be indeed the Word of God! I confess that this reflection gives me considerable uneasiness. This may be weakness, and such I am sure it appears to you; but it may more probably be the beginning of wisdom. However," I continued, with an air of cheerfulness, “ 'you need not fear that I am about to do any thing injurious to my character. I shall return this book because it is dangerous to keep it; but I cannot but lament the tyranny of public opinion, to which even you and I, free-thinkers as we are, are compelled to bow."

My friend, of course, did not betray my secret, and it extended no farther until I had an opportunity of restoring the Bible.

Well, I was ashamed of this blessed book! I was disconcerted and confused when it was discovered in my possession! Alas! how blind

how foolish is man! Here was a book which revealed the will of my Creator-which unfolded the character of GOD, the condition of man, the awful doom that awaits the sinner, and the means by which that doom may be averted; but instead of joyfully receiving this glorious Revelation-instead of studying with avidity this charter of salvation, and earnestly appropriating its blessings, I was actually ashamed of it, and wished to cast it from me, as the viper was flung

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formity and with sacrificing conscience for filthy lucre. I had often echoed those charges myself. I had called them unprincipled renegades and vile apostates, or, at best, men of feeble and crazy minds.

There was one young man, who was most highly esteemed, and deservedly so, by all that knew him. He was a person of finely cultivated mind, and had written poetry which was greatly admired. His moral character was every way amiable and entirely unblemished. He went over to the Methodists. When the news of his conversion arrived, I was conversing with the Rev. Mr. F., who was his particular friend, and whom I had often heard speaking of him in terms of the warmest praise. He seemed thunderstruck with the intelligence.

"Mr. B.," said I, " is a person of sound judgment, and extensive information, and irreproachable character; how unaccountable, therefore, is this proceeding!"

The Priest shook his head, and after a thoughtful pause, merely ejaculated—“ Infatuated young man!" and then diverted the conversation to some more grateful subject.

But this young man was brutally assaulted by a mob, and compelled to fly for his life from his

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lodgings; and was also treated with the most virulent abuse by his former friends. A similar storm, I foresaw, would burst on my own head; but this was nothing compared to the infamy that would attach to my name, the moment my desertion from the ranks of the church would be known. But wherefore this infamy? I am aware that there is always some disgrace incurred by a change of religion; but it is peculiarly aggravated in Ireland; and this, I think, is owing in a great measure to the establishment, which gives a secular character to the Church of England, that is very revolting to the feelings of Roman Catholies. Her political position has, in fact, been fatal to her success... It has arrayed against her, not only the religious prejudices of a superstitious—but the national antipathy and vindictive hostility of a conquered and degraded people. The man who goes over to Protestantism, is regarded not only as an apostate from his religion, but as a traitor to his country. Were I asked what obstacle I felt most difficulty in surmounting, in the public avowal of my change of principleswhat objection rose up with most power in my mind-what prejudice was most painfully eradicated I would answer at once, those which arose from the fact, that I was forsaking a depressed, in order to join an ascendant church;

that I was relinquishing a religion, which had long been a badge of infamy, and a bar to political preferment, in order to adopt one, in whose right hand were earthly riches and worldly honours, and in her left the blood-stained instruments of death. I merely state the impressions which were then in my mind, and against which all sincere inquirers have to struggle in adopting the course which I adopted. I know how Roman Catholics feel on this subject; and I give expression to their feelings, not to record my approval of them, but to show that, though they are natural, and may be in some measure excused, yet they are foolish and pernicious, and should therefore be strenuously resisted. And I would also willingly give to the friends of truth in the Established Church the testimony of an impartial and competent witness, as to the real source of the weakness of their cause in Ireland.

But to return. Having made an effort to relinquish my early prepossessions, I ventured in a strange town to saunter about the church door, at the time of public worship. I saw the congregation coming out, gorgeous with the trappings of wealth, and glittering with the decorations of vanity; and then appeared the Rector himself, walking through the streets in his can

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onicals, and attended to his house with a guard of corporation officers.

"And is this," said I, "the self-denying religion which exhibits most the spirit of the lowly Redeemer !" I confess I felt disappointed, and, if I may so express it, repulsed, by this specimen of the reformed religion, presenting on the Lord's day such an ostentatious display of the pomps and vanities of this wicked world. Learning that there was service every morning for the accommodation of the pious portion of the community, I thought this would afford a more favourable opportunity of ascertaining the amount of devotion in the congregation. Accordingly, I went next morning, and for the first time, with agitated frame, crossed the threshold of a Protestant place of worship. It was a splendid edifice; the pews all richly painted and cushioned, and every thing, indeed, finished off in the first style of beauty. But great was my surprise to see only about half a dozen persons present-the clerk, the sexton, and a few old women. observed on the church-door the amount of the parish cess for the current year, with the purposes to which it was applied. The sum seemed enormously large; and the items for bread and wine, for washing the minister's surplices, and

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