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at times, to contract our range of observation,-to confine our attention to objects near at hand, and to interests coming immediately "home to men's lives and bosoms." We accordingly confine our eyes to the year that has now closed, and attempt a brief review of some of its principal events; direct our attention to the scenes that are passing before us and around us; and then cast a glance at the duties arising from the present "signs" and circumstances of society.

We know there are men who mock at the study of "the signs of these times;" we know there are scoffers by whom the phrase is degraded into a proverb and a bye-word; but we equally know, by the infallible instruction of our Saviour, that all these mockers are "hypocrites" in their hearts, (Matt. xvi. 3); because in natural occurrences they evince a power of observation, and exercise a sagacity and foresight, which in providential occurrences, they themselves affect to possess not, or if claimed by others, to despise. On the authority of our Saviour we believe, that all times have their "signs ;" and we believe that these signs are just as obvious to the eye of the spiritual man as the signs of the weather are to the eye of the natural man; and we believe, that if any man is ignorant of what is, and of what is approaching, it is for want of observation, or of study, or of faith, or of prayer. For our own part, we lament our inattention to the visible movements of providence; and while we are called upon to instruct others, we feel that we are in need to study for ourselves-still there are "signs of these times" written so obviously, that "he that runneth may read," and paths of duty so plainly prescribed, that "the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err therein."

The past year, the sixteenth of general European peace, has been yet signalized by revolution and bloodshed. The direct line of the Bourbons, seeking, as we believe, to destroy the national charter by which monarchy was limited and liberty guaranteed, have been hurled from the throne of France by an indignant nation, and now again occupy the palace of the Stuarts, who for similar attempts upon the religion and liberties of their subjects, were in 1688 hurled from the throne of Britain. What a lesson to a Bourbon is a residence in the palace of a Stuart! Two acts of guilt stain the hands of Bourbon royalty, for which we doubt not, even at this hour, heaven is calling them to ac

count. The massacre of St. Bartholomew, in which perhaps a hundred thousand Protestants were butchered in coldblooded deliberation; and the revocation of the edict of Nantz, by which five hundred thousand more were robbed of their property, and driven into hopeless exile.

Another king has been displaced from the throne of half his kingdom; a foreign army has been marched to sustain the revolt of his subjects; and the mighty courts that had guaranteed the integrity of his dominions, have harmoniously concurred to violate their guarantee. And little care we who is set up or who is cast down; but we point the finger of observation to the instructive fact, that men may learn to "trust not in princes," but in the living God. Meantime the pageant king who has been set up in his room, nobly enacts the part of the time-server, the liberalist, and apostate. Leopold whom Britain cherished, Leopold, a Protestant prince, has been gazetted to Protes tant Britain as an humble actor in the mummeries of High Mass. And this is the fashion of these days; for we have seen a similar announcement regarding a Cana.. dian British governor, in Quebec or Montreal, we recol. lect not which; but he, a Protestant, did likewise attend this vain service, where a wafer is worshipped as a God! But such are these times! and this is liberalism! and we are bigots, because we dare to impugn the act which God has condemned; and because to a Protestant people we dare to denounce the cowardice and the baseness of Protestant apostacy. We care not who rules Belgium, or who rules Holland, but we cannot overlook the "sign of these times" afforded by the event. William, though a benevolent man and faultless king, was a Protestant, therefore his subjects rebel; Apostolicals and Jesuits overturn his throne, and Protestant England aids in the overthrow. Protestantism has therefore ceased to have an interest with the rulers of this world. May she therefore seek her support and protection, not from the power of kings, but from the grace of the King of kings!

Pass we from the overthrow of kings to matters of less name, but to us of far greater moment. The past year has witnessed the attempted overthrow of scriptural education in Ireland, a system that had prospered gloriously during twenty years; but Jesuitism frowned upon the plant of paradise, and the sun of parliamentary favour was instantly withdrawn. In place of "all Scripture," we

are now to be favoured with a part of the Scripture. In place of all that God "inspired," we are to get as much as a Board-Liberal, Neologian, Romanist, Unitarian, and Evangelical-may be pleased to "approve." In literary education, not a book dare a teacher employ without their conjoint authority; and, in religious instruction, not a Bible, catechism, or psalm-book, dare a Minister employ, until some individual of this Board shall be pleased to give him permission! Yes, be it known through the length and breadth of the land, that no Presbyterian Minister-for to them we do peculiarly address ourselves at present-that no Presbyterian Minister who may have any of the children of his congregation educated at one of the Government schools, dare employ the Bible, or ordinary catechisms, until he receive the permission of one of his own brethren exalted to supremacy over him! Do we believe that this permission any Presbyterian would ever ask? Do we believe that this permission any Presbyterian would ever offer? We believe neither the one nor the other. But the power has been assumed by Government. Under the assumption of that power, the office has been received; and although it lie dormant for a time, yet, like a sword in a scabbard, it is ready for the drawing; and if the Presbyterian Church submit to its possible existence, let her know that, as the reward of her supineness, she will one day smart under its exercise. Safe, we admit, is the power in the hands of its present depository. So was the freedom of Israel in the hands of the first Pharoah. But "there arose another Pharoah (the name alike, but the nature changed) who knew not Joseph,'' and he oppressed the people of Israel, till their sighs and their groans ascended to heaven, by reason of their task. masters, and their children perished by an unfeeling edict, lest they should one day overpower their enslavers.

