Our readers are aware that those Christian writers who flourished from the first to the fifth centuries, are known in church history under the designation-" the fathers." Subsequent to the fifth century, certain writers of controversy were denominated "the schoolmen," because they introduced the philosophy of Aristotle into their discussions. The sixth century may be fixed upon as the period of the rise of the schoolmen, and the thirteenth as that of their greatest glory; so that the latter has received the designation of the scholastic age.

NO UNITY IN THE ROMISH CHURCH*. NOTHING is more common with Romish controversialists than to reproach us with our divisions, and to boast of their own unity. Into the question of the divisions among protestants we shall not enter; but we intend to show that the papal unity is only an empty boast. Never were fiercer disputes carried on among men than those which have visited the Romish church on fundamental points. In proving our position, that there is no unity in the church of Rome, we propose to allude

First, to the schisms in the papacy. Papists allege that they are united under one earthly head-that they have a centre of unity, namely the pope, who is appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a wellknown fact that councils and popes are at issue with each other on very important points. Martin V. confirmed the decrees of the Council of Constance, which determined that a council was superior to the pope. Often have the decrees of one pontiff been reversed by his successor. Where then was the unity of the church, when its heads were so disagreed? Some of the popes have been heretics, infidels, and atheists, even according to the admissions of papal historians; while others have been simoniacally chosen, in which cases they could not, even on their own principles, have been true and lawful popes. The schisms, too, have been numerous. Two-and-twenty are admitted by Baronius. One of them continued fifty years, during which, and indeed during all the schisms, two popes, and sometimes three, asserted their claims to St. Peter's chair. At such times, therefore, the unity of which Romanists boast was lost, for they could not tell which pope was the centre of unity. Even at this very day it is not settled among themselves who was the lawful pope during some of the schisms by which the peace of the Romish church was disturbed. Suppose England to be divided between two or more rival princes, could it, during the existence of the separate governments, under separate rulers, be denominated one kingdom? Yet the Romish church has frequently been thus divided: but the true catholic church is

one.

But, secondly, the members of the church of Rome are also divided among themselves, and their divisions are of such a character as to be altogether destructive of unity. There are various orders in the church of Rome, all governed by particular laws; and between some of these orders the most violent disputes are carried on. We can only submit an outline of those in

From the "Church and State Gazette." Painter.

Now these schoolmen were opposed to the fathers on many most material points; and not only so, they were engaged, during six or eight centuries, in the most virulent quarrels among themselves. Still the papists boast of their unity, and allege that there were no divisions previous to the reformation.

Let us, however, fix our eyes on the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. In the former, Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest of the schoolmen, flourished, who, on account of his great reputation, was styled the angel of the schools, or the angelic doctor. He was undoubtedly the head of his class. They were vehemently opposed by the mystics, another sect in the church of Rome; and the disputes between the two parties were of the most acrimonious character, far more so, indeed, than any which have existed among protestant divines.

But, besides the disputes between the schoolmen and the mystics, the former could not agree among themselves. They were divided on points of far greater importance than those respecting which protestants may differ. In the fourteenth century John Duns Scotus, an Englishman, ventured to oppose the opinions of Thomas. He was a member of the Franciscan order, while Thomas had belonged to that of St. Dominic. All the Franciscans, therefore, espoused the cause of Scotus, while all the Dominicans adhered to the opinions of Thomas; and from the names of their leaders the two parties became distinguished by the appellations Thomists and Scotists. The origin of the opposition to Thomas was as follows:-On one occasion some of the pupils of Scotus told him that he said nothing but what Thomas had said before him ; at which he became so enraged, that from that moment he contradicted Aquinas in every thing. These parties still exist in the church; and yet the Romanists talk of unity.

Now it may be observed, that, if the pope be a centre of unity, he is compelled to decide all such disputes among his subjects. But what have the popes done with these parties? Nothing! The pontiff never even interposed to settle their disputes by his infallible authority. The truth is, the popes have been afraid of both parties, and consequently have never ventured to declare in favour of either. But it is clear that the doctrines of the two parties cannot be both true, for they are contradictory; yet the pope has never interfered. Both are permitted to wrangle and quarrel; and still the Romanists boast of unity. These Thomists and Scotists are also subdivided into smaller sects; and yet it is pretended that the church of Rome is an united body.

