,► ; • >■; ■# ^>; i IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (Mf-S) -V k / // .** O 4^ - I "4 X "/*' . j 1^ 11.25 ■50 ^^* niH u •a u ■yui. MM ^ 6" V fia --/ HiolDgFaphic Sdmces /: c Corporattoii 23 WIST MAIN STRHT WIBSTIIt:N.Y. U5t0 (716)I72-4S03 ^^7^ ...:.J if ....4 •i ../■ • f. ' -ri^ -',- ft .( ^- i 7- . rx. ■ ■■<*'■ ^ . V . * #, Microfiche SeHes (l\/ionographs) '/■ V ICMH : Collection de microfiches (monographtes) »^- V !. JPk' "^A, K~C« N Canadian Instituta for Historical IMicroraproductions / inttitut Canadian da microraproductions historiquas 3f ,/ 's,.. . Tedmical and Biblfotraphic Notes / Notes t The Institute hes attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. 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Las details da cat axamplaire qui sont.paut-«tra uniquas du point da vue bibtiographiqua^ qui pauvant modifiar una image reproduite, ouqui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mMioda normale de f ilmage sont indiqufe ci-dessou|. , □ '" ■ ♦. - Coloured pages/ ''■: Pages de couleur Atck)/ ou noire) istortion a ou de la may appear lesehave ajouttes ns Ie toxtt, igas'n'ont « □ Pages damaged/ ~ Pages endommagtias □ 'Pages restored and/c/Pfaminated/ Pages resuuries et/ou pellicultes ^■- Pages discoloured, sttimsd or foxed/ Pages dteolorto, tachetto ou piquaes D Pages detached/ • Pages dfttachtes HShowthrough/ Transparence' > Quality of print varies/ ' Quality in^la de I'impression /- '' □ Continuous pegination/ Pagination continue. N D Includes index(es)/ Comprend un (des) index Title onlHnder taken from:/ Le titre de I'en-tite provient: □ Title page of issue/ Page de titre de la livraison □ Caption of issue/ titre de depart de la n tivraisoh Masthead/ Gineriquft (piriodiques) de la livraison ickad beloW/ / indiqu4 ci-dessous. 4ait -t^"^ m ,^'^ -^ =3SiF J »x 2«x 28X ^ 32 X ^-'h-- Tlvrcopy filmad ht^f h«i b—n rvproducad thanks to tH« ganarositf of : SOclete du Nusoe du Saalnafre de t,u Th« imaoM appMring hara ara tha bast quality possibia constdaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kMping with tha filming contract apacificatjonir Original eopias in prin^Ml p(iparxovara a^ fllmad baginning with tha front'covair andanding on tha last paga with a printad or illustrataid impraa- sion. or tha back covar whan app^opriata. All othar original topias ara fllmad baglVlpIng on tha first paga with a printad or illustratad impraa- aion, and anding On tha->laat paga with a printad or illustratad impraaaion. !^ Tha last racordad frama on aach micrdficha ^ shall contain tha symbol «i^ (moaning "CON- TINUED"), ortha symbol ▼(maaning'"END"), whichavar applias. ■ i v' --■■ Mapa. platas. charts, ate, may ba fllmad at diffarant raduction ratios. Thosa too larga.to^a , antiraly ineludad in ona axpbsura ara fllmad baginning in tha uppar laft.hand comar. laft to right and top to bottom, as many framas as raquirad. Tha foljowing diagrams illustrata tha mathod: *^ . / ■ • 2 # 3 ' -" k - ■ • * h * ■■ • -' ♦ ■ n> /■ : t ' I* • * % 1 1 2 \ — • • s . 7 -- , . ',1 ' r ■' ' 'f r •d thanks quality igibility tha f9 filmad ig on I impras- I. All 9 on tha praa- printad sha ^ CON- MP"). at ato-ba lad aft to as a tha L'axamplaira film* fut raprodult grica i Ip ginirositi.da: Soc1«te du Nusae ^ .. du Siainaire de Quebec Las imagas suivantas ont AtA raproduitas avsc.la plus grand soih. compta tanu da la condition at da la nattat* da l'axamplaira film*, at an cohformitA avae fas conditions du contrat da filmaga. / ' ' • * . ' ' " . , ■ " ■■■■. '■ Las axamplalras Originiux dont la eouvartura an papiar aat imprimAa sont filmis an commandant par la pramiar plat at %n tarmihanf soil par la darnJAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'imprassion ou d'lllustration. soit par la sscond plat, salon la eaa. Tbus las autras axamplaireiT origiriaux sont filmAs wn eofnman9ant par la pramlAra paga qui compoOAuna amprainta d'imprassion ou d'lllustration at •» tarminant par la darniAra paga qui coniporta una taila amprainta. Un das aymbolaa'suivahts spparaftra sur la darStiAra imaga da chaqlitr mierbfieha. salon la sas: la symbols «^ signifia "A SUIVRE ". la .symbols ▼ signifia "FIN". Las cartas, plarichas, tablaaux. ate. pauvant Atra filmAs A das taux da rAductiOn diff Arents. Lorsqua la documant ast trap grand pour Atra raproduit an un aaul ciichA. il ast filmAi partir da I'angia supAriaur gaucha.yda gauche A droits. at |o'haut wt bas, an pranant la nombre d'fmsgas nAcassaira. Las diigrammas suivants Hlustrant la mAthoda. 1 .,, 1 --- • - 2 3 \ 5 f 6 f .,../.. r' 1 ■■V '. ' >' " . ^ ^ . A ^ • ■ J.V - . 1 ^ 4^ ' ' * * » ' v. » - •# • - 1 V , « s • • ^ T'"^, :i'm-^A S.ROCH.puEbecJ r*^|»lM^«^ STfS*?' \: .•^'h J*- ( t VV n ■^ % w ^' w ^'- % ^, A «- / rt. k _jr. i y -iT' Cj: / » » ! * i '"W - . S- N.* < ""i * ,- ■»■ ■ - » < ^ ^_ ,, , ^.^^ ' t. ^^ <- ■ ■•./- ----; — '-'- i- >■ V --"- t 1 — <> ^^^ iT 1 t , , • « "1 , ' ' 1 . . lte^v.1 ^^ c ^^ttth' 1, 1 • ''^H^S ffli^^ ^^^^s y^Kt 1 hH 'm ^i- <^\ -''/ ^ / ^ V '> J * sly. 4^ -4j >*^^^'^^^^ii(^& |i" fit f'-ti lii^Hln^i RP- ^^ ii^s^-sr-fr 1 V. 'I' \^ c ; -''■: "- V,- '■'*<**WWV.;Sjj > 1 1 (\ / ^;^-^. ■ ^ /<^" -^ ^ ^ ^ /f^ y^ y^' j-^ >j^ /y \ • /s/'nH^^i -^ / '■•■■■■ I 5;.,-' - ■ ^ ^ ■ ^ ^ "v « 4^* "WfeKfi V', ;_ -■^ s ./ '- THE END 4.;. or RELIGIOUS eONTROVERSY, IN A i- FRIENDLY CORRESPONDENCE ^ ■- - - " . ■ i ■ - BETWEEN A RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OP PROTESTANTS, • " AND I A ROMAN CATHOLIC DIVINE. V INTH9EE PAkts. ►AET I. OR THi SULK Or »AITH ; OB, THB MCTBOD 0» riHSIIIO OV* THE TBVS BELIOION. . PAST II. Oir.TmCHABACTBBISTICSOFTHBTEWBCHXmCH. ^ »A»T III. ON BBCTiniNO MISTAKES OONOBBNIlfO THB CATHOLIO CHUBCH. ■ N • . . - ' . i" BY THE RT. REV. JOHN MILNER, ■•••▼•*•'• ■• A. LOHOOIf , AND OATK, ACAD. BOMB. Addresud totkeJU. Rev. Dr. BtntoEai^ Lord Bishop of St. ] Antwer to his Lerdshifs Pbotestamt's Catecbis^ TO WHICH 18 ADDED THB AUTHOR's P0ST8CKI1 ^ :>:^ -z> NEW-YORK: PUBLISHED BY D. & J. SADLIER. 164 WILLIAM STREET. BOSTON :-I28 FEDERAL STREET. MOKTKEAL, 0. B.:— COR. ST. FRANCIS XAVIER AND NOTBB UAMK BTSi. IU34. Bibliothdque, ~~ he S4minaire do Quib^pT a me de l'UniTWiil4 Quebec 4, QU& 'v !■ -'flF* ** Let tbo^e tmt yoa htnhly, who tre not acquainted with the ditEcalty ofaltaininK to tryth and jhroidmg error. Let those treat you harshly, who know not now hitd it is to get rid of old prejudiced. Let those treat yoa harshly, who h^ve liot'Jearned how Very hard it is to purify the interior eye and render it capable of contemplating the sun of the s^ul, truth. But as to us: WA are far from this disposiUon towards persons who are separated from us, not by errors of their own invention, but by beit)g entangled in those of others. We are so far from this dispositioi^ that we pray to God, that, in refuting the false opinions of those, whom^on follow, not from malice, but imprudence, he would bestow upon us thanbi,rit of peace, which feeUj no other sentiment than charity, no other interest than'lhat of Jesus Cjhrist, no other wish but for your salvation." St- Aiutin, Doctor of the Church, A. D. 400, contra Ep. FSmd. c. i. c ii. •• .' ■ ■ ^ •« There are many other things which keep me in the bosom of the Catholic Church. The agreement of different people and nations keeps me there. The authority Established by Miracles, noucjshed by hope, increased by charity, and confirmed by antiquity, keeps me there. The succession of bishops in |he See of St. Peter, the apffitles, (to whom our Lord, after his resurrectio^ht committed his sheep, to be fed) down to the present bishop, keeps me there. Finally, the very name ot CATHOLIC, which, among •0 many heresies, this church alone poss^ijses, keeps mc there." St. Ait- g^^in. Doctor of the Church, A. D. 400, contra Epis. Pwndam. c. 4. <* It is a shame to charge men with what they are not guilty of, in order, to make the breach wider, already too wide." Dr, Montague, bishop ^ Norwich. Invoc. of Saints,^. 60. - ■ *• Let them not lead people by the nuse to believe they can prove their supposition, that the Pope is Antichrist, and the Papists idolaters, when they cannot" Dr. Herbert Thorndike, prebendary of Weitminisler. Just Weights and Msasurei,^. II. ^ " The object of their (the Catholics) adoration of the B. Sacrament is die only true and eternal God, hypostatically joined with his holy humanitv, which humanity they believe actually present under the veil of the aacni< mental signs : and if they thought him not present, they are so far' froio; worsh^pniowthe bread in this cas^, that themselves profesii it to be idolatry to do wt/^'TTr. Jeremy Taylor, bivup tf Down, Liberty t^ prophexyingt clu|>.:d|. ^•'TH ' :§'ef Godj^wrtYton aa ^e\\ as u)nM«n. subject to the interpretation of the Church. In this and in every oiher country, the written law'is grounded upon the uD- written law. Christ taught the Apostles by word of mouth, and seat them to preach it by word of njoulh. This method was fbllowed by them and their disciples and successors. Testimonies of thisSfom the Fatl^ers of the five first centuries . • . LETTER XI. To James Brown, Esq. '\ The subject continued. Protestants forced to have recourse' to the Catholic Rule, in different instances. Different instances of this. • Their 'vam attempts to adopt it in other instances. Qubbling eva- sions of the Articles, Canons, Oaths, and Laws respecting uniformi- ty. ^Acknowledged necessity of deceiving the people. Bishop Ho^ley the patron of this hypocrisy. T/e Catholic Rule confessed by Bishop Marsh to be the Original RuW. Proofs that it has never been abrogated. Advantages of this Rule to the Church at large, and to its individual, memliers . . . . ^ ~ . . , 88 •^ LETTERXIL ^ ' .«: , To James Brown, Esq.. Objections answered! • Texts of Scripture. Other objections. Ilhi. sory declamation of Bishop Porteus. The advice of Tobias, whea he sent his Son into a strange country, recorameoded to the Societ) of Ney Cottage •. . , . |03 ^^ w > PART II. ^ .,. LETTER XIII. - • ' To JaiMS Brown^ 'Esq. ^ : Congbtulatipn with the Society of New Cottage on their acknowl- edgment of the right Rule of Faith. Proof that the Catholic Church alone is possessed of this Rule. Characters or Marks of the True Church . . . . . . . ... , . ]!» LETTER XIV. To James Brown, Esq. ' *<" - , UnUy, the First Mark of the True' Church. This proved ftott Roi. •onr-from Scripture— and fro«: tha Holy Father* , . .Hi "W ,:^ Want of their e Churcl form A Unity of tnent,) \- " Objectior ter froi ' trine oj . £ Objection much, ] Father! proof Second 3 wantinj tem— 1( Dissent Variatloni -.. • ^ Means o^ Protest! Liturgy sal and The mo testants tholic c Fruits of eminent .caused I Obiecttoni formatio i\ >hir|i. n-' 7 in Diak- rned Pro- the Jntyi- fidelity of Hcripture^ for FUitk, w aa vfeU n this «nd I the un- , and seat llo]ii«d by thisliQin t^ Contenit. LETTER XV.. To Janut Brown, E$q. ns. ni» ias, whea e Socie^ n w ae to the s or this, •ling eva* unirormi* , Bishop confessed iias never I at large, 109 acknowl- ic Church the True 1«» V - loitt Rm* llf ■ac -■-/i >••• ; Want of Unity among ProtestanU in general. This aclcnowledged by' their eminent writers. Strilcing inctances of jit in the Established Church Vain^attempts to reconcilfi diversity of belief with uni- form ArticlM ••........ 117 * LETTER XVI. To Mwuf Brown, Esq. \ Unity of the Catholic Church-/-in Doctrine-^n Liluigy— in Gorara- tnent, and Constitution ^ i ....... 19% LETTER XVII. ' *\ • "^ . T" Dr. Ml Prom. Janus Brown, Esq. Objections against the excluaive ;:laims of Catholics. Extract of« let- ter from the ReV; N. N. Prebendary of N. B^pft Watson's doe- < * I • . . ' • . • . 1 vv ' trine on this heaid LETTER XVIIL ' ^- To James Brown, Esq. Objections answered. Bisljiop Watson, by attempting to prove too* much, proves nothii^. Poctrine of the Holy Scriptures and the Fatheft on this head. Eijclusive claim of the Catholic Church a proof of her truth . ; . . .-•.-'.. . . 128 ■ ' . ■ |letterxix. To Janus Brown, ^sq. Second Mark of the True C|^rch, Sanctity. Sanctity ef doctrine wanting to the ditferent Pivtestant Communions— to Luther's sys- tem— to Calvin's— to that of the Established Church— to those of Dissenters and Methodistsi Doctrine of the Catholic Church Holy 133 .POSTSCRIPT. Variations and impiety of the^ate Rev. John Wesley's doetrino 140 LETTER XX. i . ■ •'^ To James Brown, Esq. Means of Sanctity. ThTSeven'Sacraments, possessed by CaQiolics. Protestants possfiss^none of them, except Baptism. The whole Liturgy of the EsUblished Church borrowed from the Catholic Mis- sal and Ritual. Sacritice'the most acceptable worship of God. The most pejTfect Sacrifice offered in the Catholic Church.' Pro- testants deMitute of SacHfice. Other means of Sanctity in the Ca- tholic communion . -.'i , .148 -■■■-\. ' , ' LETTER XXL /■;' '' \ I To Janus Brown, Esq, ' > Fruits of Sanctity. All the saints were Catholics. Commriaon of eminent Protestants with eontemitbrary Catholics. Immoraiitr ^caused by changing the Ancient Religion .... 160 " *^^^^ LETTER, XXH. To tkr. J. Toulmin. Objections altered. Fidse accounts of the Church before the Re- forma^n, so called. Ditto of John Fox's Martyn. The vice* of B few Pi^M no impeachment of the Church's Saneti^. ^r^i«l ■ '-- ' ' • '% ^- \ T ,/ - ■■'A- ' i ^ . " • " n ■ *• f * 1 t « ^ * «. * " > f » i V - ". * * 1 •■ ■«- # ■ - „ "„ ' -% ^ * *» ^ « t 4 ' ^ 1 4 • • • * «* ^ • CofUetitt.% ■:-. ' ' pneticMaiid ezercisM commit among Camolics but despised by Protestants ... .-t ... . . . ■ - "^LETTER XXIII. . V , ■ To James Brown, Esq. ' Divine Attestation of Sanctity in the Catliolic Church. Miracles the Criterion of Truth. Chrisiappeals to them, and promises a contin- . uatioBt of them. The Hol/Pathers and Church writers attest their .continuation, and appeal to them, in proof of the* True Church. Evidence of the Truth of many Miracles. Irreligious scepticism ol Dr. Conner's MiJdleton: this undermines the'Credit of the Gospel. Continuation of miracles down to the present time: liviuK witness- esof it . . . . . . . ... '"* LETTER 3CXIV, ' hi* 153 If* • To Janes Brown, Esq. Objections answered. False and unauthenticated miracles no dispiooC of true and authenticated ones. Strictness of the examination of re- ported miracles at Rome. Not necessary to know God's design in working each miracle. Examination of the arguments' of celebra* tednProtestants against Cathol ic. miracles. Objection of Gibbon mA ^, the late bishop of Salisbury (Dr. John Douglass) against St. Ber- nard's mi.rarles refuted. St. Xavier's miracles proved from the au- thors quoted agaidst them. Dr. iMiddleton's confident assertion dearly refuted. Bishop Douglass's Conelusipe Evidencefrom Acoa- te against St. Xavier's miracles clearly refuted, by the testimony of the said Acosta. Testimony of Ribadeneira concerning St Igna- tius's miracles truly stated. True account of the miracle of sSira- gossa. Inl^tures at the tomb of AbbS Paris. Refutation of the Rev.-Peter Robert's pamphlet, concerning' the miraculous cure of f Winefrid White • . 'S^ ' . LETT^XXV. •. ' To James Broien, Esq. . ^ The True Church, Catholic. Always Catholic in name, by the testi- mony of the Fibers. Still distinguished by that name in spite of mil opposition ^ , LETTER XXVI. To James Brown Esq. Qualities of Catholicity. Thetliurch Catho^ as to its members: u to its extent; as to its duration. The originsl Church of this coun-* ^ 179 LETTER XXVII. To James Brown, Esq. Objections of the Rev. Josuah Clark answered. Existence of an in- vifiMe CittrcA disproved. Vain attempt to trace the existence of Protestantism through the discordant heresies of former ages. Vain Prognostication of the failure of the True Church. Late attempts to undermine it Ig4 LETTER XXVIII. To Jamts Brown, Esq. The True Church, Aposioliefit : so described bi the andent Fathem. A P OSTOr ^ - ^ — - - 16a 176 Contents. vtt 1' brief aeeoant of the Popes tnd of distinguished Past9n, also of iui« .^ tions converted by her, and of heretics and schismatics cutoff from the True Church 188 LETTERXXIX. To James Brown, Esq. Apostolical succession of Ministry in the Catholic Church. Among Protestant Societies the Church of England alone claims%uch sue- - cession. Doctrine and conduct of Luther, and of different Dissen* ters on this point. Uncertainty of the Oj^ders, of the Established Church from the doctrine of its founders-Hfrom the history of ihe , times — fro^ the defectiveness of the form. / Apostolic Mission, ev7- dently wantfng to all Protestants. They i^annot show an ordinary < mission: they cannot work miracles to prove an extraordinary one 199 LETTER XXX. ToJatnes Brown, Esq. Objections of the Rev. Josuah QIark answered. Jp^tolical mintstty not interrupted by the personal vices of cert^HFopes. Fable of Pope Jotin refuted. Comparison, between tbe^rotesfant and the Catholic Missions for the conversion of Infidels. Vain prediction of conversions and of reformation by the Bible Societies. Increase of crimes commensurate with that of the Societies/ . . 908 POSTSCRIPT. Rfc^iitnlation of things proved in the foregoing Letters ,• 915 PART in. LETTER XXXI. To the Rev. J. M. D. D. Introduction. Effects produced by the foregoine Letters on the ^ minds of Mr. Brown, and others of his Society. This in part coun- ^ teracted by the Bishop of London's (Dr. Porteus') Charges against Ihe Catholic Religion 218 LETTER XXXU. ( To James Brownt Esq. * * Observations on the Charges in question. Impossibility of the True | Church being guilty of them. Just conditions to be required by a Catholic Divine in discussing them. CalumAy and misrepresenta- * tion necessary wewons for the assailanU^of the Thie Church. Iq> * stances of gross calumny published t^«i|6nerit Protestant writers, noW living. Effects of these calunUiies. No Catholic ever shaken in his faith by them. They occasion the conversion of many Pro- testants. They render thejr authors dreadfully guilty before God 819 LETTER XXXIIL r A .TV Janus Brown, Esq. Charge of Idolatry. Protestantism not originally founded on this. Invocation of the Prayers of Angels and Sainte grossly misrepre* sented by Ptotestauts: truly stated from the Council of Trent, and Catholic DcRtors. Vindication of the practice. Evasive attack of the Bishop of Durham: Retorted upon nis Lordship. The practice recommendod by Luther; vindicated by distinguished Protestint / BIM6IIMI. Not iib^oMd upon the ^thittl: highly eonsolii^~ind ificia beneficial fOi Cotitints. LETTER XXXiy. To James Brown, Esq. Religious Memorials. Doctrine and practice of Catholics, most of all, misrepresented on this head. Old Protestant versions of Scripture corrupted to favour such misrepresentation. Unbounded calumnies in the Homilies, and other Protestant publications. True doctrine of the Catholic Church defined by the Council of Trent, and taught - in her hooks of instruction. Errors of Bishop Porteus, in fact and in reasoning. Inconsistency of his own practice. No obligation on Catholics of possessing pious images, pictures, or relicif . LETTER XXXV. T\>the Rev. Robert Clayton, M. A Objections refuted. That the Saints cannot hear us. Eztr«ragant ad^ dresses to Saints. Want of candour in explaining them. No cvi> ' 4ence of the Faith of the Church. Notorious falsehoods of the Bp. r tllow ii d of c om. mnnioa in one kind; dM the French Calrinirta; alK> the Choreh «r England SM tar ^^■• 23? 1 of the Bp. > 338 concerning eknowiedg- en, in con- of second- lie Prelates «int 341 Contents. LETTER XL. To James Brown, Esq. ix ccellenee of Sherifice. Appointed by God. Practised by all pe<»le. ' except Protestants. Sacrifice of the New Law, oromised of old to the Christian Church. Instituted by Christ. The Holy Pathen bear testimony to it, and performed it. St. Paul's Epistle to the He- brews misinterpreted by the Bishops of London, Lincoln, 4kc. De- <^«pt«<»'>i*f talking of ihe Popish. Mass. Inconsistency of Estab-^^ lished Church in ordaining Priests without having a Saerikee. Ir- ' religious invectives of Dr. Hey against the Holy Mass, without his understanding it! . 261 LETTER XLL . To the Rev. Robert Clayton, M. A. Ibiolution from sin. Horrid misrepresentation of Catholic doctriae Real doctrine of the Church; defined by the Council of Trent' This pure and holy. Violent distortion of Christ's words conceml ing the forgiveness of sins, by Bishop ,Porteus. Opposite doctrine ot ChiUingworth: and of Luther and the Lutherans: and of the Es- tablished Liturgy. Inconsistency of Bishop P. Refutation of hia arguments about confession: and of his assertions concerning the an- cient doctrine. Impossibilityofimposing this practice on mankind. Testimony of Ghillingworth as to the comfort an4 benefit of a Kood confession '^i— .^ ° LETTER XLIL To the Rev. Robert Clayton, M. A. Indulgences. Unsupported false definition of them by the Bishop of London. His further calumnies on the sujqect. Similar calumnies of other Protestant Prelates and Divines. " The genuine doctrine of Catholics. No permission to commit sin. No pardon of anyjutura sin. No pardon of sin at all. No exemption from contrition or do- ing penance. No transfer of superfluous holiness. Retortion of the chaige on the Protestant tenet of imputed justice. A mere re- laxation of temporal punishment. No encouragement of vice; but nther of virtue. Indulgences authorized in all Protestant Societies Proofs of this in the Church of England. Among the Anab^tists. Amonf; the ancient and modern Calvinists. Scandalous Bulls. Dia- pensaUon, and Indulgences of Luther and his disciples . , . LETTER XLIII. V the Rev. Robert Clayton, M, A. Nrgatory and Prayers for the dead. Weak objection of Dr. Porteos against a middle state. Scriptural argumentii for it. Dr. P's Ap« peal to Antiquity defeated. Testimonies of Lutherans and English Prelates in favour of Prayers for the Dead. Eminent modem Pro* testanto, who proclaim a Universal Purgatory. Consolations attend- ing the Catbou tapy. Other charges against the Popedom refuted . . . S91 1 _„ LETTER XLVI. I -' To the Rn. RpUtl Qlaylon, M. A.' The Pope's Supremacy truly stated.' His spiritual authority proVed from scripture. Exercised and acknowledged in the primitive ages. • St. Gregory*^ contest with the Patriarch, of C. P. about the title of CEcumenic^L Concessions of eminent Protestants . . 297 ' LETTER XLVII. ToJamtt BroiSn, Jun. Esq. The language of the Lituinr and Reading the Scriptures. Language a matter of discipline. Reasons for the Latin Church retaining the Latin Language. Wise economy of the Church as to reading the Holy Spriptures. Inconsistencies of the Bible Societies . . ' 301 . LETTER XLYIII. To James Brown, J*M. Esq. Tarious misrmresentations. Canonical and Apocryphal hooka of Scripture. Pretended invention of five new Sacraments. Inten- tion of Ministers of the Sacrampntsi. Continence of Mie Clergy-^ Recommended by Parliament. , Advantages of fasting. Deposition of Sovereigns by Popes far less frequent than by Protestant Reformers. ' The bishop's egregious falsehoods respecting the primitive Church 314 LETTER XLIX. To James Brown, J^n. Esq. Religious Persecution. The Catholic Church claims no right toJa* flict sanguinary punishments, but disclaims it. The right of tem- poral Princes and Stat^ in this matter. Meaning of Can. 3^ Late- ran iv. truly stated. Queen Mary peirsecuted as a Sovereign^ not as acholic. James II. deposed for refusing to persecute. Retortion - of me chari^e upon Protestants the most effectu^^way of silencing them upon it. Instances of persecution by Pi^iestanls in every Protestant country: in Germany: in Switzerland: at Geneva, and in France: in Holland: in Sweden: in Scotland: in England. Vio- lence and long continuance of it here. Eminent loyalty of Catho- lics. Two circumsUnces which distinguish the persecution exer- cised by Catholics from that exercised by Protestants LETTER L. To ^ Friendly Societif of New Cottage. Conclusion. Recapitulation of points proved in these letters. The True Rule of Faith: The True Church of Christ. Falsity of the Charges alleged against her. An equal moral evidence for the Ca- tholic as for the Christian Religion. The former, by the confession of its adversaries, the safer side. No security too great where Eternity is at stake! . . A POSTSCRIPT T O th e s econds 319^ 336 of St. David's, occasioned by his Lordship's < One Word to the lUp. Dr. Milner.' . •• . S41 : him. Their argeof Apoi vm* S91 horityproVed rimitive ages, ut th« titlo of m 1. Language retaining tfie D reading the es . . '301 lal hooka of lents. Inten- M>e Clergy— Deposition of at Reformers, tive Church 314 DO right toJa* right of tem> Can. 3^ Late* ereign^ not as te. Retortion T of silencing inis in ever/ Genera, and- igland. Vio- ilty of Catho- scutiod exer- . . 319 letters. The i'alsity otthe :e for the Ca- he confession great where — • 336 rdtotlU Rmt. ADDRESS, - x^- I ^_ •>TO| THE RIGHT REVEREND LORD BISHOP 0^ ST. DAVID'S. My Lord, The following Letters, with 8<^me others belonging to the same series, we^e written in the Iatt<^r part of the year 1801, and the I iir^t monthV of 1802, though 4hey have since that time been :| revised, and, in some respects, altered. They grew out of the M controversy,') which the principal writer of them was obliged to ■^ sustain againl^l an eminent author, a prebendary of the cathedral, and the clianbellor of the diocese of Winchester, who had per- sonally challenged him to the field of argument, ifi a book, called Reflections on Popery. That controversy having made some noise in the public, and even in the house of parliament, par* ticularly in the upper house, where the lord chancellor,* uid a,- predecessor of your lordship, then the light and glory of the established church,t expressed opposite opinions on the issue of it, pertain powerful personages expressed an earnest wish for its termination. For this porpbse, the usual method of silencing authors was at first resolved upon with respect to the writer/' and a Catholic gentleman of name, still living, was commissioned to, sound him on the business : but, in conclusion, it was thought most advisable to employ the influence which the prelate alludeS . to had so justly acquired over him. This method succeeded ; and, accordingly, these Letters, which, otherwise, would have been published fifteen years' ago, have slept in silence ererisince. I trust your lordship will not be the person to ask me, why the Letters, after having been so long suppressed, now appear ? —You. are witness, my lord, of the increased and increasing virulence of the press against Catholics; and this, in many instances, directed by no ignoble or profane hands. Abundant proofs of this will be seen in the following work. .For the present, it is sufficient to mention, that one of your modt vene- rable colleagues publishes and re-publishes, that w« stand The Right Hon. fte Earl of Loughboroii S41 -fei Addresi s I I- conyiiited of idolatry, 'blasphemy,'«aA sacrilege. Another pro- claims to the clergy, assembled in Synod, that we are enemies of all law, human and divine. More than one of them has charged us with the guilt of that Anti'Christian conspiracy On the conti- ' nent, of which we were exclusively the victims.- This dignitary 'accuses us of Antinomianism ; that maintains our religion to be \ ft only for persons weak in body and in mind.) In short, we seldom find ourselves, or our religion, mentioned in modern sermons, or other theological works, unaccompanied with the epithets ot superstitious, idolatrous, impious, disloyal, perfidious, and sanguinary. One of the theologues alluded to, who, like many others, has gained promotion by the fervour of his NO POPERY zeal, has esalted his/tone to^the pitch of proclaiming that our religion t> calculated for the meridian of hell //-^Thus solemnly, and almost contini^m^, charged before the tribunal of the public, with crimesaglunst society and our ^ountry, no less than against religioii, and yet conscious', all the while, of our entire innocence, it is not only lairful, but also a ^uty, which we owe to our fellow-a^bjects and ourselves, to repel these charges, by pro^ying that tBtsre was reason, and religion, and loyalty, ana good faith among Christians, befonM.uther quarrelled with Leo X., and Henry VI LI. fell in love ^with Ann Qullen , and . that, if we ourselves have not ^ yet been persuaded by the ar^ments, either of the monk or the monarch, to relinquish the faiUi originally preached in this island, above 1300 years before their time, we are, at least, possessed of common sense, virtuous jprineiptes, and unatained loyalty. The writer might assign another reason for making the present publication ; namely, the number and acrimony of his own public opponents on subjects of religion. To say nothing of the ground- less charges, by word of mouth, of Certain privileged personages, the following writers Are some of those who have published books, pamphlets, essays, or notes against him, on subjects of a religious nature ; the deans of Winchester and Peterborough ; chancellor Sturges ; prebendary Poulter ; the doctors Hoadly, Ash, Rya^, Ijcdwich, Le Mesurier,* and £lrington ; Sir Rich- . * To line only objection of his adversaries, the writer wishes here to give aa answer, that of having quoted falsely ; which, however, has been ad* Tinced t^y very few of them, and is confined, as far as he knows, to two in- stances. The first of these, is, that the writer, in his Hiitory of Wtnchet' ttr, vol. i. p. 61, " quotes Gildas, for ihe exploits of king Arthur, who never once mentions his name." This objection was first started by Dr. O'Conor, -ifthii..Criit« < »iii t >,.Mn Mi borrow e d J'romhim»by-tha..ReY..Mr.....Lfl.MffiiHriM» in his Btmpton Leetures^ and was adopted from the latter by the Rev. Mr. Oiisr. ill his Answer l» Ward's Errata. ^After all, this preteBd«l/«rf «if 4 *<>1 Address. xm Another pro- 3 are enemies n has charged on the conti- Phis dignitary religion to be In short, we d in modern lied with the 'alf perfidious, to, who, like ur of his NO )f proclaiming Ae////-Thus he tribunal of untry, no less while, of our . duty, which t repel these religion, and her quarrelled Ann Qullen , luaded \ty the relinquish the ) years before r«n«e, virtuous ig the present lis own public gf the ground- d personages, ive published I subjects of a i^eterborough ; :tors Hoadly, n ; Sir Rich* het here to give r, bu been ad* nows, to two in* ory of winches- thur, wbo never by Dr. O'Conor, i.t..Lfl M M Ha Bfe ard Musgrare, John Reeves, £sq. ; the Reverend Messrs Wil* ^liamson, Bazeley, Churton, Grier, arid Roberts; besides numerous I anonymous riflemen in the Gentleman's Ma^ung^the Monthly Magazine, the Anti*Jacobin Review, the^-Pfotestant\ Advocate, : the Antibiblion, and other peribdical w6rks^ including newspa- pers. By tome of these he has been challenged into the field of controversy^ and wheoi he did not appear there, he has been ^ posted as a cotiMircf. '\ ' 't A ytill more cogent reason, my Ibrd, for the appearance of ; this work, which was heret^foi^ suppressed, at the desire of a former bishop of St. David'a^i has been furnished by his present 'successor, in the work the latter has lately published, c^ed THE PROTESTANT'S CATECHISM. This is no ordinary eflusion of NO POPERY zeal. It was not called for by the increase of the ancient religion in his lordship^s diocese, i^hich teems with Methodist jumpers, to the danger of his cathedrfl , and parish churches being left quite empty; while not one Catholic family, is, perhaps, to be found in it. It wteinot pio- ) voked by any late attempt on the established church, or on ^ Protestanisra in general ; as the. bishop does not pretend that I such thing has takea place. Nevertheless he comes forward in ihis Episcopal mitre, bearing in his hands a new Protestant Catechism, to be learnt by Protestants of every description, which teaches them to hate and persecute their -«lder brethren, the authors 6f their Christianity and civilizatioji ! Iw factj this Christian bishop, begins and ends his Protestant Catechism) with a quotation from a Puritan regicide, declaring, that " Popery is not to be tolerated, either in public or in private, and that tt must be thought how to remove it, and hinder the growth thereof:" adding, " if they say, that, by removing their idols we violate I their consciences, we have no warrant to regard conscience, which 11^ not grounded on Scripture."* This, your lordship [ of the-wriUr, will be found, on consulting the passage referred to above to benothmgelse hvXa blvnder of his critics ; since it will appear that 'he quotes William, of Malmsbury, for the exploits of Arthur and jQildas barely [for cant which brought Laud, and Charles I. to the block ; the same cant which overthrew the church and state in the grand rebellion. But what chiefly concerns my present purpose, in this, the bishop's twice repeated quotation from Milton, is to observe that it breathes the whole persecuting spirit of th» .sixteenth century, and cdls for the fines and forfeitures, dungeons and halters, and knives, of Elizabeth's reign, a||(fnst the devoted Catholics ; since, it is evident, that the idolath/ of Popery, as it is t«rmed, exercised ^tn private, cannot be remaned without sych persecuting and sanguinary measures. The same thing is plain from the nature of the diflerent legal offences which the Right Rev. prelate lays to their charge. In one place, he accuses the Catholics of England and Ireland, that is to say, more than a (Jiarter of his majesty's European subjects, of " acknowledging the jurisdiction of the Pope, in defiance of the laws, and of the ailegiance due to their rightful Sovereign:" though he well knowsl;^ that they have abjurecL the Pope's jurisdiction in all civil and temporal eases, vil^ch is all that the king, lords and commons required of them, in th<)ir Acts of 1791 and 1793. Again, the prelate tlescribes theit, opposition to the veto (though equally the Long parliament ar« exeerabtig, for their regicide a«d anti-prelatic prin- ciples, as his poetry is 8upei>ed(^ellent for its sublimity and sweetness. Four other English authors are brought forward, by the bishops of St. David's, to justify that persecution of Catholics, which he recommetids. The first of these is the Socinian Locke, who will not allow of Catholics being tolera- ted, on the demonstrated, false pretext, that they cannot tolerate other Christians. The true catase was, that his hands being stained by the blood Of twenty innocent'Cathol^cs, who were immolated by the sanguinary policy of his master Shafls^ry, in Oates' infamous plot, he was obliged to find a pretext for excluding them from the legal toleration, which he stood in need of himself.— Bishop Hoadly, who had no religion at all of his own, would not allow the Catholics to enjoy theirs, because, he says : " no oathi and solemn assurances, no regard to truth, justice, or honor, can I'estrain them." This is the hypocritical plea for intolerance, of a man who was in the constant-habit of violating all his oaths and engagements to a church which had raised him to rank and fortune, and who systematically pursued its degradation, into his own anti-Christian Socinianism, by professed deceit and treachery, as will be seen in the Letters.— >—Blackstone, being a crown lawyer, and writing when the penal laws were in force, could not but de- fend them : but, judge as he was, and writing at the above mentioned time, he, in the passage following that quoted by Dr. Burgess, expressed ahope, . that the time " was not distant, when the fears of a Pretender having van- ished, and the influence of the Pope becoming feeble, the rigorous edicts against the Catholics would be revised," b. iv. c. 4. ; which event, accord- ingly, soon took placjB. As to Burke, the last author whom the bishop i w t e s again st C?a th oli c e ma n cip a t i on , ~it -irevidentifrom- ht a spee eh -«t- Jristol, bis letter to lord Kenmare, and the whole tenor of bis conduct, fluU Ve was not only a warm friend, but, in some degree, a martyr to it It *''-■ 1 %-^,. Addr$ts. vt odependent; the block ; state in the lent purpose, Milton, is to tpirit of thv es, dungeon* t the devoted Popery, as it nrithout svch :hing is plain ihthe Right 1 accuses the more than a knowledging r, and of the I well knowsl;^ all civil and nd commons Again, the )ugh equally ti-prelatic prin- reetness. Four St. David's, to s. The first of :s being tolera- tolerate other ed by the blood the sanguinary was obliged to which he stood all of his own, lys : " no oaths or, can I'estrain I man who was nts to a church tically pursued professed deceit , being a crown lid not butde- lentioned time, Pressed ahope, . er having van- rigorous edicts event, accord- lom the bishop of bis conduct, martyr to it I ■I opposed in the appointment of their respective pastors by all Protestant dissenters, who constitute more than another fourth part of his majesty's subjects,) as " treasonable by statute," p. 35. Now, every one knows that the legal punishinent of a subject, acting in defiance of kis allegiance, and contracting the guilt of treason, is nothing less than death. Nay, so much bent on the persecution of Catholics is thismodern bishop, as to arraign parliament itself a^ guilty of a breach of the Constitution, by the latter of the above mentioned tolerating Acts ; where he says : " If the elective franchise be reially inconsistent with the Constitutional Statutes of the revolution, it ought to, be repealed, like all other concessions, that are injurious to loyalty and reli- gions—He adds, " But it does not follow that because parliament had been guilty of one act of prodigality, that it should, therefore, like a thoughtless and unprincipled spendthrift, plunge itself into inextricable ruin," pp. 63, 54. Thus, my lord, though the prelate alluded to, after advertising, in his table of contents, A. CONCLUSION, showing " the means of co-operating with the laws for preventing the danger and increase ot Popery," when he comes to the proper place for inserting it, apologizes for deferring its publication, as '.' being connected with the credit of the ecclesiastical establishment," yet, we see as clearly, from the substance and drift of the Protestant's Catechism, what his Con- clusion is, as if he had actually published it ; nairiely, he would have the whole code of penal laws, with all their incapacities, fines, imprisonment, hanging, drawing, and quartering, re-enacted, to prevent even4he private practice of idolatry; and he would have the bishops, clergy, churchwardens, and constables, em- ployed in enforcing them, according to the forms of Inquisition, prescribed by the Canons of 1597, 1603, and 1640. Before the writer passes from the present subject of loyalty and the laws, to others more congenial with his studies, and those of the prelate, he wishes to submit, to your lordship'* reflection two or three questions connected with it. First : Is it strictly legal, even for a lord of parliament, and is It edifying for a bishop, to instruct the public, especially in these days of insubordination ancl commotion, that the reigning king, and the two houses of parliament, have acted against the Constitutional Statutes, by affording religious relief to a large and loVal pohion of Bntish subjects ; as king WiUiam, George I. and George If. had afforded it to other portions of them ? We.all know what Queries are continually raised about violating the Constitntjun, iHff we know what effect these are intended'to produce : now, if a turbulent populace are made to believe that the present xn 1 Address, legislature has acted ittegatfy and uneonstitutionallu in some of Its acts, 18 there no dang>?r that thoy may form the same notion concerning some of its other acts, which are peculiarly obnoxious to them, and that they may rank these among the Pietitious Statutes, aa this pretete terms the Acts of Parliament ofihree former rpigns .?.=^SecondIy : The writer wishes tp ask your lord- ship, whether or no you think it is for the peace and safety of the sister isle, to alarm the bulk of its inhabitants with the threat ot their being dispossessed df the elective franchise, which they have liow enjoyed for a quarter of a century ? In like manner. 18 It eonducive to this important end, for a person of his lord- Ships character and consequence to assure this people, that the Popes jurisdiction, and England's dominion over them, "were introduced into Ireland by the mercenary compact of the Pope and Henry II.' p. 24,«/founded on a fiction of the grossest kliij the pretended donation of Constanline," p. v. though, 4)y the bye this was never once mentioned or hinted' at by either of the parties ?— Lastly : T^e writer would be glad to be informed by your lordship whether it is for the advantage of the established church so highly to extol John Wickliffe, who maintained that clergymen oughjl to have no sort of temporal possessions ? And y IS It for the security of the state to hold up lord Cobham as " a f' great and good man, and the martyr of Protestantism," p. vii •. who was convicted in the King's Bench, and in open parliament of raising an insurrection of twenty thousand men, fqr the pur- pose of killing the king and his brother, and the lords spiritual and temporal, and who was executed rfr the same, merelv .because he was ,a Wickliffite? How innocent was colonel" Uespard, compared with sir John (Mdcastle, called lord Gobham ! I he writer has spoken of the cfbject of iho publication which has lately appeared, under the name of a Rt. Rev. bishop of the estabhshed church : he now proceeds to say something of its contents. „ ° It proXewea to-be- -THE PROTESTANT'S CATECHISM From this title, most people will suppose it to be an elementaru book, for the instruction of Protestants of every description, in thi doctrtne- and morality taught by JeSits Christ: but not a word can the wn^ find in it about Christ, or Qpd, or any doctrinal matter whaWver; except that, " They, who « do not hold the worship of the church of Rome to be idolatrous, artf not Protes- tants, whatever they may profess to be," p. 46. ; Which is a sentence of excommunication against maiiy of the brightest •Ut'ffi.rstow* &" ' "•^'"^'^•"^n»»l>lon LeisMt Collier'* Ee. Address. fy in some of 9 8am9 notion irly obnoxious the Fictitious menf of three ask your lord- md safety of vith the threat e, which they like manner, 1 of his lord- ople, that the them, " were \ of the Pope grossest kiiid, i,4)y the bye, either of the ) informed by e established intained that sions ? And abham as " a xvU 'm.-p vii.», n parliament, for the pur- rds spiritual ame, merely, was colonel*, ird Cobham ! :ation which >ishop of the sthingof its rECHISM. n elementary iption, in the' not a word ly doctrinal ot hold the 'not Protes- which is a le brightest CoUier'i Ee< jhts and chief ornaments of the bishop's own church. Not Des this novel Catechism contain any moral or practical lesson ; Kcept that, " Every member of parliament's conscience is ledged against the Catholic claims ;**, and, what has been men- , oned before, that as " Popery is idolatrous, it is not fo be tolera- k(f (either in public or in private," and that "it must be now liought how to remove it," p. 3. Had the Catechism appeared Mthout a name, it might be supposed to be a posthumous work " lord George Gordon ; but, had its origin been traced to the kiountains of WaleSfit would certainly be attributed to some Inerant Jumper, rather than to a successor of St. Dubritius and 8l- David. What, however, chiefly distinguishes The Protestant atechism from other No Popery publications, is, not so much ke strength of its acrimony, as the boldness of its paradoxes, fhese, for the most paft, stand in contradiction to all ancient/ »cords and 'modem authors, Protestant as well as Catholic 9ing supported by the bare word of the bishop of St. David's/: nd what is still more extraordinary, they sometimes stand in jntradiction to the word of the bishop of St. David's himself psting in this case, on the worc^ of DK Thomas Burgess;! iirpose exhibiting a few of the paradoxes I refer to. i j ■■ 'I'he great and fundamental paradox of the Right ReV. Cats- Mst is, that Protestantism subsisted many iiundred years be/ore fopery ; at the same time that he makes its essence consist in renunciation of, and opposition to. Popery ! for his lordship kctures his Protestant pupils in the following manner : " Ques- lon. What is Protestantism ? Answer. The abjuration of popery and the exclusion of Papists from all power, ecclesiastical id civil." p. 12. " Question. What is Popery ? Answer. The eligion of the church Of Rome, so called because the church of ^ome is subject to the jurisdiction of the Pope." p. II . " Ques- »n. When was this jurisdiction assumed over the whole lurch ? Answer. At the beginning of the seyenth century." 15. The writer does not here refute the various, errors of the tight Rev. bishop on these heads ; this refutation will be found the following letters ; he barely exhibits one of the bishop's fading paradoxes. It may be here stated as another very ' ^vourite paradox of the prelate, since he has maintained it in a brmer work, that, because Venantius Fotunatus, a poet of the Ixth century, sings, that " the stylus, or writings of St, Paul, lad run east, west, north, and south, and passed into Britain and ^e remote Thiile," and because Theodoret, and author of the -century, says, that "St. Paul brought salva t ion klands in the sea," (namely, Malta and Sicily, Acts xxviii.) it ' V, r ' ' ;>- zviU ^ Aiireat. ^% E!* M '1! J"^: follow* tlwt the British church yt&b founded by St. Paul J p. 19.» This pc^lox might be stated and even granted, for any thing it makes in i'avour. of the bighop's object, which is to invalidate the aopremacy of saint Peter. For it matters not which apostle ' founded this churcV>r that church, while it is evident from (he wprda of Christ, in St. Matthew, c. xvi. v. 18, and in oijk texts, arid from the concurring testimony of the fathers, and^l antiquity, that Christ built the whole church on the fouj|f of the apostles and prophets,, he himself being the chia|; col atone, so as still to ground it, next after himself, finmmRock, Poter.f This wil^be found demonstrated in the lqU|flH^ork, Letter xlvi. A third paradox of the prela|i((; pateehtT^ Haviiig undertaken to prove- that "The church of llonie was founded by St^. Paul," p. 13, noles»,than the church of • Britain, he attempts to draw an argument/rom their dipftnt . discipline in the observance of Easter ; thatthe latter was " inde- pendent" of the former, p. 23. Hence it would follpw that St. Paul established one discipline, that which the prelate himse)f now follows, at Rome; and ffnorter, " thtit of the church of Epjiesus, and' the- eastern churches, in Britain," p. 17. The Jruth is, hif lordship has quite bewildered himself in the ancient coMroveeWpiibout the right time of keeping Easter.- He will ' learn, ^(P^er, from the following letters, that the-British church originally agreed with that of Rome, in this, no less than in the other points, as the emperor Constantino expressly declares in his letter on that 8ubject,| and as 'farther appears bv the Acts of the Council of Aries, which the British bishops, there present, joined with the rest in subscrffiing. And when, after the Saxon ' invasion, tl|e British' churches got into a wrong computation, the/ did not follow that or the Asiatic Quarto-decimans, but always -kept Easter-day on a Sunday, differing^from the practice of the contiiieat only once in seven years. A fourth paradox of the . Catechism maker, is, that, admittipg, as he does, the existence .ofour christian king, Luciusj inJ^jigmnd ceittury, he, never- V *j^^ ''^.^^ ^» inference and33S|Hl Md unfalilibf tli^ bishop's arguffilents on the whole s^HhHIi well exIO^ by an • able and learned writer, the Rev. ^WBgwlf^ri' his Examination n/ t|ffto»« Opinions advanced by the. Rpv. Dr. Burgess, 4-c. 1813. Syer*. Manchester ; Keating ft Brown; EVpdon e . f^ " •»• ^f""' t The Rigjjt Rev. prelate seems to have been forced out of his former cavil concerning the difference of gender between mrpos and Uerpa in the text. Matt XVI. by a learned colleague of his [Jiandaff.^m remote ages was a ^orn in the side of MenevJa] who has shown, him that Christ ^id not ■'■■ ■pc"''"' **»t- Briton, c. xvili. Girald, Cambr. l5e Jur. Menev P. u. >gl. Sac. p 541. Silvest. Oirald. Camb. Descript. c. xviii. The^cient pgwter of Landaff, quod Teilo vo6atur. Angl. Sacra, vol. ii. Gildaa ^'S.u"^"i' fl""^** ''y Rudborn. Galfrid Monumet. Ven. Bede. L. i. c: The Saxon Chronicle. Gul. Malm. Antiq. Glaston. Martyr. Rom derus, &c. &c. It St Athan. Apolog. 2. See also Usher. * Can. iii. l'\fAoP!.wT."**"P' Celestiniis Germanum Antisidorenscm Episco- inj, VICE &UA mittit, « dcturbatis haereticis, Brltannos ad Catholicam ■eto dirigit," Chron. ad An. 439. See also Archbish. Usher. De Brit feci. Prim. hf '• PostquamBTsedicti Senlores (Germanus et Lupus) Pelagianam hsre. in extirpaverant rEpiscopos in pluribus Iocis4h-itannis Insuls conaecn.' erunt Super omnes autem Britannos dextralis partis Britannie B Du- li!i-i'""l.m ' ^" ". Tr ■"■"'i'^'^?"' *J?^^"_.!!^J"°.''' 1?"°°^ electum, Archi» vt'f uuL" E x Att^q. Eccl. ''^t^,^ r If v. '■r- ;'\.; i>/ ' * "" i .4.ddress. Britiih.cHurch on the See of Rome, has not our episcopal anti* I quary met with, in. his own favorite author and predecessor, [ Giraldus Cambrensia,* especially where the latter gives an acconntt)f his pleading before the Pope for the Archiepiscopal dignity of St. David's, which the latter asserted was formerly dec(»rated even with the. Pallium, the mark of Papal legatine jurisdiction ; till one of his ptedecessors, Sampson as he asserted, flying into Britany, transferred it to Dol ? He maintained, , however, that, excepting the use of the Pallium, the churchy of St. David possessed the whole metropolitical dignity, and Was •• subject to no other church except that of Rome, and to that immediately:'^ The itaodem prelate does but add to the wonder of his learned j-eaders by appealing to the conference between St. Austin, Pope Gregory's missionary and le^te in England, and the Welsh bishops, A. D. 502, and to the latters " rejecting . the overtures" of the former, in proof of their " rejecting the Pope's authority," p. 24. For, what were these overtures' They were these three : that they, the Welsh bishops, would keep Easter at the right time ; that they would adopt the Roman ntnal in the administration of baptism ; and that they would join with the Roman missionaries in preaching the word of God to the Pagan Engliah-J This last overture demonstrates, that neither on the two former points, nor on any other point, and least of all on that of the Pope's supremacy, was there, in the Opinion of St. Austin, any difference, of essential consequence, between his doctrine and that of the Welsh bishops. For, if there had been such a difference, and especially ifth«y had denied the supremacy of his master, the Pope, would he have invited, and even pressed them, to join with him in preaching the gospel to his new and increasing flock in England ? As well may we believe that a faithf&l shepherd would collect together, and turn into his fold, a number of hungry wolves ! It 'The New Biographical Dictionarjf. divides "Siltfester Giraldua Cam- bronsis into two differentpersons, whereasj it i« plainr^rom this author*! pescription of Wales, p. 8#i, Edit. Cambden. that the«6 three names be- long to one and the same author. t •• Usque ad Anglorfcni Jlegem Henricum I. tofam Metropoliticam die- nitatem, pneter usum Pallii, Ecclesia Menevensis obtinuit ; nulli Ecriesia proraqs, «in Romana tanlum,st iili imnudiate, sicut nee Ecclesia Scotica. •ubjectionehi debens." De Jur. Menev. Ecc. Angl. Sac P. ii. p. 641,- Ihe rival See of Landaff bears equal testimony to the supremacy of Rome • Bicut Romana Ecclesia excedit dignitatem omnium Ecclesiarum Catho- lics fidei, ita Ecclesia ilia Landavia excedit omnes Ecclesias totius dex train Britannie." Ex Antiq. Regist. Landav. Angl. Sac. P. ii. p 669 t " yt gentl Anglorum una nobiscum predicetia verbam Domini." Bed Bed. Hut L. ii. c. 9. Address. / xA h true they theu said they would hot receive St. Augustin foi Vir archbishop :* but neither did he nor the^ope require them S^o so ; nor is the vindication of the rights of an ancient church, ; any time, a denial of the Pope's general supremacy. So far. om this, within two years from the holding of that conference, re find Oudoceus, bishop of Landaff, going to Canterbury to kceive consecration from the same St. Austin, and we find him fcceived, on his return into Wales, by the king, princess, clergy |id people, with the highest honor.f We have, moreover, the WUmony of the abif^e. quoted British register, that the bishops , LandaflT, from this period, were always subject and obedient [ the archbishop of Canterbury, who was at all times the Pope's P^-, '^^ ^•g'»* Ii®v. bishop's argument to prove that the Ish church was not, anciently, in communion with the church Kome, namely, because it was in communion with the British shops, p. 24, IS as great a paradox ad any of the above men- oned ; since it has been proved that the British bishops them- Wves were always in communion with the church of Rome. If the same description are the assertions, that no legate was topomted by the Pope in Ireland « before GiUebert, in the twelfth bntury and that " the F»ope's jurisdiction was first introduced tto Ireland by th^., mercenary compact of the Pope and Henry ^. p. 35. To eitpose the ino^sistency of these assertions. Mhing more is necessary than to consult the Antiquities of Isher himself, on whose authority they are said to be grounded Ihis Protestant arc|ibishop then testifies from ancient records' ■hich he cites, that, first St. Palladius, and after him St. Patrick as sent into Ireland by Pope Celestine, to convert its inhabi' flts Irom Pagan idolatry ; the former in 431, the latter in 432 : lat^t. Patrick, " havmg established the church of Ireland, and Warned bishops and priests throughout the whole island, went I Kome, m 462, where he procured from Pope Hilary, the con- Imation of whatever he had done in Ireland, tog^her with the 7'74*"^, **»« *'J« ?f Pfi' 'f^?"'"t '^^' '"^ 540 the.celo. ated 5)t. l-inan, of Clonard, having spent seven years at Rome hd being consecrated bishop, returned into Ireland, where he istituted schools and convents, one of which contained three lousand monks.^ It appears from the same annalist, that in ' PO, the renowned St. Columban passed from Ireland to the Jiitment where he was protected by different bishops and nnces, lor his orthodoxy and piety, and even by the Popes Y Bed. Eccl. Hist. L. ii. c. 2. |t Vita Oudocei. quoted by Gtedwin Do PrsMul, aud Usher. r ¥iia uudocei, quoted by Gtedwi • U«her'a AaUJ Iiid«ic Ch«>noL_ t Uah e r Vw a u i ir- zxU Address. themselres, with whom he corresponded ;>hat in 630, a depn- tetoon was sent from Ireland, of learned and holy mep, " to the fountam of their baptism, like chUdren to their mother,"* namely to the apostolic See of Rome, to consult with it on matters of religion Hjat among these was St. Lasrean, who was consecrat. ed bishopby Pope Honoriiis, and appointed his legate in Ire- /and,t that m 640, Tomianus, and four other bishops, being still anxious about the right observance of Easter, and about the relagian heresy, wrote to consult Pope Severinus, and that they. received an answer to their letter from his successors. Pope «f ;r u T'Tt°*?®^*®**''°**"^««' "»* on'y of *e communion of the church of Ireland, with that of Rome, but also of its ac- knowledging the Pope's supremacy, may be collected from Ush* Ware, and other Protestant, no less than from the or Catholic, wnters, down to the very time of jGillebert, bi^ Limerick, whom the Catechist admits to have been the V »m legate in Ireland. This happened, accorjftng to Usher, in iM twenty^five years before the date of what Ihe Catechist calls the mercenary compact of the Pope and Heury 11. by which » flfS'j "?^^°P*'^ j""'^'*'"*'".^''' /r*r introduced into Ireland, and forty years before the latter iftvaded Ireland; which island, after all, as every child knows, he invaded, not as the executor of Pope Adrian's legacy, but as the ally of th« dethroned king, Dermof. In speaking of the beginning and progress of the religion of oui own ancestors, the English, it might be expected the Right Rev. Catechist would have paid more attention to truth andconsis- tency than he has done with respect to the foregoing more ob- scure histories This, however, is not the case. But, previous- ly to the writer's entering on this particular subject, he wishes to observe what is more fully demonstrated in the foUowing work, that the Catechist totaUy misrepresents our apostle. Pope Gregory the Gr^at, as having " reprobated the spiritual supr^ macy. and also " his successor Boniface as being the first Pone to assume It,*; p. 16. In short, the question, k Issue, is not co^ cerning the tttle, but the poiber of "a head bishop ; which power, as It wiU appear below, no Pope exercised more frequently or extensively than » the learned and virtuous St. (iregonr." to use the prelate's own epithets. His lordship does not deny that our _. •U»her. , _.L^.l t Gillebert WM sncaeeded in the ligatine ofllce by St. »W*chv. who b? nlm«Iv in fiSi iiS*r'°o'T''"'"V''*'f"P° Eugenius III. into Ireland, namely, in 1 151, with ^r Palhums for the four archbishohfttt. So fali^ nMlM-origiip - - - ~^ Address. niU kcestors, the Anglo-Saxons, were converted to Christianity by the Pope's missionaries," p. 28. namely, by St. Austin and his bmpanions, sent hither by the above-mentioned Pope Gregory, \ 597 ; nor does he contradict the account of our venerable his- rian, Bede, who describes the whole jurisdiction and discipline our church, as being regulated by that Pope and his succes »rs. Still the prelate most paradoxically denie's that " the Pope ler exercised jurisdiction in England or Ireland, except during *- four centuries before the Reformation !" p. 11 ; an^ he main- |ns, in particular, that "the Anglo-Saxon churches differed »m the church of Rome in their Objection to image worship- ig, the invocation of saints, transubstantiation, and other er- »," p. 2S. Here are two paradoxes to .be refuted ^ one con- f-ning the spiritual power, the other concerning the dottrine of ^ i See of Rome. With respect4o the former : is it not ^ fact, lord, known to everj' ecclesiastical antiquary, that eadh one lour primates, from St. Austin down to Stigand, exclusively, po was deposed soon after the conquest, either went to Rome ! fetch, or had transmitted to him from Rome, the emblem and ^isdiction of legatine authority, by which he held and exerci-.^ d the power of a metropolitati over his suffragan bishops ? An ^ginal author, Radulph Diceto, exhibits a succinct but clear imonstratiou of this, in a series of all the archbishops, and a It of the different Popes, from whom the former respectively teeived the PaUium. Did not St. Wilfrid, archbishop of York, |peal to the PopuMWHi the uncanonical sequestration of his jcese by'the primate Theodore ? Did not Offa, the powerful ercian king, engage Pope Adrian to transfer six suffragaa khoprics from the See of Canterbury to that of Lichfield, con- ItutiHg It, at the same time, an archbishopric? A hundred Vr instances of the exercise of the Popes ecclesiastical juris- ption in England, previously to the conquest, could be produced, they were wanted.— As to the pretended difference betweea B doctrine of the Anglo-Saxons and the church of Rome, the Mechist was bound to inform his readers when it took place ; ? who were the authors of it ; that is, who first persuaded the liole English nation to reject the religion they had been taught ■ their aposUes, Pope Gregory and his missionaries ; and iether this change was, effected by slow degrees, or all of a 1den.» If so absurd a paradox, as the above-mentioned, re- ' To make some brief confutation of each of the Catechist's alleffed dif- enoes between the Anglo-Saxon church and that of Rome : Bede testi- ^'i^lTL Ik ^t- Austin and his fellow missionaries preached the gospel Iking Ethelbert. they earned a cross for their ensign, with . p>i>.t^ pjL 'f^p^ niT Addresf. quired a serious refutation, it might be stated thnx, in 610, bishop Melitus, who afterwards became primate, went to Rome to obtain the Pope's confirmation of certain regulations which had been nude in England, that he subscribed to the Acts of an Episcopal Synod, th^ held in that city, which Acts he brought back with him to England,* and that, in 680, St. Wilfrid, going to Rome, to prosecute his appeal, was present at a council of one hundred and twenty.6ve Bishops, .where, " In the name of all the chur- ches m the north part of Britain, Ireland, and the nations of the Scots and Picts, he made open profession of the true Catholic faith, confirming it also by his subscription.f " Other paradoxes of the Right Rev. prelate, relating to matten of a later date, are these, that Pope Adrian IV. grounded hii right to give away Ireland on " the forged donation of Constan- tine," though he never once alluded to it, but assigned quite other grounds for what he did ; and that " the Pope now owes the whole of his temporal and spiritual, power on the continent, to ^is gross fiction, and the Decretal Epistles," p. v. Alas! what must the learned Catholics of the continent, who were the first to detect these literary frauds of the eighth century, and to trice them to the place of their birth in Lower Germany, think of the litej^ature of this country, when they hear a bishop, and a member of our learned societies, telling them that they would not acknowledge the Pope to be prince of Rome or head of the church, were it not for those spurious pieces ! A similar paradox is, that " The Popish bishops and Popish clergy were the real authors of the fictitious statutes (Acts of Parliament) of Richard II. Henry IV. and Henry V." against the Lollards; though they neither did, nor were permitted to interfere in those Acts ; and though it is notorious from all contemporary history, that these severe edicts were occasioned by what that anafchical faction had done, and threatened to do. They had, under the command of Wat Tyler, and John Ball, a Wickliffite priest ture of Christ, L. i. c. 25. Will. Malmsb. mentions that, among oth« pious images, (preserved at Glastonbury, were those of Christ and his apo» tlfes, made of f.ilver and given by king Ina^^^De Antiq. Glaston. We learn from Archbishop Cuthred's letter to Lijlluk successor of St Boniface bishop and martyr of Mentz, that a Synod dfUiVnglo-Saxon bishops hat chosen this saint, and St. Gregory, and St. Austin, to be their " patrons and intercessors." Inter Epist. Bonif That our ancestors believed in tra» substantiation, is clear, from Osbern's relation of archbishop Odos render ing this visible. Angl. Sac.^P. ii. p. 82. One of his successors, Lanfrank. u^'jj V"'"*"P'* defender of this doctrine against Berengarius. It mej be adde^ that the original faith concerning purgatory, the mus, and perhapi •venr other controverted point, can be proved from Bede's History alon* * Bede. L. h. c. 4. • tlbid. L. ▼. c. 30. fe^5?^'"'''?^H^"^4'^'*:';*^' AUrua. nv at, who were the J/ypot to death, by public execution, the lord chancellor, ^ lord treasurer, and tbe lord chief justice, of England : and by had threatened to kill th% king, the lords 8pi;ritual and tern- ral, and all t\)4pen and ink-horn-men, as they \:alled the Iaw< ' ^' ; as also to putdoMm all the clergy, exc^^t the begging B, and to divide among themselves all their lands and pro- ty.* Such were the levellers of the fifteent)| c«iptury, whom nodem bishop eulogizes. — The following are thedogical radoxes, being such as will infallibly non-plua every regular 4ent in divini^. 1st. " The apostles were not bishops," p ' By the same rule bishops are not prints. — ^2dly. "To un the obsolete language of ancient Rome, in prayer, is an or," p; 39.— 3ilf. The Irish were guilty of " « heresu ti4ig' *iine r p. 60. ^ Jut the poliUcal paradoxes, my lord, of this new Catechism r^Btill more inexplicable than the theological ones. The first I them, which I shall mention, is contained in the following Nation and answer. " Q. What is it excludes Pagans, Jews, Mahometans from our churches, and from parliament ? A. ^ligion," p. 44.— Yourlordship will permit the writer to observe, I first place, that it is impossible either for the simple cate« ens of Wales, or even for the learned reviewers of England, Igather from this passa|e, whether the Rt. Rev. prelate mean« Isay, that it is the religion of Pagans, Jews, and 7Wt*,or that \ Protestants, which excludes the former from parliament, for jample : nevertheless, the passage, taken either way, is per- ptly paradoxical. For can that prelate, or any (me els^, cite precept _of the Yedan^, or the Talmud, or Ae Koran, which 6hibit8 its respective votaries from sitting and voting in the ritish parliament, if they can get entrance into it ? Or can he low any thing in Protestantism (which he defines to be ♦•The iuration of Popery, and the exclusion of Papists from all power, Vslesiastical or civil") that prevents a man, who publicly pro- Itims Mahomet, mr who publicly denies Jesus Christ, or who Iblicly worships the obscene and blood-stained idol Juggernaut, *m being a member of either house of the legislature 7 No, Y lord, there is no one article in any one of those religions, if {ey may be called so, which excludes them from our parliament; - only condition for rendering them fit and worthy to enter I it, and becoming legislators, being their calling God to vit" ss, that <' there is no transubstantiation in the mass," and that Jlirt. Mi^or T. Walringham. Knighton Da Event Ai^ ColUer'f teal. BOi Aidrtss'. " the worship ofthi yi^gin Mary and the saints, as practised in the church of Koftie, (upon^both which point8^lh« worshippiers ol Juggernaut and English Protestants are, for the most part, equally well instructed,) are Idolatrous ! A second political para- dox in this Catechism is, that " the inviolable covenants of the .two unions sho^ the injustice and_unconstitutional nature of the Roman Catholic, claims," p, yiii,' This, my lord, is equally incdmprehensible ; since the act of union with Scotland neither mentions these claims, nor alludes to them ; and since that of ■* the union with Ireland expressly admits the principle of their being conceded, and -prepares the minds of men for their actual concession ; as it is therein en^ted, that " Members of the united parliament shall take and subscribe the usual oaths and declaraiions UNTIL THE SAID PARLIAMENT SHALt OTHERWISE PROVIDE." Art. IV.