How the Romanists get over this I am at a loss to imagine. According to their ritual, he is daily (and bodily) sacrificed afresh. "To be in charity with all men" (Church catechism). The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by the remembrance of what Christ has effected for us by his precions blood-shedding, is very fitly compared with that strengthening refreshment afforded to the body by his creations of bread and wine (Vide Church catechism).] Come, great Saviour, O come quickly! Rend from life its deadly thrall: Mirth-yet not the world's strange gladness, Miscellaneous. ANIMAL GRATITUDE AND SAGACITY.-An in stance occurred not long since, displaying at once the sagacity and gratitude of the animal. The statement was sent by a gentleman in Ireland to his family in England; and its truth may be depended on. The Wapiti deer (the largest of the deer kind), a very powerful animal, belonging to the Zoological Society in Dublin, had been ill, from an inflammation and swelling in the throat, and was in great danger: the disease must have been brought on as much by the unnatural confinement in which the creature was kept, as by its food. Some time back, an incision in the throat became indispensable, to save its life; and that painful operation was performed by Mr. Crampton, surgeon-general. The animal was at the time forced down by boards, connected by pulleys and cords; and the strength it displayed was astonishing. The operation being at length performed, the poor creature was enabled to breathe and feed for a short time. The inflammation, however, returned, and a second operation of opening the trachea became necessary. The surgeon-general attended with his assistants, who had the former apparatus-boards, cords, and pulleys. The unfortunate animal no sooner perceived them, than he put himself in the most formidable position for his defence, threatening destruction to the first that approached him. Crampton ordered them all away; and, after a time, perceiving his patient more calm, and seemingly in great pain, he entered the enclosure alone, when, to the astonishment of all present (who had before remonstrated against the seemingly imprudent act), the sagacious animal approached the surgeon-general, licking his hands and face, and showing, by every demonstration in his power, his gratitude. After a time he submitted to have his throat opened, the windpipe pierced, and a tube introduced through the incision, which came out of the nose, the wound to be dressed with tow, and all this without stirring, and, when all was over, licking his benefactor's hands, and following him like a dog. This is most wonderful. Mr. Crampton says that he would not have performed the operation on a human being without tying him down.-Styles' "Claims of the Animal Creation." BELL.-The first bells known in history are those small golden bells which were attached to the lower part of the blue robe (the robe of the ephod) which formed part of the dress of the high priest in his sacerdotal ministrations (Exod. xxviii. 33, 34; comp. Ecclus. xlv. 11). They were there placed alternately with the pomegranate-shaped knobs, one of these between every two of the bells. The number of these bells is not mentioned in scripture; but tradition states that there were sixty-six (Clem. Alex. "Stromata," p. 563). We need not seek any other reason for this rather singular use of bells than that which is assigned: "His sound shall be heard when he goeth into the holy place before the Lord, and when he cometh out, that he die not" (Exod. xxviii. 35); by which we may understand that the sound of the bells manifested that he was properly arrayed in the robes of ceremony which he was required to wear when he entered the presence-chamber of the Great King; and that, as no minister can enter the presence of (whom no human being could introduce) was to have an earthly potentate abruptly and unannounced, so he his entrance harbingered by the sound of the bells he wore. This sound, heard outside, also notified to the people the time in which he was engaged in his sacred ministrations, and during which they remained in prayer (Luke i. 9, 10). mentioned in Zech. xiv. 20; which were probably such as were hung to the bridles or foreheads, or to belts around the necks, of horses trained for war, that they might thereby be accustomed to noise and tumult, and not by their alarm expose the riders to danger in actual warfare. Hence a person who had not been tried or trained up to anything was by the Greeks called axudovitog (one not used to the noise of a bell), by in the funeral-pomp of Alexander had at each jaw a a metaphor taken from horses. The mules employed golden bell. We incline to think, however, that the "Bells of the horses" are use of horse-bells with which the Jews were most which at present exists in the east, and