The question might be pursued to a much greater extent; and on a future occasion we may resume it, especially in connection with the quarrels and divisions of other sects and parties in the church of Rome, and particularly the jesuits and jansenists. The subject is a most extensive one; at present we have merely submitted to our readers a sketch or outline. Our centre of unity is the Lord Jesus Christ; but the Romanists have had two, and sometimes three heads at one and the same time, all claiming infallibility, as the possessors of St. Peter's chair.

GOUDA*.

THE very name of this Dutch town is probably unknown to many of our readers, yet the place to which it belongs contains one of the most valuable specimens of an art for which the middle ages were peculiarly distinguished-that of glass-painting.

We took our places in a diligence which runs between Rotterdam and Gouda, and upon the door of which the arms of these two towns are painted, marking its destination. The dull monotony of the road was varied by a few Dutch country-houses, one of which is remarkable as the residence of a Mr. Hoboken, who, though formerly only under-servant to a cheesemonger, has since become rich, and possesses his own dockyard and ships, with which he trades to the East and West Indies. In memory of his humble origin, the barrow in which he formerly wheeled the cheese occupies a place in front of his counter. we approached the town of Gouda, the lofty roof of the church, which bears the marks of high antiquity, appeared in the distance.

As

The aspect of the town completely recalls to mind the almost uninterrupted wars and conflicts of the middle ages. You enter by a high vaulted gateway, over which, after the fashion of those times, dwellings have been constructed. The inn equally reminds you of the old customs of the Netherlands, especially the huge spacious chimney in the common hall, with its antique decorations, which, on a winter's evening and when filled with a bright blazing fire, is so admirably suited to inspire feelings of true comfort. A young and neatlydressed Dutch girl received us, and led the way into the church, at the entrance of which we found a notice in four languages-English, German, French, and Dutch-that, before proceeding to view the curiosities within the church, each person must pay the sum of four stivers. The appearance of the interior of the church is unusually striking, the more so from its perfect whiteness; the dusky grey vaulted roof, which you find in all the churches of the Netherlands, being strongly contrasted with the white walls which support it, and combining with the painted glass, with which the windows are entirely filled, to produce an effect which is perfectly indescribable. A more splendid display of colours cannot possibly be found; while the absence of all uncoloured light casts so singular a hue over every object within the church, that I do not remember to have remarked in any other sacred edifice, not excepting the majestic dome of Milan, so remarkable an effect of the clear obscure.

It is unnecessary to give a minute description of each of the thirty-three painted windows with which this beautiful church is decorated. Many of them contain the painter's name and the date of their erection; for instance, on the second, which exhibits a view of Damietta, appears the name of Wm. Thibaut, and in like manner those of the remaining artists have been detected by a close examination, viz., B. Joach, Uytenwael, de Vrye, D. von Zyl, and the renowned brothers Th. and W. Crabet (or Crabeth). The Netherlands appear to have received liberal aid towards the unusually splendid decorations of their churches. We find the first window on the north side, next the steeple door, to have been given by the states of South Hol

lands have likewise borne their share in the noble work. The twelfth window was presented by the collegiate see of St. Salvador, in Utrecht, in 1565; and the eighteenth, painted by T. Crabet, and one of the most beautiful, by the abbot of Mariawaert. The fourteenth, likewise painted by T. Crabet at Gouda, in 1557, was furnished by the bishop of Liege; and the fifteenth by George von Egmont, bishop of Utrecht, in 1555. The fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth windows, the latter of which represents the painter T. Crabet himself, in a red cap and velvet vest, are among the most exquisitely finished the church contains. A regular school for glass painting appears to have been held in Gouda, for we find the twentieth and twenty-first windows, which having been originally intended for a convent are smaller than the others, to have been the workmanship of W. Crabet's pupils. The twentysecond was a present from the heroic William I., prince of Orange; and the thirteenth from the regent Margaret of Parma, sister to Philip II., and daughter to Charles V., both presented in 15€2. On the latter, being the second window of the transept, the princess herself is represented, and behind her, her patroness holy the Margaret, with the dragon beneath their feet. The entablature crossing both figures is painted by W. Crabet in his best style. The twenty-fifth window represents the raising of the siege of Leyden, and is of a later date, having been painted by Corn. Clock in 1603, by whom also the next in order was executed.

