Bible Societies, in which he represents the circulation of the Scriptures by Bible Societies "as a crafty device, by which the very foundations of religion are undermined; a pestilence which must be remedied and abolished; a defilement of the faith, eminently dangerous to souls; impious machinations of innova tors; wickedness of a nefarious scheme; snares prepared for men's everlasting ruin; a new species of tares, which an adversary has abundantly sown." In the same Bull the Pontiff says, "It is evident from experience that the Holy Scriptures, when circulated in the vulgar tongue, have through the temerity of men, produced more harm than benefit."* But I must not longer detain you with extracts corroborative of a fact which, despite the occasional denials of her members, is stamped upon almost every page of the history of the Roman Catholic Church. That the ecclesiastics of that community generally, are opposed to the circulation of the Bible, is too patent to the world to demand accumulated proof. The Word of God is not read by the great body of Roman Catholics; it is not even circulated amongst them; it is not permitted to a Roman Catholic to buy or sell a copy of even the Douay Bible, without an order in writing. Should a Roman Catholic bookseller infringe this law, he would subject himself to heavy ecclesiastical penalties. Yet we are told the Bible is not withheld from the members of the Church! Lastly, I ask you not, "Are you a Roman Catholic?" "Are you a Protestant?" I ask you not, "Are you an * See note at the end of this Lecture. Episcopalian? a Presbyterian? a Methodist ?" But I ask you, "Are you a MAN?" Then has your Divine Creator vested in you the right, which it were unjust to withhold, of reading, for yourself, the Holy Bible. Do you feel that you are in darkness? This Divine Word will be a light unto your feet, and a lamp unto your path. Would you become acquainted with the character of the Great God with whom you have to do? With his attributes, with his will, with his law? All the information which you require may be found and obtained in this Blessed Volume of truth. Are you a sinner? In this Bible and in it alone, is disclosed the method of pardoning mercy through the atonement of Jesus. Are you in sorrow and affliction? The Bible reveals to you the only fountain of consolation. Are you an immortal spirit rapidly journeying to the eternal world? In this Bible, this book of books, you have opened up to you the path that leads to immortality and eternal life. By whatever motives men may attempt to draw you off from the study of this Bible, heed them not, for it is God's great gift to every man, and therefore to you. It is your light in the darkness of the wilderness; it is your chart in the voyage of life; it is your anchor in the storm of distress; it is your armour in your conflicts with your enemies; it is your bridge of safety over the river of death. Love your Bible-bind it to your heart-cleave to its truths-follow its instructions-obey its laws-trust its promises. "SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES,"-for they are they which testify of Christ: "Let THE WORD OF CHRIST dwell in you richly in all wisdom": "The word of the Lord endureth for ever, and this is the word WHICH BY THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED UNTO YOU." "Here may the wretched sons of want Exhaustless riches find; Riches, above what earth can grant, And lasting as the mind. “Here the fair tree of knowledge grows, And yields a free repast; "Here the Redeemer's welcome voice Attend the blissful sound.' NOTE TO LECTURE I. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH RESPECTING THE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES BY THE LAITY. 1. The fourth rule of the congregation of the Index contains the following provision: "It is, on this point, referred to the judgment of the Bishops or inquisitors, who may, by the advice of the Priest or Confessor, permit the reading of the Bible, translated into the vulgar tongue by Catholic authors, to those persons whose faith and piety, they apprehend will be augmented and not injured by it; and this permission they must have in writing. But if any one shall have the presumption to read or possess it, without such written permission, he shall not receive absolution until he have first delivered up such Bible to the ordinary." 2. Propositions of Father Quesnell expressly condemned in the Bull Unigenitus. Translated from Dens Theology. (Vol. viii. pp. 315, 316.) "The reading of the Sacred Scripture is for all. "The obscurity of the sacred word of God is no reason for laymen to dispense themselves from reading it. "The Lord's day ought to be sanctified by Christians for reading works of piety, and, above all, of the Sacred Scripture. It is damnable to wish to withdraw a Christian from this reading. (Acts xv. 21.) "It is an illusion to persuade oneself that a knowledge of the mysteries of religion is not to be communicated to women by the reading of the sacred book. Not from the simplicity of women, but from the proud science of men, has the abuse of the Scriptures arisen, and heresies have been produced. (John iv. 26.) "To take away the New Testament from the hands of Christians, or to shut it up from them, by taking from them the |