our unknown correspondent, and several other friends express in the religious welfare of Ireland. They look back on her past history with feelings of sorrow and commiseration, and deplore her condition through so long a period, with reference both to her spiritual and civil affairs, as convulsed and unhappy. But they look forward with faith and hope to the future, as brightened by the prognostics of a better and happier day.

In the retrospect of the past, we do not however feel that there is cause for unmingled and unmitigated sorrow. Ireland has indeed been for ages convulsed and unhappy; but who could wish her to have felt herself perfectly comfortable and at ease under the galling yoke of her spiritual bondage, or even under the oppressions and injuries that she has unquestionably sustained, as to her cival affairs, admidst the collisions of antagonist political schemes and the rude and violent strife of contending factions. Her very convulsions have been necessary steps to the achievement of her real and thorough emancipation. Ceaseless agitation has no doubt done her much injury. It has kept her unsettled and unquiet, like a stormy sea, threatening to engulph every gallant ship that might be launched, either for commerce or discovery, upon her troubled waters. It has too often engrossed the minds of her children with imaginary grievances, and visionary hopes, and thus diverted the energies that might otherwise have been steadily directed to real improvement; and the distant thunder of the tempest has certainly frightened from her shores many a friend who would otherwise have visited them in order to promote her peace and prosperity. But after all, this agitation has been overruled for good. The keen shrewdness that has been roused to the study of politics, cannot be much longer prevented from turning its scrutinizing glance upon the hollow mysteries of a false religion. This has already been the case to a certain degree; and there are abundant symptoms of its being carried much further than the leaders of agitation have ever wished or imagined. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain."

And notwithstanding much that is to be deplored, in reference both to the civil and religious circumstances of Ireland, much that has retarded her improvement and disappointed the hopes of her friends, it is not to be supposed that her conditions has been altogether stationary, much less that her movements have been all retrogressive. Her commerce, her agriculture, her literature, have been of late years unquestionably improving; and as to her ecclesiastical circumstances, the man must be blind who does not see that within the last forty years there has been a most amazing and wonderful advance. Popery can no longer bind the intellect of Ireland in that mystic

spell, which she was once able to impose successfully on the minds of her votaries; she can no longer practice her lying wonders, in the darkest room that formerly prevented all inquiry, and increased by the horror of its darkness the credulity of the victims, and the success of the witchcraft of Rome. Day-light has broken in, and investigation, roused by doubt, is beginning to pervade the most carefully tabood regions of the Papacy. And the Protestantism of Ireland, we trust we may add in truth and impartiality, is more becoming, more pure and spiritual, more sound and scriptural than it was in years gone by. There are pleasing evidences of a great revival in the more numerous sections of the Protestant Church. There are many faithful messengers now running too and fro, in comparison to what was formerly the case, when such men were few and far between; nor can we doubt as to the result that saving "knowledge" is, and will be greatly increased.

Not, however, to become tedious in what we had intended to be a mere outline, in looking forward to the future, there is much to be done before Ireland can be rendered what she ought to be. And standing on the margin of another year, and looking over its waters, still enveloped in the clouds and mists of an unknown futurity, we cannot but respond to the kind wish of our correspondent, and breathe from an anxious heart, the fervent aspiration, "A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO IRELAND."

Followers of Christ, you alone, under the divine blessing, can make it such. In order to be so, Popery must be more vigorously assaulted than it has ever yet been; not with carnal weapons, but with the keen, two-edged sword of the Spirit. Protestantism must increasingly purge itself from every impure admixture; clay must be no longer mixed with iron, and the iron must become bright and polished, and well tempered steel. There must be more of effort, and more of steady perseverance in effort: less talk and boast about our work, and more of real work done. There must be more love and kindly bearing towards our Roman Catholic neighbours; no hatred to their persons, however we dislike and oppose their principles; but an increasing anxiety about the salvation of their souls. There must be more of real, Scriptural religion our Protestant Churches, instead of the mere name and profession. There must be more cordial union and brotherly love among the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whatever denomination of Christians they belong. And, finally, there must be unceasing PRAYER-secret prayer, and public prayer, on behalf of Ireland and her perishing millions. Then it will be no vain wish, it will be no idle dream! The year 1845 will be indeed

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO IRELAND.

