was always with it, and would keep it from greatly erring. Now I do not dare to say that the men whom we are used to regard as so pious and holy, and to call martyrs, were in God's sight unpardonable sinners; but if they rebelled against the church, it was a sort of high-treason, such as the church was obliged to punish. And so, while we charitably hope that their souls were saved, we are not at liberty to speak evil of the power that delivered over their bodies to be executed. You may shake your head, Frank, as much as you please; but either you must own that there has always been a visible, Catholic church, acknowledged as such by all the nations of Christendom; or else you must admit that the Catholic church, in which these nations professed to believe, did not exist; or, at least, it was a thing that nobody ever saw, or heard of, or knew a word about, for hundreds of years together.'

You are wrong, Robert, very wrong,' said his mother. There has always been a church—a true, witnessing, apostolic church,-holding the faith, teaching the doctrines of salvation, taught and led by the Holy Spirit, supported by the arm of an everpresent Saviour; Catholic in its character, evermore assailed by the gates of hell, yet never extinguished, never overthrown, never shaken from its sure foundation. This is the church that real believers

in all ages have acknowledged, and to which they have belonged.'

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Then, Mamma, I will ask you one question: where was the visibility of the church during the eight hundred years spoken of in the homily? How do you trace it?'

·

By the stain of its martyrs' blood; by the light of its martyrs' fires;' answered Mrs. Willis; while Frank clasped his hands exclaiming, Ah! that is just what I thought, though I could not express my meaning clearly.'

Robert, meanwhile, was turning over the leaves of a book, in which he had placed markers, and from which he read the following passages :—

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Christianity was never to be reduced at any time to obscurity; or to be a secret profession, held by a few scattered individuals." The church was to be eminently conspicuous and visible."

Yes,' replied Mrs. Willis, eminently conspicuous-as any object, however small, must be, that reflects the light of the sun where all around is gross darkness: but for the rest we must consult Scripture. However, I see you have more to read; go on.'

Robert read: "" If the church of Christ, once exalted on the top of the mountains, and spreading herself from India to the ends of the earth, could have so far fallen away as to become the kingdom of

Antichrist, wherein some few souls alone retained their Christianity in obscurity, it would seem impossible to deny that the gates of hell must have prevailed against her." One more extract, Mamma, and I have done: pray notice it well, Frank: "It has been proved that there must always be a visible and a universal church of Christ on earth: it is therefore, in vain to allege that some individuals may have held the truth in secret, in the midst of an apostate and Antichristian church. This would not be any answer to the question where the visible church of Christ existed. It would be equally vain to attempt to trace the visible church in the various sects of Albigenses, Waldenses, Wickliffites, Hussites, &c." Now, dear Mamma, do not suppose that I can ever set up any man's opinions in opposition to the Bible; but as you see the question is, whether a positive promise given by our blessed Lord has been fulfilled or not, I feel it my duty to go along with those who contend that it has been fulfilled.'

My dear children,' said Mrs. Willis,‹there can scarcely be a more important subject than this, or a more interesting one. In examining it, I shall have to tell you some beautiful stories, which the youngest of you will easily understand; but I want to know whether you, Thomas, and my little Fanny, quite

comprehend the meaning of what we have been talking about?”

Thomas replied, 'I do, Mamma: 1 know that the holy catholic church is the company of all faithful people; that is, people who are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: and Robert and Frank can't agree what people they were some time ago, or if there were any such people at all; and you are going to show us out of the Bible how it is.'

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• And out of true histories,' added Frank.

'I don't exactly know what is a visible church,' observed Fanny, unless it is like our parish church, which is made of stone; but this church is made of men, and women, and children, is it not?'

'Yes,' answered Robert. Suppose you walked out on a fine star-light night; you would see the heavenly bodies shining wherever you turned your eyes, giving light, and proclaiming the glory of God. Such is the visible church.'

But if the clouds were there, I should not see them, Robert; and then there would be no visible church.'

• Unless you call the clouds the visible church,' said Frank, because they thrust themselves in the place of the stars, and keep them out of sight.'.

No, no, brother, I should know better; I should watch for the clouds to part, and then I should see a bright little star here, and another there, and per

haps half a dozen at a time, or a whole constellation; and that would be a visible church till the elouds went quite away, and let them all shine out.'

'Oh, you little darling thing! cried Frank; but Fanny, not aware of having described just his own idea, went on, Please Mamma, let me hear the stories, and then 1 shall be better able to know what it all means. I will be very attentive.'

You must not only listen, but pray, my dear girl and boys, that your minds may be opened to all truth, and closed against all error. This subject is not new to me; I have studied it much, both for my own sake, and that I might be able to instruct you. Of myself I know nothing; and whatever man teaches me I must bring to the blessed Bible, to examine and compare it with what God has spoken. He has cautioned and commanded me, "Believe not every spirit; but try the spirits, whether they be of God." I wish you to try them also, and by the same rule; and I hope to show you how it may be done. You, Robert, are entering on a course of study, where it is of the deepest importance, not only to yourself, but to many souls who may be committed to your teaching, that you should be guarded from all mistakes. Let us then, in dependence on the Holy Spirit's gracious assistance, begin to trace the Church of Christ, in the fulfil