The upper windows of the choir are likewise filled with coloured glass, but are finished in a style far inferior to the former. They were probably the workmanship of a pupil of Theodore Crabet, but his name does not appear. The library, which bears the inscription "discere ne cesses," contains a visitor's album, in which we found the names of H.R.H. the crownprince of Prussia (his present majesty), the prince and princess William of Prussia (uncle and aunt to his majesty), the prince Adalbert, and others.

Gouda, and the opulence of its citizens displays itself Dutch neatness is conspicuous in the little town of in the style of their houses, which might bear a comparison with those of Leyden or Haarlem.

THE EFFICACY OF CHRISTIANITY TO HUMANIZE AND BLESS:

A Sermon,

BY THE REV. JOHN S. BROAD, M.A., Incumbent of St. George's, Newcastle-under-Lyne.

PHILEMON 10.

"I bescech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds."

CHRISTIANITY is an unspeakable boon to the human race, if considered only in a temporal point of view, to say nothing of the glorious hopes and the animating prospects of another world which it sets before us. It has produced such important and salutary changes in the aspect of society, in the condition of nations and individuals, that it may justly be looked upon as a gift inestimable and divine. It has softened the savage into a meek and quiet member of society; it has ameliorated the horrors and distresses of war; it has asserted the rights of the various members of the human family, and thrown a degree of

the abbot of Berne.

From a Traveller's Diary.

the world, such as was never before known.

The epistle to Philemon affords a pleasing exhibition of the efficacious influence of the religion of Jesus Christ to humanize and bless. Without any formal statement of doctrine or duty, it sets forth in an incidental manner what the gospel is, and what it does. The occasion of its being written was as follows:-Philemon, a respectable inhabitant of Colosse, and a member of the church in that place, was the master of Onesimus, who clandestinely left his service, and went to Rome. While in that city, Onesimus providentially met with St. Paul, then a prisoner dwelling "in his own hired house;" and, through the grace of God, the preaching of the devoted apostle was made instrumental in converting the runaway slave. The power of the gospel subdued the hardened heart of the rude heathen, and he became a sincere disciple of the Lord Jesus. After St. Paul had kept Onesimus for some time in his service, and thus proved the reality of his conversion, he thought it proper to send him back to his lawful master, that he might discharge his duty to him to whom it was due. Aware, however, of the consequences to which Onesimus had exposed himself by his crime, the apostle deemed it necessary to write to Philemon, informing him of the change which had taken place in his slave; requesting him to forget the past, and to receive the returning penitent again into his favour. Having assured Philemon of the reality of his slave's conversion, and of the advantage which he might expect in consequence from his future services, the apostle employs the most persuasive yet delicate arguments to produce the desired effect on the mind of his Colossian friend. The whole epistle, though brief, is replete with the genuine spirit of Christianity, and shows how well urbanity of manners, benevolence of disposition, and observance of social and civil order, may and should unite in a true disciple of Christ. A series of observations upon this interesting history may tend, by the blessing of the Holy Spirit, to illustrate the excellence of Christianity, and prove conducive to our instruction and comfort in righteousness. May "the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer.'

I. Observe the efficacy of the gospel in the conversion of Onesimus: "I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds."

Onesimus appears to have been a hardened character. He not only departed unlawfully from his master's service, but, as it has been conjectured from the 18th verse-" If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought"-had previously robbed Philemon. He repaired

to Rome, the common receptacle of bad and good, where he intended to enjoy his illgotten liberty. But a happier state awaited him: he was to be made a freeman of the gospel-a citizen of heaven. The word of divine truth, preached by the captive apostle, was sent home by the Spirit to the conscience of the dishonest slave; and he was led to perceive that he lay in a worse bondage than that of earthly slavery--the bondage of sin and death. He felt the fearful yoke of this bondage pressing heavily upon him, and sinking him into eternal misery, and he was constrained to cry out for deliverance. He was "begotten again," from a state of spiritual death to a life of faith and holiness: he became "a new creature in Christ Jesus." How great then must be the efficacy of the doctrine which could work so important a change in such a character! What energy must there be in the grace of the Spirit, to subdue the heart of a being like Onesimus! And how comfortable and blessed must be the doctrine of Christ crucified to a heart such as his, when softened and humbled before God! Yet this is not the only instance we know of, of the power of the gospel in the conversion of notorious sinners. It stopped the persecuting Saul in his mad career, and converted him from an enemy to a humbled and zealous servant of God, and a preacher of the faith which he hated. It converted a dying malefactor, as he hung upon his cross. It worked a marvellous change in the reprobate Corinthians, guilty of almost every crime: "Such were some of you (writes the apostle, after enumerating some of the worst characters in existence); but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. vi. 11). Yes, aud it has converted thousands since as vile as they, and it will convert thousands more. The guiltiest sinner may become a pardoned and happy child of God, through faith in that almighty and gracious Saviour whose "blood cleanseth from all sin."

