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Fermanagh. The whole number of Protestants in Ireland bear to Roman Catholics the proportion of thirteen to forty-three. But Protestant prisoners committed in 1860 bore to the Roman Catholics the proportion of only six to forty-five, the total being 4,391 Protestants, against 29,263 Roman Catholics.

We are glad to hear that the Spaniard, Julian Vargas, who was thrown into the prison of Malaga on suspicion of holding and promul gating Protestant doctrines, has been liberated on bail.

We are also thankful to learn that the obstacles to the progress of the Gospel in Mexico, thrown in the way by Romish influence, have been completely removed, so that there is now everywhere an open field. The Roman Catholic priests are compelled to wear citizens' dress; religious processions are forbidden. Evangelical tracts are in great demand among the people. And it is stated that the governor of the provinces recently remarked that "there had been enough of man-worship in Mexico, and that it was time for the people to begin to worship God."

Two remarkable and very forcible protests have been made against the policy of Mr. Gladstone in reference to the Irish Church by two of his staunchest adherents-the one by the eminent lawyer Sir Roundell Palmer, and the other by Mr. William Rathbone Greg, who has been an enlightened and zealous supporter of the liberal cause for nearly half a century. Sir Roundell still expresses warmly his admiration of Mr. Gladstone, and his adherence to the party of which he is the acknowledged chief, but he most decidedly objects to his movement against the Protestant Church in Ireland, both on the ground of its inexpediency and its injustice. Mr. Greg expresses his views in a letter addressed to the Pall Mall Gazette equally as clearly. He says: "I believe the course of proceeding into which Mr. Gladstone has led his party in reference to the Irish Church to be mistaken, dangerous, untimely, and entered upon without any distinct or comprehensive foresight of its consequences. I cannot perceive the sagacity or profoundness of a policy which proposes to weaken and disarm a Church which is friendly to the British connexion and the Imperial rule, in order to gratify, without attempting to control, or curb, or neutralize, a Church which of late years has shown itself inimical to both."

Mr. Greg clearly and at length shows the folly of such a policy, and the evils which it would bring upon the country, and he concludes: "It would go well only with the Church of Rome, which, with its mighty organization, its persistent dogmatism, its unflinching pretensions, and its relentless grasp, would stand forth contrasting, unique, and dominant, amid the circumambient conflict and confusion, offering shelter to weary and bewildered victims, crying out in their perplexity

"O quis me gelidis in vallibus Hæmi

Sistat, et ingenti ramorum protegat umbra ?'"

Hints on Elocution and Public Speaking. By Charles William Smith, Professor of Elocution. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co.-This is a shilling work deserving the special attention of clergymen, ministers, and all engaged in public speaking, comprising, as it does, the most practically careful observations of the best writers on elocution, with many others suggested by the author's own experience. The book before us will prove an invaluable aid to all public speakers, and professional men who at any time have to take part in public speaking or debate.

THE

GOSPEL MAGAZINE.

"COMFORT YE, COMFORT YE MY PEOPLE, SAITH YOUR GOD."

"ENDEAVOURING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE."

JESUS CHRIST, THE SAME YESTERDAY, AND TO-DAY, AND FOR EVER." "WHOM TO KNOW IS LIFE ETERNAL.

No. 35,

NEW SERIES.}

No. 1,235,

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NOVEMBER, 1868.

The Family Portion;

OR, WORDS OF SPIRITUAL CAUTION, COUNSEL, AND COMFORT.

"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."-2 COR. i. 4,

SUFFERING AND SYMPATHY.

"And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole ?" -JOHN V. 5, 6.

SOME seven-and-twenty years ago (accompanied by a dear friend and correspondent, J. G., of Essex, the late never-to-be-forgotten JAMES GROOM) we paid a visit to our native town of Portsmouth. At an early hour on the Sunday morning, we had personally a season of very special communion with the Lord. The time was an unusually blessed one, insomuch that we were at a loss to know what was intended by such a visitation. Subsequently our dear friend expressed his belief that the Lord intended we should speak in His name that day. Personally, however, we could not see it so. At the hour of service, Mr. GROOM sought the meeting-place of some friends of whom he had heard, or with whom he had been in correspondence; and we accompanied a dear brother to an upper room, where a few of the children of God usually met for prayer and reading. That room was within a few hundred yards of where the old and ever-to-beremembered Circus stood, rendered memorable by the preaching of the everlasting Gospel there for some years, through the instrumentality of the Rev. J. KNAPP, the Rector of St. John's, Portsea. We doubt not that there are many now in heaven, and others on their way thither, who date their personal knowledge of God and the experience of His love and mercy, to the preaching of the Gospel in the Circus at Portsmouth.* Arrived at the upper room before men

When recently at Portsmouth, a dear brother in the Lord, who had long laboured in the locality (the Rev. J. VEYSEY), said to us, "There is a dear child of God living in such a street, who dates her conversion to your sermon in the old Circus, upon the text, 'Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not; and let fall some of the handfuls of

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Fermanagh. The whole number of Protestants in Ireland bea:
Catholics the proportion of thirteen to forty-three. But
prisoners committed in 1860 bore to the Roman Catholics the
of only six to forty-five, the total being 4,391 Protestants, again.-
Roman Catholics.

We are glad to hear that the Spaniard, Julian Vargas, 11 thrown into the prison of Malaga on suspicion of holding and 1 gating Protestant doctrines, has been liberated on bail.

