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most important doctrines and duties of the word of God, and three on the three first books of Scripture.

ROBERT DAWSON; OR, THE BRAVE SPIRIT. (Tract Society.) This is a brave little book, suited alike for the village-school, or the young gentleman's study. We have just been trying its effect in rousing the attention of a class of farmers' boys, who have been none of the brightest, and it has been quite an enjoyment to watch the interest with which they have followed the adventures of the ‘brave spirit.' Boys must have something stirring, and it is not always one is happy enough to light on anything suitable for them.

IRISH SCENES EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO. WITH A PREFACE BY THE REV F. TRENCH. (Nisbet.) This little journal of a tour in Ireland has been published now to help the funds for Irish distress. The beautiful scenery of the Emerald Isle is described with a graphic pen, by one who travelled with a heart open to all impressions of the ever-varying scenes through which she passed.

THE PROTESTANT,

THE approaching general election is now the subject of universal interest, and we are very sure our readers must take a share in it. Some perhaps throwing themselves, with woman's ardour, into the party feeling of those around them, others only looking forward to a little extra show and excitement, and thinking more of the colours than the principles of the respective candidates; and others earnestly, and in the sight of God, enquiring, whether, at the crisis of such national importance, they have any duties to perform. Yes, Christian sisters, we have duties to perform, from which no invectives against female politicians must deter us. Love is the centre of a woman's being, and therefore patriotism or the love of that country, which embraces every thing else most dear to her, cannot be excluded from it, nor can it be an inert idle feeling, insensible to dangers threatening the beloved object. Let us think for a moment of the crisis through which our country is now passing. The present parliament, which has reached the legal term of its existence, is closing; it has proved treacherous to the Protestant faith, it has fostered a system of open idolatry, and the heavy clouds of divine wrath have hung gloomily over the nation. But it has not pursued this downward course without earnest remonstrance; the Protestant feeling of the land was outraged by its measures, and the guilty deed could scarcely be called the act of England. Now the govern

ment is once more virtually placed in the hands of the people :-on their choice of representatives, the events of the next few years must depend, and who can tell with what momentous interests they are fraught. This parliament may endow a Romish priesthood, may sweep away more still of the ancient bulwarks of our protestant constitution, pleading that they look time-worn and antiquated, beside the erections of modern Liberalism. It may foster the Romanising spirit in our own church; it may give Ireland up to the dominion of the Papal oppressor. Then, when the enemy comes in like a flood, when we are no more permitted to speak, and suffering is again the only part left for the saints of the Most High, then we shall remember days of past neglect and supineness, we shall think of the small breaches which in our confidence we despised, and wish in vain to recal the past. All future concessions to Rome will be the act, not of the Parliament, but of the people. Yes, dear Christian sisters, if your husbands, fathers, or brothers, give their votes to those who will give no Protestant pledge against Romanising measures, they are personally responsible for the endowment of a Romish priesthood, the establishment of idolatry, or any other ruinous measures which such members may adopt. They are their representatives ;-they will have chosen them after the last Parliament had shown the dangers which threaten us, and they cannot therefore shake off a participation in their guilt. Will you not now use your influence to prevent such a participation? When the election is talked of, will you not ask which is the Protestant candidate? or if the vote be decided on? will you not ask whether any security has been obtained as to the Protestant feelings of the chosen member? If the electors in your own family sympathise heart and

soul with you, stir them up to do something for the great cause in your immediate neighbourhood. You have probably heard of the plan adopted in Liverpool, of circulating cards containing a Protestant pledge, every one receiving a card, considering himself bound to vote, on no political consideration, for any member who would not pledge himself against anti-protestant measures, in preference to one who would. A supply of these cards may be had from the Protestant Association. You need not come forward with any unseemly prominence, but you may be the hidden spring of many such measures, if you have real earnestness and zeal. You propose it perhaps at your breakfast-table, and are told, it might be desirable, but then the gentlemen go each to the pressing calls of their daily business, and think no more of it, time passes on, the polling proceeds, and resistance to the un-protestant candidate becomes vain. Do not suffer matters to drop thus, you have time to think of them as you sit at your worktables in your drawing rooms, procure the cards, propose that the evening walk be taken in some direction where they may be circulated. Guide conversation with the tact women especially know how to use, to Protestant subjects, when any are present whose minds you wish to influence. Be instant in season and out of season. The talent of authority is not yours, but that of influence is, and your Master bids you occupy it till he comes. This is no party intrigue in which you are called to meddle, no intricate point of political economy beyond your knowledge, but a simple question of national allegiance to God, in which every Christian female, who is loyal to Christ her King, must take an interest.

An increased importance is given to the approaching

election, if we think of the great difficulty of retracing any false steps. More earnest efforts on the part of Protestants might in 1829 have prevented the admission of Papists to Parliament, and all the evils which have resulted from that fatal measure; but after eighteen years a far greater struggle would be required to eject them. More union amongst Christians might in 1845 have impeded the endowment of Maynooth; but those who made it a perpetual and not an annual grant, knew well, when once the act was passed, how strong an effort would be required to reverse it. Now is the time for action, and it is a very short one. When once a Romanising Parliament is elected, it will be of little avail to groan over the downward steps they may take, but if by the blessing of God, on honest, hearty, united endeavours, each in his or her sphere, doing all that sphere will permit, regardless how small it may be, or what worldly interests may have to be neglected, a Parliament be elected of true-hearted Protestants, then there will be hope for us, the downward course will be stayed, or perhaps, as nothing is too hard for the Lord, retraced, He will give wisdom to senators who honor his name, and once more crown our fields with plenty, and our homes with joy and gladness.

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