How great a blessing ought we to esteem it to possess such a gospel! What an unmerited good has our God bestowed on us! How undeniable a proof of his abounding love towards us! This gospel is preached, in obedience to the bidding of its almighty Author, to sinners of all ranks and all ages. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. O, unfathomable love-"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life!" The ministers of Christ, duly commissioned by him, bear the glorious tidings throughout a

fallen world: they are enjoined to seek out the polluted children of sin, and to invite them to come to the "fountain opened for sin and uncleanness;" "to seek for Christ's sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for his children who are in the midst of this naughty world, that they may be saved through Christ for ever." Brethren, we come to you. Let every thoughtless and unconverted sinner listen with penitence and thankfulness to the gracious invitation of his Saviour: "Look unto me, and be ye saved." "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

II. Notice the spiritual relation to God and to each other in which Christianity places its own converts-they are children of God, and brethren in Christ Jesus.

St. Paul calls Onesimus a brother of Philemon, though, temporally, he was his slave. "Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord" (v. 16)? They were brethren in the flesh, as being descended from one common origin-children of the first Adam; and they were brethren in the Lord, as being believers in Christ-related to "the second Adam, the Lord from heaven." The gospel brought them in close spiritual relation to each other; and the slave was no less dear to his heavenly Father and to his redeeming Lord, than the wealthy master.

All believers are one in Christ. The gospel knows no distinctions in the bestowment of its saving blessing; it is no respecter of persons; it offers the same good to all-bond or free-because all need

it.

All have the same corrupt nature, have been redeemed by the same Saviour, have the same spiritual enemies, are travelling to the same heaven, or the same hell; and all who hope for salvation must take one common lot in the attainment of it. The rich must become "poor in spirit," if they would inherit the kingdom of heaven; and the poor also must humble themselves in the sight of God, if they would become "rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom.' Even on earth "the rich and poor meet together" in the same communion, and at the same table of the Lord, and their meeting is blessed. But how delightful will be their meeting in glory! How delightful that assembly in heaven, when all the redeemed shall be gathered together, when all earthly distinctions shall be forgotten, and the only character of "ransomed of the Lord" shall be claimed by the countless myriads! The minstrel king of Israel will take his golden harp and join

with the humblest subject in singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. The prince and the noble will wear no other coronet than the common diadem of redeeming grace, and be arrayed in no other robe than the bloodwashed garment of salvation. The master and the slave will unite in one common service-that of adoring their common Lord. The Jew and the Gentile will forget their ancient quarrel, and associate as members of one common family-one in Christ-reconciled through Jesus to God and to each other. And the polished European and the swarthy African will stand side by side around the throne of God and the Lamb, swelling the universal chorus--" Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God, even his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

III. But observe, though Christianity thus alters the condition of man spiritually, it does not interfere necessarily with their social and civil condition: it does not break up the obligations of society.

Onesimus, though spiritually the brother of Philemon, temporally was still his slave. St. Paul did not conceive that the conversion of Onesimus would discharge him from slavery; on the contrary, he deemed it incumbent to send back the fugitive to his master, as his legal possession in the then existing state of things: for it is in this respect we are to look upon the case, and not in regard of slavery in itself. And Onesimus himself did not think that he was freed from his obligations to his master; he chose rather to return and throw himself upon his master's kindness for pardon and favour. What other religion would work such an effect? What proof does such a spirit carry with it, that it "cometh down from above!"

"The

God is a God of order, and his religion must be a religion of order. That cannot be genuine Christianity which essentially interferes with the peace and prosperity of society. The religion of God our Saviour may be the harmless and accidental cause of evil; it may be perverted by the sons of evil to their own unhallowed uses; but in itself it brings peace and happiness, and it is only as its influence is perverted that it fails to do so. wisdom that is from above"-that is, spiriva wisdom-"is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and with t hypocrisy" (James iii. 17). It commands men to observe the various duties devol upon them in the condition in which Goof placed them, in order that men may be of fited, and God glorified. 4 of When our Lord declared that hyn.