in other counfamiliar, and which the prophet had in view, was that tries, where carriage by pack-horses and mules common. The laden animals, being without riders, have bells hung from their necks, that they may be kept together, in traversing by night the open plains and deserts, by paths and roads unconfined by fences or boundaries; that they may be cheered by the sound of the bells; and that, if any horse strays, its place may be known by the sound of its bell, while the general sound from the caravan enables the traveller who has strayed or lingered, to find and regain his party, even in the night. That the same motto, "Holiness to the Lord," which was upon the mitre of the high-priest, should, in the happy days foretold the horses, manifestly signifies that all things, from by the prophet, be inscribed even upon the bells of the highest to the lowest, should in those days be sanctified to God. It is remarkable that there is no appearance of bells of any kind in the Egyptian monuments.-Kitto's Cyclopædia. London: Published for the Proprietors, by EDWARDS and HUGHES, 12, Ave-Maria Lane, St. Paul's; and to be procured, by order, of all Booksellers in Town and Country. PRINTED BY JOSEPH ROGERSON, 24, NORFOLK-STREET STRAND, LONDON. A WINTER IN ITALY. (Blessing the Cattle.) It was in the winter of 1843 that, being brought by the illness of a dear friend to Italyf, I spent some months at Rome. During the first seven or eight weeks of our stay in the papal city, we inhabited apartments in the Corso (the principal street in modern Rome); but, finding the air exceedingly damp and cold, I was led to examine other parts of the city, in the hope of finding some situation more genial and more suited to the health of a suffering invalid. After many unsuccessful excursions made with this view, and after From "Giuseppe, the Italian Boy;" by the author of "The German Shoemaker." London: B. Wertheim, Aldine Chambers, Paternoster-row. 1846. 12mo, pp. 66. Like other productions from the same pen, instructive, and well written. It is peculiarly calculated to point out to youth the ut erly unscriptural character of the popish system. The tone of the work is excellent. It grieves me to hear that the invalid is no better.-ED. VOL. XXI. applying at a large proportion of the houses where liata," or furnished apartments, was to be seen, I the usual announcement of "Appartimenti mobiwas recommended to the house of Berta, a Roman widow; and thus began my acquaintance with the mother of a little boy, Giuseppe Pepé. The floor inhabited by Berta's family consisting of many apartments, I was enabled to choose from amongst them those I considered most suited to the comfort of my dear suffering companion. The rooms I selected for our use were at the back part of the house, and commanded an extensive view of convent-gardens, in many of which the orange trees, loaded with their golden fruit, formed a prominent and pleasing object. We soon had reason to rejoice in the change we had made from the noisy Corso to the quiet "Via delle Quattro Fontani." The air was pure and refreshing. The bright Italian sun shone with a pleasant warm D into our rooms. During the day-time, our eyes, instead of being confined to the narrow bounds of the crowded Corso, could extend their view beyond the beautiful gardens I have mentioned, to the mouldering ruins of the Coliseum, which was seen rising amidst other majestic remains of the past, and forming a fit subject for the contemplation of a sojourner in the eternal city. Ever and anon, at the accustomed hour of prayer, long trains of monks would issue forth from the doors of their different convents*, winding their way through their pleasant garden paths, to their church or chapel; while the different bells of the convents were heard many times during the day and night, noting the hours for matins, vespers, or other appointed seasons for prayer. The animated expression and pleasing appearance of our landlady's little son soon attracted my attention; and I became much interested in the well-behaved little boy, whose "Buon giorno, signora," was always accompanied by a sweet, intelligent smile. Our intimacy rapidly increased, and Pepé soon knew no greater pleasure than to listen to the accounts I could give him, of the manners and customs of my own dear native land. I soon felt desirous of ascertaining what progress my little friend was making in education, and was informed by his mother that he was under the instruction of some monks in a neighbouring convent. At my desire, the books used by his instructors were brought for my inspection. The principal one consisted of what was entitled "The Doctrines of the Christian Faith ;" and it would be a difficult matter to give a correct sketch of all the absurdities contained in it, over which the intelligent Roman boy was obliged to