The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

4G6INFLUENCE OF POPERY ON NATIONS.the better for it. To him even it is a hebdomadal sermonabout God and religion. The Sabbath is the bulwark ofChristianity. Popery has perfectly comprehended its mission,and has been, in all countries, its uncompromisingfoe. Two hundred years ago, when Popery sought to reestablishitself in Scotland, it found that the Sabbath stoodmost in its way ; and it began its assault upon the religionof Scotland by an attempt to abolish the Sabbaths of Scotland.The " Book of Sports'" was intended to pave the wayfor the mass. On the Continent, Popery has steadily pursuedthesame end,—the abolition of the Sabbath,—first,by the institution of fete days, which are more numerousthan the Sabbaths of protestant countries ;and, second, byteaching the people to pass the day in shows and amusements.Its policy has been crowned with complete success;and now, in popish lands the Sabbath is unknown, or existsonly as a day of toil or of unhallowed pleasure.The writer has had occasion to observe how the Sabbathis spent in several of the great cities of popish Europe, andmay here be permitted to tell what fell under -his own notice,as the matter bears directly on the moral and religious influenceof Popery.Germany," as itIn Cologne,— " the Rome of northernhas been called,—work seemed generallyforborne. There were, of course, far more idlers in thestreets than on other days. A stream of foot-passengersand vehicles kept pouring into the town across the bridgeof boats. Here and there in the crowd might be seen afemale with prayer-book (the Romish of course) in hand,and a white-flowered napkin forming her head-gear, afterthe manner of the German maidens. Parties of young menparaded the streets. Some were regaling themselves withthe long German tobacco-pipe ; others were bearing on theirheads baskets of fruit, which they carried to market ; whileothers were laden with the produce of the dairy and thepoultry-yard. The light blue of the Prussian uniform enlivenedthe more sober attire of the burghers, among whom,the writer is sorry to have to say, he observed some of his