but from their works, which everywhere overturned superstition; and from their writings, which give no evidence of credulity,

The notices we have in heathen or anti-christian writers are few, vague, and disdainful. Christianity came from Judea, and everything Jewish was scornfully treated. Its advocates declared an open war against Greek and Roman idolatry and polytheism. They were put to death, but their doctrines were not examined. Had the pagan writers said more than they did, it must have been from either a study of the gospels, which the "Doubter" can do, without asking what pagans thought of them; or from hearsay, which would have added nothing to the testimony of eye-witnesses. Had they written more, and more candidly, we may judge how their testimony would have been treated. Josephus once speaks of Christ "as a wise man, if he may be called a man; for he performed many wonderful works," and, after being crucified, "on the third day appeared alive again to his disciples." Doubters have done all they can to discredit this passage; and we wonder that our "Doubter" asks for more of the same kind.

The miracles of Christianity rest, directly upon thé credibility of the gospels, and indirectly upon the credibility of a miracle itself. In reference to the former, Paley's "Evidences" and Lardner's "Credibility" should be studied by every honest inquirer. As to the latter, let every "Doubter" read Hume's attack upon miracles, and then Faley, Campbell, Douglas, and others, to see if the philosophical sceptic really brought his usual sagacity and wit to bear upon the subject.-M. H.

58. "Doubter" will find, more fully than we can give in these pages, the information for which he asks, by a reference to the following books:-The Introduction to Trench on the "Miracles;" Paley's "Evidences;" Horne's Introduction; or, if these cannot be conveniently consulted, that invaluable little work, "The Bible Hand-Book," by

Dr. Angus, will throw light upon the subject.-J. H. G.

64. The origin of the title " Pope."It is generally agreed that a certain degree of deference was paid to the church at Rome and the christian societies dispersed throughout the empire in the primitive ages.

St. Peter appears to have held a certain pre-eminence among the apostles; and to his see was allowed a moral superiority. The title of Pope, or Papa, is assumed by the Bishop of Rome, as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The word "Papa" is used, by the Greeks, to denote a presbyter. In the earlier ages the title was given to bishops in general; but Gregory VII., A.D. 1076, decreed that the title of Papa should be given only to the Bishop of Rome, as a mark of superior respect.

According to the chronology of the Roman church, St. Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, and suffered martyrdom A.D. 57. He was succeeded by Linus, who died A.D. 68, and was followed by Clemens Romanus. Evaristus was Bishop of Rome about the year 100; and Alexander I. about 109. The chronology, however, of the earlier Popes is often obscure, and the dates uncertain. By some authorities it is stated that Hygenus was the first Bishop of Rome who took the title, in 138. The Pope's supremacy over the christian church was established by Boniface III. in the year 677. The first Pope that kept an army was Leo IX., 1054. G. S. 65. Supernatural Appearances.-It is difficult to create a disbelief in the supernatural; but we may mention that from some experiments of the Baron von Reichenbach, it seems probable that, wherever chemical action is going on, light is evolved; though it is only seen by persons possessing peculiar (though not very rare) powers of sight, and by them only under peculiar circumstances, that it can be seen. It occurred to him that such persons might, perhaps, see light over graves in

which dead bodies were undergoing decomposition. He says:-"The desire to inflict a mortal wound on the monster, superstition, which, from a similar origin, a few centuries ago, inflicted on European society so vast an amount of misery, and by whose influence not only hundreds, but thousands of innocent persons died in tortures on the rack and the stake:-this desire made me wish to make the experiment, if possible, of bringing a highly sensitive person by night into a church-yard." The experiment succeeded; light" was

chiefly seen over all new graves; while there was no appearance of it over very old ones." The fact was confirmed in subsequent experiments by five other sensitive persons. G. S.

66. Kaleidoscope.-The name is derived from the Greek, and signities literally, "beautiful forms to see." It was invented by Dr. Brewster, of Edinburgh, and is intended to assist jewellers, glass painters, and other ornainental artists, in the formation of patterns, of which it produces an infinite number. SIGMA.

AFFIRMATIVE.

Religious hypocrisies are incomprehensibilities, and there is great unlikelihood that the revivals are such. "Sin, Satan, the world, and the flesh," do not often fight amongst themselves; nor is the devil remarkable for dividing his house against himself. Hence the Irish revivals are either the results of real religious convictions, or Satan has become a missionary of Christ. — TOUCH.

"The peaceable fruits of righteousness," which have been exhibited by the converts in Ireland, and the statistics of morality in the neighbourhood, are indubitable evidence of their reality and beneficiality.-PRO DEO.

Though Satan may occasionally transform himself into an angel of light, he does not often reform himself; nor is he generally in the habit of inclining his followers to follow righteousness, and live at peace with all men. must have changed his tactics, or God must have worked this work; and therefore it is real.-SPERO.

