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

—BOITEMIAN AND WALDENSIAN CHURCHES. 541lately been dealt the Romish Church. The parliament atTurin has abolished a variety of ecclesiastical privileges,and among others, the exemption of the clergy from the seculartribunals, the right of churches to afford sanctuary tocriminals, and the abolition of penalties for the non-observanceof holidays. The constitutional path on which thegovernment has entered affords a guarantee for the permanenceof these necessary changes. In the resurrectionof churches at the expiry of the dark ages, Bohemia wasthe first to cast away her shroud: it is an auspicious omenthat her grave is again opening. The Protestant churchin Prague, under the Rev. Frederic Kossuth, now numberseleven hundred members. Of these, seven hundred are convertedRomanists, among whom are included three ecclesiastics.*Thus that pure light which shone in the ministryof John Huss is risen again, and is shining on those whosat in darkness. We trust it will not be now as formerly,when first it was extinguished in blood, and next stifled bythe fogs of error ;but that this time its dawn will pass intoday, soon to lighten the whole land of Huss. It is an equallyremarkable sign of our times, that the true apostolic RomanChurch,—the Waldensian,—has obtained political enfranchisementfrom her earthly sovereign, and spiritual revivalfrom her heavenly King. After the death-like silence ofages, her voice is heard once more among her ancient valleys.The turtle-dove, chased so long by the fowler, singsagain among the Alps. Oh that her song may truly be," Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone Among.'"the perishing kingdoms of Italy, it goes well with Piedmontat this hour, because she harbours the remnant of the earlyChristian Church. The Waldensians are preparing for missionaryoperations in Italy, for which, as an Italian-speakingpeople, they are peculiarly fitted.In the duchy of Tuscanyan intense thirst has been awakened for the Word of God.A few weeks ago. Count Guicciardini assured the writer that* Krasiiiski's History of Slavonia, p. 409, second edition.