— The last of these paradoxes, which the writer will extract from the incomprehen- sible Catechism, is the following. It teaches, at page 35, thai " Not to consent to the* veto, is not to acknowledge the king't fuprimdey, which it is treasonable, by statute, to oppose." And immediately after, at p. '36, it teaches that " the veto, or the king'j nomination, is unprotestant and illegal : to which the bishop adds, in the words of his friend, Mr. Sharp ; "-it is highly im- proper and ev^n illegal for the crown of England to accept the power of the propos^ veto ; or to have any concern in the appoint- ment of unreformed bishops,", p. 66. Can any one, my lord, reconcUe these opposite doctrines ? To the plain sense of the writer it appears, that if it be illegal for his' majesty to accept oj the veto, it would be criminal in the Catholics to offer it to him;' 80 far from its b6ing treasonable to refuse giving it ! ., Mt Lord Bishop, The wise man has said, in the Sacred Text, of making many books there is no end, Eccles. xii. 12. ; and we. are certain, from reason and experience, that, least of all, will there be an e^d ol making books, an^ disputing on subjects of religion, with respect to those who have no fixed rule, or none but a false one, for deciding on religious controversies, or who suffer worldly interest) pride, or the prejudices of education, to take place, of the sin- cerity, humility and piety, which ought to guide them in a matter of such infinite moment. The writer trusts that, in the first part of the following' Letters, he has shown the rttle appointed by Christ, for clearly discerning the truths he has revealed, and which conducts to the same end ; that he has, in his second part, clearly, pointed out Christ's true church, which capnot but tg^cli •© », as practised ig lt« worshippiers ol most part, equally md political para- coveiiants of the mal nature of the lord, is equally Scotland neither md since that of principle of their n foir their actual Members of the usual oaths and AENT SUAhlr he last of these he incomprehen- at page 35, that 'ledge the king'i oppose." And '}eto, or the king's hich the bishop •it is highly ira- nd to accept the rn in the appoint- y one, my lord, ain sense of the jesty to accept of offer it to him; r it I of making many we certain, from ere be ian e!id ol ion, with respect - . a false one, for worldly interest) tiace.of the sin- them in a matter :, in the first part lie appointed by 18 revealed, and I his second part, eapnot but tesci Address. sxvu _ true doctrine. With men of good will, who ibllcw either of _iese ways in the uprightness and fervour of their souls, a satis- pactory end to their religious discussions and doubts will quickly *3e f6und. But who can subdue or soften the above mentioned passions and , prejudices ? No one, certainly, but God alone ; and, as the greater part of mankind is notoriously under their ':ifluence, th$ writer is so far from expecting to make these .ersoiis proselytes to his demonstrations, that he has prepared lis mind for the opposition and obloquy which he is sure to Experience from them. He is aware, that most statesmen, and . '%ther great personages, regard religion merely .as a political. iingine for managing the population, and therefore wish to keep £e as well as the other as quiet as possible.' On this principle, d they been counsellors to king £thelbert, they would have persuaded him to banish St. Austin, and to continue the wors^p W Thor and Woden. The multitude, in t]bu8| age of infidelity |»nd dissipation, nauseate religious inquiries a^ instructions ; ')»nd, when they must hear them, like' the Jews oftrfd ; they say. %o the seer, see not ; anv to the prophet, prophesy not to us right things : speak unto us smooth things ; prophesy deceits, Isai. kxx. ■'■10. The critics and reviewers are, for the most part, as smooth, this respect, as the prophets : if they lead the public opinipn matters of less consequence, they foUow it.in those of greater. -But whatever excuse there may be for the inconsistency of Dther men, in religious matters, there would, evidently, be none for persons of your lordship's and the writer's profession and situation, should they, for their temporal advantage, or their prejudices, mislead others in a matter of eternal consequence. Such conduct would be hypocritical, and doubly perfidious and uinous. It would be perfidious to the individuids so misguided, Rtid to the church or sect which they profess .to serve ; since nothing can injure that so much, as the appearance of insincerity hnd human . passions in its officii^ defenders. Accordingly it ill be seen, in the following work, that the most fruitful source of conversions to the Catholic church, are the detected calumnies md misrepresentations of her bitterest enemies. Such conduct nrould also be utterly ruinous; first; to its immediate victims ; and secondly, to the persons of your lordship's and the writer's profession and character. In fact, my lord, if, as Christ assures us, at the great day of universal trial, some of the arraigned will rise up in judgment against others, and condemn tltem for their peculiar guilt, Afa«. xii. 41.; how heavy a condemnation will or bewildered souls call down upon those faithless guides who "—Orratheiyhow ■everfr«YeBfeaiic»'if^= MxrHl AtUrMs. mew fold ofZ,drZih?»rf'.5!' "J* ""^^ '»«'«» • The wnter ha9 th« honour to remain, my lord. Your lordship's obedient aervMrti - W^ .Jl«ay3.1818. J. M. D. D. \ OF ItELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY. lETTERI. ^ Prm JAMES BROWN, Esq. to the Rev. J. M,.D. D. F. S. A INTRODUCTION. /-^ ■ C-ne, who is well acquainted with ua hnA ul r ' ' •' ed this. I need only add, AaT I ^^te to vo.; i„ J. "*^ '°*"*'r- ui lUB anenuon, wiuch I am desirous you should nav in i» u/- S m.^!i. f ' generally at my habitation of New Cottage not K*T. Dr. Stoige.. Prebendary and CJU,neeUa!^i^mXcl&W'*^' ^ *^ so Letter I. /^ I I have signified that many of us are of different religfous persuasions : this will be seen more distinctly from the fol- lowing account of our fiembers. Among these I must men- tion, in the first place, our above named teaftic^d and worthy rec- / tor, Dr. Carey. He is, of cdUrse, of the ch|irch of England ; buk like most others of his learned and dig)fiified brethren, in tlwAe times, he is of that free, and as it is called, lib^rid turn of' mind, as to explain away the mysteries and a' great many of its other articles, which, in my younger days, were^ ^nsidered es- sential to it. Mr. and Wrs. Topham, are Method^ o&the Pre- destinanan and Antinomian class, while Mr.' a^Mm. Askew are mitigated Arminian Methodists, of Weslt^y^fl^^co^iiection. Mr. and Mrs. Rankin are honest Quakers. Mr. jiarkei and his children term themselves iZaltona/ Dsseniers, heixtg-ot the old Jfesbyterian lineage, which is now almost universally | oiie^nto Socinianism. I, for my part, glory in being a stanch momber of bur happy establishment, which has kept the golden mea i among the contending sects, and which I am fully persuaded, aj>proach- ep nearerto the purity of the apilut^ic church, than a|iy other, , which has existed since the age. M^, Mrs. Brown profesW' y an equal attachment to the churcb> yef,^ being of an inquisiuve ^ and ardent mind, she cannot refrain mat frequenting the meet- ings, and even supporting the ihissions of those self-created apos- ' ties, wfio.are undermining this church on every s|de; and who are no where itaore active than in our sequestered va^ey. With these differences adiong us, on the most interesting t>f idl subjects, we cannot help having frequent religious tontrover- sies : but reason and charity enable us to manage these without My breach of either good manners or good will to each other. Indeed, I believe that we are, one and all, possessed of an un- feigned respect and cordial love for Christians of every descrip? tion, one only excepted. Must I name it on the present occa- ' sion V-^Yes, I must ; in order to fulfil my commission in a prop- er manner; It is' then the church that you, Rev. sir, belong to ; which; if any credit is due to the eminent divines, whose works we are in the habit of reading, and more particularly to the illus- trious bishop Porteus, in his celebrated and standing work, call- ed A BRIEF CONFUTATION OF THE ERRORS OF THE CHORCH OF ROME, extracted from archbishop Seeker's V. SERMONS AGAINST POPERY,* is such a mass of absur- * The Norrisian professor of divinity, is the univenity of Cambridge, ^Making of this work, says, "The refutation of the Popish errors is now leducedintoa smalt compass by archbishop Becker and biriiop Porteaa." —JLeOures tn Dtvtntlf, VoL IV. p. 71. ) coi iii'ectiun. Letter L •1 dity, bigotry, iuperstition, idolatry, and immorality, tnat, to say we respect and love those who obstinately adhere to it, as we do other Chnstians, would seem a compromise of reason, Scrio- ture, and virtuous feeling. " * tr And yet even of this church, we have formed a less revoltine Idea, in^some particulars, than we di^formerly. This has hajv pened, from our havmg just read o^er your controversial work against Dr. Sturges, called LETTERS TO A PREBENDA- KY, to which our attention was directed by the notice taken of ' It in the houses of parliament, and particularly by the very un* expw^iJ compliment paid to it, by ihat ornament of our church, bishop Horsley. W? admit then (at lea,t I, for my part, admit) thai you have refuted the most odious of the charges broueht against your religion, namely, that it is, necessarily, and, u^n pnncipte, intolerant 9nd sanguinaiy, requiring its memberito persecute, with fire and sword, all p^ersons of a diffeeent creed from their own, when this is in their power. You have aldo proved that Papists may be good subjects to a Protestant sove- reign ,• and you have shown, by an interesting historical detail, that the Roman Catholics of this kingdom hiive been conspicu- rl"', ?"'^*^*?lr' ffo^Ae time of Elizabeth; down to^he present time. Still most of the absurd an Janti-Scriptural doc- trines and practices, aUuded to above, relating to the worship of samts and images, to transubstantiation and the half communion, to purgatory and shutUng up the Bible, with others of the same nature you have not, to my recollection, so much as attempted ^..«!f*° • 'H* *'°"^' ^ "^^ ^ y<»"' ^''- «f. on the present occasion, m the name ol our respectable society, to aSc you whether you fairly give up these doctrines and pictices oiH KL'I'nW '^^'^'/^^^^''''^l'^^**^^ ^i» condescend to interchange a few letters with me on the subject of them.- for ^J^t.!! ! ^i*?""" °'^'"* "!? "J^ ^"«"^''' *»«J ^* *« "ole view of I mutually discovering and communicating religious truths We remark that you say, in your first letter to*^Dr. SturgesT ''shoidl II have oqcasion to make another reply to you, 1 5iU tiy if it be Isides, and still enable us, if we are mutually so disposed to fS. "*??*' la the_aj:knowledgment of th^e sameTe goul Itruths. If you sun think that this is possible, for God's sScI M your neighbours' sake, delay not to^ndertaklTt. The pt^J t^^wewm^^^TEl^^^^^S^ ".i?'^ 13 Estop I. Two of ll^ essay, above alluded to, with which onr wort&r rector lately furnished us, I, with 'your in^rmission. eS? »«»fi«W> Wrekit , and on the banks of, the Severn* . I remain. Rev. Sir, with great respect, __■■'__■ ' Your faithful and obedient servant, r . , ' JAMES BROWN. * ESSAY I. ON THg EXISTENCE OF GOD, AND OF NATURAL RELIGION. ■ ■ ■*■ ■ ' BT THE REV. SA^DEL CAREY, IL. D. considerable time, to n>eet my respected friends at New Cot- mS: « °™^^ "!.'•* ***t '^V««' ^Wch several of them have S.w!.» . 'J ."*"i"l **"" "• '^'^"g' »ny idea, on the two *•»« 0/ God, and the truth of Chnstianity. In doing this. I profess not to make^new discoveries, but barely to "st,»l certain fn7^«?«»^^ J • rJ"**'"?"'^.^*"''' »"d other advocates oi natural ayd revealed religion. I offer wo apology Yor adopting the words of Scripture, .^arguing with persons who are sSppSsed not to Slriil'ard?; "'"'^ ^-^ "^'«" "^ -»^^- ^"'^^ - •^ hJ**i^ tT'"*°i''°' t*^ e»«»enc« of God, i. thus exproM- k f *«'*?»«*'"». «o£ tw oarw/w,. pi. c. 3. In fact, when I ask myself that question, which every wflectiog man IS ? ? »i^ *"-r'': ? t* "'" ^'*^ "'«'« *»y«'/; and"Z:h of my forefathers, if asked the same question. mW have returaed the same answer > In like manner, if I interrogate the seveS bemgs with ^hich I am surrounded, the ^arth, tlS^alr tbeTa^r Ae stars the moon, tho sun, each of them, « an andent 7aS Mys will answer me. iii its turn : // «,«, not I that mad, you ; I, Me you. mft a er««*«re of yesterday, as incapable hf giving e*l utence toy^u, as I a,^ of giving it to myself In shiI«fhowiv« often oachofusrepeatathequestion; HJcamelhii&T wL > i«« what Iqmf we .hall never find a raUoii 1 answer \NATURAL .to them, litt we eom« tp acknowledge that there is an eterndL ptcefsary tei/^nstent Being, the aut>or of 111 contingent beine^ j^rhich 18 no other than GOD. It i. this neeessiiy of being, thi. /■T'il'^' ^J"*** conatitutes the nature of God, and from *rhich all his other perfectiona >w. Hence when he deigned rJ '.*'r, himself, on Jhe flaming mountain of Horeb, to the holy |6gislator of his chosen people, being aaked by this prophet, what Jwas his proper name? he answered: I ANt THAT I AM JT" «• )}' '^*"* " ■'.""'^^ »• to aay : / aione exist of my. »« : all others are created beings^ u^iekexist bw mv will. E^fi^"*^"" '**"•*"*? **'" «'/-«*•*'••«•. all the oth/r perfections lot the Diety, eternity, immenrtty, omnipotence, omniscience. .XS ^^i"^^*^ *here i. nothing td limit hi. exiatence and attributes, and because whatever perfection is found in any created bemg, miit, like if e«stenc*^haye been derived fim Uus umversal source. * ' Jf^JU!!^[°^!^ existence of God, though demonstrttive and I^n'*!!?^"*.*^ reflecting beings, is, nererthelesa, we hav^ wa- Tpl^ofk* J ^. * *'^** P«>e«tion of our fellow creatures : ecause thejr fcardly reflect at tlTTor at least, nerer consider IhiX'rt iTf' " ?,?*' '^'y r " "^^^^ '• >« *« «*" proof -hich resulte from the magnificence, the b«iuty. and the harW Jf the <:reation, as ,t falls .under the senses, so it cannot d pought to escape the attention of the most Stupid or savaee of fc'Sn^^';^- ^V"**^ heavens, the fulminating cLl^ Ihe boundlesa ocean the variegated earth, the organiaJl hC CSi.ui ^' ^ """^ °***®' phenomena of nature, m^st ktrike the mind of the untutored aav«gf4v hudious phUosophfer. with a convictioS that there is an infinitffi^ EZ "*?k'71 '^ ir^^ ^^°»' "^ » »»»« «>*or of thZ hings; though, doubUess, the latter, in proportion as he seeir^ Z«™v 7/?^ extensive^r than the formeVthe properties ^ «onomy ofdiffbrent parts of the creation, possesses a stronger nnJSr* J* ^\h "^ *t .^?«^ physician, Galen,* from the kZ^W T^ti'^t''"?? *^* V^^^ of the stnlcturo of the fcumw body, found hunselfcompeUed to acknowledge the exis- rithS.ri'?^'*r*v°*>''* ■"•*'*''«* »'eb««« acquainted rithije circulation of^the blood, and the uses and harlny of nUly.discoreredand enlarged on thTsanwOtil^^ .4 • Da U«i Partlttm. J , :x •• Essay L acquainted wXh^ J.WrierrGam'^ «ponit. had he been , to the magnitude and dist^op^ °f S*'''^° *"1 Nei^ton, relative Planets and cometS ! YerS naL^ "^^'l' •*" "'i*^?"* ^^ *« Being, who ia «.« ^ w" , ^^^^r P'"*"'*""" ^M there is a things andpasrjndlJZ tl^^^'' *""'"^'* ' «'**^''«'*^'«' /^//. a^oriion^s tardof H^' tLT^^ ^^r^' ' *«' *"«' can undepstand ! Job ix -xx"i ""^ AM|»«wr trAo evSir 'jht'S^^^^^ which can Last be oj»n heart; convincing Wm^A'T'^"***'^^ ^'*'"« *« » ">»«'« hi8owneristencT2tfcl8anS?r"*'^l*'!'^«^« »»» "^ mfinitely bountiful' MMtl'^v/wh^-r^' '"''" W^' ""^^ ttons and words, and of Ws^^' a u ^^"T^ °^ *" •»» «w- " the heart-felt pleMurewWch S ^^^'^- c ^?' ^^«°<^« "««» secret temptatfoHa It in -r^'"*" «>" 'es^ting a though in L «tmSt secLy rthv dl^h '' °'" ''r'^«««*'«. nance to heaven, with devotL «n^ '^i, • J® *?'*« ^" cdunte- meet death with'chierfd w'£ jff " .^.'A'" P'^P"*"* *" tells him of a munificent rewS*W I u*^ ^* conscience he does ? And wKirthe mn^i^"*'?'*^^^ falter in his limbs, andlrii^ wiS''°1? """^^ tremble and •ecret sins of theft venil«,n« ^•' fr" ^* '=°"»°^»^ »•" "losi does he f^ir^in^i^S^rhoLP^T/ ^ ^^^^ «"!»«"»"/ This last armmient in ^rT^f'-^"*'** ^*'*''«"- »W. 26, 28 ing. that I cSTbrin'g^^Cft M^^^^ S"°"" '"^ «°«'^^"« man being, of sound sSis* wi« ®,. ****"■* «^" ^as a h» persons who Ce tried to ^vkT "'?5' an Atheist. Thosn tljat there is no God wiM Z?Jn T'l^*" /"**» » persuasioa 2d modem timeiTS' W*!;! ^l"** J.""^' *~* « *n"em «!re«ling to meet Wm as their jSdTlJ'^****' ^'"•""•' ''^o- *;a,i.— rmrlias been observij^ by St. Aiirtii ^ '-D^ N«tw» Deorum, 1. il. #' i liS' biatstrainf of had he been Mrton, relative ibtions of the aj; there is a t>^ doth great Umber :— who I hangeth the nd are- aston- ty»: hut how is power who can least be to a man's '• he has of ely just, and ' all bis ac« ' lence arises resisting a leneficence, his cdunte* - prepared to conscience itor of what remble and 's his mosf especially ; e approacl* ^ constant ■ holy, {H>vr ing to fall I d the wall ;onscienc« an the sun iii. 26, 28 1 convine was ahv i' Thos* Mrsuasiop a ancient lew, who. ■ V ^. ^ Essay II. .:[:■'■ ■.„ 3^ who says : « No man denies ihe existence of God, but such a one whose interest it is that there should be no God." Yet even tHey who pretend to disbelieve the existence of a Supreme Be- ing, in the broad day.light, and among their profligate compa- nions, m the darkness and solitude of the night, and, stUl more. / under the apprehension of death, fail not to confess it : as Se-/ neca, 1 think, has somewhere observed.* «, V?*??'"'!* **'/'^*^' '^nd a servant his master, says th^ prq,het Malachi. If then I be a father, where is mine Lo^ and tflbga mastery where is my fear?, saith the Lord of Hosts, 1. 6. In a word : it m impossible to believd in the existence of a bupreme Being, our Creator, our Lord, and our Judge, with- out being couscious, at the same time, of our obligation to wor^ ship him extehorly and interiorly, to fear him, to love him, and to obey him. This constitutes natural religion: by the observ- ance of which the ancient patriarchs, together with Melchise- dec. Job, and, we trust, very many other virtuous and relinous persons of diflerent ages and countrifs, have been acceptable to Ood, in this life, and, have attained to everlasting bliss, in the other ; still we must confess, with deep sorrow, t^at the num- ber of such persons has been smaU, compared with those of eve- ry age and nation, who, as St. Paul says. When they knew God. glonfied him not as God; neither were they thankful, but beeam^ vatnin thetr maginations ; and their foolish hearts were dark- •ned :^who changed the truth of God into a lie, a^worshipped and served th» creature more than the Creator, who is blessedfor •ver more, Rom. 1. 21, 25. •' ' SAMUEL CAREY. ^ ESSAY.n. Oir THE TRUTH OP THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. BT THB RBV. SAKUEL CAREY, LL. D. ,, ^ THOUGH the light of nature is abundantly sufficient, as I «?Sii *''! !v T '" yy ^*"7"" *"*y' *o P'o^« »^e existence of God, and the duty of worshipping and serving him, yet this was not the only light that was communicated to mankind in the 44u'*!!.P'?^''. ''*'?. to ob«enre, tl^ats lurge proportion of the boutiiw - AtiiOMto who .ignaUzed their imppty durii^ the late French wvSSf S^:5°fKi^Ii l^'^ nevcr^diubt;;?, in their hewtaTKewktence^ SSl^n^it ??.S'J?^*''li:'"*^?""/- AtaonK thoM were BouSnSr. U Melrie. CoUot d'H^fboii, EgaUtA dqke of Orleani, «o. "'""™e"'' '^ fri . .I'sA'&i ?.»^„ H Etsay It. and. through them to Zr T^ ^^^ God,-.o„th6 patriarchs, • At length Ais Cw£dl» iJ^'T'^P?'*"?' ^I** descendante from the mind. 0?^^;*^.,^^^ 7r^'|»%.«bK,er.,S clouded by the bound!^^' i^5ni ^^* .^^ '®»*«° ^«**^ *« w seemed. LrJ where^Jnk t^fc °^''''•|; P**'*"""' *»» *ey «ioii. Ev6htlwSIJ;trSj,KT*° ***''•'*"'***'>• brute ere- -^ Romans. bJwhed nTS umSu^i r^""' *« Greeks, and the horrid cruelties P^tTa^ T*' f** ''*'*«**^ «>^ *"•« ««>«» Bages. SociatirPlato X«„nnt "S^u *' ««»ebrated Grecian of the Roman ^vA^r^^S xoh^7^^^^V^? ""^'^^ amusement dering one anotWin tL^mnhS^ J^*" ^*"°* «««»"«■ '""f- and thousands aJ a "me *BShtT^' "^'*''^ ^ ancient Pagans and T™.„ the depravity and imffiety rftho ' * times. ap^'cwX -^h^ltj^"^^ tho«»VLaftm- WhataiKurdSnislJti^SSn; *^"«« "«» 'Wship. •d with emy c^ thf?Sfrni'!u*'^P'**«'''^«J deities, mark- ' eB.y.hatred;ndc™.lty d.tet^rS;'''*"*'? "^'•' »"«.' worship, and th^t^^l^^^^^ crimeaf Plato allows rf^SS^n^ss ^ 't *°^*!!?» ^*«r Aristotle admits of in,i«~n«i-^' *" honour of the gods- temples i^refe? Xl^i'S^^ HowS^ny ted to the wor*hip5 Vem.^* f Tj k!™* P~««?««» consecr,^ eacrices offered up in honour of iSni T ^e"'''*"^ ''•'« *»"«« then how rnisteady aJd im-rfect^^J ""^^ f"* ^ ' •>« point! and v'^^lttk^k^GodZ^A^' "l*'*^ *''*" »" »»>« 21. In ahort.Xy were ;^^;r 'V**^ 'J*"^*"- ««»• i of religion, that SocnSlt th« JJ /'"l"? «•"» '^hofo subject "impoUle for menTdiscoverr* ^*«"» •»'$ declaredit deignedtorevealittotr'Tirdit^;^:^,;^^^^^^^^ • De Wd. et. Oilrld at tlieae inftmies. M? . "! ,2^!! - J ?m^°Hnth. ThrAth ,dS Eren the refined Cicm and Vligil did not bloA i.ii.«s»-» »I '^'"•nm. ine Atbenii «ir cxtj to the pt»ye« of iu proelK! / wortgy the great and good God, to make aoch a revelation of hunsdf, and of his acceptable worsbip, to poor, beoightod, and I degraded man. This he did, first, in favour of a poor, afflicted I J!3*?''**"?' °" .*® •'?"'"* °^*« Nile, the Israelites; whom he I led from thence into the country of their ancestors, and raised f up to be a powerful nation, by a seiies of astonishing miracles. I in»tructing and confirming them in the knowledge a& , worship [ of himself by his difieient prophets. He afterwards did thi same thing m favour of all the people of the earth, and to a far greater extent, by the promised Messiah, and his aposUes. It is to this latter divine legation I shall here confine n»^^argnnients : though udeed, the one confirms the other ; since Chrirt and the aposdes continuaUy bear testimony to the mis9ion of Moses. AU history, then, and tradition prove that m the reign of Tibe- nus, the second Roman emperor after JuUus Cssar, an eztraofw dmary personage, Jesus Christ, appeared in Pidestine. teachinc a new system of religion and morality, fa> more sublime imd perfect than any which the Pagan philosokers, or even than the Hebrew pnjphets, had inculcated. He Snfamed the tiiths of natural religion and of the Mosaic revelation; but then he vastly extended their sphere, by th««»tommunication of many heavenly mysteries, concerning the nature of the one tme God his economy in redeeming man by his own vicarious su^rings. the restoration and future immortality of our bodies, and the find HTflfLl!:?.^ ■?;? ^.•"»^«Jf> before him, our destined Judg^ He enforced the obligation of loving our heavenly Father, aboVe a^l things, of praying to hu| continuaHy. and of referring all onr thoughts, words, and actioS to ,his divine honour. He insisS on the necessity of denying, not' one or other of onr paswonsTaa the philosophers had done, who, as TertuUian^Biwr3Zr4I on. na./j«M «no/A«.; but the whole collection of'Sem, diwn derly and vitiated as they are, wnce the fdl of onr finrt pSSit In opposition to onr innate avarice, pride, and tove of ple^ j he opened hw musion by teaching that, hhn^ are tlZ^il ^mt; bks,0d «r« <*, me.* ; bbssed are they that mmk J^ Withrespect to our fellow creatures; toachi^. a. helK^ivf,^ virtue, he singled out fraternal charity for his iicnliar imd chZ actensttc precept j requiring that his discipleTshould love one another as they love themselves, and even as he him^If SI^ !!.'!^.i'y ,^«^<>°°f^P^cepttoonrenemi e..eq,dlv^ Nor was the morality of Jesus a mere speculative system of precepts. Lke thevajeme^of *• phito«,ph5re : it waarf^J^a^ •■ ' * ■ 'V. S8 Essay II. " tical natoro, vid he himself confirmed, by his example, every virtue wj^ch he inculcated, and more particularly the hardest ?!.'£ u J to reduce to practice, the love of our enemies. Chrtet had gone about, as the Sacred Text expresses it, doing • ^^ 'c^h ^*'*' ^- ^®- *"** ^^'^ to no one. He had cured the ♦ '"i u,- ?®t *".'* **•* neighbouring countries, had given *ight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and even life to the dead ; .but above all things, he had eUghtened the minds of his hearers with the knowledge of pure and sublime truths, capable of leading Uiem to pr^sOnt and future hapiness ; yet was he every wher? fSSnTT^ '^^ r"'"'"f^^' *"' ** ^^"g'*'' h" inveterate eDemiesI fuIfiUed their malice againstTiim by naUing him to a cross, therei' on to expire, by lengthened toriflents. Not content with this 1 they came before his gibbet, deriding him in his agony with in] julung words and gestures. Whatf now, is the retL which the author of CUinsttanity makes for such unexampled barbarity » He excuses the authors of it ! He prays for them IJ'ather, forgive ;*f» •• /^ 'A«y knotinot what they do! Luk«f xxiu. 34. No wonder this proof of supernatural charity should have staggered the Inost SfiJiT'* '^S-f*" ' oneof whom confesses that. «ff Socrates has died like a philosopher, Jesus alone has died Uke a God'"* The Eff SJfsT *lt**°*P!« of «»»« rawter have not been lost upon his disciples—These have ever been distinguished by their practice of virtue, and, particularly, by their charity and forgive- S.?4?TV Tt« fi«» of them Who laid down his liff for l^ans^ St. Stephen, while the Jews were stoning him to death mev3 ^'riSl*? ^^,* "*''•*?? "J^**"*" Of paganism, which have E^t:!?r^"?''^P'^''"'' in different parts of the world, both as to belief and nractice, together with the speculations cj nntt '"■?■! jnfidel pftUosophers concerning themVand havfna SSS.7**^i°r*?* °*"' *'*"'^' *« ^'^^^ of the NewTe?. lament on both of them, namely, theory and practice, I would ask mTS^j ' °^~ '""r*'' ?° P^' "^ «fficacidUs a religion as Chrwuanity w eepeciaUy when compared with the others ofl^"i;L*°^M"•'* \" ha^e acquired it in the workshop nf ^C^ ^^ of Nazareth, or among the fishermen of the lake J^ZT.^V^'*"*' ^'^^ T?^ ^* •^"'^^^i- poor unlettered S?!! 1 "f'.^ "" propagating this religion, as th^ did through, ott^the world m oppositton to°«ll the t^lenti wd ^wnr nf ^ * BoDMean Entile. ■*••' */; % \' ' cample,' eveiy y the hardest our' enemies, sses it, doing had cured the d given «ight he dead ; ^bnt I hearers with tie of leading every where irate euemiesl I cross, there*' >nt with this^, »ony with inj return which ed barbarity ? ^ather,forgive i. No wonder' tred the inost Socrates has God!"* The >en lost upon led by their and forgive- n his life for dm to death, sin to their , which have >f the world, Bculationa of and I^LvAng B New Tes- I would ask could have lis a religion I Uie others e workshop a of the lake >r unlettered did through- 4 1 v^ ' .' \J Bssajflll. ■■'■ ; ' : 99 ||o8oiJiers and princes, luAd^ll th^i passions of all mankind ? No lother aiiswors can be given to these questions, than that the re- #gion itself has been di^nely cetwa/ed, and that it has be^n mivinely assisted, in its progress throughout the world. ^ in additibi^Uiis paternal evidence of Christianity, /as it ir " |palled, there t^^&ehMlproo/sy^Utfh must not be pas^^d over, '^hris^ on various occa^ns, appealed to the miracles which he nought, in confirmation of his doctrine and Qiissioiii miracles, •ublic und indisputable, which, from the t^j^^niony^of Pilate flmself, were placed on the records of the Roman. ei^^e,* and Which were not denied by the most determined enemies of Plinsuanity, such as Celsus, Porphyrius, and Julian, the apostate. " |kmpng these miracles, there is one of so extraordinary a nature, •^ to render it quite unnecessaijy to mention any others, and Jwhich, therefore, is always appealed to by the apostles, .as the grand proof of the gospel they preached : I mean the resurrection 9/ Chrtstfrom the dead; to which niust bo added its circumstan-^ -es, namely, that he raised himself to life by his own power] ithout the intervention of any liv^g person ; and that he did us t» eonfortmty with his prediction, at the titne, which he had appointed for this event,^and in defiance of the efforts of his ene- MM, to detain his body in the sepulchre. To elude the evidence resulting from this unexampled prodigy, one or other of the following assertions must be maintained, either that the disciples toere deceived in believing him to be risen from the dead, or that \hey combine to deceive the world into a belief of that imposition. -Wow It cannot be' credited, that they themselves were deceived n this matter, being many in number, and having the testimony il tbeir eyes, in seeing their master repeatedly, during forty* Jays; of their ears, in hearing his voice ; and one, the most incredulous among them of his feeling, in touching\d» person ^A probing hi9 wounds ; nor can it be beUeved that they con Mred^to propagate -mn unavailimg falsehood of this nature lughout the natioi^ of the earth, namely, that a person, put death in Judea, had risen again to life, without any prospect themselves for this worfd^ but that of persecution, tbrments, Id a cruel death, which they succtesively endured, as did their lumerous di8ciple« after them, in testimony of tUs fact ; or, for \H'Othsr world, bus the vengeance of the God of truth. Next to the iniraeles, wrought by Cto< is the fulfilment of le ancienj gophecies concerning him, in proof of the religion l'^"' **! '*^'*^*** *!P«rterf from the tribe ofJuda^Q^^u — . I> ■ *T«tul.> ^i ol^ >y have again t extirpate4. Bsyricns, the omans, have, Ibund as dis* lers, and are be accounted It the ancient h0 subject of ' Testament. St them ; at lema them ; • re the end of 9f thei^e; M threatened Kt he would \. unii. 25. 'Wwrd, among ease, neither illy, they are nreheadsfthe jeoting their . Mat.xxviL 9 be, in the _ CABBY ' LETl^R IL TO JAMES BROWN, Esq. ^. ' PRELIM INARIBS. ^Winton,Qeto6er 20, 1901. )bak Sir, YOU certainly want no apology for writing to me on the Subject of your letter. For' if, as St. Peter inculcates, each ^b||ristiaii ought to be ready always to- give an answer to every iikan that asheth him a reason of the hope that is in himi 1 Fet. iii. 11 &. how inexcusable 'Would a person of' my ministry and com" lission be, who am a debtor both to the Greehs and to the Barba- ians, both to the wise and the unwise, Rom. i. 14. wete I unwill- gg to give the utmost satisfaction in my- power* respecting the Catholic religTon, to any human being whose inquiries appeiMr to proceed from a serious Rnd candid mindjidesirous of discovering iind embracing reli^ous truth, such as I must be^dve yours to be. And yet this disposition is exceedingly rare among Chris- ians. Infinitely the greater part of them, in choosing a system »f religion, ot in adhering to one, are •guided b3r motives of ^merest, worldly honour, or convenience. These inducements hot only rouse their worst passions, but also blind their judge- lent ; 80 fui to create hideous phantoms to their intellectjial ttyes, atid io hinder them from seeing the most conspicuous ibjects which stand befwe them. To such inconsistent Chris- nothing provies ^ itritating as the attempt to disabuse Ihem of their errors, except the success of it, by putting, it »ut of their power to defend them any Jonger.* These are |hey;'and O! how infinite 4S their number! of whom Christ pays, they love darkness rather than light, John iii. 10. ; and rho say to the prophets, PropAejy not unto us r^ht things: , eak unto Us smooth things. Isni.'^ln. 10. They form to them- lelves afalfe coisdenee, as the Jews did, when they murdered neit Messiah, i4«f« iii; 17.: and as he himself foretold many there would do, in murdering his disciples. J^hm xvi. 2. I liannot help saying that I myself have experienced sonmhing »f this spirit, m my religious discussicftis with person^ who have l>e^n loudesfln professing their candour and charity. Hence, I nake no doubt that, if the elucidation^ which you call for at my liands, for your numerous society, should happen, by any means -hnrc^to-eat the bread of' afflietum. drink the water of tribulation, I I. Kings xxii. 17. for this 1 1 -- A'.f.' , 1 43 < Letter //. n discharge of my duty, perhaps for the remainder of mv life «ut as thp apostle writes, none of these things move me ; neith» count I my life dear to me, so that I may finish my course ^itk Acis K '^"""*"y «'*»** ^ *«"'« rkeiveifrohi tl^ Lord Jesus. At remkins, sir, to settle the conditions of opj correspondence . ^ SL/?^i'%**'«*u' '" *^ ^'"^ place,^e should mutually, and indeed all of us who juje concerned in this friendly comri versy, ike at perfect liberty, to speak, without offence to any one or doct^nes, practices, and persons, as, we judge best for the discovery, of truth: secondly, that we should be disposed, in common as far as poor human nature vm permit, to investigate truth with impartiality; to acknowledge it, when discovered withcandour; and, of course, 10 renounce every error and un- founded prejudice that may be detected, on any side, whatever It may cost us m so doing. I, for my part, dear sir, here sol- emnlv promise, that I wiU pubUcly renounce the religion, oi which I am a minister^ and will induce as many of ray flock, u I may have influence over, to do the same, should it prove to be 1ml«Sf" \- ?*«""^»y' ;)igotiry, superstition, idolatry, and immoralit3r,"which you, sir, and most Protestants conceive it to be ; nay, even if I should not succeed in clearing it of these respecuve charges. To religious controversy, whe^ originatim m its proper motives, a desire of serving God and seeming cm •alvation, I cannot declare myself an enemy, without virtuallv^ condemmng the conduct of Christ himself, who, on every occi* 8ion, arraigned aiid refuted the errors of the Pharisees : but I cannot conceive any hypocrisy so detes^ble as that of ascendiiu the pulpit or employing the pen on liacred subjects to serve our temporal mWrest, our resentment, or>our pride, under pretext of promoting or defending reUgious truth.~To inquirers, in the for- mer predicamei^, I hold myself a debtor, as I hare already said but the circumstances must be extraordinary to induce me to hold a cdramunication with persons in the latter. UsUy, as you w»pear, sir, to approve of the plan I spoke of in my first letter to JJr. Sturges, I mean to pursue it on the present occasion.. This, however, will necessarily throw back the examination of your charges to a considerable distance ; as several other important inquines most precede. 4t .-^' LETTER nfv I FntkJAB^S BROWN, Esq. toth^Rw. J. M. D. D, /.'"> PRELIMINARlCS. , ^ 'If'i.' . Ntw Cottle, Oct. to. 1801 # kvEREND Sir, , jXv ' 1 HA VE been favoured, in due course, withy^iurs of the 20th ktant, which I have, communicated to those persons of our so- My, ^hom I have had an opportunity of seeing^ vNo'tcirciim- Hnce could strike us with greater sorrow, than thap you should Ber any inconvenience from your edifying promptneiBS to com- / with our well meail^^request, and we confidently irust that "^ thing of the kind will taEep^ace through our fault • V^« agree ith you, as to the necessity of perfect freedom of speech),if here b discovery of important truths is the real object of inquiry. Bnce, while we are at liberty to censure many of your pfHtes, ■1 other clergy, Mr. Topham will not be offended with any ag that you can prove against Calvin; nor will Mr. Rankin arrel with you for exposing the faults of George Fox and James kylor ; nor shall I complain of you for any thing that you can ke out against our venerable Latimer'or Cranmer ; I say the ne (tf doctrines and practices, as of persons. If'you are guilty [Idolatry, or we of heresy, we are respectively unfortunate, M the greatest charity we cu^^is to point out to each other danger of our respec^jM^uations, to their full extent. Not (renounce error an^^^brac9 truth of every kind, when we ^arly see it, woi^be folly ; and to netgloct dging this, when } question is about religious truth, would be foljy and wicked- Bs cpmbined together. Finally, we cheerfully leave you to low what course you please, and to whatever ex|ent you please, Ivided you only give us such satisfaction as you can give, on \ sul^e*^ I mentioned in my former lettelr, V I am. Rev. Sir, &c. JAMES BROWN. LETTER IV. JAMES BROWN, Esq. ^e. DISPOSITIONS FOR RBLIOIODS INQUIRY. Sir, IE di. buds, as well u youvi^ HE dispositions which you profess, on tfie part of yo nr % 1 own, please me, and *"imatft m« ^ ifi^a^'^ 44 Letur nr. to undertake the task ydu impose upon me. Nevertholeus. ?Z';'l.r'"^^°i*'^' i^"^ oT 8peeSwhich.yl a"rioS in which men are more apt to deceive themselves, than in think? in seeking after, and resolved, to embrace ind foUow the truth iIJSr°": '" opposition to their preconceived opinions and woridly interests. How many imitate Pilate, who, whe^he hS asked onr Saviour the question. What is tnitk? presenUy wem /"L Lm T^H^' ^^'^^ \ """^^ '««*^'« an answer^ to iS -5f« r J?' ^\ "**'* "fy "*•'*" i-esemble the ricbyoung man. who, having interrogated Christ, What ^ood thing ,h,Uldot^ IfZuZtT."^}^:' ""^T^f ^•**"* niaster^answei!e?lUm If thou unit be perfect, go and seU what thou hast andgivi to th^ J.ZTrT? ""^^ •'^''"-^'' • **""• ^- 22- Finally, howmany when he had propounded to them a mysteiy beyond their con- tnea tndeed and my blood is drink indeed :^said, this isaZ^ saytng; who can hear itt^and went hack and 'JSMno nZ s*^«tti' -^^ "'• ^^' ?' ^^ '^^ Christians, of x^mZnX SJI r"'T' ""•" *»"* possessed of the sincerity, disin- terestedness, and earnestness, to serve their God, and save their Za if'^tS'^^' Francis Walsingham. kinsman to the gi«i st«es^ taaa of that name, a Hugh Paulin Cressy, dean of Liughlin. and STcKhT °^ ^'"i!"'' *"•* 'v" """'^^y Ulric. dukeSf SC wick and Lunenburgh, prove themselves to have been possessed of rthe first, in hi^ Search into Matters of Relig^Tt^^S in his E:comohgesis, or Motives of Convefsion, St/^Zlm in hi. Ftfiy Reasons; how soon would all ai^^eveVySie of S; , Mdclwnty! Iwill here transcribe, from the prefsce to the Fifty Reasons, what the Ulustrious relative of his'^mfcjesty savs concemmg the dispositions, with which he set S inS ring into the grounds and differences of the sevenS syiZs of Chnstianity. when^h« began to entertain dSubtl^ ?o"! ^ ceming the truth of that in which he had been educated- namelv. Lutheranism. He says, " First, I earnestly implied Uie aid and grace of the Holy fehost, and with ' all mr^ww ' SlfconS;^?^*'f *™* ^"'^ ^^^ ^•»^' *« fatherof ligJte^ Ac! Secondly, I made a strong resolution, by the grbce Sf G^ to avoid sm, weU knowing that Wisdom 'Jf notlnter intoT^J^. tuptmtnd, nor dwell tn a body subject to sin,** Wisd. i. 4. "and 1 am co n v in ced , an d w M , «th f n;that the ""•,»• ^- ««» ' h^ Letttr IV. U ar« ignorant of the t Aie faith, and do not embrace it. is because they are plunged into sevend vices, and particolarlr into canial sins." Jhen, "Thirdly, I renounced all sorts (^prejudices, whatever they were, which incline men to one religon more than anothw, which unhappily I might have formerly espoused, and I brought myself to a perfect indifference, so as to be ready to em> brace whichsoever the grace of the Holy Ghost, and the light of reason, should point out to me, without any regard to the ad> vantages and inconveniences, that might attend it in this world." "Lastly, I entered tipon this deliberation, and this choice, in the manner I should wish to have done it at the hour of my death, and in a full conviction, that, at the day of judgment, I must give an account to God, why I fdlowed this religion in preference to all the rest." The princely inquirer finishes this account of himself with the following awful reflections : " Man has but one soul, which will be eternally either damtaed or saved. What doth it avail a taan to gain th$ whoU world andlotehtM oum soulf Matt. xvi. 26.— Ed|nity knows no end. The course of it is perpetu^U. It is a series of unlimited duration.— There is no comparison betweeii things infinite and diose which are not so. O ! the bappiness of the eternity of the saints ! , O { the wretch- edness of the eternity of the daoaned. One of these |wo eterni- ties awaits us !" ^ - >/ "1 ronain, Sir, yours, dec. J. M. LETTER V. To JAMES ^ROWN, Esq. METHOD OF FINDmo OUT THK TSUB RlttOION. Dear Sir, IT is obvious to common sense, that, in order to find out any hidden thing, or to do any difficult thing, we must first discover, and then follow, the proper .method for such purpose. If we dxf not take the right road to iny distant place, it cannot be ezpect- "dd that we should arrive at it. If we get hold of a wrong clue, we shall never extricate ouftelv^s from a lia>jlarinth. Some per- sons choose their Religion as they do their ^hes, by fancy. They are pleased, for example, with the talen^of a preacher, when presently. they adopt his creed. Many adhere to their religious systens, merely because they were educatiwl in it, and because it was that of their parents and famUy ; Krhieh, if it wer* 46 I^tttr V. ties ! . Others glory in their Jli? f ! * "^ ^'•"■* ""d his anos. ii-hed in this L.7 ZZZ ^12 '^^'r •* '• •^« °»« S- . •nd arms : not reflecSfAT-T"S^^^ ^ Uons of antiquity, the S,W tary of divine truth, and the «3e tni?^^? T*'* *^« ""'X de,J«i. ' far the greater part even of rk! »• ^ «n''«htened nation. Sm make the business of et^rSL fcf ' "f ''V denominatSi,' profeM Ae religio,! wLysMwT"* ^ *»* °^ »'•»•. and Jon, and their convenience TC il? '""^r *"' "P"'*" ble^iety fall under any of thesK. * """^ °^y°"' respJcta- «;^fancy they have, aS„3 „e&Tr' '^^'^ *"^»-«' troth, m other words an adeouate 2? °//'"<=°''«"ng 'eligious into any di„uisiUon ontZZum^nl/'^t. ^«'^"'^ «»»«' other depends, I Tn¥ lay 'down Ar«« J J«»«'^'nination of every tn.thofwhich,Ibelieve%7MSonlrrhW^^^^^^ maxims, the ' First, our divine mast„ChfiTf ^''"«^?" ^'» dwpute. ^/^son.eRVLE or mSh^r^fi Z/"*'^'''''' ^-t. xviii."^: «4/or ,/, „«y certainly Jind it y *^'' Persons, who sincerely iff^ SECURE.. „^,.. ^sayjdapted " '^^^J^f rrf^*!^''^^^^^^!'. '*-' « erMa,/«. „;io„ t/JrehtJ^J^,!^'' "'''"'""Nonces, of all dear^sir":::?Ky*^^^^^^^^^^^^ ™«ims, we shall quickly for arriving at the &ow SS^VleT^^^ ''T'^^^ ''J^^S; to other words, at M« „VAf°;i*Vj"T ^^ch he has tauch^ . ^ rule, we shaU Z:ttZg IfoJ" „^«'"« P«'»«««^d of make use of it, for securelv^d lVr.1 *'""'®' *° <*« Aan to OM controversies. TMa«' 5^' i *"'**' ""'^aWy, settling aH of composing religiouJ^'^rtc:^"^^^ above mentioned letter to Dr q? ' ^^^^h^L alluded to in mv , -eparately is an enlsa tk UeS *v f *'"" ^*" ^^ to a amgle question. ' *^®'®"* *" method reduces them E"*^- y^^^md^P^V**-^?^ •■ '*^^'J <■' •p,fBp.'*^ 47 ' LJETTER VI. TO JAMES BROWN, Esq. j ^ ^■■I'«K«TFALLACI0D8 RULE OF FAITH. DCAll S«, .. AMONG serious Chrititians, who profess to make the dis- covery aqd practice of religion their fim and earnest care 'three djffei^m methods or rules have. beenWopted for the purpose- rhe tirst consists m a supposed private inspiration, S an imrne- tTiA^Y '?2- ™°*'°" ^^ ^**^'« -pi"'- commnnicaL to The individual Iks was the rule of faith and conduct formerly professed by the Montaniats, the Anabaptists, the FamTy 5 Love and IS now professed by the Quaker, 4e Moravian, and different classg^of the Methodists. The se^d of these rules IS the u>ntjfWord of God, or THE BlBLE^lccord^gasuTs understood bv each particular reader or heartt of it. This is the Wessed rule of the more regular sects of Protestants, such m tje Lutherans4he Calvinists, the SGcinians,the Church of Enif. ^land men. The third rule is THE WORD OF GOD, at lar/e whether ^ittentn the Bible, or handed ^um from the aposO^ftn eo«j,„„ed,„c««,«« by (he Catholic church, and as it is underslood i!it'^ ri ^I't*' '^"'t '*'** ''P««^ ™»'« accurately, besides Aeir r«/. of faith, namely, ScriMure and tradition, Gatholite. acknowledge an^nernng judg, of controversy, or sure guide/in atl matters relatmg to salyaUon, namely, THE CHURCHy I . shall now proceed to show that the first mentioned rule, naoielv a 8upposed>nt,a/s1„^pi«,^,o„, is quite faUacious, in as much as ttts Itabk^ to conduct, amd has conducted many, into acknowledged errors and tmptety. „ ^ «.«*S'*— ,/"'^'?*^.*^,***'°"^ ag«of Christianity, Monta. ^ mis, MaiimiUa and Pnscilla, with their followers, by adoptini th^s enthusiasttcal rule, rushed into the excess of folly and bias! mankind, hv Moses, and afterwards By Christ, hti enlightened "■ and sanctjed them to accompUsh this great work. Thf strict: ness 01 their precepts, and Apparent sanctity of Aeir lives deceived many tiU at length the two former ^iroved/wLt sp«it' they were guided by, in hanging themselves.* SeverJl other ,Z^^^ •^?l"® *^"P^* °'"*^® ^'""^ principles in th^ plmitive and the middle ages ; but it was reserved for the tiiy^^Sf relf- "^ gtous licentwusne8^,improperly called the ReformationLtodisDlav V * fiaeb. Ecdet. Ifet L T. e. 15. I* J r^ -^ % y /'t O-xr- ■ a A 4» Lttur ri. Ae liiU extent of its ebauiditr and inmietir fn ■<». A™ < ^Uh^J^f^T"'^ ^^ **""**••• ^ Lower *Ge?^" felrSi«*?' cities^hich he .em p.Sl of^^Ic!^ ClL ??i.^ WoTbIvI "^"^ «ui^edSjA the etreeto^ ffe*Sr«^« ^^^ Babylon ; wo to the wicked;" and. when h2?S^!iS?^S* '^r ^ ^^"f being'execuUrS in.k»SiIr MJMginarjr iig^t of their spint,t Heriiua.aoothfir ri^A^^l"""*^ ^'y ^ »PWt to declare hiniS^A^^ SiAtS^hr"?*?"'' *^. I^P»«' W» hearers :..ffiUAe S^yweM^S^Lf^*^""'':*''"*'**'^ atrociouanew. but becauw iSi^ ^.;L*^;"""'^'''^'^ .«^a/«,.,oa thi part of their XirSA^ Germany and HoUand. Nicholaa. a S la^wiAa^nn^T'f "''"'* .^"^'^^ George, came over to Eng- ^Z^nL „W • *^°»«^«»° fi«« God to teacli men thft tht esaence of tehgwn conusts in the feelings of divine love. - tuuocenies vivereat et r If Comment I. iii, p. 45. ■>:K^A"U-iir£S:s: K °rr'..]?~^.-y ...p. «. t B nuMt. p/w f ^l^t . r- — Mb. tBf»uilt,p;4 Qrt^^ U Itahclm, voL iv. p. 481 ,-¥.. .- ■ I / .. Latter VI. V ' 49 and that all other Uungs' relating either to faith rd'> Hirt. of Eng. Itc. Stow** Aanab, A. D. 1691. J L«t«ri to a Pr.b«iidwy. TKIgi of ChwlST • I Sm th* remarkabU hiitoij of th« military prMchan at Kingrton. ML ' :-4.^-. so »<> Letter Vl ' era,* are, that. « TA^ v,.^.- * '**'/?"'. ftom which Iherhave thefrX ir^ *■"''' "^<^dina7to that the testimony of the sS S. i f ''f^^ncy and certainty V'f knowledge of G^d h«h Sen b and "\''^ ^^'"^^ »»»« »^« ^*.»'-"« and acceptable wSn of ?li *" ^* ''^'^^^'^d =7 th«« . and immediate moving and^rwinl St" °^"'"'* '" theiLata V. neither limited to places iil!r^ '^ ^'* °^» »pWt, which i. avowed principles S Si^^^^^^^^ we the ?omeofthefr£tsoftho8e'^£^^^ "I their fodder and first aSes ' '•'''°''*«d>y themaelves. (churdhes) at Mansfield^doSS Jet's ""'^ -eeple-house'. off oppression and oaths, and to turn f^' ^ ^™*em to leave Ae Lord."! Onthese (^^cSiinsTe T ''«*'*V«d to turn tS hw spint was very far fton^ihT i ^*"ff"a«e and behaviour of . f»"tedauthoritieT<;?h^GltuS^r »nd resoect fo^^nl • S?«?ge» w his Journal t X X" /^P*"* '^°'" *''«'«fent times, for three vear« n»h^i f^ ' *°® ^'O'd to go. at several •^un.o.hem,i/rrtsto'^^^^^^^^ «wa to great men'3 housed tellini Z ' "*'*«'/« Prie^ts houses, '^yif naked. Another Kron^S'^!*??''" '^^ *« "l moved of the Lord to eo intnCu^v T ^°^^ Huntingdon was sheet about hira."M We at tS ? "^^P'^house wifh a wWte "stark naked in the ^d^o ^ul r'^^^^^"*' *^<^^«« chapel, when Cromwell w^ the?" " an?''^?^ '""^ ^VhhehaU • u, *wMere, and another woman who * - / '9^at« prtfuar^ s^ordinate to "d certainty :"f »rhich the true l^ealed :"} thai Mrit, which i« Such are the let us now- see y themselves, 'gofhismis- eeple-houses, 'hem to leave ind to turn to behaviour of i>ect for con- roin different lis disciples, ?o, at several them, as a iests houses, they be all ingdon was i^ith a white 1 wh6 went Whitehall 'Oman, who ■ome of ths ' Twlgarlan- oldly denied, ussages were ublished bj 1 in 16*. to >n by sword if thou dost »mc8, with ominationa Mav.poles, ickly turn, P'ieved the OS* be not Letter VI. 51 ciQie into the parliament house with a trencher in her hand, whi£h'*she broke in pieces, saying, thus shall he be broken in pteees.\-Oae came to the door of the parliament house wjth a drawn sword, and wounded several, laying, he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to kill every man that sat in that house."* .But on nto one occasion have the Friends, with George Fox himself, been so embarrassed to save their rule of faith, as th^y have been to reconcile with it the conduct of James Naylor.f When certain low anddisorderly people in Hampshire, disgraced their socie^ and became obnoxious to the laws, G. Fox disowned them,| but, when a Friend of James Naylor's character and services^ became the laughing-stock of the nation for his pre- sumption and blasphemy, there was no other way for the sotiety to separate his caw^e from t heir own, but by abandoning their fundamental princijd^^H|(ch leaves every man tofqllova the spirit within him^^^^imself feels it. The fact iS; James Naylor, like so nflHHpr dupes of a suj^xised priva^ spirit, fancied himself tfl^fae, Messiah, and in this cha^iU^r rode into Bristol, his disciples spreading Aeir garments beforehi^, and r crying. Holy, holy, ioly, hosannah in the highest : ^d when he , ^ \ had been scourged by order of parliament, for his impiety, he " permitted the< fascinated womenJ who followed him, to kiss his feet and his wounds, and to hail him " the prince of peace, the rose of Sharon, the fairest of ten thcjEsand,"! &c. . I pass oyermany sects of less nbte, as the Muggletoniains, the Labbadists, Ac. who, by pursuing the meteor of a supposed inward light, were led into the most impious and immoral prac- tices. Allied to these are the Moravian brethren, or Hemhut^ ters, so called from Hemhuth in Moravia, where their apostle, count Zinzendorf, made an establishment for them. They are now spread over England, with ministers and bishops appoint- ed by others resident at Hemhuth. Their rule .of faith, as laid down by Zinzendorf, is an imaginary inward light, against which • Maclaine'a note on Mosheim, vol. v. p. 4T0. t See History of the Quakers, by William Sewel, folio, p. 138. Journal • of O. Fox, p. 880. t Journal of O. Fox, p. m I Ibid. p. 880. Sewel's Hist, of Quakers, p. 140. U Echard's Hiut. Maclaine's Mosheim. Neal's Hist, of Puritans. In closing this account of the Quakers, we may remark that there is no up- pearance yet of the fulfilment of the confident prophecy with which Baiw clay concludes his Apology : " That little spark (Quakerism) that haUite appeared, shall grow to the consuming of whatsoever shall stand up to or ■ pose it. The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it ! Yea ; he that hath ' in a small remnant, shall arise and go on by the same arm of powei iptntiial *n*""*"^tion unt i l h^ hath congue r od al l h is enemies i ** tie kiofdonu of the earth become the kingdom of Jesus Christ." }tO0[^ A hriMP / Letter Vl, J law r^lT • ?' ^^ o'her uHtris • ^'^ ^s:r ."^tT ,"«'»TSi»3"t^-p-™ Berntt^'^.'.i'?* which h. iwcribe...T .u - ' t^ ■\v S:l . .* «,*■* t taogfi* to wait fo ^a other teorit* nfte^ Scripture, j-ed this system *^e dwgustinff ►l>e met with in ie«tion,aa pro- P^\of faith! ' • loreign no- ^^velation was :45. 'Mfter-I 'ng in the cor- le voice, DtnCt " appeared to «rdyour Ore- **neH tie iiite- ' uetau to you watioris with "^ "■a*. those bf . "^J-easgross '"cei toiaV- './«»«(*, who ^ 'a*ioni. Fi ?»• the whole "■W that the ■at tho]Kfy Calmlf Cmuidered,^ p, 20i Wealev WlL • " if firmly believe that many m«nberi of the chu^h'^of AoWh^elKn holy S?^ Sf HiliJiiJ 3?' , " '^'' •^*"'*' «*"cmy Mbuman nature ia capkbl* .* * — /-"r ■% -'■^s * . ' j'.''m--. -^ ■ ■ 4 t. ' . ., • ». *• ) * *> ■ ' ;.^" '\''- ,*> t Bi S*J^,'»ff of hia^t Jife and m l^J^"^ "'""^ «« saved"* ^ mentally a PapiVand knewTt n^?X' o ""^'^'X' ^«» funda- -10U namely, on May 24°! 739 "• L^; ®'^" * Ws pe^^ dersgwe 8tteet,»he skya. "wSi *^ "^ "***' » ^iety i "aI- Preface to the Roman? abTtf ^'T '*'" '^'^i'ig Luther's hearr strangely wS • I ?«ft ffi"*' before „i„J, feH" ;;^ne for .alviion. ™5t Jtjn'cl^JiT ^ '^^"'^ '« ^S Wh ^ "w/row the law of tin ; Jf thMSr^^Sjr'^ consequences- of a diffusion -vfiom Wesley's most iSe d^H IJV"?^ I ^«» "« hear tC er of Madeley. « AntinoStiSr"^** ''"'=^«'"«^ F^«^h^ "hive spread like Wild-foe ai^^T^ ""'^P"**'*'*'**.'' he says fona, speaking in the moa^rf^^ °"' societies. Many S '-tc-^ct in h« compIeteTj afionT, T""' °^ Christ and £ peatestimmoralitiesZ&olSi?''*'^^".^"""'* living i„thJ ing. extorting, or some iSLTevHhLr'n*'^*^^^ wherl cheat! •uch shakes to the ark of The cl ? ?°* ^roke out. and riven tenn^ed, it must Zel^e: ovTe^?A'Sl?"A°°* *^«^ ^^'dTn? who pass for believers, follow th«W *~; ' ^ave seen them when they should have'eicldmedl^" a^ ''?"'"P» ""^-^e ; and heard them ciy ont a^aiSl/?* 7 *??" AnUnqmianism/iW which they sS. sia?su^lsleS ti!f:^ '^ "^' ^ie4 A^Js *at.«Even adu Jry^a^J ^^^ K ^'^^01"^^^^^^^^^^ rsading, fasti'm . , they preached coming intimate th Peter fiohler, vinced of unbe. Sre saved."* wag funda- , hispe^ua; I society in AI- sadirig Luther's wn^', I felt my nn^, in Christ me that he had the law of sin of a diffiis^lon us hear them ^, !«8«or, Fletch- ces," he says, *^any per- . irist and their living in the where cheat- ut. and given the Lord in- ' «een them nature; and nwm,Ihare ^ft*d heartSf omethinefot Ipita, Hrhere —The same »er" system, naintaining sasant chil. '*«woritha» 'Mie u thali her Samuel, ea in Christ »«■• of the, 105. an. Letter VI. i dren, but rather work for heir good."*—", God sees ho sin in behevers, whatever sin th«|y commit. My sins might displease God ; my person is alway^ acceptable to him. Though 1 should > out8mMana88es,I^houl(l5notbele8sa pleasant child, because God always views me in Christ. Hence, in thd midst of adul- tenes, murders and incests, he can address me with. Thou art all fair my love, myundefiUd, there is no spot in Mee."t— "It is a most pernicious error of tfe schoolmen to distinguish sins accop ding to the fact, and not according to the ^jcwon."—" Though I Wame those who any, tet us I sin that grace may abound, yet adultery, »ncest, and^riiurder, shall, upon the whole, make me hotter on earth, and merrier in heaven."^ These doctrines and" practices, casting great disgrace on Me- thodism, ala^ed its founder. He therefore held a aynod of his chief preachers, under the title of a Conference, in which he and they unanimously abandpiied their past fundamental principles, in the following confession whicb threyr made.^" Quest. 17 Have we not unawares, leaned too much to Galvanism ? Ans. We are afraid we have. Quest. 18. Have we not also leaned too much to Antipomianism ? ^n*. We are afraid we have. Quest. 20. What are the main pillars of it ? Ans. 1. That Christ abolished the moral law.:' 2, That Christikris therefore arrnot^ obliged to observe it : ,3. That one branch of Christian liberty. IS liberty from observing the commandments of God.'» Ac & The publication of this retraction, in 1770, raised the indignation of the more ngid Methodists, namely, the Whitefieldites, Jumpers. &c. aU of whom were under the particular patronage W lady - Huntingdon : accordingly her chaplain, the Hon. and Rev. Wal- ter Shirley, issued a circular letter by her direction, calling a general meeting of her connexion, as ft is called, at Bristol, to censure this » dreadful heresy,*' which, as Shirley a^mied. « in- )ured Uie verjr fundamentals of Christianity."! " •«:- ■. ^ • *::„„i..... :.^^ - ■. '-'-^^r-'-^y"- "'■' • Pletchert yorI»,7ol. iii. ipage 50. Agricola, one of Luther's first dik- ciples, 18 called the founder of the AQtinomia^s. These hold that tha faithful are bound by ho law. either of God or man, and tbit «)od woi2 ^nff^Jf'^Kwtl'fu"' *° "^'^?"°'» 5 ''•'"^ Amsdorf, LutheiWt^om. panion. taught, that they are an impediment to salvation. Moshelm's Ec- des. Hist. T)y Madame, vol. Iv. p. 35. p. 328. lEaton, a Puritan inhL K^I^^jf JSMj»Aca^' «'« «d- begmning of this letter naJi^^S^ "T" ^""^ ''<'*'» 'n the W conduct u.hich isliabut\ai^, Z'S'?' 'f'/"^ "/>'* ^ -*«'^-^^ofthe^?^l-K'y::t^ /A) LETTl^R VIL . , ^* '^'^^^S BROWN, BTsq. ^. . „ ^ - - «"«CTI0N8 AN8WBRBD. ' Dear Sir. , New Cottage; and Ae wS «« o^th^I hl*''^ had per«««i ^ address whatever answer I mLhV5f S"^ ''^"«« that I would Friend Rankin is sSatic^^tlf • ^,*1?' **» >^^ ''"'a- « « "Friends at this d^ S TS ^tl± "T""' ^'•'' ^^^^^^^ •ervant of Christ, cirge Foi^ We not' **/"*" ** '"^^ful imaginations of James Navio? Th«!! n condemned ihe vain the sinful doings of 2nv JaL ?r"i?"l*'^^'-'°^ ^^^ and was blasphemed in SdaJ I^ aJHS^ ^^J»!?.*e w<^ of life secondly. " Whether numlwLs flL M ""f^'^ •" "« "J", have not risen up in theXman r.tLr**^'''™^*"' *«*» «ri™ churches?" He wksXdr m«?^''^i.'?' *.*" - >» "th**- Barclay in his glorious A wlS^^^^^ "^'"^^^ R°hert of God, hath be^, ,,, anTLnbV r^''^^ ?* '"" *'""^«'/r» '^ " ^ '^ -'-^ ^"^-^^^as ^ t - 1^ Litter VII. 8T that of Tertalliao, Hierom, Augustin, Gregory the Great, Ber- nard, yea also by Thomas & Kempis, F. Pacificiis Baker,* and many others of the Popish communion, who, says Robert Bar- clay, have known and tasted the love of God, and felt the power and virtue of God's spirit working within them for their salvia, tion rf ' I will first consider the arguments of Friend Rankin. I grant *. him, then, that his founder, George Fox, does blame certain extravagancies of Naylor, Perot,' and others, his followers, at the same time that he boasts of several committed by himself, by Simpson, and others.^ But how does he confute them, and guard others against them ? Why, he calls their authors ranterst and charges them with running out /^ Now what kind of argu* ^ ment is this in the mouthpf'G. Fox against any fanatic, how- ^ ever furious^ when he^MiMelf has taught him, that he is to listen to the spirit of Gpdrwithin himself, in preferenei to the authority of any man Ma of all men, and even of the Gospel? G. FoJt was not m^Mt^ strongly moved to believe that he wais th^ messen- ger of Christ, than J. Naylor was to believe that he himself was Christ : nor had he a firmer conviction diat the Lord forbade^ - hat-worship, as it is called, out of prayer, than J. Perot| and his company had that they were forbidden to use it in prayer.^ Sfecon'dly, with respect to the excesses aiid crimes commited by many Cbtholics, of difierent ranks, as well as by other men, in all ages, I answer, that these have been committed, not in virtue of their rule of faith and conduct, but in direct opposition to it, aa will be more fully seen, when we come to treat of that rule ; whereas the extravagancies of the Quakers were the immediate dictates of the imaginary spirit which they followed as their guide. Lastly, when the doctors; of the Catholic church teach * An English Benedictine Monk, aathor of Saneta Sophia, whir«.^ the pre-umpl^sTthrr^^^^^^^^^ .^ a-*. I presume Mr. Topham will alio J »w '*^'?^* *'^"- has felt or witnessed eLeedsThat of Boc^M J *^P«"r « ^« Naylor, mentioned above who n!„f«i. i ^™'^' °' '^'"'ket, or betrayed by it into mosl To^ili ^^''*^f "^ ^"« confessedly crimi xLvii'LerstneZ^t?""^^^^^^ most remote from Aer?s m hu«S '^i «»?»»»Mts, because the men Oliver CromweU iaTon Sj S/J^JT V*^ themselves. .-i^ the i^i::^e»iss^^^ - • Sleldu. \ C- llHtter Vin. ^ 59 ' blune upon Almighty God, exclaiming, "Lord, thou hast de- ceived us and we hare been deceived !"* With respect to the alleged purity of Antinomian saints, I would refer to the his- toiy of the lives and deaths of many of our English regicides, aiid to the gross immoralities of numberles9 Justified Methoi- diattt described by Fletcher, in his Cheeks to Antinomianism.f liim, Sue. J. M. _: " -: ■■ . .^; ' " LETTER VIIL W' ■ : To JAMES BROWN, Esq. second vallacious rule. .Dear Sir, I TAKE it for granted, that my answera to Messris. Rankiii and Topham have been-eommunicated to you, and I hope that they, in conjunction with my preceding letters, have convinced those gentlemen, of what you, dear sir, have all along, been convinced, namely, of the inconsistency and fanaticism of every pretension on the part of individuals, now-a-days, to a new and particular inspiration, ^^ rvle of faith. The question which remains for our inquiry 1^ whether the rule or method prescribed by the church of England and other more rational classes oi Protestants, or that prescribed by the Catholic church, is the one designed by our Saviour Christ for finding out Ids true religion. You say that the whole of this is comprised in the written word of God, or the Bible, and that every individual is a judge for himself of the sense of the Bible. Hence, in every religious controversy, more especially since the last change of the inconstant Chillingwprth,| Catholics have been stunned with the cries of jarring Protestants sects and individuals, proclaiming that, the Bible^ the M>le atone is their religion : and henoe, mota ' • See Bireh'f Life of ArcbW»H«]frtillotson, p. 17. t This candid and able writer says, " The Puritans and first Quakeitf ■oon got over (he edge of internal activity into the smooth and easy patii of Laodicean formality. Most of us, called Methodists, have already fol- lowed them. We fall asleep under the . bewitching power ; we dream stnnge dreams ; our salvation is finished ; we have got above legality ; we have attained Christian liberty ; we have noticing to do ; our covenant is sure." Vol. ii. p. 233. He refers to several instances of me most flagitious conduct which human nature is cs^able of, in persons who had i^tained to . what they callfinisAed salvation. _ *^''M"°g^9rth^fi"taProte8tMit,oftheeelri)Ii8fameBt! he next be- c a me a Oa t h u li c , and s tuuied In one of ou r ■ emina n ei. He t hen w t umaa, ' in part, to his former creed : and last of all, he gave into Soeiniudim, which his writings greatly promoted. 1..J .■«•«'■' '1^ ^ter VllU particularly at' t)i'*« ruU itself Z ^'^''onde^plainTtVauia^^^^^^^ latter, and not the former inZ/ * "A *»«"'''«""y. That the of learning ti read il ; wh?IeS^*^h ' ^^^ "««i°". *« oK'io^ unlej. perhaps the s ns ofTe' PW ''"' """'^ ^-^^ »C5f J A«du« /M« via,6.» Itdoeanif — '*^* his Bng^t uZ 1 ?!• 'PJ-*'*- any commani toTritehr P "P^" *^^« g^e peatedly and emphaticaUv n«J:Jl j f Gospels ; though Iilr« x.)and that to -Ke ^STtt''^ ^T ^ P"««^h^^^ In this ministry they all of aL *^« «»rtl», ifo//. xxviii iT-l religion of Christ il^e^ 'J^^nt^^T **? «''*'"' Preach ing 5e direction, and to India^ ZS'/""" •''«^«« *<> Spain, Ko- ohorches, and commeJ^iZ T^Lr^^ "^^'^ estabffiJ '^d be Jit to teach otherf at j'^S f-' >«*/•«' «-» «*! -ofPa.estine.andlSt^-J^ Christ to j T-Miwoa. ', 1 ■ -IJ, .■ '■,,.•, LtUtr VIII. ■-f ai «r those at Rome* St. Luke addressed his Gospel to an indi- .ridua], Theophilus, having written it, says. the holy evanfelist, because it seemed good to him to do so. Luke i. 3. St. John mote the last of the Gospels in compliance with the petition of the clergy and people of Lesser Asia,f to prove, in particular, the divmity of Jesus Christ, which Cerinthus, Ebion, and other here- tics began then to deny. No dpubt the evangelists wer» moved by. the Holy Ghost to listen mMMjayrequests of the faithful in writing their respective Gosf^Hpfii^theless, there is nothing in these occasions,nor in the MlMMbselves, which indicates ti^^ any one of them, or all^MWwhey. contain an entire, deta)led,and clear exposition'OMHyMpeligion of Jesus Christ. The canonical Epistles in Ae ipi?Tbtament. show the par- ticular occasions on which thc^^re' written, and prove, as the bishop of Lincoln observes, that " they are not to be considered as regular treatises on the Christian Keligion."| . H. In suj^posing our Saviour to have appointed his bare writ- ten word for the rule of our faith, without any authorized judge to djBcideon the unavoidable controversies growing out of it, you would suppose that he has acted differently from what com- mon sense has dictated to all other ligislators. For where do we read of a legislator, who, after dictating a code'of laws, ne- glected to appoint judges and magistrates to decide their mean- ing, and to enforce obedience to such decis^ions? You, dear sir, have the means of knowing what would be the consequence of leaving any act of parliament, concerning taxes, or inclosures, or any other temporal concerns, to the interpretation of the indi- viduals whom it regards. Alluding to the Protestant rule, the illustrious Fenelon has said, " It is better to live j^^mt any law, than to have law^ which all men are; left to intcMpUscord- ing to their several opinions and interiMts."^ Tbeushop of London spears sensible of this truth, as ^ar as' regards temporal affairs, where he writes, " In matters of property indeed, some decision, right or vrrong, must be made : society could not subsist without it :"| just as if peace and unity were less necessary in the one sheepjfold of the on» shepherd^ the church of Christ$ thaa they are in civil society ! III. The fact is, this method ojf determining religious ques- tions by Scripture only, according to each individual's interpre- tation, whenever and wherever it has been adopted, has^^ways produced endless' and incurable dissentions, and of course er- * * Ettteb. 1. 2 2 . c . 15 . H iil t . Err l. Ep i ph . Hieron . d » V i r JUiwt^ 6. Hist Eccl. Hieron. t Elem. of Christ. Rel. vol t i&useb. 1. 6. Hist Eccl. Hieron. i Elem. of Christ. Rel. vol. i. p. SW I Life of Arehbp. Fenelon, by Ramsey. U Brief Confiit p. la ■(• v>-.: tetter Vltl anlhorilir or IL ,k ! Jf^ • S'="P«»«. m opposMon to Aa , ten. Sf U,, Obfe llTlS S j' •P^"*"'' "> P«>«. fron. pld, foUower. wrote indmiJT-j-^- * """"drad mora of hia pound hi. d«=ttiM Sd ,S„S„", ^"'^°f *•"• Pwfeotag to- •lone. In vata did I ■«!,„ i • T ™ """^ """d of God ~i« did h, iZ^lMUtr^LTrt^'^ .*•■»• » *St. Aug. • -. Popi IWMM5 M« tonrf * Muncer wrote to ft«^*?fff'' *•" ^ «««* /"r ««' death, wJth^^hL. H^mte^-^eaJf^rtoriK^^^^^^ wm ^'lt/t>hZ"eM hte^writt^^"^^^^^ ^T. «»"«»«" delibertion. 1 » See t h e curinn. nh . n . . ,. . ., , .' . ?°°'P- _ . A J" :write « ^ook m«l.^d ■;..•■ ::'i^:; (11*.. :=;;■' ■/'.. L$Uer Vni 63 came /80 nnmeirons and t,of tKem with |>rief mutual contradictionB and discords scandalous, as to overwhelm tb'tiihinki and coqfusion.* ' .. * To point out some few of the partteular vari^ons alluded to » for to enumerate them al^ would requfi'e a work vastly more voluminous thain that of Bossuef oiv this subject : it is well known that Luther's iundamentar priiicipie was that of imputed justice, to the exclusion of aU acts of virtue • and good works whatsoever. His favourite disciple titod bottle-companion, Ams- dorf, carried this principle so far as to maintain that good works are a kinderanee to salvation.j I In vindication of his fundamen- tal tenet, Luther vaunts' as follows : ' This ' article shall remain, in spite of all the world : it Is. I, Martain Luther, evangelist, ^ho say it: let no one therefore attempt to infringe it, neither; the emperor of the Romans, nor of the Turks, no* of the Tar* tarS; neither the Pope, nor the monks, nor the nuns, nor th« king8,>nor the princes, nor all the devils in hell. If they attempt it, nmy the infernal flames be their, recompense. What I^**/ hercris to be takeii for in inspiration of the Holy Ghost.''t— • Notwitl^tanding/nowever, these terrible threats and impreca* tions of their m^ter, Melancthon, with the rest of the Luther- ans, immediately after his death, abandoned this article, ind went over to the opposite extreme of Semipelagianism ; name- ly, they^ot only admitted the necessity of good works, but they also ta/ght that these are prior to God's grace. Still on this single subject, Osiande^r, a Lutheran, says, " there are twenty several opinions, all drawn from the' Scripturf, and held by dif- ferent members of the Augsburg, or LutherafftConfession."