is merciful." The fruits of the Spirit are love, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, which will be carried out into every thing relating to the various duties of life. True it is, that some individuals are naturally kind and benevolent, whose principles are not in accordance with the gospel; these are few comparatively; but the root of the evil, the exercise of cruelty, must be traced to its proper source, our fallen state in Adam, which has engendered a spirit of insensibility to pain and misery, not immediately connected with ourselves; and made man selfish, covetous, and merciless.

While sin exists, suffering must ever be closely linked in with it; the one is inseparable from the other. As such, there can be but a partial amelioration of the condition of animals; and this will be effected in a great measure by the combined efforts of benevolent individuals, and Christians raised up from time to time, to advocate their cause. Would that the latter were more prominently engaged in this work! and, oh, for that blessed period, when sin, sorrow, and suffering will be for ever at an end! when we shall cease to mourn over the cruel infliction of pain and misery, as well as disease and death, which all creation, in common with ourselves, are subject to. Rom. viii.

The writer cannot conclude these brief remarks on cruelty, without again adverting to the mystery which the subject involves. While it should lead every reflecting mind to deplore the evil consequences of sin, may we ever bear in mind that God's purposes, however mysterious to us, will be more fully unfolded in an eternal world. Our blessed Saviour said to his disciples, "I have many things to say, but ye

cannot bear them now." Every event in nature, providence, grace, is under his controul, without whose permission a sparrow does not fall to the ground. What we know not now, we shall know hereafter-the why and the wherefore for every sorrow and every trial, past, present, and future, is all foreknown by Him who giveth not account of any of his matters to us. It is the glory of God to conceal many things from his creatures; but he has not left us in doubt or darkness with respect to the things belonging to our eternal salvation. Though man, guilty man, is more debased in his nature by the fall, than the brute, a way is opened for his recovery, through the blessings of redemption, if Christ be formed in our hearts the hope of glory. Then what is most essential for us to know, as believers in him, is revealed; and we are assured, that with regard to other things which may, for wise reasons, not be so clearly manifested, we may adopt the language of Abraham relative to the destruction of Sodom, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

H. R.

The writer of the above hails with sincere pleasure the formation of a society, (now in full operation,) for the prevention of cruelty to animals. The cause has a strong claim upon the public, whose humane interference, in all cases of cruelty, may do much towards alleviating their sufferings,

A SKETCH OF A SYSTEM.

THERE is a system widely spread throughout Christendom at the present day, which, for its skilful contrivance and ramified machinery, is well deserving of general notice.

It is peculiarly distinguished by four characteristics; idolatry,-treason,-vice, and absurdity: for it is idolatry in religion,-treason in politics,-vice in morals, and absurdity in general.

It is not wise to state unproved facts, neither is it just to bring unsupported accusations; to the proof then, and let us see to the truth of the description.

The system is idolatry in religion; inasmuch as it inculcates the payment of divine honours to other beings than God. Sundry angels, men and women, and one woman in particular, are the objects of its adoration. It, moreover, prays before pictures of these men and women, and before dirty pieces of rubbish, said to be parts of their bones and garments, and beseeches them to procure pardon and to bestow holiness. Now if this be not idolatry, what is?

The system is also treason in politics; inasmuch as it teaches that kings have no dominion over their subjects, if a certain priest, the head of the system, is pleased to declare the said kings deposed or excommunicate; and also that the oath of allegiance to any sovereign, not thus deposed, is not binding, if

the cause and interests of the system can be served by breaking it. If this be not treason, what is?

The system is also vice in morals; inasmuch as it teaches that it is not murder to kill men who oppose the system; that it is not perjury to break any promise or oath, if, when you made it, you did not intend to abide by it; that it is no sin at all to commit certain crimes called venial; that it is not much of a sin to commit other monstrous crimes called mortal, provided you will pay money enough to the system to purchase forgiveness, and also whip yourselves, and kneel upon rough stones; that it is not sin to commit murder, adultery, theft, lying or false witness, if you have previously purchased indulgence from the system so to do. If this be not vice, what is?

The system is, moreover, absurdity in general; for it teaches that it is good and holy for numbers of idle men and women to shut themselves up for life in large buildings, where they profess to pray, fast and weep, but where they more usually eat, drink and make merry, with other practices less useful and commendable; that there is a saving virtue in eating fish, cakes, pies and puddings on a Friday, instead of flesh; that whip-cord and sharp flints properly applied, the one to the shoulders, and the others to the feet or knees, have the power of expiating sins; that bits of wood and bone can cure diseases, and procure fine weather and good harvests; that it is right and indispensable to repeat to a man, (and he perhaps a very wicked one,) all the acts of your life, all the secret thoughts of your heart, and all those internal temptations which you would wish forgotten as soon as they are resisted; that when a person is dying, it is needful to his eternal safety to touch his

hands and feet with oil, and to mutter Latin words over him; that after death, men's souls go into a penal fire, whence nothing but money can bring them out; that the book, written by the finger of God with the pen of man, and designed for " every creature under heaven," is apt to do more harm than good, and ought not to be read with the freedom in which it was given; that the traditions of men are of more weight than the commands of God; that forms are religion, and ceremonies are devotion; that a priest, always a mere mortal, (and frequently a person of indifferent character,) can, by saying a few Latin words, make Deity of a piece of paste; and, finally, that no man can be saved unless he believes and does all these things, and that no torment or death is too bad for those who do not. If this be not absurdity, what is?

Yet this idolatrous, treasonable, vicious and absurd system is followed by millions in Christendom, and is called by them the only apostolic church, the holy Catholic faith, the pure mother of all true believers; it is fostered by our rulers, is permitted to govern our sister-island, and may eventually prevail to govern ourselves. In one word, this system is

POPERY.

And how, it may be asked, can such an impious mass of folly possess the power to enslave these millions whom it enthrals, not only in degenerate Italy, bigotted Spain, and factious Ireland, but even in England herself, free, enlightened, religious England, where civilization is at its highest pitch, and where the light of the Bible shines out, unshaded and undimmed, in all its sacred lustre ?

In few words, this mental slavery is based upon