revolutionary party disliked the ecclesiastical protegés and adherents of their opponents: and the first act of the new Government was to demand their adhesion. Thenceforth it became obvious, that if the pastors, already considered as the agents of the Government, were not to become the moveable subordinates of each political party, as clerks and policemen, they must sever from the State.

To all these considerations was finally added, that the Government manifested, together with its episcopal and consistorial pretensions, a spirit of persecution, becoming the partisan of the cabarets in their roaring execration of the most godly portion of the people. Since, therefore, our Lord has made brotherly love an essential test of discipleship, and those only will be welcomed by him, at the last day, who did not refuse to own and aid his followers, when they were suffering for his sake, it became every Christian to leave an Establishment which was to be upheld by the legal oppression of their fellow Christians. Well, therefere, did Mr. Oscar Hurt, with reference to their secession, declare, "The Vaudois clergy have taken the only course which can save the church. Honor to their courage and their virtue. In each religious crisis, when liberty, faith, and conscience are involved, the only good part to take, that which is alone prudent and politic, is to manifest a contempt of riches, an unreserved devotedness, and a courage beyond all fear." 1 Although they may still be exposed to violence,

1 Causeries, No. vii. p. 16.

from those who regard them as political enemies, and although the Government may still feel implacable towards them, because their secession has embarrassed its operations, yet sustained by a good conscience and a good cause, by the friendship of the most pious inhabitants of the canton, and by the sympathy of their Christian brethren throughout Europe, they are apparently entering on a course of great usefulness. Already they have gained much in their personal piety, by the sacrifices which they have made and while the more serious pastors of the Establishment have seemed downcast, they have been cheerful, and even gay. Although, at Lausanne, the members of the Free Church have not been able to meet in public, they have enjoyed, in their private meetings, much of the presence and blessing of God. All things, acccording to the promise of God, are working together for their good. When they were in ease and prosperity, they were envied by the working classes; and the populace hailed them as official mercenaries, and as buttresses of the aristocracy. No one can think them mercenary now. They have renounced worldly comforts, for the sake of conscience; though poor and persecuted, they are patient; and, without any political objects to attain, they are endeavouring to convert men from irreligion to godliness and virtue.

Under these circumstances, every generous person in the canton, when political passion has subsided, and when the existence of the Free Church has become an established and familiar fact, must learn to appre

ciate their integrity, and to sympathise in their difficulties. If the Establishment be as Mr. Druey declares, marked by its repugnance to Methodism, which is spiritual religion, it is dead; and, like a body without a soul, must soon crumble into dust. Animated, indeed, by the Bishop-State, it may multiply its prayers and ceremonies, its altars and offerings, like the priests of Baal upon Mount Carmel, but ecclesiastics and churches, without spiritual life, can no more secure a blessing from God, than Baal's priests could make fire descend from heaven. It is the faith and love of the ministers of the Free Church, which alone can bring down fire upon their sacrifices, and make the rain descend upon their withering land. And this they may expect: for through whatever discouragements they may yet have to pass, they will still reap the harvest which they have sought, in the unfettered exercise of their ministry, in the purity and the vigor of their churches, in the religious liberty of their country, and in the increasing number of sinners converted to God.

Since the preceding lines were written, the Government has renewed its blundering persecution. Ambitious of the honors of despotism, and more anxious as it seems to be classed with the Courts of Sardinia and Rome, than with the Governments of England or of the United States, they have recently issued a decree, of which the following are extracts :

66

Considering that the religious meetings without the pale of the churches, (cultes) guaranteed by the constitution, or authorised by law, particularly the

meetings of the church called Independent, continue to be the occasion of troubles and disorders. ...

"1. All religious meetings, not within the National Church, and not authorised by law, are from this time, until further order, prohibited in the canton.

"2. In case of disobedience or of resistance to this prohibition, such meetings shall be dissolved, and those persons who shall have resisted the authorities shall be brought before the tribunals to be punished according to the penal code.

(Signed) "L. BLANCHENAY,

"Nov. 24, 1847."

"President of the Council.

So then, to save itself the trouble of repressing a few drunken and profligate revellers, the Bishop-State will interdict the public worship of God by all those throughout the country who are compelled by clear thinking and by sound principle to abandon their connection with the State-Episcopate. The decree is not only levelled against religion, but likewise compromises the rights of all who may be the objects of mob fury. For its principle is this, that whenever a mob sets itself against any practice, then, for the sake of preserving the peace, the mob must be gratified, and the practice prohibited. Let us apply this Blanchenay principle to some other things which come as directly within its sphere as a meeting for religious worship. The same mobs which shouted Down with the Momiers, also exclaimed Down with the aristocracy; the same ruffians who abhor the pure worship of God, are jealous of the comforts of those who are

....

richer than themselves. This year they have gathered from all the cabarets to bluster against the evangelicals next year they may congregate to rage against the purchasers of any estate beyond one acre in extent while they are without land; to proscribe the use of carriages while they walk on foot; to denounce all lamps and chandeliers while they must be contented with tallow candles; or to execrate all wearers of watches since they are obliged to go by the parish clocks. Then the new decrees to be signed by Messrs. Druey and Blanchenay must run thus; "Considering that all estates of more than one acre in extent, all carriages, chandeliers, and watches continue to be the occasion of troubles and disorders . . . . all such estates, &c. are prohibited in the canton, and in case of disobedience or resistance to the authorities, all such possessions shall be confiscated for the use of the poor, and those who shall have resisted shall be brought before the tribunals to be punished according to the penal code." This Blanchenay decree tends, therefore, to anarchy and universal spoliation. It gratifies the riotous and discourages the peaceable; it assists the criminal and punishes the innocent; it has selected for its favors those who have neither educaton, nor principle, nor self-respect; and evinces the hatred of its authors for the most excellent of their fellow citizens. By it the Vaudois Council of State imitate the well known decree of the Council of State at Babylon, substituting the despot mob for the despot monarch. "All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors and the princes, the counsellors and