^ Nor has the unboui^ded license of explainiAg Scripture, each one in his own way, which Protestants claim, been confined to • C«»ito, minister of Strasburg, writing to Farel, pastor of Geneva, thus complains to him : " Ood has given meto underaUnd the mischief we havs done, by our precipitancy in breaking wifii the pope, *c. The people say to us, I linow enodgh of the Gospel: I can read it for myself. 1 have no need of you." Inter Epist. Ca^vini. In the same tone, Dudith writes to his friend Beza, " Our people are carried away with every wind of doctrino. If you Icnow what their religion is to-day ,Vo« cannot tel^ what it will be to-morrow. In what single point are those chorciies which have declared war against the pope agreed among themselves 1 There is not one point which is not held by some of them as an sjrUcle of (aith, and by others aa an itApiety." In the same sentiment, Calvin, writing to M elanethon says, " It is of great imoortance that the divisions, which subsistamong us, should not b% known to future jM,..«hflhtTa.brak fi n .. fi ff f rpM t h .« !es for nothing can be more ridiculous than that whol e world, should have agreed so Ul tMoehelmHistbyMaclaine.vol. iv.p.328.ed.im » Visit. Saxon. f Archdeacon Blackbuhi's ConfesBional, p. 16. 64 Letter Vlll mere errors and dissensions • it kJ- i tion and bloodshed ;*ThM w^ J^^/ '° T"*^ mutual pe,»ecu. archy, beyond r^coJlT ff h^ ^T "'•"• rebellions, and in- terpretation of Scripturf brSah^tnT"*^ '^''^ " "T^* "•»«- war;"t and lord cJendon.Box aUnVK*""'"^' °^ *« «''" there was flot a crime comnSS L*lf J,".^^«'. »how that course of it, which they did SnroZ Ae Puritan rebels, i„ the .•tancesdrawn from theCreT Sume^t S^^^^ ^""S"^ '"* Robison, and Kett, abundantly Zvelh^th^l^'''^^'* ^""«^' Infidelity, which has produced furr^l.^r,??''^"""^ plant of on the continent, was tSltpS 5-f^''^^ «'^«*'*» of late years aland ; and Ihat it waS^ed nS"; ^T i^'' f*"*^-**"* lis enormous growth by CrinL-nf''^-^'''*?** *°«'-««'ed to ters of religioS, which is the ?«,^ 7 ^'^Pn'^ate judgment in mat- Let us hea? th; two lait mentZd Tu^^ t^^ Reformation, testant clergymen, on thiT imir k^' *"* "'^ *«™ ^^ free inquiry," aays KetfcWS^S^- ^"''J*''*- " ''''»® "pWt of ofthe Jroi^taniandVrS securing them, both in Sdrdvaay,|•^'"*^*^ therefore, encouraged byXir^ov?™™ 'P"V'«*'»»- »» ^w dulged to excess.^ l^^heZoSInr^^!^' and Bometimes in- Conffe^pions did not eacaJZ^^ ^ *^'? ''"^ their own t^e Reformation, wLh'hSTernSo;;' ^^ »h7t plete Further reformation ^^proZelVlV^ "°* «=*"»- foundation of their faith, were eSed hv [J*' ^"'P'"*"' **»« different capacities, di;position8?Slie4 1^?"° °^'^'y ing, correcting, allegorizuiff and oth«,Jl- .' •'".' hy explain- men's minds had hwdlv fnv tl? !^"* ^''"•"^ »»»« Bible, ofrevealed religion TL3cou™a^r'°^ »» * doctrine to say that revelation waVisolS^^""' ^ P ^"'»'»«'' ^^ the irreconcilable differences amonaT' *1.P''""'y appears by Mc. « they were called andXtL^\?>hte„ers of the pub^ but the dictatei of natural reason / ,u^ ""^'''ff ^^ ^^^ to, ceeding f„,„X as frim a S s^tu^f " "'' •^'" ^"*«»' P*^ ' lirhatever, and openly 3«rM- ?•**' P™'"'"^** »" 'eliS^^ Atheism. JtfJ<^A.i;"*^^^^^^^^^^^ ^Tlnfidelity wa. muc^ t'cllJ?::dTr esite';?;?-: t Dr. He»** '•'•"-'»—'—• - ■ =*mt^. vi w. w w. isaBunui. of N^SvPHiilt cf >( 'orituM. ^#- H ■-'- *■', ■'''■. " letter VIII ^ '^^'.^ Philanthropine, or academ3r^f general educntioii ii pality df Anhalt-Dessau. J^he professed object of in^epiSfr* , , , _ —J this institu- tion was to unite the three Christian communions of Geraiany, and to make it possible for the members of them all not oAy to live amicably, and to worship God ii?lhe same' church, but evfen to communicate together. This attempt gave rise to much spec- ulation and refinement ; and the proposal for the amendment of the formulas, and the instructions from tho pulpit, were prose- cuted with so much keenness, that the ground-work of. Christi- anity was refined and refined, till it vanished altogether, Having Deism, or natural, or, as it was cjJled, philosophieal religion, i» its place. The Jjutherans and Calvinists, prepared by the causes before mentioned, to become dupes to this masterpiece of art, were enticed by the specious^berafity of tte scheme, and the partic- ular attention which it promise4 to the morals of youth : but not one Roman Catholic eould Basedow allwe to his seminary ofnrae- ticalethiesy* ^' ' ""^ ly. You have peenr, dear sir, to what eijfess errors and im- pieties, the principle of private interpretation of Scripture, no less than that of private inspiration of faith, has conducted men, and,.of course, is ever liable to conduct them; which circum- stance, therefore,Hproves, that ^t cannot be the rule for bringing us to religioui^ truths, acsording to the self-evident maxim stated above. Nor is it to be imagined, that, previously to the forma- tion of the difl^erent national churches, and other religious asso- ciations, which took place in several parts of Europe, at wliat is called "The Reformation," the Scriptures Were diligently consulted by the founders of them, and that the ancient system of religion was exploded, and the new systems adopted, ^nform- ably with their apparentxsense, as Protestant controvertists would have you believe. No, sir, princes and statesmen had a great deal more to do with thesb changes, ^han theSlogians ; and most of the parties concerned in them were evidently pushed on by very diflerent motives from thosp of religion. Aslo Martin Lu- ther, be testifies, and calls God to witness the truth of his testi- mony, that it was not willingly, (that is, not from a previouiMis- covery of the falsehood of Ins religion) hut from accident, (name- ly, a quarrel with the Dominican friars, and afterwards with the Pope) that be fell into his broils about religiun.f With respect * RobiMn'i Proofs t>f a Conspiracy against all Religions, fcc. Ketf • History the Interpreter of prophecy, Vol. ii. p. 168. t Casu non voluntate in has turmas incidi : Deum testur."— The Pio- te s i ain hiworian, Mwhelm, with whom Ham* ig*ees, admits that severij « the principal agents in this revolution " were actuated more by the im- 0* ■ . ■ . / -* "X, V 66 Letiw Yllt obtained for himself Vn1\T °PPo«t*on to it, and in return title of DefinZttZfau!^^^^^ ''^'" *» pontiff.Te . of onoof g^queeniS^^^ tf erwards i;namoured caused^ statme to brStd ;^n !• *'"\"^^^ t ana declaring himself JSi'A^T]-"^/H^**P«'« ^"Prem^jy' Thus he plugged Ae nStwhl'tS;'* f ^"^'"'"^^ evwy kind of hereenr and jmoStr^ 1^'^^®°^^ * ^"^ '^f eviaent than that the S'8Sfw;»ti «¥**' "otWng is mdre of God, was the rule foSSwed^Xtrr •"' *°^ ''°' *« ^^'^ our national relirion Thr«„n^ • ? ^} important change of . n«t succeeded Ts„preme^2eT^n^^^^^ ^^^^ f Somerset, W trtfshadow of his voSl^nV *« church and state, under ambitious and avarSs nirSr^ ^^V^ ^'^ f*>' W« own «o caUed. much fuSthKS ^t^u** ^ ^^e .Reformatibn. pressed tie remMningcillekel ai^ T ^? *'"?''^- «« «"P- gacyof Heniy hadZjS coSv?r2?T-^^^^ which the pro^.. ce.es during lUs^^eJSfwrtharriS' ^T^^^ . introduced LKefanLm 4?to Swit'^^'''"'*'^^««d ft^^ . Swedish dopinioM," pp. 79 W hIIai. 1 P"i."!=»l constituUoB oZ-the fte reformation int^ tflnrntk wa. aniSfL,*^'* CriatJem. who introduced of ambition and ararice dm' ''Jf ■»'"»fed by no other motive than tho.e it w«i-.edition andS£Sw£S«; ^"^^^ P«>te.tant. t«Sl^ jhlt 5S5S'."5°^ "»< •• . " r ti." t' i?7' '^''**''^''^^ .^.tr '», •r ./.*»' .te •\ ^ N, Letter 71111 er He made a great number of important changes in the ppblic woflrship by his own authority, or that of his vi^iiitors ;♦ and when h^ empIoyedr«»rtain bishops and divines in farming fresh arti- cles and a new htiirgy, he punished theA with imprison- ment if they we^re Bot obsequious to his orders.f He even Ux>k on himself to altei*iheir work, when sanctioned by parliament, in compliment to the fehurch's greiUest enemy^ Calvin4 After- wards, when EUzBbeth came to the throne, a new reformatidn,- different irf its articles and liturgy, from that of Edward VI., was set on foot, and rooulddd, not according to Scripture, but to lier orders. S^e deposed all the bishops except one, " the calamity of Aj«9e«,'r«8he was called ;§ ahd she required $he new ones, whom^^e appointed, to r^ndunce certain exercises, which they declared to be agreeable to the Word of God,\\ but which she found not to agree with her system of politics. She even in full parliament, thrdateiied to depose them all, if they did not act con- fprmably to her jviews.^ ' y. The more stfictly the subject is examined, the more clear- ly it will appear, that it was not in consequence of any'investi- gation of the Scriptures, either public or private^ that the ancient Catholic religion., was abolished, and one or other of the new Protestant religions sf t up, in liie different northern kingdoms and stages of Europe, but in consequence of the politics of print ces and statesmen, the avarice of the nobility and gentry, uid the irreligion and licentiousness of the people. I will even advance a step further, and affirm that there is no appearance of any Tin- dividual Protestant, to whatever sect h& belongs, having foriied, 4 ' * See the Injanctioiu of the Council to Preachers, published before We erliameot niet, concerning it^ mass in the-Latin language, prayers for e dead, &c. See also the order sent to^e primate against palms, ashes, &c. in Heylin, Burnet an^^oUier. TBj|% Edward VI. just thirteen years old, was taught by his^iincle ^ pnfraimr as follows : •< We woul^ not have our subjects so much to mistake our'judgment, &c. as though wa could not discern what is to be doneAc. God be Haisw], we know what, by his word, is fit to be redress«ld," Collier, vol. ii. p. 246. ; f The bishops Heath and Gardiner were both impiMlid for non-com- pliance. .,-■■• W^ t Heylin compl^jns bi^rly of Calvin's pragmatical sp^it, in quarrellingj with the English liturgy, ai^ «oIiciting the protector to<^ter it Preface to Hist, of Reform. His letter8«4b Somerset on the gtlmect Ay be seen M Fox's AeU and Momm- 7^ • Anthony Kitchen, *o called by Godwin, De PrtMul, and Camden. II This took place with respect' to what was termed ;>r0pA«>'ytniri then practised by many Protestants, aad defended by archbishop Grindal and th4 other bishops, si agrteable toGotPs wordt nevertheless, tiie queen J l Llg^thgm to jiuppr eBa jit.:^n1 Brpl Hist. P. H. i ( See her curious speech in parliament, Blar. S5; 1^5) in Stow's Annalh^ ■v-M <". -43- '* ■•M^ U-. I 0'- 68 ^f .:. i« creed If^helrn] i, believe t|at tho^e ji '^*''® mosV^diligent am reaJIy found out iifi tn :! cree*%hicli tbeylhag . -of this matter,.! Wid^ . OM8anAa°> '^rth ;? ti«t, »hit.i?\is' nptry%lr iru'r*? ^°' ^"^"^"^ ' *« B«P- * • other forty Vcts^of ProteitoL ^° **™V *"«* "^ o'' «" the : noi^rfc?S^ ' his^aJosUes to K irfStV^t^'^ *"? «*^'«°<» orders S^ V i« t\ ■\ » •. 09 1^3^ (iie jrole of their religion, thei^sAught to be no articles, no 'Catechisms, no.8ermon8,xnor pther infractions. .TVue it is, that .tlp^rabolitidn of these, however inconi^tt&le they are with the "Mtself^ would quickly undermine the e^biUishe'd church, ts clergy.now begin to und^erstand, and,iru^Vi^ally carried into effect, woyld in the end, Jefface t&e whole dochine and n)k>- ^'^^ralityof the Gospel:* but this cqiasequience only sl^^ more uclearly the falsehood of that exclusive rule. In fact, theSnpst 'enlightened Protestants find themselves here in a dilemma,^iii are obliged to say and unsi^,.to the ahiuscment of some persons, and the pi^of'others.f'Vrhey cannot abandon the rule of the 1 4 ^**'* "'*"**' *• explained by each one foV himself, without pro- l^claiming their guilt in refusing to. hear, the Catholic church; I and the^'cannot adhere tp it, without opening the flood-gates ,to all the impiety and immorality «f >he age upon their own com'- ntunion.— I shall hare occasion hereafter to notice tho claims of the established church to authority, in determining ^e sense of Scripture^ as well as in their religious controversies i in the mean time,'! cannot but observe that her most able defenders .are frequently obliged to abandon their own, and adopt the Catholic rule of faith. The judicious Hooker, inNJIs defence of the church of England, writes ttius, "Of this we are right sure, that nature, Scripture, and experience itself, have taught the World to seek for the eqding of contentions, by submitting to some judicial and definite sentence, wheieunto neither party that contendeth may, under any pretence or colour, refuse to stand. This must needs be effectual and sti^hg. As for tfther means, without this, thex^e^dom prevai|."| Another most clear- headed writer, "and rienownea defender of the establishment, whom I had the happiness of being t^cquainted^ith, Dr. Balguy,^ * The Protutant writers, Kelt and Robinson, ha^ shown, in the nassage above quoted, how the principle- of private ju^nn!^nt tends to undermine Christianity at .large ; and archdeacon Hook, in his late Charge, shows, by an exact statement of capital contictions in different years, that the in- crease of immorality has kept pace With thai o£ the Bible societies. ^ t One of the latest igstaiJCMof thd tdi^iMpVguiA^on was ezhibKed by t^§Rt Rev. Dr^^^jMrnm^ said, very truly, that ••^th^Piof f^fho* cinstitiile th,^^ of mankind) cannot without assistant^, '^hildrstand the Scc^res.*^ Bbing congratulated on this important, J^ unavoidable cohcesiibiit by the Rev. Mr. Gandolphy, • m tacks about, ma public letteliitoihat gbritldmuit and u»8, tltat what h*^ <. wrote, in his /itjitry, concerning tfle necessity of a fUrtlM^irule than inera Scripture only, regards the ei<f" Letter IX. 71 themselves they enforced 6nly their own imaginatighs, they beUi to be executing the decrees of heaven"* 1 conclude this loiig letter, with a passage to the present pw pose from our admired .iieological poet : "As long as words a different sense will tear, * And each may be his own interpreter, _ ^_ O"' wry faith wiJl no foundation find : '_ J ■ i' ■ The words a weathercock for every wind."! I am, Dear Sir, dec. J. M. LETTER IX. • To JAMES BROWN, Esq. ''.■'"■ seoond false rule. Dear Sir, - ' AFTER all that I have written concerning the rule of faith, adopted by yourself and other more rational Protestants, 1 have only yet treated of the extrinsic arguments against h. I now, therefore proceed to investigate its intrinsic nature, in orfer to show more fully the inadequacy, or rather the fals^ood oTit. When an English Protestant gets jwssession ofVn English Bible, printed by Thomas Basket, or other " printer to the king's most excellent majesty," he takes it in hand with the same con- fidence, as if he had immediately received it from the Almighty himself, as Moses received the Tables of the Law on Mount Sina, amidst thunder and lightening. But how vain is this confidence, whilst he adheres to the foregoing rule of faith !? How many questionable points does he assume, as proved, which cannot be proved, without relinquishing his awn principles and adopting ours ! ^1. Supposing then you, dear sir, to be the Protestant I have been speaking of; I begin with asking you.bySvhat means have . you learnt the canon of Scripture, that isito say, which are the books which have been written by divine Jftspiration ; or indeed that my books at all, have been so w>ii;ten ? You cannot dis- cover either of these things by your rul^>ecau8e the Scripture, as your gfreat authority Hooker show8,| and ChillingwortK al- lows cannot bear testimony to itscV. You will say. that the Old Te8tam|||, was written by Moses and the prophets, and Wi^ ]?t New 'RiSUimentby tMkwstles of Christ and th? evangelists, i iff But admitting alL^i^Vdoes not of itself prove that they aU ^ ways wrote, or indBBfJOid they ever wrote, under the infly "\. KJ^ /i' t Eccles. Letter IX. W '■'^ .. •«gJ6f inspiration. They were, by nature, fariible men: horn H^e you learnt that they were infallible writers ?. In the ne« < plac*^ you receiw books, as canonical parts of the Testament l^h were not written bvaorgd^jt all ; namely, the GospeU of St. Mark and St ypp^PI rej«| an^^ithentic work of great exceUence,!pSSiiyo.;e who'Ttenhed in Scripture ■ an ^*lfe,t and declared to be/u« of the Holy Ghost A I speak ' oi St. Barnaby. Lastly, you have «o sufficientauthority for asserting that the sacred volumes, ire the genuine composition of the holy personages whose names they bear, except the tra- dition and living voice of the Catholic church, since nuraerbiis apochryphal prophecies and spurious gospels and epistles, under tfie same or equally venerable names, were circulated in the Church, dunng Its early ages, and accredited by different teamed jmters and holy fathers : whUe some of the really canonical h»k8 were rejected or doubted Of by them. In short, it was ^ unul the end of the ioimh ceniury, that the genuine canon " mmy Scripture was fixeJT: and then it was fixed bvAthe tra- dtttonand authority of the church, declared in the TlJBfeouricil ' «LS^^? *°^" Decretal of P. Innocent I. Indeed, it is so lUi !ll^ *'*"**1 ^"^ Scripture is built on the tradition of the j;*Ti' *'**V '"°!;* ^«"?*** Protestants,^ with Luther himself, . ♦K^'f^ u'*'®'*Jk.**'''°°*'*«*'S^'*'»"»«''n8 almost as strong as thoSfe m the welPknown declaration of St. Augiistine.t • 11. Again, siipposiimthe divine authority of the SacredBboks tTf\''^'^,^^mf>^iJ'ow^V.o^^nownth»t the ^ies of them translated and. ppnted in yo(f BiWe are authentic-^ It ' " "^/te?" f^^^ »•»« Hirned, thAthe original text of Mo- "^ r «P?'^"WP«>phet»*a8 destn^ed, with the temple and city of J^alem by the Assyrians undt^r Nebuchadnezzar ;•• of thllSliiiiS !!riL't?*t"!? ''1 f^th^nti* copies, at the end et Esdras'^i I paptiirity, tl ^ — ~— ii, yet that t^g persecution oFAntiochos ;ff fi dence of the authenticity of th plied by^Christ Autthis ai^stl * ■■'-¥ SeeO .€ 'Ugh jjhe MM» care of the proph- alloMri^d in tlTe subsequent wJiilh time \r%0!ive ^ dvf- J^gstanfent till thift||ir&9 sup^ 'ho Inuvsmitted it to the church. andCotlenis'a Collect i ^ ■ »Act8xiiJ24. Dr. Lardner, in Biahop Wtbon's ; •St. Barntby. t Acts ziv. 24. I Hooker. jEcqi, Polit Col. vol. ii. p. ao. • M i.Uiewor^rfrS'lhJ^i'*^ manythiD^tothe Pipisto-ttat with them kL? 1. ™ ?^^> *'''^'*- ^^ received from tBem ; otherwiie we should *^y..\T° M°""/^ ?^ ''" *]*'"* "•" Co«"nent. on John. ^Ks! ehnrril K.^kV''^''*''* *''5 ***e*' '*»"''• 'f ^»'«'»»»hority of ft^ .A Letter IX. 79 tn like manner, granting, for example, that St. Paul wrote an in- ■njfed Epistle to the Komans, and another' to the Ephesians; >' yl(i.a8'the former was intrusted to an individual, the deaconess '' Phebe, to be conveyed by her to its destination,* and the latter to his disciple Tychicus,t for the same purpose, it is impossible for you to entertain a rational conviction that these Epistles as hey stand in your Testament, are exactly in the state in which ' ey issued from the apostle's pen or that they are his genuine Epistles at all, without recurring to the tradition and authority of the Catholic church concerning them. To make short of this matter, I will not lead you into the ll||rrinth of Biblical criti- cism, nor will 1 show you the endless varieties of readings with reajject to words and whole passages, which occur in different copii| of the Sacred Text, but will here content myself with re« ferring you to your own Bible Book, as printed by authority Look then at psalm xjiv, as it occurs in the Book of Common Prayer, to whicli your clergy swear their " consent and assent ;" n look at^e same psalm in your Bible : you will find four |l e verses in the ,j^rmer, whiph are left out of the latter! Vl^ will 3rdu here say, dear sir? You must say that your has added to, or'else that she has taien away from, the this prbphecy .'$ . ' It your pains and, perplexities Concerning your rule of ' not atop even at this point : for though you had de- monstrative '(uAmce, t^at the aeveral books, in your Bible are canonical anJHpentic, in the originals, it would still remain for you to inquire whether or no they axe faithfully translated tn your English copy. In fact, you are aware that they were writ- ten, some of them in Hebrew and some of them iA Greek, out of which languages they were translated, for the last time, by about fifty different men, of varioua capacities, learning, judgment, opin- ions, and prejudicds.^ In this inquiry, the Catholic church her- self can afford you no security to build your faith upon : much less can any private individuals whosoever. The celebrated Protestant diviiie, Episcopius, was so convinced of the fallibility of modern translations, that he wanted alf sorts of persons, la- bourers, sail^&, women, &c. to learn Hebrew and Greek. In- • Rom. xvi. See.Calmet, Ac. t Ephet. vi. 91. t The verses in ^«ftion being quoted by S& Paul. Rom. iii. 13, tbc. (Iicre isno'doubt but the common Bible Is dtfrUive in this passage.— On the other hand, tho bishop of Lincoln has published his conviction that the most important passage in the New Testament, 1 John v. 7, for establish' ing the divinity of Jmus Christ, "is spuriuus." Elem. of Theo. vol. iL p. 90. =tS»» M list of them in Ant. Jnhn s nn' a Hi s t. AoaauBt ■w 74 L0tler IX. I 5f« A ! ? f ^'?"'?,»'>»t »h« sense of the text may depend upon the choice of a «nglb word in the translation : nay, it wmctiiSe! l'r£l"P°" 'n "''* punctuation of a sentenc; as n^^T seen below* Can you then, consistently, reject the authoritj of the great universal church, and yet build upon that of wme obscure translator in ,h^ reign of James I. ? Nr^ir ; you m"s1 yourself have compared your English Bible with the V^ZZ - J^i rS.''"*""'*- " '» b*^* '•*«hful version, before you cinS your faith upon it as upon the Wori of God. To say one word now of the Bibles themselves, which^aye been pl^bUsherbJ TW Jf 'nnirirT!'^ "r? •^^r/rotestants. in t'hi, countr^ werTso nn^Sl 1 ^°''«'''"'«' »"j°"'«l »''™««''''t who VcoZglv ordered a new version of it tqkbe made, being the same that i twn t Now, though these now translators have corrected miny « CahorrV^''' predecessors, most of which were lev"K at Catholic doctrines and discipline.i yet they have left a suffi- XLT'^'i "^'^^'^ "'••'"''' '''' ^ I doVt find t'Lt tSS advocatesofferanyexcuse.il- ■*«* »uanuoir »T. ^^' J -" '"*''® a further supposition, namely, that you had tnAT'VTT °^ '«\«'«.»io". a«the CalviniJte usedTpr^ and Jatthful, m its English garb; yet what would all this aval you, towards establishing your rule of faith, unless youTuld be equally certam of your und«r*/aW,V M. «Aofe 0/ ,/ 4a//v'^^^^^^^ as the learned Protestant bishop Walton says,! " The Wori of car^, gui est super omnia Deusbe^MsT^cLl, r2^I they pretend to .io.«.fl^ y W the. "~''- — »- n •» ». ... Rrolagpm^M to hia Eollslott^^a|i,j »^ ' ^f m Letter IX. God does not consist in mere letters, whether written or printed, but in the true sense of it ;* which no one can better interpret than the true church, to which Christ committed this sacred . pledge." , This is exactly what St. Jerom and St. Augustin had said many ages before him. ^' Lot us be persuaded," says the former, " that the Gospel consists not in the words, hut in the sense. A wrong explanation turns the Word of God intd the . word of man, and what is worse, into' th» word of the devil ; for . the devil himself could quote the text of Scripture."t Now that there are in Scripture thingt hard to be understood, which the un- learned and unstable wrest unto their own destruction, is expressly* affirmed in it4 The same thing is proved by the frequent mistakes of the apostles themselves, with respect to the words of their ^^ divine Master- These obscurities are so numberless throughout .' the sacred volumes, that the last quoted father, who was as bright and learned a divine as ever took the Bible in hand, says of it, "There are ntore things in Scripture that I am ignorant of thaa those I know."^ Should you prefer a modem Protestant author- ^' ity to an ancient Catholic one, listen to the. clear-headed Dr. Balguy. His words are these : " But what, you will reply, it all this to Christians ? to those who see, by a clear and strong light, the dispensation of GocTto mankind ? We are not 05 thoso toAo have no hope. The day-spring from on high hath visited us.- The spirit of God shall lead uf into all truth. — To this delusive dream of human folly, founded only on mistaken interpretations • of Scripture ; I answer, in one word : Open your Bibles : take the first-page that occurs in either Testament, and tell me with- out disguise ; is there nothing in it too hard for your understand- ing? If you find all before you clear and easyl you may thank God for giving you a privilege which he has denied to many thousands of sincere belieyers."| Manifold is the cause of the obscurity of Holy Writ ; 1st, the sublimity' of a considerable part of it, which speaks either liter- ally or figuratively of the Deity and his attributes ; of the Word incarnate ; of angels, and other spiritual beings :— 2dly, the mys- terious nature of prophecy in general: — Sdly, the peculiar idioms of the Hebrew and GjneeLj^^agcs : — lastly, the numer- ous and bold figures of spveeim^aj^^s pillegory, irony, hyper- bole, catachresisj and antiphra^ii^^jmich are so frequent with ' * This obvious truth shows the extreme abrardiW of our Bible societies ■nd modern vchools, which regard nothing but th^ mere readinff of the Bible, leaving persons to embrace the mon opposite interpretations of the same texts. t In. Ep ad Qalat. contra Lucif. 1 2 Pet. iiL 16. t i t . Aug . E p . a d Ja n u a r . ■ Dr. B alg uy's D i icOBr MS. p . 1 3 3 . _ '^1 »■ 8 7$ letter IX. the aacred penmOn, particultirly the ancienf prophets.* I should like to hear any one of thosg, who pretend to find the Scripture *iJ ^^^l attempting to giv^ a clear explanation of the 67th, alias the ^8th Psalm ; or the last chapter of Ecclesiastes. Is it any eMjr matter to recoqcile certain well-known speeches ofeach of4he holy patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob', with the in^ ' comrailtable precept.^of truth? I may here notice, amonjr a thousand other such dilBcaities, that when our Saviour sent his twelve apostles to preach the Gospel to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, he told ihem, according to St. Matthew x. 10, Frovtde nett/ur gold nor silver— neither doesnon^et staves: whereas St. Mark vi. says. He commanded them^ thaftkev shouU take nothing for thetr. journey, save a staff only. You may in- deed answer, with Chillingworth and bishop Porttjus, that what^ ever obscurities there^a^r be in^ertain parts of Scripture; «it is clear m all that is necessary to be known. But on^bllt author* ity do thes? writers ground this maxim ? They have none a%aU ; but they beg the' question, asjogicians eipress it, to extricate ' 'themselves from an absurdity, and in so doing they ove^m their fundamental rule. They profess to gather their articles of faith afid morals from mere Scripture : nevertheless, confessing • that they understand only a part of it ; they^presume to make a distinction in it, and tosay this pwrWis necessary to be known, the other part is not necessary: Bjutio jflace thiimatter ina cle1^ light, It is obvious th»t if anjT articles are particularly necelbsftry to be known andJx^Ueved, they are th6sf> which point to the .G<^ whoift we arer to adore, and the moral precepts which wib are to observe. Nj»W, is it dembnstratively evident, from mere Scnp-^ ture, thai Christ islGod,fndto be adoired as such? Most mod- ^•em Protestai|ts of\eminence answer /iJO"; and, in defence of their assertion, qudie the folld wing Among other texts • TA« ' Father IS greater tMan /, JohnViv. 28 j to which the orthodox diymes oppose thotfe texts of the same evangelist, land th Fath*- •er are one, x. 30 jThe Word was. God, &c. i, U AgAin ^e find £ ^he folloMfinflniii^ng the moral precepts of thrf Old "EOstament :n '^ g Gd thywaf; eatthy bread witAjoy, and drink thy iUke with a ^ merry ^ heatt : for Goi^now accep\eth thy wqifks. . Letahy ear- '?"l„ TT FA«>«"'' fe' thread laUk no'ointnSnt. hve ^jmully^mth the wife whom thou Ihvest, &c. ficcls. ix. 7, 8, Sj, •^ "b^ Testament," we meet with the following seemingly e^mands. foear not \it all, MaU. v. U. CalUo her upon forth j-heither beyiiu called maste^ for one 4lk ^ • See wamples of thW, in Bonfrerio^l Praloqula. and Wtl « X I . Pltfn- K your masteft Christy Matt, xxiii, 9. 10. If any tnan sue theeai Mw, ii (oAe away thy coat, let him have t^ cloak also, t. 40. Give, to t(fierym .^, .4 v». %^ r 78 Letter IX, % liHnihariy with Protestants of this description, and poticed their controversial discourses, I nevej found one of them absolutely fi»ed, for any long time together, in his mind, as to the whole of hi» belief. I mviie you to make the experiment on the most intelligent and religious Protestant of yojir acquaintance. ^Ask Him a considerable number of qtiestions, bn the most important points of his religion: ijote dowtthis answers, while they are fresh m your memory. Ask him the same questions, but lu a different order, a month afterwards, when I can almost venture ' to say, you wiU he surprised at the difference you will find between his former arid his latter cfefed. . Aftei^all, we need not use any other means td discover the state of doubt and Urtcertairtty lo which mimy of your greatest divines and most profound Scrip- tt^-1 students hav^ passed their days, than to loot into their, publicauqns, I shall, satisfy myself with citing the pastoral of the Christian dobtnn^es, he says, *' I think it safer to tell yoS *^ !r fe*^* contained, than what they vrn. TJiey are contained m the Bible 5 and if, m reading that Book, your sentiments con- cerning -the doctrines of CBrisiianity should be different from those of yipur neighbour, or from those of the ehureh, be persuaded, on yoyr part, thjit infallibility appertains as litUe to you as it does to the chOrch,"f Can you read this, my dear sir, without Jhuddering?^ If a most learned and intelligent bishop and pro- S*T-i?''^'"'*^' ?^^'- ^***«" certainly is, after studying all , the Seizures, and all the commentators lipoA them, is forced PMblicly to confess 10 his aa^embled clergy, that he cannot tell them w/(at the doctrtnfif bf Christianity are, how unsettled must bis mind J^ave been ! and, of course, how far removed from the- assurance of^ith ! In the p.ext place, how fallacious must that rule 01 the mereBthle be, which, while he recommends it to them* he plainly signifies, will not lead'them to a uniformity of- senti- ments onef w^ith another, not even with their church ' There can be no ddubt, sir, but those who entertain ionbts concerning the truth of their religion, in the course of their lives, must experience the same, with redoubled anxiety, at the ap' proach of death. Accordingly there arev I believe, few of our Catholic priests, m an extensi4:e ministr>-, who have not been frequently called-in to receivo dying Protestants into the Ca- ■ tholic church,f whild Wt a single, instance of a Catholic Wistt- • Bishop Watson's dliarge to bis Clergy, in 1795. \, t A large proportidil,of those grandees who W|tre the molit forwari \ • SrC^/h \*^"5'™'"i?"^'^ f^»}«'^' ■'"'J' ■«««»? the rest. ctoSTe^ . •f Essex, the king's ecciepiasUcal vicar, when 3»ey came to die. retanuU ■ • s' . ■••; ■ *;■■ •»f . 11-.: ■4^ 1 « »» * '"}. Letter X. "rt ing to die in any other communion than hig own can be produc-> ed* ' O death, thou great enlightener ! truth-telling death,. , how powerful iirt thou in confuting the blasphemies, and dissi^ . pating the prejudices, of the enemies of God's church ! — ^Tak- ing it for granted, that you, dear sir^ have nut been without your ; doubts and fears.^bout thtf safety of the road in which you are' •walking, to eternity, more particularly in the course of the.pre' sent controversy, and being ' anxious, beyond expression, thai - you should be free from thes«fr T-A- interpretation. 2 Pet. i 20 ^ "^ ^ *' "-^ ""^ P''*"'*^'' • v^ *: LotterJC. 88 thia ; ^t Thoma^ and fit. Bartholomew into I»airthia and India, • and «o of the others ; every where converting and instructing^ thousands, fty word of mouth ; founding churches, and ordaining'^ bishops and priests to do the same • If an/ of ,them wrpte, it was on some particular occasion, and, for the mosV paft, to ' a . particular person or dohgregation, without either gl ring Jirec^ tions, or providing means of communicating 'their Epistles or their Gospels' to the ifest of the Christians throughout the world. .' - Hence, it happened, as I have before' remarked, that it was not till the end o/ the fourth century, that the canon of Holy Scrip- . tures was absolutely "settled as it -now stands. True it is, that the apostles, before they separated to preach the Gospel to difp ferent nations, agreed upon a short symbol or profession of faith, . called The Apostles' Greed ; but even thisHhey did not commit to writing :t and whereas they "made this, among other articles of it, / believe in the Holy Church,X they made no mention at oM of the Holy Scriptures. This circumstance confirms what theii example proves, that the Christian doctrine and discipline might have been propagated and preserved by the vnwritten Word^ or tradition, joined with the authority of the church, though the Scriptures had not been dbmposed ; however profitable these . most certainly &i^for doctrine, for r^roof, for correction, andfor^L instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. iii. 16. I have already quo- ted one o the ornaments of your church, whd saya, that '♦ the canonical Epistlels" (and he might have added the Gospel8> " are . not regular. treatises upon, the Christian religion ;"^ and I shall - have occasion to show, from an ancient father, that this religion did prevail and flourish soon after the age of the apostles, aAiong nations which did not even know the use of letters. IV. However light Protestants of this age may make of the ancient fathers, as theologiedl authorities,iiiiey cannot object ta ' (*'" ' ■ • Thmi ^dained them priests in every church. Acts xiv. 22. Fortkis cause tkft thee in Crete, that thou shouldsl set in order the things that are v>Mt- ^ ing, and shouldsl ordain priests in every city, as I had appointed thte. Tit i. 5. The things that thou haitlt«ard of me among many wUnesus,the SMme commit Ikau. to those Jailhful men, who shall be abU to Uach others atso. 2. Tim. fi. 2. t Ruffin inter Opera Hieron. t TKe title Catholic was afterwards added, when heresies increased. 5 Elements of Theology, vol. ii; ' ^ .^ « »_ * . i- II Jewel Andrews, Hooker, Morton, Pearson, and other Protestant di- vines of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries laboured hard to press the 'fathers into their service ; but with such bad success, that the succeeding controversialists gave them up In despair. The learned Protestant, Caun- boti, confessed that the fathers w^re all on the Catholic side ; the equally learned Obrecht testiBes that, in reading their works, "he was frequently provoked to tbrow them on the ground, finding them so full of Popery , while Middleton heaps every kind of obloquy upon them I "■■ them Mfatth/ul witnesses pTthe .loctrini and discipline of the church 111 their respectii^ timeai. It iM chiefly in the latter character that I, am going to bring a -cehain number of them lorward, namely, to prove that during the five first ages of the church, no less than in the subsequent ages, the unwritten Word, or tradition, was held in ewn church that of Ro^e, founded by the apoMles, SS. Peter and Patj; for with tljfs chtirch all othera Wree, in a» r n,** T . T,« preserved the tradition which, comes down fromflieap88tleA''t—" SUPPOSING THE APOSTLES HAH ^HX-.f.H«.Liii.« •i;tL.iir.C.«. 30 K .l«- + Revel, ii. a • X.>,c.* t AdreM, H^m. 1. iu. cfit T L. iiL c. 2.1 II ^: /. ■%K Ltfiitf X. ' .»■ •■■■••■ TRADITION, which they consigned to. those to whom ^W conunitted the churches ? It is this ordinance of tradition which , many nations of barb&rians, believing in Christ, follow, without the use of letters or ink."* Tertulliau, who flourished two hundred years aiVer the Chris* tian era, among his other works^ has left: us one^of the same na> tare, and almost Ui'e same title with that last cited. In this, speaking of the contemporary heretics, he says, " They meddle with the Scriptures, and adduce arguments' from them : for^ in . treatingr of faith, they prejtend that they ought not to argue upon any other ground than the written documents of faith : thus they wea>y the fini^^tch the weak, and fill the/middle sort with doubt. We begin, therefore, with laying down as a maxim, that , these men ought riot to be allowed to argue at all froqtf cripture. 4n fact, these disputes about the sense of Scripture ^^e gener- ally no other effect than to disorder either the stomach or the brain. It is, therefore, the wrong method to appeal to the Scrip- tures, since these afford either* no decision, or, at mdst, only a \ doubtful one. And even if^this were not the case, still; in ap- pealing to Scripture, the natural order of things requires that we should first inquire to whomihe Scriptures belong ? Fromnrhomi and by whom, and on what occasion, ahd to whoni, that tradr> tion was delivered'by which we became Chrifttiahs ? For where the truth of Christian discipline and faith is found, ^htfe. is the truth of Scripture, and of the. interpretation of it, and cJ^WChris- ' tian traditions."t He elsewrhert says, 'Vthat doctrine ie ^idejat^ ly true which was first delivered : on the contftiry, iliat is f^be. I which is of a later date. This maxim stands immoveable against [y — Ihe attempts oC all kte (heresies. Let . such then produce the origin of their churches : let them show the succession of their bishops from the apostles, or their disciples. — If you Uve near Italy, you see before your eyes the Roman chufch: happprv .church ! td which the apostles have left the inheritance of th^ docttine wijih their blood ! Where Peter was crucifiefl, like his ' Master ; whe^e Pautww beheaded, like the Baptist !-— If this :1 Whenes do you c&mef What bufinefs have you strangers vjUh my properly? By what right are you, MareionffeUing my trees? By what authority are you,VaUntine, turning the course of my streams 1 Under what pretence are you, Apelles, removing my land-market The estate is mine : t have the ancient, ihe prwrjtosstssioh of it, . • iL.ir. 0,^ ^^ t Praescrip. Adven. Hieres. , , '. ■ ' ■ "» ■ . -J c. ■'mtmm ;-v , ■« w«^^ ».« M tMtvtXi' I haxst tht titU audi itikered to m« by the original proprietm I am the heir of the apostles ; they have made their willin my fa- vour; while they disinherited and east you off, as stranger^ and enemies. '* In another of his works.f this eloqy^hf father proves, at great length, the absolute necessity of &dmif\iixg tradition, no less tbm. Seripture as the rule of faith, inaethuch as-many im- portant points which he mentions, cannot bo proved without it. I pass by other shining lights Of the thirdl century, such as St. Plement of Alexandria, St. Cyprian, Origen, &c. all of whoni place apostolical tradition on a level with Scripture, and de- scribe the church as the expounder o( them both : Imust, how- over, give the following words, from the last named great Bibli- cal scholar. He says, " We are not to credit those, who, by citing real canonical Scripture, seem to say, behold the Word is tn your houses : for we are not to desert our }!«« ecclesiastical tradttion, nor to believe otherwise than as the churches of God have, in their perpetual succession, delivered to us." * the numerous and illustrious witnesses of the fourth ", be content with citing St. Basil and St. Epiphanius. : saysj "There are many doctrines preserved and ^he church, derived partly from written documents apostolical tradition, which have equally the sdrAe ligion, and whiph no one contradicts .who hasihe least „ J of the Christian laws(."t The latter of these fiithers, says, with equal brevity and force, */ We must make us/of tra- dition : for all things Vre not to be Jbund in Scripture."^ St. John Chrysostoin flourished at the beginning of the fifth century, #ho, though he strongly recommends thfe heading of the holjr Scriptures, y6t, expqunding the text, 2 Thess\ ii. 14. says, " Hence it is plain that^ the hpostles did nofdeliver to us eyery thing by their Epistlesfbut many tHings without writing, rbese are equaUy worthv of belief; Hence, let us regard the tradition of the chiirch, afliShe Subject of ouf beliefs Suet and suci^a thing is a tradition rseeh no >a«Aer.'X- It would JiU a large volume to transcribe all the passages which occur in the works of the great St. Austin, in proof of the Catholic rule, and ' the aulhonty of the church in niaking use of it* leC therefore two or tluree of them speak for the rest.— "To attain to the truth of the Scriptures," he says, " we must follow the sense of them en- tertained bjr the universal church, to which the Scriptures theita- selves bear testimony. True it is the Scriptures themselves can- not deceive ur; n^verthele8s, topreventour bejng deceived in the • P«e«criD. Advere. Hsres. edit Rhenui. pp. 26^%^ tJ)e Corona Milll; t In Lib. de Spir. Sane. • De HajeiTN. 61. knowlei UtUrX. qnestion we examine by them, it is necessl with that church, which these certainly bih tQ U8."*— " This (ihe unlawrulness of rebapt evidently read either by vou or by me; nevl were any wise man, to whom Christ had born whom he had appointed to be consulted on could not fail to do so : now Christ bearstestimony ^^^^^ Whoever, therefore, refuses to follow the practice of^Hff^h resisW Christ himself, who by his testimony recomnTOds this church."t Treating elsewhetb, on the same subject, he saysi " The apostles, indeed, have prescribed nothing about this; but the custom must be considered as derived from their tradition, since there are many things, observed by Jhe universal church, which are justly held to have been appointed by the apostles, though they are not written.''^ .It seems doing an injury to St. Vincent of Lerins, who lived atthe end of the fifth century, to quote a part of his telebrated Commonitorium, when the whole of it is so admirably .calculated to refute the false rule of here- tics, condemned in the foregoing testimonies, and to prove the Cathdlic rule, here laid down ; still I can only transcribe a very small portion of it. " it is asked," says this father, "as the Scrip- - tyre is perfect, what need is there of the authority of church doc- trine? The reason is biecause the Scripture, being so profound- ly deep, is not understood by all persons in the same sense, but different' persona exj^lain it different ways, so that there are: aiinost as many meanings as there are readers of it. Novation r' interprets it in one sense, Pholinas in another, Arius, &g. in : " another." Therefore it is requisite that the true rpad of expound- ing the prophets and apostles must be marked' out, according to the ecclesiastical Catholic line. "It never was, is, or will be lawful for Catholic Christians to teach Any doctrine, except that which they once redeived j and it ever was, is, and JPJU'be their duty to condemn those who do ,80.— Do the herctkis then appeal to the Scriptures ? Certainly they do, and this with the utmost .confidence. You will she them, .running hastily through the different books of Holy Writ, those ofMoses, Kings, the Psalms, the Gospels, Ac. At home and abroad, in their discourses and, in their writings, they hardly produce^a sentence which is not larded with the words of Scrip- ture, &c. ; but they are so. much the more to be dreaded, jis they conceal themselves under jlhe veil of the divine laws. Let us, however, remember, that , Satan transformed himself into an V, * L. i. contra Crescon. t Do Bapt, contra Donat l> ▼. t De Util. Credend. V '- ^-'■. 1 ^--+- V V •♦^: > f 5 ,>ii.JU •^ —i—-;, ^-♦- *'.4^; / ^k^ vvJ' ::--./^ mm-'. •:% '■*'-■•. ■■—^ ■M^ *■ w ^.1 w ■■"^N 1 - (.^ ' ' *. *v " ■ ■■ '- ^ ■ ■ m 1 • , ■ ' -r-"^- ,1 ,^ o / ., # ''^ >, • ■■ ^ ^1 ' ^ ■ " . <&■ * » ^ " % '■ -^ • % " ' ^ '^\* ♦ • . - • ,<■>''■■ ■• 1 ^ r " ■ , • • - - » 1 f^ .. ' ' •■Jip* ' ' . ^ , ■ '%' V V * '* • l> r ' ■ • o • ' ., - • 1. i — — — ^ g — , t , f ^ 1' » •, •' '' . f , . 1 ft JfflJL jii. 1^ I*!? m { .. 1, % • 4&? * •• ■3 ' . .. i^ » • . ' - • _ . i 1 v. / ' 1 ■ • . «. / ' #^ -»ti vf*~ ./?- '. ^Jil^^ \*. ^ .^>..>"-'^ •■«-. ■^-■i '^ r IMAOE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) .^ IjO M 11:2^ la §2»r 12.5 ■ttlii |Z2 £ |£o 12.0 f 1: .Sciences^— "T*-^- Corporation 1 - - . , y ---; ■ ■ V ^■^ -4^*^ letter Xf. angel of light.— If he could turn the Scriptures against the tK)rd of Majesty, what use may he not make of them against us poor mortals ?— If then Satan and his disciples, the heretics, are capable of thus perverting holy Scripture, how are Catholics the children of the church, to make use of them, so as to discern truth from falsehood ? Thiy must carefully observe the rule laid down at the beginning of this treatise by the. holy and learned men I referred to: THEY ARE TO INTERPRET THE DIVINE TEXT, ACCORDING TO THE TRADITION OP THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.'^* KAmiiuw It would be as easy to prove this rule of faith from the fathers Of the sixth as the former centuries, particulary from St. Greeory - the great, that holy Pope, who at^the close of this century, sent missionaries from Rome to convert our Pagan ancestors : but, I am sure, you will think that evidence enough has been brouffht to show that the ancient fathers of the church, from the very time of the apostles, held this whole rule of faith, njunely, ihm word of God unwritten as well as written, together with the living, ^aktng tribunal of the church to preservoaend interpret both of >'»*'"• iam,&c. . J.M. ♦LETTER XI. To JAMES BROWN, Esq. ^e, -•'' trb true rule. Dear Sir, THE all-importance of determining with ourselves which is the right rule or method of discovering religious truth must be admitted by all thinking Christians ; as it is evident that this rale alone can conduct them to it, and that a false rule is capa^ We of conducting them into aU sorts of errors. It is equally clear why all those who are bent upon deserting the Catholic chinrch, reject he^rule, that of the whoU word of God; together with her living authority in explaining it: for, whUe this rule and this authority are acknowledged, there can be no heresy or schism among Christians, as whatever points of religion are not dear from Scripture are supplied and illustrated by tradition • and as the pastors of the church, who possess that authority, are always living and ready to declare what is the sense of S^ipture. and what the tradition on each contested point which they have received in succession from the apostles. The only resource, • Vincent LeriMCommonit Advera. Hsr. edit. Balox. trandation of tbu littte work hu lately boon publiahod. An English Letter X.I »" therefore, of peraons reaolVed tofollow^their own or their fore- *V fathers' particular opinions or practice's, in matters of religion, ' '',«with the exception of the enthusiast, has been in all time8,;both ancient and modern, to appeal totnefe Scriptur-o, which being a dead fe««r, leaves them at liberty to' explain it as they will. I, And yet, with a)l their repugnance to tradition and church authority, Protestants have found themselves absolutely obliged, in many instances, to »di»i| of them both— It has been.demon- strated above, that they are obliged to admit of tradition, in or- der to admit of Scripture itself. Without this, they can neither ^ know that there are any writings at all dictated by God's inspi- | r^on ; nor which these writiofs are in particular ;• nor what versions, or publication of them are genuine. But, as this mat- ^. ter haaj>een sufficiently elucidated, I proceed to other points of religion, which Protestants recieive, either without the authoritjr of Scripture, or in opposition to the" letter of it. . X The first precept in the Bible, is tha|,of sanctifying the seventh day : God blessed the SEVENTH DAY, and sanctified tt. Gen. ii. 3. This precepi was confirmed by God, in the Ten Com- mandments : Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. The SEVENTH DAY is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. Exod. xx. On the other hand, Christ declares that he is not come to destroy the law but to fulfil it. Mat. v. 17, He himself observed the Sabbath : and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day : Luke iv. 16. His disciples likewise observed , it, after his death : They rested on the Sabbath day according to the commandment. Luke xxiii. 56. Yet, with aU this vireighl of Scripture authority for keeping the Sabbath or seventh day holy, Protestants, of all denominations, make this a profane dap, . and transfer the obligation of it to the first day of the «o«^^ the Sunday. Now what authority have they, for doing J^? None at all, but the unwritten Word, or tradition of the Ca%olic church, which declares that the apostles made the change in honour of Christ's resurrection, and the descent of the Holy Ghost, on that day of the week. Then, with respect to the manner of keeping that day holy, their universal doctrine and practice are no less at variance with the Sacred Text. The Almighty says, " From even unto even shall you celebrate your Sabbath," Levit. xxiii. 32, which is the practice of the Jews • Amonrat all the lemrned Protestants of this age, Dr. Porteus is the only one who pretends to discern Scripture, «' partly on accjjunt of »»» own jea^ sonableness. and the character*«f divine wisdom in it" Brief ConRit p. 9. 1 could have wished to asWhis lordship, whether it is by thwe chan^ ters that he has discovered the CanticU or Song of Solomen to be inspiraa Scripture? > *• Letter XI ^^"^^^^^^^^ eve, dress nlHU^t^^il^'i^^'^\'^. %T'*''^'^ ^ ''"lawfnl to £*od. XXXV 3 A^i^'u: *!'• 2^'°' «^«n to wake a fire. ■aidtoNoritSll ?**** aga^st. eating blood? God y«« nof^r. Sen ix^l '*^lf «'*'1?./f . '** ""'«' '*««#. shall ^rmedbyMosls'i^JJ^'^,^^^^^ know was con- ties. and^rs;'pi;TnZtie' gX;'' wh'' "^"^ "^ *« *p°*- to the faithMcto^xv yo V S 7 "' T^'^ ^"« converted Protestant Who^crarf^^^ « *« Religious made of bC° At^t IZ tlm'^r'^i^u^" T"' °' P^^^^ authority do you act in con^^ T/ ^^ ^ '^^^^' ^Z*"*' "'aS boththe^OId^a^d'^Ne"^^^^ ^/t' express Vords of answer than tharhe w WnTHfT"* " *"* *'*'' ^"'^ »<> "t^er that the ProlSo:^sXt^T^^^ ttes:;s>trarne^tn sense of Scrinture not onlyt aZtX^lVfc^""' themselveKiiged portantUjecX aieo to ,t ^^^ ? ""^^ **>« '*'«'» ^•»" Tlati digiitaj of Se eVhte /"u**'"'y- • '» " ^'^e. as ' gmwiy 01 tbe establishment observes,* that, " Wheik • Archdeacon Blackburn in ] celebrated Confessional, p. i. i \ : t^ ' . . ' . ■' " • "' 1 , W * , -. - ■ ' -' ■': *'■ .■ - 1 * '"' 1 ; . ■ t ■ ■■" s, ■■ •w ^^^^^^„^ ^ i \^ -''v ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H mgniigii^^^^i^^ J -'■-v^ A' % JLttter XL 01 j'TotestanlB first withdrew from the communion of the chnrch of Rome, thf principles they went upon were such as these : Christ, by his liberty, workin endeavi ospel, bath called all men to the liberty, the glorious 'the sons of God, and restord them to the privilege of ' their own salvation byiheir own understanding and ^urs. !For this work, sufficient means are afforded in the res, •without having r((course to the doctrines and com- mandn^ents of men. Consequently, faith'and conscience, having no dependence on man's laws, are not to be compelled by tnan'srauthority."— What now was the consequence of this fun- damental rule of Protestantism? Why, that endless variety of doctrines, errors, and impieties, mentioned above, followed by those tumults, wars, rebellions, and anarchy, with which the history of every country is filled, which embraced the new reli- gion^ It is readily supposed that the ptinces, 4nd other rulers of those countries, ecclesiactical as well as civil, however hostil their might be to the ancient church, would wish to restrain these prders, and make their subjects adopt the same sentiments with then^selves. Hence, in every Protestant state, articles of rengion, and confessions of faith, differing from one another, j^ e»:h one agreeing with the opinioii, for the time being, of those Jinccs and rulers, were epacted by law, and enforced by ezcom- |unication, deprivation, eYile, imprisonment, torture, and deathf These latter punishmeQts indeed, however fre'quently they were Kercised by Protestants against "Protestants, as well as against pathelics, during the sixteenth and sevjenteenth centuries,* have Ji66been resorted to during the last hundred years ; but the terri- ble sentence of ex9ommunication,*w'hich includes outlawry, even now hangs over the head of every Protestant bishop, as well as lother clergymaii, in this counti(y,f who interpret those passages I of the Gospel, concerning Jesus Christ, in the sense which it ap- pears from their writings a number of them entertain ; .and non^ of them can tako-possessiontof a living, without subscribing the Thirty-nine Articles, and publicly declaring his unfeigned assent and consent to Uiem, and to every thing contained in the Book of Common ^'Prayer. % "^hus, by adopting a false rule of religion, thinking Protestants are reduced to the cruel extremity of palpible contradiction ! They cannot give up " the glorious liberty/' as * See the letter on the Reformation and on Persecittion, in Letters to a Prtbtndary. See also Neal's History of the Puritani Dtilaune's Narrative, Sewel's History of the Quakers, Jtc. ' t See many excommunicating canons, and particularly one, A. D. 1640, against " the damnable and cursed heresy of socinianism," as it is termed, in Bishop Sparrow's Collection. t 1st Eliz. cap..a.— U Car. ii. c. 4. Item Ca&on 36 et Sa * / )(_■ » .' r «i LttttrXI. Hi K ia^cifled above, of explaining the Bible, each one for himself without, at once, giving up their cause to the Catholics : and aey cannot adhere to it. without many of the above menUoned fatal consequences, and without the speedy dissolution of their respecuve churches. Impatient of the^nstraint in being dblised to tfign articles of faith which they do not believe, many able, clergymen of the establishment have written stnmgly aminst tbem, and have even petitioned parliament to be relieved from the alleged gnevanee of subscribing the professed doctrine of their own church.* On the other hand, the legisjature, foreseeing the consequences which would result from the removal of the obligation, havp^lways rejected their prayer: andtheribdges have even reused to admit the following salvo m addition to The subscription: "I assent and consent to the Articles and the BooJc, at far dt they ar^ agreeable to tke word of God."i In t%se straits, many of the itaost able as well as the most respec table of the established clergy, have been reduced to such so- phistry and casuistiy, as to move the pity of their v«y opponents.. Une of these, the Nornsian professor of divinity at Cambridse t wl.iT.7*^^^ "uT"« ^." '"^*'«° f"' siibscribing nrticlei which they do not believe in, cites the example of the divines ^ W T't ''^T' ^* S??"' " ' *'°"'P*«»« *»"» reformation seems- L^P f ^•° P^«««- The Genevese have now, in fact, quitted WW i""""- ''°ted.&— •« In a» proposals and schemes to^e reduced to practifci? the bishop says "we must supi^e the worid to be whatitis, and what it ought to be. We muslypropose, not merely Vhal is absolutely good in Itself, but whal is so with respect to the prejudices, tempers, and constitutionsWe know and are sure to be among us. It 18 represented that tie worid was never lesa disposed to be senous and reasonable thaV at this f)8riod. ReligiouV refloc- Uon, we are mformed, is not the humour of the times. We are euily gather, from his general language concerning n«y9terie8. the Wa- S;™Z'f**!2f*^" ^y Christ >n this last heSThe ser ously cJu- twns us agaiiwt «• ceifeunng or persecuUng our brethren because their nwi- Use and our's wears a diterent dress." Charge ii. p. 192 . Charge vi. p. 2y3. t Charge v p 857. ^hPnlvrirPw^i. Discourses bv Thomas Balguy 6. D archdeacon and •rebendary of Winchester, fcc. dedicated to the king. Lockyer Davies ITSb. t Confewional, p. 375, p. 385 • •'vv./wi/.yiWji/oo. w ^ iMtar XL 95 therefore advised to keep our prudence and our patience a little longer ; to wait till our people are in a better temper, and in the mean time, to bear with their manners and dispositions ; gently and gradually correcting their foolish notions and habits ; but still taking care not to throw in more light upon them, at once, than the weak optics of men. So long used to sit in darkness, are able to bear." His lordship's words are guarded, btit perfectly intelli> gible. Bishop Hoadley had undermined the church he professed to support, in her doctrine and discipline, as hts been el8ewher(| demoustraled,* and he wished all the clergy to, co>operate in diiTusing his Socinian system ; but he advised them to attempt thiB gently and gra Sm th« proofii of thia. in the Ptrpetuitt ie Im Flei, liaal deeamanta, in the Trench king'a librai/. lli«atbe<«i> , - .V- - M Litter XL to n&ight have been iptrodoced intd otir ^church, explain how pro* cisely the same could have been quietly received by tb6 Nesto- riaiis at Bagdad, the Eutychi&ns at Alexandria, and the Greeks at Moscow ! All these, and particularly the last named, were ever ready to find fault with us upon subjects of ioft»paratively small consequence, such as the use of unleavened bresA» in the saprajnent, the days and manner ofoiir fasting, and e^^n the noode of shaving our beards ; and yet, so far from objecting to the pretended novelties of prayers for the de^kd^^dresses to the sa;int8, the mass, the real presence, ^c. ihef^ivtt aVwr :pw' fessed, ;ind continue to profess, these doctrines and pracUlfe»ir; zealously as we do. ^ . Finally, by way of the farther answer to his lordship's shams- ful calumny, that the ancient " clergy and laity wdlre'^o univer* , sally an^ vnonstrously ignorant and vicions, that nothing was too bad for them to do or too absurd for thdm to believe," thereby ii;sinuating that the former invented and the latter were duped into the belief of the articles on Wiiich the Catholic church and the church of England are divided ; as also by way of farther confirming the certainty of tradition, I maintain that it would have been much easier for the ancient cleiegy to corrupt the Scriptures than, the religious belklf of the people. For, it is well known tHat the Scriptures were chiefly in thi^hands of the clergy, and ^at, before the use of printing, in the fifteenth century, the copies qf it 4vere renewed and multiplied in the monasteries by^ejabour of the monks, who, if they had been so wicked, mighi with some prospect of success, have attempted to alter the New Testament; in particular, as they pleased;' whereas, the doctrines and practices, of the church were in the handsiisfthe people of all civilized stations, and, therefore, could not be altered vt'tthout their kriowledge and consent. Hence, wherever religious ilovelties Were introduced, a violent opposi- tion to them, a of oourse, tumults and schisms, wotild have ' ensued. If they had been generally received in one country, as for example, in France, this would have been the occasion of . their being/rejected with redoubled antipathy in a neighbduring hostile ndlion, as, for instance, England. Yet none of these disturbances or schisms do we read'of, respecting any of thedbb- trines or practices of our religion, objected to by Protestants, eithe/in the same' kingdom, or among the difiejMnt states of Christianity. I said that the doctrines and practiceij of religion wcgre in the hands of all "the people,'^ in facti^y were all, in every part of ^he church, obliged to receive the hoL^ji»:rament'' «t SMtisr : now they tioald not do this without Jmowihg^ethei'^^ •A^^ Letter XL M they had been previously taught to consider this as bread and wine taken in memdty of Christ, . or aa the rtal body and blood of Christ himseir. If they;had Originally held the former opin- *ion, could theyhavtf been persuaded or dragooned into the lat- ter, >ithout violent opposition on their part, and violent perse- cutioh on that of their clergy ? Again, they could not assist at the rel)gious«6ervices performed iiTtheTunerals of their relations, oronthcifestivalfrofthe saints, without recollectiilig>«hethor they had previously been instructed jq .prayjor tho/ormer, and to in- Tote the prayers of the latter. It they had not been so instruct- ed, would they, one and^all, at the'sanie «ime, and in every coun- try, have quietly yielded to the first Trnposters who preached up such supposed superstitions to them ; as, in this case, we are sure they must have done ? In a word, there is but one way ot accounting fur the alleged alterations in the doctrine of the church, that mentioned by the learned Dr. Bailey ;* which is to suppose 'that, on sohie one night, all the Christians of the^world wentto sfeep tfound Protestants, and awoke the next morning rank Papists ! 1 , k: ' IV. I now come [to consider the benefits derived front the Catholic nUe or mekhod of religion. The-firistpart of this rule conducts us to the second part ; that 'ii to say, tradition conducts ' us to Scripture. VVerhave seen. that ^rotestants, by their own confession, are obliged to' build the lati^r upon the former ; in doing which they act mo^ inconsistently : whf>reas Catholics, in doing the same thing, act with perfect consis^ncy. Again, Pfotestants in building Scr^iture, as they^ do, upon tradition, as a mere huAnon/festimony, not as ii rule of faith, can only form, an act of hUman faith, that is to say, an opinion of its being in" ' spired ;t whereas Catholics, believing in \the tradition of the church/ as a divine rule, are enabled to believe, and do believe in the^criptures with ^ firm faith, as the certain Word of God. Hence the Catholic clrarcb requires her pistors, who are to preach and expound the "Word of God, to study thiar second part of her rule mo less than the first parf, with unremitting diligence ; and she encoura^ those of her flock, who af6 prdperiy qualifi- ed and disposed, to read it for their edification. In perusing the books^of ihe' Old Testanront, sOme of the most • striking passages are those which regard the prerogatives of * He was ion of the bishop of Bangor, and becoming a convert to the Catholic church, wrote several works ^n her defence ; arfd among the lest* ' one under the title of these Letters, and another called A Challenge. t ChilHngworth in his Religion of Protectants, chap. ii. expr^ly teaches^" that •' The Books of Scripture are not the objects of our fidttir* and that "s Jfan may be nred, who sbon^ not believe them to be the Word of God." •^ ■V- ■'% ■*•■■ «a'- ('*)! •*^ 100 Letter XL '■ 1- Uie future lungSom of the Messiah, namely, the extent, the riti. bihty, and mdefectibiiity of the church : in examining the New Testament, we find in several of itsclewest passages the strongest proofs of its being waitnfallible guide in the way of salvation. The texts alluded to have been already cited. Hence ° we look upon the church witlHncreased veneration, and listen to her decisions with redoubled congdeftee.- But here I think It necessary to-refute an objection which, I believe, was first started by Dr. Stillingfleet, and has smce been adopted b^ many other contEoveiti^; They say. to us, you argue, in lihitt logt- etuns tall, a vteidus circle : for you prove Scripture hy your church, mdth»nymr_ckuiehby Scripture. Thisislihe John giving a eharaeter to Thomas, and Thomat a character to John. Itrue ir IS, tlMt I prove the inspiration of Scrjpture by the tradition of the church, and that I piove-the infalUbUity of the church by the testunonyof Soripturo; but you must take notice, that indepen- denUy of, and prior to, the testimoiiy of Scripture, I knew from tradition,«nd the^nerai arguments bf-the credibility of Christi- anity that the church is an illustrious society, instituted by Christ, and that its pastors have been appointed by him to'guide m^ in ^•,r*y °^ ■alvatwn. In a wdrd, it i».not every kind of mhtual **»*?°^r^*"«!* ™"» "» a »fcwu* cireU: for the BapUst bore lestim*^ to Christ, and Christ bore testimony to the Baptist ;Y. The advantage, and even necessity, of having a living, speaking authority for preserving peace and order in every so- ciety is too obvious to be called in question. The CathoUc church has such an authority ; the diflferent societies of Pro- teqtants, though they claim it, cannot effecttially exercise it, as whave shown, on account of their opposite Amdamental prin- ciple of private judgment Hence wh6n debates arise among Catholics concerning points of faith {[for ai to scholastic and other questMn^each one is left to defend hi* own opinion,) the pastors of the church, like judges in regard of civil contentions, fail not to examine them by the received rule of faith, and to pronounce an authoritative sentence upon them. The dispute is thus quashed, and peace is restored : for if any party will not hear the church, he is, of course, regarded as a heathen and a publican. On the other hand, dissensions in any Protestant •ociety, which adheres to its fundamental rule of religious liberty, must be irremediable and endless. VI. The same method which God has appointed to keep peace in his church, he has also appointed to preserve it in the tfe n ne wh tb breasts of her several children. ^ h ihtfl t haLChri s tians, . wliofiave no rule of taith but their own fluctuaUag opinions, are Wl e«mifflj(wr Ay roery wind of doctrine, and are agitated by draad. cl^i^ S?/'""'".*^ *''L"'"*»y ^^'^"^ "^ they US; Catbohcs, being oHXHred to the rock of Christ's church, never e^jnence any apprehension whatsoever '.on this head. The truth of this may be ascertained by questioning pious Catholic and partwularhr those who hav^ been seritfUslJJonverted frZ' any specie, of Protestantism : such persons ai genendly foL,3 to speak, in nmtures of the peace aWlecurity th^ enjo/in^S ^r«Tw *• Catholic church, eompared witj thiir doubt, and fears before they embraced it. StiUthe death-bed is ev" S t^ """H"* ^""^ u""^"« ^' '-^"i^- I have inen. Tf^Z^y, ^T^" ■?**"' ?'* ^""^ ""°>»'*» »f Protestants, at the approach of death, seek to berctonciled to the Catb^lic church ; many mstances of this aiJitorious. though manymore iL^ S "TH'' «\««»»e«»3K^ public nStice : on^ other hand, a chaUenge has frequendy been made by Catholic. ^ .