AN ADDRESS TO FEMALE CHRISTIANS ON PERSONAL CONSECRATION TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN IRELAND.

DEAR FRIENDS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST,

The theme of this address is comparatively new. The subject, perhaps, may excite surprise, even in some who are anxious for the general promotion of the cause of Christ.

It may be, that as you begin to consider what personal consecration to the cause of Christ in Ireland would involve, obstacles, apparently insuperable to your devotedness, present themselves. Some may imagine that duties of a different order have a higher claim upon their attention; others may shrink from the work, under a conscious or supposed inability to discharge it; others may feel a rising wish to do something, but innumerable barriers seem to stop up the path on which they would fain enter.

But let us consider the subject more minutely-our ideas of Christian duty, and especially of our own duty as Christians, are often very indefinite, and each one should ask herself, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" and determine to submit her judgment to his all-wise decision.

You will all readily admit that consecration to any object or service implies far more than a mere interest in it. It includes the devotion of all the powers in a high and especial manner to it, and an endeavour to promote it by all possible and appropriate means. Now, is this spirit of consecration ours, with reference to any pursuit? What is it to which our best energies are devoted? Have you, my dear friends, any object in view, of such paramount importance, that you cannot direct your attention to the spiritual welfare of Ireland? If so, far be it from me to urge one duty at the expense of another. I would only ask you to view the subject in all its bearings, and see whether what you consider duty, be really such, before you hastily decide the point.

But, in order to form a clearer idea of the nature of the work to which I would invite you, let us glance a little at the character of the sphere of labour to which I have referred; the obligations resting upon us individually to enter upon it, the means by which we can best promote Ireland's interests, and the obstacles and encouragements in our path of labour and duty.

A very few facts will suffice to convince us that Ireland is a sphere of duty sufficiently large to arouse the energies of the most active mind. It contains 8,000,000 of inhabitants, 6,000,000 of whom are sunk in the most debasing superstition. Of the remaining 2,000,000, many have the form of godliness without the power; many, by their persecuting spirit and inconsistent conduct, injure the cause of true piety, while some who refuse to ،، bow the knee to Baal," are persecuted in their turn, and sunk in the depths of poverty and want. A little remnant of the faithful are sowing in tears the precious seed of the kingdom, and often do their hearts beat with anguish, when they think of the fewness of the labourers in so large a field.

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Of the large proportion of the inhabitants, the 6,000,000 Roman Catholics, the greater part are subject to the potent sway of priestly domination, vainly endeavouring, by a performance of the prescribed penance of their blinded leaders, to atone for their sins and work out their salvation. But this is not the case with all. Some are beginning to shake off the yoke, and

even refuse the submission they have long paid. Hundreds of these ignorant, but inquiring persons would gladly receive the message of salvation, were it conveyed to them. But the labourers in Ireland are too few to supply all the posts of labour where they might be advantageously stationed, and till the last few years but a very small band of Irish Christians had been aroused to a due sense of their duty, with respect to the spiritual necessities of their native land. The cloud of error and darkness, which the light of the reformation partially chased from our own land, rested with ten-fold gloom on theirs; and, to the shame of England be it spoken, she has not yet carried the lamp of light far into the region of her darkness.

Not only do the wants but the willingness of the people to receive instruction, call upon us to engage in the work. I might have said, the preparation of the people, for their ability, to a great extent, to read-their hospitality to strangers-their uniform kindness to the female sex, and their gratitude for any little offices of kindness, are features in national character too prominent to be overlooked. In the capital, and in the large towns of Ireland, English is generally spoken, but in the remote and rural districts, the Irish language predominates, and so attached are the Irish-speaking population to their own tongue, that they will often listen attentively to reading or conversation in that language, when they would refuse to hearken to the same in English, even if capable of understanding it. The whole Bible, translated by the immortal Bedel, can be obtained in the Irish language, and readers of this book can, generally speaking, by kind words, and conciliating manners, obtain permission from the peasants to read it to them in their cabins.

