of a modest, self-diffident and condescending disposition. He was raised to the pontificate in perilous times, when several of the neighboring princes were at variance with the see of Rome, and apparently on the eve of war. By his talents and conciliatory spirit, he effected a reconciliation. Great disaffection had existed in various popish countries on accout of the ascendancy which the Jesuits had obtained, and the immoral maxims which they propagated. This subject Ganganelli took up and examined with the greatest deliberation, and having become fully convinced that this institution of the Jesuits was pernicious to the best interests of the church, and to the peace of society, he with great firmness issued a decree for its total abolition.

To the poor he was a friend -in application indefatigable in punishing just without severity-in authority without pomp amid all the changes of human affairs still unshaken, still the same-in giving audience, easy and humane." He died September 22, 1774, in the 70th year of his age having reigned as Pontiff 5 years, 4 months and 3 days.

It will doubtless be thought by many to be impossible that Ganganelli should be both an intelligent and a good man, and yet in such errors that he could become a member of the inquisition-a Cardinal and even a Pontiff. But why should this appear to us incredible? Why may not all his errors be accounted for on the ground of his

education, and those delusions and prepossessions which result from tradition and long estab lished customs? What is there more absurd in the opinions, or more antichristian in the practice of papists, than some things which have been popular among protestants? Did the papists of former ages persecute even unto death? So did the protestants. Did the papists wage war against their fellow men, and even their fellow christians? The protestants have often done the same. Now what worse things than these can be laid to the charge of either? Do we not see men in our own time, who are esteemed both intelligent and pious, so bewildered by their prejudices and passions as to imagine they do God service in making war on the moral characters of unoffending brethren? And what was ever done by Ganganelli more difficult than this to reconcile with intelligence, piety and a christlike temper?

But to give a more impressive view of the amiable spirit of Ganganelli, we shall make a few extracts from the two volumes of "Interesting LettersBulls, Briefs, and Discourses."

"Behold how religion has been announced in the world, and in this manner is she always announced by those ministers who know her, and wish to make her universally beloved. Open her books, enter into her temples, hearken to her instructions, and you will find that her language is only the language of charity; she employs no authority but persuasion. It never was reli

gion, but it was false zeal who, pretending to imitate her, seized fire and sword to compel heretics to abjure their errors, and Jews to become christians. Religion anathematizes all who have a persecuting temper, or a spirit of party zeal. 'The ene my of cabals, of violence, of accusations, she loves only peace and good will; and although she thunders against errors, she spareth those that maintain them and solicits their forgiveness with the Prince of the earth and the God of the Universe." Vol. ii. pp. 183, 184.

"Had all the ministers of the gospel been careful to take Jesus Christ for their model-had they seriously considered that sinners were kindly received, the samaritans and sadducees kindly borne with by the divine Savior- -we had seen no excess in the bosom of the church, nor had the enemies of christianity ever been able to bring against her the unjust reproach of being a persecutor. Under a pretence of defending the interests of God and the church, men become seekers of themselves, and take for real zeal the effervescence of a boiling blood, or heated imagination." p. 189.

ing aspect and tone, when they see or hear of a man who has the misfortune to be out of the right path. But true zeal which is according to the knowledge of God, is only inflamed by the spirit of charity, and never shows itself but with the mildest look, never expresses itself but in the kindest terms.-Our Lord himself when he prayed for his executioners, taught us how his cause is to be avenged-But a party spirit is so much more dangerous as it assumes all forms, even that of piety, that it may exercise its tyranny. They who are actuated by it seek only after dominion." pp. 190, 191.

"Methinks I hear this divine religion calling loudly on all those who have been persecuted by party spirit-It is not by me you have been persecuted; sprung from the bosom of the Father of mercies, I recommend only charity; being the fruit of divine love to mankind, I desire only their salvation, breathing noth ing but self denial and humility. In imitation of my divine Mas, ter, I lay myself at the feet of the whole world, and after his example I preach only a spirit of gentleness and peace. Though inexorable to vice and error, I have no other arms but tears and prayers and censures purely spir itual to bring back sinners,” p. 194.

"What an acquisition would it be to the church, did the protestants again return into its pale! They would mingle their lights with ours, and this would form a league the most admirable and most efficacious for the over

throw of infidelity; but it would be necessary to receive them with an effusion of tenderness capable of demonstrating our sincere affection; and never to hint the least reproach for what is past. Unhappily they have formed to themselves the most hideous picture of the Romish religion by supposing her to be of a persecuting spirit. Yet they ought to know that in Rome herself Protestants are treated with the greatest kindness; and that from the manner they are received there, they may be persuaded that she really disapproves of the persecutions stirred up against them in those unhappy times when both sides listened only to the dictates of blind, impetuous zeal. Would to heaven it were granted us, even at the expense of our own blood, to hasten the return of our own brethren for whom we feel all possible tenderness. Woe to those who would retain the least animosity against them!" pp.

208, 209.

While Ganganelli was a Cardinal, but the same year that he was elected Pontiff, he wrote an affectionate letter to a protestant minister; from which we shall make a few extracts.

