even the religious part of the world attribute so little to that solemn and deeply affecting religion of contemplative and meditative devotion, and to those holy arts of discipline whereby the soul of man is chastened and corrected, and the graces of the Holy Spirit, instead of being permitted to lie dormant therein, are called forth and strengthened, and prepared for bringing forth their appropriate fruits; it seems, that we ought to be called back to a deep sense of the spiritual character of the gospel. Brethren, seek to realize,-by frequent meditation, by prayer to God, and by self-communion,-seek to realize that magnificent description of a Christian given by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews (ch. vi), to be enlightened, and to taste of the heavenly gift, and to be made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and to taste the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. Aim to be united unto Christ by faith; go out of yourselves, as it were, that ye may take refuge in him, and that he may bring you unto his Father; that so ye may become his people and his servants, and he may be in reality and truth, your Lord and God; serve him with all the powers of your inmost soul, and in sincerity of spirit, and so will he raise you to the full perfection of your "being, both in body and soul, in an eternal and unchangeable state of glory. G. C. . MISCELLANEOUS. CONTINENTAL CHURCHES: With Observations on the Romish Worship, and the State of Religion Abroad. No. V.-ST. PAUL'S, ANTWerr. IN passing through the towns of a Roman Catholic country, even along the highways and hedges, the attention of the traveller is perpetually arrested by representations of the Saviour on the cross, of the most revolting description. Unsightly patches of red paint upon the hands and feet, and a red wire protruding from the side, so as to picture a stream of blood spouting into a cup attached to the other extremity, render the spectacle itself yet more disgusting. There is, however, another sort of exhibition yet more reprehensible, inasmuch ras it is not only intrinsically horrid, but involves a contemptible trick to extort money from the ignorant multitude, who resort thither. To very many of the churches is attached a kind of cell, or grotto, intended to represent the holy sepulchre, in which is deposited the figure of a corpse, most hideously delineated, covered with a white sheet. Before these pitiful pieces of mummery, it is not unusual to see several poor adeluded wretches on their knees, who are taught by the priests that their purgatorial torments will be cancelled or abated in proportion to the number of cents which they may drop daily into the begging boxes, which are placed for the reception of their contributions. At Ostend there is a person who regularly passes half the night before a tomb of this description; and he is under a vow to carry on the farce during the remainder of his life. It is curious to observe the manner in which the oaken desk in front is worn away by the constant attrition of the knees of the votaries. This species of imposition is unquestionably displayed in the highest perfection of horror in the churchyard of St. Paul's, at Antwerp, where it goes by the name of Calvary. At the top of a mass of rock-work, intended for the mountain of the crucifixion, is a representation of that event; and at a somewhat higher elevation, the figures of saints and angels are scattered about, to indicate the happiness of heaven. An excavation at the foot of the mount is said to be an exact model of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, formed after a copy, for which two Dominican priests, of whom well-executed statues are placed at the entrance of the church-yard, are said to have made a pilgrimage to the spot. Within this cave, lying on a bench, and covered with a muslin cloth, is seen through a grating the figure of a man, with a pale face and a most hideous beard, intended for the buried Saviour. On either side of the tomb the miseries of hell are most extravagantly por trayed. Flames of fire are issuing from the midst a group of figures carved in wood, and composed of men and women, with countenances intended to express the most agonizing torture, but which it is scarcely possible to contemplate without mingled feelings of pity and disgust. In fact, the whole affair is so completely a mockery of religion, that, were it not for that seriousness with which a right-minded man approaches the subject delineated, the impulse to a hearty laugh would be irresistible. On each side of the approach to this Calvary, of which the good people of Antwerp are marvellously proud, are heaped together a considerable number of statues, as large as life, and some of them by no means of an ordinary stamp, comprising Moses and all the Prophets of the Old Testament, with divers priests, and holy men and women, of more modern celebrity. Along the south side runs an ancient cloister, leading to the church door, which is situated in the south-western corner of the edifice. The body of the church consists of a nave and side aisles, from which the choir is separated by an arched screen of black and white marble; and a flight of twenty steps leads up to the maitre autel, which, with its exquisite sculpture and marble pillars, is a most magnificent piece of workmanship: it is one of the most admired performances of Verbruggen, and was presented to the church, which for merly belonged to a Convent of Dominicans, by Ambrose Capello, Bishop: of Antwerp, and one of their order, who paid the magnificent sum of 80,000 florins (6,500l.) for its execution. The statue of St. Paul, in front of the altar, is by the same artist. M. Cels, a Belgian, still living, painted the picture of the Descent from the Cross, which occupies the centre; and it is said by connoisseurs to possess considerable merit. Against the pillars of the nave are placed colossal statues of the Twelve Apostles, of very respectable pretensions; besides which, a fine marble figure of St. Rose by A. Quellyn, and a Mater Dolorosa by De Baurschiet, are worthy of attention. In pictures this church is very rich; and it is remarkable that the loss which it sustained from revolu→ tionary violence was little or nothing in comparison with the ravages committed in the other churches. To the credit of the parishioners be it recorded, that they clubbed together for the redemption of the various articles that were destined for sale; and, during the suspension of divine worship, nothing was removed out of the building. In a row along the wall of the north