can be predicated, and to which applied, except that of Rome? And if this be true, shall any forbidden, idolatrous connexion be formed with her?

66

And, yet, I would not be understood to say, that there are not individuals of that communion who perceive the errors of the creed in which they were born; and who, though without moral courage to separate themselves from it, entertain the truth as it is in Jesus, divested of the fatal superstitions of popery; and who might better worship in a Protestant than in a Roman Catholic temple. This I can believe, for once or twice I have met such. But the Church itself of Rome-its hierarchy-its priesthood-the almost universal mass of its people-are sunk in those sinful idolatries which brought down the wrath of Jehovah on the nations of Canaan, whom the Israelites, for these same offences, were commanded to exterminate with fire and sword.

"Apart, however, from the religious question, my dear Mrs. Sandford, never for a moment forget this, —that wherever popery is in the ascendant, there the KNELL OF LIBERTY IS RUNG—the grave is prepared for its interment !

66

But I will proceed to my last example. In the awful book of Revelation, where the angel is speaking of Babylon, which, in the judgment of the wisest and most learned commentators, is understood to mean the same apostate church, is contained the following fearful words, prophetic at once of her spiritual profligacy and destruction,- Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and

a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.' And a voice from heaven proclaims aloud, with the irresistible authority of a divine command,- Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.'*

“Here I conclude," observed Mrs. Gracelove. “I have proved to you, from the Holy Scriptures, that idolatry is most hateful and offensive to the Supreme Being;-that He has denounced it, and declared terrible judgments against it; and has also, with the emphasis of an omnipotent command, forbidden his people to intermarry with the worshippers of idols. I have also proved to you that the Roman Catholics are idolaters, from their own books and writings of authority; and the only righteous conclusion, therefore, that can be drawn from these premises is,—that no Protestant lady or gentleman can marry a Roman Catholic, without a violation of the laws of the King of kings, and incurring the wrath of an offended God.

"Give not your sanction, therefore, I entreat you, my dear Mrs. Sandford, to your daughter's marriage with this gentleman. Let her not apostatize from our pure Protestant faith, by connecting herself with a superstitious worship. For, believe me to speak the words of eternal truth when I say, that in exact proportion to the extent of that idolatry, is our denial of Christ, and the efficacy of His atonement.

* Rev. xviii. 2-5.

Y

Mrs. A pause of some moments now ensued. Sandford was affected to tears. She felt the conviction of truth, and the force of what her friend had so clearly and powerfully placed before her. She felt, also, for the disappointed happiness of her

* Newton.

daughter; as she foresaw the deep responsibility that would fall upon Mr. Sandford and herself, were they to give their consent to her marriage with Mr. Merton, under all the grave objections that started up to "forbid the bans."

Feeling too much agitated to continue the conversation, Mrs. Sandford simply requested, with a tearful countenance, that her friend would leave with her all the books, writings, and documents, referring to the absorbing subject, which had so deeply engrossed their attention; as well for the purpose of reading them deliberately herself, as of submitting them to the serious perusal of her husband.

With these, and the various texts of Scripture noted down for her by Mrs. Gracelove, and thanking her for the trouble she had so conscientiously taken, she now retired to her private apartment till the hour of dinner. The conversation partook of a general character during the repast that ensued, and throughout the remainder of the evening; and the two ladies bore their part with apparent cheerfulness, for the purpose of avoiding observation and inquiries, though with a painful exertion.

On the following day Mrs. Gracelove returned to Derwent Cottage.

CHAPTER XIII.

THREE days had scarcely elapsed, after the return of our "Lady of the Lake" to her lovely home, when her husband received a letter from Mrs. Stately, written in a very tremulous hand, and dated from Bowness; a village situated in a most delightful position on the eastern shore of Windermere. The few lines it contained bore evident marks of great emotion of mind, and expressed an earnest wish that Mr. Gracelove would proceed, with as much haste as possible, to the White Lion at that place, where Mr. Stately had been attacked with a most dangerous illness, on his journey from the metropolis, where he and his wife had been paying a visit. As an additional motive to acquiesce in the request, it was mentioned in the letter, that Mr. Stately had himself earnestly begged of his wife to make the communication in question, and to solicit the christian sympathy of our friend's presence at the bedside of his sick neighbour.

The appeal, as may readily be supposed, was immediately responded to. A principle of kindness and humanity had marked Mr. Gracelove's character from the days of his boyhood; and he had learnt in his maturer years that, greatly as it is our religious duty to administer to the physical wants of our fel