The Roman Catholies tell us that the beads, (which are a number of small beads strung loosely on a piece of thread or silk) is a devotion, consisting of a certain number of Paternosters and Ave Marias, directed for the obtaining of the blessings of God through the prayers and intercession of our Lady, that is, the Virgin Mary. Those persons who use beads in their devotions are generally found amongst the more ignorant and poor of the congregation: they shift or move a bead every time they have said a hail Mary, or a Lord's Prayer; and in the service of the beads, they usually say ten hail Maries for one Lord's Prayer.

By the rosary is meant a method of saying or telling the beads, so as to meditate on the incarnation, passion, and resurrection of Christ; and it is divided into three parts; each part consisting of five mysteries, to be contemplated during the repetition of five decades, or tens, upon the beads. The five first are called the joyful mysteries; namely, the annunciation, the visitation, the nativity, of Christ, and his presentation in the temple; the purification of the blessed Virgin; and Christ's being found in the temple in the midst of the doctors, &c. The next five are called the dolorous and sorrowful mysteries, having a relation to the passion of Christ; as his agony in the garden; his being crowned with thorns; his carrying his cross; his being scourged at the pillar; his crucifixion and death. Then come five glorious mysteries, namely, the resurrection of Christ; his ascension; coming of the Holy Ghost; assumption of the blessed Virgin, &c. and the eternal glory of the saints in heaven. This is, altogether, called the service of the rosary.

It is the opinion of the Roman Catholics, that MIRACLES have not ceased in the church; and some very recent instances have been solemnly stated, by the present learned Dr. Milner, an English Catholic prelate of great antiquarian and theological repute; but as those miracles are not admitted by all Catholics, they will not here be described. There are many very enlightened and truly liberal priests who do not give credence to every thing that is related of this kind; although their general orthodoxy cannot be reasonably disputed.

The consecration of crosses, bells, vestments, vessels,

&c. must all be passed over, with barely mentioning that such are the practices of this ancient church; as that of churches, church-yards, bells, and regimental colours, is prevalent among the reformed.

The same observation will apply to the sign of the cross; though that ceremony is much more frequently used by Catholics than by Protestants.

The feasts and fasts of the Catholic church are rather more numerous than ours; and are observed by them with great veneration and punctuality. Catholics do really fast;-Protestants, more enlightened, talk about it. Easter is kept with peculiar zeal and solemnity by the Catholics; so is Christmas, and other holidays of that kind. Lent is also very rigidly observed by them.

Exorcisms, or the casting out of evil spirits, are now but seldom practised by the Roman Catholics; but they constantly exorcise salt, candles, water, &c. but all they mean thereby is blessing those articles, by way of begging of God, that such as religiously use them may obtain blessings, &c.

An Agnus Dei is a piece of wax, stamped with the Lamb of God, blessed by the pope with solemn prayer, and anointed with the holy chrism. These were formerly articles of sale; and the traffic in them was very productive.

Every good Catholic on entering his place of worship first dips his finger in the holy water, placed near the door; then crossing himself, gently bends the kneelooking towards the altar. From this has arisen the practice among Protestants, in the church of England, of putting their hats, or hands, before their faces, and uttering a short prayer, before they take their seat at church.

We have also borrowed the practice of bowing at the name of Jesus from the Roman Catholics, though, as will be shown in another part, we do not use that ceremony so frequently as they do.

The practice of burning candles, or wax-tapers, before the images of saints, the crucifix, and in the churches is of very ancient origin. In the continental churches the lamps are frequently numerous, brilliant, and costly. in describing the various forms and usages of the Ca-,