pore day by day. * Numerous are the inventions and contrivances of the Roman church to vary the mode in which, according to this pernicious article of their creed, a man may assist in the work of salvation. Daily, during our stay in the papal city, were some of these superstitious acts of penance performed before our eyes. Near one of the finest churches of Rome (St. Giovanni Lateran) is a large edifice built for the purpose of protecting what are called the "scala santa," or "holy stairs." These consist of about thirty marble steps, covered with thick planks, which are obliged to be renewed very often, being worn out by the knees of the poor deluded papists. No one is allowed to ascend the scala santa, but on their knees. These steps are said to have belonged to the palace of Pontius Pilate, at Jerusalem, and to have been rendered holy by the passage of our Saviour over them, when passing to the judgment hall. At all times of the day may be seen persons of every age and condition ascending. A short prayer is repeated at each stair, and a kiss impressed upon it. By an ascent of the scala santa, it is supposed that a person's sins are all blotted out, and that his prayers will be received in heaven with peculiar favour!! "It was while slowly climbing these steps, that the great Luther, then a Saxon monk, and still thinking it necessary to submit to all the vain practices enjoined by the church for the remission of sins, thought he heard avoice like thunder, speaking from It is right to mention that, in Rome at least, the word 66 convent" is used for every kind of monastic institution. the depths of his heart, 'The just shall live by faith. These words, which already on two previous occasions, had struck upon his ear as the voice of an angel of God, resounded instantaneously and powerfully within him. He started up in terror on the steps up which he had been crawling he was now horrified at himself, and struck with shame, for the degradation to which superstition had delivered him: he fled from the scene of his folly"*. But I must not stay to relate all the scenes connected with the dogmas of the Roman church that I have witnessed in Rome: one more must suffice. All my readers have most probably heard of the Coliseum, which is one of the most wonderful remains of the ancient city. In the centre of the arena (where formerly bloody sports were exhibited) is now placed a large black cross, with an inscription to this effect, that whosoever kisses it obtains two hundred days' indulgence. Frequently, when we visited the Coliseum, did we see a procession of persons who had joined company to visit the centre cross and its accompanying stations. These devotees were generally headed by one or more monks, and, after kissing the cross and reciting the number of pater-nosters and ave-Marias prescribed by their spiritual guides, considered they were certain of the blessings promised to them for so doing. Another doctrine brought forward with great prominence, in the catechism of my little Roman friend, was that of "transubstantiation." Pepé was taught to believe that, in the sacrament of the Lord's supper, the bread and wine, after being consecrated by the priest, really became the body and blood of Christ; and, in accordance with this article of the Romish creed, one of the Roman-catholic catechisms declares, "We must believe all the parts of a body, and of blood also, to be in this sacrament." Here again the blessed volume of inspiration will afford us ample ground for rejecting this doctrine as altogether contrary to Christianity. To the assertion, that Jesus thus appears in the wafer and wine to be offered up as sacrifice for sins, the protestant may reply, in the language of the apostle Paul, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many" (Heb. ix. 28); and again, "Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's for this he did once, when he offered up himself" (Heb. vii. 27). It is, as the historian Burnet has said, "one of the designs of the priests for establishing the authority of the church." The idea that their priesthood possess the power of thus (by the simple act of consecration) bringing before them the real body and blood of Christ is one which cannot fail of its desired effect upon a people kept in such grievous bondage (as to thought and judgment) as are the Roman people. The honours paid to the consecrated host or wafer, when it is borne in the streets, are in accordance with this doctrine of the actual presence of the deity. Every knee is bowed down, every hat is uplifted from the head, and the most solemn silence observed. If it were not much too solemn a subject to be considered but with the greatest seriousness, it would almost provoke a smile were * Daubigné's "History of the Reformation." I to mention all the minute directions given in church many