He

The Spirit and power of God has, in all times, been poured forth effusively in reviving the holiness of nations;

and it may, therefore, be presumed that now, also, He is graciously and really converting the people.-TRUE.

The number, character, ability, and disinterestedness of those who give evidence of the "real religious conviction" of many who have been brought under the influence of the Irish revivals, make their testimony unimpeachable. -P. L.

The very interest taken in the questien, and the strong impression it has made on the public mind, are witnesses to the reality of the revivals. "Not for nothing" has the land been agitated throughout its whole bounds by news of the conversions and changes effected among people who have hitherto been possessed only of a name to live, but who have now given well-grounded proof of their renewed and revived nature.-Ex.

The suddenness, the efficaciousness, the extent, and the propagative energy of the Irish Revivals, prove that they must be the work of the Spirit,-that they must, therefore, be the result of real religious conviction.-R. B.

The Pentecostal instantaneousness and ready submission of its subjects to

That the Irish revivals result from genuine conviction may be, if from nothing else, deduced from this

"That neither evil tongues, Rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish

men

have been able to prevail with their subjects to give up their cheerful faith that they have known Christ savingly. -DEEM.

Simultaneous, wide-stretching, and troublesome hypocrisy is improbable; and hence the Irish converts are more likely to be honest than deceiving.PALM.

That a great movement, most important, if genuinely the result of conviction, has taken place in the western world, the North of Ireland, and the South of Scotland, there can be no doubt. I think the revival real and bona fide, on these grounds:-1st. Great changes in the moral life of these parts have occurred. 2nd. Considerable sacrifices have been made. 3rd. Much ridicule has been borne. 4th. Most cheering correctness in ascribing their illumination to the operations of the only Comforter, has been shown by the converts. 5th. The pathos and the power of the prayers of these people have been such as could not have been expected, unless resulting from the "dayspring from on high."-CREDO.

Religion is a personal matter; it must have its origin, humanly speaking, in the individual heart. Truly its source is from God. History furnishes many instances in which Divine influence has been exerted in opposition to the tendencies of the subject of religious awakenings, e. g., Jonah, St. Paul. These influences have been developed in the purified, sanctified life of the subject thereof. Recent revivals, although not attended by miraculous interpositions, have manifested a changed character-a purer moral life, and a stricter discharge of social duties; a greater love for truth, holiness, and religious exercises. Hence they must

God's Holy Spirit, like "the wind, bloweth where it listeth. So is everyone that is born of God." The Holy Spirit is the effective cause of all true conversion; therefore, as the present revivals give instances of true conversion, they are not only truthful, but

from God.-VERITAS.

Religious revivals may, by the coincident affection of many persons, in a similar manner produce upon others an appearance of true conversion, only which, being evanescent in its nature, soon results in relapse, when the exciting cause, viz., numbers and association, has ceased; but this pseudoconversion is not a valid objection to the truthfulness of any revival, because such relapses being the exception, and not the rule, cannot affect the truthfulness nor sincerity of the many who believe, through grace, to the saving of their souls. Hence all revivals must be from God, and are a blessing to the church and the world.-DUxX.

The Universal Church believes in the efficacy of the means of gracereading the Scriptures, private and social, the preaching of the Word. The Catholic Church has its special missions; the Protestant Church its days set apart; and Dissenters have their special services for the attainment of more true-heartedness in religious duties. God has uniformly blessed such means. Hence revivals are to be encouraged by the Church.-ALPHA.

Religious revivals appear to indicate extraordinary instances where God, in His providence, pours out His Spirit upon men, in copious showers of mercy and grace. The Day of Pentecost is such an instance; and if men in great numbers are awakened from the torpidity of insen-ibility; are aroused from indifference to religious truth; are made sensitive to the calls of merey, and the heinousness of sin; are quickened to the perception of the truth, beauty, and love manifested in redemption, purchased by a dying Saviour;-if men,

we say, are thus affected in sincerity in these days of ours-we must conclude that pentecostal blessings have not ceased; that the God of old times, the God of our fathers, is the God of their children. The present revivals exhibit these effects; therefore they are true revivals, and from God.-PAX.

When the wicked forsake their wickedness, and the scoffer becomes ashamed of his scoffing; when the liar, the idle, the profligate, find their peculiar vices unsatisfactory, in a moral sense, and seek for pardon and peace, through Jesus' blood-that secondary cause, or the means by which such a result is brought about, must be of God. The revivals, for some time past before the public notice, have evidenced changes like these; therefore these revivals are a means by which God is increasing the number of His faithful children.ВЕТА.

But

The ways of God are mysterious in their mercy, grace, and love. their mysteriousness cannot be proof against their worthiness of reception. The same wind which dashes one vessel to destruction, may waft thousands to the haven of joy, the port of safety. If the Holy Spirit, striving mightily with the cold, indifferent, unknown, and lethargic; with the profane, the sensualist, the breaker of all laws, human and divine, and subdues many to a loving obedience, a gracious walk and conversation in daily life, what objection can it be if some, being tempted of the Evil One, fall into despondency and despair? Such cases cannot be brought as objections against the conversion of the many. Hence true conversions are proof of a true revival.-OMEGA.

