tolic age, was this prophecy verified. Mistaken zeal engendered disputes, divisions, and jarrings, that disgraced religion. Instead of that love and unanimity, which at first characterized the Christian community; animosities arose, hatred ensued, and persecution followed. Innumerable innovations succeeded, through the pride and intemperance of the Bishops of Rome; which ill accorded with the meek and lowly spirit of Christianity," evinced by the first propagators of the Gospel. Opposition was the result. But by their tyranny and overbearing conduct they sometimes brought Kings, Emperors, and other Bishops under sub jection. And the doctrines of that turbulent Prelate Hilderbrand, or Pope Gregory VII. afterwards obtained a footing in the Church, although he was condemned by a council as "A man most wicked, preaching sacrilege and burning; maintaining perjury and murders; calling in question the Catholic faith of the body and blood of our Lord; a follower of divination and dreams; a necromancer, and infected with a pythonical spirit; and therefore departed from the true faith."

In short, his pride and turbulence rose to such an unbounded pitch, that his election to the Papal chair was made null and void, and he was at last obliged to fly from Rome, though, unfortunately for succeeding generations, not till he had introduced many abuses into the Church, which habit and superstition afterwards tolerated, notwith-'

an hundred years prior to the reign of Henry the VIII. Ancient records will shew, to those who have the inclination as well as the opportunity of referring to them, several charters granted to the University of Oxford, long before Pope Leo, or his sanguinary friend was in being, says Chamberlayne: they bear testimony of a fact so little known, even among the literati of the present age. Would modern historians so far adopt the Pythagorian system, as to dive well into doubtful points before they assert them for truths; or would individuals, who have the opportunity of referring to ancient records, correct such palpable errors, which, through carelessness, idleness, and inattention; or perhaps, the fanciful imagination of an inventive genius, have crept into history; the public mind would not be thus misled.

With respect to the title in question, it seems that it must have laid dormant until it was forgotten. Why it was ever dropped by Kings of England, when Christianity was firmly established in the nation, some able student, probably, may feel inclined to search out, when convinced of the incorrectness of the statement. For certain it is, that when his Popeship bestowed this mark of honor on his worthy colleague, it was but the renovation of an ancient title*.

* See Chamberlayne's Chronicle.-Duke Humphrey's Titles, when Protector, during the minority of his Nephew Henry VI.-the ancient records of certain charters granted to the University of Oxford, &c. &c.

ALTHOUGH it is generally expected that the man whose education and studies enable him to discover the fallacy of subtile argument, and to clear up doubtful points, should exert his talents for the general good, as well as for the information of his fellow-man; still it so often happens that individual industry, in the public service, meets with little or no encouragement, unless supported by some secret influence, or the celebrity of a name; that patriotic sensations become morbid, and at length, for the want of a stimulating power, sink into a state of total inaction. Thus the most praise-worthy exertions are, sometimes, impeded, and the most useful suggestions lost to the world, whether of a literary, scientific, or of a moral

nature.

The refutation of historical errors, would, no doubt, be hailed as a work of infinite interest by the literati of the present age; were a Scott, a

Mackintosh, or a modern Horace, than whom no one seems better calculated to succeed, to engage in such an undertaking. Every library would be opened-archives of ancient date unlocked for inspection and even state papers would, in all probability, be referred to, in order to facilitate their labours, and enable them to represent facts as they are, unbiassed by party or prejudice.

History demands a clear and decided relation of events, as far as they can be obtained; and there are many palpable errors in the history of our own country, which, though narrated by men of genius, ability, and erudition, that call for correction. Where subjects admit of a difference of opinion, every individual is, of course, at liberty to use his own judgment, and to indulge his partialities; but where the origin of public institu tions, or national advantages, are misrepresented and attributed to unworthy causes, it is a reflection, not only on the pen of the historian, but also on the tame credulity of the people who adopt their notions, “with an indifference," say our continental neighbours, "peculiar to the English nation."?

However diligent an unknown individual might be in his researches; however correct in his confutations; so far from gaining credit for his industry, he would, in all probability, be looked upon as a mere caviller; styled a conceited ape, for calling in question such long established opinions; others again, with a contemptuous

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By this all men shall know that we are his disciples, if we have love one to another," said our Saviour to His beloved Apostle John, xiii. 35. To conclude then, study the Scriptures-submit yourselves to the higher powers-love the brotherhood-fear God-honor the King.

THE END.

Printed by G. Breads, Hailsham.