The letter is dated, Sept. 21, 1828. The writer says, "Indulgences are of various kinds. They are granted to certain persons, who wish to read, for some particular purpose, books which are prohibited, to eat meat on Fridays and Saturdays during Lent, and to many, in certain instances, contrary to the canons of the Roman Catholic Church, &c. Indulgences of this description are very frequently obtained, and considerable sums of money are annually transmitted to Rome for such purposes from Malta.

"Notifications are seen at the corners of the streets, and on the doors of the churches, promising indulgences of forty, a hundred, or a thousand days, as the case may be, to those who will be present at Mass a specified number of times, or will repeat, before some saint, or in some particular church, a certain number of prayers, the Pater Noster, and the Ave Maria, or the Rosary, &c. Over the door of one of the principal churches in Malta, there is written in large capitals this sentence in Italian: "Indulgenza Plenaria." I have endeavoured to ascertain what is meant by such indulgences, and have inquired whether they imply permission to commit sin during the period specified in them? The reply has been that they imply no such thing; that they only promise the remission of the pains and penal

ties to be endured in purgatory, and that this remission will extend to as many days as are mentioned in the indulgence. They say it is unknown to all mortals how long a period the soul must spend in purgatory, but that it may be abbreviated by the indulgences granted by the church. If then an individual has secured an indulgence for a thousand days, he will be liberated from the pains of purgatory a thousand days earlier than he would otherwise have been, and this would be true for any other specified number of days, greater or less. A plenary indulgence is the remission of all pains. and penalties in purgatory. These are the opinions which have been expressed to me at Malta on the subject of indulgences.

"These indulgences are founded on the merits of the saints, which are an ample treasure placed at the disposal of the church, to be dealt out as exigencies may demand.

"I have found that various opinions are entertained by the Romanists in reference to indulgences, and I entertain doubts whether they have any definite ideas on the general subject, though they all agree, as far as I have been able to learn, that in one way or another, they secure the remission of sin as far as they extend.

"The history of the Romish Church, in the days of Luther, as given by Mosheim and Mil

ner, is substantially the history of the same church, as it has fallen under my observation. in the island of Malta."

If in some countries, and especially our own, the Romish religion appears in a different and less odious form than that which exists in Syria, Spain and Malta, and if some of its professors are not seen to proceed to the same length in superstition and error, it is not because the system, doctrines, and spirit of that hierarchy have become radically better. But the difference is owing to circumstances, such as the more general diffusion of knowledge, and the nature of the government and institutions of the country, which deprive the Catholics of all aid from the civil power. As to its practical influence upon the spiritual interests of men, it is essentially the same in all ages. What Mr. Milner says of it in the thirteenth century, is esentially true concerning it now.

"Thus," he observes, "a religion prevailed, which accommodated all sorts of sinners. Those of a more decent cast were taught to expect the divine favours by their own works, which deserve grace of congruity, [or justification by men's own works,] and the most scandalous transgressors, by the doctrine of commutation of offences, might still obtain forgiveness. The exercise of munificence toward the hierarchy was sure to cover all crimes." How different

this, from what Paul felt and taught. "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." "I am the least of the apostles, and am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am." The religion of Paul and the religion of the Roman Catholics, are as different from each other as truth is from error, or as holiness is from sin. While he relied only upon the atonement and righteousness of Christ for acceptance with God, they rely upon their observance of rites and forms, and the purchase of indulgences.

CHAPTER X.

In taking leave of Melancthon, and the facts which have been cited to illustrate his history, I feel solicitous to fix your attention upon a few topics that may bear directly upon your present feelings and conduct. I hope you will find the tendency of the whole book to be useful. But in the following remarks you may find motives, which should powerfully influence your whole life, and specially prompt you to the care of your soul, as the first and highest

concern.

Let me then urge you,

1. To consider the importance of care and diligence, in the best use of the advantages of early life. Melancthon laid the foundation of his singular efforts and usefulness, before the age of twenty. Had he been remiss in his studies, or squandered his time in the pursuits of vanity and pleasure; he could never have chained the attention of those thousands of pupils, so delighted with his instructions; nor could he have vindicated the truths of the Bible, and pleaded the cause of oppressed and suffering humanity, before the prelates and princes of Germany: and the fame of his learning, talents, and excellence of character, would never have spread over Europe. Every youth of your age should consider, that he