The Irish character has been described as indescribable. Procrastination, united with intense ardour, warm affection with inveterate hatred, deep-rooted malice, and sincere and abiding gratitude, undaunted courage and shrinking timidity, love and revenge, are blended in their nature. All the points of their character are extreme points. A quickness of apprehension, a lively wit, an openness of heart, which expresses all it feels, except where the fear of punishment, or the oppression which enters the very soul, has wrought into its composition those subterfuges and equivocations which sometimes characterize the Irish peasantry-in a word, an earnestness in crime, or an energy in goodness, are some of their leading features. What a character, if it were sanctified, and moulded by Divine grace! Christian Sisters, shall we not help to exhalt it, and to direct it by the gracious assistance of the Spirit of God?

Let us now glance at our own individual duty and obligations, in reference to the spiritual necessities of Ireland. We speak not to the children of this world. They understand it not. "The love of Christ constraineth us." To those who have felt this love pardoning their sins, giving them a title to eternal life, causing them to hope when their own hearts would only have despaired, and filling them with a peace which passeth understanding, to each of those may the appeal be made. "How much owest thou thy Lord?" Christian Sisters, "by his holy incarnation, baptism, fasting and temptation, by his agony and bloody sweat, by his precious death and burial," which have delivered you from condemnation, reply to this question. Ah! methinks I hear you say,

"Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all."

And have you given it? Oh! think what those words import which you have so frequently used, and in the silence of your own bosoms, and in deep humiliation of spirit, ponder this subject.

But, perhaps, you will ask, why should all our energies be devoted to Ireland? And here I wish not to be misunderstood. I have already hinted that there may be claims of duty which prevent your entire devotedness to this work; there may be barriers to the present accomplishment even of your own wishes in this respect. Let this question be determined between God and your own consciences, and then let Erin's neglected villages; let her numerous and soul-destroying superstitions, let the female votaries of Romish error within her borders, let her eager cravings for the bread of life, and let her contiguity to your shores decide the rest. If it be easier to obtain missionaries for foreign stations than for the Sister Island; if some disagree about the best means of promoting her happiness, while you are convinced that the Bible alone can heal her woes, will not you seek to convey the Gospel to her?

But oh! my Sisters, if you are still undetermined, go to the mercy-seat, ask direction of him who has promised to give it in answer to believing prayer, and wrestle till you have obtained your request; your path shall be made plain-difficulties shall vanish-you shall hear a voice saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it." Go and say, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" Determine to follow the leadings of his providence, and surrender yourselves to him to do and suffer whatever he shall appoint.

And what means can we employ to subserve the object we are anxious to promote?

We may assist societies which have the evangelization of Ireland for their object. These are becoming increasingly numerous; and to whom must they principally look for assistance, but to British females. The time, the influence, the opportunities of usefulness which we, my Christian Sisters, possess, is perhaps more than we suppose. This thought should not puff us up with pride, it should overwhelm us with a consciousness of our responsibility. Are we devoted to Erin's cause? Then for her interests we should plead, for them we should employ our ingenuity and our skill. Let our invention devise means for increasing the funds of these societies, let us plead their cause with gentle persuasiveness, and let us, above all, be very earnest in supplicating the great Head of the Church to "pour upon them the continual dew of his blessing." Let us "go forth, bearing precious seed," and, though it may be with "weeping, we shall, doubtless, come again, rejoicing.” Another means by which we may personally engage in the promotion of Ireland's evangelization, is by seeking the spiritual welfare of those who come over from that land to visit our shores. Most of these are driven by necessity to quit their native land, and, coming here in circumstances of poverty and trial, are glad to welcome the accents of kindness. The words of sympathy addressed to their ears, will frequently make way for the introduction of the story of peace." And if we, who profess to love the Irish, were as zealous as we might be, and ought to be, in conversing with these wanderers from Erin's shores, who can tell what good might be effected, and how many would return, like the woman of Samaria, to tell their friends and neighbours what the Lord had done for their souls. Oh, that instead of the Irish labourers, who