"I wish with all my soul that I could convince you, that I have all mankind in my heart, that they are dear to me, and that I respect merit wherever I find it.

"My dear sir, the church of Rome is so perfectly convinced of the merit of the greatest part of the ministers of the protestant communion, that she would congratulate herself forever, if she

could see them return to her bosom. There would be no oecasion to rip up old quarrels of times past, to renew the storms and tempests, when each party, transported by passion, forsook the paths of christian moderation.-Nobody laments more than I do the injuries which were done you in the last age; the spirit of persecution is hateful in my eyes. What a multitude of people would not a happy reunion gain! If this could be effected, I would be content to die; for I would sacrifice a thousand lives to be once witness of so happy an event." Letter 109.

We shall only add one more observation from Ganganelli, and this we hope will be duly considered by all our readers."We too often lay aside charity to maintain faith; without reflecting, that if it is not allowed to tolerate error, it is forbidden to hate and persecute those who have unfortunately embraced it.” Vol. i. p. 24.

Such was the spirit, and such the language of a man who was a papist by education, who passed through various grades of office to the first in the papal church. That he was in some great errors of opinion we readily grant; but who is free from error in our world? Or who knows the extent of his own errors? What intelligent christian, who has any share of the temper of his Lord, would refuse to acknowledge such a man as Ganganelli for a brother? Yet how many men of similar temper have the sweeping denunciations of party zeal, classed. with the children of the devil,

and consigned to hell? Yea how many protestants, who were themselves destitute of the christian spirit, have been guilty of usurping the place of the Judge ordained by God, and of dooming men to destruction who were humble followers of Jesus, according to the light they possess ed.

We are free to avow the opinion, that the candor and benevolence which appear in the writings of Ganganelli, are better evidence of a truly christian spirit, than all the party denunciations which have ever appeared in christendom, from any sect whatever. Indeed the more there is of this wholesale censure, on the part of any sect, or any individual, the less evidence we have of the christian temper. But the more we see of the humble, pacific spirit which appears in the writings of Ganganelli, the more evidence we have of such religion as God will approve, whatever errors of opinion may be associated with it.

Next to the sanguinary errors which have prevailed both among papists and protestants, that error which disposes christians of different sects to indiscriminate censures of each other, is perhaps the most antichristian, heretical, and injurious of any one that can be named, and the most fatal to christian unity, peace and fellowship. Great errors of opinion may be innocently and even necessarily imbibed by the influence of education; but a censorious, defamatory spirit is as really criminal in its nature, as the spirit of war or murder. And although we

fear that too much of it is to be found in every sect, we hope and believe that there are many in every sect who are not under its influence, and by whom it is both lamented and abhorred. It is a sin which easily besets people while under the dominion of party zeal. If ever a time should come when christians shall rise above the influence of sectarian and schismatic zeal, the error of which we have been speaking will probably be classed a mong the most odious vices of the present age; and be regarded with more abhorrence than any mere error of opinion which now divides the christian world.

But

If to assume the name and adopt the rites of papists, would insure to men the amiable spirit of Ganganelli, we could most sincerely recommend this course to many of our protestant brethren, rather than they should continue of their present temper. all papists have not been like Ganganelli. There has been probably the same diversity of character among them, as among protestants, some very good and some very bad. And such protestants of different sects, as can call themselves CHRISTIANS, and: yet defame and "devour one another," would not be likely to derive much benefit from merely changing their name. It is a change of temper which they need, to make them truly the followers of him who could bear with the erroneous opinions of his disciples, and still rebuke them for warring passions, by saying, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of."

Many useful lessons may be

obtained from Ganganelli; but we have room for only one more suggestion. Notwithstanding all the thunders and persecutions of the papal clergy against the protestants in former ages; yet after the storm abated, we behold one of the most amiable and eminent of the papal church coming forward, and owning that "the church of Rome is perfectly convineed of the merit of the greatest part of the ministers of the protestant communion," and earnestly seeking for a reunion with the proscribed sect.-Should, then, a general schism be effected in our churches according to the plan recently proposed, there may hereafter arise some Ganganelli of the proscribing sect, who will acknowledge that there are men of real worth among

the proscribed. He may also la ment the "blind, impetuous zeal" which occasioned the schism; and seek in vain to heal the wound which self sufficiency and rashness had made.

Luther and others set out to reform some things which they thought erroneous, and not to make a schism in the church. The schism was brought on by the proscribing denunciations of the majority. These denunciations, however, occasioned a more full examination of the disputed points, and a great accession of numbers to the dissenting party. Passion and prejudice soon took the lead on each side, and dreadful were the effeets. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

the Sadducees, believed in the doctrine of a future life; and they believed also, that it was plainly taught in their scriptures. The Talmudists say, they have no part in the future life, who teach that the resurrection of the dead is not asserted in the law. Yet we read, and hear, that the doctrine of immortality is not taught in the Jewish scriptures; and Warburton's great argument of the divine legation of Moses, is comprised in the three propositions; 1. that the inculcation of the doctrine of a future state of rewards and punishments, is necessary to the well being of civil society; 2. that all mankind, es