THE FRIEND OF IRELAND! THE British Lion is awake! He struggles in his den ! Shame, shame, that he should ever quake, Or quail to wicked men ! He slumbered and they o'er him threw Where is the Lion, of the tribe Hear us, O Lord of Hosts! 'tis thou 'Tis not with earthly foes we war, From him, who ever shut his ears, And, openeth, 'gainst "the God who hears" Save us, dear Lord! although so late, Oh had we trusted in thine arm, Thou would'st have saved from outward harm, Still, as, in happier days, when we It was the charter of our lives- And, whilst our love for it survives- Scriptures of God! the way-the truth : That shines-the guiding star of youth, AUGUST, 1845. L A. Y. "COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE.” In every age of the Church since great Babylon first exalted herself against God, has this call been sounded, more or less audibly, until the era of the blessed Reformation, when all Europe echoed to the startling cry, and whole nations obeyed it. But the period had not then arrived which the signs of our times announce to · be now at hand, when the full weight of Divine vengeance must fall on the seven-hilled city; and the great mart of all temporal and spiritual merchandize must be utterly burned with fire, "for strong is the Lord God that judgeth her." We have seldom been more struck than by the coincidence of the following interesting documents, with the predicted voice of warning invitation to the dwellers in ROME. It is so remarkable, that we may safely leave it to the contemplation of our readers, whose most earnest heed we request to the appeal. We shall rejoice to be the means of awakening attention and sympathy to the subject; for it is one very nearly touching us, as a nation chosen of God to be the especial depositories of Protestant truth, the principal circulators of the Bible throughout the world :— DEAR MADAM, Will you grant a space in your Magazine for the purpose of directing the attention of your readers to a plan, which combines both the claims and the interest of a Home and of a Foreign Mission. It is a Mission among the Italians in London. In the year 1841, a young lady, who felt anxious for the salvation of those poor foreigners, who are brought in such numbers within reach of the Gospel, though it had not then been brought within reach of them, made inquiries as to the possibility of inducing them to listen to the "glad tidings of great joy," but she was assured that the difficulties were so many, the vigilance of the priests so great, and the occupation of the poor Italians so incessant, as to render any such attempt useless. However, in 1842, the Agent of the London City Mission in the Saffron Hill District, entered warmly into the scheme; found a person capable of teaching reading and writing; and a small evening-school was opened three times a week for all who would come. About forty-five pupils were upon the books, and the school went on as satisfactorily as could be expected under the heavy disadvantage of a master who was ignorant of the Gospel, and of the zealous and excellent missionary being ignorant of the Italian language. The pupils, however, read the Bible and other books, and several were induced to attend a place of Protestant worship. But in 1843 it was found necessary to change the master, and the Rev. Dr. di Minna, a converted Italian priest, willingly undertook the charge of the school, as a means of doing good among his benighted countrymen. On the paltry remuneration he received, it was impossible that he could devote his whole time to the work; but, in August 1844, the London City Mission finally consented to take him as their Missionary among the Italians on condition of the first promoter of the scheme defraying the expense, which for one missionary amounts to £70 annually. To raise this sum in annual subscriptions of at least five shillings is the object of the present appeal ; but the number of Italians is so great, that one missionary is by no means sufficient for half the labour which falls upon him. Another converted priest, who owes his convictions to the instrumentality of Dr. di Minna, is now waiting, in deep poverty, until some opening shall be made for him to fulfil the desire of his heart by preaching the Gospel of peace to his own people. The Italians are at our very doors. Some thousand souls are perishing for lack of that Bread of Life on which we daily feed. Ministers are ready to offer it to them, and to press it on their acceptance: they are willing to hear all that is wanting is, that British Christians should give a small portion of their abundance for the purpose of supporting these messengers of peace, and that they should pray for a blessing on the work. The missionary has opened another school near the London Docks, which is attended by many, especially Italian sailors. About sixteen persons hear the word with joy, and are in a state of mind which gives reasonable hope of their conversion. Two Italians have visited Dr. di Minna on their arrival in England, from having seen Bibles which he had given to their countrymen, who had returned home. The good seed cast upon the waters shall not be lost, even if the waters be those on which the woman sitteth; and it appears highly probable, that the great influx of Italians into our country has been appointed, in order that they may carry back with them those glad tidings of salvation which can never reach them in their own land, while under its present rulers. If we do not consider them, we shall incur the curse (Ezek. xxxiii. 8.) "If thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his |