aisle are a series of pictures, by different masters, illustrative of the principal events in the history of our blessed Saviour. Of these the following are in the first rank of the art; but they are placed in a very faint light, which does not admit of their being seen to advantage : The Annunciation, by Van Baelen. The Visitation, by J. B. Franck. The Nativity and the Purification, by De Vos. The Flagellation of Christ; very generally esteemed as one of the finest productions of Rubens, and certainly admirable in point of execution and colouring; but the subject is far from prepossessing, and it is difficult to account for the assiduity with which it has been repeatedly copied. The subject, indeed, seems to have been a favourite with the Flemish painters in general. The Crown of Thorns, by A. de Bruyn. Jesus Carrying his Cross, by Van Dyke. This is an excellent picture; as are also The Crucifixion, and the Resurrection, by Jordaens. The former is considered the more finished performance. The Ascension, by Vinkenbooms. On entering the church, immediately over the door, is a painting by the elder Teniers, representing the Seven Works of Mercy. It has very little merit; and, indeed, the celebrity of this artist is rather due to the superior talent of his son, David, than to any production of his own. In the opposite corner is another work by Rubens, which, though less esteemed, is a more agreeable picture than the Flagellation. It represents the Adoration of the Shepherds; and the figures, which are somewhat larger than the natural size, are skilfully delineated. Over the altar of the Saint-Sacrement, is a Council of Bishops, by Solaert; and in the chapel opposite are two exquisite pictures by De Crazer: the one, a Dead Christ with angels, and figures of St. John and the Magdalen; the other, a St. Dominic under Discipline, supported by the ministry of an angel, with the Virgin and saints attending. In the same chapel is a picture by E. Quellyn, of the Disciples at Emmaus. The little chapel of the Rosary contains a copy of the celebrated picture of Michael Angelo Caravage, from which it derives its name, representing St. Dominic in the act of distributing rosaries to the populace; of which the original is in the Royal Gallery at Vienna. It was presented to the Emperor Joseph II. during his visit to the Low Countries, on condition that a copy should be taken to supply its place. This copy was executed by Quartemont. It has been already stated that the church of St. Paul originally belonged to a convent of Dominicans. It was founded by Henry III. duke of Brabant, and consecrated by Albert the Great, Bishop of Ratisbon, in the year 1246. In 1547 it was taken down, and rebuilt on a larger scale; and, being destroyed by lightning in 1679, the present building, which still retains its conventual appearance, was erected in a short time afterwards. It should be observed, in conclusion, that the organ in this church is considered by the people of Antwerp the finest in Belgium. It has been recently put into complete repair, and is certainly a very superior instrument. The celebration of mass is, by consequence, very numerously attended at St. Paul's; for the holy airs, by which the service is universally succeeded, have charms for Belgian ears far more attractive than the service itself for their hearts. This assertion may be thought to savour of a want of charity: but it is, nevertheless, true; and there are very few among them who attempt to conceal the predilection. *** To the notice of Antwerp Cathedral, comprised in the two last numbers, it may be added, that the addition of a new Gothic chapel is projected, for the embellishment of which application has already been made to MM. Geefs, Wappers, and Theodore Schaepkens, the most distinguished living artists in Belgium. The last-mentioned gentleman has just completed a picture of St. Philomène, which will be the first deposit in this receptacle for the most esteemed productions of native talent. ROMANISM. ON THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AND WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MARY. (Continued from page 421.) WE have already quoted, upon Abelly's authority, the propriety of praying to the Virgin; we shall now, by way of additional recommendation of that practice, and to justify our assertions respecting the probability of mistakes on these points, quote several cases from an author whose acquaintance with the subject cannot be disputed, wherein Hyperdulia has surpassed Latria, and become superstition and blasphemy. These cases will also bring us to the second doctrine in the Anagrams marked for notice, viz. the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin :-"I know a village bailiff," says Thiers (Traité des Superstitions,* tome i. p. 440), "who said the following prayer for all the sick, and all the wounded, who presented themselves to him, and prayed him to say it: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Madame Sainte Anne who bore the Virgin Mary, the Virgin Mary who bore Jesus Christ, may God bless thee, and heal the poor creature N. of dislocation (renoueuret), bruise, rupture (rompuret), and weakness (énervure†) and of every other sort of wound, whatsoever 66 • Traité des Superstitions qui regardent les Sacramens, selon l'Ecriture Sainte, lés Décrets des Conciles, et les Sentimens des Saints Pères, et des Théologiens. Par M. Jean-Baptiste Thiers, Docteur en Théologie, et Curé de Vibraie. 4me edition, revûe, corrigée et augmentée. Avignon, 1777. used. We do not exactly know what are the precise meanings of these terms as thus Romanism. it be, in honour of God, and of the Virgin Mary, and of Messrs. St. 66 No. 3. "To heal all sorts of maladies :-Holy Mary, mother of my Saviour Jesus Christ, who wast conceived without original sin" (vide the Anagrams), pray for me now, and at the hour of my death. Pray for my conversion; protect me in my undertakings; ever be my consoI put all my confidence in you, mother lation; take care of my health; Tota pulchra es Maria The Passeport of of pity, who hast never had any spot of sin. et macula non est in te. This prayer is called the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin." (P. 409.) No. 6. "To ease (relever) stomach or lungs :-The good Our Lady and Madam St. Elizabeth met each other upon the bridges of Jerusalem, &c. Or this :-The good Virgin Mary going into her Simagot, in her way meets Madam St. Elizabeth, their two children from their two wombs saluted each other, and St. John said to his I beseech you to ease the lungs, tendon, side, (here must be named the |