(among the rest by sir Toby Math^/ Dean Cre«y, F wS- jnghM., Molmes dit Flechiere, and l/lric, duke of Brunswick, wh^ 2'th "S'^'^'.^i! "^^ ''^°'' '^^'^d •» »•""» • "»f Je Catholic^ who, at he hour of death, expressed a wish to die m any oth» communion than his Qwn ! •• » « wiy omer tJt?hr"?'''f^u"''^!j"yP"'^''*«* I undertook to prove, that the rule of faith professed by rational Protesunts, tU rf kss fallacious than the rule of fanatics, who imagmfuiemselve. Sii th^f 1^ ^^^ f^i^-^P^^i-ViratioJ: I have showj that this nde is "^evideiMly unservieeabh to infinitely the greater P«r/o/««„ W^ that it is luAU to lead men into eJor. afd that lis '"""^ '?'' »«/ n«mi«r, of them into endless e^ors and J^^^ "»/»«['««,. The propfoLlhese points was sufficient. Mcording to the principles I laid3Krn at the beginning of cS controveray to disprove the rule itself: but I hive; nSreoi'er InH S' "?''J»" »P^»!«» foUow it : that the Protestant churches, • to iSr™u #' »n Particdar. were not fomided according tTA' ^' ^^.'l^y^'^ Protestant, have not been guide! - Ulead, to uncertamty and uneasiness of mind in life, an? mora paxucularly at the hour of death.-On the other ha^d, I have ;S^ ^ tbe CaAoIic rule, that of the entire word of God! ?5vJr^"." ''^\" T""**"' **»««*«' yriihihe authority of the Jivingpastoro of Ae church in explaining it, was appointed by ^nrMt;-.wa i followed %^th.^apostfeBi-was ^natmafaHw^b1 ■ ,' - -;'^ - f» -» " "» «"»« ^ itrtM . ". r9. Cfp . E ir<8r t Hugh of St. Victor. "^ "^ S ^- *' Letter XII. )0S^ my letter, if I arrange the several objectioi^s, from whomsoever they came, under their proper heads ; antl if, on this occasion. I make me of the scholastic instead of the epistolary style, I shall adopt both these methods. I must, however, remark, before I enter upon my task, that most of the objections appear to have been borrowed from the bishop of London's book called a Brief Confuttitton of the Errors of Popery. This was extracted from archbishop Seeker's Sermons on the same subject; which, themselves, were culled out of his predecessor Tillotson's'lmlpit controversy. Hence you may justly consider your arguments as the strongest which can be brought agaigst the (Datholic rule and religion. Under this, persuasion the work in question has been selected for gratuitous distribution, by your tract societies, wher- ever they particularly wish to restrain or suppress Catholicity. Against the Catholic rule it is objected that Christ referred the Jews to the Scriptures : Search the Scriptures ; for in theta ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John v. 35. Again, the Jews of Berea are commended by the sacred penman, in that they search the Scrtptures daily, whether these things were 50. Act*xvii. 11. Before I enter on the discussl^ of any pkrt of Scripture, with you or your friends, I am bound, dear sir, in conformity with my rule of faith, as explained by the fathers, and particu- larly by Tertullian, to protest against your or their right to ar- gue from S<»^ture, aqfl, of course, to deny any need there is of my replying io any ol^ction which you maji draw from it. For Ihave reminded joxt-^at. No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation; and 1 have proved to you that the whole business of the Scripture^ belongs to the jchurch ; she has pre- served them, ^e vouches for them, and, she alone, by confronting them, and by ||e help of tradition, authoritatively explains them. Hence it is im|k)S8ibIe that the real sense of Scripture should ever he against her and her doctrine ; and hence, of course, I might quash every objection which you can draw from any pas- sage in it by this short reply, TA« church understands the passage differently from you ; therefpre you mistake itsjneaning. Never- theless, as charity heareth all things and never faileth, I will, for the better satisfying of yoqjpind your friends, quite my vantage grounY St. Luke on the Bereans ; they searched the ancient pionhe aes, to verify that the Messiah was to be bom at subh a time IL ,i!2/ u''^ * ^""^i *"**,*** ^» "'« '^ hi* death were to b^ mwked by such and iiuch circmstances. We stUl refer Jews and other Infidels to the same proofs of Christianityj without saying any thing yet to them about our rule or judge rf contro- Dr. Poiteus objects what St. Luke says, at the beginnfng of hw Gospel : It seemed good to ine also, having had pe^ct u^. standtng of all things from the very first, to*" write uL thee in crder.most excellent TheophUus, that thou mightest *«oto tL ee^ *l>**'t3fofthoss things wherein thou host been^instnteted. Airain St. John says, c. «. These things are written that ye might beHeve i!idr V^S^*l'l .'** ^'"» "f^^' ^ '^' Sieving ye twht have hfe through his 9ame. *^ Answer. " i« difficult to conceive how his lordship can draw «n argument from these texts against the CathoUc rule. Surely he does not gather from the words of St Luke, that Theophilui dW-ol 4e/,a« the articles in which he had been instruitedby vord of month Xiil he read this Gospel! or that the evanselist pinsayed the authority given by Christ to his disciples : He that hMreth you heareth me, which he himself records, Luke x. 16 In «♦ rT"^ *® J***?*® **"°®* suppose that this testimony of St. John sets aside other testimonies of Christ's divinity, or that our behef in this single article without other conditk^ wiU ensure eternal life. «—»,.».«. th/luC?**"!?^?'^*"?'''^''^ appear tome inconclusive. £?«llS "^q'' ^^ "^^ of proving that Scripture is sufficiently jnteUigibfe. " Surely the aposUes were not worse writers, with diTine tMiatance. than others commonly are withtat it*^ iMUrXli. I(» I idll not here repeat the srguments and testimoniea already bronght" to abow the great obscurity of a considerable portion of the Bible, particularly with respect to the bulk of mankind, be* caase it la sufficient to refer to the clear words of St Peter declaring that there are in the Epistles of St. fpxA, some thmrt hard to ht understood, which tke unlearned and imstabU wrest, as they do aU the other Seripturee, unto their own destruction, (2 Pe. term. 16,) and to the instances, which occur in the Gospels, of the very aposUea fr^uently misunderstanding themeanio* of their divine Master. ° The learned prelate says, el8ewhere,t « The New Testamem supposes them (the generality of the people) capable of judginii for themselves, and accordingly requires them not only to /ry the sptrits whether they be of God, 1 John iv. l.butto pnwe :uk things and holdfast that which is good,! Thess. r. 21." Answer. True: St. John telb the Christians, to whom he wntea to try the spirits whether they are ofGod^ because, he adds. many false prophets are gone out into the world. But then ho gives them tu» rules for making trial : Hereby yehnowthespint ofOod. Mvery^spirit that eon/esseth that Jesus Christ is come M the flesh, u of God. Andevery spirit that eonfesseth not ihat Jesus ts come in the flesh, (which was denied by the heretics of that time, the disci^es of Simon and Cerinthus) u not of God, Jn this, the apoetle teUa the Christians to see whether the doc* trine of these spirits waa or was not conformable to that which they had leamtfrom the church The second rule was. He thai knoweth God, heareth us ; he that is not of God, heareth notus» Hereby hnew we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error : name. ly, he bid them observe whether these teachers did or did not listen to the divinely-constituted paators of the church. Dr. P* is evidently here quoting Scripture /«r our rule, not agennst it The same is to be aaid of the other text Prq>hesy waa exceed- ingly common at the beginning of the church ; but, as we have just seen, there were ialae imiphets as well as true prophets : hence. while the aposde defends this supernatural gift in general, 0e* tpin not prophesyings, he admonishes the Theaealoniana to «roo« them : not certainljr by their private opinions, which would be the source of endleas discord ; but, by the established ; rales of the church, and particularly by that which he tells them to hold fast. 2 Thess. ii. 15, nainely, tradition'. _ Dr. P. in another jdace.! urges the exhortation of St JPaol u> TiflMHhy , "Cnntinnn thoain th e thi n gs whi^tlHw4MMHeamdh~ ■ nn vk^^A k.^.^^ ._..A__— ._ 3_i*l _* M« * m — .-. and hast been aasured of, knowing of whom thou hast iMcned *L«tt«ris. tP.tt. tP.ti. Ids UtterXII. them ^ and tluut from a chiM^thou hast known the holy Serip* tures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiratiojn of God, and is profitable for doctrine,^nr reproof," &c. 2 Tini. iii. Answer- Docs, then, the prelate mean to say, that the /orm ofsmnd words which Timothy had heard from St. Paul, and which he was commanded to holdfast, 2 Tim. i. 13, was all con< tained in the Old Testament, the only Scripture which he could have read in his childhood ? Or that, in this he coiild have learned the mysteries of the Trinity and the incarnation, or the or« dinances of baptism and the eucharist ? The first part of the ques' tion is a general commendation of tradition, the latter of Scripture. Against tradition, Br. P. and yourself quote* Mark vii, where the Pharisees and Scribes asked Christ, Why vaalk not thy^, disciples according to thi tradition of the eMers, hut tat bread' with unwashed hands I . He answered and said to them. In vain do they worship me, teaching FORj doctrines the commandments of nun. For, laying aside the commandments of (Sod, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups, ^e. Answer. Among the ' traditions which pravailed at the time of our Saviour, some were divine, such as the inspiration of the books of Moses and the other jtropheta, the resurrection of the body, and the last judgment, which" assuredly Christ did not condemn, but confirm. There were others, merely human, and of a recent date, introduced, as St. Jerome informs us, by Sam' mai, Killel, Achiba, and other Pharisees, from which the Tal- mud is chiefly gathered. These, of course, were never obliga- tory. In like manner, there |ire among Catholics divine tradi" tions, such as the inspiration of the Gospels, the divine, obser- vation of the Lord's day, the lawfulness of invoking the prayers of the Slants, and other^ things not clearly contained in Scripture ;* and there are among many Catholics, historical and evfsn fabu- lous traditions.^ Now, it is the former, as avowed to be divine by the church, that we appeal: of the others, every one may judge as he thinks best. You both, likewise, quote Coloss. ii. 8. Beware lest any man spoil (cheat) you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of mtsn, after the rudiments of the world, and- not after Christ. •P. 11. isaeomip t Thisi I iMurtieU FOR.^^eh in tome dagree affects the MUse, ; iaterpolttion as wDtara mm the origiul Greek. ^ e Ciw to I < his citttiou^ of tt are. (Vaquently iDMcarate. Mt Sud) are the tcti of sevani saints condemned by Pope Oelasius ; such afso was the opinion of Christ's reign upon earth for a thousand years. *i rtry pne may fii'^ ^\. -■: V LttUr XII. 107 Aa»«rer. The apostlo himlseir infonns the Collossians what kind or traditions he here speaks or, where he says, Let nn mah therefore judge you in meat or drink, or in respect of any holiday, crofihe new moon, orpjf'the Sabbath days. The ancient fathers and ecclesiastical histi^rians inform us, that,'in the age of the apostles; many Jews and Pagan philosophers professed Christi- anity, but endeavoured to allay with it theii: respective supersti- tions and vain speculations, absolutely inconsistent with the doctrine x){ the Gospel. It was against these St. Paul wrote, not against those traditions which he commaiided his converts" to holdfast to, whether they had been taught by word or by Epis- ^/«, 2 Thess. ^ ii. 1 5 ; nor those traditions which he^ec^nmend*' ed his other converts for keeping, 1 Cor. xi. 2.* Finally, the apostles, in that passage, did not abrogate this his awful sentence, now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every hrothfi^ that walketh disorderly, and. not after the tradition whiehke received ^*;9)rtw. 2 Thess. iii. 6. - . ^ -Against the infallibility of the church in deciding qtiestions of faith, I am referred to various other arguments made use of by Dr; JPorteus ; and, in the first place, the following : **^ Romanists themselves own that men must use their eyes, to find this guide ; why then must they put them out, to follow him?"t I answer by the following comparisons. Every pfuSeQt man mdces use of his reason, to find out an able ph)r8ician to tafiTe care of his health, and an able lawyer to secure his prop^y i, but having found these, to his full satisfaction, does he disjptit^ with the Jor- mer about the quality of medicines, or with the latter about forms of law X Thus the Catholic makes use of his reason, to observe which, among the rival communions, is the church that Christ established and promised to remain with : having ascertained that, by the plain acknowledged marks which this church bears, ' he trusts his soul to her unerring judgment, io preference to his own fluctuating opinion. ' , Dr. Porteus adds, ** Ninety-nine parts-49 every hundred of their (the Catholic)(»ymmuaionf have no other rule to follow, but what a few pR«il» and private writers tell them.") Accord- ing to this mode of reasoning, a loyal subject does not make any act of the legislature the rule of his civil conduct, because, per- haps, he learns it only from a printed paper, or the proclamation of4he bell-man. Most likely the Cat^lic peasant lettms th» "Hie 'English Testament puts the Word ordinance here for ^Hi8 lordship knows fuU well that they dp not, and ihat^jhe only questions at issue are these three : First, Whethei I revelation has not been made and conveyed by the unwritten ^ weU as by the written Word of God T Secondly, Whether Christ did not commit this Word to his apostles and their sue* lessors, till tho ilnd cX the world, for them to preserve and an« nounce it I Lasdy, Whether, independently of this commission, it if^^sistent with common sense, iat each Protestant plough- 0Mn and mechanic to persuade himself that he, individually, (for he camu^ according to his rule, build on the opinion of other ProtesUnt8,thout^ h^ could find any whose faith exactly tallied with his own,) that Jhe, 1 say, individually, understands tho Scriptures better thanUU the doctors and bishops of the church, who now are, or even haVebeen since the time of the apostles !• One of your iSalopian friend's, in writing to nie, ridictdes the idea of infallibility being Ipdged in any mortal man, or number of mon. Hence, it is fair to conclude, that he does not look upon himself to be infallible : now nothing short of a man's conviction of his own infallibility, one might think, would put him on rarelerring..hi8 own judgment, in matters Supposing the quotation to be accurate, and that the threat is particularly addreued to the Christians of Rome ; what is that to the present purpose ? We never supposed the promises of Christ to belong to them or their successors more thu to the inhabitants of any other city. Indeed it is the opinion of some of our most learned commentators, that before the end of the world, Rome will relapse into its former Paganism.* In a word, the promises of our Saviour, that helVs gates shall np^ prevail againsi his church— ihaX his Holy Spirit shall lead it into all truth— znA that ; hh himself will remain with it for ever, wer^made to the church ■ of all nations, and all times, in coramuniofir with St. Peter and his successors, the bishops of Rome: altd as these. promises have been fulfilled, during a succession of eighteen centuries^ contrary to the usual and natural course of events, and by the visible protection of the Almighty, so we rest assured that he will cootim/ to fulfil them, till the churoh militant shall be wholly trai^iformed into the church triumphant in the heavenly- kingdom. Final^j^, hia lordship, with odier tspntrovertists, objects against the inftdUbilflf of the Catholic omirch, that its advocates arenot agre9^ where to lodge this prerogative ;. sbme asgribing it to the^ope, others to a general council, or to the bishops dispersed ^iroughOttt the church. True, schoolmen discuss some such points: but let me ask his lordship, whether he finds any Ca* Pope at its head, or t)iat the, Pope hunself, issuing a doctrinal :. * 8te Cornel, a L^>id. in Apoealyp. Letter Xtl. Ill decision, which is received by the great body of Catholic bishops, is secure from error ? Most certainly' not : and hence he may gather where all Catholics agree in lodging infallibility. In like manner, Mrith respect to our national constitution : some lawyers , hold that a royal proclamation, in such and such circumstances, ^has the force of a law, others that a vote of the house of lords, or of the commons, or of both houses tdgether, has the sama strength ; but all subjects acknowledge that an act of the king, lords, and commons, is binding upon them ; and this suffices for . all practical purposes. But when, dear sir, will therd be an end of the oh|b<^ion8 and cavils of men, whose pride, ambition, or interest, lead8\|hem to, deny the plainest truths ! You have seen those which thMhge- nuity and learning of the Porteus's, Seekers, and Tillots6M have raised against the unchangeable Catholic rule and inter^ preter of faith : say, is there any thing sufficiently clear and certain in them to oppose to the luminous and sure principles, on which the Catholic method is placed ? Do they aflbrd you a sure footingi to support you against all doubts and fears on the score of your religion, especially under the apprehension of approacUng dissolution ? If you u^wer affirmatively, I hav« nothing more to say ; but if you canuot so answer, and. if you justly dread undertaking your voyage to eternity on the pre- sumption of your private judgment, a presumption which you have clearly seen has led so many other rash Christians to cer- tain shipwreck, follow the example of those who have happily arrived at the port which you are in quest of: in other words, listen to the advice of the holy patriarch to his son : Then Tobiat answered his father— I know not the way, ^e. : — then his father said -^ Seek thee, a faithful guide. Tob. v. You will no sooner have sacrificed your own wavering judgment^ an4 have submitted to follow the guide, whom your heavenly Father has- . provided for you, than you will feel a deep conviction tUat you are in the right and secure way ; and very soon you will be enabled to join with the happy converts of ancient and modem times,* in this hymn of praise : " I give thee thanks O God, my enlightener and deliverer ; for\that uou hast opened the eyes of my soul to know diee- Alas i too late have I known thee, uicient uid eternal truth ! too late have I known thee." I am, Dear Sir, yours, Sic. J. M. . it • at. Awtin'a Soliloqulos, c. 33, quoted by Dean Cresqr, Exomd. ^ 666w .. "> %k - 'i... *S ;i , THE END « - . '"'-•■-"" ** or },'-y .^ RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY. PART H » - LETTER XIII. '■/ . ToJAM^SBROWN,Etqi^. On tkb trTtb church. Dbar Sis, Thb Letters whieblhare reeeired from you, and jrame otheit of your religiout'^iety, satisfy me that I have not altogether lost my labouroPBodeavouring to prove to you, that 4^ privatt itittrprttatioH igrhoty Scriptun is not a more certain rule of faith, than an imaginary yrioatt inspiration is; and, in, short, that tk$ ekurck of Christ is the only sure ; expounder of the doctrine ^ Christ. Thus much you, si^, in piirtiiDular, candidly acknow- ledge: but you ask me, on the^part 4^ adme of your friends as well as yourself, why, in case you "jnOst rely on authority," as bishop Porteus confesses " the unlearned must," that Is to say, the gnat- bulk of mankind, you should not, as he advise^ you, ^* rely on the authority of tfaiat church, whfch God's providence hath jrfac^ you under, rather than that of another which you have nothing to do with."* and why «|u may loot trust to the church of England, in p«rticular| ^^UMJ/S^di^ your road to heaven, with' e<|||lt security as to th^gy|^|||^me t—w^hMffi I answer yon, permit me to cpng'HHHPRH^ii ^^ yoiPCd* Tance towards the clear sight of the^fllHne toam of revelation. As long as you professed to hiint out the several articles of this, one by one, through the several books of Scripture, and nndef all the.dii^cukies and nncertainties wUch I have clearly shown to attemi this study, your task wan interminable, and your sucr: ilesa r whereas, now, by taking the church of God tor ide, you have but one simple inqiiinr to make ; Which is •tt r a .queiUdn that adni^ts of befuig solved by mm ojr CoaAitstion of Enora of Po|Mf7,p. 90. - • -^S.:..^X _._:__„-__ ^_. ,^' ■■•»S3, A v> XmV XllL V ) 118 foti witt with equal «ertot«F^^d facility. ^ uy, ttiere ii bat one inquiry to be made: Vk Aijdlk i« /A« true fhurchf "imcwn^ U tliere ia any one religiopa trutnlmore evident than the reat frout «J> ireasgn, from the Sciiipturea, bbth*01d* and New,t from the C »a' oreed4 andfrom conatant tradition, it ia thia, that " the ic xhurch preaervea the true worabip of the Deity ; ahe le fountain of truth, the houae of faith, and^ the temple ol (pa an ancient father of the church expreaaea it.^ Heno* • "i it ia' aa clear aa the noon-day light, that by aolving thia one quea* tion : Wkieh is th» trwh*kurck f you will at once aolve every queation of religioua controveray that ever haa, or that ever can be agitated. You will not need to apend your life in atudying the aacred Scripturea in their original languagea, and their au- thentic copiea, and in^confronting paaaagea with each other, froM - Geneaia to Revelation, a taak by no meana calculated, aa ia ttvi- dent, for the bulk of mankind : you will only have to hear what, the church teachea upon the aeveral artidea of her laith, in^ • ' order to know with certainty what God revealed concerning ' 'lihem. ' Neither need you hearken to contending aecta^ and doe* tora of the preaent, or of paat timea : you will need only to hear li the cAHfcA, whidh, indeed, Chriat commanda you to hear undler pain of being treated om a heathen or a publican. Matt, zviii. XT. vl now proceed, dear air, to your' queation ; why, admitting th$ ^ neeeasitjf of being guided bu the ehweh, map not you and yotf^ "/fiends submit to be guided by the church rf England, or any other Protestant church to uhieh you respectively belong t — My answer ia ; becauae no auch church profeaaea, nor, cpnaiatently with the fundamentahTroteaCitot rule of private judgment, can profeaa to he a guide in mattt^ra of religion. If yoiji admit, but for an instant, cninrch authority, then Luther, Calving and Cran- mer, with all the other founders of ProteaMuatiam, were evidently * Speaking of the futare church of the Gkntilet, the Almlnty promiiea, bj Isuah : Sing, Obamn, M«« that 4i4st nvt dear, tec. : as M have fwom Mot the waters of Noah should n» more go over the tar A, so f have tuiom that I would not' be wreth vrilh thee, nor rJmlce thee. For tM mountains shall depart and the kiUs be removed, but My kindneu shaU net\depart from thtt, tte. liv. See also'lix. Is. Iziii. Jtrem. uxHi. Ezeeh. xxavii. Dan. 4i. PmZm Inxbi. « - J • t l^xm this rodt ImUbuOd my Church, andthe gates of Ml shall net fftvail aeainst it. Matt xvi. 18. / am with you all days even Lniti THE EKO of the WORLO^ Matt, xxviii. 90. / wiU fray the fMerajtd he will give you. another eomforter, thtU he may abide wtth you FOR EVER. evtntke Spirit of TVmM— AewOt teaehyou ALL TRUTH, John jtiv« 16. lie. The House #/ Ood, which is the Ckureh of tki living Ood, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH. 1 Tim. iU. 14. '*. r ' J ^114 r Utter XIII. \ hereii^ by rebellipg against it. In short, no other chnrch b« the Cithblic can claim to be a religious guide, because evidently she alone is the true church of Christ. This assertion leads me to the proof of what I asserted above, respecting the facility and certainty with which persons of good will may *lve that most important question : Which is the, true church J Luther,* Calvin.t the church of England^ assign as the char- iicteristics, or marks of the true church of Christ, Truth of doc- trine, and the: right administration of the sacraments. But to follow this method of finding out the true church, would be to throw ourselves back into those endless controversies concern- ing the true doctrine, and the right discipline, which it is my present object to put «n end to, by demonstrating, at once, which is the true church. To show the inconsistency of the Protestant method, let us suppose that some stranger were to inquire, at the levee of his neighbour, which of the personages present is the Prihce Regent? and that he was to receive for answer, it is the king's: eldest son : would this answer, however true, be of any use to the inquirer? Evidently not. Whereas, if he were told that the prince word such and such clothes and ornaments, and was seated in such and such a place, these exterior marks would, at once, put him in possession of the information he was in search jOf. Thus we Catholics, when we are asked, which are the marks iof the true church? point out certain exterior, visible marks, , such as plain, unlearned persons can/discover, if they will take drdinuy pains for this purpose, no l^s than persons of the great- est abilities and literature, at the same time that they are the very marks of this church, which, as I said above, natural rea- son, the Scriptures, the creeps, and the fathera, assign and de- monstrate to be the true marks of it; Yes, my^ dear sir, these marks of the true church are so plain, irf th0liisetve8,"and so evidently point it out, that fools cannot err, as the prophet fore- told, Isai. XXXV. 8, in their road to it. They are the flaming beacons, which for ever sl^ne on the mountain at the top of the mountaitfs of the Lord's house, Isai. ii. 2. In short, the particular motives for credibility, which point out the true church of Christ, de^nonstrate this with no less certitude and evidence, than the general motives of credibility demonstrate the truth of tht Chris- itan religion. The chief maVks of the true church, which I shall here assign, are not only conformable to reason. Scripture, and tradition, but, which is a most fortunate circumstance, they are such as the church of England, and m6st Mh«r MspeetaDie aeuonuiiaiions of * Da Concil. Eccles. > t Inatit. 1.41. » Art 19 ■^ Utttr XIV. 116 Protestants, acknowledge and profess to beliere in, no less than . Catholics. Yes, dear sir, they are contained in those Creeds which you recite in your daily prayers, and proclaim in your solemn worship. In fact, what do you say of the church you believe in, when you repeat the Apostl^' Creed ? You say, I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH. Again how is this church more particularly described in the Nicehe Xreed, which makes part of your public liturgy ? In this you say, I BELIEVE IN ONE CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH.* Hence it evidently follows that the church which you^ no less than we, profess to believe in, is possessed of these four marks: UNITY, SANCTITY, CATHOLICITY, and APOSTOLICITY. It is agreed upon, then, that all wo have to do, by wajr of discovering the tlrue church, is to find out which of the rival churchs, or coranvunions, is peculiarly ONE — HOLY —CATHOLIC— and APOSTOLIC, Thrice happy, dear sir, I deem it, that we agree together, by the terms of our common creeds, in a matter of such infinite importance for the happy ter- mination of all our controversies, as are these qualities, or charac- ters of the true church, which ever that may be found to be ! Still, notwithstanding this agreement in our creeds, I shall not omit to illustrate thei^ characters, .ormarks, as I treat of them, by argu- ments from reason, Script^e^ and the ancient fathers. % I am, dear sir, «&c. J. fil. ^_ LETTER XIV. -^- -^ To JAMES BROWN, Esq. ^ vnitt of thb chorch. Dear Sir, :" ' NoTHiNo is more clear to natural reason, than that God can- not be the author of difierent religions ; for being the Eternal Truth, he cannot reveal contradictory doctrines, and^ being at the same time, the Eternal Wisdom, and the God of Peace, he cannot establish a kingdom divided againstntself. Hence it fol- lows, that the church of Christ must be strictly ONE ; one in doctrine, one in worship, and one in government. This mark of unity in the true church, which is so clear from reason, is still more clear from the following passages of Holy Writ. Our Sa- viour, then, speaking of himself, in the character of the good shepherd, says, / have other sheep (the Gentiles) which are not M lie LttUrXIY. mud tktu sMl U ONE FOLD, and im» sknierdt John x 16. To the same effect addressing his heaTenljr Father, pre*' viously to hia passion, he says, 1 pray for all that skaU Mint in me^ lAff THfiY MAY BE ONE, as theu Failure art iVt inc and [\i m^u e, John xvii. 20, 21. In like manner St. Paul em* phatically inculcates the unity of the church, where he writes, W*, being manjf^ar* ONE BODY in Christ, and every ene'tnenh r bers one of oRefA«r, Rom. xii. 5. Again he writes. There w^, ONE BODY and mu spirit, as you are eaUed in one hope ^yowt calling : one LorH/oNE FAITH, and one bi^tism. Ephes. iv. 4, 5. Conformably to this doctrine, respecting the traces* aary unity of the church, this apostle reckons HERESIES^ among the sins which exclude yrom the kingdom of God^ G|)^ 20. and he vequires that a num who is a heretic, after ^th^f^. and second admomlion, be rejected. Tit iii. 10. r^^V' -M' The apostoUcal fathers, St. Polycarp and St. Ignatid|;9i|iilir published Epistles, hold precisely the sapie language on' this subject with St. Paul, as does also their disciple St. Irenieus, who writes thus, " No reformation can be so advantageous as the evil of schism is penucious."* The great light of the third century, St Cyprian^ has left ua a whole book on the iinj athisBiatics, ** Whoever is separatedfrom this CathoUe church, hbwever innocently ho may think he lives, for this crime alone, that he is separated from the unity of Christ, will not have life, but the anger of Ood remains upon Atm."^ Not less MBphatical to the tame effect, is the testimony of St Fulgentiui * De Bar. i. i. 0. 3 t Hon. 1. in Psse t Cypr. de Unit 6zon, p. 109. S CoBcU. Lsbbe, torn, it p. ISSO. Lttur XV. nr Md St. Grttgorjr the Great, in the sixth cttDtury, fat Tarioas pu- •ages of their writings ; I shall content myself, with citing one of them. ** Oat of this church," says the former father, " neither the name of Christian amis, nor does baptism save, nor is a clean sacrifice offered, nor is there forgiveness of sins, nor is the hap- piness <^ etenial life to be found."* In short, such has'been the Umguage ofr the fathers andi doctors of Ihe church in all ages, concerning her essential unity, and the indispensable obligation of being united to her. ' Such also have been the formal decla- rations of the church herself in those decrees, by which she hat oondenmed and anathematizeil the several heretics and schisma- tics that have dogmatized in succession, whatever has been the ^aality of their errors, or the pretext for their disunion. ■ I am, dear Sir, dec. J. M. LETTER XV. To JAMES BROWN, Esq. 4c. PROTESTANT DISUNIOH. . DlAX S«, . t. V V In the inquiry I am about to make respectug the church or society of Christians, to which this mark of unity belongs, it will be sufficient for my purpose to consider, that of Protest- ants, on one hand, and that of Catholics on the other. To speak properly, however, it is an absurdity to talk of the cAiireA or tocietf of ProUttantt ; for the term PROTESTANT expresses nothing positive, much less any union or association among them : it barely signifies one who protests or declares against some other person or persons, thing or things ; and in the^ present insUmce it signifies those who protest against tks Catkolie ehureh. Hence there may be, and there are, numberless sects of Protes- tants, divided from each other in every thing, except in opposing their true mother, the Catholic church. St. Austin reckons up • Lib. de Remiss. Ptoccat c. «.— N. B. This doctrine concerning ths anin: of the church, and the necenity of adhering to it, under peinof dam- luUion, which appears to rigid to modern Proteetanti, wm almost univer* silly taught by their predecessors : as, for oample, by Calvin, 1. Iv. Instit 1. ind Beam. Confess. Fid. c. t. ; by the Huguenots, in thejr Cirtechism r ' by the Scotch, in their Profession of 1568 ; by the church of England, Art 18 ; by the celebrated bUbop Pearson, fcc. The last named writes thus : •• Christ never appointed two ways to hteven ; nor did he build a church, (a save some, and make ano&er institution for other men's salvation. As iwnf wffn t nvH f rif^ **"» «<«»'»;• hut inch if w^ye w ithin the arii of Noa^= — so none shall ever escape the eternal wrath of God. whichbcloni naitalM ehnich of Ggd."— Kxposit of Crtad, p. S49. ■ ■ i 118 £^ter X7. ninety heresies which had protested sgainst the church before his time, that is, during the first four hundred years of her ex- istence ; and ecclesiastical writers have counted about the same number, who rose up* since that period, down to the era of Lu> ther's protestation, which took place early in the sixteenth cen- tury : whereas, from the last montioned era, to the end of the ; same century, Staphylus and cardinal Hosius enumerated two hundred and seventy different sects of Protestants : and, alas ! how have Protestant sects, beyond reckoning and description, multiplied, during the last two hundred years ! Thus has the observation of the abovecited holy fatheirbeen verified in modern, no less than it was in former ages, where he exclaims : "■ Into how many morsels have those sects been broken who have divided themselves from the unity of the church !"• You are not ignorant that the illustrious Bossuet has written two con* siderable volumes on the Ymiations of the Prdtestants ; chiefly on those of the Lutheran and the Calvinistic pedigrees. Nume- rous other variations, dissensions, and mutual persecutions, even to the extremity of death,f which have taken place among them, ' I have had occasion to mention in my former letters and other works.^ I have also quoted the lamentations of Calvin, Dudith, uid other heads of the Protestiants, on the subjects of these divi- siontl. You will recollect, in particular, what the latter writes concerning those differences ; '* Our people are carried away by every wind of doctrine. If you know what their belief is to- day, you cannot tell what it will be. to-morrow. Is there one article of religion, in which these churches, who are at war with * St. Aug. contra Petolian. ^ t Luther pronounced the' Sacramentarians, namely, the Calvinists, Zuing- liana, and those Protestants in general, who denied the real presence of. Christ in the sacrament, heretics, and damned souls, for whom U. is not lato- fultopray. Epist. ad Arginten. Catech. Parv. Comment in Gen. His fol- lowers persecuted Bucer, Melancthon's nepheiy, with imprisonment, and Crellios to death, for endeavouring to soften their master's doctrine in tliis point Mosheim by Maclaine, vol. iv. p. 341-^53. Zuinglius, while he deified Hercule«, Theseus, &c. condemned the Anabaptists to be drowned, pronouncing this sentence on Felix Mans : «' Qui iterum mergunfmergan- tur ;" which sentence "was accordingly executed at Zurich, limborch. Introd. 71 . Not content with anathematizing and imprisoning those reform- ers who disstated from his system, John Calvin caused two of them, Ser- vetus and Gruet, to be put to death. The presbyterians of Holland and New-England were equally intolerant with respect to otiier denominations of Protestants. The latter hanged four Quakers, one of them a woman, on account j>f their reltgion. In England itself, frequent ckecutions of Ana- baptists and other Protestanhi took place, from the reign of feldward VI. till t h at of Charl a a I . ; an d other l e ss sa np iinary p a r s ecutian« ti\} t}^ » Um a— t LETTERS TO A PREBENDARY. Jte. Letttr XV. \ 119 the Pope,' agree together? If you nin OTer all the articles, rrom the first to the last, you will not find one which is not held by 80in«k^f them to be an article of faith, and rejected by others, as an i'liif iety."» * With these and numberless other historical facts* of the same nature before his eyes, would it not, dear sir, I appeal to your own good sense, be the extremity of folly for any oi^e to lay the least claim to the mark of unity in favour of Protestants, or to pretend, that they who are united in nothing but their hostility towards the Catholic church, can form the one church we pro- fess to believe, in the creed ! Perhaps, howeverj you will say, that the mark of .unity, which is wanting among the endless ' divisions ofiHwtestants in general, may be found in the church to which you belong, the established church of England. I grant, dear sir, that your communion ha;^ better ptetentions to this, and the other marks of the church, than any other Pro- testant society has. She is, as our controversial poet sings, "The lea;it deform' d because reformed the least.'*t You will recollect the account Phave given, in a former letter,^ of the material changes which this church has undergone, at^iflferent times, since her first entire formation in the reign of the last Edward, and which place her at variance with herself.X You will also remember the proofs I brought of Hoadlysim, in bijlher words, of Socinianistn, that damnable and cursed heresy, as this church termed it in her last synod,^ against some of her most iilustritos bishops, archdeacons, and other dignitaries of modem timesjj These teach, in official charges to the clergy, in con- secrauon sermons, and in publications addressed to the throne, that the church herself is nothing more than a voluntary asso- ciation of certain people for the benefit of social worship ; that they themselves are in no other sense ministers of God than civil officers aretthat Christ has left us no exterior means of grace, and that, of c^se, baptism and the Lord's Supper (which are declared necessary for salvation in the Catechism) produce no spiritual efiect at all ; in short, that all mysteries, and among the rest those of the trinity and incarnatioi), (for denying which, the prelates of the church of England have sent so many Arians to the stake, in the reigns of Edward, Elizabeth, and James I.) are mere noiisensc.U When I had occasion to expose this fatt^ ,: *-" -■•.■* * Epist. ad Capiton. inter. Epist. Bez«. t Dryden, Hind and Panther. t Letter viil. > Constitutions and Ctnons, A. P-^fflO ^>^y^)f'!.^°'^j*°*;.^.? .1j tw Sturges, in Letters to a l>r«bendary. Let. viii. The most 'perspicuous tad ISO LttitrXV. , I •yitem, (dM ^feswra of which Crannia^ and Ridlejr would have seat, at ooee, to th« atake.) I hoped it waa of a local na. ture, and that defending, as I was in this jpoint, the Articlea and Lituray of the established church as weU as my owh, I should^ thus far, he supported by its dignitaries Iwd other learned mem- bers: 1 found, however, the contrary to be generally the case,* .and that the irreligious infection was- infinitely more extensive than 1 apprehended. ^ In fact, I found the most celebrated pro- fessors of divini^jrin the universities delivering Dr. Balguy's ::, doctrine to the young clergy in their pubno lectures, and the -'most enlightened bishops publishing it in their pastorale and other works. -P^ Among these, the Ndnisian professor of theology at clm- hridgiB carries his deference to the archdeacon of Winchester . «o far, as to tell his scholars: ''As 1 distrust my own conclu- sions more than his, (Dr. Balguy's,) if you judge that they are not reconcileable, I nnst exhort you to confide in him rather than me.'t In fact, his ideas concerning the mysteries of Chris' tianity, particularly the trinity and our redemption by Christ, and indeed concerning most other theological points, perfectly agree whh Uiose of Dr. Balguy. He repreaents the .difference be- tween the members of die established church and the Socinians to consist iq nothing but " a few uamoaiiing words ;'* and asserts, that " tho/need never be upon their guard against each other.,1 Speaking of the custom, as he calls it, "in the Scripture, of mentioning Fathtr, Son, amd Holy Ohost together, on ike most iolemn occasions, of which baptism is one," he says, 'V)id I Cetend to understand wha| I say, I might be a Tritheist or an fidel, but I- could not worship the one true Ood, ^d acknow- ■■>■ ledge Jesus Christ to be I^ of all."^ AnotHI^ learned profes- sor of divinity, who is also i^bishop of the established church, teaches fiis clergy " Not to esteem any particular opinion con- cerning tko trinity, tatisfaetion, and original sin, necessary to salvation.*! Accordingly, he equally i^lves.the UnitJhan from impitty in refusing divine honour to vur Blessed Saviour, and ^ die worahipper of Jesus," as he expresses himself, froq * nervow of tfaeie prewhen, aaquMrtioiMbly, was Dr. Balsuy. See his Dis- eonrws uid Chuges preached on taublic occasions, and dedicated to tlis ling. Lockyer Davis. 1785. * That great ornament of the Episcopal bench. Dr. Honley, bishop of Bt Asaph's, does not fall under this censure ; u he protected the present writer, both in and out of parliament. t Lectures in Divinity, delivered ttt thenniversily of Cambridn. by J. H^y.n. n a s Wnrri s i s n pref seso r, ia fb af- v ehii i is e , 1197. Veli-tt "' t Vol. li. p. 41. I Vol. ii. pp. 950. 961. I Dr. Walson, bishop of LandafTe Chaige, 1796.' Letter XV. 191 idolatry in paying it to him, on the score or their common good intention.* Thi^ sufficiently shows what the bishop's own be- lief was concerning the adorable trinity, and the divinity df the second person of it. I have given, in a former letter, a remark- able passage from thea^ve quoted charge, where bishop Wat- son, speaking of the doctrines of Christianity, says- to his assem- bled clergy, " I think it ta/er to tell you where they are contain- ed than what they are. They are contained in the Bible ; and if, in reading that book, your sentiments should be different from those of your neighbour, or from those of the ehut^h, be persua- ded that infallibility appertains as little to you as it does to the church." 1 have elsewhere exposed the coniplete Socinianism of bishop Hoadley and. his scholars,! among whom we must reckon bishop Shipley iiitlie first rank. Another celebrated writer, who was himself a dignitary of the establishment,! arguii[ig, as he does most powerfully, against the consistency and efficacy of public confessions of faith,' among Protestants of every denomination,, says, that out of a hundred ministers of the estaUishment, who, every year, subscribe the Articles made 'f to prevent diversity of opinions," he has reason to believe '* that above one-fiilh of this number do not subscribe or^ assent to these Articles in one uniform sense."^ He also quotes . a Right Rev. author who maintains that '* No two thinking men ever agreed exactly in their opinion, even with regard to any one article of it.*'|| He also quotes the famous bishop Burnet, who says, that " The requiring of subscription to the Thirty-nine Ar- ticles is a great imposition,^ and that the greater part of the cler- gy subscribe the Articles, without ever examining them, and others do. it because they must do it, though they can hardly, satisfy their consciences about some things in them."** He shows that the advocates for subscription, Doctors Nichols, Ben- net, Waterland, and Stebbing, all vindicated it on opposite grounds ; and he is forced to qpnfess the same thing, with re- ' -spect to the enemies of subscription, with whom he himself ranks. Dr. Clark pretends there is a salvo in the subscription, namely, / assent to the articles in as much as they are agreeable to fenpture,tt though the judges of England have declared the con- trary .|t Dr. Sykes alleges that the Articles were either pur- posely ornegligently made equivocal.^f^ Another writer, whom he * Collect of Theol. Tracts, Pref. p. 17. ' ■ t Letters to a Prebendary. / » t Dr. Blackburn, archdeacon of ClesTeland, andibr of the ConfesM^ML i C o Bfew. 3 Kd. p. 45.—^-^ U D r . Oteyt o n, bUhop.nr Clnghw « n^nf.^. ^ tn •• P. Qi «* P. 090. It I T CoDfeM. p. 83. MP.3S7. P. 91. n p. 3331. n?Km. II 133 Letter XV. praises, undertakes to explain how " these Articles may be sob- scribed, and consequently believed, by a SabelUan, an orthodox I rinitanan, a Tntheist, and an Arian, so called." After this citation, Dr. Blackburn shrewdly adds : " One would wonder what idea this writer had of peace, when he supposed it might be kept by tfie act of subscription among men of these difletent judgments. '• If you will look into Overton's True Churchman Ascertained, you will meet with additional proofs of the repiig- nance of many other dignitaries and distinguished churchmen to the articles of their own church, as well as of their disagree- ment m faith among themselves. Hence you Will not wondei that a numerous body of them should, some years ago, have petitioned the legislature to be relieved from the gnevance, as; they termed it, of subscribing these Articles ;t and that we should continually hear of the mutilation of the liturgy by so many of them, ito avoid sanctioning those doctrines of their church, whicTi they disbpliev^ahd reject, particularly the Atha- nasian Creed and the absolution.+ I might disclope a still wider departure from their original confessions of faith, and still more signal dissensions among the different dissenters, and particularly among the old stock of the iTesbyte^ians and Independents, if this Tvere necessary. Most of these, says Dr. Jortin, are now Socinians, though we all know they heretofore persecuted that sect with fire and sword. The renowned Dr. Priestly not only denied the divinity of Christ, but with horrid blasphemy, accused him of numerous errors, weaknesses, and faults :^ and when the authority of Calvin, in burning Servetus, was objected to him, he answered, " Calvin was a great man, but, if a little man be placed on the shoulders ° ,r,?**?rl *'^^^" ^® enabled to see farther than the giant him- sell. I he doctrine now preached in the fashonable .Unitarian chapels of the- metropolis, I understand, greatly resembles that 01 the late Theophilanthropists of France, instituted by an Infidel one of the five directors. • The chief question, however, at present is, whether the church ol l<,ngland can lay any claim to the first character or mark of TTMi-rv,^ i^f^^' P**^"'^** ow* i» "ur common creed, that of UIMll Y ? On this subject I have to observe, that in addition ♦ tJ.^^^- • r.v a.. t Particularly in 1T72: ? --- !- 41. om'ssion of the Athanasian Creed, in particular, so often took place in the public service, Uiat an act of parliament has just passed, amonir other things, to enforce the repetition of it But if the clergyir en iUudel to re- f Theolqg. iCepont. vol. 4, Letttr XVI. 131 to the dissensions among its members, already mentioned, there are whole societies, not communicating with the ostensible church of England, who make very strong aAd plausible pre- tensions to be, each of them, the real church of England. Such are the Non-jurors, who maintain the original doctrine of this church, contained in the Homilies concerning passive obedience and non-resistance, and who adhere to the first ritual of Ed- ward VI.* Such are the evangelical preachers and their dis- ciples, who insist upon it that pure Calvinism is/ the creed of the established church.f Finally, such are the Methodists, whom professor Hey describes as forming tlu old churdh of England.X And, even now, it is notorious that many clergymen preach in the churches in the morning, and in the meeting houses in the evening ; while their opulent patrons are purcha^ng as many church-livings as they can, in order to fill theih with incambenta of the same description. Tell • me now, deii^ sir/ whether, from this view of the state of the church of England, or from any other fair view which can be taken of ^,ff faipf and terms of communion. The same creeds, namely, the- l^jjpfitles^ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creeds and ttfe^^ieed of Pope Pius IV. drawn up in 'conformity with the dennitjons of the Council of Trenil, are every where recited and professed, to the strict letter ; the same articles of faith and morality are taught in all our catechisms ; the same rule of faith, namely, the re- vealed Word^jof God, contained in Scripture and tradition, aitd^ the same neipbsitor and "interpreter of this rule, Uie Catholic church spealung by the mouth oP^^ pastors, axo admitted and proclaimed I&y all Catholicaf throu^Kiii^ the four quarters of the globe, from |l|eland to ChiJi,. and from Canada to India, f You may, convince Vourself of this any day, at the Royal Exctange, by conversing with intelligent Catholic merchants, from the seve- ral countries in question. - You may satisfy yourself»respecting it, even by interrogating the poor illiterate Irish, "and other Catholic foreigners, who traverse the country in yarious direc- tions. Ask them their belief as to the fundamental articles of Christianity, the unity and trinity of God, the incarnation and death of Christ, his divinity, and atonement for sin by his pas- sion and death, the necessity of baptism, the nature of the bles- sed sacjrament; question them on. these and other such points, but with kindness, patience, and condescension, particularly with respect to their language and delivery, and, I will venture to say, you will not find any essential variation in the answers of most of them ; and much less -such as you will find by proposing \he s*ame questions to an equal number of Protestants, whether learn- ed or unlearned, of the self-same denomination. At all eveitts, the Catholics, if properly interrogated, will confess their belief in one comprehensive article; nametyj this^-*/ &«/ieu« whatmer the holy Catholic church believes and teaches. Protestant divines, at the present day, excuse their dissent from the Articles which they subscnbe and aweiar to, by reason / Letter XVL 125 of their alleg)^d antiquity and obsoleteneM,* though none of them are yet quiti) two centuries and a half old.f and they feel no difficulty in avowing that " a tacit reformation," since the first pretended reformation, has taken place among them^ Thi»^ alone is a ionfession that their church is not one and the same ; whereas a^ Catholics believe as firmly in the doctrinal decisions of the council of Nice, passed fifteen hundred years ago, as they do Ml th08e of the council of Trent, confirmed in 1564, and other still more recent decisions; because the Catholic church, like its divine Founder, is the same yesterday, to-day, ani for ever. H*b. xiii. 8. v^ Nor is it in her doctrine only, that tho Catholic church is one .-^d the same ; she is also uniform in whatever is essential in her liturgy. In every part of the world, she oflTers up the same unhloody sacrifice of the holy mass, which is her chief act pf divine worship; she administers the same seven sacraments, provided by infinite wisdom and mercy for the several wants of the faithful ; the great festivals of our redemptipQ are kept holy on the same days, and the apostolical fast of Lent Is every where proclaimed and observed. In short, such is the unity of the Catholic church, that when Catholic priests or laymen, landing at one of the neighbouring ports, from India, Canada, or Brazil, com6 to my chapel,^ I find them capable of joining with me in every essential part of the divine service. Lastly, as a regular, uniform, ecclesiastical constitution and government, and a due subordination of its members, are requisite to constitute a uniform church, and to preserve unity of doctrine and liturgy in it, so these are undeniably evident in the Catholic church, and in her alone. She is, in the language of St. Cy- prian, "The habitation of peace and unity ,")| and in that of the inspired text, like an army in battle array. ^ Spread, as the Ca- tholics are, Over the face of the earth, according to my former observation, and disunited, as they are in every other respect, they form one uniform body in the order of religion. Whether roaming in the plains of Paraguay, or confined in the palaces of Pekin, each simple Catholic, in point of ecclesiastical economy, is subject to his pastor ; each pastor submits to his bishop, and each bishop acknowledges the supremacy of the successor of St. Peter, m/mattcrs of faith, morality, and spiritual jurisdiction. In case or error, or inf uhordination, which, from the frailty and • Dr. Hey's Lectures on Divinity, vol ii. pp. 49, 50, 51, &c t The 39 Articles were drawn in 1662, and conr the bishops in 1571. confirmed by the queen and -Ji Hey>.p,- -4& I At V^incKeste'r, where the writer resided whenUuTleKer was writteo. I *' Domicilium pacis et unitatis." St Cyp. % Cant. vi. 4. rt. 126 Lttter XVIT. malice of the human heart, must, from time to tiirie, disturb her, there are found canons and ecclesiastical tribunals, and judtfe s, to correct and pUt ap end.to the evil, while similar evils in other , religious societies are found to be interminable. 1 have s^'little or nothing of the varieties of Protestalllll in regard to'^eir liturgies and ecclesiastical'governments, becausit these mattets being very intricate and/Obsbure, as well aef diver- sified, would lead me too fat a-field for my present plan. It is sufficient to remark, that the ifumerous l^rotestant sects expressly disclaim any union with « «'#,' ' ) <--i. ijj » Mt •■') ■ami jj' i'N if" ■f '^:V', ■;" \ki- i*' • es. 198 Letter /X7 III. liberal minded particularly tl net, who hyistilf passed for a Roman CaAdie, following stanza ofnt : *« Let not tjus wieak and erring hud Presume iliy bolts to throw. And d^ damnation round the land On each 1 Judge thylige."* I ho^yoilr societvf will require its Popish correspondent, be- fore lie writes any/more letters to it on other subjeets, to answer wl^t bur prelatyand his own poet have advanced against the Kgotry and uncharitableness of excluding Christians of any de- /Aomination fr/m the mercies of God and everlasting happiness. He may assign whatever marks he pleases ot the true church, but I, for my part, shall ever consider charity as the Cinly sure mark pftKis, conformably with what Christ says : By this shall all knouf that ye are my disciples, if ye have love me to another. John xiu. 35. ■ ■ ■ ' • . ■■ ?Mr /' • LETTERXVIII. / . ■ , /. ■ ■ . To JAI^ES BROWN, Bsq. ^e. .'' objections answered. Dbar Sir, ;; IiTanswer to the objections of4he Reverend prebendary to my letters on the mark of unity in the true church, and the ne- cessity of being incorporated in this chu^pch. I must observe, in the first place, that nothing disgusts a reasoning divine more than vague charges of bigolty and intoleYance, inasmuch as they n**«.nP distinct meaning, and are equally applied to all sects and individualsj by others, whose religious opinions are more lax than their own. ThetM odious accusations which your churchmen bring against Catholics, the Dissenters bring against jrou, who are equally loaded with them by Deists, as these are, m their turn, by Atheists and Materialists. Let us then, dear sir, in the serious discussions of religion, confine ourselves to language of a defined meaning, leaving vagtie and tinsel terms to poets and novelists^ It seems, then, that bishop 'Watson, with the Rev. N. Tf. and other fashionable latitudinarians of the day; are indignant at the idea of *' stinting the Omnipotent in the exercise of his mercy, and barring the doors of heaven against any sect," however heterodox or impious. Nevertheless, in the very passage which I have quoted, they themselves stint this mercy to those who *« w o rk ligh tu ou B u oHB ,"^ which i m pli er^yrestram t on m e n'i * Pope'i UniverMl Prayer. >.-*! J / 5*^-f Hut XVIIl f 12» riaaa. Methinks I now hear some epicure Dives'^or elegant libertine retorting on these, liberal, charitable, divines, in their own word$, Pedantic tkeohgues, narrow minded bigots, who stint the Omnipotent in the exercise of hia merey, and bar the doof^^ Aea«e« against me, for following the impulse which he himself has planled in me ! The same language may, with equal justice, be put into the mouth of Nero, Judas Iscariot, and of the very demons themselves. Thus, in pretending to magnify God's --ttjefcy, these mea Would annihilate his justice, his sanctity, and his veracity! Our business, then, is, not to form arbitrary theories concerning the divine attribute, but to attend to what he himself has revealed concerning them and the exercise of them What words can be more express than those of Christ, on this jfoint, tie that beliepeth and is baptized shall be saved, but 'he that believeth not shall be damned ! Mark xvi. 16, or than those of St. Paul : Without faith it is impossible to please God, Heb. xi. 6. Conformably to this doctrine, the same apostle classes heresies with murder and adultery ; concerning which he says, thxy who do such things shall not inherit ihe kingdom of God, Gal. V. 20,.21. Accordingly, he orders that a man, who 4s a heretic, sbUl be rejected. Tit. iii. 10, and the apostle of charity, St. John, forbids the faithful to receive him into their houses ; or. even to bid him God speed who bringeth not this doctrine of Christ, 2 John i. 10. This apostle acted up to his rule, with respect to the treatment of persons out of the church, when he hastily withdrew from a public building, in wfaiah he met the heretic Cerinthus, " lest," as he said, " it^houldTall down upon him."* I have giten, in a former letter, some of the numberless pa8< sages in ^ch the holy fathers speak home to the p^etent point, and, as th^ise are far more expressive and emphatical 4hsn what I myself have said ypon it, I presume they have chiefly contri- buted to excite the bile qf the Rev. prebendary. How«rer he may slight these venerable authorities, yet, as I am sure that you, sir, reverence them, I will add two more such quotations, on account of their peculiar appositeness to ihe present point, from the great doctor of the fifth century, St. Augustine. He (Ays : " All the assemblies, or .rather divisions, who call them- selves churches of Christ, but which, in fact, have separated themselves from the congregation of tinity, do not belong to the true church. They might indeed belong to her, if the Holy Ghost could be divided against himself : but as this is impossible, tbey do not belony to her."t In like manner, addressinj^ljimself * 1. Inb. I. iii. BuMb. Birt. 1. ill. t De Veib; Dom. Scrm. U. -^/ ISO LetterXVIH. ;*)«■ to certain sectaries of his time, he skys : " If our communion is the church of Christ, yours is not s^: for the church of Christ is one, whichsoever she is ; since it^is said of her, My dove, my undefiled is one ; she is the only one^of her mother." Cantic. vi. 9. But, setting aside Scripture and tradition, let us consider this matter, as bishop Watson and his associates effect to do, on the side of natural reason alone. These modern philosophers think it absurd to suppose that the Creator of the Universe concerns himself about what we poor mortals do or do not believe ; or, as the bishop expresses himself, that he " accommodates his judg' ments to the wrangling of pedantic theologoes." With equal plausibility certain ancient philosophers have represented it as unworthy the Supreme Being to busy himself about the actions of such reptiles as we are in his sight ; and thus have opened a door to an unrestrained violation of his eternal and immutable laws ! In opposition to both these schools, I maintain, as the clear dictates of reason, that as God is the author, so he is neces- sarily the supreme Lord and Master of all beings, with their several powers and attributes, and therefore of those noble and distinguishing faculties of the human soul, reason and free wilt ; that he cannot divest himself of this supreme domlnM)n,or render any being or any faculty independent of himself or of his high laws, any more than he can cease to be God ; that, of «:o^e, he does and must require oiir ''reason to believe in his divSie revelations, no less than our aHU to submit to his supreme com- mands ; that he is just, no less than he is merciful, and there- fore that due atonement must be made to him for every act of disobedience to him, whether by disbelieving what he has said, or by disobeying what he has Ordered. I advance a step further, m opposition to the Hoadl^^aiid Watson school, by asserting, as a self-evident .truth, thj^ere being a more deliberate and formal opposition to the Most^^igh, in saying, / will not believe what thou^hast revealed that in Saying,/ toill not practice what thou hast commanded, so, ceteris paribus, WILFUL infidelity and heresy involve greater guilt than immoral frailty. You will observe, dear sir, that in the preceding passage, I have marked the word wilful; because Catholic divines and the holy fathers, at the same time that they atrictly insist on the • necessity of adhering to the doctrine and communion of the Ca- tholic church, make an express exception in favour of what is termed invincible ignorance, which occurs, when persons out of the true church are sincerel) and firmly resolved, in spite of all M. .worldly allurements on on e hand, and opposit on the otEer, to enter into it, if they could fin find it out, and when "■"^« ^tt"*^, ^•^i, '•^'•. Utter XV III ISl thejr use their best endeavours for this purpose. This exception in favour of the invincibly ignorant, is made by the same St. Austin who so strictly insists on the general rule. His wordb are these : " The apostle has told us to reject a man that is a heretic : but those who defend a false opinion, without pertina- cious obstinacy, especially if they have not themselves invented it, but have derived it from their parents, and who seek the truth with anxious : solicitude, being sincerely disposed to re- Dounce their error as soon as they discover it, such persons are ;iot to be deemed heretics."* Our great comtrovertist, BeUar- niine, asserts, that such Christians, " in virtue of the disposition of their hearts, belcing to the Catholic church .*'t Who the individuals, exteriorly of other communions, but by the sincerity of their dispositions, belonging to the Catholic church, who, and iti what numbers the^. are, it is for the Search- er of hearts, our future Judge, alone to determine : far be it from me, and' from every other Catholic, to " deal damnation" on any person in particular : still thus much, on the grounds already stated, I am bound, not only in truth, but also in chari- ty, to say and to proclaim, that nothing short of the sincere dis- position in question, and the actual use of such means as Pro- vidence respectively aflfords for discovering the true church to those who are out of it, can<«ecure their salvation ; to say no- thing of the Catholic sacraments and other helps for this pur- pose, of which such persons are necessarily deprived. I just mentioned the virtue of charity ; and I must here add, that on no one point are^ latitudiaarians and genuine Catholics more at variance than upon this. The former consider them- selves charitable^ in proportion as they pretend to open the gate of heaven to a greater number of religionists of various descrip- tions : but, unfortunately, tAey are not possessed of the keys of that gate ; and when they fancy they have ^ened the gate as wide as possible, it still remains as narrow, and the way to it as strait, as our Saviour describes these to be in the Gospel, Matt. vii. 14. Thus they lull men into a fatal indifference about the truths of revelation, and a false security as to their salvation. ' Genuine Catholics, on the other harid, are persuaded, that as there is but one God, one faith, and one baptism, Ephes. iv. 5. so there is but ONE SHEEP-FOLD, namely, ONE CHURCH. Hence, they omit no opportunity of alarming their wandering brethren on the danger they are in, and of bringing' them into this onefold of the one Shepherd, John x. 16.~ To form a right judgm ent in this case, we need hut ask. Is it charitabl e or iinnhar* . 1 EpUt. ad Episc. Donat * Controv. torn. ii. lib. iii. «. 6. m Letter XIX. ©• itable in the physician^jto warn his patient of his danger in "eat- ing unwholesome food,? Again, is it charitable or uncharitable in the watchman toho sees the sword coming to sound the trumpet fl/alarmj E/ech. xxxiii. 6. , ^ ' But to conclude, the Rev. prebendary, with most mbdem Pro- testants, may continue to assign his latitudinarianism, which ad- mits alhreligions to be right, thus dividing truth, that is essen> tially indivisible, as a mark of the truth of his sect ; in the mean- time, the Catholic church ever will maintain, ^s she ever^ has maintained, that there is only one faith and one true church, and that this her uncoihpromising firmness, in retaining and profes- '' sing this unity, is the first mark of her being this church. The subject admits of being illustrated by the well known judgment of the wisest of meii. Two women dwelt together, each of whom had an iihfanV son ; but, one of these dying, they both con- tended for possession of t)ie living child, and carried their cause to the tribunal of Solomon. He, finding them equally conten- tious, ordered the infant t^ey disputed about to be cut in . two, and one-half of it to be given to each of them ; which order the pretended mother agreed to, exclaiming, £etit be neither mine nor thine, but_ divide it. Then spake the woman, vjhose the living child was, unto the king; fyr her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O, my. lord, give her the living child,and in no wise slay it. Thm the king answered and stfid. Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it ; SHE IS THE MOTHER THERE- OF! 1 King9 iii. 26, 17. %y . V I am, Pear Sir, &e. J. M. LETTER XIX. To JAMES BRO WN, Esq. Ae. *•■ ■ • ■■ \. '" - ■ ,. V ■ ,*- ON SANCTITY OF OOCTRIira. ,*^ DbarSir,^. . *»- The second maA by which you, as well as I, describe the church in which you believe, when you repeat the Apostles' Creed, is that of SANCTITY : we, each of us, s%y, / believe in the HOLY Catholic Church. Reason itself tells, us, that the. God of purity and sanctity could not institutb a religion destitpte of this character : and the inspired apostle asures us, that Christ lotJtd the church, and gave himself/or it t that he might santify and cleanse it, with the washing of water, by the Word; that he JwiyA^prgiwif it to himself^a glorious church, not having spat or M wintte. Ef^u. v. 25. 27. The comparison wEicFI am going \ [■ t- i>-»ii • ;„ --f,, . '■ ..