258 AUSTRALIA AND HOMEWARD. 



The Government sided with the reformers. When 

 they were silenced by the Pope, and suspended from 

 their functions as priests, the Government appointed 

 some of them to civil offices, and in various other ways 

 assisted them, but there came an hour when the 

 Government somewhat relaxed its policy and decided 

 as far as possible to conciliate the Papacy. Then 

 these reformers found themselves between two stools, 

 and of course came to the ground. Some of them 

 recanted, repented, and returned forgiven to their 

 loving father the Pope, but Ragghiante would not 

 yield. Not only too spirited and manly was he to 

 turn to the Pope for forgiveness, but he had been con- 

 scientious in all that he had done. For a time the 

 way was dark for him. To cast off all churchism 

 and become a simple preacher of Christ; without any 

 of that loud-sounding and showy ritual to which he 

 had been trained, was too much for him. 



God by His Spirit wrought on this noble mind, 

 however, until he was led to see the full simplicity of 

 the Gospel, and he applied to Mr. Jones (with whom 

 he had often conversed, but with whom he could not 

 agree at the first respecting this simplicity of preaching 

 Christ) and he was accepted as a Wesleyan preacher, 

 and he is, as I have intimated, a teacher that needeth 



