Can you imagine what would have been the spectacle if Guy Fawkes had really applied the lighted match to that dangerous train ?-can you imagine how, as the flames burst to heaven in the light of day, making the blue sky blush red at the scene, the crackling flame would have striven vainly to drown the shriek and death scream? Perhaps you may faintly imagine this; but it will be more difficult to picture the misery and despair that would have entered a hundred homes the husband, the father, the brother, the master, would be deplored in every English valley. This wide spread woe it would be difficult to picture-how impossible, then, to detail or to imagine the weeping and sorrow of the Church of Protestant England, had that power, drunk with the blood of the saints, again possessed the British throne, and the king and those who with him were ruling upon principles drawn from and supported by the only guide rulers should ever follow -the unerring word of God-would be no more: their ashes would have mingled in the burning of one of those fires, so many of which Popery has lit, to become chariots of flame to the martyrs of everlasting truth.

The gunpowder plot was not the only one formed at that particular time; but it was the most daring of them all, and appeared the most likely of success. The good faith which the conspirators preserved with each other was very remarkable; for, during about a year and a half, no disclosure of it was made by any one of the party, though twenty men were incessantly labouring to bring it about, and, as is known to every one, all their preparations remained undisturbed until the very day before the meeting of Parliament.

A residence which joined the Parliament-house had been taken by some of the party, with the intention of digging a way underneath that important place, and there depositing the necessary combustibles, and laying the train of powder. The wall was three yards in thickness, but this did not daunt them in their wickedness; they worked secretly but untiringly, and were finishing their task, when, to their great alarm, they heard noises on the other side of the wall. Upon examining they found, with surprise, that the building was vaulted beneath this altered their plans-they must now, if possible, possess themselves of these vaults, which were used as a magazine for coals, and God's vengeance seemed for awhile to sleep, and they seemed to say in their hearts "He doth not regard it." "Finding that the coals were then selling off, and that the vaults would be let to the highest bidder, they seized the opportunity of hiring the place, and bought the remaining quantity of coals with which it was then stored as if for their own use. The next thing to be done was to convey thither thirty-six barrels of gunpowder which had been purchased in Holland, and they then covered the whole with the coals and

with faggots bought for that purpose. Then the doors of the cellar were boldly thrown open, and anybody admitted, as if it contained nothing dangerous." But the eye of God never sleepeth he permitted this wickedness to arrive at exactly that point when it was most for the interest of England and the welfare of the Reformed Church that it should be discovered. Not in London only was the plot ripe and apparently sure of success; but other plots for the murdering or securing of such of the king's children as were in the country were equally ripe, and were in one instance accomplished, though fruitlessly.

The suspicions of the king and others were excited by a letter which Lord Monteagle received from his intimate friend and companion Sir Henry Percy, who, though one of these murderers, was yet anxious to save one who was dear to him. Little did that benighted Papist think when he wrote that letter that God was guiding the hand which he himself was dreaming of steeping in Protestant blood, to save the whole Protestant body, and to strengthen it yet more by the strong feelings which were excited upon discovery of the Popish plot. Yet so it was; search was made what could be meant by the expressions "A terrible blow to Parliament," and "they shall not see who hurts them." They searched these very vaults— they found there Guy Fawkes ready with lanthern and match, and when discovered he only expressed his regret, rage, and disappointment at the failure of success to the wholesale murder in which he was engaged. He and others suffered for their crimes, as was their just due-amongst them two Jesuit priests, Garnet and Oldcorn; and (Oh! is not this too according to the lying spirit of Rome, as what we have related was according to its treasonous and murderous spirit?) that Jesuit priest Garnet was considered by Rome as a martyr, and miracles were said to have been wrought by his blood.

Christian mothers-all these bad, bold, and cruel men were once babes upon their mother's breast-the breath that in afterlife talked by midnight of murder, and cursed those whom God loved-that breath once passed gently and warm, like the evening exhalation from a flower, past a mother's cheek as the two lay embracing in their slumbers through the silence of night—had death come then and realized what sleep did but typify, how many would have wept, and said in their hearts, while they gazed upon the baby corpse, "Why was this?" Oh, mothers! when God blights the blossom which you are rearing with all a mother's love, think that perchance your child might have grown up a curse to you and to the land of his birth, and rejoice that from the word of God you know that your babe is now in heaven, one amid a beautiful band who worship God day and night, and whom the Lamb hath redeemed with his own blood, and clothed in the white

The

and radiant robes of his own righteousness. Do not let any one tell you that you are unjust in dwelling upon what would have been the result had the Popish plot succeeded, nor be yourselves turned away from the consideration of it; it will fill your hearts with deeper gratitude to God, or at least it ought to do so, and, if it does not, turn with me to conteinplate a different spectacle that of a successful Popish plot; let us dwell for a short time upon the Irish rebellion, and witness in its horrors the spirit of blood-thirstiness of the "mystery of iniquity." That isle was sleeping in apparent peacefulness-neighbours were exchanging every kindly office their children were playing together as the children of one family, when a Popish plot unfolded its terrors, and desolating destruction stalked on, leaving foot-marks of blood. English Protestant colonists, who were giving to a wild and half-barbarous land somewhat of the appearance of cultivation and civilization, were, without any provocation on their part, suddenly and everywhere attacked, tortured, robbed, and murdered, and this by their nearest neighbours; "death was. dealt by that hand from which protection was implored and expected the little children themselves did their part in this persecution as far as their tender strength permitted-they further mangled the dead bodies and tortured the dying, and collected and brought stones to aid those who could fling them further and with more deadly aim." These barbarities would have been still more extensive had not the Irish Papists been disappointed of the succour and arms promised them by the French Cardinal Richelieu. The conduct of this foreign priest is worthy of our consideration, proving as it does the unity of the Church of Rome in schemes of cruelty when by them she is seeking to establish her unholy system of despotism, which she misnames the Catholic religion.