-^ t:, t . .5' -V Lttttr XTX. "' isa to Institute betwe.en the Catholic church and the leading Pro- testant 'societies in the art^le of sanctity, will be made on these four heads:. lst..The (/oc/rtne of holiness ; 2dly;^„The mans of -holiness ; 3dly. The fruits of holioess ; and, lastly^ The divine testimony of holiness. i. To consider, first, the doctrine of the chief Protestant com- ' mnnions : this ^s well known to have been originally grounded in the pernicious and impious princi^es, that God is the author and ifiecessitating cause, as well its the everlasting punisher; of> ;, sin ; that man has no free will to avoid sin ; and that justifica- tion and salvation are the effects of an enthusiastic persuasion^ under the name o( faith, that the person is actaMy justified find javet/, without any real belief in the revealed truths, withoirt hope, chatity, repentance for sin, benevolence to our fellow- creatures, loyalty to our king and country, or any other virtues,* all which were censured by the first reformers, as they are by — the strict Methodists still, under the name oi works, aiidliy many of them declarejl to be even, hurtful to salvation. It is asserted, in the Harmony of Confessions, a celebrated work, published in the early times of the Reformation, that " all the confessions of' the Protestant churches teach this primary article (of justifica- tion) with a holy consent ;" which seems to imply, says arch- deacon Blackbum, "that this was the single article in which they all did agree."* Bishop Warburton expressly declares, ' that " Protestantism was built Upon it :"t and yet, " what im- piety can be more execrable," we may justly exclaim with Di". Balguy "than to make God a tyrant !"t And what lessons can . be taUght more immoral, than that men are not required to re- pent pf their sins to obtain their forgiveness, nor to love either God or man to b$ sure of their solvation ! To begin with the father of the Reformation, Luther teachos that " God works the evil in us as welj as the good," and that I' the great perfection of faith consists in believing God to be just, although, by his own will, he necessarily renders us worthy of damnation, so ea to seem to take-pleasure in the torments of the miserable."^ Agaiu he'says^ and repeats it, in his work De Ser-^ vo Arbitrio, and his other ^orks, that "free will is an empty name ;" addufg, " If God foresaw that Judas would be a iraitor^ Judas nee«Mar>/y became a tt^iunt : nor was it in his power to b^ otherwise."! "Man's will is like a hone : if God sit upon it, * Archdeacon Blackburn's CoBfMtioaal, p. 1& t Pfctriltte of Grace, cited Iqr Overton^ p. 31. I L nt n. o ptn, «i. w mtinftr mtt. u. W L&fr I Oe Serv. Arbit. fol. 460. . ,2, ^ I Plscqurses, f. M. "1 € 134 Letter XtX^ it goQS as God'^ would have it ; ir.the<«levil ride it, it goes as thfi devil would have it : nor can the will choose its rider, hut each .of them strives M«!iich shall ^et- possession of^it.'** Conrornfably to this System of necessity he teaches, "Let this be your rule ih interpreting the Scriptures; whenevw they comrajtiid any. good work, do you understand that they forbid it, because you cannot perform. it."t " Unless faith be without the least good work, it does not justify : it is not faith."f " See how rich a Christian is, since he cannot lose his soul, do what he will, un- less he refuses to believe : for no hid can damn him but unbe- ' lief.''^ . Luther's favourite disciple and bottle conjpanion, Ams- dorf, whom he made bishop of Naub'ur^, wrote a t)ook, expressly to prove that good' works are not only unnecessary, but that they *.are hurtful to salvation ; for which doctrine he quotes bis mas- ter's works at large.|| Luther hiriiiself made' so great account of ■ this pa'rt of his system which denies free will, -and the utility and possibility of good works, that, writing against Erasmus upon it, he affirms it to be the hinge on which the Whole turns, declaring the questions about the Pope's supremacy, purgatory, * and indulgencies, to Jbe trifles, rather than subjects of controver- sy.^ In a former letter I quoted a remarkable passage from this . patriarch of protestantism, in which, he prtJtends to prophesy that this article of his, shall subsist for eveir, ih 9pite of^ll the emperors. Popes, kings, and devils ; condluding thus: 'nf they attempt to wedcen this article, may Hell-fire be' their relward ; ' let this be taken for an inspiration of the Holy Ghost, made to me, Martin Luther." ' ' / However, in sp^^of these prophecies and curses/^of their father, the Lidberansin gener^tl, as 1 have before noticed, shock- ed at the impiety of this his primary principle, sooii abandoned it, and even went ovei" to the. opposite impiety of Siami-pelagian- ism, which attributes to man Hke first motion, or cause of con-\, version and sanctification. , Still it will always be true to say, that Lutheranism itself originated in the impious doctrine describ- ed above.** As to the second branch of the ^Reformation, Cal-^^ vinism, where it has not sunk into Fjatitudinarianisro or Socinian- ism.tt it is still distinguished by this impious system. To give " Ibtd. torn. ii. t Ibid. torn. iii. fol. 171. . t Ibid. torn. i. fol. 301. I De Captiv. Babyl. torn. ii. fol. 74. H See Brierley'd Protest. Apol. 393. Sea also Mosheim and Maclaino, Eccles. Hist. vol. pp. 324, 328. / 1 See the passage, extqicted from the work De Servo Arbttrio, in Letters to a Prebendary, Letter V. T. p. 446. &c. tt Ibid. o. 45a ^ Utter XtX. 18ft B few passages froin the works of this second patriarch of Pro- testants, Calvin says: " God requires nothing of us but faith: he asks nothing of us, but that we believe."* •» I do not hesitate to assert that the will*' of God makes all things nece8sary."f " It is^lainly wrong( to seek for any other cause of damnation than the hidden codrisels of God.'i "Men, by fhe free will of God, without any ^mSrit of their own, are predestinated to I eternal dearh."^ It ] s useless to cite the disciples of Calvin, Be/a, Zanchius, &c. as they all stick close to the doctrine of their master, still I wjill give the following remarkable passage from the -works of thfe renowned Beza: "Faith is peculiar to the elect, and consist in an absolute dependence each one has on the certamty of |lis election, which implies an assuranbe V his perseverance. //Hence we havcj it in our power to know whether we bfe predfestinated'to salvation, not by fancy, but by cwiclusions^ certain as if we had aa^cended into heaven to hear It from the/inouth rif God himself."|| And is there a man that, having b^ng worked up by such dogmatizing, or by his own fancy, to this full assurance of ihdefeasible predestination ai " impeccability, who, under any vioWnt temptation to break t| laws of God or/hian, can he expectefd," to resist it ! Aftei: all th^pains which have bj^en taken by modem di^nes of the churcjh of England to clear iiei- from this stain of ciflvin- ism, nothing is more certain thanjhat she was, at -first, ileeply infected With iti The 42 Artic/es of Edward VI. an«f the 39 Amclea/6f Elizabeth are evidently grounded in that dActrine.lT ^S^K''*'*^®^®^* ** '"**'® expre/sly inculcated in the ticles,** approved of by the t Wo archbishops, the bis don, &c. in 1595, " whose testimony," says the re ler, " is an infallible evidencfe, what; was the geojeri ed doctrine of the church^bf England in that a^ i named controversies.'tt/ In the Aistory'of the ' Cambridge, by this author.'a strict churchman, prgof that no other doctrine but that of Calvin tolerated by the established church, at ths timt speaking* of. " One W. Barret, fellow of->G6n[ ^Lambeth fop of Lon- »wned Ful- I'^and rjBceiv- out the fore- Jniversity of |l}iave evident 80 much as I have been • file and Caius- • Calv. in Joan. vi. Rom. i.' Galat ii. . .1 t Ibid. f Ibid. II Ezposit. cited by Bossuet, ^ T Prfticularly the Uth, 12th, 13th, and 17th of th tenor .yS-tbe 13th, among the 39, it woulil appear, t crates, the integrity of Aristides, the continence of ism of Cato « had the nabire of ^n," because they inftitJ. iii. c. ^aliatfl. xiv. before the grace of Christ.' C.S3. pp. 6.7. Articles. By the the patience of So- Jpio, and the patriot- -„ were " works done Fuller's Church History, p. 230. \ --^l—mtHeri p.- SKi5t.»»W. B. Uu the bkjiiit In 4uestion,r Dr. Hey, VbT. PF p 6, quotes the well-known speech of the great lord Chatham in parliament : " W« have a Calvinistic creed, and «n Arminian clergy." /' 18« Utter XtX. college, preached ai Clerum for hie degree of bachelor of divin- ity, wherein he vented such doctrines, for which he was sum- moned, six day8)after, before the consistory of doctors, and there enjoined the following reifactiois :— 1st, / said that, no man is m-^--i~^^ SO strongly underpropped by the certainty of faith, as to be assured of his salvation.: but, now, I protest, bef9re God, that they which, are justified by faith, are assured of their salvation unlh the cer- taintyof faitU 3dly, 1 said that, certainty concerning the time to come is prlud: but novo I protest that justified faith dan never be rooted out of the minds oFHhe faithful. 6thly, These words escaped me in ray sermon : / believe against Calvin, Peter Mar- iyr, 4-c. that sin is the true, proper, and first cause of reprobation. But, now, being better instructed, I say that the reprobation of the wicked is from everlasting ; and I am of the sume mind con- cerning election, as the ehurch^ of England teaeheth in the Arti- cles of faith. Last of all, I uttered these words rashly against Calvin, a man that ha|h very well deserved of the ehureh of God . , that he durst presum^ to lift himself above the High God: by t^ich words \ have done great injury to that learned and right' godly man. I have also uttered many .bitter words* against Peter ,Martyr, Theodore Beza, &c. being the lights and ornaments oj our cAure&f'Hballine them by the odious name of Calvinists, &c."* Another proof of the fornier intolerance of the church of Eng- land, with respect to that moderate system, which all her pre* sent dignitaries hold, is the order drawn up by the archbishops and bishops in 1566, for government to act upon, namely, that " All incorrigible free will men, &c. should be sent into some castle into North Wales, or at Walingford, there to live of theit own labour, and no one to be suffered ta resort to them, but theii keepers, until they be found to repem their error8.''t A still stronger, as well as more authentic evidence of the former Cal- vinism of the English church is furnished by the history and acts of the general Calvinistic Synod of Dort, held against Vor- stius, the fliuccessor of Arminius, who hdd «ndeavoured to mod- ify that impious system. Our James I. who had the principal share in assembling this Synod, was so indignant at the attempt, that in a letter to the States of Holland, he termed Vorstius, " the enemy of God," and insisted on his being expelled, declar- ing, at the same time, that " it was his own duty, in quality of defender of the faith, with which title," he said, " God had hon- oured him, to extirpate those cursed heresies, and to drive them • Fuller's Hist of Univ. of Camb. p. 150 — ^N. B. Itwill be evident to the ==ttm itrt that 1 La v e grwtUV sbriikaJ thie CM l tiom f e cwtiti o i i . wh i rh w«« t ofc long to be quoted at lengtii. t Strype's Annals of Reform, vol. i. p. S14. ■, g ,j" LtttwXIX. '■ '137 to heii-r*^ To^bebrierVlwseirt Garlton iind^ Daventwrtrti^ former being bishop of Landaff, the latter of Salisbury, yith two Ottt^r dietaries of the church of England/ &nd Bancanqual, on tb^jirt erf" the church of Scotlan^^ to the Synod, where they , ap|feartd among the foremost in condemning the Arminiani and inAWimng that;' God gives tru« and ftrely faith to those ifiom J/"!""®* ^ withdraw from the coi^on damnation, omf to fetnaUmo ; and that the true faithful, 6y«/rocH>«« crimes, do not trfnt the grace of adoption and the state (^justification /"f It might have been expected thit the decrees of this Synod 'would have greatly strengthened the system of Calvinism ; where- as It is from the termination ol" it, which coi«esponds with the concluding part of the reign of James I. that Wc^ a^e to date the decline of it, espedjjltyin England^ Still greater numbers of us adherents, under tKeqame of" Calvinists, and^rofessing, not without reason, to maintain the original tenets of ib(e church of England, subsist in this country, and their minister^ arrogate to themjelves the titlp of Evangelical Preachers. In like manner the numerous and diversified societies of Methodists, whether Wesleyans or Whitfieldites, Moravians or Revivalists, New Itinerants or Jumpers,^ are all partisans of the impious and im- moral^ system of Calvin. The founder bf the first mentioned branch of these sectaries witnessed the follies and crimes which flowed from it, and tried to reform them by means of a laboured but groundless distinction.! **, After all, the first an^^4*fl§t sacred branch of holy doctrine consists in those artpiKs which God has been pleased'to reveal concerning bis^^tf^vn divine nature and operations, namely, the articles of thi4tnity and trinity of the Deity, and of the inearna- tton, death, and atonement of the eonsubstantial Son of God. It is adtaitted, that these mysteries have been .abandoned by the Protestants of Geneva, Holland, and Germany. With respect to Scotland, a well informed writer, says : " It is certain that Scotland, like Geneva, has run from high Calvinism to ahnost 38 high Arianism or Socinianism : the exceptions, especially in the ciries, are few." It will be gathered from many passages, which I have cited in my former letters, how widely extended throughout the established church is that " tacit reform,'' which a learned professor of its theology signifies to be the same thing with Socinianism. A judgment may also be formed of the pre- " • Hist. Abreg. de Gerard Brandt, torn. L p. 41'y.itom'ii. p. 9. t Bo39uet'8 Variat. vol. ii. pp. 391, 294. 3()4. t MMhiem and Ma ' See Evan's Sketch of all Religions, la* NPostcript,p.6& fl >r-_.. 138 Letter XIX. valence of this system, by the act of July 21, 1813, exempting the professors of ifc from the penalties to which they were beforo subject. And yet this system, as I have before ojiserved, is pronounced by the church of England, in her last made canons, " damnable and cursed heresy, being a complication of many former heresies and contra'riant to the articles of religion now established in the church of England."* I say nothing of the numerous Protestant victims, who have been burnt at the stake in this country, during the reigns of Edward VI. Elizabeth, and James I. for the errors in question, except to censure the incon- sistency and cruelty of ths proceeding: all that I had occasion to show was, that most Protestants, and, agiong the rest, those of the English church, instead of uniformly maintaining at all times the same holy doctrine, heretofore abetted an impious and ' immoral system, namely, Calvinism, which they have since been constrained to reject, and that they have now compromised witlr impieties, which formerly they condemned as •* damnable here- sies," and punished with fire and faggot. • But it is time to speak of the doctrine of the Catholic church. If this was once Ao/y, namely, in the apostolic age, it is holy still ; because the*church never changes her doctrine, nor suf- fers any persons in her communion to change it, or to 'question any part of it. Hence, the adorable mysteries of the trinity, the incarnation, &c. taught by Christ and his apostles, and de- fined by the four first general councils, are now as firmly be: lioved by every real Catholic, throughout her whole communioi(( as they were when those councils were held. Concerning the article of, man's justification, so far from holding the impious and absurd doctrines imputed to her by her unnatural children, (who sought for a pretext to desert her,) she rejects, she <;on- demns, she anathemiatizes them ! It is then false, and notorious- ly false, that Catholics believe, or in any age did believe, that they could justify themselves by their own proper merits ; or that they can do the least good, in the order of salvation, with- out the grace of God, merited for them by Jesus Christ ; or that we can deserve this grace, by any thing we have the power of , doing ; or that leave to commit sin, or even the pardon of any sin, which has been committed, can be purchased of any person whomsoever ; or that the essence of religion and our hopei^ of salvation consist in forms and ceremonies, or in other exterior things. These, and such other calumnies, or rather blasphemies,. however frequently 6r confidently repeated in popular sermons and controversial tracts, there , is reason to think are not realj^ * Conttit. and Can. A. D. 1640. """" ' ~ Letter XIX. 139 believed by any Protestant of learning.* In fact, what ground is there for maintaining them ? Have they been defmed by our ^ councils ? No : thejr liave been condemned by them, and par- ticularly by that of Trent. Are they taught in our catechism8,\ ' such as ihe Catechismus ad Parochos, the General Catechism of Ireland, the Douay Catechism ; or in our books of devotion, for -example, those written by an 4 Kempis, a Sales, a Granada, and a Challoner ? No : the contrary doctrine is, in these, and* in our other books,' uniformly maintained.^ In a word, the Ca- tholic church teaches, and ever has taught, her children to trust for mercy, grace and salvation, to the merits of Jesus Christ ; nevertheless she asserts that we have free will, and that this being prevented by divine grace, can and must co-operate to our justification by faith, sorrow for our sins, and other corres- ponding acts of virtue, which God will not fail to bestow upon us, if we do not throw obstacles in the way of them. Thus is all honour and merit ascribed to the Creator, and every defect and sin aUributed to the creature. The Catholic church incul- cates mor^ver, the indispensable necessity of humility as a vir- tue, by which, says St. Bernard, " from a thorough knowledge of ourselves we' become little in qut own estimation," as the ground- work of all other virtues. I mention this Catholic lessSi, in particulair, because htf«i(ever strongly it is enforced by Christ and bis disciples, it seems to be quite overlooked by Protestants, insomuch that they are perpetually boasting in their speeches and writings of the opposite vice, pride. In like manner, it appears from the above mentioned catechisms and spiHtual works, what pains our church bestows in regulating the interior no less than the extmor of her children, by repressing every thought or idea/contrary to religion or morality ; of which matter, I perceive little or no notice is taken in the catechisms and tracts of Protestants. Finally, the Catholic church insists upon the necessity of being perfect even as our heavenly Falhcf is perfect. Mat. -v. 48, by such an entire subjugation of our passions and conformity of our Will with that of God, that our converse ^ tion may be in heaven^ while we are yet living here on earth. Philip v. 20. , I am, &c. J. M- • The Norrisian Professor, Dr. Hey, sajs : «' The reformed have depart- ed so much from the rigour of their doctrine about faith, and the Romanists from theirs about good works, that there ^eems very little difference be- tween them." Lect vol. iii. p. 262. True, most o'f the reformers, after , building their religion on faitK alone, have now gone into the opposite ihere- , sy of Pelagianism, or at least Semi-Pelagianim : but Catholics hold ' X'ctly the same tenets regardiHg good works, which they ever held, and which were atwayy Teiy" dil& r ent noni wtot P r . Hay awcrtttw t aem to^ hare been. Vol. iii. p. 861. . ' - I ■' ■ I -s. • ■ r IP 140 POSTSCRIPT TO LETTER XIX. i [Thk Life of the late Rev. John Wesley, founder of the Me* thodists, which has been written by Dr. Whitehead, Dr. Coke, and others of his disciples, shows, in the clearest light, the er- rors and contradictions to which even a sincere and religious mind is subject, that is destitute of the clue to revealed truth, the living authority of the Catholic church, as also the impiety and immorality of Calvanism. At first, that is to say, in the year 1729, Wesley was a modern church of England man, dis- tinguished from other students at Oxford by nothing but a more strict and methodical form of life. Of course his doctrine then was the prevailing doctrine of that church ; this he preached in England and carried with him to America, whither he sailed to convert the Indians. Returning, however, to England in 1738, he writes as follows :*• For many' years I have been tossed about by various winds of d^trine," the particulars of which, and -of the di^er^nt schemes of salvation, which' he was inclined to trust in, he details. Falling, at last, however, into the hands ' of Peter Bohler and his Moravian brethrejn, who met in Fetter- lane, he became a warm proselyte to their system, declaring at*. the same time, with respect to his ^ast religion, that hitherto ht had been a Papiit without knowing it. We may judge of his ardour by his exclamation when Pdter Bohler left England : " O what a work hath God begun since his (Bbhler's) coipinj; to England ; such a one as shall never come to an end till hea- ▼en and earth shall pass away." To cement his union with this society, and to instruct himself more fully in its mysteries, he made a journey to Hemhuth in Moravia, which is the chief seat of the United* brethren. It was whilst he was a Moravian, namely, "on the 24th of May, 1738, a quarter of amhoiir be- fore nine in the evening," that John Wesley, by his own ac- count, was " saved from thie law of sin and de%th." This all important event happened " at a meeting housed in Aldergate* street, while a person was reading Luther's Preface, to the Galatians." Nevertheless, though he had professed such deep obligaVons to the Moravians, he soon found out and declared that theirs was not the right way to heaven. In fact he^ found them, and " nine parts in ten of the Methodists?' who adhered to them, « swallowed up in the dead 'sea of stillness, opposing the ordinances, namely, prayer, reading the Scripturte, frequent- ing the sacrament and public worship, sellin^g their Bibles, &c. in order to rely more fully 'on the blood of the Lamb.' " In short, Wesley abandoned the Moravian connexion, and set up t ,11. , 1 ' I i; ^ '■' - ,.#^ * ." * . i' - i: Utter XIX* ' IS own ac- ^41 that which is properly his own rehgion, as it is detailed by Nightingale, in his Portr«i/o/M«/W«m. This happeired in 1740, soon aft6r which he broke off from his rival Whitflekl • in fact they maint&ined quite Opposite doctrhies on severalges^ sential points : still the tenet of instantaneous justification, ilith- out- repentance, .isharity, or other good works, and the actual feeling and certainty of this and of everlasting happiness, con- unued to be the essential and vital principles of Wesley's sys-- tern, as they are of the Calvinistic sects in general \ till havinir witnessed the horrible impieties aihd crimes to which it conduct- ed, he, at a conference or ,8ynod of his preachers, in 1744. de- clared that he and they had" leaned loo much to Calvifiiam and Anunoipiaiiism." In answer to the question " What is Aniino- mianism? Wesley, in the same conference, answers. «* The doctrine which makes void the law through faith. \U main pilars ara.that Christ abolished the moral law ; that, therefore/ Cbnsiians are not obliged td keep itj that Christian liberty, i« hbertyirom obeying the commands of God ; that it is bondage to do a thing becausejt is commanded, or forbear it because it w iorbidde» ; that a believer is notobliged to use the ordinances of Ood, or ta^o good works, that a preacher ought not to exhort to gdod. works," &c. See here the essential morality of the religion which Wesley had hitherto followed and preached, as drawn by his own pen, and which still coriUnues to be preached by the. other sects of Methodist* ! W« shall hereafter see in what manner he changed it. The very mention, however, of a change in this groun^.work of Methodism, inflamed aU the M^ jhodist connexions : accordingly, the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Shir- ley, chaplain to lady Huntingdon, in a circular letter, written at her desire, declared against the dreadful heresy of Wesley, which, as he expressed himself, " injured the foundation of Christianity" He, therefore, summoned another conference, which severely censured Wesley. On the other hand, this patriarch was sirongly supported, ^nd particularly by Fletcher of Madeley, an able writer, whom he had destined to succeed him, as the head Df hii4coniieiion. Instead of. being offended at his master's change Fletcher says, « I admire the candour of an old man of l»oce, in the midst of adulteries, mui^ers al^ incests, he caa . address me With, Thou art all fair, iny love, myHindefiled ; there is ifot a spot in thee. It is a most^midious error ofthe schooK" men to distinguish sins according t one without repentance, the love of God, or Other works ; the other, to which those works were essential : the former was for [ ' . those who die soon after their pretended experience of saving faith, the latter for those who have time and opportunity of p^r- . forming them. Thus, to say no more of the system, accordifig to it a Nero and a Robespierre might have been established in „ the grace of God, and in a right to the realms of infinite purity, without one act of sorrow for their enormities, or so much as an act of their belief in God !] LETTER XXr to JAMES BROWN, Esg» ON THE MEANS OF 8ANCTIT7. D^« Sir, ^r ■T^iejkient hmse of justification, or sanctity, according to the Council of Trent,* is the mercy of God~ through the merits oT .— * Sesf. VI. ctp. 7« b V . latter XX: ^143 Jesus Christ ; still, in tho usual economy of his grace, he makes use of certain instruments or means, both for conferring and in- creasing iVThe> principal an4 most efficacious of these are THE SACRAMENTO. Fortimately, the festablished church agrees m the main sense with the Catholic and other Christian churches, whfen she defines a sacrament to be " an outward and visible sitti of an inward and spiritual grace, given unto us, and .preordained by Christ hjmself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and » pledge to assure us thereof."* But, though she agrees with other Protestant communions in reducing the num- ber of these to two, hptisnt^ the Lord's Supper, she differs with all others, namely, the Catholic, the Greek, the Russian, the Armenian, the Nestorian, the Eutychian, the Coptic, the Ethiopian, &c. all of which firmly mainl^n, and evef have main- tained, as well since as' before their respective defections from us, the whole collection of the seven- saeraments.j This fact ali^ refutes the airy speculations of Protestants concerning the ♦^tmgin of the five safcraments, which they reject, and thus demon- strates that they are deprived^of as many divinety instituted in- struments or means of sanctity. As these sev^n channels of grace, though all supplied from the same fountalSn of Christ's merits, supply, each of them, a separate grace, jJdapted to the difTerent wants of the faithful, and as each of thjbm furnishes matter of observation for the present discussion, so /I shall take a /"cursory view of t^em. ° The first sacrament, in point of order and neotessity, is bap- tism. In fact, no authority^an be more expres/than thatofthe Scripture, as to this necessity. Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, sayi^Christ, he^nnot enter into the kingdom of God. John 111. 5. Repent, cries St. Peter, and be baptized every one of you, tn the name of Jesus, for ihi remission of sins. Acts 11. 38. Arise, answered Ananias to St. Paul, and be baptized and wash away thy sins. Acts xxii. 16. This necessity waii heretofore acknowledged by the church of England, at least, as appears from her Articles, and still more clearly from her lit- urgy .J and the works of her eminent divines.^ Hence, as bap. , • Catechism in Com. Prayer.— N. B. The last clause in this definition » tar too stnmg, as it seems to imply, that every person who is parUker of we outward part of a sacrament, necessarily receives the grace of it what- ever may be his dispositions; an impiety which the bishop of Lincoln calumniously attributes to the Catholics. Elements otThool- vol. ii. p. 436. , t Ihis important fact is ihcontrovertibly proved, in the celebrated work I* I'erpetmii dr . la F ai. fr o m or i g i na l dncumpnfa pmoni f ^l hy Loujg XIV. .^' And preserved in the king Vlibrat^y at Paris t Common Prayer. • Sm B. Pdarsonon^* Creed. Art. x. Hooker, Eccl. Pom. B. v. p. GO -'>>s 144 - Letttr ^X.' tism is Talid, by wliomsoever it is conferred, the Englisly churcli may be said to have' been upon an equal footing with the Cath- die church, as much as concerns this instrument or means of holiness : but the case is diflerent now, sinc^ that tacit reforma- tion, which is acknowledged to have taken place in her. This has nearly stviept out of her both the belief of original sin, and of its necessary remedy, baptism. " That we are bom guilty," the great authority, Dr. Balguy, says, " is eitlier* unintelligible or impossible." Accordingly, he teaches, that '* the rite of bap> tism is no more than a rtpresenlation of our entrance into the church of Christ." Elsewhere, he says, "The sign (of a sacra- ment) U declaratory, not ejicienlj^ Dr. Hey says, the negli- gence of the parent, with respect to procuring, baptism, '* may affect the child : to say it wilt atfect him, is to run into the error I am condemning."! Even the bishop of Lincoln calls it " an unauthorized principle of Papists, that no person whatsoever can be saved who has not been baptized."^ Where the doctrine of baptism is so Jax, we may be sure the practice of it will not be more strict,; accordingly, we have abundaut proofs that, from the frequent and long delays, respecting the administration of this sacrament, which occur in the establishment, very many children die without receiving it ; and that, from the negligence of ministers, as to the right matter and form of words, many more children receive it invalidly. Look, on the other hand, at the Catholic church : you will find the same importance still 'attached to this sacred rite, on the part of the people and the clergy, which is observable in the Acts of the apostles and in the writinp of the holy fathers ; the former being ever impa- tient to have their children baptized, the latter equally solicitous to administer it in due time, and with the most scrupulous exact- ness. Thus, as matters stand now, the two churphes .are not upon a level with respect to this first and common means of sanctification : the members of one have a much greater moral certainty of the remission of that sin in which we were all bom, and of their having been heretofore actually received into the church o( Christ, than the members of the others have. It would be too tedious a task to treat of the tenets of other Protestants on this and the corresponding matters. Let it suffice to say, t Lectures in Divinity, vol. iii, p. 182. learned prelate>.can hardly be supposed ignorant • Charge vii. pp. 208, 300 t Vol. il. p. 470. The le« that many of our martyrs, recorded in our Martyrology anci our Breviary, are expressly declared not to hare been actually baptized ; or that our divines unanlntoualy teach, that not only the baptism of blood by martyr- d6in. bUI alW k UMiH desira ol bein^ baptised, suffic«s. where the meMi of baptism arc wanting. ^ L0Uer XX, 145 (bat the famout Synod of Dort, representing all the Calviniatic states of Europe, formerly decided thai the children of the elect are included in the covenant made with their parents, and thus are exempt from the necessity of baptism, as likewise of faith and morality ; being thus ensured, themselves and all their pos- tenly, till the end of time, of their justification and 'salvation '• Goncerning the aecond channel of grace or means of sanctity, confirmatton, there is no question. The church" of England, which, among the different Protestant societies, alone, I believe, lavs claim td any part of this rite, under the title of the ceremony of laying on of hands, expressly teaches, at the same time, that It IS no sacrament, aa not being ordained by God, or an effectual ttgnofgrace.f But the Catholic church, instructed by the soli, citude of the apostles to strengthen the faith of those her children who had received it in baptism.^ and by the lessons of Christ himself, concerning the importance of receiving that holy,8pirit. "^fltr'^JS^"^^ »n this sacrament.^ religiously leW Md faithfuHHilnisters it4o them, for the self-same nbrpose. through aHH, In a word, those who are true ChristSns, by virtue of ^^fi, are not made perfect Christians, except by virtue of the sacrament of confirmation, which none of the Pro- testant soeieties so much as lays a claim to. Of the third sacrament, indeed, the Lord's Supper, as they call It, the IJrotestant societies, and particularly the church of Eng and. in her Prayer Book, say great things : nevertheless, what IS It, after all, upon her own showing ? Mere bread and wine, received in memory of Christ's passion and death, in order to excite the receiver's faith in him : that is to say, it is a bare type or memonal of Christ. Any thing may be instituted to be the type or memorial of another thing; but certainly the Jews, in their paschal lamb, had a more lively figure of the death of Christ, and so have Christians in each of the four evangelists. han eating bread and drinking wine can be. Hence. I infer that the communion of Protestants, according to their belief and praclice in this country, cannot be more than a feeble excitement S/.^/^r/"*!**"' ■"'*»" inefficient help to their sanctification. HW II Lbrist IS to be believed upon his own solemn declaration. where he says. Take ye and eat ; this is my bodyi-^drink ye all ojthis; for this is my blood, Malt. xxvi. 26.— My flesh is meat tndeed,findmy blood is drink indeed, John vi. 56. Then the holy communion of Catholics is, beyond all expression and all concepuon, not only the most powerful stimulative to our faith, * Bouaet, Variat. Book xlv. p. 46. I Act* viii. 14 xix. S. t Art. xxT. f John jpn. ^S&ii. V \^ n> 149 Letter XX, ^ ' ' our hope, onr love, «id our contrition ; but also the niost efiica* Jibr cious means of obtaining these and aH-other graces from the di- • 3^ vine bounty. Those Catholics wKo frequent this sacrament with . the suitable dia^iositions, are the best judges of the truth of what 1 heje say: nevertheless, many Protestants have been converted' to the Catholic church, from the ardent desire they felt of receiving their Saviour*€hrist himself into their bosoms, Instead of a bare memorial of him, and from "a just ponviction of the spiritual benefits they would derive from this intimate union /with him." • . * . T«he four, remaining inatrumerits' of gi-ace, penance, extreme unction, order, and matrimony, Protesitants, in general, give up to us, no less than confirmation. The' bishop of Lincoln," Dr. .Hey,t and other c(^tFov6rtist9, pretend that it was Peter Lonj- bard^ in the 12th century, who made sacraments of them, "frue it is, that this industrious theologian collected together the different passages of the fathers, and arranged thfem, with pro- per definitions of each subject, in their present scholastic order, not only respecting the sacraments, but likewise the other branches of divinity, on wliich {account he is called the master^ of the sentences; but this .yrriter could as soon have intr^u-" ced Mahometanism fato the church as the, Belief of any one sa- crament which it had not before received as such. Besides, supysing him to have deceived the Latin church into ^this be- lief,! ask by i^hat means were the schismatical Greek chiirch-^ es fascinated into it ? # In short, though these holy rites had not been endued by Christ with a sacram'ental grace, yet, practised a» they are in the Catholic church, they would still be grfcat helps to piety and Christian morality. ' ' • , • What I have just asserted concerning these five sacraments, in general, is particulany true, with respect to the sacrament oi penance For what does this consist of? and what is the pre- paration for it, as set forth by all our councils, catechisms, and pxayer boitrics ? There must first bd fervent prayer to God for his light'and strength ; next an impartial examination of the /sonscience, to acquire, that most important of all sciences, the knowledge of ourselves ;* then true sorrow for our sins, wii|i a firm purpose of amendaent, which' is the jbost essential part of the sacrament. 'After This there must be k sincere exposure of the state of the interior to a confidential, Aid at the same time, a learned, experienced,^d disinterested/director. If he could afford no other b^nafit tol his penitents, y^t how inestimable are ihope of hJH making kxiipn to th e»^ ' ' ' Klein, vel ii. p. 414. tfects and many .* vD.... t I^«t. vol. iv. p. 199. fe 'w ,e • V Letter XX. . ' . * • 147 1 tiM. which their selMoVe had probably overlookeff^ of hUjCre- scribing to them, the proper reitiedies for their spiritual mala- dies, and of his requiring them to make restituffcn for efronr injury done to. each ^jured neighbour ! But we are well as- sured that these are far from beinl the. only benefits which the minister of this sacrament can confer upon the subject of if font was not an empty compliment whrch.Christ paid4o his apostles when, breathing on HHem, hi said to them .Receive ye Me miy Ghost, whose sins you shall remit, they are remitted, ' and whosi sins you shall retain, they are retained. John ^x. 22 23. O sweet balm of the wouftded spirit ! O sovereiim restd^' Hive of the soul's life and vigour! best known to those «vSo faithfully use th^e, and not um^^ted by those who ned^t and •blaspheme thee-!* , It might appear strange, if we wer6.not accustomed to similar Inconsistencies, that those who profess to make Scripture, in its p1'"",4°'!."°"* """^^ *^® *°^® '"1® of their faith and practice, should deny extreme unction to be «i sacramem,.the External "!^u 1, r ' <»«»»'»'«V 'A« «c*, and the spiritual effecV of which, the forgiveness of sins, are so expressly declared bf St Jaines,whis tpistlev. 14. Martin Luther, indeed^ who* had * taken bffence at this Epistle, for its Insisting .so strongly on good^works.) rejected the authority of this Epistle, aUemil/that It wa8-"«ot lawful for an apostle, io institute a 'sacrtmlnf,"! But, i trust, that you, dear sir, and your conscientious soci^ wm agree with me, thW It is more incr^ible that an apo^lejf* - Chqst should be ignorant 6f what he was «dthorized by him to * say and do, than that a prdfligate Geripii friw fhould be guilty of blasphemy. Indeed, the church fl( Engianl^u the first forti of her Common Prayer in Edward'^reign, enjoined the unetion of the sick, as well as the prayer for th^m^ It was evidently , well worthy the mercy and hbutatyof our divine Saviour to" 1. iifstitute a special saqrament for purifying-and «rehgtheninfi ul * at the time of our greatest need and terror. Owing.to' the iiTsti- tution of this, and the two other sacraiients, penance and the real body and blood of our Lord, it Is a fact, that few, very few Caiholies #e without the assistance of their clergy ; which assistance tTie latter are bound to afford, at the expense of ease, ' .ia„ fif°f "^^ form of^Bl^iniilg priests in bishop Sparrow's Collect, p. ISS." Pnyer! " *'"''"*'°"' »« *« ^'^^tioa o*f tfie sick, Op the Co mS' ^ Luther, in Uie orjgir ^iry tnd chafl^ tpistle, unworthy an apostl« * Luther's works, Jena edition. / I flee Collier's Bocls. Hist. vol. ii. p. 967. 148 'Letter XX. fortune^d life itself, to the most indigent and, abject of their flock, whi5"Ke in danger of death, no less than- to the rich and.- the great ';yirhile, on the other hand, very few Protestants, in that extreihltv. partake at all of the cold rites of 4heir religion ; thou^ly)ne of thdfh is' declared, in the Cateqhisni, to be " neces- saiy (or salvation!" , * . i • j ^ It is equally strange that a clergy, vi»b such high claims and -important advantages as those of the establishment,- should deny that tiie orders^'of bishops, priests, and deacons, are sacrament- al, or that the Episcopal forip of church goyemmeftt, and of ordaining the clergy, is in preference to any Other required^^y^ Scripture. In fact, ^s is telling the legislature and theTiatioh that, \S they prefer the less jpxpensive ministry of the Presbyte- rians or Methodists, there is nothing divine or essential in the ministry itself, which will be injured by the change ; and that clergymen may be as validly ordained by the town-crier with his bell, as by the metropolitan's imposition of hands ! Never- theless, this is the doctrine, not only of Hoadley's Socinian school, as I have elsewhere demonstrated,* but also of those mo- dern divines and dignitaries, who are the standard of orthodoxy .f Thus are the clfcrgy of the English church, as well as all other Protestant ministers, by their own confession, destitute of all sacramental grace for performing their function^ holily and behe- ficially4 ^ut we know, conformably to the doptrine of St. Paul, in both his Epistles to Timothy, VTim. iy. 14. 2 Tim. i. 6. with the constant doctrine of the Catholic church, and of all other ancient churches, that this grace is conferred on. those who are truly ordained and in fit dispositions to receive it. We know, moreover, that the persuasion which the faithful entertain of the divine character and grace of their clergy, gives 'a great addi- tional weight to their lessons and ministry. — In like manner, with respect to matrimonyt whicb-tho same apostle expressly calls a sacramentfEpkes. v. 32, independently of its peculiar grace, the very idea of its sanctity, is a preparation for entering into that state with religious dispositions. Next to the sacraments of the Catholic church, as helps to iioliness and salvation, 1 must mention her public service. We continually hear the advocates of the establishment crying up the beauty and perfection of their liturgy ;^ but, they have not the candour to inform the public that^ jls all, in a manner, bor- • Dr. Bali?uy, Dr. Hey, Ac. t Tbehiahnp o f l.incnln's Elem. of Thffil. vol. It. pp. 376, 39$. t See Letters to a Prebendary, Letter VIII f Dr. Rennelcalls the church liturgy " the most perfect of human com- positions and the sacred legacy of the first reformer." Diso p. 337. _ __j...fe- ','-■• i . tJ • J 149 ■■ W ■ ■' Letter XX. rowed from the Catholic Missal and Ritual. Of this any one may satisfy himself who wUI c6mp4re the prayers, lessons and Gohpels, in these Catholic books, With those in the Btiok of Common Prayer, But, though our Service has been thus puf- lomed, It has, by no means been presWved entire : on the con- trary, we find It, in the latter, evisce^ted of its noblest parts • particularly with respect to t% princibal and essential worship of all the ancient churches, t% holy ^ass, which, from a true propitiatory sacrifice, as it stands in kll their Missab, is cut down to a mere verbal worship in The Order for Mofnuig Pray, er. Hence, our James I. pronounced of the latter, that it is an c»Wt^™ '^^f serwintsof God had, by his appointment, SALKIFICE both binder ihe law of naturlp and the wriUen law • it would theribe extraordinary, if under (he law of grace they were left destitute of this the most sublinie and excellent act of religion, jrhich man can offer to his Creatpr. But we are not left destitute of it: on the contrary, that brophecyof Malael^ is fulfilled, Mai. i. 11, /» every place from t/u rising to th* setting rfthe sun^ sacrifice is offered anU a pure oblation ; even Christ himself, who is really present and^ mystibally offered on .our altars in the sacrifice of the mass. | I pass over the solemnity, the order and ihe magnificence of our public worship and ritual in Catholic co^tries, which most candid Piotestants, who have witnessed thefti, allow to be exr peedingly impressive, and great helps to devotion, and whic.h, certainly, in most, particulars, find their parallel in the worship . and ceremonies of the Old law, ordained by Gbd himself Never- theless, it is a gross calumny to assert that t^ Catholic church does, or ever did make, the essence of religioh to consist in these externals ; and we challenge them to our councils ktid doctrinal books in refutation of the calumny. In like nknner, I pass over themany private exercises of piety 'which arWenerally prac- tised in regular Catholic, families and by individuals, such as daily meditation and spirituid reading, evening prayera and ex- amination of the conscience, Ac. These, it willW b« dtni«d, must be helps to' obtain sanctity for those v^rho art desirous t^t ' it. — But I have said more than enough to con vinceVour- friends in which of the rival commonions the nieans of sanctity are ehiefly to be fbiind. . 7^ ^ t / . , . I am, Dear Sir, Arc.\ 1 M. 180 LETTER XXI. To JAMES BROWN, Esq. ON THE FRVITa OF SANCTITy. ' Dear Sir, The fruits of sancity are the virtues practised by thoie who are possessed of it. .Hence the present' question is, whether , these are to be found, for the most p^rt, among the members of the ancient Catholic, church, or aiAong the different innovators, who undertook to refornit in the sixte.enth and seventeenth centuries ? In considering the subj^, the first thing which strikes tne is, that all the saints, aiid evlen those who are record* cd as such in the calendar of the church of England, and i^ whose names their churches are dedicated, lived arid died strict members of the Catholic church, and zealously attached to her doctrine and dis,cipline.* For an example, in this calendar, we meet with a Pope Gregory, March 12, the zealous assertnr of the papal supremacy,! and other Cafholic doctrines ; a St. Bene- dict, March 21, the patriarch of the western monks and nuns ; a St. Dunstan, May 1 9, the vindicator of clerical celibacy; a St. Augustine of Canterbury, May 26, the introducer of the v^hole system^ Catholicity into England, and a venerable Bede, May 27, the witness' of this importan^fact. It is sufficient to mention the names of other Catholic saintf, for example, David, Chad) Edward, I^hard, Elphege, Martin, Switbun, Gifes, Lambert, Leonard/ Hugh, Etheldreda, Remigius, and Edmund, all of which are Inserted m the calendar, and give nam^s to the chur- ches of the establishment. BeMits these, there are very many of our other saints, whom slpRained and candid. Protestants' u^iifiKquivocally admit to have been, such, for the extraordinary punty and sanctity of their lives. Even Luther acknowledges St. Anthony, St. Bernard, St. Dominic, St. Francis, St. Bona- venture, iic.*\o have been saints, though avowed Catholics, and defenders of the Catholic church against the heretics and-schis- * I teust except king Charles I. who is rubricated as a martyr on Jan. 30 : nevertheless, it is conrcssed that he was far from possessing either the purity of a saint or the constancy of a martyr : for he actually gaye up Episcopacy, and other essentials of the established religion, by his last treaty in the isle ' of Wight. , . > ' t Many Protestant writers pretended that St. Gregory disclaimed the su- premacy, because he asserted against John of C. P. that neither he nor any other prelate ought to assume the title of Universal Bishop^- but.thal he c l a i med an d exerci s ed t h e s u premacy , hi s o wn w o rks a nd the history of TBede wcontrovertibly demonstrate. /■ Letter XXL 191 matics of their times. But, indepeiidentry of this and of every other testimony, it- is certain that the supernatural virtues and heroical sanctity of a countless nUniber of holy personages of different countries, rank8,^rofessions, and sexes, hai^e illustrated tlie Oathohc church in every kge, with an effulgence which - cannot be disputed or withstood. Your friendsTl dare say, are not much acquainted with the histories ales, queen Elizabeth with Mary queen of Scots ; these con- frasted charjjcters having more or less relation with each othe*. from such a comparison, I have no sort of doubt what the de- cision of your friends will be. concerning them, in point of their respective holiness. I have heretofore been called upon to consider the virtues and merits of the most distinguished reformers ;• and certainly we have a right to expect frb^ persons of this description finish- ed models o( virtue and piety. Buj instead of this being the "^t*- i J ® shown that patriarch Luther was the spprt of his unbridled passions,! pride, resentment, and lust; that he was turbulent, abusive, ai^ sacrilegious, in the highest degree; that he was the trumpfeter of sedition, civil war, rebellion, and deso- lation ; and finally, that by his own account, he was the scholar , of Satan, in the most important article of his pretended Re- ttk L$tUr XXL formation.* I have made out nearly aa heavy a charge agmmi hia chief followers, Carlnstad, Zuingliua, Ochin, Calvin, Heza, and Cranmer. With respect to the last named, who nnder Ed- waird VI. and his fratricide uncle, the duke of Somerset, was the chief artificer of the Anglican church,'! have shown that, from his youthful life in a college, till his death at the stake, ^ he exhibited such a continued- scene of libertinism, ^jury, hy« pocrisy, barbarity, (in burning his fellow Protestants,) protti- gacy, .ingratitude, and rebellion, as is, perhaps, not to be matched in history. 1 have proved that all his fellow-labourers and fel- low-sufferers were rebels' likd himself, who would have been put to death by Elizabeth, if they had not been execiited by Mary. L adduced the testimony not only of Erasmus and other Catholics, but also of the gravest Protestant historians, and of the very reforme{|themselves, in proof that the~ morals of tho people, so far fromlEl^h^ changed for the better, by embracing. the new religion, were greatly changed for the worse.f The pi'etended Reformation, in foreign Vcountries, as in Germany, the Nether- lands, at Getifivtif in Switzerland, France, and Scotland, besides producing popular insurrections, sackages, demolitions, sacrile- ges, and persecution beyond description, excited also open rebellions and bloody civil wars.| In England, where our * • Letters to a Preb., Let. V, p. 183, where Satan's conrerence with Lu- ther, and the anniments by which he induced this reformer to abolish the mass, are detailed, from Luther's Works. Tom. vii. p. 228. t. Ibid. t The Huguenots in Dauphiny alone, as one of their writers confesses, burnt down 900 towns or villages, and murdered 378 priests or religious, in the course of one rebellion The number of churtfhes destroyed by them throughout France, is computed at 20,000. The history of England'^ reformation (though this was certainly more orderly than that of other countries) has caused the conversion of many English Protestants : it pro- duced this effect on James II, and his first consort, the moiher of queen Mary, and queen Ann. The following is the account which the latter has left of this change, and which is to be found in Dodd's last volume, and in the Fi(ly Reasons of the duke of Brunswick. " Seeing much of the devo- tion ofL the Catholics, I made it my consta)^ prayer that if I were not, I raight^fore I died, be in the true religion. I did not doubt but that I was so till November last, when reading a book called The History of the JRe/ormation,btf Dr. Heylin, which I had heard very much commencled, Si^ had been told, if ever I had any doubts in my religion that would settle me : instead of which I found it the description of the tiorridestsacrileges iii the world ; and could find no cause why we left the church, but for three, the ^ost abominable ones: 1st, Henry Vlil. renounced the Pope, because he \vonld not give him leave to part with his wife and marry another ; 2dl?, - Edward VI. was a child and governed by his uncle, who^lteade his estate out of the church lands : 3dly, Elizabeth not being lawful>heire8s to the crown, had no way to keep it but by renouncing a church Which would not -swfliH- m unl awFf ul a th in g; 1 ee af eii I cwtotftiBkifae^ HuU Ul wrt-cwrid- «ver be m such councils." ■ L^.-. ItHerXXTi 15$ Wflt«rt bout of the orderly manner in which the change of religion was carri|id wi, it, neverllielesa, most unjustly and sac* rilegiously seized upon, and destroyed, in the reign of Henry VIII. six hundred and forty-five monasteries, ninety colleges,/ and one hundred and ten hospitals, besides the bishopric of Dur- ham ; and, under Edward VI. or rather his profligate uncle, it dissolved two thousand three hundred and seventy-four colleges, chapels, or hospitals, in order to make princely fortunes of their, property for that uncle and his unprincipled comrades, who, like banditti, quarreling over their spoils, soon brought each other to the block. Such were the fruits of sanctity, every where produced by this Reformation ! ( Iwn, &c. J. M. LE xfm: XXII. .^ To Mr. J. TOULMIN. objections answered. Dear Sir, I HAVE received your letter, animadverting upon mine to « fcommon friend, Mr. Brown, respecting the fruits of sanctity, they appear in our respective communions. I observe, you do*^ not contest my general facts or arguments, but resort to objec- tions which have been already answered in these, or in my other letters now before the public. You assert, as a notorious fact, that for several ages, prior to the Reformation, the Catho- lic religion was qunk into ceremonies and pageantry, and that it sanctioned the most atrocious crimes. In refutation of these calumnies, I have referred to our councils, to our most accre- dited authors of religion and morality, and to this lives and deaths of our most renowned saints, during the ages in question. I grant, sir, that you hold the same language on diia subject that other Protestant writers do ; but I maintain that none of them make good theirysharges, and that their motive foi; advancing them is to find a pretext for excusing the irreligion of the pre- tended Reformation. You next extol the alleged sanctity of the Protestant sufferers, called martyrs, in the unhappy persecution of queen Mary's reign. I have discussed this matter at some length in The Letters to a Prebendary, and have shown, in op- position to John Fox and his copyists, that some of these pretend* ed martyrs were alive when he wrote the history of their death ;♦ Othcn i of them, and the five bi a bopa in particular, so far f tow^ ^ See Letter IV. on Penecation ^ ! \s- ' :■ i ■ ■t^f^^fli «' IM Lttur XXU. being saints, were notoriously deficient in the ordinary duties of ^ good subjects and honest men ;• that others again were notori- ous assassins, as Gardener, Flower, and Rmigh ; or robbers, as ' DebiMtham, King, Marsh,' Cauch^Gilbert, Massey, Acf while not a few of them retracted their errors, as Bilney, Taylor, " Wassalia and died, to all appearance, Catholics. To th^ whole ponderous folio of Fox's falsehoods I have o]|)po8ed the genuine and edifying 'Jlf«moirjr of Missionary Priests and other Catholics, who suffered death for their Religion during the reigns of Eliza- beth and the Stuarts. Finally, you reproach me With Jthe scan- dalous lives of some of our Popes, during the middle ages, and of veiy many Catholics of different descriptions, throughout the church at the present day ; and' you refer me to the ciflifying lives of a great number of Protestants, now living, in this country. My answer, Uear sir, in brief, to yoiir concluding objections, is that I, as well as Baronius, BelUrmin, and other Catholic writers, have unequivocally admitted that some few of our pon- tiffs have disgraced themselves hjE4heir crimes, and given just cause of scandal to Christendom :|but I have remarked that the credit of our cause is not affected by the personal conduct of particular pastors, who succeed one another in a regular way, in the manner that the credit of yours is by the behaviour of your founders, who professed 4o have received extraordinary commission from God to reform religion.^ ^ j^acknowledge, with • the same unresetvedhess, that the lives of a great proportion of Catholics in this and other parts of the church, is |i disgrace to that holy Catholic church which they profess to believe in. Unhappy members of the true religion, by whom the name of God (and his holy church) is blasphemed among the nations ! Rom. ii. 24. Unhappy Catholics, who live enemies of the cross ^9^''.^: •"*"** end is destruction, who mind only earthly things! Philip, iii. 18. But, it must needs be that scandals should come i nevertheless, wo to that man by whom the scandal eometh ! Matt, xviii. 7. In short, I bear a willing testimony to the public and private worth of very many of my Protestant countrymen, of dif- ferent religions, as citizens, as subjects, as friends, as children, as parents, as moral men, and as Christians, in the general sense of the word ; still I must say that I find the best of them far short of the Aa/iiim«, which is prescribed in the Gospel and is ex- emplified in the lives of those saints, whom I have mentioned. On this subject I will quote an authority which I think you will not object to. Dr. Hey says : " In J^norland I could almost say, we * gee Letter V. on the Reformation. * 8ee Letter It: dl SiiprenMcyt tff^ttertY, f Ibid. iitttr XXIJ, / 15ft • *°^^^**'« «V»*"»«e4 with contemplatire religiOB. The monk painted by Sterne, may give u, ft mote favourabTf idea of it"SS o«r prejudice, generally ,ugge«. j o„ce travelled iith a r«^ had that kmd of character which Sterne gives to his moA • that^ SaLLWh Jfrf?^"™'"''y* ^" » former letle^r to your society, I have stated that sincere humility, bv which from a thorough knowledge of our sins and misery/^rblcame HitS IZ^r 7'1' '"''••''V* "^"^^ '^'^^' »han to gain the pS jindnotice of others, is the v^i^itMniincl work «f oii ^.i.^! /;. _r_\ ,and, notice of others, is the v tian virtues. It has been ' defection of their arrogan little, and have appeared t'iie. I might siy the sai entire subjugation of our anger, intemperance, envy, undwork of all other Chris- Protestants, ever since the ■''-* Slither, that they have said ifess, of this essential vir-. jet to the necessity of an lial passions, avarice, lust; sloth, as 1 have said of pride and vkm glory ; ^ut I pass elver these, to say a few words of certain maxims ^^*pressly contained in Scrfpture It cannot hen be denied that our Saviour said to the rich young man J/" SLi ^"* /r.««r«»„ W««; or that he declared, on ^1 ««cA* (conUnent)/or/A« kmgdom ofheaven^ssake. He that is able to recava it, let him receive it. Mat. xix. 12 Now it ia ni torious that this life of voluntary jwCerty kJd perpeuKaL^^^ SAf •/*?'''"' i'^r'* ' "^^^^ i«^« °°»»»n» more than a mlt f 'f • "^^ *^ *^ ^^' o'" Protestants. Agfin : « that we beto^J'' • Tif ''"'** "T "•T^*''* **" »»^^o"W here need hJul^i ■ ^ ^^'f ,"'* *''•' ^o"*" of •»»« «»!"'«h of England, in her Homily IV. p 11 ; conformably with which ^jrfe. your .w'Ini*'ST'''''^^'^;!*'"'"""P'*y«'Book.thesaJ8R ing and abstmence as the Catholic church does, namdyT the forty days of Lent, the emW days, all the Fridays in the ye^ &Z ne ertheles^ vvhere is the Protestant to be Lnd, who wi 1 subl r 1^ iSdTt ?•!'"" °^^*''^"^' *^"" '° o^«y »»» o"'" church? 1 maycadd, that Christ enjoins constant prayer, Luke xviii. 1 < conformably to which injunction, the Catholic 'church Sres tl t'^^' "" ^""*' ^'r .**•« ««Weacon up to the Pope, daily to say the seven canonical hours, consisting chiefly of ScriptJral hour and a half, in addition to their oth^r dftvotinns m!qw whit • Lectures in Divinity, vol. i. p. 364. ^1 A- 156 r ', Letter XXm. pretext had th^ Protestant clergy, wh^jse pastoral duties afe so much lighter tjian ours,,tb lay aside these inspired prayers, e*- .4ept in devotion ? Luther Himself said his office, for some time after his apostasy. — But to^onclude, as it is of so much impor- tance to ascertain which is /Ac holy chinch, mentioned in your .creed: and as jou can follow no bettisr rule for this purpose thdii '^0 judge ^t^ejreeby its fruits, so let me advise ybu and your friends to viia^ivse^^ every means in your power to com- pare regular families, places of education, and especially eccle- siastical establishments of the different communions, with each other, as to- morality and piety, and to decide {of yourselves ac- cording to what you observe in them. I am, &c- i, M. ' LETTER XXIII. , To JAMES BROWN, Esq. ^e. * 'i -^ ON OITINK ATTBSTAf ION OF SANCTirir. " DiAit Sir, Havino demonstrated the distinctive holiness of the Catholie church, in her doctrine, her practices, and hex frmts of sanctity, I ani prepared to show that God himself has borne testimony to her holiness, and to those very doctrines and practices, which Protestants object to as unholy and superstitious, by tlbe many incontestable miracles he has wrought in hfr and in their favour, from the age of ihe apostles down to the present age. The learned Protestant advocates of revelation, such as Gro- tins, Abbadi^, Paley, Watson, &c. in'defemling this common cause against Infidels, all agree in the sentiment of (he last • named, that " Miracles are the criterion of truth." Aeoprdinaly they observe, that both Moses, Exod. iv. xiv. Numb. xvi*^,and Jesus Christ, /oAn 37, 38.— xiv. 18— xv. 24. eonitantlf appealed to the prodigies they wroii^Ki, in attestation of their divine mis- sion and doctrine. Indeed the whole history 'df God's people, from the beginning of the world d<>«m to the lime of our Bles?- ed Saviour, was nearly a eontmued series of miracles.* The latter, so far from confining the power of Working them to his own person or time, expressly promised the sapw, and even a greater power of this nature to hi» disciples, MarfTxvi. 17. John • TowynothlDgofthe lfrimandThuminim,thre1ir«tei of J««loasy.»nd the wperabundant hmest of thyM aJ Mt ical y ga r. it Ji incont e'" - — uie uospel Of St. John v. 2, that the probatical pond wu endowed by an angel with a miraculous power of heatios every kiad of diMtM. in the time of Cbrut. ■ ' . • » *' t / / ^'* J?' J°* ^\ *® reason? here mentioned, namely, that the Almighty was pleased to illustrate the society of his chosen servants, both under the law of nature and the written law. with" frequent miracles, and that Christ promised a^continuance of them to his disciples under 4he,newi law, yge are led to expect that the true chjirch 8h^d1)e di^oifhished by miracles, wroJght 'f ^K''n"t'"r^°^J^^* A9cordingly the fathers anddoptors of the Cathohp church, among o^her proofs in her favouifhave constantly appealed tb miracles, fe^ which she is illustrated, and reproached' their, contemporary heretics and schismatics with the want of them. Thus St. Iremeus, a disciple of St. Polycarp, who himself was ^a discipl§ 6f.St. Jc^n the Evangelist, rS- proaches the^her6tics, against whom he writes, that they could m give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, cast out devils, or raise the dead torlife, as he testifies was frequently done in the true church.t Thus also his conterapoilry, TettuUian, speaking of the heretics, says : " I wfsh to see the miraci^s tliey have wrought "It St. Pacian, in the fourth century;* writing a^inst the schismatic Novatus, scornfully asks : " Has* lie the gift of tongues or prophecy ? Has he restored the dead to life ?"! iJie great St. Augustm, in various passages of his works, refers # the miracles Wrought in the Catholic church, in evidence of her veracity.^ St. Nicetas, bishop of Treves, in the sixth cen- tuty. advises queen Clodosind, in order to convert her husband. Alboin, king of the Lombards, from Arianism, to induce him to send conbdential messengers to witness the miracles wrought at thetombsofSt.Marti3,St. Germanus, or St. ftilary, in riving sight to the blind, speeches to the dumb, Ac. ; adding • '« Are such things done m the churches of the Arians ?"| About the same time, Levigild, king of the Goths- in Spain, an Arian. who was converted, or nearly so, by his Catholic son, St. Hermen- gild, reproached his Arian bishops tHat namiracles were wrought among them, as wte thdt case, he said, among the Catholics.l ^ ihe seventh century was illustrated by the miracles of our apostle St. AuguAin, of Canterbury, wrought in confirmation of the doctrme which he taught, m was recorded on his tomb;** '•Lib. II. contra Har, c. 31. t Ep. ii. ad Symphor. t Lib. De PrsMcr. ciilnan aucioritaus obtinuit"-JDe UtSliL Cred. c. It. umimuuj ••^Hrc'r2l!3^ll°nAP-^? ^ »0reg.THn,n.l.«.c.l5. ^ ItAh^ ^iii!?JIr*"*P* Attgustinui, fcc. qui operatione miraaqlonim mt' ""*"'. ^.^'«'rtb»'n IJjS*™ w gentem iAifl.li,id9lonun cultu ad Sdm 108 x««w xxin. n \i' ' '*"■ and this doctriDo, by the confession of the learned Protestants, was purely the Roman Catholic* In the eleventh century, we hear a celebrated doctor, speaking of the proofs of the Catholic religion, exclaim thus: "0 Lord! if what we believe is an error, thou art the author of it, since it is confirmed anion'gst us- by those signs and prodigies which could not'be wrought but by thee."t In short, St. Bernard, St. Dominic, St. Xavier, &c. all appealed to the miracles, which *God wrought by their j^ands in proof jpf the Catholic doctrine. I need not mention the contro- versial works of fiellarmin and other modern schoolmen ; never- theless, I cannot help observing, that even Luther, rnpd t Aug. Oe Civit Dei, 1. nU. p. Q^ • Episl. 8. QregJ^vii. t Ibid. 1. xsii. * %4,. ■m "i"^ f I '(Jo/- H LtUtrXXllI. 16) God hadWestowed the ^wec of working them, not on his own account, nt for the conversion ,qf the En^ish nation.* On thd Buppositififn that our apostle had Wrought no miracles, what farces must these Epistles have exhibited among the first characters of the Christian world. AniQIlg the numberless ^nd well attested miracles which the histories of the middle ages present to our view, I stop at those of the illustrious abbot St. Bernard, in the twelfth century, to whose sari^tity the most eminent Protestant writers have bOme high testimonjt.t This saint, in the life of his friend, St. Ma- lachy of Armagh, among other miracles, meniionfe the cum of the withered hand of a youth, by the application of his friend's dead hand to il.| But this, and all the miracles which St. Bernard mentions of other saints, quite disappear, when compared with those wrought by himself; which for their splendour and pub- Jicfty, never were "exceeded. All France, Germany, Swfter- land, and Italy bore testimony to them ; and prelates, priltoes, and the emperor himself were often the spectators of them. Iq a journey whiteh the- saint made into Germany, he was followed 'by Philip^ archdeacon of Liege, who was sent by Sampson, . archhishop of Rheims, to observe his actions.^ This Writer ac- cordingly, gives an account of a vast number of instantaneous cures, which the holy abbbt performed on the lame, the blind, the paralytic, and other diseased persorts^ with all the circum- stances of them. Speaking of those wrought at Cologne, he says : " They Were not performed in a comer ; but the whole city was witness to them. *If any one doubts or is curious, he may easily satisfy himself oji the spot, especially as some of them were wrought on persons of no inconsiderable rank and reputation."