The establishment of this Board renders the year 1832 a memorable epoch in the annals of our Protestantism. In the system, not only is a portion of the Board of management indirectly favourable to Popery, but another portion is directly Papal; and, however pure and trustworthy any evangelical members may be, they are yet, equally with their fellow-commissioners, bound to "encourage" the teaching of the doctrines of Rome. Thus for the first time since the full establishment of Protestantism in Ireland, has the Italian Church been publicly

recognized, and her discipline enforced by the authority of the state.

The past year has seen "merry England" converted into a scene of suffering and sorrow. The fires of the midnight incendiary have raged through several counties, and approached till within a few miles of her gay and rich metropolis. Within that very metropolis, and under the immediate eye of Government, the houses of her nobility have been assailed by lawless mobs. Bristol, one of her ancient cities, has been delivered over to burning and plunder; and military execution has been compelled to take the place of the slower process of legal protection. Different parties will attribute these evils to different causes. It is neither our business nor our intention, at present, to trace the causes of the disease; our business is with the symptoms and the remedy. The nation hath been proud of her freedom, until she hath forgotten the God who set her free; and said, like the monarch of Babylon, Is not this the glorious constitution that we have devised by our wisdom and defended by our power, and to which we are indebted for all our political blessings? Has not the nation boasted of her commerce, and her industry, and her resources, until she hath nearly forgot that it is not merely "the hand of the diligent," but the "blessing of the Lord" that maketh rich? Has not the nation boasted of her naval and military heroes and victories, until she hath nearly forgot that "God ruleth in the armies of heaven, and in the sea, and all deep places?" And has not the nation forgot her holy sabbaths, until the councils of her king are profanely held upon the Lord's day, until seven successive sabbaths are fulfilled, as if to afford God's own number (See Lev. xxvi. 18) to witness against the profanity of her rulers, and coincide with the guilt and punishment of Israel? And hath not the nation gone mad after riches, and begun to worship them as her very gods? And hath not her religion been altogether trampled under foot by multitudes, so that profanity abounds, and the love of the people to their God and Saviour "waxes cold?" And has not daring infidelity proclaimed her ravings from the pulpit and the press, and preached even in the name of the very devil to listening and applauding multitudes? And when the law hath interfered to silence this profanity, have there not been parishes, and towns, and legislators, bold enough in the cause of Satan, to pronounce this

raving profanity, "freedom of speech," and an opportunity to blaspheme the Saviour an exercise of "liberty of conscience?"

During the past year also England has been invaded by the scourge of the earth-Spasmodic Cholera. This dreadful pestilence has been long and well known in the East, appearing and disappearing at different times and places, and with different degrees of malignity and mortality. The disease in modern times is ordinarily dated from August, 1817, at which period it appeared at Jessore. It spread its ravages from village to village, and in the space of about a month, reached Calcutta, a distance of about an hundred miles. Thence it extended its ravages, successively depopulating large cities. In the course of a year it had reached Bombay, a distance of more than seven hundred geographical miles, and destroyed there, within twelve days, and upon the lowest computation, three thousand out of ten thousand, composing the British army. In the space of another year, it had extended from the most northern parts of India to Ceylon, and from the River Indus to China. In 1821, the disease had reached Bassora, on the Euphrates, and carried off fourteen thousand victims within the brief space of a fortnight. At Bushen, a sixth part of the inhabitants were destroyed. The markets were closed, the houses abandoned, the dead left unburied, and those who escaped the first attack, sought safety in flight. In 1823, it had reached Astrachan, a Russian city, whose name is well known from its connexion with the Scottish Missionary Society. After traversing Russia, the disease reached Riga, on the Baltic, in May, 1831, and in the month of June, made its appearance in Petersburgh. It has likewise visited Warsaw, the capital of Poland, Berlin, the capital of Prussia, Vienna, the capital of Austria, and has committed extensive ravages in Hungary and Bohemia. Upon the 31st of Oct. 1831, it reached Sunderland, and has since extended to Newcastle and four or five other towns in England; during its progress, there have been 1595 cases of the disease, out of which there have been (7th Jan.) 550 deaths. Thus during fourteen years this enemy has been marching steadily westward. The most vigilant quarantine has shut up sea-ports; the disease has bid defiance to human vigilance. Armies have been drawn up in cordon sanitaire; the disease has mocked at the vain opposition. Onward, onward has it marched,