Fermanagh. The whole number of Protestants in Ireland bea: We are glad to hear that the Spaniard, Julian Vargas, w thrown into the prison of Malaga on suspicion of holding and i 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 beer pletely removed, so that there is now everywhere an open field. Roman Catholic priests are compelled to wear citizens' dress; rel. 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 Rour Palmer, and the other by Mr. William Rathbone Greg, who has beer enlightened and zealous supporter of the liberal cause for nearly ha century. Sir Roundell still expresses warmly his admiration of Gladstone, and his adherence to the party of which he is the ackno 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. 1 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 s 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 professiona men who at any time have to take part in public speaking or debate. 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 seeking 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. 66 We felt as though what we enjoyed in speaking on behalf of our beloved Lord and Master, upon that one solitary occasion, made abundant amends for all the trials and troubles and temptations we had been called to encounter during the whole of our previous life. Reader, this is a fact; and, if it be so in regard to such a season, under such circumstances, and whilst yet the occupant of a body of sin and death, what must heaven be, where sin, the world, death, hell, and the grave are neither felt nor feared, and where the enraptured and glorified soul is in the immediate presence of God and the Lamb? Oh, that sacred room! Oh, that never-to-be-forgotten season! How little did we then for a moment imagine that within a few years we should enjoy the holy privilege of standing up in that old but most sacred Circus, in the immediate locality of that room, and there again and again proclaim "the unsearchable riches of Christ" to upwards of two thousand most attentive hearers. At our side as we now write, we have a memento constructed of the plain simple boarding of which that Circus Church was composed; and we have often thought that if ever we had a house we could call our own, we should like it to be the house where that "upper room is, and the very humble building in the town of Southampton where the Lord twoand-forty years ago spoke pardon and peace to our soul. If we ever had it in our power-which is not very likely-we should delight to purchase those humble buildings, and place as residents within them two of the Lord's aged ones, as living mementoes of what the Lord has done for the unworthiest and the vilest of His members. Upon the evening of that hallowed Sabbath to which we have referred, our dear brother GROOM attended with us that same sacred room; and upon that occasion he spoke to those there assembled. Although so many years have since passed away, and he has so long been gathered to his fathers, yet perfectly do we remember what were our emotions as that dear aged one-so valiant for God and truthspoke. We seem to see him now, as, with tall and erect frame, he stood forth so manfully and so faithfully in the declaration of the truth as it is in Jesus. "Oh," thought we, as we sat there, "what would I give to be able to stand up in that absolute fearlessness and with that perfect ease, to declare the whole counsel of God, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear! I, that am so shy, so timid, so trembling; so slow of speech; so unable to make myself heard even in a room. Oh, what would I give to be delivered from the fear of man, and thus to stand perfectly self-possessed and composed?" These, dear reader, were among our thoughts and feelings upon that memorable occasion; and we quote them here, with a view to encourage and stimulate any upon whose hearts the work of the Lord may be powerfully laid. We bless and praise Him, that He has for most part, long, long taken away that fear of man; for, when delivering what we feel to be His truth, we, for the time being at least, are utterly regardless of what man may think or say upon the matter. After reading the service and preaching with somewhat of the energy that so great and so glorious a theme as the salvation of Jesus demands, we commonly sink fearfully in our feelings after the labours of the day; but then, this is a physical exhaustion of which the adversary takes advantage. Blessed be God, although Satan and our own unbelieving heart constantly conspire together to intimate that our work is done, and that all we ever can say has been said, yet (adored be the name and the grace of our dear Lord and Master) there comes a revival. When preaching-time recurs the preaching power again is given; insomuch that, as the pulpit is by far our happiest place, we often wish we had to preach at least every night in the week; yea, taking a little liberty with the poet's language, instead of saying, we say, "My willing soul would stay In such a frame as this, And sit and sing herself away, And stand and preach ourself away, Ah, dear reader, how often have we wished, when testifying in all the fulness of the heart of the covenant verities of a covenant God to a covenant people, that we could take our flight to eternal bliss and blessedness. How often have we said to ourselves-especially during the last year of our little eventful life-" Oh that it were the will of our God for us never again to leave this dear pulpit-this most sacred of all spots-this house of God, and this the very gate of heaven. Oh, how blessed never again to return to the world! Never more to be tempted-never more to sin-never more to grapple with darkness and doubts. No Jordan to pass through. No death to die. No God-dishonouring dreads to contend with. 'Absent from the body, present with the Lord. One moment speaking of one's Lord, the next moment speaking to Him. O envious position! lot! O privileged portion! "O glorious hour! O blessed abode! I shall be near and like my God; Nor flesh nor sin shall e'er control O blessed of But we must forbear. It is high time we came to our text. We must, however, tell the reader that which laid this precious portion upon our heart. In a recent visit to Portsmouth, we attended the Circus Church, where our friend and brother, the Rev. J. MARTIN, statedly labours. Of a sudden, at one of his week-evening services, who should we recognize among the worshippers but the very person whom we just now spoke as present upon the memorable Sunday morning before named? There, although little less than thirty years had passed away in the interim, was our poor friend, still afflicted with the self-same malady-yea, it was the repetition of his very movement, as seen upon that former occasion, afresh brought his person and all the facts vividly to our remembrance; and, if we |