! A great number df these miracles were performed in express confirmation of the Catholic doctrine which he de- fended. Thus preaching at Sarial against the impious and im- pure Henricians, a species of AJbigenses, he took some loavesl of bread and hless^ them : a«|ttj;|vhich he said : <• By this you* shall know that I pYeach to y«Hh* true doctrine, and the here- tics a false doctrine : all your sick, who shall eat of this bread, shall recover their health;*' which prerariefl, WiRlam, abbot of St. Thierry, Arnold, abbot of Bonevaun, and GeolTery, the saint's w Vinlam .14* -'v: ,■* M: 'x.. ^.lea -.. Lttter xxm. the event.*IClSt. Bernard himseir, in the led to Pope EugeniuslII. fabled him to vyork, by way ijfhed up the #cond«^usad^^ Vrhoulos-that, before the tomb of P. J. f. Regis, the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the duntti speak."!^ You will linderdtand, dear sir, that I mention but afew of the saints, and -with ]f|psi?ect to thest, but a few of their mirt^les, as my object is to prove the single fact that God has illustrated the ' Catholic church| chiefljf^^by means df his saint^ with iindeniable miracles, in thjs difierent ages of her existence. What' now will ' you,, dear sjr, and yodr friends say to the evidence, here ^ddii- ' ' ped ? Will 5rou toy that all the holy fathers, up to the apostolic a^e, atid that all the ecclesiastical 'writers dowB to the Reforma- ' tion, and, since this period, that all Catholic authors, prelates and officials) iJiave been in a league to deceive mankind ? In short, thM they are all liars and impostors alike ? Such, in fact, is the absurd and horrible system, which, to get rid of the DI- i • Qeof. ia Vit Bern. " ^ De Cpnsid " t De Consid. 1. ii. . S Ad ToU H See the testimonies of Hackluyt, Baldeus, ai] tenti, in Bobour's Life of St. Xavier, translated b f IWd. • *See Butler's ^ai< . ■ -«^ — ~- - — •"» "• it. F. del U Smm Life by Daubeoton, which i ^ratione. 241. ^rnier, al it Dryd h, May Pr^tef »y Ur. CoomEw' 'i Jons^fiL / -i:^- Axs^ I«M«r XXlli. 168 VINE ATTESTATION, in favour of th4 Catholic church, the, cel«5brated Dr. Cony^rs Middl^ton has declared for; as'havo . most Protestant writers \ [■^M. •w*?^ if*,, 164 Lttter XXIII. ,V-.. C^- ^ \ Tillotson, Marshal, Dodwell, &c. ia, that miracles continued during the three first centuries. Dr. Waterland brings them down to the fourth, Dr. Beriman to the fifth. These unwarily betrayed the Protestant cause into the hands of its enemies r%r it was in those primitive ages, particularly in the third, fourth, and fifth, those flourishing times of miracles, in which the chief corruptions of Popery, monkery, the worship of relics, invocation of saints, prayers for the dead, superstitious use of images and of sacraments were introduced."* " We shall find, after the -conversion vf the Roman empire, the greater part of their boasted miracles were wrought either by monks, or relics; or the sign of the cross, &c t wherefore, if we admit the miracles, we must admit the rites for the Sake of which they were wrou'ght : they both rest on the same bottoii."f " Every one may see 'what a resemblance the principles and practice of the fourth century, as they are liesciibed by the most eminent fathers of that age, bear to thie present rites of the Popish church''^ '* When.we reflect on the surprising confidence witbi which the fathers of the fourth age affirmed, as true, what they themselves had forged, or knew to be forged, it is natural to suspect that so bold a defiance uf truth could not be acquired or become general at once, but must have been gradually carried to that height by the example of former ages.'^^ i^uch are the grounds on which this shameless declaimer accuses all the most holy and learned men, whom the world has produced during 1800 years, of forgery and a comhi-'^ nation to cheat mankind. He does not say a word to show that thd combination itself is either probable or possible ; all 'he ad- vances is, that this libel oh human nature, is necessary J^r the MUppprt of Protestantism ; for> he says, and t^p^ witfi evident trutfai: " By granting the Romanists but a singings of miracles, a^er the time of the apostles, we shall be entangled in a series of diSiCUlties, whence we can never fairly extricate ourselves, till we allow the same powers also* to the present age."|| > Methinks I hear some of your society thus asking me, Do you then pretend that your chtirch possesses the miraculous powers at the present day ? I answer, that the church never ^ possessed miraculous powers in the sense of most Protestfint writers, so as to be able to eflTect cures or other supematiiral events at her mere pleasure : for even the apostles could not do this, as we learn from the history of the lunatic child, ^fd^ xvii.\l6: but this I say, that the Catholic church, being always the beloved spouse of Christ, Rev. xxi. 9, and continuing at all times^ to bring" forth -^imroanr. tir t'l I Ibid. p. l^oziT. 1'' >, t intMd. |».TfTE U Ibid. p. zcTi. k Ibid liv. Jj J*' i I' , ^,- LeUerXXni. 16S children , of herpioal sanctity, God fails not in^ this, any more than in past ageii to illustrate her andjheiP^y unquestionable ' iniraoles: accordingly in those proe gMes mnich are constantly going on, at the apostolical S>te, for the Canonization of nevr saints,* fresh miracles of & recent date (rontinue to be proved with the highest degree of evidence, as I/can testify from having perused, on the spot, the official printed account of some of them.f For tbe further satisfaction of your iiiMids, I will inform t^em that I have had satisfactory proof that the astonishing catae|ro<^ pheof Louis XVI:^ and his queen, in/t>eing beheaded on a icaffoldf-^ff was foretold by a niin of Fougeres/Soeur Nativite, twenty yeari before it happened, and that the banishment of the French clefgy from their country ," long before it happened, was predicted by ' the holy French pilgriiiij Benedict Labre, whose miracles caused ^ the cojiversion of the late ReW^ Mr. Thayer, an American cler- gyman, who being at Rome, witnessed several of them. With respect to miraculous cures of a late date, I have the most re- spectable attestation of several of them, and I am well acquainted with four or five persons who have experienced theni^ The ; following facts are respectfully attested, but at much greater length, by the Rev. Thomas Sadler, of TrafTord, near Manches- ter, and the Rev. J. Crathorne, of Garswood, near Wigan :•— Joseph Lamb, of Eccles, near Manchester, now |^enty-eight years old, on the 12th of Augtist, 1814, fell from a hay-rick, four yards and a half high, by which accident it was conceived the spine of his back was broken. Certain it is, that he cduld neither *'*"■ walk nor stand without crutches, down to the second of October, aiid that he described himself as feeling the most exquisite pain in his back. On that day, having prevailed with, much difficulty upon his father, who was then a Protestant, to take him in a cart *« with his wife and two friends, Thos. Cutler and Eliz. Dooley, to Garswood, near Wigao, where the hand of F. Arrowsmitb, . ofte of the Catholic priests who suffered death at Lancaster, for the exercise of his religion, in the reign of Charles L is preserved, and has often caused wonderful cures, hq, got himself cpnveyed Co the altar rails of thi| chapel, and there to be signed, od his back, with the sign of Ike cross, bvnthat hand ; when, feeling a . * Among the late canonizations are tlibM, in 1807 and 1808, of S. ^. Car- 4Cciolo, foubder of the Regular ClerkdTvf St Angela de Mercis, foun- f - (lre8s.of the UrsuUne Nuns, of St. Mary of the Incarnation, I^le. Acarie, 4c. "One df the latest beatifications is that of B. Alfonso Liguori, bi'shoo^ rf St. Agata de Goti. ,. v\ " ~ ite of these, pi[^c'd in the process of the last mentione(^ saint, coo*, -^ ta-th»c«raH » ^fl |j tff n»rig i »-g/^a*KHWfwaarWh ^~^ WM at the point oXJifljft from a cancer, #« ,j#' >'. IV- 3 letter XXIII. . „,^ and total fMSnge in himself, as lie expressed to )^s «rife, Mary, / can walk ; this he did with- ,. ^ hatover, walking first into aii adjoining room. and I ice to fhe cart which conveyed him home, With his debility, _ IS pains also left him, and his back has continued well evei,^ since.* These particulars, as they were respectively witnessed ^' f them, the above na med peigo ns, all now living, are ready to declare upon oath.^|jg0|p|nkatio^ aqd other disorders bew^^uddenly reme$iiia bj^ the same instrument of God's bounty ; but it wbuld* be a tedious work to transcribe them, or the other atteatafions in my possession of a similar nature. Among those of my personal acquaintance who have experi* enced supernatural cures, I will mention Mary WbodVnow liv- ing at 'I'aunton Lodge, where several other witnesses of the facts I am going to state live vrith her. "On March 15, 1809, Mary .Wopd, in attempting to open a sash window, pushed her left hand through a pane of glass, which caused ^a very large and deep transverse wound in the inside of the left arm, and di- vided the muscles and nearly the whole of the tendops that lead to the hand ; from which accident, she not only suffi^d.jit times, the most^ciite^ain, but was from the period I fiirat saw Jier (March 15) till some time in July, totallyj^j^rived of the ligeof her hand and arm."t VVhat passed between the latter eiid.of July, when, as the surgeon elsewhere says, " he Ifft his ^erit," having no hopes of restoring her, till thd 6th of Au- fWft, on the night of which she was perfectly and miraculoudy cured, I shall 6opy from a letter to me, dated Nov. 19, 1809, by "her iunanuejrais. Miss Maria Homyold. " T|» surgeon gave littl(p or^p l^es of her eve^ again having the use of heir hand, which, togetRpr with the Hb^ seemed withered.and some-- "'^~*^°"^'''^*'» **^ll^*y^"lf» iptjSothe years, nature" might give ^e lit^use of ij^whi<;h was' considered by her superiors as . Pdelusive comfort. Despairing of further human assistance |Q>^rd»her:cure, she determined, with, the' approbation of her *^o/8H(ii|<1's. to have ^ours^ to GM, through the intercessioii of ^tP^vmefrid, by a4|^oveha.| IKscordiflgly on -the 6th of .August si\». put a pibce 4fnifip!«, from the|^nt's^ell,'bn her arm,^ conlinuihg recollefi^ll^d priying, &c.ito,^hen, to her great surjriso, theAext-lBKniri^she found she*TOuld dress her- self, piit her arnuwnd her and- to heV heaid, having regained • Th|5 Rev. Mr. t TMs iccount eS Fr's Jper to me is dated Aug. 6, 1817. ipied^rom a letter to Misa P. t. Bird, dated Sept. 1 A ma ■vbuuiii. lagwupieu jroui a leiier 10 aaisa r, i. tsira, aacea oepi. 30, 1809, by Mr. WqJMford, an eminent surgeon of Taunton, who attended MaryWnnd ' " t CSirtain pjfayeni continued during nine days. \ 1^' Letter XXII f. 167 r/ew yeaS^rwlv r„ ""y^^'^*^"^ ^^"^ «"d examined ller hand, tt tJ^^Xve nIm«H •l''"'*'"'''^''''"'' ''*'« -»»« still continues vouchers who ^^1/ '"' '""'' ."""J^ **'^^' ^^^My credible ' .On the lelh of 1^ '«»P«e«'veIy,fo attest these particulars, un tne ibtb of the month, the surgeon wis sent for • and being asked h,s opinion concerning Miry Wo..d'8 arm L' gave no hope of a perfect c„r.. and very little of her ever h" ing «.I^ t tn Te tl' ""w^l t' 5^'"^ '"^'"''"^^'^ ^° ''•"' «"d «how- wfsse affected ^t Jl^"^ k' thoroughly examined and tried, he cure as t« s2 f ^ "^.''* '"A*^" '""'*' °'" »h« manner of the . rKne^SeTe'.""' '"'"™' " "" * ^"^ m.r^.i^^oa I shall say little of the miraculmis cure of Winefrid White r young woman^ofWolverhamptofon the 2«th of June^ 1805 *-!?!; r'"' ^VH P"''"''*'^'' » detailed Account of" 8W»n \1rii I r^!,":^' T^**'"'* '"'''^ ''^ »>««" re^blished ia EngS le^Jetl ,I^«'."«"fficetosay; 1 s^at the djseSe w« one of the most alarming topical ones whi6h are knpwn, namelv d ThoTel! l^'"'''.^ V"* ^^^^^ surgeon asceS n' each side ofVh''°'^"'^'^'V*'^u'"l'''''.S *«^*» great issues, one on eacn side of. the spme, of which /the patient's back still tho'utThf't?''^' *^*' ""'^^ the 'mosJ acute paS Ce«l^if S!^ of _the spine produced a Am,>,/.^,a or palsy ^e helo of 7*'?"k' «»/hat 'yhen she could ffebly cfawf drS h«Tft I *'"'\*'^ ""'^f ^^' "?''* »^'n. «he was forced parfof Siktl v^r^""."'^'''.'''''^ ''^ if they made no Mmelv llr ^' * her disorder was of long continuance, Te tm t^H ^'*" '*?"1"'^' *^°"e^ "°* i^^he same de- tt^?» • ^f P^'ghbours and a great many others ; 4thl^ e ^^!!C^T'^^)^^ *.t ""^ '^«'°»'«" ^hich she fdt S self called & undertake, and having bathed in the fountain she S^Clirl'""''-^" "^^^ •^""«' ^««^' founTi;;rsel wak iin andl ^'.!"' ^"'^ disabilities, so as to be able , walk run and jump. like ^ny other young person, and to carrvw 5tT th'r^t* r^ the WftVm tha^i shf Luld 'wUh the ri J^ diij' !,h ' ^^ "*'"*'"""? •" ''*•' «»^t« these twelve yLrs c.>cumSaXT'"V'''"" ' *''^'^' ^^"^ «" '»»« above-mentioned 2S;^,,'l*?_.''_^^? ascertained by me in the regular ex- being persons of umnation of several witnesses of .'them By Ceatiqg W Brown flufuu. DUbliff Puk«Hitrflfltt GH)iwaor-i i quafe,-4iWMtoB-; .J- 168 Letter XXlV. different religions, situations in life and countriti*, in the places of their respective residence, namely, in Staffordshire, Lanca- shire, and Wales, the authentic documents of which are contain- ed in the work referred to above. Several of Ihe witnesses are still living, as is Winefrid White herself. I am, «c. J. M. ^ ^^~^ ~^ LETTER XXlt. - -^ To JAMES BROWN, Esq. ^e. OBJECTIONli ANSWERiBO. - • DiAR Sir, ' .., ■ 1 SUBSCRIBE to the objection, which you say has been sug- gested to you by your learned friend, on the subject of miracles. Namely, 1 admit that a vast number of incredible and false miracles, as well as other fables, have been forged by some, and believed by other Catholics in every age of the church, in- cluding that of the aposUes.* I agree; with him and you in re- jecting the Legenda Auha of Jacobus''de Voragine, thie Speeuj- lum of Vincentius Belluacensis, the Saints* Lives of the Patri- cian, Metaphrastes, and scores of similar legends, stuffed as they are, with relations of miracles of every description. But, sir, are we to deny the truth of all history, because there are num- berless false histories ? Are we to question the |bur evangelists, becAUse there have been several fabricated Gospels ? Most cer- tainly not : but we must make the best use we can of the dis- cernment and judgment which God has given us; to distinguish false accounts of every kind from tho^e which are true ; and we, ought, I allow, to make use of doubld diligence and caution, in examining alleged revelations and events contrary to the gene- ral laws of nature. ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ r" Your friend's second objection, which impeaches the dili- gence, integrity and discernment of the cardinals, prelates, and other ecclesiastics at Rome, appoii ' ^ " '" proofs of the miracles there publish acquainted with the subject he talks oi B juridical examination of each repoi in the place where it is said to have tions of the several witnesses must be d to examine into the shows that he is little In the first place, then, d miracle must be made appenSd, and the deposi- iven upon oath ; this ex- • iSt Jerom; in lejecting certain current Tables concerning St. Paul and St Thecla, mentions a priest who was deposcid by St. John the Evangelist, for inventing similar stories. De Script. Ap(*t.— Pope Gelasius, in the 5th century, condemned several Apochrypnal Gospels and Epistles, and legends af ttihi*, fcttd fcmoag tha iv t ut t fta TOmmon obbb m 8t o u ur ge . ^^^^^^^^ ./ angehsts, ^^ Mostcer* f the dis- istinguish . ; &nd we:, aution, in the gene- \ r Litter XXrV. 100 •minsHon is generally repeated two or three difTerent times' at inlervals. In the next place, the examiners at Rome are qn- questionably meh of character, talents and learning, wlio; never- theless, are nof permitted to pronounce upon any cure or other"* effect in nature, till they have received a regular report of phy-/" sicians and naturalists upon it. So far from being precipitate^ ' it employs them whole years to come to a decision, on a few cases, respecting each saint ; this is printed and handed about among indifferent person^, previously to its being laid befoM the Pope. In short, so strict is the examination, that, according to an Italian proverb: It As next to a mifwle to get a miraeU proved at Rome. It is reported by F. Daubenton that an En- glish Protestant gentleman, meeting, in that city, with a printed ' process of forty miracles, which had been laid before tlie Con- gregation of Rites, to which the examination of Ihem belonged, was so well satisfied with the respective proofs of' them, as to express a wish that Rome would never allow of any miracles, but 9uch as were as strongly proved, as these appeared to be ; when to his great surprise, ha was informed that ever)' one of . these had been rejected by Rome as not sufficiently proved ! Nor can I admit of the third objection of your friend, by which he rejects our miracles, on the alleged ground, that there was no sufficient cause for the performance of them ; for not to mention that many of tbeni were performed for the conversion of infidels, I am bound to cry out with the apostle : Who hath, known the mind of thk Lord,or who hath been his counsellor! Rom. xi. 34. Thus much is certain from Scripture, that the same Deity who preserved Jonas in the whale's belly, to preach repentance >o the Ninivites, created a gourd to shelter hip head from;the heat of the sun, Jonas iv. 6, and that as he sent fire from heaven to save his prophet Elia^, so he caused iron to swim, in order to enable the son of a prophet to restore the axe which he had borrowed, 2 Kings vi. 6. In like manner, we are not to reject miracles, sufficientlyi, proved, under pretext that they are mean, and unworthy the hand of Omnipotence ; for wo are assured, that God equally turned the dust of Egypt into lice, as he turned the waters of it into blood, Exod. viii.'< Having lately perused the works of several of the most cele- brate Protestant writers, who, in defending the Scripture mira- cles, endeavour to invalidate to call Popish miracles, ray own, to state the chie answers wbich occur to ..._^ head, I cwmdt help expressi Tjr redit of those they are pleased .just,' both to your cause and iits they mako use of, and the refutation of them. On this id-concflro that =;--^- 1 1 ■ [•-■■ I J-. ir rv Letter XXtV7 Jjnriters of character, and spmO of them of high dignity, shooM ^I^ve ipublished several ^ross falsehoods ; not^t frUst, intention- Wy, but from the bfthd precipitancy and infatuation which a ' >?iiic fear of Popery generally produces, Tha late learneti bj, rf^^^uL *'*''?"'"^' ^^- ^' ^°»S^^^ has borrowed from the infi. ^ deliGibbon l^fiat he calls " A most satisfying proof that the mi'- racles ascribed to the Romish saints are forgeKtes of an Sm posterior to that they lay claim to."* The latter says "h may seem remarkable, that Bernard of Clairvaux.^yho records so many mwaeres of his friend St. Malachy, never iakis^notice of , his own, wjiich in their turn, however, are carefully related by his- companions and disciples. In the long.serie? of fecclesiasie., ' cal history, does th^re .oqcur a single instance of a saint as^rt- ing that he himself ppssessed the gift of miracies V'f Ad Gi|)b6n and^^Dr. -^ Douglas instance, to prove their assertion. I h^ve already re- ferred to the passages in. the works of St. Bernard, where he speaks of his miracles as of noto%uji faotS ; and 1 here again ' insert them m a note.l *Vitb yespejct to Sl Xavier, he not only , . * ''*hP Criterion, or? Bules byjj^hicb the tru« itirables of the New Tes- • tameBi are disfinguished from the sporitous Miracles of Pagans and Papists. «>y. M.n Dougtas. p. D.' lord bishop of Salisbury, p. 7L nSte. ■' - t Hist, of Decline and Fall, chaWsv. "f* • ' *, " ■ ' * critferio^p. m ,, •:••«, Ibid. p. •:^,«,; i- 4^ K- «? '^^T.\ ^^''^'l acknowledged hfs own miracles, since", according - ««|JJ»'and biographer, Sulpicius, Dialftgue-2, he used to sayiSrhat he waa n»t*5nd0wed with so great a power of working V-m, after he was £ ,' .bisbop, as he had been before. -. IrlfTul^J'l'T^^^*" **• EugcniusIII. in answer Jo his Enemies, who itrit'^f I* '^ ^P the, ill success of tfec seiohd criiade, h^ says, " Sed arcuiu loraRan ijti : Unde scimus quod a Domino sertno .egrefsus nil ? Qua ' stgn^tu facts vl eredamus tibi ? non est quod ad istaipie respondeamV - ^um verecuQdiB me« \ responde tu pro me etpro te ipwS. Kcundnm «^.^ pf? •*».'>■ \' ,*■ ■ \ :/■:'-■'■'" ■' "• letUr^XIV. ' ' :' ] :.- :■-. /■' 1^' meri^ioiw, in those veiyiettew which Dr. Douglas ap^^alsto, a OurMulous cure, which he wrought upon a dyin^ woman in the kingd^of Travancor; but he expressly calls it A, Miracle, ■ and ^fl^ms th?t it caused the conversion of the whole village in . which she resided'.* ,. , -j " ' ^ A second palpable falsehood is thus confidently advanced by the capit^ enemy of miracles, DrV Middleton ; " I mighV^sk the,merit of ray argument upon this single point, that, after the apostoliic times/there is not^in all history, one instance^ either wellifttt^ed,or eve« ie muc^ as mentioned, o{ any paxticvAv P«"<*n w'io.'iJad ever exercised that gift (of'UMigues) or pre- tended to exercisOiiiL in any age or country whatsoever. "f In ca86_ your learned 4i?!ind is disposed to tai^e up the cause of Middleton, I beg to refer him to the history of St. Pacomius, the Lgyptiatt abbot, at&d founder 6f.the Cenobitei^ who, " thdugh he never learned the* Oreek or tatijn languages, yet sometimes miracMlously spoke theih," as tts disciple and biographer re- ports,t and to that of the renowned preacher, St. Vincent Fer- .rer, who, having the gift of tongues, preadhed indifferently to Jews, J^oor8,„and Christians, m th^r respective languages, and ' converted incredible numbers of eadh of these descriptions & InJike manner, the hull of tb.e canonization Of St. Lewis Ber- [rand, AX>. 1671,declar^sthat be posse^seiiiW gift of tongues, ' bymeansof wBtch,he converted-a&^ra^ny to ten thousand In- diani^ of different tribes in.$<)Uth Amlrica, in the siViee of tlfee 3**^'^' -^Ig'jJ.-^et^^our friend peruke the history of thecal. ' .-, .. -w ast* Indies, St. Xavier, whoyijthough he ordina- ■ rjly studied the languages q^, jhi; several nations he announced tlie»w:9rd of God to, yet-, on particular occasion^ he was empow- er0d ta speak those he had not learned.f Tttis was the case in ' ' Avancor, as his TiV"*f" fr^^^'f- ' De Cons d i. a «; ,. i„ uke manner, writihg !^.il«f ^Kf!^*" T'»S"'<»"e, of ^13 mii^cle^ WMught th^re, he savs : •' Mb^ Slnt . M *'^ apud V09 sed non intructuoso ! verjta^e niinirGin per no« \ f^anflfesfa'^. non soium in sertnone sed rtianr in virtule." Ed. 241. j \ * ^8t. S. F. Xav.X. 1. Ep. iv.- *^ ^ ,. ■ , 'a * '"^"^'■i'^n'o W'rac. Powers, p. 130. &o. '" -. - •* t Tiflem-Bnt.MSta Ecc; ton., vii " ' . ?'.* I .• : . • - ' ^ J Iff i'f. "'^^^J' f-^nMnprBisliop of Lucdi, klM l^ndilniu ad An. 1401 n See Aloan Butler's Saints' Lives, Oct. 9. * , t^S^e Bouhour'a Life of JBt. Xavier, trapalat»d by D^den, *«. , . :.«• W - « 41 i. *y. V ?y. m LettetXXir, X gtft of tongues: so false is the bold assertion of Middlciitoo, adopted .in pairt by bishop Douglas and othe» Protestants, that " there is not, in all history, one instance, either well attested, or so much as mentioned, of any person who had ever exercised the gift of tongues, or pretended lo exercise it." Mor is there more truth in what the bishop of Salisbury, Dr. Paley, &c. maintain, namely, that "the Popish miracles," as they insultingly call them, were not wrought to confirm any truth, and that no converts were made by them !* In refutation of this, 1 may again refer to tlie epitaph of our apostle, St. Au- gustin, and to the miracles of St. Bernard at Sarlat, mentioned above. To these instances, I may add the prodigy of St. Do- minic, who, to prove the truth of the Catholic doctrine, threw a book containing it into the flames, in which it remained un- consumed, at the same time challenging the heretics, whom he was addrcrssiug, to make the same experiment on their creed.f In like manner, St. Xavier, on a certqiin occasion, finding his words to have no effect on his Indian auditory, reque^t^ them to open the grave «Wi S exSl«re o|% two imposfors, Lauder and ArchibaId.iowe^ Buf^hat .^ will the admirers of this Detector say, if i^EI aJoear thaV ^ «/i^y of working miracles among the missionari£, which theft - thb saZ^A*' apostles r'l O? rather, what wiiuhcv siyff this same Acosta, m the very work which Doctor Ludas 1 Ersttnljfw T;1**^' ?T-^^^^^ tne l^ast and the West Indies, in Ais own time /•'^^And^et, fUr- ' .«^««r ? " *"^«^^*'»''i temporaus^a^ndo oharitas usqm, adeo refr xit en! : , '^r-' :■:; "'lv:-^v-/ ■ ■ ./: Letter xxir: ^ . V ■ .;:,.-. .■.■:, ■IT*. I shall cldse this vbry long letter, with a very few ^drds, Res- pecting a workVhich has lately appeared, animddverM on my account of The Miraculous Cure of Wine/rid White* ^Ehe writer sets out with the system of Dr. Middleton, By ^miti^ng none ■except Scripture miracles ;' liiut veiy soon hfe undermines these miracles also, where he says : " An independent and/ ex- press divine testimony is that alone, which can assure us #he-, ther effects are nulragulous or not, except in a few cases."/ He^ .thus reverses the proofs of Christianity, as ifs advocates aiid its • divihe Founder himself have lard them down. He adds :7" No mortal ought to have the presumption to say,, a thing ii ot is' . ilio^ contrary to the established laws of nature.^* Again hfe says : «To prove a miracle, there must be a proof of the pArticuJar dmne. agency." According to this systiem we mayVroy," No •one knows but the motion of the funeral procession/ or some occult quality of nature, raised ttjjife the widow of NAim's son! Mr. Roberts will have no difficulty jn saying so, as/We denies that the resurrection, of the murder? d man from the ^ouch" of the prophet Elisha's bones, 2 Kings xiii, was a miracle/ Possessed of this opinion, the author can readily persuade himself, that a curvated spine and hemiplegia, or any other disease whatever, may. be cured, in an instant, by immersion in cold water, or by ariy thing else; but |w it is not likely that ank one else will adopt it, I will say n6 more of his physical afpimentsdn this siibject. Hemst proceeds to charge W. White and her friends vvith a studied imposition j in support of which charge, he as- serts, that " the church of Rdmelwdnot announced a miracle for many years." Thiaf only proves thk his ignorance of wha\ IS continually going on in the chyrch, is equal to hi? bigotry against it. The same ignorance and bigotry are manifested in the ridiculous story concerning Sixtus V. which he copies from the unprincipled Leli; as also in his account of the exploded and condemned book, th^ Taxai CanceUaridt, &c»t Towards the conclusion of his work, he expi'esseS a doubt whether I haVe read bishop Douglas's Criterion, thought I have so frequently quoted it ; because, he says, if I had read it, I must have known that Acosta proves thafSt. Xavier wrought no ipiracles among- the'lndians, and that 'tl\e same thing appears, from the saint's own letters. Noiv the only thing, dear sir, which these asser- toons proves, that Mr.. Roberts himself, no mo^ than bishop Douglas, ever read either Acosta's work, or St. Xavier's Let- '\.^ . ' ' ' . ^ _ . 1 ■ ■ ■^ •« . ' -- , , ■ .. J' ' ■ '■ '■ . *■ ■ ■ - . ' . »" " • By ib^ RiBT. Peter Rdbierti, rbct&r of Llanarmon. Jke. ' > ' t Euseb. Edcles. Hist. 1. iv. c. 15y ' »V. ^l m Letter XXV y teiB notwitiistanding they 80 frequently refer to them ; for thk y 18 the only way of acquitting them of a far heavier charge. " ^ - lam, 4tc. IM. LETTER XXV. , V To James brown, Esq. ^e. ' 1 I/* O" TPS TRUE CHURCH BEING CATHOLIC. Dear Sir, ' in ^„';„*'*"*'"8f *»^ ">" third mark of the -teie church, aa expressed Lll TT" "««^'lf««l my apiiii sink: within mefand I am almost tempted to throw away my pen, in despair For ♦« th« r'*' '' 1**^' r f T"^"« *« ^y^" °f cMrfProtestants o the other marks of the church, if they ar« paSeV keeping them shut to this ? Every time that each of IhSTaddJ^es the Ood of Truth, e^ith^r m solemn "worship or in private d^tion he fails not to repeat, / 6e/«r« ,„ tSe CATHOLIC church: and yet if I ask him the question^ Af^ you a CATHOLIC ?' he IS sure to ans-Wer me, No, lama PROTESTANT ' Was there ever a more glaring instance of inconsistency and self-con- demnation among rational beinas ' fli^HL!ll\^';fVP'"°T'^^*^°" of%he G^pspel. it. followers were distinguished from the Jews by the n^me o( dh^istians, as we learn from Scripture, Aetsxi. 26. Hence the title of Catholic did not occur in the primitive edition of the apostles' Creed •• n^L^nffr^l did heresies and schisms arise, to disturb the peace of the church, than there was found to he a necessity of discnmmating the mall, stock of her faithful children, to whom the promises of Christ belonged, from those self-will cAtpsers of their articles of be lef. as the y^ord heretic signifies, aS those disobedient separatists, as the word schismatic me^uB. For this purpose the title of CATHOLIC, or «».W,a/, was adopted, and applied to the true church and her children. Accordingly we find It used by the immediate disciples of the apostles, as a distmguishing mark of the true church. One of thVse was the lUjstrioHs martyr St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, who, writing IL .^ ^J"r ""l ^T^.™*' expressly says, that " Christ is where the Cathohc church is." I„ like manner, the same church of Smyrna, giving* relation of the martyrdom of iheir holy bishop bt. Polycarp, who was equally a disciple of the aportles. ad- dresses it to « The . \ ■'-'^•. ^ LtiitrXXV. m Hae of the fnie church conrinoed to be Dointed onthirtK- *.. say8 elsewhere; " Wr^rs^ho d' L fl? ^^'"* P""^"?^' '^^ church which iAi.All«.ir^)iy '*/^® communion of that ecclesiastical name or title deriverfnm W? i ' ® ^ caumries, or opinions. " WhaTne"\l™^rs:;^^^^^^^^ ^vYS tt^anng the name of ,ts founder, the date of its originV' &c •• teif^if ^°^^^^ r' ™^"y^' ^'^'^ previously madt'he pame remark in the second centurv with n^mp^t ♦«♦!,». lu tjonite. Valentinian, and other heS^o? hfsTme ? 'Finals the nervous St. Jerom layr down the following rSe on t£s S / JcSS^ ^^*"- Al«. Appolia. 1. J«c«„. can. 8. 1. C. iCcan. ^ *^ I S. Pacian, Ep i. ad Symp. v * ^'^''"" '^^ °"''"°- *>"• ^ i^' Commoa Advera. Har. c. 34. ft Adver>, Tryphok \ \. -Ss' . ^ '4 . "> .;*^ 'TvPT ")*■ ■*->)"^""7'^j 178 Letter XXT. . 'iect : " We must live and die in that ejhurch, vih\ch, having been founded by the • apostles, continues down to the pre&ent day. jr^ then, you should hear of any' Christians not* deriving their name from Christ, but from some other founder, as the Marcionite8,,the, Yalerttinians, &,c. be persuaded that ihey are . not of Christ's society, but of Antichrist's."* I now appeal to yoii, dear' sir, and to the respectable friends who are accustomed to deliberate with you on religious subjects, whether these observations and arguments of the ancient fathers are not as strikingly true in this nitieteenth century, as they were during the six ^rst centuries, in which they wrote ? Is there not, among the rival churches, one exclusively known and distinguished by the name and title of THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, as well in England, Holland, and other countries, 'whi9h protest against this church, as in those which adhere to it ? Does not this effulgent mark of the true refiPp so incon- testably belong to us, in spite of every effort to obscure it, by the nick names of Papists, Romanists, &c.f that the rule of St. Cyril and St. Augustin is as^ood and certain now, as it was in their times ? , What I mean.is this : if any stranger in London, Edinburgh, oy Amsterdam, were to ask his way to the Catholic chapel, I would risk my life for it, that no sober Protestant in< k habitant would direct him to any other place of worship than to ours. 'On the other hand, it is notorious, that the different sects of Protestants, like the heretics and schismatics of old, are de- nominated either from their founders, as the Lutheran^, the Cal- vihisls, the Socinians, &c. or from the countries in which they" prevail, as the. church of England, the Kirk of Scotland, the Mo- ravians, Ac or from some novelty^in their belief or practice, as the Anabaptists, the Independents, the Quakers, &c. The first father of Protestants was so sensible that he and they wfere des- titute of every claim to the title of Catholic, that in 'translating . the apostles' Creed into Dutch, he substituted the word Chrisliofi^ for that of Catholic. The first liutherans did the same thing in their catgrchism, for which they are ■ reproached by the famous Fulke, who, to his own confusion, proves that the true church of Christ must be Catholic in name, as well aain substance-X ^ Iam;^c. J.n • Advers. Luciferani" ; — "^ ■ ' , t 1^. Gregory oT Tours, speaking of the Arians, and other contemporary beretics of the 6tPcentury, says : •' Romanurum nomioe vocitant nostra Miigionis homines." Hist. 1. xvii. c. 25. ^ i On the New Testament, p. |;78. V *♦' J, 1 ;* 4, ,l.\ -r i' Xc \ 17» rXER XXVI. To JAMES BROWN, Esq. ^, ON THE QUALITIES OP CATHOLICITY. m ''\ DiAR Sir, discriminate the trreat hnAv ^e ru*.;^*- ^ i"^ , . writers to at certam times have been separatecMrom it. " The r«t>.^ Catholic "f ««Th« PnT^i- ^ • ^ *^® meaning of ihe word v^amoiic. T J he Catholic or universal doctrine " writeii «5t iTlf V"'' " '' '^^* ^^^''^ '«'n«i"« «»e Se thCh aU ages, and will continue so till the end of tlm ,S,;^m u • ine apostles Hfejice, dear sir, wften you hear me elorvina in K%c TJ- ^ *"* •■ ^^ *" "°* a Lutheran, nor a Calvinist. r!or a Whitfieldite, nor a Wesleyan ; I am not of the churXof E^^^^ "Yc^anlinh''"'; °f S^^nd^r of the cVS"; o?Genf: secte hPoi^^H ?'*"* '^*"■^*"^ *« time «,Aeta ea5i of these ?ects began; and I can describe the limits ^Within which thev \, ■y^ ^*^i '♦ 1^^ the main stock of Chritlianity ; that to wlHcirall the fathers of antiquity and the eaints of all agps have belonged on earth, and still belong in the bright rej^ions above ; that whi«h has endured and overcome the persecutions and heresies of eighteen centu- lios ; in short, that against which t/u gales of hell have n9( ore- vatUd, and we are assured, never shall prevail. All this is im- plied by my title of CaMo/tc. But to form a more accurate opinion |>f the number and diffu- uveness of Catholics, compared wilh;a^y aect of Protestants, It isyproper to make a slight survey of their state in the four quahers of the world. In Europe, then, notwithstanding the revolutionary persecution which the Catholic religion has en- dured and its enduring, it is still the religion of the several states of Italy, and most of the Swiss Canton*, of Piedmont, of France, of Spain, of Portugal, and of the i^ands in the M*edi- terranean, of three parts in four of the Irish, of far the greater part of the Netherlands, Poland, Bohemia, Germany, Hungary, and the neighbouring provinces ; and, in those kingdoms and states in whiul^Ut is not the established religion, its followers are very numerous, as in Holland, Russia, Turkey, the Luthe- S1!LS Ca'''in»8tic states of Germany and England. Even'in »^eivand Denmark several Catholic congregations, Vith their bective pastors, are to be found. The whole vdst cdntinent fcouth America, inhabited by many millions of converted In- Bs, as well as by Spaniards and Portuguese, may be said to be nolle. The same may be said of the empire of Mexico, and ^^ surrounding kingdoms in North America, including Califor- nia,^Cuba, Hispaniola, &c. Canada and Louisiana are chiefly Catholic ; and throughout the United Provinces, the Catholic religion, wuh its several establishments, is completely protected, and unboundedly propagated. To say noticing of the Islands pi Africa inhabited by, Catholics, such as Malta, .Madeira, Cape Verd, the CariarieS, the Azores, Mauritius, Goree, &c. there are numerous churches ojf. Catholics, establis^i^d, and organized un- fi! ^'^^^ P«»»«''S' in Egypt, Ethiopia. Algiers, Tuijis, and the other Barbarystat^a on the northern cohst ; and thence, in all tne 1 ortuguese. settlements along the wastern coast, particularly at Angola and Congp. Even on the eastern coast, especially in toe kingdom of Zaiiquebar and Monombtapa, are numerous /.atholic churches. There are also numerous Catholic priests and many bishops, with numerous flocks, throughout the greater Fk"^ °( Asia. ^11 the Maronites about Mount Libanus, with toefir bishops, j^i^sts and monks, ar6 Catholics, so are many of «e ^rmentans^- Persians, and other Christians, of, the surround- ■p--^ (ji • ^ '■■■■■ \ ' '^... >^ t T^ i*thrxxn 111 mo.t ?f the inh,g.:\r.rJr .P-!I2!^Ah »M. prevailed! yeried. The whole p^ulatir oMmI^E^ ''"f " f^ ■laung of two millions of souls, is ■^^^■■indv^oa- Goa contains four hundred thouJ number of Catholic, is so great thttn :cl*or{?v"** G«,ge,, n^twithsS ence of Bntian, as to excite the jealdl celebrated Protestant n.issionaiy. D? ^^^t parliamentary recordjt is stated thaV^n^MR^^^ 18 a Catholic archbishonrin n«j . l- '™'!IP«rand Cochin " contains thi«y.five thouK .U*° bishopri^. om of which reus Catholic^flocks whh tLn?"!'"''";^ There are nume- the kingdoms aTsZl^ uZL^aT ^^^ '"''^''^^^''P''* ^^ '^n Siam, Cochincwia So„i„Tn"i .k^^S'"^''''' P««icularly in Chinese empire I l7a"d3'oni it i;'^"''"u^^ of the great^Protestari^^cts'ras everlS*^^ widey spread than it iJ^ . '""''° ""^'e numerous or fore. pre^M^^i^ AloZ!^Tn '^t'^u^'l'^'' ^'>"'«'»' k""»^- • inhabit. The sam« mK. P®*. ."**"'''' *^«y "o'^ collectivelr . this point of viewTat ZmXTnt ^^^m'T' '* " « Btitute his comparison between tL 2* J' ^"1^^ ""K*** »» i"' ' church of RoJe/lr T£7Jc'^}T^^f ?"«'«"«» »nd the fellow prelate, the bbhoD *J.^«'"'/"n«.^e are assured by his Jitnrgy'of the^SurcwVnirt^^^^^ "''^' T'-'^d sentiments of the eminent rS!!^ ^ correspond i»ith the the creeds of any Sstlt c th" H *^* ''*'"'•"«''*• «' '^i* with respect to tW^r^ ch„rch ttbi ' ^f/^'^h^dH And sistent than to ascribe rt.-^ ^7 "°*'»"ff: would be more incon- • two islands to irArJth^T^f/hWV'^'irP"^**^"" «f «"' byterians.the EngUsh MelwJl Cathohcs the Scotch Pres. with the vast t^?ltionwJf ^f "***'' I^'«»«nters. together toy religion at S ire ' 1™^^^^^ norprofess to be of number lool<^;' church of p' ° "^ ? " <=rP*'"«**^«ly «""»" atterly absurd^ulS ht for Wr^M"** ''? '■^^'"'*'' ' ^^^^ '^^'^ '^-.' Noraretlllhro^j;;^^-^^^^^^^ Catholic QuesUon, p! 48^ "" "»* ^**^ parliamentary Report on the 5 S^.'/nfSS"'' ^"'"^^ *• <^»"'>- -f E-MJland ank R6«. , -M^}^ -' X .v';>- :■■;,■ -;. N. ■:..':;.. / ■:<'^'. ,:"'■<■ ___^-tJS. - ..«». f-:'-':'' "■ V '•' Ik'-: ■:■ ■:-'■■ ■■ :.Jy: - :. V" ■,:'■'■ t • ,-■■■• /, '0''''1^,/ J ' ^-■,,^s u ■. :^:^. "ft- ■^- ■' '^, ■%f ..Bf ■"■* ,i-" ■; ift.' ^ :i !,".,■■■«■ ^,1 V CJ O I *• -t - , . .i'^ ' ■ ' " »;■ '-- v * IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGETlMT-3) ■O -v 1.0 ^i^Ui Sf Ufi 12.0 u / .^- .e^#i 6" \ > FholDgraphic ^Sciences Cbrporalion A.>, 23 WIST MAIN STUnT MMSTM,N.Y. 145M [ 71 «) 173-450) ij&M 183 Letter XXV t h«r nnmbera, and indeed from those of all other Christian sod eties, divided from the true church ; since, there being but me baptism, all the young children who have been baptized in them, and all invincibly ignorant Christians, who exteriorly adhere to them, really belong to the Catholic church', as I have shown above. In finishing this subje|ili I shall quote a passage from St. Au> gustin, which is as applicable to the sectaries of this age as it was to those of the age in which he lived. *" There are here- tics every where, but not the same heretics every where. For t^ere is one sort in Africa, another sort in the East, a third sort in Egypt, and the fourth sort in Mesopotamia, being different in different co^tries, though all 'produced, by the same mother, namely, pride. Thus also the faithful are all bom of one com- mon mother, the Catholic church ; and though they are every where dispersed, they are every where the same."* But it is still more necessary that the true church should be Catholic ox Universal'aa Id time than as to numbers or to place. If the^^ever was a period since her foundation, in which she has Tailed, by teaching or promoting error or vice, then the pro- mises of the Almighty in favour of the ffeed of David and the kingdom of the Messiah, in the Book of Psalms,t and in those of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, have failed ;% then the more explicit promises of^Christ, concerning this church and her pastors have failed ;^ thenHhe Creed itself, which is the subject of our present discussion, has been false.! ^^ ^^^ point, learn- ed Protestants have been wonderfully embarrassed, and have iif* volved themselves in the most palpable contradictions. A great proportion of them have maintained that the church, in past ages, totally failed, and became the sjnnagogue of satan, and that its head pastor, the bishop of Rome, was and is the man of sin, the idemicdr Antichrist : but they have never been able to settle among themselves, when this most remarkable of all revo- lutions since the ^rld began, actually took place ; or who were the authors, aud:'''1^kp the opposers of it ; or by what strange means the former ^evailed on so many millions of people of different nations, languages, and interests, throughout Christen- dom, to give up the supposed pure religion, which they had learned from their fathers, and to embrace a pretended new and false system, which its adversaries now call Popery ! In a word, there is no way of accounting for the pretend^ change * Lib. de Fact. e. 8. t Pa. Ixxxviii. aliaa Izzziz. fce. t Is. c. liv. lix. Jerem. xxzi. 31. Dan. ii. 44. • Mttt. zvi. la— zxTiii. 19, 20. II I believe in the holy Catholic chorck i^ter XXVt. 153 morning ^pi3 •>«*. ^ rotertants, and awoke t£e next prophet Ves.eB4t/^ in^e,£nyT,S' '-^T "" ""\"' '^'^ venerable cathAH»l.o„^ '""mony ol tbw, I mean that our >h. RpG.aD^SLj'^S "5 f""".'"'". b««> »i>no.»,t that Sixth century, to the hflli«f «f .k *"*'®'«*"» " *« end of the »tantiation.th; sacrifice if the mL?^'' «"premacy. transub- of sainKand throth«r kth r T P^'^^'^' ** invocation learned Pro^stanl t .^^^^^^ *"•» practices, a. aries were found to be ff th« L^ V- u^°T' ** **•«»« ™8«<^- with the Irish, PiSs and Scot« t ^*'* ""^ religion, not" only centmes before them but «?«?' »^ T'n converted almost twj becme Christiansli' fb« !i ^f" '^^ ^"'°"' *" W«^«l». «^ho frorn them aCthe time oirirES '"f r'>' ^ *«"«' e«ential pointy tWs ci>c,.m,Sf '^ ^ ^^' '"'^ * '^'"^ "»''" "«- ^ I'gion to. havebeen ZtTf^K ^ u I P"^''^* '^^ Catholic re- H^e SHIl »h! r "'^ ***® churc^in the aforesaid earlv oSginSof ou^r^n'^""*'"'''''^'? P^'»«''«»f the antiquity and thafcontledTn tKX^f *^*^^^^^ '"'? u^°'"P*"''g " -"^ »». ma J.. J • *''® *oric8 Of the ancient fathers. An attAm^« aervUTAmL^hlse blZS' *** ff ^ '^' ^»*''" "^ ^^^ fines, and the field isleSs^;'' roweveT'thrhi?"'-""^*"° ine. or rather ... • * nowever, tnis his vain boast- • Habak. ii. H, ^ „. 164 tatter XXV tl thereby " Gave a scope to the Papists, and spoiled himself and the Protestant church."* dn fact, this hypocrisy, joined with his shameful falsification of the fathers, ift quoting them,< occa- sioned the conversion of a beneficed clergyman, and one of the ' ablest writers of his age. Dr. W. Reynolds.t Most Protestant writers of later times( follow the late Dr. Middlcton, and Lu- ther himself, in giving up the ancient fathers to the Catholics without reserve, and thereby the faith of the Christian church '-during the six first centuries, of which faith these fathers were the witnesses and the teachers. Among other passages to this purpose, the abojge named doctor writes as follows : " Every * one must see what a resemblance the principles and practice of the fourth century bear to the present rites of the Popish church."§ Thus, by the confession of her most learned adversaries our chiirch is not less CATHOLIC of Universal, as to time, than •he is with respect to name, locality, and numbers'. I am, &c. J. M. LETTER XXVlil To JAMES BROWN, Esq. ' objections answered. Dear Sir^ 1 HAVE received the letter written by Joshua Clark, B. D. at the request, as ho bers of your society, animadverti|ng on ^ Bwer to which lettec I am requested tp Revemod gentleman's arguments , are by no means consistent one with another ; for like other determined controvertists, he attacks his adversary with every kind of weapon that comes to his hand, ifi the hopes per fa^et nefas of demolishing him. He Maintains, in the first place, that, though Protestantism was not visible before it was unveiled by Luther, it subsisted in the hearts of the true faithful, ever since the days of the apostles, and that the believers in it constituted the real primitive Catho* lie church. To this groundless assumption 1 answer, that an invisible church is no church at all ; that the idea of such a church is at variance with the predictions of the prophets re* * Life of Jewel, quoted b/ Walaingham, in his invaluable Search intt Mutters of Religion, p. 17*2. t Dodd's Church Hiat vol. ii. t See the acknowledgment, on thia head, of tha learned ProtaalaBtii Obratcht, Oumoulin, and Cauaabon. « f Inquiry into viiracUs, Introd. p. 45. n^Rt ) adOTes visiter, the Rev. of certain mem* to you ; an an* 'ess to you. The tpecting J a mounlait a city, wl and, indee ehurehi Ma is no less i hiiqself, " , •ays, " Th< , whole worl •Homilies, i learned, al] abominable, man, for eig in favour of wherfr the A in Israel, wh fail not to ot Law was in •poken of, it •eat, the kin| Clark's seco consists in a i was the Prot« " It was just with many sii this is to fall 1 it is also to ct real truth, tha •uteenth cent |The Revere grounds, that tl anh, as he call of Rome, in al «c«smatic8 of noil Magus, dc •* tie Arians, i •hembigenses, ejicjedingly nu wtllBni now ha nondoftljeanc Hon bf modern J •nd ||>ractices wi • Opera. PreC • Confut. p. 79. *4 letter XXril .^ ^^^^7^^;^^ T^e they describe . „ .city whose „«,.AUX/7:;il,i\f-.M^*'- i'^' •'2. a»d « •nd, indeed, wi.h the injunct ion Toir f 'Yu'^""' ''' '«"• 6. i. no less repugnanV'tclVeX'S'oTt'^ "«"*'*>-• ' hiiflself. «. At first I stood aff^^V^ Luther, who says of •ays. " The first ProteTnts were nW? ? '^." <^Calvin: who . whole world ;"f as also to th^ o^h-f* u ''r*^«»«' f'*>™ Ae flomihes. where she says" " Lahv " S / °^, ^"^^^"^ « ^er Jearned, aU ages, sects and diL ^^'S^' ^•'*'"«d and un- abommable, idolatV. nit det^^f/ff' ^;:;^ •»««" browned in man, for eight hundred yearsiS ^^^.h^*^ *"•* damnable to in favour of an invisible^churc; dTaT„ 1 ^«, ^ *« "'g^-nent wher^the Almighty tells S'/T.r^ if«»^* xix. 18. ..1 not to observe, that hoover Tnyi^iw^/K ^f '' *^' •J»^^'*>«» Law was in the schismatical kfnVl™ } , *^® .''^"'■*'^ *»'" »he Old .poken of. it was most con^piS^^^^ ^^« ^^^^ h«'«# •eat, the kingdom of Judah, Snder Jie nlf °1"*^"l«^ ^" "» P^«P«' Clark's second argument i- k! '^***"* ''*»'? Josaphat Mr cot.,is.si„amere;S fc^ 1 Jr ^^ • ^^^^^^^^ was the Protestant religion bXe LutVrr?"^?"'*'"" ' " ^^^'^ « It was just where it is now onJ^'^h' ^ •'".«?'«'««« replies, wuh many sinful errors, f^mUth^ifr'^" \^*^ '=«""P»«d Ais IS to fall back into the rpf„)I5 " "**"* reformed."* But «« also to contraJ cube SoSjf "r'"*" ^Pvisible church real truth, that Proteslancy hai "!' f '" " *" ^ ««»f«»« tie' •uteenth century. ^ ^**^ "<» existence at all before the ' ^&& .uite opposite '±, as he calls them, who have^st^^rn ' '"'''^'^^^f ^rZesi- «f|ome, in all past Les, True^, ^PP^T**" *°^« «h"rch •clismatics of oL kind or othTr '^ • ® ^t.''* ''««» heretics and H Magus, down to MarUn Luthe,"""^ '^^ '^'' *^™«' '"'o™ S^ - 1? i« Arians, the NestoriC the E. tv 1"^ '^"? *" '*^'». »"«t •heJMbigenses, the VVicSt;! .S^K u"' '^« ^onotholites, excJedingly numerous and powerful! ?f ""*""^*' ^»*« »>««« " of tye,» now have dwindKwavt Jnli!^''" *"["'' •^*»"gJ» "»»« * Opera. PreC • Confut. p. 79. , t Epi«t 171. !•♦ ♦Perils of Idolatiy,p.'ai. ^ '^' IBS Litur XXVIL CadioUcs do. Thus the Albigenses , were real Manicheans, folding two First Principles, or Deities, attributing the Old Tes- taihent, the propagation of the human species, to Satan, and act- ing up to these diabolicial maxims.* The Wickliffites and Hus- f#si , sites were the levelling and sanguinary Jacobins of the times and countries in which they lived ;t in other respects these two ; sects were Catholics, professing their belief in the seven sacra- ments, the mass, the invocation of saints, purgatory, &c. If, then, your Reverend visiter is disposed to admit such company into his religious communiun, merely hecause they protested against the supremacy of tllb Pope, and some other (^holic tenets, he must equally lt|mit Jews, Mahometans, and Pagans into it, and acknowledge them to be equally Protestants -ynJUa. himself. . ' . v t i- Your Reverend visiter concludes his letter with a long disser- tation, in which he endavours to show, that however vije Catho- lics may boast of the antiquity and perpejtuity of our chunchm past times, our triumphs must soon cease by the extinctioiT of this church, in consequence of the persecution now carrying; on against it in France, and other parts of the continent.^ and also from the preponderance of the Protestant power in Europe, and particularly that of our own country, which, he says, is nearly as much interested in the extirpation of Popery as of Jacobm- ism. My answer is this : I see and bewail the anti-Catholic pejsecution which has been, and is carried on in France and its dependent states, where to decatholicize is the avowed order of the day. This was preceded by the less sanguinary, though . equaUy anti-Catholic persecution of the emperor Joseph II. and his relatives in Germany and Italy. I hear the exultations^and menace^ on this account, of the Wranghams, De Coetlegons, Towsons, tiichenos, Ketts, Fabers, Daubenys, and a crowd of " other declamatory preachers and writers, some of whom pro- claim that the Romish Babylon is on the point of falling, and others that she is actually fallen, *In the mean time, though '^ more living branches of the mystical vine should be cut off by the sword, and^pore rotten biranches should, fall off, from their own decay .^ I am not at all fearful for the life of the tree itself; • See an account of them, and the authorities on which this rests, in LeUers to a Pnbendary, Letter IV. " t IbiA X Namely, in 1803. u ... S Sinc6 the present letter was written, many circumstances have occur- led to show the mistaken pbjitics of our rulers, in endeavouring to weaken and supplant the religion of their truly loyal and conscientious Catnoiic •ubjects. Among other measures for this purnose, may be mentioned Uie .• . late instructioos sent to the governor of Canada, which Catholic provincs LttterXXVIL ^ ,^ ■mce the divinA v*m«:« • . , '°' •ence of eighteen centuries ha« J.a J ^""^ «""ce the experi- promise,. During C o„g Z/vTr^"" J"*^ ^" *««« ^^^^^^^ have nsen and fallen, the inh!b harnf ^"'^'*«'"« ""d empires repeatedly changed ; insh^rt, «"« ' Ihin^T ''''T^ ^^'^ ^««« the doctrine and juHsdiction of the^IS^ F ^*t ***"«^«** «««?» precisely the same now as Chrit«n.r^^^^^ church, which are vain did Pagan Rome, durinaYrL c^ T'""« ^«'^ »*>«'"• '" drown her in her own bloo^^ ^ Jard^rt *-"" '^ '"'^^''^ »<> heresies sap her foundations dnr?n 7 Onanism and other vam did hordes of barbaria^ 'from th^« two centuries more; in tons, from the south, labour ^oov^rihV*'?' *°.'* "^ Mahome- ther swear that Ke himself wouWh^h^^^'^ *° ^*'" did Lu- i tived these, and numerous o^he en!mf ^ ^^^'\C ^^^ ^" «"'- and she will survive even the furv «nT ^t-^''"^"^ redoubtable ; t.an philosopy. though dfrecteSlT'''""!*'^^ •"■ ^^'^-^hris: drop orProtestant blood has beenThl?- l^5'"«»vely : for not a ' t.on Nor is that church which in » • " 1*"^ .""P'?»« P^^^ecu- head quarters of infidelhjT could ar'"®'%'''"«*^»'"' t^« venr thousand martyrs and 8ixtvlh«? / ?"'^ ^"™'8h twenty-four of her faith, so^^lil,:?; Xf rdlr^xf "T "V'««' '^^''^^ nal weakness, as yiur Rev Ser tf" "'^' '•°'^"'=«' "^ "ter- thcn recent attempt of the emn/mr i 'PP""^*' ^""^ing to the «T of Daniel by febJildTngTX^^^^^^^^ t«/alsify the prophet ;^-hofchrist.God ctutthrrb^:j„ ^^^^^ ii.1 ".*" '""'• carved with the mn«» -fil i** "'^- Buchanan infornia »'cly worshipped before hundred* of^ ^"1°* ''?"«' «>und it and nub! natural rites, 'too ?ros9 to be descrlj ?f»«J« Y''^ obscene aoisaXSl •nemseve? m order to be cru8h«lh.!^.»ku i"® ^ncouragedto throw •••««. ««»rie« „o mors L/A^ *'"*' °» ''» ton^b^^Perfui 11 Later XXVIIL Mroy h V* Should the Almighty permit such a persecution to bofairany of the Protestant communions, as we have beheld raging against the Catholic church on the continent, does yoltr visiter really believe they will exhibit the same constancy, in suffering for their respective tenets, that she has shoKm in de> feAce of hers ? In fact ; for what tenets should their members suffer exile and death, since, without persecution, they have all, in a manner, abandoned their original creeds, from the uncer* tainty of their rule of futh; and their own natural mutability ? Humatf lairs and premium^ may preserve the exterior appear- ance, otjmTt^earcnss of a «Ai(^A, as one of your divines expres- ses it ; but, if the pastors and doctors of it should demonstrate by their publications that they no longer maintain het» original fundamental articles, can we avoid subscribing to the opinion, expressed by a late dignitary, that " the church in question, pro- perly 80 called, it not in existence ?"* . I am, &c. J. M. 1 LETTER XXVIIL To JAMES BROWN, Esq. ^6. on tub apostolicitt of thb cat.holio ohoroh. Dear Sir, / The last of the four marks of the church, mentioned in oar common Creed, is Apostolicitt. We each of us declare, in our solemn worjship, / believe in one, holy. Catholic and APOS' TOLICAL church. Christ's last commission to his apostles was this : Go teach all nations, baptizing them ^Iffthe name of the Fo' ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: and, lot I am wit^ you always, even unto THE END OF THE WORLD. Mat. xxviii. 20. Now the event has proved, as I have . already ob- served, that the apostles, themselves, were only to live the ordi- nary term of man's life ; therefore, the commission of preaching and ministering, together with the promise of the Divine assist- ance, regards the successors of the apostles, no less than tlie apostles themselves. This proves that there must have been an uninterrupted series of such successors of the apostles in every ago since their time, that is to say, successors to their doctrine, to their jurisdiction, to their orders, and to their mission. Hence it follows that no religious society whatever, which cannot trace '% its succession, in these four points, up to the Ipostles, has any claim to the characteristic title, APOSTOLICAL. * ConfcMioinal, p. S44. lib. I,,, wi^en * Coatia. fipirt ] ■-?'','. - vonformablv with »!.-» • ,. 189 Jobn^he evangelist. reSdiv . ^*''« ''««" consecrated bv I tS >k . "f'S'i ol their church • )«t ♦!.» f. * » ^--et th^m nro- nunion. He then g ves a list of .iT P^.fsevered jn tbeir com- JeDonatists, enumerates all th«f ^P*^'"'' writing aeainat Je U,e„ livW Pope. sS c^us;- wfc^^ ?' Peter'dX^^i I l^hr?,"« "ni'edin communion ^g!' *"" *>' "^« '^^d I man his rS ^ ^'* *"'« *o a throne orX i P""''® '« d«- , J'll: «■ «lrm. H.r. c ill /»■"•«..«. g|„e,^ 1^ 190 ■ — -jS. letter XX^VIIl ■n abridgment of the succession of our chief bislu^^pajn the apos* tolical See of Rome, from St. Peter up to ihe preset edifying 'tontiflf, I^us Vll, as likewise that of other illustrious doctors, prelates and saints, who have defended the apostolical doctrine by their pleaching and writings, or who have illustrated it by their liv«s.\'rhey will also see the fulfilmeitt of Christ's iii< 'junction to the apostles and their successors in the conver- vion of nationsi'-and people to his faith and church. Lastly, they will behold the unhappy series of heretics and schismatics, who, in different ages, have fallen off from the doctrine or communion of the apostolic church. But as it is impossible, in so narrow a compass as the present sheet, to give the nafneji of all the Popes, or to exhibit the other particulars here mentioned in the distinct and'detailed manner which the subject seems .to require, 1 will try to supply^ the deficiency by the subjoined copious note.* ••Within the first century from the birth of Christ, this lonK expectei.^ Messiah founded the kingdom of his holy church in Judaea, aijd chost/lTu apostles to propagate the same throughout the earth, over whom he appointed Simon, as the centre of union and kead pastor ; charging him to teed his whole flock, sheep as well la lambs, giving him the keys of the kingdom of heaven,,and changing his name into that of PETER, or ROCK; add. ing, on this rock I will bnild my church. Thus dignified, St. Peter first e«> tablished his See at Antioch, the head city of Asia, whence he sent his dis- ciple St. Mark to establish and govern the See~6f Alexandria, the head city of Africa. He afterwards removed his own See to Rome, the capital of Eurppc and the world. Here, having, with St. Paul, sealed the Gospel with his blood, he transmitted his prerogative tq St. Linus, from whom it' descended in succession to St. Cletus and St. Clement. Among the other illustrious doctors of this age are to be reckoned, first, the other apQ|tleii, then SS. Mark, Luke, Barnaby, Timothy. Titus, Hermas, Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, and Polycarp of Smyrna. From the few remaining writings of these may be gathered the necessity of unity and submission to bishops, tradition, the real presence, the sacrifice of the mass, veneration for relics, ^c. In this age, churches were founded, besides the ^trave-meniioned |ilaces, in Samaria, throughout lesser Asia, in Armenia, India, Greece, Egypt, Ethiopia, Italy, Spain, and Gaul; in this apostolical age, also, and as it yrcre under the eyes of the apostles, diiferent proud innovators pretended to reform the doctrine whicn they taught Among these wi, tic churtoh wa rica, and Indii I During ^isW fcaiso were the res ported her. On on tompared by Danie Go'hs, Vandals, Hu "« in upon thecivi ZTH "^''' sciei "n the other hand, i {•Jfu' nerve to corru ijfte apostles' succe I ^.u^ *•'"'"« an' I T'her; the Pelagis WrsofVigilantius J h)« for their relics. I kjMd holy fathers < ^•* */f \ V" v« ^ ea ~y z#«#r xxviri. Thftpi CENT. Ill Sf M CENT. IV. S.lv«ter,undcr whom the SunfiofJ'r? """? ^""''Wu,. MeSSeT Nice, against the Arians, were SilH m '*"' 'S?'"*' '»'«' DonatisL aS 'i* •f fte aSa ° ^"'■'■"P^ *''« "Pos" "lical doctrin; ,nH » • 'I ''^'^"<^« "trained ^^'l^v ■%' 193 Letter XXVIII. than in the »postolical \ree ; nevertheless, either of these will give you and your respectable socielyr a sufficient idea of the tin I who presided by hii legate* in the Ckwncil of Ephcsus,- Xystus III, Leo the Great, who presided in that of Chalcedon, Hilarius, Simplicius, Felix III. Oelasiua l,/Ana8Uciu8 II, and Syiuachus. Their zeal was well seconded by some of the brightest ornaments of orthodoxy and literature who ever illustrated the church, St. John Chrysostom, St. Jorom, St. Au- Kustin St. Gregory of Nyssa, kc. By their means, and thosfe of mlier "apistolic Catholics, not only were the enemies of the church refuted, but ' "also her bounds greatly enlarged by the conversion |uccee«led N« each oth^r in the following order: Hormisdas, St. John I, vvho diMa pris- • oner for the faith, Felix IV, Boniface II, John II Agapetus I, St. SilVcrms, who died inexile for the unity of the church, Vigilius, Pelagius I, John III Benedict I, Pelagius II, and St. Gregory the Great, a name wjiich ought to bo engbved on the heart of every Englishman who knows how to - value the benefiU of Christianity, since it was he who first undertook lo preach the Gospel to our Saxon ancestors, and, whe^ he was pfl^vented by force from doittg4hi3, sent his deputies, St. Augustin and his companion*, on this apo8tolica\errand. Otherbeneficial lights of this age were 8%. FillKentius of R«»pa, Ccsarius^Sr Atl^s, Lupus, Germanus, Sevenw,. GreKory of Tours, 00% venerable Gildfi, and the great patriarch, bf the monlts. St. Benedict The chief heretics who disturbed the peace of the church were the Acephali and Jac^bBites, both branches of Eutychianwm, the Tritheists, the powerful supporters of the Three Cha|(>ter8, Sev*rus, Eleurus, Mongus, Athimius. and Acacius. A more terrible scourge, how- ever, than these, or than any other which thechurch had yet felt, God per- mitted in this age to fall upon her, in the rapid progress of the imposter Mahomet; what however she lost in sotne quarters was made up to her in others by the suppression of Arianism among. the VisigoUis of fapainand amongrthe Ostrogoths of Italy, and by the conversion of tb^e Lazes, Axu- ' mites, and Southern English. " CENT. VII. The Popes in this century are most of them honoured for their sancti^, . namely. Sabinianus, Bonifacelll, Boniface IV, Deusdedit^ Boniface V, Hoaotrius I. Severinus, John IV, Theodotus, Marjin I, who died in exi e, in defence bf the faUh. Eugenius I, Vitalianus, Domnus I Agatho who presided, by his legates, in the sixth General Council, held against the Sionotholites, Leo II, Benedict II. John V. Conon, and SergiUs I. Other contemporary doctors and saints were St. Sophronius and St John the al- . moner. bishops. and.St Masimus, martyr, in the East. SS. ^s.dore..Ilde. fonsus and Eugenius, in Spain, SS. Amand, Eligius Omer and Owen in France, and SS. Paullnus, Wilfrid, Birinus, Felix, Chad. A'dan ^.nd Cuth- bert, in England. The East, at this time, was distracted by the Monotholi^ heretics, and in some parts, by the Paulicians, who revived the detestabU* hrtesy of the Manicheans, but most of all by the sanguinary co«'-8%'7^> liahametsns, ifho overran the most farUle and civilijed countries of Aii% «■*> [v - I ^w«r Jrir///. iTa HlM.«nrr™n..U.e chair o^'st'te "»"•'•''"' •»" 'SfeSXiToS" cfeNT.. ' "^ Um in'fh '^ " ".' Stephen III Paul r 4JJ • '*?'""^ "• WcKorv li? 7.' ^•n, making numeTouTt^J}^ "*'?'*'• "f Gibraitor .^ ' '"^i '^^ '"• CFTVT fir "*** Mtrinus. Adrian' lir c'li??^^ '" ""« eighUi eeneral nt:.^"?. , '• A^"M 'It- V 1 .,»-V 104 mtr^^III. ^churcb, up to the present Pope, Pius VII.^ And.tlus attri- bute of perpetual succession, you are, dear sir, to observe, ia tioned pontiffi, owing to the prevalence' of civil factions at Rome, wfaich^ obstructed the freedom of canonical election: yet, in this list of names, there are ten or twelve, which do honour to the papal calendar, and ^vea those who disgraced it by their lives, performed their public duty, |n pre aerving the faiUi apd unity of the church, irreproachably. In the mean time m crowd of holy bishops and other saints, worthy the age of the a^- tles, adorned most parts of the church, which continued to be «ugmented by numerous conversions. In Italy 8S. Peter Damian, Romuald, Nilus, and Rathier, bishop of Verona, adorned the church with their sanctity and talents, as dj(l the holy prelates, Ulric, Wolfgang, and Bruno, in Germany, and Odo, Dunstan, Oswald, and Ethelwold, in England. At this time SI. Adelbert, bishop of Prague, converted the Poles by his preaching<«ind his blood; the Danes were converted by St. Poppo, the Swedes, by St. Sigi- frid, an Englishman, the people- of lesser Russia by SS. Bruno and Boni- face, and the Muscovites by missionaries sent from Greece, but at a time when that country was in communion with the See of Rome. CENT. XI. During this age Uie veiuel of Peter was steered by seveial able and vin tnous pontiffi. Silvester II was esteemed a prodi§^t)f learning and talents. After him came John XVIII, John XIX, Sergius IV, Benedict Vill, John XX, Benedict IX, Gregory VI, Clement II, Damascus II, Leo IX, who .l»s deservedly been redconed among the saints, Victor II, Stephen X, Nicholas II, Alexander II, Gregory Vll, who is also canonized, Victor III, and Urban IL Other defenders of virtue and religion, in this age, were St. ElplMge and Lanfraac, archbishops of Canterbury, the prelates Burcardof of Wbrms, Fulbert aud Ivo of Cimrtre$, Odilo anab)>ot, Alger aQionk, Guitmund and Theophylactus. The crown, also, was npw adorned with saints equally signal for their virtue and orthodoxy. In England shone St Edward the confessor; in Scotland, St. Margaret; in Germany, St Henry, Emperor; in liungary, St. Stephen, The cloister also was now enriched with the Cisterchian order, by St Robert; the Carthnsian order was found- ed by St Bnino; and the order of Valombroso, by St. John Gaulbert While, on one hand, a greatjbjuinch of thflUJ^jftolic tree was lopped off, by the second defection of the iBreek Chui^'^nil some rotten boughs wers cut off from it, in the new Manicheans, vm$ had found their way from Bul- garia into France, as liiiewise in the followers of the innovator Berenga- rius; it received fresh strength and increase from the conversion of the Hungarians, and of the Normans and Danes, who before had desolated England, France, and the two Sicilies. ,^ ^ CENT. XII. lii this century heresy revived with fresh vigour, and in a variety of forms, though mostly of the Manichean family. Mahometanism also again threatened to overwhelm Christianity. To oppose these, the Almighty was pleased to raise up a succession of as able and virtuous Popes as ever graced the Tiara, with a proportionable number of other Catholic cham- pions to defend his cause. I'hese were Paschal II, Qelasius II, C alixtus i(. Honorius II, Innocent II, who held the second general council of Lateran, Celeatin II, Lucius I, Eugenius III, Anastasius IV, Adrian IV, an English- fiWrSSr WtOflffay VIII, Clement III, and Celestin III. The doetorrof not? w«r«r ■^ ':l;. |__: _.._.*.,..„ peculia ' foiindei in the fii more po\ of Clbgn Lombud bert of »] of Lincol were thos of Thoult ter Waldo »es, all thi loss of th« fians and V, then i was conve tolic tree t . Still did the Jrary to all apr nnue to be fet •'"ely presided council of Vi( Gregory XI, U lil ft * * Hni mK t» j 8t. Bridget of S »ofTolentih( ^•Ww" XXVIIL peculiar to the Sea nr r» > . '** iriana a.,M I H n 196 Letter XXVlIl andrin, Corinth, fephesus, Smyrna, &c. owing »o internal dit> Bensions and external violence, the succession of their bishops Autun, &c. The Manichean abominations maintained and practiced b^ the Turliipins, Dulcinians and other sects, continued to exercise the vigi- lance and zeal of the Catholic pastors, and the Lollards of Germany, together with the Wickliffites of England, whose errors and conduct were levelled at the foundations of society, as well as of religion, were opposed by all true Catholics in their respective stations. The chief conquests of the church in this century were in Lithunia, the prince and people of which received her faith, and in Great Tartary, where the archbishopric of Cam- balu and six suffragan bishoprics were established by the Pope. Odonc, the missionary, who furnished the account of these events, is known him- self to have baptized twenty thousand converts. 