We are also thankful to learn that the obstacles to the progress Gospel in Mexico, thrown in the way by Romish influence, have berr pletely removed, so that there is now everywhere an open field. Roman Catholic priests are compelled to wear citizens' dress; re!. processions are forbidden. Evangelical tracts are in great demand a. the people. And it is stated that the governor of the provinces rec remarked that "there had been enough of man-worship in Mexico, that it was time for the people to begin to worship God."

Two remarkable and very forcible protests have been made against policy of Mr. Gladstone in reference to the Irish Church by two of staunchest adherents-the one by the eminent lawyer Sir Rou Palmer, and the other by Mr. William Rathbone Greg, who has been enlightened and zealous supporter of the liberal cause for nearly ha century. Sir Roundell still expresses warmly his admiration of N Gladstone, and his adherence to the party of which he is the ackn ledged chief, but he most decidedly objects to his movement against t Protestant Church in Ireland, both on the ground of its inexpediency a: its injustice. Mr. Greg expresses his views in a letter addressed to th Pall Mall Gazette equally as clearly. He says: "I believe the course proceeding into which Mr. Gladstone has led his party in reference to th Irish Church to be mistaken, dangerous, untimely, and entered upo without any distinct or comprehensive foresight of its consequences. cannot perceive the sagacity or profoundness of a policy which propose to weaken and disarm a Church which is friendly to the British connexion and the Imperial rule, in order to gratify, without attempting to control. or curb, or neutralize, a Church which of late years has shown itself inimical to both."

Mr. Greg clearly and at length shows the folly of such a policy, and the evils which it would bring upon the country, and he concludes: "It would go well only with the Church of Rome, which, with its mighty organization, its persistent dogmatism, its unflinching pretensions, and its relentless grasp, would stand forth contrasting, unique, and dominant, amid the circumambient conflict and confusion, offering shelter to weary and bewildered victims, crying out in their perplexity

"O quis me gelidis in vallibus Hæmi

Sistat, et ingenti ramorum protegat umbra ?'"

Hints on Elocution and Public Speaking. By Charles William Smith, Professor of Elocution. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co.-This is a shilling work deserving the special attention of clergymen, ministers, an all engaged in public speaking, comprising, as it does, the most practically careful observations of the best writers on elocution, with many others suggested by the author's own experience. The book before u will prove an invaluable aid to all public speakers, and professiona men who at any time have to take part in public speaking or debate.

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tioned, after singing, one of the friends stepped forward, and, placing a book in our hand, asked if we would kindly read to them. The request appeared so simple, that we could not find it in our heart to refuse; therefore, taking the book, we commenced reading. We had not, however, read a dozen lines before we became the subject of the most terrible perfectly-unaccountable sensations. The head became dizzy, the print obscure, lines and words seemed to run into each other, and the whole was so confusing and perplexing, that we were at length compelled to stop, and to say, "My friends, I don't know how it is, but I can't read." Said a voice immediately, "We don't want you to read, if you will speak to us." We then began to say something (if we mistake not) upon the text that we had just attempted to read about. But in a few minutes our little stock was exhausted. The cruse had run out; and we turned again to the book, and began to read afresh. Just at this juncture (as God would kindly have it) a young man sitting opposite to the desk at which we were standing began to make some singular grimaces, and to move his hands and arms in a most excited manner. We found afterwards that he was afflicted with a sort of "St. Vitus's dance," as it is called. In one moment that young man excited our sympathies, and, under God, was the means of our mouth being opened to speak of the tenderness, and the faithfulness, and the power of our God. If we mistake not, the words which came instantly to the mind, and upon which we grounded our observations, were, "And Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good." Oh, the preciousness of the half-hour during which we were speaking! Never, never has it passed from our remembrance. purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not." Upon this fact being mentioned by our dear brother and fellow-labourer, we thought it not a little remarkable; because, although the sermon in question was preached some years ago, we perfectly recollect being rebuked for it by one who charged us with being "so loose in our statements. Said he, "I am told that you quoted this and that text, and said, There, poor soul, that is for you. Don't stand trembling at the gate of the Gospel field. The Lord help thee to enter and stoop down and pick it up; it is for thee.'" We could not help thinking at the time that the objector overlooked the very pith and marrow of the text, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not." Ah, dear reader, there is not much fear of a poor hungry and thirsty, sin-smitten, conscience-aroused, divinely-quickened soul taking liberties with God's word, or presumptuously helping himself to that which does not belong to him. We have no notion, as poor finite, short-sighted creatures, of so secking to guard the word of God (lest any not lawfully entitled should help themselves to it), as to rob the Lord's quickened ones of their portion. Such caution always reminds us of a man inviting friends to a banquet, and then, whilst seated at the head of the table, instead of giving them the welcome, "Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved," constantly throwing out cautions as to some present neither being invited nor being welcome guests. Would not such a course mar the peace and disturb the harmony of those who were invited, and who were welcome to the feast? How can we, as poor fallible creatures, decide who the lawful guests are? Why should we distress the timid and the trembling and the meek ones in our poor puny efforts to define and distinguish, instead of spreading the Gospel table with the full delicious meal, and leaving our God to do His own work of application? That was a striking answer of our dear Lord and Master, in regard to gathering up the tares which had by an enemy been sown among the wheat. "Wilt Thou, then," said His disciples, "that we go and gather them up?" "Nay," said He, "lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat also with them. Let both grow together until the harvest and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn."-ED.

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