The subjectivity of religion in the individual is created by God acting upon the free will of the subject. Evidence of the will being religiously affected, is evidence that God is working in the soul. Therefore true religion is evidence of christian revival. OMICRON.

"By their fruits shall ye know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or

figs of thistles?" Is it possible for us to gather good fruit from the tree of evil, or evil fruit from that which is decidedly good? Certainly not. Therefore, this revival movement, which has had such a visible effect on the community, in checking drunkenness, vice, and immorality, must be the result of genuine religion. Try to account for it in any other way, and you fail; for its fruits plainly declare it to be the work of God, drawing men unto Christ. Its results are a serious and deep conviction of sin; and the only object by which you can gain their attention is Christ, and hin crucified; and the only subject by which you can interest them, is Christ their Saviour. Sure evidences these that the revivals are the work of the Spirit; that they have arisen in deep religious convictions, and are progressing in the same.-J. T. K.

The present consideration of the revivals appears to us well-timed. Their novelty has passed away; the movement has now spread through the length and breadth of the land, and sufficient reports of the proceedings in the North of Ireland having appeared, a pretty accurate opinion may now be formed regarding them. Yet several causes conspire to lead the superficial observer astray. A portion of the press has derided the movement, because it numbers among its converts many who have not enjoyed the advantages of education. Were this a valid objection to revivals, it would apply equally to every religious belief, and even to such evident truths as two and two make four; because many know this truth, who could not express it either by letters or numerals. The undue prominence given to the physical manifestations led to the idea that the movement could be resolved into one of mere nerrous excitement, and that it was a sort of hysterical epidemic, induced by a particular condition of the atmosphere. This error lay in mistaking an acçidental for an essential quality; the number so affected having been small compared with the number awakened:

and revivals having taken place where no such appearance presented itself; though where it does, it may generally be considered as a proof of the genuineness of the work. As in the parable, we find tares have sprung up among the wheat in the present harvest. The socialist has rejoiced over these impostors, few though they be. An infidel lately declared that one such case disproved the truth of the whole movement: if this were correct, the first infidel who forsakes his unbelief will prove infidelity to be "a pretence, a delusion, and a snare." As, in a court of justice, the witness who prevaricates damages his own evidence only, not that of the other witnesses, so also in this case; and, therefore, the objection may be dismissed. And now, when we consider that intemperance and immorality have been checked; that crime has diminished; that religious books are eagerly sought after; that nightly churches are filled till a late hour; that prayer meetings-meetings that had formerly but an occasional and thin attendance of elderly females -are crowded morning, noon, and night; when we consider that this is not a spark fanned into flame by priestly art, but is a work commenced and carried on principally by laymen, embracing all classes within its influence, the old, the young, the rich, the poor, the literate and the illiterate, we are driven to the conclusion that it is divine in its nature, and is the result of real religious convictions.-NONA.

That the revivals in the North of Ireland are the result of real religious convictions, we think there can be no reasonable doubt. Not that we regard the movement as accompanied with anything supernatural; for beyond the number and character of the persons converted, there is nothing strange or uncommon in the movement. great number, if not the majority of the cases are sincere, we have good reason to believe. The greater part of those who have been "converted" of a class who have not been in the

That a

are

habit of attending any stated place of public worship; and are thus, for the first time, made acquainted with, or brought under the influence of, the gospel. The services being conducted in a simple but impressive manner, all can take part in them;-and when the consciences of the hearers are touched, they are constrained to cry out, "What must we do to be saved?" That there have been and are instances of deception and imposture, we cannot deny, for corruption and imposition will creep into everything, more especially when the matter is of a religious nature.

With respect to what are called "physical manifestations," we think every means should be taken to guard against, and discountenance them, as they give scope to ridicule and fraud, and are frequently attended with lamentable consequences.

These manifestations" are nothing

more

66

than symptoms of hysterical seizures, consequent upon an overwrought condition of mind, and an enfeeblement of the body, due to prolonged abstinence and great mental excitement; and, therefore, fraught with serious possible consequences to body and mind, occasionally resulting in iusanity and death. That these are the natural symptoms of an overwrought condition of mind," and not peculiar to religious excitement, individual temperament, or physical or mental defect, is beyond doubt. For if any subject be allowed to take undue possession of the mind, the mightiest intellect must bend, and reason yield her seat. Therefore, though we do not see in the "manifestations" anything supernatural, still we consider them to be the best proof of the reality of the "convictions." For what, in the present instance, is occupying their minds, and causing them to be in this " wrought condition," but anxiety and concern for their soul's salvation? That this concern or conviction is real, we have the best proof in the reality of its painful effects.

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over

By their fruits ye shall know them,"