4 \ • CENT. XV. The succession of I*ope8 continued through this century, though among numerous difficulties and dissensions, in the following order: Innocent VII, Gregory XII, Alexander V, John XXIII, Martin V, Eugenius, IV, who held the general council of Florence, and received the Greeks, once more, into the Catholic communion, Nicholas V, Calixtus III, Pius H, Paul II, Sixtus IV, Innocent VIII, and Alexander VI. In this age flourished St. Vincent Ferrer, the Wonder-worker, both in the order of grace and in that of nature, St Francis of Paula, whose miracles were not less numerous oi extraordinary, St. Laurence Justinian, Patriarch of Venice, St, Antonius archbishop of Florence, St. Casimir, Prince of Poland, the Venerabli Thomas a. Kempis, Dr. John Gerson, Thomas Waldensis, the learne* English Carmelite, Alphonsus Tostatus, Cardinal Ximenes, &c. At thi» period the Canary Islands were added to the church, as were, in a great measure, the kingdom^ of Congo and Angola, with other large districts in Africa and Asia, wherever the Portuguese established themselves. The Greek schismatics also, as I have said, together with the Armenians and Montholities of Egypt, were, for a time, engrafted on the apostolic tree, These conquests, however, were dampt by the errors and violence of the various sects of Hussites, and the immoral tenets and practices of the Ad- amites, and other remoants of the Albigenses. CENT. XVL This century was distinguished by that furious storm from the north, which stripped the apostolic tree of so many leaves and branches in this quarter. That arrogant monk, Martin Luther, vowed destruction to the tree itself, and engaged to plant one of those separated branches instead of it; but the attempt was fruitless; for the main stock was sustained by the arm of Omnipotence, and the dissevered boughs splitting into number- less fragments, withered, as all such boughs had heretofore done. It would be impossible to number up all these discordant sects; the chief of them were, the Lutherans, the Zuinglians, the Anabaptists, the Calvinists, the Anglicans, the Puritans, the Family of Love, and the Socinians. In the moan time, on the trunk of the apostolic tree grew the following Pontifs: Pius III, Julius II, who held the fifth Lateran Council, Leo X, Adrian VI, Clement VII, Paul III, Julius III, Marcellus II, Piul IV, Piu» IV, who concluded the Council of Trent, where 281 prelates con- demned the novelties of Luther, Calvin, &c., St. Pius V, Gregory XIll, 8ix t u» AS Urbw^VHr Qregoty ^y»^ Inm)ccnt lX,^and- ClemaatJvi U-: Other iupporteis of the Catholic and apostolic church against the attaclr* ChancelCr, Cmb7nMS!e''>'J"^°^ u"^ Rochester, sir Tl Thesects.ofwhichlh.iJr'^* ^^"- 'li«po^re.wiU.their7e;^e7vVcTe,Sr' J>. 198 Letttr XXVIIL «dTHE APOSTOLICAL S^E,|ind being the head See and centre of union of tlie whole Catholic church, furnishes the first ;; claim to its title of THE APOSTOLICAL CHURCH. But you also see, in the sketch of this mystical tree, an uninterrupt* ed series 'of other bishops, doctors, pastors, saints, and pious personages, of difTerent times and countries, through these eigh- teen centuries, who have, in their several stations, kept up the perpetual succession, those of one century having been the, in- structors of those ,who succeeded them in the next, all of them . following the same two-fold rule,'Scripture and tradition.; all of them acknowledging the same expositor of this rule, the Catholic church, and all of them adhering to the main trunk or centre of union, the apostolic See. Some of the general councils or synods likewise appear, in which the bishops from different parts of the church, under the authority of the Pope, assembled, from time to tiniOt to define its doctrine and regulate its discipline. The fshse of the sheet did not admit of all the councils being CENT. XVIII. At length ^e have mounted up the apostolic tree to our own age. Tn this heresy having sunk, for the moat part, into Socinian indifference, and Jansenism into philosophical infidelity, this last waged as cruel j;%rar against the Catholic church [and O glorious mark of truth I against her alone] as Decius and Dioclesian did heretofore: but this has only proved her internal strength of constitution, and the protection of the God of heaven. The Pontiffs, who have stoud the storms of this century, werfe Clement XI, Innocent XIII, Benedict XIV, Clciment XIII, Clement XIV, Pius VI, as at the beginning of the present century Pius VII has d^ne. Among other modern supporters and ornaments of the church, may be mentioned the Cardinals Thomasi and Quirina, the bishops Languet, La Motte, Beaumont, Challoner, >Hornyold, Walmesley, Hay and Moylan. Among the writers are Calmet, Muratori, Bergier, Feller, Oother,, Manning, Hawanlen, and Alban Butler; and among the personages distinguished by their piety, the Go»A Daupbin, his sister Louisa the Carmelite nun, his he- roical daughter Elizabeth, his other daughter Clotilda, whose beatification is now in progress, as those of bishop Liguori, and Haul of the cross, foun- der of the Fassionists ; as also FF. Surenne, Nolhac and L. Enfant, with their fellow-martyrs and the venerable Labre, &c. Nor has the a^tolical wtark of converting Infidels been neglected by the Catholic church, in the npidst of such persecutions. In the early part of the century, numberless souls were gained by Catholic preachers in the kingdoms of Madura, Co- chinchina, Tonqnio, and in the empire of f 'hina, including the peninsula of Corea. At Uie same time numerous savages were civilized and bap- tized among the Hurons, Miamis, Illinois, and other tribes of North Amer- ica. But the most glorious conquest, because the most diificult and most complete, was that gained by the Jesuits in the interior of South America over the wild savages of Paraguay, Uraguay and Parona, together with the wild Cauisians, Moxos, and Chiquites, who, after shedding the blood of some hundreds of their first preachers, at length opened their hearts to the mild and sweet truths of the (Sospel, and became models of piety and mo* ~'""" ""' — lag fit iadu a tiy, civil oiderT^nd p o lity. •xbibit the ape commit been b This e] . order ol divine a nations, this our each tin by the fi second < anus for their kii relate. cestors, I his comp ,from Ro great. ^P^97 ch ltitae8,V •nd thus, ON ■ Dbar Sir In view presenting who derive ner, their i pirisdietion apostles of pMt ages, 1 orthodox doi t^ale ordina ordained ai mission, by respective i "'•"df^nd'Bii J^Jifa^l«>.J¥. Letter XXIX. ^^^ "'i^to,iel,n;;^^^^^ »-. the continuation of committed by Chri. io rSli/ T**T ''''•'''»•"« ^« been blessed by him wiSi .... • '''""■ch. w it has never This exclusive ^i^li thHrde" i? S ' l"^ t"^ '" ^«"- order of nature, which I treated of in 1 ? '!' 1'''® **'°"« »" *e d.v.ne ^testation on her Sf slkinr«?. *'^^' " ^»-«'f» nations, I must not fail, dear sir ^P*!*»".«5 '*'® conversion of U.i« our counter has t4e Jeen ;JSj^'7? ^O"^ -odety. that each time by the apistolic htouJ««?^" ^''°" • '^««»n''"n. and by the See if RomV The fi«r.n„ ""?"°"««m. wnt hither aecoftd century, when Pom £1^^^"'"°"^'' ?'»«« « the anus for this ^irpose" to^^hrlnctTi T' ^"«*^'«' ""^ ^^-^i- their kingor^n^rVLuciua rB«. "^^ relate. The se^KJnd coiveSC^tSff »"'*. °^«' historians cestors, the English ^^xZ^^I'V^TL^t'T^^^^ •"" his compamons, at the end of the «iJtK ' 7 '^*- ^ugustm and .from Rome, on this a^stolal % " t T'V' ''i? ''*'« •«»» j,preat. LasUy, you serin th«nf:' ^^ ^°P« Gregory the r£jpy chUdreJ:Trhe chi^^^^ -erieVS un- • «nhes^3hw« their duty to d * hlVl T«f f J^'"'^ ^^' ^"^^ Wd thus, loshig the Yitdiixo??; ••"'**** *"''*/''"» *•»«"»; 7^-^ I MB, Ac. XM#it'/ 4 LETTER XXIX. To JAMES BROWN, Esq. ^c. P^.'intrSiJ;/^^^^^^ to consider it a, re- who derive not bareirtESr d^t^^u f /^"V^" «»«» prelates, ner, their m.n.«ry, Namely fS A^/t !?"°' *" 5 'P**'''* ™»»' n'mrfirtioi. to exerciM tL« Lli^'^''''^"^ the r,;^*/ or apo-tlesof Jesus ChrTst. In flc:V:c\^^' 'T''"""" *« pa?t ages, has not been more iSuL „f i*°*''' *'.*"''«''• '" *» or/W«« rfocrrwe, than of th^ eoui?lv .. '^^ f^'^^ deposite of male ordination, by bisLs wh^„ .i^ *^?*'* ^«P°«'tes offc«/.. ordained and ic3 and «f '??'•*" ^'"^ '"'•° ^ghtly fnission, by which she amhoS^^^^^^^^^^ « ^••'««- ^°;ive function, in -^^^^ rX:^^r!!!l!?t «ch «.d .uch pe«on., and^Z Zk STTucS'^S^l » "<• soo Letter XXIst. •he, by the depositaries of this jurisdiction, is pleased to ordain. Thus, my dear sir, every CatHtolic pastor is authorized and en- abled to address his flock as follows : The word of God which 1 announce to you, and the holy sacraments which I dispense to you, I am QUALlFfED to announce and dispense by such a ■ Catholic bishop, who was consecrated bif such, another Catholic bishop, and so on, in a series, which reaches to the apostles them- selves : and I am AUTHORIZED to preach and mtnistetto you, by such a prelate, who received authority, for this purpose, from the successor of St. Peter, in the apostolic See of Rome. Here- tofore, during a considerable tiiihe, the learned jtnd conscientious • divines of the church of England held the sajne principles, on/ both these points, that Catholics have ever Ke19, and were no less firm in maintainingp the divine right of episcopacy and the ministry than we are. This appears from ihe works of one who was, perhaps, the most profound and jtccurate amongst them, the celebrated Hooker. He proves, at great length, that the ecclesia-stical ministry is a divine function, [nstiuitod by God, and deriving its authorify from God, " in a v^y-^Hfereiit man- ner from that of princes and magistrates :" that it is " a wretch- ^ blindness nol to admire so great a power as that, which the ctttgy are endowed with, or to suppose that ihy but God can bestow it :" that •« it consists in a power over the mystical body of Christ bv the remission of sins, and over hia natural bMy in the sacramfnt, which antiquity doth call the making of Christ's body.*'* He distinguishes between the power of orders and the authority of mission or jurisdiction, on both which points he is supported by the canons and laws of the establishment. Not to speak of prior laWs ; the act of uniformity ,t provides that no minister shall hold any living, or officiate in any church, who has not received episcopal ordination. It also requires that ]te shall be appi^ved and licensed for his particular place frnd/unc/iofi. This is also clear'from the form of induction of a clerk into any cure.| ' In virtue of this system, when Episco- ?Bcy was re-established in Scotland, in the year 1662, four 'resbyterian ministers having been appointed by the king to that oflice,, the English bishops refused to consecrate them, un- less they consented to be previously ordained deacons and priests, thus renouncing thein" former ministerial (character, and acknowledging that they had hi|herto been menlli^ymen-^ lu f • EcciesiMt. Politic. B. v. Art. 77. t Stat. 13 and 14 Car. 2,«. 4. t " Curam et regimen animaruoi rarochianonim tibi commitUmaH. t Coll i er's Ecd . Hint . Vol , ji . p . 8 87 ; jb ^eaw from the wme hi s t o ry tbat four ^iSerlScotch minTsterst, who hadl^erly permitted themfelvM to ^ (-. ■y 301 shops and twenty divines wis Lno^ni 3 .''»'"""«>«n of ten bi- and liturgj- of the estaW shT Sh for thT'^''^ the article. JOff a coalition with the dissentor. ^» *- ^! purpose of form- among them, such as TilloS 1h R^P^^^ '''IV 'he most lax baron Hales and mhe lT?o,d?t •""> '^^^^^^^^ ministers ahould, at leU V i'f ''"'';!'* *"* *« dissenting th.» far mire laymen L a wTd Hf ^ .rt'"^'''* »» heinf practice of the established chuTrh « /i. '^*" ''"'"*" *« he th? all dissenting Proterm ministers' oJ t. P^^^V^ay. to ordain over to her, whereas, she neler attemnt-^ d««cnpto„„who go tate Catholic hriest who «S[!1 i- ^l! to re-ordain. an apos- satisfied with h". takTn ° .^^^^.^^'^'^'f »<> her servive, but is doctrine of tllietlthrntetdttr^^^^^^^^ '^^ J"''" Im expresses it, all other Prot««t«nI^ ^nihurches, as Dr. ftey. established principle that yj^^ *'°'"'"""'°"'' !•«« " an equal evide„L.'!r«t;irtL^Li;'^:7 "' '^T*'* «?'«»-^'* mmously ftosalVed, in 1575 that h,i?* ""^^ this church una- byany Jen,onbutkTawfur^^^^^^^^^^ «- P^'forSd Jf ^ttRct^^^^^ opinions, we England, hare made of aDostolLf^r *°*?' *"*P* »'"'»« o*" ordination. Luther's orinK.lu"*'*'**'^ '^'^ episcopal his famous i^Xj-aK^FALSELTpP? ?.'? '''«" ^^> 'hops,^ where he says. « Give ear i J ^^^^l^ '"^"' "f^'* you visors of the deiil • D? LutW wUi y°" '^"^opa. ^^ "ther , Reform, which will not i.o»n,i . . -^'^ ""^"^ 3^°" » Bull and a Bull and Refor^ is ir^hn '"' '" ^T «*"• ^'- Luther'* and fomnes,r^ay wa«; vi?lnl 'P""^- *^"" 'ahour. person,^ the government o/£;s.^r,V^^^^^^^^^^^^ J^ATr^^^^ Jh^at account, excommunicated and do- in he principles of the celebrated^? ul ^^"- '" ** ^'«*««rf«ry. that » A4ven.u, falao Nomin. fc^/j, j.„, a. d. 1585. SOS Utur XXIX. Christians, «nd opposera of the devil's ordinanciss. On th« other hand, whoever support the government of bishops, and willingly obey them, they are the devil's ministers," Ac. True it is, that afterwards, namely, in 1^42, this arch*reformer, to gratify his chief patron, the Elector of Saxony, took upon him* self to consecrate his bottle companion, Amsdorf, bishop of Naumburgh :* but, then, it is notorious, from the whole of his conduct, that Luther set himself aboji'e all law, and derided con-/' sistency and decency. Nearly th^ same may be said of an* other later reformer, ^ohn Wesley, Who, professing himself to be a Presbyter of the church of Enlgland, pretended to ordain Messrs. Whatcoat, Vesey, Sic. priests, and to consecrate Dr. Coke a bishop /f With equal inconsistency, the elders of Hem* huth in Moravia, profess to consecrate bishops for England and o^er kingdoms. On the other hand, how averse the Calvin- ism, and other dissenters, are to the very name as well as the office of bishops, all modem histories, especially those of En* gland and Scotland, demonstrate. But, -in short, by whatever name, ^whether of bishbps, priests, deacons, or pastors, these ministers respectively cau.theinselves, it is/undeniable, that they are all stlf-appointed, or, at niost, they derive their claim from other men, wlu> themssfviAwere self-appiMed, fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen hundred yearsUibsequent to the\ine of the apostles. The chief qudstioa wliich remains jto be quicussed concerns the ministry of the^hurch of England : nardelyTwhether the fir^t Protestant bishops, appointed by queen EiizabeUi, when the Ca* tholic bishops were turned out of their Sees, did or did not re- ceive valid consecration from somtftother bishop, who, himself, was validly consecrated ? The discussion of this question has filled many volumes, the result of which is, that the orders are, to say the least, exceedingly doubtful. For, first, it is certain that the doctrine of the fathers of this. church was very loose, as to the necessity of consecration and ordination.. Its chief founder, Cranmer, solemnly subscribed his name to the position, that princes and governors, no less than bishops, can make priests, and that no consecration is appointed by Scripture to make a bishop or priest.^ in like manner, Barlow, on the validity of * Sleidan, Comment. L. 14. t Dr. Whitehead's Life of Charles and John Wesley. It appears that Charles was horribly scandalized at this step of his brother John, and that a lasting schism amon^ the Wesleyan Methodists was the consequence of it. t Burners Hist, of Reform. Records, B. iii. N.. 21. See also his Rec. Part ii. N. 3, by which it appears that Cranmer and the other complying pre- ^atefrtoote-etti^f f ew hCom miHMonBOfl-the^deBtlHrf Henry VHIyftoa^-Etwwi' YI, to govsr^ their dioceses, duruTUe benqplacitot like mere civil officeis. -tgir. Letter XXIX. SOf whose contecration that of Matthew Parker arid of dl succeed* mg Anghcan bishops chiefly rests, preached opsnly thaJ A^ ^VaTshoT-^Vr^r '^^^ '"'**" -hatsoe^^r/suSctst make a bishop.* This doctrine seems to have been broached Sc^L^ "^V^"" "J'j*'^*^**" *^* '^^ ^'»»«'f ^»d never beTn coJ.- I«S t ■" ^''*'?*'. '"'^"'^ «'■ "'"'^ » transaction hT^n hunted for in vain, during these two hundred years. SeconX SaThoilc Si;?"™ 'u T^ t ^^"^'^versy, still extant, tha" tSi AUen whoTr»; ^'"?'^^' ®'i"°''' '^^^P'^*""' «"d Cardinal with aI fi J^ f *"* '^"r?*"^^"'« *"** intimately acquainted kJ V wftW ^,T«5«"» •""hops, under Elizabeth, and particu- hrly with Jewel, bishop of Sarum, and Home, bishop of Win- they never had been consecrated at all, and that the latter in ed [h« ^r"**"" '^P'^'?' "r ' -''''«?»««» «f ^« challengeTrefi. IrlSn *'^"S«' <>*?'''»« than by ridicuUng the Catholic conse- fC tt ll • '** -^^ " f^r"^ ^^»* ^^' ^ ''''^''^ of fifty yea« •S«„ M b«g>nning of the controversy, namely in the yew 1613. when Mason, chaplain to archbishop Abbot, published a work IeS?is« rH*''T^n"l«''^' *' Lambeth, o? archbiShop P*: thi wZHr^K^•^ ^"•''^' **^'«^'' by Coverdale and others, the learned Cathohcs universally exclaimed that the Register Z^Tf ^' '^™"'"f ^* '° •»« •••"«' »' ^'^ of no avail. asX Seet h»f consccrator ^. n wKich the essence of the sacerdotiun,, o/priJh£j^ cdn- ^A «°^. ^cfo-^drng to the same ordinal, bishops were conse- crated without the communication of any fresh Jower whatso- n^liT" i!-,7®°^r of episcopacy, by a/«m-whlch might bo used to a chUd, when confirmed or bapUxed.^ This was • Cplliert Eccl. Hwt. Vol. ii. p. 135. t Kichardson, in his notes on Godwin's Commentsry.ia forced to cmttmm u follows: " Dies consecrationis eius f Rarl™.^ „«„^ .J'^„»'2 "5^^ irJ^— ««ce»'^e tne Holy Ghost: whose sins thou dost fbnive. thev are for. wthfJl dtanen^ of'thT" ««?« 'egH". they "e retained: and be thou gg^ L C yu to lo^y ig£!^°^ - '"'' "^ "'^ "" 'y R»m m s n f _ gL"^^c1 — ^^^ ?'"^*' *""* 'emember that thou stir an the crace ol t«d. which IS in thee by the imposition of haads.»-Ibid. p. IsT * 304 LttUr XXIX. agreeable to the maxims of the principal author of that ordinal Cranmer, who solemnly decided that " bishops and priests were' no two things, but one and the same offiqe."* On this subject our controvertists urge, not only the authority of all the Latin and Greek ordinals, but tdso the confession of the above-men- tioned Protestant divine, Mason, who says, with evident truths " Not every form of words will serve for this institution (con- veying orders) but such as aire significant of the power con- voyed by the order."t In short, these objections were so pow- erfully urged by our divines. Dr. Champney, J. Lewgar, S. T. B4 and others, that almost Immediately after the last named had published his work containing them, called Erastus Senior, namely, in 1662, the convocation, being assembled, it altered the form of ordaining priests and/ consecrating bishops, in order to obviate those objections.^ But admitting that these -alterations are sufficient to obviate a// fhe bbjections of our divines to the ordinal, which they are not; they came above a hundred years tod late for their intend^dd j^urpose ; so that if the priests and bishops of Edward's and Elizabeth's reigns were in validly or- dained and consecrated, so mjust those of Charles II.'s reign, and their successors, hflve been also. However long I have d^elt on this subject, it is not yet ex- hausted : the case is, therle is the same necessity of an apostol- ical succession of missiorJ or authorjjty, to execute the functions of holy orders, as there is of the holy orders themselves. This mission, or authority, wks imparted by Christ to his apostles, when he said to them, 'As the Father hath rent me, I also send you. Mat. xx. 21, mi of this St. Paul also speaks, where he says of the apostles. How can they preach unless they are sent ? Rom. X. 15. I believe, sir, that no regular Protestant church, or so- ciety, admits its minister, to have, by their ordination or ap- pointment, unlimited authority in every place and congregation : certain it is, from the ordinal and articles of the established \ ■ • Burnet's Hist, of Reform, vtol. i. Record, b. iii. n. 21, quest 10. t Ibid. B. ii. c. 16. J Lewgv was the friend of Chillingwprth, and by him converted to the Catholic faith, which, however, he refused to abandon, when the latter re- lapsed into Latitj^narianism* , 9 The form ofVrdaining a priest was thus altered: " Jleccive the Holy ' Ghost for the office and work of a priest in the church of Gkxl, now com- ' mitted to thee by the imposition of our hands: Whose sins thou shalt for- give, they are forgiven," &c— The form of consecrating a bishop was thus enlarged: «« Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a bishop in the church of God, now committed uAto thee by the imposition of our hands, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of ^e Holy Ghost i ~~ r. t&at tbott «Ur tip thdgiace oT^l^wUch if ia Aim." ty of public wor.h,> and tCfore T"™*"^' «ff«cta .he pun. by every nincere%hZi^^ T^T"''^ u*^ ^ investigated have preserved apostolical «or^!li«"°/^® *''*"'*'h«»^hich that in all Protestam SLrS.? • "' ' "'°"'°''" believe the authority by ^TchTherDreLhTnT'^'r "^ P««"«^««» Aat is. soine hoi;r or another. Sb;?'* ^'tl '^''^ ''""•"ion- serve to you, dear sir and vn;., '■ °" ^^'^ ^<«^» ^ "wt ob- ^oway/by which dkineLro„T''^k *•*•** *^«'« "« ^nlX or communicated; the^ne S ° fr^^'l^^ *"»" ^e proved The former takes place when tht 7.; '^* ^'^^' ""raardinarv. ' ular succession froVthore whn 1 • ^^f**^ "* transmitted in reg. the other., whence A?migh^ Z^^^ '''''''^ '* ^""» ^"d^ manner, and immediately comJ^^^^^ make known his willTLn Thrf'., "^'^''i ^"'^^*^«'"»J» «« . qujes indisputable miracles to attest it L'„'h ''f\'!'^^r'^y "• and our Saviour Christ, who were sen i„.i? *«»«^!"g'y Moses ly appealed to the prodigies thevw~lht ^ "*"- '^' *'°"'''^*" vme mission. Hence fve„ n JJ !. '^J^"^^ "'^ ^^eir di- their followers. theTnaZ".te ^^^^^^^^^ ^"^'^^^ *"d ^ tions throuirh Lower 0«rmoi * "P'®*"!. their errors and devastk. these queslnilo Jh^tTno V^^^^^^^^ the magistrates to p*:!; « applicable to himself 'ai to ^cSj^.tl^rl""' '"^f* the ofce of preachinir ? And wlw? ^ • *<'"/"^«'' «P«i you If they answer, (?«rff then let Th^^rT*""**^ y"" **» P'«««h ? «* by some evidenfmSe U L pS^^^^^^ "*J^' /"^"^ ^^^^^ when he changes theSuiion,^?*^ T^'. ^""""^ bis^will, ed."t Should this adricfcJtrfi^^'^r''''^*^^^^^^^ be followed in this a^L and coSmr" wtT^''^ *' magistrates Mr, and expounders of the Bihl« w^' u u '"!*"°' "'^ sermoni- For. on onrhand. it s notorfl °hat thV*'^"'''* ,^"^°''«- prophets. whor«„' mtho^n^Tjen}'^^ ^ "V'^pimntM,, commission, they derive it fmm^A ' °''^*^,*ey pretend-to *-' received none, wd who ddTJ ' T"' "^^^ themselves had lar succession' Sm t aiXs'^ "such*' *^'T r* t^ '^ff"' •uch also were Zuindius CaM^' iir ^'^ ^"*«'" ^'""elf; George Fox, Zin3r?We D WhSJ^'T'c''"^'* ^""^ None of these preacher,! :^r hT;e^Sa. t^^J^^'^^ V \ ^^,»uup norne. » Sleidan. De StU. Reljg. 1. t. 18 J .«j '■'^^ *i-* 4. Utttr XXIX. /fetr. «•^'■'' :>. tended tp have ««ceived their mission from Christ in ikt ordi marjf uMry, hy uittKterrupted succession from the apostles. On the other hand, they were so far from undertaking to work rest miracles, by way of proving they have received att extraordinary mission from God, that, as^^rasmus reproached theAi; they could not so much as cure a lame horse, in proof of their divine legation. * Should ydur friend, the Rev. Mr. Clark, see this letter, he will doubtless exclaim, that, whatever may be the caow with dis-| senters, the chuh^h 6( England, at least, has received her ^ ■ion and authority .^geth^r with her orders, by regulv^su^ sion from the apostles, through the C&fhottc bishops, iii f' ,^ ninary way. In fact, this is plainly^ asserted by tk<> bishoj^'of *; Lincoln* But take notice, dear ^ir, that though we, were to ad- mit of an apostolical spcc6ssion of orders in the established ehurcn, we never could admit of an apostolical succession of mis— sion, jurisdiction, or right to exercise those orders in that church : nor can its plergy, with any consistency, lay the least claim to it For, first, if the (JathoMta church, that is to day« its "Laity and elegy, all sectA and degrees, were drowned in abominable idolatry, inost detested of God\ and damnable to man, for the •pace of eight ^Jl^ta^dred years,** as the Homilies affirm,f how could she retaiij^lffi divine mission and jurisdiction, all^this time, and employ them in commissioning her clergy all this time to preach up this "detestable idolatry ?" Again, was it possible for th9 Catholic church to give jdrisdiction and authority, for example, to archbishop Parker, and the bishops JeweLand Home, to preach against herself? Did ever any insurgents against an established government, 'except the regicides in the grand rebel- lion, claim authority from that very government to fight against it, and-d«iltroy it V In a word, we perfectly well know; from his* tory, that the first English Protestants did not profess, any more thap foreign Protestants, to derive any mission or authority what- Boever from the apostles, through Those of Henry^reign preached an ■U authority, eco^iastical and civil ' reign of Edward and Elizabeth clai •ion to preach andTto minister frotti Catholic church, in defiance pfi essorsr _ jrightanl power only.^ This « Elem of Theol. toL ii. p. 400. t Collier's Hist'. Vo). U. p. 81 t Againat the Perils of Idolatry, P. :il for t Ardibishop Abbot having incurred auspension by the canon law, for accidentally shooting a man, a royal (commission was lasued to restore him. I>D anotbft occasibn he was suspended by the Icing himself, ,for refusing to icen8e^lK)ok. In Elizabeth's reign, the bishops approved ot propkesying, w i t wMj al l ed. t h e q ueen d i sa ppr o v eii of i t . md she oM i yed th e m te ^fflL- .;-i^.-- w^ LttUr XXtJL ' -^ ^jjf ^^P-Poral., from he alot w5T«"' " ''•" "» f^'"'"''' ^rgJbhitig is clear from a series of 1 . T*" ~y"'- '''^e ' ^Tiergy in mat,erpure,;2rl7.1f ^^^^^^ --l-«»i«f fofc/nn*. the prohibition «/" „r«-! * • " ^ *''* pronouncing , preacAing, the giving ^j{jy''''n''«* ^^^ inhibition of Jl ? all the temporal and civil r^l .<"?eerlu Ny aacribe to my sovereiim ' -hich the'^onSoTan^^^^ that Christ appointed any tomnl^r„r^*' ^ 5""' ' •'"""ot believ. . oranypart of h,orrexSn P""'°JJ'-^"''*"'"y*''««n fact, it Jrown itaelf, to . foS CavTnTatlr"^Vr '''*"«*' '^"'^ ^ ,by a lay assembly. on^Mahoml^^ ?n«^u '*"'" '*««° »«"le** » *°""d doctrine, •itm given to his tZunfZx !/«""""«» -on of Christ's comis- the Catholic apostKh'rh'^'j;"'^«'*.'»>'*eir successors in there is and caVbe nolJ^J'^L^fl^ '\ c»«"ly appears that eaUblished church C^Zn^tZ^T''''' ^ "'•'""''y *" '»*• tiea of Protestants. All theTr ireaoM ''°J^«'.^mioiin or socio- .ereral degrees, is ^^mTr™"! ?*'"™r""?' ^" »b^^^ the other hand not a««rm«„ ^ C* *'"^'» '<«Mori/y J On - „ -O'ap«niten7;bscived.rap7e7o^^^^^ »'»?»•«"♦ U .ecrated, throughout th^ ^Ue^TxtL! o?t1?' Tl ??^^"P ''^''^ I »»'houtthemiSsterof8uchfunoHltl° *''t.^^^^ *''"'rch, ■ thority from Christ for what hlT^ ^T^ *"* ^ «^°^ his au' to his apostles?5« i:if „^;^^^^^^ ^T '*""?"'"" °^ C^^"-» ite r ; tiS'^ iS ff - - "^^ s ti 2 j ^ £}ir &t w: ^. ^'. sd» r L$Uer XXX. iind without being, able to prove his claim to that commission of Christ, by producing the table of his uninterrupted succession rom the apostles. I will not detain you by entering into a com- parison, in a religious point of view, between a ministry, which officiates by dtvtR« authorityt and others which act 1^ mere hu* man authority ; but shall conclude this subject by putting it to the good sense and candour of your society, whether, from all that has been said, it is not as evident, which, among the differ- ent communions, is THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH we profess to beUeve in, as which ia THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ? Ifm,"&c. J. M. ' LETTER XXX. » T* . To JAMES BROWl^ Esq. ^. . objections answered. ~~ Dear Sir, I FIND that your visiter, the Rev. Mr. Clark, had not left yon at the latter end of last week ; since it appears, by a letter which I have received from him, that he had seen my two last letters, addressed to you at New Cottage. He is much displea^d with their contents, which I am not surprised at ; and he uses some harsh expressions against them and their ai^thor, of which 1 ^o not complain, as he was not a party to the agreement entered in^ at the beginning of our correspondence, by the tenor of which I was left at full liberty to follow up my arguments to, whatever lengths they might conduct me, without and person of the soci- ety being oflfended with me on that account. I shall pass over the passages in the letter which seem So have been dictated by to'i warm a feeling, and shall confine my answer to those which cdntain something like argument against what I have advanced^ The Reverend gentleman, then, objects against the claim ojf our pontiffs to the ap<^tolic succession ; that in different ages this succession hae been intenrupted, by the contention of rival Popes ; and that the* lives of many of them have been so crimi- nal, that according to my own arguments, as he says, it is in- credible that such pontiffs should have been able to preserve and convey the commission and authority given by Christ to his apostles. I grant, sir, that, from the various commotions and accidents to which all sublunary things are subject, there have been several vacancies^xtr- interre gn uma in the Papacjq- but none of them have beeu of such a lengthened duration as to prevent a moral conlinuatioa of the Popedom, or to hinder the church, partiaularirone ieai^oW "".*"*P**y «*'^'"""' •« *« teenth and the bi^fnnC S tl fiSl "Jk"' '^^ *"«* «^ *« «»«- Pope was alwaysTarillooJM**'"*^^''*".*"^ «<»" »b« tn«<^ "gX and in the e7d w^^ck^^^^^^^ *^™«? *« "« ^P^^- L««tly, I grant thara W 1?« pl^*"^ *T "^^ ^« opponents. the whole number. swerTinI from Af' ^''^.^^V ^"**^ P*'* "^ by their ;«r«,„«/ S disfrLoIS ^ *"i!"P'^ °^ *^« '««' have. Aese Pop^alwaySllKt iJ'' i«^r «»«»ion: but even' maintaining the aZlohJll^.^^^*" duties to the church by the apostolical oXf aS tt ""^'.T"" " ^"" " "Peculative, misconduct chiefly fired tbLT'^^'"?' '""^'"' ' »*> ^^at their aflect the church.^ SS"? whit T h"^''-.'^"'* ^'^ "°* essentially that the whole church hid bL«n «./ "'^"'i'*^' *®™ ^«'« true, hundred yeai«." "he muVt hal 1"T?'^ in idolatry for eigh rhose. whim she orL"e?toTIi..?^^^^ commissioned aU •he never could haJe Se ^^atll " ^T"' 'P^-^^^' ''^^^ commission and authority toTal-n "-^ *""f "'""«<* Christ's demonstrates the inconSst^lv ^r .f "**r» *« Gospel. This lishment, who accuse trS?f*r ff^^"" *»^ »*»« «»»««». atiy. and at the same t me W nf E^-*'^ ""^ ''^^'^ *°d idof- pIodeTfrbrorjo^Xri?:^^^^^^^^^ «»-^-' - *« ex- termed, when aiich men as the rS'"'^^'' '> .^'^'^"•'y ""^X be the inadel Ba^le have abi.?! 9**"""* ]»» n«ter -Blondel, and cumstances pf the fable tl^i?f *""** '^^^'^^^'' But the cir- cording to these in tW mwT p'^t ""^^^en^X wfute it. Ac --anf fori at' Sent 1^^ Vl^ ".'"* Ti"^. »" English Athens, where there wa^ no s^K"?' nh?lf '1. ^^^''TP'^^ »» century, more than there is nn«r . °/ P^^'osopby "» the ninth It is pretended Zt bein^ olS P '""«'** 1'""'*^ "» ^«'"«- IV in 855, she y^^ddZVdVf FT' ''I ** ^«»* «f ^eo a solemn proces7^n near tht "f- li-*''''' ** **** '*" «''^»^'ng in and moreover, thlta "/«7«L «/•! '"'""ll ""'^ '^'"^ «" *« «?<>» J of the disgracy-Teven , Th^^^^^ in memorjl the learnfd conceS the Jr.? ^7if ''T ^ "^ '*«'»»»«« ^"'ong concerning the L, "Za fons S .h«"^°' '"'^ 't'l ''*'•''"•■'* ^*>«. «"d which mention v^tAtTe-nrT^'**^ more than two hundred years iCthl """' T^"' ^'"*^ ^"^ *■"' years after the period in quesUon : and t ^ p.!!J ?.^'"^".g; Polonus, fcr. 910 Letter XXX. in the mean time, we are assured, from the genuine works of - contemporary writers and distinguished preh|tes, some of whom then resided at Rome, such as Anastasius the librarian, Luit^ > prand, Hincmar, archbishop of Rheims, Photius of C. P. Lupis Ferrar, &c. that Benedict III. was canonically elected Pope fn the said yi^ 855, only three days after the death of Leo IV, . which evi^ntly leaves no interred for the pontificate of th^e fab- ulous Joan. From the warfare of attack, my Reverend antagonist passes * to that of defence, as he terms it. In this he heavily complains of my not having done justice to the Protestants, particularly in the article of foreign missions. On thi« head, he enumerates the different societies, existing in this country, for carrying them on, and the large sums of money which they annually raise M. this purpose. . The societies, I learn from him, are the follo«li^|^ 1st, the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, caUewl yt)i4b Bartlet Building Society, which, though strictly of the E^f^A.^ ment, employs missionaries in India to the number of siz,^ Germans, and it should seem, all Luthera^. 2dly, There is the Society for propagating Christianity in the English colonies ; but I hear nothing of ita doings. 3dly, There is another for the conversion of negro slaves, of which I cantmly aay, ditto. 4thl7, There is another for sending missionaries to Africa and the East, concerning which we are equally left in the dark. Sthly, There is the London Missionary Society, which sent out the ship Daff, with certain- preachers and their wives, to Otaheite, Tongabatoo, and the Marquesas, and published a journal of the voyage, by , which it appears that they are strict Calvinists, and Indepen- dents. 6thly, The Edinburgh Missionary Society franternizes with the last mentioned. 7thly, There is an Arminian Mission- ary Society under Dr. Coke, the head of the Wesleyan Metho- dists. Sthly, There is a Moravian Missionary Society, which appears more active than any others, particularly at the Cape, and in Greenland and Surinam. To these, your visiter says, must be added, the Hibernian Society for diffusing Christian knowledge in Ireland ; as ^so, and still more particularly, the Bible Society, with all its numerous ramifications. Of this last named, he speaks glorious things, foretelling that it will, in its progress, purify the world from infidelity and wickedness. In answer to what has been stated, I have to mention several marked differences between the Protestant and the Catholic mis- sionaries. The former preached various discordant religions; forvwhat religions can be naore opposite than the Calvinistic and the Anuiniau ? AUd how indignknt would a churchman feel, if ' f Letter XXX. »11 Wherew the SoZZI^}- '^V*/" «'"* of Otaheite.* envoys of^hose soriotioa f...i „^ """P giooe. secondly, the preach, buin tW Serived r™m"T"""'°" ''I *"*«"»y ^ Contributed money to U^r^^^ «"» ^°™en» who /*aoe no< mi./ th^. V "^'''^^yages and accommodations. SiMrl? • T^ ^®/® frequently incumbered with wives anS of a smgle martyr of any kind, in Asia. aIIc.; or AmerTJ^^^^^ pr^cL^ SHse of their Z^s to' SZct^P"'"* "T°*"' ^^'''^ T ^.i ' "* " * ^ M iiyi ag flw^nns-oirii «nial, Jbnp^^ •(auMt it~> S13 Letter XXJ^ few are the countries in which the Christian religion has been planted by Catholic priests, without being watered with some of their own blood and of ;4iat of theil^ converts. To say nothing of the martyrs of a late date in the Catholic missions of Turkey, Abyssinia, Siara, Tonqdin, Cocbind^na, &c., there has been an almost' continual persecution of the Catholics in the 'empire of China, for about a hundred years past, which, besides con- fessors of the faith, who have^endured various tortures, has pro- duced a very great number of martyrs, native Chinese as well as Europeans ; laity as well as priests and bishops.* Within these two years,! the wonderful apostle of the great Peninsula of Cores, to the east of China, James Ly, with as many as one hundred of his converts, has suffered death for the faith. In the islands of Japan, the anti-christian persecution, excited by the envy and avarice of the Dutch, raged with a fury unexampled in the records of Pagan Rome. It began with the crucitixion of twenty-six martyrs, most of them missionarites. It then pro- ceeded to other more honible martydoms, and it concluded with pdlting to death as many as eleven hundred thousand Chris tians.| Nor were those numerous and splendid victories of the Gospel in the provinces of South America achieved without tor- < rents of Catholic blood. Many of the first preachers were slaugh tered by the savages to whoin they announced the Gospel, and not unfrequently devoured by them, as was the case with the first bishop of Brazil. In the last place, the Protestant missions have never been attended with any great success. Those heretofore car- ried on by the Dutch, French, and American Calvinists, seemed to have been more levelled at the destruction of the Catholic missions, than at the conversion of the Pagans.^ In later times, * Hiat de I'Egliae par Berault Bercastel, torn. 23, 33. Butler's Lives of the Saints, Feb. 6, Mem. Eccles. pour lo 18 Si6c. t Namely, in 1601. While this work is in the press, we receive an ac- count of the martyrdom of Afgr. Dufresse, bishop of Tabraca, and Vicar apostolic of Sutchuen, in China, who was beheaided there Sept. 14, 1815, and of F. J. de Frior, missionary in Chiensi, who, after various torments, was strangled, Feb. 13, 1816. t Berault Bercastel says two millions, tom. 20. • It is generally known, and not denied by Mosheim himself, that tlia extermination of the flourishing missions in Japan is to be ascribed to the Ehitch. When they became masters of the Portuguese settlements in In- dia, they endeavoured, by persecution as well as by other means, to make the Christian natives abandon the Catholic religion to which St. Xavierand his companions had converted them. The Calvinist preachers having ikiled in their attempt to proselyte the Brazilians, it happened that one of their pyrty, James Sourie, took a merchant vessel at sea with forty Jesuit mUsJijnar i es, under F. Azevedo, on bo a r d gf it, bound to ^raai>rWh en,j a '"Rt&efllo^aiem and their destination, he put them all to death. The year missionanee ■—>-•- ■*«etei» I J -5 Letter XXX. 5,3 extending over from thirty Tfort mUli^n. nf^^ and those were alL^TaS'SrarrrrLr SUS^ «y "JhevTrrbT"? V^'^'i o^whom.-theiHnstrTto™ S^ionsX^en?. tI ."""^.J^^'^^* »««'«"« ^o *« Catholic r^Sra^dataT^Trrfiiet^^^^^ ism and converted to Christianitv hv ro.k!.i; l i'agan- come still nearer to our own time • P n^..^!.!* i • ^ r«l»1Tt *'°°^«r«'d «>d regenerated eight Souslnd wC he seiUed his mission wi.h his blood. By the lateVt re7ur^« :^of theXrh" ST" *'^ ^.'"'«™ missioUL tole dK TeJn^^rsf^Te^T""'^'A^'r''»Sr''i' gears' that in the western disJnct of Tonquui. during the five yeariT^ecedine the beg inmng of this century, four thousand onJ Sfed and one prive US of it " ^ • "^ "*** '^•' "• Chrfstians, you try to de- iraiMMt. of Prot Mum. quoted in Edinb. Review, April, im!^ 114 LttttrXXX. lower part of Cochinchins, nine hundred grown JMrsons had been baptized in the course of two years, iMsides vast numbers of children. The empirtf of China contains six bishops and ^ some hundreds of Oatholic priests. In a single province of it Sutchuen, during the year 1796, fifteen hundred adult)*' were baptized, and two thousand five hundred and twenty-sev^n Cate- chumens were received for instruction.;^ By letters of a later • date from the above mentioned martyr Dufresse, bishop of Ta- braca and Vic. Ap. of Sutchuen^ it appears; that dhring the year 1810,.in spite of a severe persecution, niqi? hundred and sixty- '-^.five adults were baptized, and during 1814, though the persecu- toon increased, eight hundred and twenty-nine, without te6\um, tag infants, received baptism. Bishop Lamo!te, Vic. App5~ Fokien, testifies that, in his district, during the year 18L(a(^ten thousand three hundred and eigh^-four infants, and ortethou- •sand six hundred and seventy-seven grown persons^ere bap- tized, and two thousand six hundred and seventy-fi^r Catechu- mens admitted. From this short specimen, I twist, dear sir, it will appear manifest to you, on which Christian society God bestows his grace to execute the work of th^ apostles, as well as to preserve their doctrine, their orders and their mission. As to the wonderful effects whifeh your visiter expects from toe BibU Society, and the three score and three translations into foreign tongues of the English translation of the Bible, in the conversion of the Pagan worid, I beg leave to ask him, who is to vouch to the Tartars, Turks, and idolaters, that the Testa- mAts and Bibles, which the society is pouring in upon thera, were inspired by the Creator ? Who is to answer for these translations, made by oflicers, merchants, and merchants' clerks, being accurate and faithful ? Who is to teaqlrthese barbarians to read, and, after that, to make any thing like a connected sense of the mysterious volumes ? Does Mr. C. really think that an inhabitant of Otaheite, when he is enabled to read the Bible, will extract the sense of the 39 Articles or of any other Christian system whatever from it ? In short, has the Bible Society, or any of the other Protestant societies, converted a single Pagan or Mahometan by the bare text of Scripture ? When such a convert can be produced, it will be time enough for me to pro- pose to him those further gravelling questions which result from nay observations on the. Sacred Text in a former letter to you. In the mean time let your visiter rest assured, that the Catholic ehurch will proceed in the old and successful manner, by which „^j*"m^''^'^^^.?^ ^j*.^ Christian, people on tha fafiw nf thw earth ; the same, wKehlJhrisi delivered to his apostles im^^ their snecesson /•■ Letfr XXX. 315 •necessors: Oojft into all the world and preach tke Gospel to every creature Mark. xvi. 15. On the other hand, how iuSory the genlleman's hopes are, that the depravity of this age and country will be reformed by the effort* of the Bible Sociefy. has been victoriously proved by the Rev. Dr. Hook, who, with other clear sighted churchmen, evidently sels that the grand principle 1.V ?m"\""' «»"<''J'y deduced to practice, would uildermine their estabhshment. One of his brethren, the Rev. Mr. Gis- V I' ?u S,"S'*''l *^"""^' *^** ^^ proportion to the opposition, which the Pible Society had met with^ite annual iniSne S increased, tUl it reached near a hundred thousand pounds in a year : Dr. Hook, in return, showed, by lists of the convictions of cnrnmals during the first seven years of the society's existence, hS IJITk "r u 'h *^"°*'^y' •""'^'^ °^ »>"»ff diminished had almost been doubled !* Since that period up to the present ^It^'lr '"creased three-fold andfottr-fold, compared with its state before the society began. *^ v*"t «• POSTCRIPT. I HAVE now, dear sir, completed the second task which I mi. dertook, and therefore proceed to sum up my evidence. Hav- KSfl^TiT®^ '" my twelve former letters, the rough copies of which I have preserved, that the two alleged rule? of faith, that of prtvate msptration and that of private interpretation of Sertpture, are equally fallacious, and that there is no certain way lUTlX n»f •*"""I^?'' '*•"•"" '•e»>elation but by hearing thit church which Christ built on a rock and promised to abide with for ITtl t^S?^^ ' '" ft'' ^y *«*'*'"'* ««"«» «f letters, to demon- sttatewhich^ among Ithe different societies of Christians, is the church that Christ f(Xnded and still protects. For this purpose I have had recourse to the principal characters or markV of •'yJit^fLi ^'« convicHoM, in London and Middlwex, in the followimr yeiw . from Dr. Hooka Charge, and t he London Chronicle • «'"«'*"« Convictiona 728 8631 884I 872' 998 lOia'loa? '2299 2592 3177 m the year 1808 180911810 181 1 1812 181311814 118151816 1817 /.SffrnXSa'chfifl!!'' '^ ^"^"' ^""°« ">• ^''™" •«-••» |272.3|3238|3l58|3163|3913|4482|4025f 310 Letttr XXX. Christ^* ekurpk, as they are pointed out in Scripture and formaUy acknowledged by Protestants of neariy all descriptions, no less than by Catholics, in their artic]e|s and irt those creeds, which form part of their private prayerk and public liturgy, namely, unitif, sanctity. Catholicity and apoktolicity. In fact, this is what every one^ acknowledges who sayi in the apostles' Creed, / be- lieve in the holy Catholic church ; ^d, in the Nicene Creed,* / believe one Catholic and apostolic hhurch. Treating of the first mark of the true church, I prored vfrom natural reason. Scrip- ture, and tradition, that unity is esiiential to her ; I then showed that there is no union or principle of union among the different sects of Protestants, ekcept their common protestation against their mother church, and that the church of England, in particu- lar, is divided against itself in such manner, that one of ite most learned prelates has declared hiniself afraid to say^ what is its doctrine. On the other hand, I hive shown that the Catholic church, spread as she is ovef ^h^ whole earth, is one and the same in her doctrine, in her /iWr^yJ, and in her government ; and, though I detest religious persecution, I have, in defiance of ridi- cule and clamour, vindicated her unchangeable doctrine, and the plain dictate of reason, as to the indispensable obligation of be- hoving yhat God teaches ; in other words, of a right faith : I have even proved that her adherence to this tenet is a proof both of the truth and the charity of the Catholic church. On the sub- ject of holiness, I have made it dear that the pretended Refor- mation every where originated in the pernicious doctrine of sal' vation by faith alone, without good works ; and that the Catholic church has ever taught the necessity of them both ; likewise that she possesses many peculiar means of sanctity, to which modern sects do not make a pretension, likewise that she has, in every age, produced the genuine fruits of sanctity ; while the fruits of Protestantism have been of quite an opposite nature : finally, that God himself has bore uritness to the sanctity of the Catholic church, by undeniable miracles, with which he has il- lustrated her in every age. It did not require much pains to prove that the Catholic church possesses, exclusively, the name of CA- THOLIC, and not much more to demonstrate that she alone has the qualities signified by that name. That the Catholic church 18 also APOSTOLICAL, by descending in a right line from the ifpostles of Christ, is as evident as that she is Catholict How- ever, to illustrate this matter, I have sketched out a genealogi- cal, or, as I call it, the apostolical tree, which, with the help of a * 8ewih»Comnmn i o n flenricer in Com. Pwye r . ~ ■^■"'^•fwwjw: &*t*';H S UtttrXXJL j,y doctor.. indrelwneSilrf^' ?'' "''•«' '""«"»"» Prelates, eighteen cenS ^ thrnr "" /*'«»?«?»'«« *'f Christ, during t^ontinuationinConhe^DosSl i^'^f V*°«"»*'" *'* »hf and people.. It 8^0*^11^ «•'***? "C*'*'" ''«"•"& "«io"» V«chi3c..of diffeS timet «nr"'' ^'^ ""^LWy heretics and her inspired voiceTnd to n^l J ''"T" *"' ^''°' '«'""«'"g »<> h«ar -epanited frontier comlnti '^'^r"* authority, have been branches, cut off from a J^^ v! ^^^^^ ^"hered away, like Esek. XV Findiv I hL K "'^'"'^ "* ^* <■"' °« '•""'ai use. rupted succe'lron'f^^* h^lS^^^ - jt^er- s^tSs:;orxrth^^ar1? '^^^"^^^ holy CathoHc church H •*' ". *^*™' *'^" ""'^ ''•' <■«""•»'" *« goiig lettSi I SLifilT^ demonstrated all this in the fore- o/cr«Jrt./5 in foCof Ih^^^^^^^^ affirming, that the «,./.„„ not one whif moroXar Lh .^""'"l" '^'j^*""' '" ««"«"'• are Catholic rel igTonIn p^rt^^^^^^ »" f*-9« of Ae mypresintp^ e Sa"X,re '* '"-""/^ ^°' the conduct of disnasiinnpf/ t a *H^"*'»'/jf *"«''««' to influence but their own: I ma/a*T'aDDZ.rA '*'! '" any religion Protestants in th* ««m^ •» ?^ " ^. *® conduct of so many .elves He cSSo^Tc chu r°? «^^^ """^ "^ '''°""** ^"""^ a» far as is in or^wer ad„nt tU "'* °?* *"^ ""' ""^ «*«" «r, now. which wrshKteS r T*""*"*» *° «''«'y "W world is cU^gtU str^^dl^^^^^^ "'•*" eternity. O the leniX tif k """.''""ng *« countless ages of of ETERNITY r^^J^^l^Zt^ ""'^ *\^?* °^ *« »»»y« , „ lam, &c. J.M. --NulUiaUi magna •ecurit.subipericlitatnrEteniitM.- X c* sit THE EI^ or RELIGIONS CONTROVERSY. / PART III. LETTER XXXI. Trm JAMES BROWN, Esq. to the Rev. J.^j^l): D.RS. A. INTRODUCTION. Rbtbrbkd Sir, The whole of your letters havQ again been read over in our society i and they have produced important though diversified effects on )he minds of its severftJfiiembers. For niy own part, I am free to own, that, as. your jpiner letters convinced ipe in the truth of your rule of faith, namely^ the entire Word of God, and of the right of the true jchurch to expound it in all questions concerning its meaning ;. so your subsequent letters have satis- fied me that the characters or marks of the true chyrch, as they are laid down in our common creeds, are clearly visible in" the Roman Catholic church, and not in the colleotioiTof Protest- ant churches, nor in any one of them. This impression was, at first, so strong upon my mind that I could have answered you nearly in the words of king Agrjppa, to St. Paul : almost thou persuadest me to become a Catholic, Acts xxvi. 28. The same appear to be the sentiments of several of my fiends : but when, on comparing our notes together, we considered the heavy charges, particularly of superstition and idolatry, brought against your 'church by our eminent divines, and especially by the bishop of London (Dr. Porteus,) and never, that we have heard of, re- futed or denied, we cannot but tread back the steps we have taken towards you, or rather stand still, where we are, in sus- pense, till we hear what answer you will make to them : I speak of those contained in the bishop's well known treatise calldd A Brief Oamjftaiion of the Errors of the Church of Rome. With w a ptat I t ? c^M F taia^-other merobw^of-out sooie^,- ' candour and good sense which S' . ^.'^° "°* ra^nit^i the they *how on^vJrro" W auwL -yr^^ *** *"'"' "«> ^hich fidence and vehemLcrthJt Ar Pnw T Pr°"»=«' ''i* ^oo. and that you cannot mice anyi^trr^r;!^^ »" *™«' same time, that several of ErSCr? *** ^''^ ' »» *• are very litUe acquainted with th; f .^Sllt "' ^ .""^ knowledge, they aii apt to Iwd yoS Tdirion a„^T'* °I *'*'"°' I" "J^o" epithets and in.puiatiJrt,S STs anH j?* ^'^'^'r™ °^ "' *"ji convinced aa I L of theTfCoS TZx ^**f r ^ 'T»»' to hear that some of these imnXt^" w l" "°* ^ surprised J^u by the personrirqueS rri ^'\^f'' transmitted to tetters the vehicle of them ^J' f ^ *?''''* declined making my owe them, to assur/you Rev ir thV"f • *'"' ^*«^«'' ^^^^ I understood the inference of Z'r^J " ""'^ ""''*' *«y *>»'^« imply an obligation onTem or" J„o"St"th -^ "« »"*'^ " to religions, and embracing yours tK J^ H"" °"'" 'Mpeotiye able and violent, 'm^^^^^^^ t"^ ***"« »»««^ «o ""'e^on. « liberal and charitaWewKlc? J tT^^^ ^^ ''« "«"'3^ My other. T ®*P®*'* *° yo""" *f mmunion as to I am, Rev. Sir, &c. JAMES BROWN. LETTER XXXII. To JAMES BROWN, E«i. Dkak sl™* '"'""'"''" ™' ^™"° ^™-- I SHOULD be guilty of deception wer« T f« jj • ,. faction I derive from your and your frilJaJ ^ *^"* *.' """" house of unity and peace L^Vt y.*®"^"' »«", aPProach to the church! for such I must ' iS.fL^*'""' •'""'' *« Catholic tenour of your it LrSSJ'Si.?^"^:. T"^^^^^^^ »»»• v« to^nsi;; rtLxyuirfl^nfn"^^ 'r «'• ^^ ^ ^«'S of complaining of you from the ^"'"^''^^ ^^'^^ °''<^'«io« ^r. ■ h ii ^ ^ ,i T : 320 Letttr XXXII, the oMt ^oly. Catholic and apostolical church is l^e'truo church of God. you ought to. be persuaded that it is utte^rly, impossiblt she should inculioate idolatry, superstition, or any other wicked* ness, and, of Course, that -those who believe her to be thus guilty are anci mi^st be in a fatal enor. I have proved from reason, tradition,l)i^.4 ^^^Y ^riplure, that, as individual Christians cannot of themselveis judge with certainty of/maiters of faith, God has therefore provided them with an unerring guide, ia his holy church ; and hence that Catholics, as T^rtullian and St. Vincent of Lerins empihaticaliy prohounce, cannot strictly and consistently, be' required by those who are riot Catholics, to vindicate the particular tenets of theit belief, either from Scripture ot any other authority : it being sufficient for them to show that' they ' hold the doctrine' of the true church which all Christians are bound to hear. Nevertheless, as it is my duty, after the example\ of the apostles,' to become all things to all men, 1 Cor. ix. 22, and \ as we Catholics are conscious of being able to meet our oppo- nents on their own ground, as well as on ours, I am willing, dear sir, for your and your friepds' satisfaction, to enter on a brief discussion of the leading points of controversy which are agitated between the Catholics and the Protestants, particularly those of the church of England. 'I must, however, previously stipulatf with you for the following conditions, which I trust you will find perfectly reasonable. . 1st. I require that Catholics should be permitted to lay down their ifion principle^, or belief and practice, and, of course, to dis- .tinguish between their articles of faith in which they must all agree, an^ mere scholastic opinions, of which every individual may judge for himself; as, likewise, between ther authorized liturgy and discipline of the church and the' unauthorized devo- . tions and practices of particular persons. I insist upon th^s preliminary, because it is the constant practice of your contra* versialists to dre^s up a hideous figure, conjppsed oi their QWn , misrepresentations, or else of those undefined opipions and^iun- authdrized practices, which they call Popery ; and then to amuse their readers or hearers with exposing the deformity of it and pulling it to pieces ; and I have the greater right to insist upon this preliminary, because our creeds and professions of faith, the acts of our councils and our approved expositions and Catechisms, containing the principles of our belief and practice, from which no real Catholic in any' part of the world can ever depart, are : before the public and upon constant sale among boc^ellers. 2diy. It being a notorious fact that certain individual Chris- ""Gnrtstiaos; have departed from iae~iatth'i oonmt they I , leged I \ for exa A it is -ev ' selves I , posite tice ap church, - an appe , siasticaj ^mpora the hab pose tha . hislreiig apostles Augustii Universl and coui the cliur You ji ten, con tbdlic rej do not su not yet, h gion than other sen phlets ex and its pi that so m whose ^d ideaof th( factors, ai saints, shi caliimnies utterly fait they are church ; a edge their to justify t] before the spouse. 1 Protestant ■'i^i^^'^m' IS0 iMUrXXXtt. aK •waUo.! wrf^r h fonlKdicUon ftom any olh« fuher, or Mcle- thrtii,. Jij • "^r """*'** ana gross invectives aminst tbb Ha. wJL •5*"^ •°'^*' personages in a more elevated rank o7 life Xlihei^e«^tr^V^ '^r«* '""^ •"'"'-^«°»»' t« aptnowl. to fu»tifv t).!r ^ return lo her communion, they endeavour £for« [L f^ *'°"'*'"'* ''^ interposing a black and hideous m^k ITotestant is, by dmt of argument, forced out of lu^ emn aLd f: Letter XXXII. prejudices jigainst the true religion, if he be pressed to emhraee It, and wants grace to do it, he i\ sure to fly back to those very calumnies and misrepresentations which he had before renounced. The fact is, he must fight with these, or yield himself unarmed to his Catholic opponent. That you and your friends may not think meL dear sir, to have complained without just cause of the publicatwns and ser- mons of the respectable characters I have alluded UL I must in- ^ form yod*that I have now lying before me a volume called ift Good Adoice to thePulpitt, consisting of the foulest' and moat malignant falsehood against the Catholic religion and its pro- fessors, which tongue or pen can express, or the most enve- nomed heart conceive. It was collected from the sermons and treatises of prelates and dignitaries, by that able and faithful writer, the Rev. John Gother, soon after the gall of cftlqinnious ink had been mixed up with the blodd of slaughtered Catholics ; a score of whom were executed as traitors for a pretended plot to murder their friend and proselyte, Charles 11 ; .a plot which „wa8 hatched by men who themselves were soon after convicted of a real assassination plot against the king. Atlhat time, the parliaments were so blinded as repeatedly to vote the reality of the plot in question : hence it is easy to judge with what sort of language the pulpits would resound against the poor devoted Catholics at that period. But without quoting from former recoi'ds, I need only refer to a few of the publications of the jNresent day to justify my complaint.. To begin irith some of the numberless slanders contained ini the No Pop«ry Tract of the bishop'of London, Dr. Porteus :,he charges Catholics with " senseless idolatry to the infinite scandal of religion ;"* with trying "to make the ignorant think that indulgences deliver the dead from hell ;"t and that by means of " zeal for holy church, the worst man may be secured firom future misery :"| and the bishop of St. Asaph, Dr. Halifax, charges Catholics with " Antichristian idolat^,^ the worship of demons,| and idol meditators."^ He, moreover; maintains it to be the doc- trine of the church of Rome, that " pardon for every sin, whether committed or designed, may be purchased for money.** The bishop of Dfirham, I^r. Shute Barrington, accuses them ot " idolatry, blasphemy, and 8acrilege."tf The bishop of Lan- dafi*, Dr. Watson, impeaches the Catholic priests, martyrolo- gists, and monks, without exception, of the "hypocrisy of * ConAitation, p. 39. edit. 1796. f Warbarton'a LecturM, p. 191. » * Ibid. p. 34 ^ t Ibid. p. 63. U Ibid. p. 355. t Ibid.p.<63. f Ibid.p.86& •Lette t Bishc f Bitho f Ibid. •• Bish tt Dr. i H Dise HI t'bu- .• if fisn;* Ittter XXXIL S33 over, adopted and renLhli«l,«^ fl P°*"?°"- + He has, more. «. Ti.r D •. . . .y- "*'^® consecrated murders &c"^ .«!♦ ;- • **"*'.*"■"• WMcH their errors are fitted to cratifv "•• d».^» ^ '^ k""" *«"">•• ■• but, whoever can piic- S actld «? r^^lTi^' ^S T ''°"*«°* ^>* an^ofeSor d?™[: a^iJ^d at »L^l!.^^*^"uK'r^?"^ °^ Catholics, since he fas bj^o7ofDurhr^^^^^ OD Dr S!? Another dignitary of the same cathedral, taking are AnttmmMns,f^ which is the distinctive character of the Jnm - JtV\^\ J* ^<'«»^08°n. among similar graces of oratory, pronoun- ' 10 say tbe best of it that can be said, Popery is a most horrid p. 3?J. • tetter IL to Gibbon, t Bishop Watson's Tracto, voL i. f Bishop Benson's Tracts, vol. t. t Ibid. p. 982. • Bishop Fowler, toI. ti. p. 386 »* n.:j TTThaige oTDr. Hook, archSelwoii, *c p.6jkc.'*^ *' t Ibid. vol. T. Contents. U Ibid. p. 373. tt Ibid. p. 387. 234 Utter XXXII. compound of idolatry, superstition, and blasphemy.*^ "TJ exercise of Christian virtues is not at all necessary in its meif bers, nay, there are many heinous crimes, which are reckoned virtues among them, such as perjury^nd murder, when commit- ted against heretics."t And is su^ th^, dear sir, the real character of the great body of Christians throughout the world ? Is such a true picture of our Saxon and English ancestors^ Were such the clergy from whom these modem preachers and writers derive their liturgy, their ritual, their honours and bene- fices, and from whom they boast of deriving their orders and muwion also? But, after all, do these preachers and writers themselves seriously believe such to be the true character of their Catholic countrymen, and the primitive religion ? No, sir, they do not seriously believe it:^ but being unfortunately engaged. a» I said before, m an hereditary revolt against the church, which shines forth conspicuous, with jevery feature of truth in her coun- tena,nce, and wanting the rare grace of acknowledging their er- ror, at the expense of temporal advantages, they have no other defence for themselves butdamoiiirand calumny, no resource for • Sewonible Caution agatnat the abomiMtioBt of the CharehoT Rome rret. p. 5. s ^ f Ibid* d 14 * t This maybe exemplified by the conductor Dr. Wiite, arehbUhoo of fj^t'^^'^i, ^T7"'^"^'^°""P''*«"*•^ *« Catholic rdi^"„S)re foully tl^aa he had done in h» controversial works; even in his comE tory on the Catechism, be accuses it of heresu, uhism, and idolatry :Yit, ^IT'^ tH*"'^ '°*°»? correspondence with l5r. Dupin. for the puroise of uniting their respective churches, he assures the Cattol c divine.'^^n™8 las^ l„'^".i^^"' ■» JP""*" = " *"• ''°8'»««»>us, prout a te candide priponuntuT non admodum dissentimus: in regimine eiiclesiastica minus: in funda- mentalibus, sive doctnnam, sive disciplinam spectemus, vix omnnio." Ap. pend. to Mosheim's Hist. vol. vi. p. 12I. The present writer has been ^ formed, on good authority, that one of the bishops, whose calumnies are here quoted when he found himself on his deathbed, refused the piofere* mmwtryof the primate, and expressed a great wish to die a Catholic. ■' When urged to satisfy his conscience, he exclaimed: What thenwiUbe. come ^ my lady and my children! Certain it is that very many Protestants, who had bean the most yiolpnt in their language and conduct asainst the Catholic diurch, as for example, John, Elector of Saxony, Ifargaret, Queen o Navarre, Cromwell. Lord Essex, Dudley, Earl of Northnm- berland. king Charles If, the late Lords Montague, Ni«ent, Danboyne. &c did actually reconcile themselves to the Catholic church in that situation. The writer may add, that another of the calumniators here quoted, beinz ^irous of sUfling the suspicion of his having written an anonymous •Wo Popery publication, when first he took part in that cause, privately addressed himself to the writer in these terms: How can you stipect T^iY, ^C*^. '*Jlfnstvour religion, tahtn you u veU know my attaehment .J lu ..}' "*'• modern Luther, among other similar concessions, has !!!?>!!n°..^* ^"*"' ^'»^«* inatmeforth* Catholic retigion mik my / ^S .wish thai it were in myt;J^^Tt^l±^^''''''''''^ *« «*™«» coiwiderationa to all a™d ^verv Z^TZ t^'f "^ *'"P«'*»"' tors in qaestion. I nass oZ^hS! • • V *''««'«g'cal calumnia- us; though thb bUrtSomrr . I7"****'^*"''*''^«'»y»«*ard^ Ne'ro towards LprXesJ™^^^^^ *>« '''^**"'y «>f who disguised themKhe skTn^nf S? Christians of Rome, themto death witrdZ- Sri, wf beasts. and then hunted hmseUld. In-'fact. ^ know £ '^l. *" '""'* T"' ^^ «/*« predecessors were chaLd wV^^^^^^^ our above-mentiined and of killing and e^S[rc1,3Sl:rc''^P'"^ *^ ""'^ °^- "-' tholics never\^se.UeThe faft VS„rin„T; T""* ^'*- u« ; much less do they cause anvr.fhnF /"'^r*'*''*^ »™ong8t nion. ThiswearesTreTLJSL^aAer'alfth^^^^^^ ''^T'""- pen.es of the Protestant 8ocie4 tS*S,tlit ff'pIlS* "^ ^ •agel of CatholicsTn^t'o.^ ottheTS'«l?' ^^^^''^-M- ^ pastors, to be furnished ^.S^Jn^J.^II to LT"' '?•""• *"' tamed in them • th« tniti, j "" '"'*'^«'^ w the accusaUons con- upright member, to it. SudTShriatian. wSL S' °T^, '?°'' «f; y. ••"- ■""•"""uo, ur get note wvbgion and immorality, which tL io.e divine, have represent^ 4 , 889 Letter XXXlll 6d them to be ; ^hen, discovering how much they have been deceived in these ft^spects, by misrepresentsCtioh ; an^j, iA short, viewing now the fair face of the Catholic church, instead of the hideous nuisk which had been placed before it, they seldom fail . to become enamoured of it, and, in case religion, is their chief concern, to- become our very best Catholics. * The most important point, however, of all others for the con* sideration of these learned theologues, is the following: Wt^ must all appear before the judgment seat ^f Christ, to be ex/ amined on our observance of that commandment, anfoiig the rest, (^ shalt^ not bear false witness against thy neighbour ; supposing then these their clamorous charges against their Ca- tholic neighbours, of idolatry, blasphemy, perfidy, and tUrst of blood, should then appear, as they most certainly will appear, to be calumnies of the worst JMNrt, what will it avail their authofs that these have answered the temporary purpose of prevefnting -^ the emancipation «f Catholics, and of rousing the jpopular hatred and fury against them ! Alas ! what will it avail them ! v > „ I am, -Dear, Sir, yours, &6. J. M. J. •s , iiEtT^R xxxm. Ta JAMES BROWN, Esq. ON THE INVOCATION OF SAINTS. ' pBAR Sir, f Thb first and most heavy charge which Protestants bring % against CaHiblics, is that of idolatry. They say, that the Ca- tholic church has been guilty of this crime and apostasy, by •-,-^anctioning the invocation of saints, and the worship of images ^nd pictures : and that oh this account they have been obliged to abandon her communion, in obedience to the voice from hta- ■ ven, saying. Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Rev..j;viii. 4. Nevertheless, it is certain, dear sir, that Protestantism was not founded on thls'ground either in Germany or in England : for Luther warmly defended the Catholic i^octrine in both the afore- ^■aid particulars, and our English reformers, particularly king Edward's uncle, the duke of Somerset, only took up this pretext of idolatry, as the most popular, in oirder te revolutionize the ancient religion, which they were cap-ying on from motives of avarice and ambition. The same reasons, namely, that this diarge of idolatry is best calculated to inflame thQ ignorant against .u- r>-.i.-i:_ -!--—»- paa d-^a^Mteiah-a^ preteat S ai r ' «>-• have I •gainsi of theii To J [whoa that th and tha Catechi Gods I been lai Catholi* etituted terms, A of our ( other, su then mu mend oi but by fl; much m« and thiit, ven, we represent Eoint, wh sh; bet you take ^he genui ■olemnly different i .world; it offer, up th suppliant! l>eip, and Son Jesus »w«r."& ed in virti that « God manner; j things, anc because tb eates, and i first Engli • Sect. 3- « S6M.S4, • .' -T-.-A-- .-■*' : / [who XmaTw we hTrf °" *'^''^"*? •" ^''^hW^hop Wake. Ihat there was ^"ri:j;;;;2^<''-M tp Dr^upin and that of CathoUcsHrWs .^nufr " ''^''^^"" '^ ^««t"n« Catechism, maintainsV^hft '-rhi ? T*"/*S^°" •*'^ Church Gods besides the^Urd «i A^ofh^J^'^ ""^ ^P"* ^«« °Aer been lately republisffby, the bbhon n?f **!,' ^'"^^^ ^°'^ ^Ss Catholics, thaL « Instead of wnJS?-^-^ ^^^"^' P^nounces of ^tituted the doctri;: of^lrj^J'^'W,^^^^^^^ terms, Mede, and a hundred^Z; P J » * """^ blasphemous of our communion oHaSus Thrw^^ other, such calumnies, chZs us with R? °^ 4"^?*"' •'°°"« then multitude of deities i„tJ ri.^ • .^""g^ng back the hea- dend ourselvesVjJme fevouSteS";; ' 'k*^* ^« " «««««>- but by flattering addresses a J^o^atTrLSl^ \ reJigious life, much more oi^his interceJ^Jn tK«?*^ ^"^J *°** <»'*«•» "^epend and th,t. « being seculiTl^Vlv^ur Tthii'""^ -^^^^^-^^ •" ven, we pay little regard to the S of it^T ZT"^!^ ^?** representation of the doririno i- j ^ • * ®"*'^ " the mis- pcJot, which the first ecdesltl^fl ^K "''"" ""^ .