lights were burning; and a vast Pepé's catechism, as to the manner in which the crowd of worshippers were kneeling upon the consecrated wafer was to be received, even de- floor of the building. The sides of this little scending to directions as to the position in which church are painted with different scenes from the the tongue was to be placed to receive it: seve- life of the saint, illustrative of the temptations ral pages of "The Doctrines" were occupied with which he was assailed when on earth. Some with this subject. Could I be surprised at the of the designs were anything but suited for the inignorance and superstition I beheld around me, terior of a religious temple; but any disposition when I knew that the mind of an intelligent boy to smile is checked, when we consider the laof eleven was kept occupied with such puerile mentable effects of such superstition as that which matters to the exclusion of all useful information? induces the deluded Romanist to bring his cattle Perhaps some of my readers are not aware that, to receive the blessings of one who was once a in addition to the doctrine of the real presence of sinner like himself. Little Pepé was in high glee our Saviour's body and blood in the sacramental during the whole of the ceremony. elements, the Romish church holds that the cup is signora, guardate questi belle cavalli, "Look, not to be taken by any but the priesthood. This madam, look, at these fine horses," he exclaimed, Guardate, innovation, doubtless, was made to place a distinc-as eight or nine of the pope's carriages passed us, tion between the priest and his people, and may be considered as one of the minor methods employed to bring the minds of the people into that state of mental thraldom in which they now contentedly rest. Does not the word of God seem as if expressedly designed to guard us against this insidious error, when we read, "Drink ye all of it"? As Pepé became aware of the interest with which I regarded all the rites and ceremonies of his religion, he was anxious to make me acquainted when anything that he thought would interest me was about to take place. little friend's gentle knock was heard at the door, One morning, my and, upon opening it, he eagerly informed me that the day being the feast of St. Antony, if I would go to the convent of the saint, near the church of Sta. Maria Maggiore, I should see the blessing of the beasts. Being curious to know how a saint, long since dead, could have anything to do with living animals, and having equipped myself in walking attire, I immediately proceeded to the spot Pepé had specified to me, in the company of a friend. The road was thronged with animals of every age and description, from the splendid coalblack horses of the cardinal to the half-starved ass of the peasant from the Abruzzi: most of the animals were gaily decked with ribbons. At the church-door stood a portly priest, who, with a brush in his hand, as the motley procession of horses, mules, asses, &c., passed the door, sprinkled each animal, as it was presented to him, with holy water, taking off his scull-cap, and repeating in Latin a benediction to the effect that the animal would be preserved from evil, through the intercession of the blessed St. Antony, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The priest at least derives benefit from the ceremony; for each person, according to his means, presented some piece of money. The throng of animals was diversified by the appearance, now and then, of a handsome carriage. While it paused before the open church-door for the blessing of its steeds, the persons inside sat with uncovered heads and with wax tapers in their hands, till the blessing was concluded. Some gens-d'armes were stationed around the door to keep order, and oblige the candidates for the blessing of the saint to approach in regular file. When I had seen enough of this singular spectacle, I entered the little church. The floor was strewed with evergreens, while from the ceiling hung festoons of differentcoloured silks. At the numerous altars in the drawn by their noble jet-black horses, and followed by a long train of carriages of the cardinals, archbishops, and other ecclesiastics. The dragoons of the pope were obliged also to present their horses for the blessing of the saint; but, without the command (taught as every Romanist is to attach great importance to the blessing and protecwould not, I presume, be much unwillingness to tion of the numerous saints in his calendar), there comply with the requisition. which the popish church keeps the holy festival minstrels with their pipes arrived. The dress of of the virgin Mary. A traveller in Italy remarks, "Virgine Maria, madre di Dio, pregate Jesu per me;" and over the alms-box, attached to some, is seen "Virgin Mary, mother of God, beseech Jesus for me;" D 2 |