To give some colouring to their actions, where it was expedient, the ringleaders pretended to have the sanction of the King of England, nay even his commands; for, as Hume relates, "Sir Phelim O'Neale, having found a royal patent in Lord Cadfield's house, whom he had murdered, tore off the seal and affixed it to a commission which he had forged for himself." All this took place in 1641, about thirty-seven years after the gunpowder plot.

And now, let us not forget in our contemplation of these sad pages of history, that it is Popery which must excite our hatred and disgust, and not the Papists; for alas! if we read or hear these things with anything of a Christian spirit, our hearts will bleed more for the murderers than the murdered -they, "believing a lie," seduced by Satan, and carried captive by their own lusts, are indeed objects to excite our trembling pity-they are gone to their account who were the actors in those dark and cruel deeds; their dust sleeps, but Popery

sleeps not. Oh! let us remember this, and let our prayers never sleep, that God may preserve us and our children, and our children's children, from being the victims of similar plots, or, what we may with tenfold fear tremble to think of, from being deluded by the deceitfulness of this great enemy into becoming allies, or even members of that blasphemous Church. Many of the conspirators of the gunpowder plot were men of respectability, of amiable character, and apparently peaceful and upright lives. Among these we may specify Sir Everard Digby, who, though a Papist and at one time opposed to her government, yet, by his conduct and virtues, gained the esteem of Queen Elizabeth, and enjoyed her marked favour. So far was this man deluded by a false religion, and governed and blinded by the priests of his Church, that, even when preparing for his death (being executed as a traitor) he wrote to his wife, declaring "that if he had thought there had been the least sin in the plot he would not have been of it for all the world," and that "no other cause drew him to hazard his fortune and life but zeal to God's religion."

Oh! does not your heart pity this man, his wife, and all those who depended upon him?yet he and his were far from being the only dupes of Rome at that period, as has been remarked "there can be no doubt but the Roman Catholic nobility and gentry who conducted this plot supposed that the enterprize in which they jeoparded their fortunes and their lives was one which entitled those engaged in it to the special favour of heaven. Their whole proceedings were carried on most religiously. When they enlisted a new conspirator, he was pledged to secrecy by receiving the communion. Garnet, the superior of the English Jesuits, and Tesmond, one of the same order, represented the indiscriminate massacre, against which the consciences of even some of these men of blood began to object, as a thing which the interests of religion demanded." Let us then be earnest in prayer to the God of all mercies, that those who are now blinded by the great apostacy which now is so boastful in our land may be led to share the full light and blessing of the Gospel of peace-may be led to enquire into what their Church really is, not what her priests declare her to be may be led to study the holy Scriptures, not the Popish Bible, which is translated from false Latin copies, but the Protestant Bible, translated from the original languages in which its different parts were written. Let us pray that they may cast away, as unholy things, their prayers to the Virgin and the saints, and know and believe that Jesus the Redeemer is the only Mediator through whom we can have access unto the Father. Let us pray that they may come out from a Church which sanctions and commands murder and treason when it can advance her interests and ambition, and, following the Prince of peace, the God of love, may become

members of that truly Christian Church, which, in her doctrines and in her articles, follows the Saviour's own command, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man can see the Lord."

And while we would with thankfulness celebrate the fifth of November as a joyful festival, seeing how great a deliver ance God wrought for us, giving us perfect safety and baffling our enemy, let each one, in lamenting the errors and delusions of the Papist, humbly ask him or herself "who made thee to differ?" How then can we best show our thankfulness to God for the Bible light ?-the Protestant privileges which surround us? Will it not be by earnestly seeking that others, yea, that all men may be so likewise blessed?-let us, by our gentle and patient example towards the Papist, show that ours is a gentle and patient religion, teaching us to love all men; let us, by a zealous, and bold, and constant protest against Popery, show that we love the light, and are contending earnestly for the faith.

Christian mothers, if you love your children-those immortal spirits whom God himself has committed to your charge-teach them what Protestantism is, for Protestantism is the religion of the Bible; it bestows liberty both of body and soul; it gives happiness in time and happiness in eternity; teach them Protestantism from the pages of the Bible, and remember yourselves, and teach them to remember, that one of the strong precepts of Protestantism is, to pity, and to love, and to enlighten, and to reclaim the poor deluded Papist. Let the gunpowder plot, the Irish massacre, the butchery of St. Bartholomew, the cruelties of the inquisition, teach you what Popery is; and forget not she boasts that she does not and cannot change, and then remember that Christ died for the poor Papist as well as for you; if you love your Saviour, seek to reclaim those for whom he bled; and if you meet with ridicule, or rebuke, or disappointment, let it not prevent your patient continuance in well doing, but redouble your Christian exertions, and, with a heart full of hope and strong in love, silently think of the joy there is among the angels in heaven when one sinner is converted from the error of his way.

CANONS. The laws of the Church are called canons, the word canon being derived from a Greek word signifying a rule or measure. That which is according to the rule of the Church is hence said to be canonical. We thus speak of the Canonical Scriptures, the Scriptures which the Church receives as the inspired word of God. The chief clergy in many cathedrals are called canons, because they are to see the canons of the Church, with reference to the Church service, duly observed.