^**°*i«'« <>« Ais & ; because. In flct'thefr'Si.e h^^^f %^° ^« "^^'^^^ ?"«»- you take awaymisreprStSn,^?'* leg to stand on, if the genuine doc.rine?fTe c^u" L ? "f[ ""^ ^*" '^^''t « solemnly-defined by the pj*^^^ If ^'5."*'^'^ ''^^^ »"i«»e. «« diflferent nation8;at^he couKf Trtm P'«'»»«^ °f . world ; it is simply thisTAat « Th^'^lli *^« '«'« °f Ae whole «/«•,«;, M«r ;^aWr, to cSVor i„ ^J* '*'?""•« ^^* Christ suppliLtly to invoke Sem L^^ T ' **' " " ^'^ »"<» «,«/«/ beip^andUsut^tXfn'fetuy^^^^^^ SonJtms Christ our Zorcf who ?« / '^'» ^H Mrou^A Mm viour^k Hence th« ptflS.- / &"' "«'' ^«rfe«»«w anrf Sa- ed in v^irtue of ftslcrt 1^^^^^^^ fT" " °i Trent. publitS. that " God and the sS ie^nort; U l^Zlr V'^^-' manner ; for we pray to God tW i. V- ^^P"^ *^ *" '^« »»«»• thing,, ^A delivl^ ^omtrlS- ^T''-^ "*"''' ^^' «" /^W «... B.,^ cafe^'rLSjrjj,..^' • Sect. 5>^. - ' ' ■ Sess.34. — ' — ;/■" 7 ' "» ' » I dull onndut. 238 «^ LttUr XXXm. *'We are to honour sainU(^ and angels as God's special friends and servants, but not witn the honoiil which belongs' to God.** Finally, The Papist Misrepresented and Represented, a work of great authoHty among/CathdicsV first published by our eminent, divine Gother, and^published by "our venerably bishop, Chal* loner, pronounces the following ariatheina' against that idolatrous' Ehantom of Catholicity, which Protestant controvertists have ^d up for the^ndentical Catholic church. /' Cursed is he that believes the saints in hcjaven to be his redeemers, that prays to them as suc^, or that gives God's ^honour" to them, or to any creature whatsoever. Amen." " Cursed is every goddess wor- ' shipper, that believes ihe B. Virgin Mary to be any more than a' crdature/ that worships her, or puts his trust in her more than .in God, that believes her above her Son, or that sh(^ can in any- 4hing command him. Amen."* You ^ek, dear sir, how widely diflerent the doctrine of Catho- lics, as denned by^our church, and really held by'us, is from the caricature ^f it, held up by interested preachers and controver- tists, to scar? and inflame an ignorant multitgde. So far from ^making god8\and goddesses of the 8aint3, we firmly hold it to be an article of Ifaith, that, as they have no virtue or excellence but what has beeA gratuitously bestowed up6n them by God, for the « sake of hir incarnate Son, Jesus Christ, jbo they, can procure no benefit for us, |nit by moans of their prayers to the Giver of all good gifts, through their and our common Saviour, Jesus Christ. In short, they d0 nothiAg for us mortals in heaven, but what they did while they ^ere here on eart^, and what all good Christians are bound to do fpr each other, namely, they help us by their pray- ' ers. The only d^f|fice is, that as the saints in heaven are free from every stain 1 of sin and imperfection, and are confirmed in grace and glory, i|io their prayers are far more efficacious for ob- taining what theV^ask for, thin^are the prayers of us imperfect and sinful niortals. In short, our Protestant brethem will not deny that St.\ Paul was in the practice of begging for the pray- ers of the church^ to which he addressed his epistles, Rom. XV. 30, &c. and thi^t the Almighty himself commanded the friends of Job to obtain hiai prayers for the pardon of their sins, Job xlii. 8 : and moreover, that fhey themselves are accustomed to pray publicly for one another. Now these concessions, together with the' authorized exptifsition of our doctrine, laid .down above, are, abundantly sufficieni to refute most of die remaining objections 9t Protestants again^ it In vain, for example, does Dr. Pw« akt it • hp. Mjnep. Ab|||g. p. THT ' , A Letter XXXfll ^ w ««u$ quote the text of St. Paul i TV- •«_»,. tor beiweeen God and iL^'lI*CK'?^r^'^' *^^ ^'^i^- that Christ alone is theT; rf^/J"? f ^'' '^'"*f ' ^°^ '^^ g"»nt from thence, that tl^Li^^nZf"^T*^''' """^ »^ h«» "goes, would^condemn the c^Xt of t'pruf ^^^^^ t ^-^^-^he' hia oWn churph. In vain dn^l ^',^K°^ •^**'" ^"«nds, and of 0U8 qieanirigof the iorf ^J.* • ^* ^''"'^^Te 6f the ambigu- theqLstion^beaKSr«fc'" ^'^^ ^^- ^°5 «»ecausef?f ly to God, as he c^lTC tfT^'^^t ''^^ V^s as strict- saints, we cannot censure tL «I»^ , "* '"*'.'"*'^ Aonourin^ *«">. the. lordship's new invented h£.Si? ''ft ^*» ^^^ ""^h^g of his hoV it ^follows. TZmtp"te ?•' S^'"* ^ ^I^ W". place, that I.necWanly EvWel^otr* "•* ""H* " ^^^ place ? Was Elisha reallv in S^f f ^ °u '""* ***'»« '" *** . proper meaning of tt^JoS^oiSn.^r*' "'^ «*^- The latter is ttj ' WtVA my My 7 M«r«»«AS^ l^W'.f' IPP*"* ^V *• marriage Bervlce- 5f*ffe'ytlyintemret£l.CaftoiK fiLm S^' ^« """^ "»7 - things inferior to dod: maM^ um ofYh« L^^^^PP^^'"* '* *°' Pe"on« or iic.fo?s^ige'g:iste^ii±y^^ ■ ' "yaiiig of a woid ! ^CbUrge 1810, IMS, 880 Letter JCXXIII. we know that There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth, Luke xv. 10. Now, is it by visual rays, or undu* lating sounds, that these blessed spirits in heaven know what E asses in the hearts of men upon earth ? How does his lordship nowjthM one part of the saint's felicity may not consist in con- templating the wonderful ways of God's providence with all his creatures hert) on earth ? Jmit, without recurring to this suppo- sition, it is ab£Bcient for dissipating theybishoj's uncharitable phantom oi Blasphemy ^ and Calvin's profane jest about the length of the saintls ears, that Go^s able to c^eaL to them the prayers of Christian!^ who address them herein earth. In case I had ,,the same opportunity of conversinjg with this prelate, which I once enjoyed, I should not fail to j^ke the following observation to him : my lord, you publiply^aintain, that the act of praying to saints, ascribes to them thir divine attribute of universal pre- sence ; this you call blasp^^y : now it appears, by the articles * and injunctions of your^urch, that you believe in the existence and efficacy of " sortefles, eipchantments, and witchcndft, invented by the devil, to raa^ire his counsel or help,"* wherever the con- juror or witch^&y chance to be ^ do you, therefore, ascribe the divino at^ibwe of universal presence' to the devil ? You must assert this, or you must withdraw your charge of blasphemy against the Catholics for praying to the saints. That it is lawful and profitable to invoke the prayers of the angels, is plain from Jacob's asking and obtaining the angel's blessing, with whom he had mystically wrestled, Gen. xxxii. ^ 26, and from his invoking his own angel to bless Joseph's sons, > Gen. xlvii. 16. The same is also sufficiently plain, with respect to the saints, from the Boole of^ Revelations, where the four and twenty elders in heaven are said to hwe, golden vials full of odourSfVAieh are the prayers of the paints. Rev. v. 8.' Th? ' church, however, derived her doctrine on this and other points immediately from the. apostles, before any part of the New Tes- tament was written. The tradition was so ancient and universal, that all those Eastern churches, which bfoke off from ^e cen* tral church of Rome, a great many ages before Protestantism was heard of, perfectly agree with us in honouring and invoking the angels and saints. 1 have said that the. patriarch of Pro- testantism^ Martin Luther, did not find any thing idolatrous in the doctrine or practice of the church with respect to the saints. So far from this, he exclaims, " Who can deny that God works great miracles at the tombs of the saints ? I therefore, with * IniuncKoM. A. n. IBM. Bishop Hparmw's fiollnntinn, p flft Artk eles,ibid.p. 180. ^^^ ^^ ' " . ., ~ ' A/ -^- WigSi^ ■4 =3!i letur XXXttt. ll«Me.otio»todyS, Mr.on. '? '. "' 'P™ l» '«»"»"»nd. .■k" B. Virgi„ J ft*.Tg°";Jti"„t,T°'S' " '='" "P^ ee^le with God for them af tk«! ; f «i . ^'"'y ""ay »nter- archbishop sSon sad thf S^iT'"''';".^""* chur J«>d peSpIe ^ they cai^SSf^^^*^ "'"! P^''^ Papists t^ be idoIaSrs wh^ 'r^^!^:^^:^^^ of prayers of the saints -fctn ^ '^^ <^>*d proJitaSh to invoke the positive law JfTe church ^;!"' l*^««a infer th« thereUsnS pray to the 8 Jmi •• „evenhr"'"'T' ""^ "" V children t^ church militant wiu ml^ol'*''^'''"'^'^^'>'<'^^C^^onc the church tril^hanf What CatS".:-^ his brethren of pray for «. and that It s goo^ ^dTmfitlS^T^ ""'^ *»» their prayers." will tnJL Tk^ ^ profitable for us to invk>ke consoling^ W l^^«'!h'''*7°^.««' How sublime ^S Catholicf. coml^ Jrf^Sf L^°'*""%*"'* practice of iL hold daiW aJ^SX Il„ *^P*°"*"* °^ Protestants! #e advantag^.^he J„X-Hn- ''"^ ""«P«akable comfort ahd and proJhSs ^ ande"^ L"^"^^^^^^^ ^«"«'*We patriarcEs the blessed apostfes anl m^tt^^ **^l^*"*^« °^ Christiani^, it in later agerthe BrmaX^S; y'^- ** J"«^» °'^'"^^^^ ¥ Sales's: they are all Z™!' ^^^^r""""' ^'^^ Teresas, and thb should not you wr^e^JTM""/ '**" ^^'^°"« «'»'"'«^h. wK plain, dear C,?:'S^:rol,, ^71*"*' ' J°"' »°"''y°" «°'»" God are nnt kJ.wi *™'^'"« • yo« lament that your nravera u add the weight of t^ir^irS**^''^"*'"'** and courtiers to 8 oi meir prayers to your own? Perhaps his • In Pni t Luth. Oermet Ep. ad GeoTg;^flpalit , quorand. ArUc Tom. i. . ~.-~.. IT rep. ad Mort *" — •^""•s' 'v^i » Thomdllte, JUsl WefghftVp. la Petawus, Suarez, WaUenb\uK, Muratori, Nat Alex. ^ I 33S Letttr XXXIV. bivine Majesty majr hear the prayers of the Jobs, when he will not listen to those of an £liphaz, a Bildad, or a Zophar. Job xlii. You believe, no doubt, that you have an angel guardian, appointed by God to protect you, conformably to what Christ said of the children presented to him : TJieir angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven, Mat. xviii. 10 : address yourself to this blessed spirit with gratitude, veneration, and confidence. You believe also, that, among the saints of God, there is one of supereminent purity and sanctity, pronounced by an archangel to be, not only gracious, but " full of grace ;" the chosen instrument of God in the incarnation of his Son, and the intercessor with this her Son, in obtaining his first miracle, that of turning water into wine, at atime, when his ''^tiiM" for appear« ing to the world by miracles, was " not yet come." John ii. 4. " It is impossible," as one of the fathers says, " to love the son, without loving the mother :" beg of her, then, with affection and confidence, to intercede with Jesus, as the poor Canaanites did, to change the tears of your distress into the wine of gladness, by aiffbrding you the light and grace you so much want. You cannot refuse to join with -me in the angelic salutation : Hail full of grace, our Lord is with thee,* nor in the subsequent ad' dress of the inspired Elizabeth : Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy u)omb, Luke i. 42 : cast aside, then, I beseech you, dear sir, prejudices, which are not only ground* less but also hurtful, and devoutly conclude with me, in the words of the whole Catholic Church, upon earth : Holy Mary, mother of Ood, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen- I am, &c. J. M. LETTER XXXIV. To JAMES BROWN, Esq. ^e. on relioio08 memorials. - Dear Sir,' If the Catholic church has been so grievously injured by the misrepresentation of her doctrine respecting prayers to the saints, ■he has been still more grievously injured by thQ prevailing ca- .lumnies against the respect which she pays to the memorials Qf Christ and his saints, namely to crucifixes,' relics, pious pictures and images. This has been misrepresented, from almost the • Luke i. S26. The Catholic version is here used, as more conformable to ^e Greek as well as the Vulgate, than the Protestant, which renders the pBflWmT H a il Iheuieia ar t higUif/aoeUini i , A iirst eru] the hece resentati and gran '' naments demoliti( ever nati in marke same pib different selves, b4 new tram of the fir and ever) airy, was the menw The ni chosen to of the i there is BMnanisti •MarUn idolatry in h warmlv def< stFojreJ thos the tillepagi ted on hiski years in reta ritan coartie Dr. Heylin, vice." Jam to his placin endure Liom (Q. Elizabet the like f lac t See in tl idotmrif: thi ness wAieh is aeovetousma tifus man wki the temple of the temple of from idols, 1 beth. Babes i fest corrupHoi Bibles; some t See the a Bampton Cov Letter XXXIV. 333 resentation in ouiTown counts in ^° ?«"«'«»»»«? «ucl» ™i«rep! in market places and even in ni/uoi^ i. - ^orship, but also same pious fraud- the SvsJnf ^°""''"- '" ""PP*"* «f *o and every arg^mJnt Xh common '."'"^P'"*'^**" *« «'"«• ted on hTslneps before a cniclfix On.i^ ^f.'T'^J'"' ^"^^f " ««»>!«. yean, in retaining a cJucffix She a&fh^^^^^ 5" "»V ritan conrtiere eneaired Pateh the fnol ♦« i i!.^y®'' *'" *""« "f ^erPu- idot^ry: this.in theBiwWSe"^?^^^^ SST""'*^ " «*! wAiek is the vonkipmneoftna^^.'^vl^' '^'^ "1""= Covetous a covetous man ^^*f^iAt, *^?^"- '^ ^'^e manner where we read.' the tempk of God wUhid^UQ C^orvi ifi "^ *^ °I'J^ agreement katk Am tVto&, 1 John y. 21: U stc^ durino- fh«T • ''^'i't?' *"? yourselves K," I as4 Letter XXXIV. who has not been made to believe, that the Papists worthia vooden gods. The Book of Homilies repeatedly affirms that our tpiages of Christ and his saints are idols ; that we '.♦ pray and ask of them what it belongs to God alone to give ;" and that " im- ages have beene and bee worshipped, and so, idolatry committed to them by infiifite multitudes to the great offence of God's ma- jestie, and danger of infinite soules ; that idolatrie can not pos- sibly be separated from images set up in churches, and that God's horrible wrath, and our most dreadful danger, cannot be avoided without the destruction and utter abolition of all such images and idols out of the church and temple of God."* Archbishop Seeker teaches 4hat " The church of Rome has other Gods, besides the Lord," and that " there never was greater idplatry among heath- ens in the business of image-worshipping than in the church of Romo."t Bishop Porteus, though he does not charge us with idolatry, by name, yet he intimates the same thing, where he applies to us one of the strongest passages of Scripture against Idol, worship.: They that mate them are like unto them; and so U every me ^hflt trusteth in them. O Israel, trust thou in the • - Lord. Ps. oxiii.^ Let us now hear what the Catholic church herself has so-* lemnly pronounced on the present subject, in her general coun- cil Of Trent. She says, « The images of Christ, of the Virgin Mother of God, and the other saints, are to be kept and reuun- ed, particularly in the churches, and due honour and veneration 18 to be paid Aem: notjhat we believe there is any divinitS of mnoer in them, for which'we respect them, or that any thing is to be asked of them, or that trust is to be placed in them, as the heathens of old 'trusted in their idols,"^ In conformity with this doctrine °'» »l.g,o« fonn n. e.M„u.l p.,, „f (..j Hence, if yor.hould b°. llMge» •" to be tockoS .mo„, ih.S ." "r^' " • P'ln»lpl«. IhU •ibMance of relWon. "irf iS'lh^ tSfiT''" "''"''. ^ "" ""'""S •» »■• *«Wfe.b«t»* L irii. In?.r It r>°'S'''^" ■" •*« •«•»•• ^^wt- 25 -liSKSSSSS^f^eS.itSlgai'S ./ ...ali.'. . • V f ;9i98 Letter XXXV. eome a Catholic, as I pray Gi)d you may, I shall nerer ask yooc if you have a pious picture or relic, or s« mu^h as a crucifix ii»- your possession : but then, I trust, after the fl^clarationa I have made, that you will not account me an idolater, should you^ee such things in my oratory or study, or should you observe how tenacious I am of my crucifix, in particular. Your faith and devotion may not stand in need of such memorials : but mine alu ! do. I am too apt to forget what my Saviour has done and suffered for me ; but the sight of his representation often brines this to my memory, and affects my sentiments. Hence I would rather part with most of the books in my Ubirary, than with the figmro of my crucified Lord. lun, A;c. J. M. LETTER XXXV. To the Rev. ROBERT CLAYTON, M. A. objections answered. Rev. Sir, I LEARN by a letter from our worthy friend, Mr. Brown, as well as by your own, that I am to consider you, and not him as the person charged to make the objections, which are to be made, on the part of the church of England, against my theo- logical positions and arguments in future. I congratulate the sociey of New Cottage on the acquisition of so valuable a metaber as Mr. Clayton, and I think myself fortunate in having so clear-headed and candid an opponent to contend with, as his letter shows him to be. You admit, that, according to my explanation, which is no other than that of our divines, our catechisms and our councils m general, we are not guilty of idolatry in the honour we pay to saints and their memorials, and that the dispute between your church and mine upon these points, is a dispute about words rather than about things, as bishop Bossuet observes, and as several candid Protestants, before you, have confessed. You and bishop Porteus agreg with us, that " the saints are to be loved and honoured ; on the other hand, we agree with you, that It would be idolatrous to pay them divine toorship, or to pray to thetr memortals in any shape whatever. Hence, the only question remaining between us is concerning the «/i7»Vy of desir- S thUZuh/ t*^' '"- ^ ' ^""-'"^^ " " '"''^"^' '^^^'""^ or 10 jru u Hiiiifc l aw ins y^anawHiearuSirandtiiar, ther etbre, th6 prftfc- ■ jttaBtity tice » superstitious : whereas, I have vindicated the practice I *«'i"on, itself, an the circju addresse , Still y objection reply is, i they are, and again Cotta^, J for depth surpassed will find I ticular, thi in his Epj fallen or i was pai{ the ma[ cerning _. author hiin he would 1 gianV disti which he i; You nei extravagant saints, whii books, and lute and ui aware. Rev who is all tioned in hi writers, has from what were to chai conclusions prayer to-be prelates and the bishop w •The true ( uithor waa eng ^lie, and ot ^published in ' t See De Im t The bighn c '^^^TthiS . iVJ^*^ ■^'"'^'- ■ LtterXXXV. gg^ toein and I^to shown that the uiilitv of it n» »— j j the circiumstance of the ble8««,i .2 • °,. ^*3^ tlepends on addresses made to them ^ "*" immediately hearing the <4ySS.ra^tStetiL\"'r — «j'-«Ae bishop's rejlyis,thrrhave JS t^^^^^^ *^"***'°"- ^^ they are, for the mJi^Jlf • .1^°^ *«" = ^^^ whereas Md again^oH^yTfutK '"^ ^«^« »^«n again Cottale toaeZfiJS?v ^ *"" '*""°««' ' "^aU send to l5ew surpassed 2Li 4?e L "S H**^ •°^"«"'»««' J**"* »«» been will find aU St you lZi?«3f""""f '^^«'-«' Re^. sir, you ticular, that th^\i^"AK /*"**'• f""* y?» ''iU.discover, in par- in his Epistle teX*^^^^^^^^ 'T^^^h St. Paul condemn. waspaiiBKmbv sTin^.? "*''''?''*'^'*®'- 15. and which author w3 but onKT, 5? " lo'dship never consulted the he wouldTave Xred KKTr^ "*"'»»«' ' gian's.di8tinctioS.SheteTchesnre",^r/ 1^ ?'«««« *eolo. which he is represented tot^J?*^^ '^' '""^"'y *° *»» ^^^^^^^ iT::'y^iy[,'^^^^^ ^ saints, which Dr Porteurh, . n ."f ^^^"^ ^''«*" »"<* <>*«' ' books and which voL thfnl. °"^'u^** '^'" ^»*°'»« Player ' lute u vZtAirj^:^^'^z^^^' ""^ r^^'' *» »'»»°- aware. Rev. sir thi 1^7 L?»K- ^«»r.*"'y c^i^ns. I am who i; all swe;tne« o? .11 *"' "" **".** another bishop,| tioned in hi- if • I«™Per, except when Popery is inen* Sli'^^x^dwireffT' *r"** ofothiTKer; isnop would strongly protest against that mode of reason- /epublished in DubS £y CoyS. * ''""""' ^^^ """'^ bas been latel^ * |«« Pe Imag. L. ii. c. 24. " ♦ The buhor -'' " ' • - IfSiBiny ol Petition. ¥ w 940 Letter X^XY. f ing. ' If, for ezample, an anthropomorphite were to address bini : Jou SY>n|iy lord.in your creed, that Christ '* ascended iiitp e»ven/and sitteth at the right hand ^ of God," therefore it is plain you believ^ with me, that God has\ human shape ; or if a Calvinist were to «ay toliim. You pray to God that he •♦ would^ not lead you into temptation," iherefbre you acknowledge that it' is God who tempts you to commit sin : in either of these cases " the bishop would insist upon explaining the texts here quoted ; ke would argue on the nature of figures of speech, especially in the language of poetry and devotioi^; and would maintain, that the belief of his church is not to be collected from these, but from her defined arti^s. ' Make but the same allowance to Catliolics, and all this phantom, of Verbal idolatry will dissolve into air. Lastly, you remind me oTft^ bishop's assertion, that " neither images nor pictures' were allowed in chlorches 'for the first hun- dred yeais." To this assertion you add your owii^opinion, that during that same period no prayers were address'ed by Christians to the saints. A fit of obHvion must have overtaken Dr. PortSus when he wrote W^at yoi|,quoted frc^ him, as he cannot b"* igno- rant that, it was ^ot till the 'copi^ersipn of. Constahtine, in the ^urth century, that the Christians were generally allowed to - ^ild churches for their worsihlp, having been obligiBd/>during the ages of persjDcution, to practice it*n subterraneous catac6mbs,^DbJ. other obscure recesses. We learn, however, from Tertullian, tharT it w^ usual, in his time, to represerit our Saviour in the character ♦|0f tU good shepherd, on the chalices used at the assemblies of the Christians :• and we are informed by Eusdbius, the father of church history, and the inend of Constantino, that he himself had pe^n a miraculouTimage of our Saviour in brass, which had been efected by the wonian, who was cured by touching the hem of his garment, and also difierent pictures of him,' and of St. . Peter and St. Raul^ which had bden preserved since their time.f The historian Zozopien adds, concerning that statue, tliat it was nMHilated in the reign of Julian the apostate, and that the Chris- tians', nevertheless, collected the pieces of it, and placed it in their church.^ St.|Gregory of Nyssa, who flourished in the fourth century; preaebing on the matyrdom of St. Theodore, de- scribes his rejics as being present in the church, and his suffer- ings as being painted on the walls, together with an image of Christ, as if surveying them.§ It is needless to carry the history of pious figures and paintings down to the end of the sixth ceor JLJ Lt b . da PudJ c it i a. c. IQ. t Hist EcdM. 1. t Hilt. 1, Tii. c. 1ft Ut Otat in Thsed. *•» 1^ . '^ lettw. XXXVI. % We then, ai^Cer aST'''*"'^' " «»"ied aiilv" cJ.^ Christ- TheabovSeXed •ff'S^ P'^*"^« «^ «"' Sav^ movement and in everv emS ^ *"""'*" »««ifies, that at evdnJ Eusebms and St. Chrysostom fin kT* '^'^ ^e erosa^f and with teaiimoiiiea of ^TJ^^ ?^ '^^"'^ pages of thpir irorS that the cross was vAacbA on .k i ?' ^^*"" expressly ibvr whole histoiyof thfSa4r« itilW ^^. *^« «*«rches. *S. . the disciples of the |ipJ"C'VhL t^**'"!? *"^ «»• ™yca«! w.ere carried away WtKrir/*^'*''' ''**' ^«'r •"«"««& * go d and precious LTes'; So^^^'Ll^ T'^"**''* *« ed for these sacred objects wth^n^cf? ^** T* ' •"*^"»^ Rev. sir, as to the earliest datT^? W®''* *«> your own opinioa. refer you to the wriUnw of s?rf P'"^*^' »° *V«aint., i-mar c?rp, who introduceSTe Wesled v^"' **•" *?"«^«>f ^t. pSy! • •potogy of his contempoS^lf jS^?^^°«''°'*^^*^''^»hi* "We verterateand worshinX- ''"»H».»he mfartyr, who savZ * Ae^ipphets. teachinTo^heJs « ^^^^^^ -PirS 5 ^i^tt^ Mt of tL.fou7th ern^J^'^t'^- J»^^^ refers these practices to the aposZ *t !*'^' *^ e«Pre»sIy Ae apostles, prophets, andmJSlK T* i' ^* ^'^^ " HnvokU be taerciful to nie, and Se ml^^'?^^'''' "•«'*«» God may "ence their images, sincTtLrtw/T- ^J^on^-r and r«^ You wJl i^ee wiA me. Sf I Zl^"?^ '" »*^°^ fourth age of the church' w>Mescend lower thi th* ^ {am, Ac. J, Mb, W 'V^ Dbar Sir, '^o JAMES BROWN, Es^. fW ^>ANStrBSTANTlATION. "^ &». . • *-. Bede'a Ecclea n.-.» i . ■ ' ■ IM ' 4"**" •| «i ' »'-:, :■% ! ?J^«'" Eccle,. Hist. 1. i. c. 25 f Coroa.Milit'c.3. JJW^TluTnirr T Apol. 9. pro|M Init, * \' "XT' ■W' i J V,. i ^W "^ -Litter XXXVI. betwoMH^athoIics and Protestants, the difference is less than U seen^^lb be, in t)ps of the holy eucharist or Lord's Supper, it in \ereater than it appears.* The cause of this is, that our oppci- ' l^hta misrepresent^ our doctrine concerning the veneration of ' saints, pious images, indulgences, purgatory, and other articles, in order to strengthen their arguments against us ; liHiereas their langtiage ^proaches nearer to uur doctrine than their sentiments do on t^e subject of the eucharist, because our doctrine, is so ^ strictly conformable to the 'words of Holy^criptur^ This is a ' disingenuous artifice.; but I have to describe two others of a still more fatal tendency-; first, with respect to the present welfare of the Catholics, who are the-subjects of them, and secondly, with respect to the future welfare of the Protestants, who deliberately make use of ihem. The first of these disingenuous practices consists in misrepre- senting Catholics as toorshippers of^ bread and wine in the sacra- ' ment, and therefore as idolaters, at the same time that our ad- , versaries are perfectly aWare that wo firmly believe, as an arti- ' cle of faith, that there is' no bread nor wine, but Christ alone, true God, as well as mui, present in it. Supposing, for a mo- ment, that we are mistaken in this belief, the worst we could be charged with, is an error, in supposing Christ to be where he is not ; and nothing but uncharitable calumn^, or gross inattention, could accuse us of the heinous crim6 of idolatry. To illustrate this argument, let me suppose, that being charged with a loyal address to the sovereign, you presented it, by mistake, to one of his courtiers, or even ttf anlnanimate figure of him, which, for some reason or other, had been dressed up in royal robes, and placed on the throne, would your heart reproach you, or would any sensible person reproach ^ou with the guilt of treason in this case? Wore the people who thought in their hearts that John the Baptist was the Christ, Luke iii. 15, and who probably worshipped him as such, idolaters, in consequence of their error ? The falsehood, as well as the uncharitableness of this calumny is too gross to escape the observation of any informed and re- flecting man : yet is it upheld and vociferated to the ignorant crowd, iu order to keep aliVe their prejudices against us, by bishop Porteus,t and the Protestant preachers and writers in ge- neral, and it is perpetuated by the legislature to defeat our civil claims !{ It is not, however, true, that all Protestant divines • Ezpoaitfon of the doctrine of the Catholic church. Sect. xvi. t He chanea Catholics with " senseless idolatry," add with worshippiitf T_^„j -r .u. «__,._ .. ,€ l rea8 their lentim^hts LtUer XXXV L \ I 343 SS?5:;'r^x:; t t-^c«*»'- ^r^orship. the reigns of Charles I a„d^h\^,:"\»'"^« 7^"* P'*^***" « generally acquitted us X ^TcZ}}:^?^ ^ ''^''''^'^^^ ^^"^ especially the learned Gunnbg b S of El J*'"*?' ""'^ '"°'*' the above sienified d^rl^Zr l^ • ^v ' "^^^ reprobated house of loSfSestS Srhi^ "'"?'' ^"""^^^ »»»» »he hi.n to make it • The ca^dM Tif« ST*"*'* r"'** »«» P^-ni' minster, argues thus on th« i ^^°™'>y'^e, prel^endary of West- acknowiedfe tha^he Lno„n^^^ f •""**' ;P»W Papist God? Wm«I: nonoursthe element* of the euchariatof S^^.acra'ltTSh relV'Tb ^"^ -"\»»o-"^"g^S ?n celebrated bishorof Down nr J 'i'"* -? ^ **'* ^"^ The equal fairness, where he s^!; « Vh^T^ ?^*?^°J' '««»"°'» ^i*' lies') adoration Tthe sa^raZ^t iT^l! °^Jf * ''^ *«^' (*^ Gatho- - hypostatically united ST, 1 f^^'^^y >™« and eternal God, CbelieveU'Sy p^resen "u n'dt t^Sftfsa'"'"*"'^^ the main subj^TdebatnameTv' 'S^ >» their overlooking and all tLTevifty of t^^w 1 a iJri'Tr '"^ '''T''' secondary cdnsidLion ; n^eVrrrL"/?^^^^^ ? J'*?* ' considered by one particular par^'a, beL^eZt nil " knowp that Catholics believe, thit. wKG^k L J^'i and gave it to his apostles, saying, THIS IS MY BOnv Jl^ :a:L''t^te'iS4' whichli'e'^J^eSg?!^^^^^ master, h^Jdlkatl t«t:.fe?^i;r 7^^^^^ ^ • ©• Capt. Babyl OiUnder, whow' ittter, Crtnmer muried, taught Ah \ ii^ X_ 244 Lttttr XXXVI. be Vt less minculous and incomprehensible than transubstan. ttaUOii, 18 called consubstantiatifm : while the Calvinists and church of England men in general (though mai^y of the bright- e^t luminaries of th^ latter have approached to the Catholic doc- trine) maintain that Christ is barely present in ««,«, and re- ceived only by faith. Now all the alleged absurditiesjln a man- ner, and aU the pretended impiety and idolatry, which are attri- buted U»tta,tsub»tantiation, equaUy . attaches to eohsubstantiation and to tbe r*o/;»w«nM professed by those eminent divines of tne established church* Nevertheless, what controversial preach- or or writer ever attacks the latter opinions ? What law ex- cludes Lutherans from parliament, or even from the throne ? So ar from this, a chapel royal has been founded and is maintaiired m the palace itself for the propagation of their consub^tantiation and the participauon of their real presence ! In short, you may S 7»^.^">i".\'A« ''read is the body of Christ, or with Osian- K.?K '***"?*' 'f »»« ««'' the same person with Christ! or with bishop Cosin, that " Christ is present really and substantially Si,! "'*'0"'P'«^e°«ble mystery,'- or with Dr. Halguy, that fvfn! I "** "^■'^'T ** *'^' •*"» « '"«'^ " *'««'«™1 rite, barely signi- SM '«««»^w'« acceptance of the bebefit of redemption :"t risf S.'; S.7 '"'^*°^ '^^"8^°" please cpnceming thi^eucha- tT« J„iJ^«f J^t*^"^ or inconvenience to ydurself, except what !ut7 A ^^ ^^Tl '*" ^ ""y *^y' ^ *^'*Vly ;mply, namely, ^mJ "^t' ''^^"iinto. las body. In lact,'as tL bish^' l^e™ "'""T' K *" d«<^i"«io^ of Christ operate what il^^ll }l *'"*'*. the j^'s son, by saying to him, Thy son /«iM; and the crooked-IRian, by siying, Thou art hoJid (ToXS^crVh '^^' P-^e'^te adds, for our further oC 1. 5 i t ?**r**-^''* notsay.JMy body is here; this contains my body bat, thts ts my body : this is my blood. Hence ZuiS- general, all except he Protestants of England" have eipressly IS lar naore conformable to Scripture than the Lutheran. I shall SnftVh" K ""''^ '•''""'^•"^' **^' ^ transpbstanSation'ac cordrng to bishop Cosin, was the first of Christ's miracles in hS«a^S\^'"Ti*^T*^''*>^ changing bread and wine into his sacred body and blood. ' i am, &c. . J. M. - poTurtum, or ao liypostatical and penonal union of tiie bread with Chri«f« LEWER XXXVII. ''''■'AMES BROW if, E,, * ■ L '","?'»,«>•* confeMed. uSj .h« j »«'«'»«. In fact. M» f«rf body ««1 Mood to STi/Sf, "^ ""'• °*" «". «•'>;«. •DTa«.,i.l>i.Hi«d«>i»„,K .. '"•"■•■ie.p.ech ■1^' w tt 346 '''M:' Letter XXXVII. * of a debtor, who should aay to his creditor, / herthy verily and indeed pay you the money I owe you ; biit I have not verily and indeed the money to pay you with. ■ - , ■ . Nothing proves more clearly the fallacy of thcT Calranists and other dissenters, as likewise of the established church men in general, who profess to make the Scripture, in its plain Mid lite- ral sense, the sole rule of their faith, than their denial of the real presence of Christ in' the sacrament, which is so manifestly and -emphatically expressed therein. He explained and promised' . this divine mystery near one of the Paschs, Johp vi. 4, previous , to his institution of it. He then multiplied five loaves and two fishes, so as to aflbrd'a superabundant meal to five thousand men, f besides women and children, Mat. xiv. 21 ; which was an evi- dent sign of the future multiplication of his owiTbody on the several altars of the world ; after which he took occasion to speak of this mystery, by saying, / am the living bread, which eame down, from heaven. < If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever : and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world. John vi. 51. The sacred text goes on to inform us of the perplexity of the Jews, from their understanding Christ's words in their plain and natural sense, which he, so far from removing by a difierent explanation, confirms by expressing that sense in other terms still more emphatical. The Jews there- fore strove amongst themselves, saying, 'How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto* them: Verily, verily, I say untif you : except ye eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. — For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. Ver. 52, 53, 55. Nor was it the multitude alone who took oflence at this mystery of a real and corporal reception of Christ's person, so energetically and re- peatedly expressed by him, but also several of his own beloved dis? ciples, whom certainly he would noThave permitted to desert him to their own destruction, if he could have removed their difficulty by barely telling them that they were only to receive him by faith, and to take bread and wine in remembrance of him. Yet this merciful Saviour permitted them to go their ways, and he contented himself with asking the apostles, if they Mrould also leave him. They were as incapable of comprehending the mystery as the others were, but they were assured that Christ is poral presence of Christ's natural flesh and blood."' Burnet, P^ ii. p. SQ'J. So the liturgy stood for just 100 years, when, in 1(162, during the reign of ChwlBl^n - . a ! ] [l"n f ^ "ther alteratinnft of the liturgy, whith than took ylKf , the old rubric against the real presence and the adoration of the sacrament wu again restored as it stands at present 1 • 1 ;«. p.39a /| he reign of /] t ook plwgi.- V -jw Letter XXXVJL 347 daZir,t ISilrf d^^^^^^^^^ P-eataut WS^' woJd8%?«r»t *''^'°'^ °'' *'•''«« »«^ I «haU add hot two S thr^Jw^'K""! " P°^"^'« »»"^t J**"" Christ had d^! ^^ckmr&^ °^ ^'^ ^.'^' ''^ ^» command, every yei eat * 'elves ea^^ blTir **"' °^ *^F^ '^"d whteh th^ apoXles t hel -wereitpre, andw incitement tp fiOth, far more strikiiw than eatmgand drinking bread and w ne are hence the gS pS !fj* kAi-iJ ^f' 1^ •*• . Uturxxxvit of the bfead and w?ne -l t SJ «Ta?;S f "^^^ The firat writer who maintained it was Paacasioa RnSf i. ^ «»tical literal" :.tSS o{ IVl^^ Z^l"'' -''"''^ -^ «''«'«"• •hould they hea^ that «.?!k 1^^ ""^ this science in England, such boldTsertTons ^stTl-^f ""!'*" "^ "'•' ^" '^*''"»»»i«" »( of the first cemuTdescriliSI J ''•*°' *" ^i«»tolical bisho,^ -y-. -Wrn^Jt ^S'rof fucCSi tnTZS f ^T they do not beJieve the eucharist S^ ll .k L^l* ''^*^r« Saviour Jesus Christ, who suffered LlJ^in'-', ^t^iT'' the testimonies, to ihe same effect nf^t i !• ♦ * pasj^/over i.«us,|| St. Cyprian,! «S otheVfalhers of S^^^ "*'*r'* f' ^'«- centunes; bJt^iuiu^ tfoHowW worfs7^^^^^^ *;"* -cauge the prelate appeals to his amhoritTin aS«?^*"' ''*" which is nothing at Si to the Duri^a«H: ?i ' Pf'"8^' was formerly giJen as a fim?rJ"T! '^^'•ay*. then, " Mauna •he Sonof G^J s s%cifictee^ «T' *^*.^/'^ *"** "°^ *»^ omit the clear and b':aSteire"^orreC^ ' ""'^ ' which St. Hilary, St. Basil, StThnCh^ysSi^^'s^ Page 3a t Ep. ad Smym. t Elftm of Theol. vol. II. n 38(1. t Apolog, to Emp. Antonin. IjTw - «« *"* H o rn. 7. ill Lt» it ' *^ ^ ' * ■ " » T" ^ Uutr XXXVII. *|- w!"^' ?^"* Wmself affirms thu. of the b™.^ ^* "^^ *«fy; who 18 eo daring as to doubt of it /a j • ' ^*** ** ^9 n,r tsfny blood ; whS will deny hat il. lJ"lf "«". ^^ ■^""•^ Qf Oahlee. he, by an act of W wS fS, .' ""^ ' ^» C"" which reaembles blood -and i, he 'o^^^^ water into wJn^. he changes wine inio hlZ^ rZJtV^,^\^'^^i^^d when us receive the body and bZd or pJ ^ f ^'r*^"" °^ certainty, let bread is given to thele iJi^Jav fnd ' ^/°^' ""''^r .he fo4 3 his blood."* St AmhSSS^' **' "'^^*" ^he from of win. dren. " Perhaps you SifflK "J""" ''''^ his spiritual cwT-' the body of Giirist, J^fflEi^. ^° V" •"« »»»»» ' deceive , th,8 point therefore ^KfSC' *"****" *'''"» ^ We have duce to show you. tiSS^^ Ja^u""'"^ examples do we wo- the benediction has conl^K* j'^T'V"'^* ^»' but 'S.at , of greater force than hitWi« ' ? ^^* *he benediction ii t-eif is changed ? Mo Kas^l T^^^^ na4 ' cameaserpent; he caught holH^/r • ^°""*'' ^"'*^**'«- covered the nature of a rod Th« «* "^J?* « **"' «^d it re- hast read of the creation of the 1"m "r^'^J^^yP*' ^'^^ ^oil was able to make rnm-JL- '^°'^** ' ^'^ Christ, by his wflrd thought ab£ rchanrot'Ifinrinf ""^L"^' »'•»" h7noX' wed enough f«,m tS rilntttK '^f'^ 'l ^'' ^ ^»^* tions of the two modehi bishops ^ '■^"*^ ** rash ass^r- •"o;:^ng*Se^:r*?tSrirf^ novices, maintain* the real cor^JS' *® '"''^™''»'ono'' his but so far f«,™ teachingTiovXhe ^rT""'" "'' ^''"''» '" ?»<- but what all the world beKw ^r'^' ^ "ay nothing thu, appeared, when Bere„Ss ?n th/If '''"u'* "^^^ ^'"^ of other errors, denied the reaf p"es ^ie^fo Th!^^ *'"°"» rose up against him : he was Sed bl . fflP?"'* '''»"'«5 nent writers, and among other* tr^ \^- T^ ^«»t of enii- of whom, in their Z^:2^,rwtkTall^''^PK^r'"'*"«' »« nations ; and Berenirari^= 1„ . ' *PP®*' ^o the be ef of all councils' I have'^elKr^^hri^r^t'?''^^^ «>«-" the Christians of all the n«io„e ? Ae to° u t"?'P°'«'''''"y «f mto a belief, of that sacramem which thpv'*^ being pers^/ded receiving, being the living K if thleVf'.* J" *^« ^^^^^ be nothing but an inanimal « ' -,,?.'""' before held it to another impossiWlitrai?AeTl!.r"*i°[^""' ''»«"«»'' «ven by bine together for e&ting^w:'''?^^^^^^ ^^'^ ^ -^ testible, and h^s been ca^^ tll^^^fl^Jl-t/L^r * C a tnali. Mw i aiMw < — ■ — , - __ =^ W«fc C a t o ch. Mjs aaasgrr ' 1 r."^.:. ■ — — i* ■m r. 800 Letter XXXVH.. ■ tet' * * H 9'»"«ti«w of allthe mons of the world Greeks as well as Latins, Africans as well as Europeans 'el^JeDt' Protestjnts and a handfHl of Vaudois peasants have^fn alS beheved and still beheve in the real /esence andtr'aLsubsS ^ i am now.iJear sir, about to produce evidence of a dilTerent nature, rmea^; Protestant evidence, for the JiiiUm under tZnIr'??,' *"/t"^ ^I*'^"''^- My first wTnesa^s no o her 'iimseS' Se !y/ '\ ^^"'^^Z Reformation. Martin Lmhe hTut^^ . ?® ?"* "? ^*'"' ^^'y desirous he was. and how*^mbch ^ he laboured in his mind tooverthrOw this doctrine. becaZ savs he, (observe his motiver) " I clearly saw ho rmuch 'KhS thereby injure Popery; but I found myself cLhtwithoStS rL"u'm^rr«i'°'*.' textof theWlwas't^ 'ill? churchman now living .' "** ""*"•« ""« 'e»t ^f a jlAnguished J T^'!i«' "1 ^'*5'""- *<""•'*• '■o'- 508. Ed. Witten ^ that of the Zuinlf^S" who ^nlait^H^ "'ir'' •'*'5*""y *«> Scripture as • figuraU ve wa/ m'eiS^here c^nSw"''' ""T^' "^ ^''^ institution in lug translation^ AeintZo^t of sfwnt?,,"""? «^"!«^ '*'* ">« '"«"»«'- feathers. Def. Verb D^ *«»»»«»f ^« cwAm <«< M< 5/wf rw am/ Aw Jce?" A S!Sl\tt~Si„*TerT 'l"^ '."t "»> "«» <=°T>«>~' P^- and siuWestroye,?' In' Kr* ^a£h'' n^'^il'"''''^' '^ine-drinkers. " They are indevilized and sSnerf^wU,^;,!^®"^^''',!' «<=CMion8 he says! everlasting flames, and buildS hTs own hntli «f^«"5"^ ""^ '*«'*'°*«'' <»»em to Ml of ChW,t on his havini with ^7hSl oS"''^ 5"^*^^'* ""^ «"''»■ glius and otoer believers fnTh*y"Sb''c^lic\TpVeTncT"*^^^^^^ ^"'"• -1 wy badjf. jfiv.-tj,--.';.'£l^i\. « n^^ a_c ■ tMUrXXXVlt. ^, persp cuity and fotc^ nf t^l'A i ®'''i'*""y »« be ascribed to the cerninff if As K«T P a-V*''"*''°" "^ ""'X Scripture con- other doik^'l*rtKl^?r'' -^^y '*"'^'''«'» ^J^"' ^"h her for, beSevwsT MaLXr'^^^^ '"•Jppendentlyg' Scripture : Christ di»tributer.(nS SS tL 1. '*'" '^^^'^^ *"'^ '»''^ ^^ known world. ' *^"* throughout a great part of the this oui7iv"LlsLten« "-'*'" *'''"''* sacrament: special g.^ceTor&^„?L*r^^^^ and M« ««r/rf. AstZZ^PpS"r7, *" "^yfi'sKfor the life of Father ; so he L .a/^V *T**"'* *"" "**' "'"' ^ '^-^ 4 '*« This is the £^adtLtt^^^^^^ «^1 '^» *y «*• /«^e/or e«er.. John W 52 58 59 ^H "' *''?* '*'? *^^«'' '^^^ passage, the partkular nah,f« of ;v "^ ^^^^^^^ ""'• in whititconsfsto namerr^^^n?''!^''""^^^ «fe. »nd shows he says. He Z XT S^l!? ??* TT ^"^ him, where the beginning of the world u/.V**^ f "*"*« ^^ G"^' f™™ of the promifed MeLSh .1;« r — ^ ^^"■"^^ *"^ memorials devotion was .v.;-.? participaiion of which, by faith and 8urwe;eX\eeofS th/'^""'''^"^.^"*^ "" '^^^ """"^'i and those of 5,rCjlt 1 kT"' ""'^'«' °^ *« patriarchs soma.^ p-s^fr^";r^j:s;tir^j";is-^ SSaNsVJhlrXi'lfSSfe'.^"'^^ "•' l"*^ »«•*«' CON nor SUB among the ^rticZTL7b^^j^lZ^ !f*^!^.^^ "Pf-ion' of schools, not » noUess eKplicit in tlvour ot the cltioliffc"""' P' ^-B^hop Cosin monstrous errorfo deny that Christ S£h« f^ !i?- ' "'"^'^ "" " • confess the necewity of a 8UDernlVu«l r„H\*^''-'1 '" *»>& e«charist. We signs cannot become sacraSbut^l»h« tV'^T^^ ""^^V """^ ''"'^ the one make a bare figure of S« «.Ji^L l. "'*'".*® P"*^®"" of God- W any churches." Hist TriiSub Htlv 'IhV"„«''J "ot to suffer him in ou^r^^ himself thus; 'M wish men Zul.l^v-?h P.'^'ound Hooker expresse. •ilence. on what we hav"T„The' Jc^ameS? ,S?' T^- '° "«"*"'^' **"> ner A««,. Sith we all agree IhttThriThl'th **" *" '^"P"** «'' t»>o man- truly perform in u. his^^jliy^':;; 1*'!:^-^ tf;^^ and tiattonradMrPonrB^v. 67 '*"'*• " *'*" ''^ t«Mubston. V(* 3M I^ter XXXVllL ^^tXtTt:'^:'^tZllt^^ \ even that incarnate ■pirilual life to the wo«hv !^S "** *""" ^"^^ ""'^ "'ho give, -ire, but ndeLuelyTSd^^^^ T '" » "-nited mea- ..me tender love wWcrmadllm T^ ?t ' Preparation. The Md /a*e ««,„ A,W? / wf;J"? ^^'•""' *•*« '*y» °f »•« divinity on Mount C«dvary, haa cVuaed^rm-C i '^'''''^' '" •*" '""nolation to conceal his Sanl^ature ali -^ descend a step lower, and nouriahment. thatX we mi ,:""tf ** T'" ^^ «" ordinary mo,.thsand lod^WminourbL.1*^^^^ *!/*'"!* *»»""'"'» ^^ each one of us/SS" « Z ' ?? ' 'L°"^*' *** ** """y »»>"«. our souls/ No wonder Jw^''^ ''*"'•*'* •"' ^^^ Aeiife of thwe heavenly tt^^^flUlo™^'^^^^^^^ ^''" are strangers to of types and fiirorernot nrl / **'" "nmersed in the cteuda ^>»^^v.Cx^r^^XT::t'''^'^ «'rW»g ™orein their dtould be^omparTtifely so f^^^^ ^° *»»"' ordinances, ■ «ceivingit,and.indeed Mtiif/ '" '»*« preparation fo; der that many of Aem 'aStmiLTP"^"''/^''**" ' ^^ ^O"" of Brunswick,* ahould'have rS.?^ ^k'' '^".'^'^"y "Iric, duke lie church, chiefly fe the benefit of"'* themselves to the Catho- the aubatancei Ae bare m2« • ? T-^^^S'^S the figure for jbidy and blood. * "*'"°""* '^^ <^». fo>^ W» adorable A. _ I«n,&c. J.M. UlTTER XXXTTII. r* ih» Rn. ROBERT CLA YTON, M. A. R.V. Sir, obJbotions answerbo. ^ wrd me.'s' w^ rat 'r ^^* ^.^'^^ y- h- way of answMing Wshon PolT ^k''"^ *^ ^' ^'"^^^^ by tholic foctrine offhe blled eu^^^^^^^^^^ "S?""' ^'^^ ^- « some manner adopted ^::^^LJ:i^^:;^:^ ^I'^^t:.:^':^::''^:^:^ -«"r^ ^-m scripture, ^ i^ 1.0. 1 graut ,hat°c!s x^^frtiis^L- ifr ^^ ■^^•' Lattr,. d'uB Pocteur Allaminrl, p .. i3u Ue«u,ckw. f6l. i. p. ^ ¥ ««y fnan 'nier' JskJl^ai^T, J^nT gftt '^'^' */ "^^ w««,y«>ii the branches • A« /Z/ -AvJ/J ' ""? a«*i%/«n ronsly answered, W to JuJ^aT**"^' when they gene- ^^ of eternal l^'"" ""^ **^' "^ S^^ ThouLst the J:fSersii^^?„'i^:r^^ »« ^^^ — you ,Aa//'«« M* SonofManZLdf l' "^f^ ^"^ ' ^then is the spirit that S^M w^ITa 'II*?**' **>' ^ ^' wrrf, Ma/ / Aaw SIT!! ' J -^'^ /''^«'A nothing. The 64. To this I Is^JThit iHrr"' "^^ '•^•- •'°''" '»• 6V tion between this plssaie 1,^ ttl r-*° "Pf*"^*"* *'»»*«««<^ ' in which Christ sre3sl^a^/ 5T '" *5l ^"^ '='»»?»«'» clearly the necess^ 'SirinS 1 would only p^ve more lie church concerning them ^„"k *^°*'*"r '^^ *•»*» Catlio- of contradiction • oi t1,e Z*r«. **'*'* " "° ^^^J* appearance ' gument from the' fim part oTThl' T «°"*'?^«"«ts diw an ar- presence.^ Tht ullJt fhat ±'uJTT' ^Z*"""' ^^ »»"« ««» part is, that ChriSnianimat! fl^ k'^^^'I '^~" *''*' '""""i-U animals, according to the ».*eperEcritur.,p.rM.D-M-u,p.,«, ■f >^-* -U>^ .. iff,' 3A4 Metier XXXVIU. 'K the spmtual life which he speaks of: though some of the fathers understand these words, riot of the body and blood of Christ, but of our unenlightened natural reason, in contradistinction to in- spired faith, m which, sensfe Christ says to St. Peter, Blessed art thou, because flesh and Mood has not revealed this to thee, but my- Father who is in Heaven. Mat. xvi. 1 7. You add frpm St. Luke that Christ aays in the very institution, Do thi^ in memory of me. Luke xxii. J.9. I answer, that neither here is there any contra- diction .for the eucharist is both a meniarial of Christ and the real presence of Christ, \yhen a person sllnds visibly before us, we have n6, need of any sign to call him to our memory ; but If he were present in such i&anner as to be concealed from r alLour senses, without a memoriafeof him, we might as easily forget him,M if heuvere at a great distance from us. These words of Christ, then, which we always repeat at the consecra- . tion, and the very sight of the sacran^ental species, serve for ' this purpose. " The objebtions, however, which you. Rev. sir, and Wshop Porteus chiefly insist upon, are the testimony of our senses. .You both say, the bread and wine are - seen, and touched, and A tasted, in our sacrament, the samd as in yours. « If we cannot believe our senses," the bishop says, "we can believe nothing." This was a good popular topic for archbishop TillotsonVfrom whom It IS borrowed, to flourish upon in the pulpit, but it Will not stand the test of Christian theology. It would undermine the incarnation itself. With equal reason the Jews said of Chrisl, Is not this the edrpenter's son ? Is not his mother called Mary ? Mat. xm. 55. Hence they concluded that he was not what he proclaimed himself tQ be, the Son of God. In like manner, Josuah thought he saw a man, Josuoh v;-13. and Jacob, that he touched one, Gen. xxxii. 24, and Ahraham that he eat • with three men. Gen, xviii. 8, when in all these instances there wore no real men, but unbodied Spirits, present ; the diff"erent senses of those patriarchs misleading them. Again, were not the eyes of the disciples, going to Emmauj, held so that they should not know Jesus? Luke xxiv. 16. Did not the same thing hap- pen to Mury Magdalen and the apostles ? John xx. 15. But in- dependently of Scripture, philosophy and experience show that there is no essential connexion between qur sensations and the ob- jects which occasion them, and that, in fact, each of our senses fre- quenUy decieves us. How unreasonable, then is it, as well as im- piousj to oppose* their fallible testimony to God's infaUible word !• * For exampU. we think w m^ th, ,«^^jn y ,ub in a lin, with «.., «jr «. , •■*i» ■ *i3iV- ^>f M' • V theruiiera Christ, but tion to in- Blessed art lee, but 'my' 1 St. Luke, ory of me. ny contra* ax and the bly before memory ; . ealed from as easily «. These consecra- serve for id Jbishop rr senses, ched, and re cannot nothing." aonVfrom ut it will ndermine 9 said of Aer called was not In like nd Jacob, at he eat * ces there different were not ey should ling hap- But in* how that id Uie ob.- inses fre- i\\ as im- B word !• A^abLu?ffie"^d^;^^^^^^^ • ^M^stantiaUon; he'^u^l ^ha;e^TdTthe^ '?'""^'°' '^-^" Paul on the road TD^mLcus Lu t""?^' ^l "PP"*''*^ »« St! , thepwtleofJenisalem S;^n ,f' ^]* """^ '^ood by him in God fins all space, and 'ifwhole.;^ • r ^''"^^' ^ ""•"^«'' »»>»» matter ; likewise, ha" my- own t„?l?*''* '"• T "7 P""«'« "^ left, whole and enUre • TKe S "^""^ "S*"* ^*'^'*" »"d my drink, are transubs.ah tiated nL^v *"^ ?"V*' ^*'^*=^ ' «« «nd « < this body bf mine wlinh . "^ ""^ ^^^^ and blood : that now^i^^elTtoTti teH ^^sof asmall siz^hw ^ dust, or perhaps be LCrdLlni'*'." "^° " will turn 'into # become Jlrt oftheir suSt^^andThat' Z '^TY'^ "^^ »''"- ' restore it entire, at the last^av Whn ' "*''!|?*'«'®w. God wiU considerations, nstead o?«mT • ^^'^"''^ will enter into these disiK,seii with Ksi r-'ffi'^rh - ^Hl more than WA «»« J ' ~„. "uraii mat Um can do more than we c^^ miZ^A^-.^r^' *** ®^ •=" ^° " respectiogthis^gtenr "S T *° ""^ ?!" ^»* tJ»« "PO'^, K..f K. .- ' ^ 7 a™. Ac. J.k. butphilosophy demoM»rate8that.l»«r« ■ -' ' /.^ « interposed between them, and thaHTe SSTiS ^*'" ternwMeous globe. !?_°'...'*' ^^.^ trustmore'to our fer„l^!„Til.*.® l''8'««' bel^jyhe bori* "n ca«« hi. neighKur t shut W '2fif "h^"' °*" ••^•«= t^ynl. A,lex, 1. 4, in Jo»n. .>yper« irst £9. gen of either haod.'malirhi'm'..IIIf *^*'' ■"*'#«'» crossing the iiRret "fin" f ■ ■ * ..s ■ ■ u. ■'* .■.'.■' ' m ♦ . *• . . t ■ 1 ■^ *■ ■ • ^ *. ,.t. ■ k -' '^' ] %ji^'" L^TTE 1 and ins«p:ted in U , in -iis, sacraments and sj M'estamml^as pfublish^, M .H^:^^ *- T-. widprhole'^i|tttriei. Newt r|(b|»,ent ">- ' , Tictim, gr myiticalirseS^^^ immolated the consummate it J„ Jh thr/SJdi*' ^L'^K''^ ''''^' •'^^''W command of dhrist, on wlZh our^„ J?„ "? / " »*«"' »•«» '^e drink y «// o/ this, xlZ^tCl^S?'"'^ ^*^ "" '""'^h Stresi, " laity, aJ comm»nicanS5^Tiue ^^t ""Lf^/^ *"«* °°»'»»»« this sacramontTto the^hfuUn eeie^i "^^^^^ ttfrms, both his b(2^nd his hS®^;^« P«»">««^^ imply that they 3 Si r^^ •*"**" <^M not ^ ap^Uces of E tfw :;"X li^'i; ""'*^'" *« different ' teaches, «* He wbb «au // i "' *^ ^''^ counci of Treirt likewise, said, 4? any o^A^n f^j ^*'. **"* ^*/« »» V^. ha» -er. And hllhoTas s^^^^^^^ I mil gtve, ik mv Hesk /"#«./*- rr^ . "' '"* oread whteh ^^odBJCL^t'^Z!t^^'''i*t''^^- And lastly. h« eth this breadlhalUivef^'Jr^^f''^^^^^^* ^^' '^^ «*" "^' of DthTnJ'cL^l^t^^^^^ 7P~*«'»- -' ** Wshop ' a sacrament; nJTe^^Ll^^^''^'''fV^''^^*^'''mr»ssing half ^ robbing the taUvoftlJ} complaint of Protestants, of 6ur and bfoHSluXlll-^^^^^ cies, is equally and eSr^ ^^^r^^^ receive : 'w&K'itiSran^^^^^^ as pretend to communic^e^L^^ Anglicans do not so much - present mere types or memSbf thl^t^ '** 5'"'"' ' ^ * . in their mere figurative syTtem there ^^^ hi '*° "°» •^«"y. Aat, , receiving the liduid as well iTthl^nLL® ^™« "^ewon for - mer may appea? to reDrlsL Jn, ° .,'* ^^^^^^ the bodjr; but to usXSirit^P''^*''^ '*''^' «»d »»»« latter jr , ui 10 us .^ahh^s, who possess the reality of them * how, fmrn lh."ffl.?Efc ''?."?''•■!■.,.."' ""=. •• > """U ?M.'?«l.«;J8ii'»llto othmXri.sf.'aEiS" A"lg',lll~.»«ll»i» -U.„ uaa«r m'ore ^r^S^'i^rlbJ^'diir*^ 33* <^ ^" ■f ^^^ ..i **o »' w 358 Lttttr XXXIX. ^heir specMJs or outward appearance is no more than am«U ter of changeable discipline. I 1n« •n«t»m «♦ -■"•"••- ^-^ ".o grew MgniB Of lue cburcb, St. C Li^hit K Tu'-^'- -^T*' 4 *"«» «««"» clear from Yb, 2*fcl?w??'' "",'**' "^^y °f ^" resurrection. /.„*?r^ a^rf WM«rf and yoke, and gave it to Cieophas and the othef dia 7£:'J^^T ^T ^I r .** Emmaus.on^is doing whr/J^ sight Luke XXIV. 30, 31, he administered the holy commT nrttenTf'i;f';-'';'r''''^'«»^'^'°"^^ miikeLnn^rT />er5e«m;i/r tn M» rfortniw of the apostles, and in «L eomtnu. Acts XX., 7, wfthout any memion of the other species. These Cri±S"«°'5;*"^ ^^^P^^^^' wereacc^ustomed.;ome! bbhon PoZ'„ >.^'' the sacrament under on^ kind alone, though bishop Porteus has not the candour to confess it. Another more KTerlLT'^l^"' communion under either kind heT • te^d olS'.f Tr*^" »postle says, Whosoever shalleat this Jftt W„ i ^ 1?^'"? "i*'" ^^ «'»«>orlhily, shall be guilty IrifshBye thf . *^''/'*« ^^^^-^ True it is, that K £?ji out forV. S-^""' " ^«« ^on-upted, the conjunctive AND M weirL to Sf/?J';" -*ir*, ^^' ''°"»''»'y *o »h« °"P«^» Greek, Mweii as tothe Latm Vulgate, to the version oftBeza Ac • Ae importance of the genuine text, it is inlkcusable in Wm to /have passed It over unnoticed. in mm lo The whole series of ecclesiastical history proves that the Ca- Hey repeats the charge in nearly the same words. Lee ures vol iv d •••'»*•■• "WW wacii. ind. Sesa. xiii. 7? 7. Pa» da... iW.. /^.i.-l . !^ SMB. xiu. c, 7. Cat. Rom. Obuay Calech., &c, K ♦- A. » i ■ , . i , I. ■■'- «^ berime of the ann I tholic ciwrch, from tinf^ilire of the aposiles down to the present, ever firmly Believing that the whole body, blood, soul and divin- ity of Jesus-Chnst, equally subsifit under each of the species or appearances of bread and wine, regarded it as a mere matter of discipline, which of tltem was to be received in the holy sacra- ment ^H appears from TertuUian, in the second century,* from St. Denn^is of Alexandria.f and St. Cyprian,^ in the third; from &t. tiasil^ and St. Chrysostom, in the fourth, Acffl that the blessed saprament, under the form of bread, was preserved m the oratories and houses of the primitive Christians, for private communion, and for the viaticum in danger of death. There are instances also of itj^^being carried on the breast, at sea. in the oranun^or neckcloth.! On the other hand, as it was the custom to giV the B. Sacrament to baptized children, it was admirH8tered*to those who were quite infants, by a drop out of .K «fiK - "®,"^^*"*"'* principle, it being discovered, in the fifth century; that certain Manichasan heretics, who had come to Kome from Africa, objected to the sacraihental cup, from an erroneous and wicked opinion. Pope Leo ordered them to be ex- eluded from Uie communion entirely,tt anlTPope Gelasius re- quired all his flock to receive under both kinds.Jt It appears, that in the twelfth century, only the ofliciatinjf priest andinfants received under the form of wine, which discipline was confirmed at the begmning of the fifteenth by the Council of Con8Unce,&& on account of the profanations, and other evils resulting from the general reception of it in that form. Soon after this, the more or- derly sect of the Hussites, namely, the CalixtifSi processing their obedience to the church in other respects, and petitioniuff the council of Basil to be indulged in the use of the chalice, this was granted them.NI In like manner Pope Pius IV, at the re- quest of the emperor Ferdinand, authorized several bishops of • Ad Uxor. 1. !% t Apbd. Euseb. 1. iv. c. 44. « Epist. ad Cesir, ^ ^\\ Apud. Soz. 1. viii. .c. 6. f St. Ambros, In obit. Fiafe-It appears also that St. Birinus, the apo«- X De Lapsia. lltinVS. r^" ^"°"?; ^"-ougBMhe blessed sacrament with him into this Wand in an Orarium. Oul. Maln^ Vit Pontif. Florent. Wigorn, Higden. *Vx « •• St. Cypr.deLaps, © • s . u ^1^9 T '•^<^"!?"«- ,. „ ». Decret. Comperimus Dist. iii. • ^'vfo'if"*' Dr. Croorober, Kcmnilius, &c, accuse this council of de- creeing tha«u»«w»«'tHtt Um apogHea r^f.aiifiwl |pjf|^j»iiy MJlic ftutinff that bothtftciki utre eontecraUd) are not obligatory on all Chrutiaasf ' 8m *^"»-»"' UU Sflss.ii. . % 1. k**^*'"'! Itter XXXIX. rwei Ih. reign of PhUip, hav« h^ thi -^ T ^V^^ *'"»■• "«« tmg deacon and aujMdi^Mbf st no!!!,; 7°.! ,* °® officia- other kindTor under I^TS tA'"'^'*'"«»» "«?' <>»« or thi cipline, at least "h« the docS?;; a„H™r ™"*^^°^ ^^'"•'*"« ^is- lie church are cons LSm S each ott?T"* °^ ** ^"'>°- produce evidence of inotW H^j ? u J *™ "°^ g^'ng to bishop of Durham?; anShem^ i*^'?"^' *'^' *" *»«' «" pth^r occasion, he writAo "if « '"^'^ "".V* *«««*f *c.^ 'Onan« ^*3ifoaralS oT^? "°i'«^'»» f'om contempt.! LasUy. liJilthelKsSntt i^^^^^^^ *»! .^»«' ^^ ««a^ ^*rv<^ti,at.if ie.iS^^rZLi?t ^ r*^ n <^Ai|*f, an essential part «ta»..„i; h.; Qont^5ic[e?ftaelf f "I W ?««°'°«a«ons^f what part of U»e.JternaSt;'iXd.L;'^^^^^ Icnow — lam, Ac. J. M, : LETTER XL. _^ DkarSu, **" ^'-^''W'cb ofthb new iaw. / the's^ac^S^^fS^elTawl'' "* T * ^ *« co Jeration^f which, however/LTbrir/ Z"^""^^ ".'"''^ "^"E MASS, on have already touched „™,i 1* !r»<^«ntly embarrassed. As I of.8a„ctific4n" A the SS.SI' "fj'l'''" treating of the mean, it as I welUan. ^"'^^'^ *'^"''^' ' «hall be as brief uJJn 4 JoX^sLTbk'IS i^^'pL^ ^■'"°'°^'^^'^» «^ • """g ani- g««ter of life and dea h " he r^r^' f *««'i«'ony that he is the ^idjmly a more exSive acV^? Sf "' ""•* ^i things. It i. -'«^88 well a^ «„ *^V*' ** creature's homage to his *d bylTod V the LtriarcK ti« JT • ''• '*''^'? " ''*« '«^«»'- afterwards more atric renlln k'^P"'"^."^ ** ^°''*»' *nd m the revelation of h s wSn i ^. ^T. "^ *"" "*'«»«» P«opte* eeptab^p and efficacious wSin t^ T ^.".'^ «»" **>« "^"^ >«- Divine Majesty, the trSnT ?S.*^°"'.'' »»« °«"«'«d "P tiiHs the notion if iu ad vamlal? "'^ u '* P"™^»^''« "'dinMc it has been practiced i^Z'?'*'' ^*^\''««» »« ""^''^"''yr^ our first pa?rt8 down to ?h "" *"■ ***«'' "' «'«'y «g*8i whether civXed or hlrh P'^'*"*' *°*^ ''X every 3Z For when the mftLVfeTanhT^^r^^^^ '•^«*«^"^- 'orrumh God into t^likLT^f /A "^''^ '^^ ^^'^ ^/ '^ «* the nte 6^sacrifice, and transferred T^'l' ' **'^ continued ua^iiLce. Butle has not so left them ; on the wi;. *>■► / •>»v i > ■'■ 263 I LetttrXL trary, that j)rophecy of Malachy is evidently verified in the Ca» thohc church, spread as it is over the surface of the earth- From the rtnng of the sun even to the going down thereof, mv name ts great among the Gentiles; and, in every place, there is sacrtfice; and there is offered to my name a clean oblation. Malac 1. 11. If Protestants say, we have the sacrifice of Christ^a death ; I answer, so had the servant* of God under the law o1 nature and the written hw : for it is impossible -that with the blood of oxen and gtiats sin should be taken away: nevertheless, they had perpetual sacrifices of animals to represent the death of Christ, and to apply the fruits of it to their souls ; in the same manner. Catholics have Christ himself really present, and mystically offered on their altars daily, for the same ends, but in a lar more efficacious manner, and, of course, a true propiiia. tory sacriiiee. That Christ is truly present in the blessef eu- "' ?m?nSl'.;« havP proved by many arguments; that a mystical immolation of him takes place in the holy mass, by the separate consecration of the Jl-eadand of the wine, which strikinKly re- presents the separation of his blood from his body, t ha?e like- rjlw r- '^"u*"^' ^ *>"* »''°*" >'«» **t ? «»rf»«8t times, have borne testimony to the teri?„n, ? »«crifice,* so they should speak, in such lofty If ?^ K i5 "'"*" ?** ^®''»*=y = "o ^"n'l" that the church of God should retain and revere it as the most sacred, and the St'jS/Hf- ^' ^^° ?P?®*" *° ^^""^ *»««"• •" h" youth, conlemporary with 2dw?ne wll*^W'^^^ instituted a sacriCK d «ii I!?;k ♦ P Tryphon. St. Irenteus, whose master, Polycarp. was a disci- from thi «,!i»i *'"^^® °'^*? New Law. Which the Church received from the apostles, according to the prophecy of Malachy " L. iv 32 St SSfcCJ^t'!?."'.- ^T!?""i " ^ '™« """l f«" sac^flce;" and «;«: that" ^ *c ^*^uaui^.«r Fn^^"*- ^- ?* Chrysostom. St. Austin. St. Ambrose Si.^irS?rlLih^»l"'* expressive on Uiis point. The last mentioned ? our Vm bSL L °*"* "^^"** *" "■"• ~ *» St Leo, St. Orego. i '« "ac^S^ *' bread and ««ne4 instead of Maughtered animafs that Mp7£« tw rd'^rifarhets' '"?,^ ^^-^^^^tc^Stx. sense but this can be elicited from tl,« at> J the Mes- FHE OR. e enlarges >n himself, superior, what did d his sac- the other Dt us con- :hi8 royal from vic- BREAD »rf; bless- , aerifiee of VIelchise- nUe Old* ist was to Nq othef t |nis nfat* re to this ig twro orv«^ [ards the'' ^e-nariied rtists, in 'esenting L subsist- whereas, lat these IS in tbe^ norther* 1 Greeks ans, the in India, 1. 81, ' ■♦ (. ii. 1, of 168 of old k. Jerom, 365 I the CophtB and Ethiopians in Africa; all of whom maintain each of those articles, and almost <^ery other on whrhK tSf ''^'ir^™'" ^^^'^'''' ""^ *« '»"^*' firmness^ we o^^ J^es do. Now as these sects have been totallv sepSZ, Ln hui?^'■'^'•^•"' °'"'^"'" eight hundred and some fou™ teen hundred years, « is impossible they should have derived arty recent doctrines or practices from he/; and, div ded ZZy ever have been among themselves, they Cannot have comb „ed to adopt them On the dther liand, since the rise of Protestont- ism. attemp^ havp been repeatedly made to draw some or oUie; latM the A usburg Confession of Faith into Creek, and^entTrn iSr^d-r^"'' ""■ P'>-ff¥- would ad^^S ;^ttreas h: patriarch did not so much as acknowledge the receipt of the present.* Fourteen years late^ Crusius, professor of Tubigln made a^.simila|. attempt on Jeremy, the successor of Joseph, who wrote back, requesting hm to write no more on the subjecra" n" the'Tr""' r^""^ '^^r'' •'''P"^'* ^««'«*»i«« of hif beiief Linn 5 1 TT'"*^.^^ "^^"'^^^ *>f '^^ '"'«». transubsum- ovS; u^- ^" ^S^^'ddle of the seventeenth Century. iXh ZZtf "^ "'^' ***■ !^' ^'^^^' ^y '^^ Calvinists of &land, the most convincing evidence oC«the orthodox belief o4all the teS??"?i!^ communions on the articles in quest^T were Fre.^;?S.-5^' n"' '^' °^'S ""i"' ^^ ^^'^ ^«'« deposited in the SZ J .K° '• ''•''■"^ *Vf »".'t I have to remark, h, the second ■' ?it thf" 1- ;"«'°"»»«i«"«'«« «f the churcj, of England, respect- ing ths ppint; she has priests,^ but, nS sacrifice! She has ' ««f "•« hut. «o «.c/,«» /She has an ..v«„rta/ cira/,V,« of the NntTr^'f ""'"'•'^"'i'"'"' '^"^'^^ l^<^^t effect upon them! P«r.».. u . u*^ J • , "inaus. i ijrouia gladly ask bishop . fr^ n A * ^""*"' ,\^^?"*' *"^ «^«»^ layman, from conse? • crating the sacramental brea^Und wihe# Jw/y as a priest o^ a bishop can do.^agreeably to his svTem of consecration? There "sevidently no obstacle at all. etcept such as th^ mutol SJr ''V^^ '""^ interposes. In the last place. I 'hi„k it ~ , righ^ to quote some of the absurd >nd I'freligious invectives of •X L^^t'iuCJ'A'- M '^ . tPerpetuitedelaBoi. ' H o!? ,..\ ."T" °' the qotrtmunlon service. ^ 11 S*^ditW»nSparrovy'8Collec. p. 20. . < * .IF « IT the consecrated bread or wine be all spent, before all hav« onm municated, the priest is to consecrate more" lubr N R RiS -Warburton and brshopGleaver earnestly d^nTend C the Eucharis^t S ^ .fea,t upon a iacnficf: but as, in their dr^sad of Popery, they admit no ^an^e iBtagin fl , " • ^^*i g' 4i „ ■ . ...y. -r-\ ^^^^^ * ^^ ■ .*'' ' ;:yt: ^. ..*¥' % /■ i *;■*■ •=*fe- 266 ill'. Letter XLi, " « the renowned Dr. Hey against the holy mass, becaase they show the extreme ignorance of our religion, which generally prevails among the most learned Protestants, who write against It. The doctor first describes the mass as " blasphemous, in draggmg down Christ from heaven." according to his expression • 2dly, as "pernicious, in giving men an easy way," as he pre- tends, " of evading all their moral and religious duties j" 3rdly as "promoting infidelity:" in conformity with which latter as- sertion, he maintains that " most Romanists of letters and sci- ence are infidels. He next proceeds seriously to advise Cathb- lies to abandon this part of their sacred liturgy, namely, the adorable sacrifice of the New Law ; and he then concludes his theological farce with the following ridiculous threats against this sacrifice : " If the Romanists will not listen to our brotherly exhortations ; let them fear our threats. The rag/of paving for masses will not last for ever: as men improd^by the French f^l^oluljon,) It will continue to grow weaker: as philosophy {lAatoJ ^MewffO rises, masses will sink in price and supersti- tion pine away."* I wish I had an opportunity of telling the learned professor, that I should have expected, from the failure ol patriarch L,uther, counselled and assisted as he was by Satan himself, m his attempts to abolish the holy mass, he would have r^T^!^T ^,*"*'?"« in ^«aling prophetic threats against it ! fin ^act he has lived to see this divine worship o«6/,c/y restored in eve^ part of Christendom, where it was proscribed, when he vented his menaces : for as to \he private celebration of mass, th s was never intermitted, not even in the depth of the gloomi' ^'^l^^"S^^'^'f}l^'^^f^^op;iy could he had by the Catholic >iesthood. What other rejigious worship,-! ask, eould have •tAumphed over such a persecution ! The same will be the case iJ.wT *^'' «^*»«n '-^^ "»«« of sin shall have indignation against the convcntrntof the sanctuary, -and shall take awity the continual sacrifice, Dan. xi. 30. 34; for even then, the mystical, woman who ts clothed with the sun, and has (he moon under hen jeet,-shall fly into the wilderness, Rev. xii. i, 6, and perform the divme niystewes of an incarnate D^ity in caverns and cata- combs, as she did m early .imes.till that happy day, when her heavdnly spouse, casting aside those 'sacrartiental veils, under Sa 'p ?r "r «^«««^« hi"*, shall shine l^rth> the glory of: " God the Father, the Judge of the living and the deqd.] -■-,-.,-* ' ;■'■ ■' •"' ' Ifm, &«i J. 'lit, ; » ?fJfjJM*''**l««''^r« WM delivered in tfie year ITDarti^^'b^y.diy'oTth.t The professor tells ua ilka Jtl: -tt^ -, 2«T / • A LETTER XLI." . \ ' . To the Rw. ROBERT CL4YT0]^M. A.' - :• ^ Dear Sir o** ^bsoi-otion from. sin. ' '^ ■he foZeneWstat i&^?T" °?''J"" "' *<' ■»a™,*ai presseThimill?! r n *"' '^•*'*"^ '^^"^'s ^n^ headers, ei' he hath f mind to commit. And so truly is Po^rvTe mothi^ 'p'en be permuted to transgress in futar^mAni are these- sha^T ^ calumnmtors real Chris.i,„8,' .Jw l' >'- 1^ •nSfKi f ?. '•=«^'«««» Wrt'es) fees of offiee aroiilways^qiSMd. but ^ IQ England fgr cartain aiun^ of mon*'t ' • ^ ^ " p.u|Wi«i*< » •.Mil "« punthmLr^/s at i„^;«♦l• r '^ of preaching of the word of God.' Ac f And IS this, I a^p^al to you, Key. Sir, following ZXmml case myself, I will produce an auth^ty «i5*,fl« the^iswl vague and arbitrary /oss o» this dccis^e paZl wbirh Zk he canm,t object to or withstand ; it is no ot^Mh^ that of ht ' ha wheronr f -"^ •"•*" ''^ ''? «n'e|WQflaW« as to imagine, brpl'ZJ ""l.^T"'"''', •" '" ''**'«'"« « partner, having fir.t ioMrme^rf tJ,«?lr'^ thetf hearts, renewed unto them, or rathe? coafirmed that glorious commission, &c. whereby he delegated .-■<» . f' ¥^'-^- •*■ rtji - tatheraVMthdrilyof bindingand loosing sins upon efrth, &c.: can any one^k, I say, so unworthily of our SaVidSis to es* teem these wordMHus for no better than compliment ? Th«re. Zt'l^^ aT"" 'V? ^"^I*""' ^*"- '^'«' ^^ «™ warranted and enjoined by my holy mother, the .church ofEngland, I be- tW*SL°"'- •**' ''^ZT J?*''''''® *»^ "««• y««**" not suffer that commission, which iPhrist hath given to his ministers, to be .a vain form of words without any sense under them. When you find yourselves charged and pppr^ssed, Ac, have recourse to your spiritual physician, and freely disclose the nature and malignancy of y(mrdfeease,&p. And come no? to him, only with such a mind as you would go to a leamSrmin, as one that can speak comfortable things to you ; but as tc^bnTvhat hath an- thorxty, delegated to kirn from. God himself, to absolve%d acquit you of your am»"* ^j, / A » Having quoted this great Protest^^ authority against the pre- . late s cavils c<»cetning sacerdotal absolution, I shall produce one or two more of the same sort, and then return to the more di- rect proofs of the doctrine under consideration. The Luther^ .ans. then, who a^e the elder brtoch of the Reformation, in their S«l T; l^f"^ ^""^ ''P^'*'"^ ^"•' '^^' Confession, expressly InH tK f *Sf«'""<"» » "o less a sacrament than baptism' and the Lord's Supper, that particular absolution is to be re- tamed m confession, that to reject it is the erro^ of the Nov». tian heretics; and that, by the power of the keys, Mat. xvi 19 Tf ^'i;'^'"'^'^°\only in the sight of the church, but also ,»' th^stakt ofGodA Luther himself, in his Catechism, required ^^the Penuent, in confession, should expressly dedtte that he ^T \S'u f^'Siveness of the priest to be the forgiveness of Crod. I What can bishop Ptffteus and other modem Protest- ants say to all this, except that Luther and his disciples were ioS V!L ^T'^u ■ ^f^ "" '••«" P'*^^^'' »« inq"i'« into the wlh Si' f^"?** Itself, of which he is one of the most dis- tmgu shed heads. In The Order of the Communion, composed by Cranmer, and published by Edward VI, the parson, vicar of curate, is to proclaim this among other things : " If there be any of you whose conscience is troubled and grieved at any thing, lacking comfort or counsel, let him come to me, or tj some other discreet and learned priest, and confess and open his VHa e^/u'-^ ^«cr«//y ,fec. and that of us, as a minister of God and ol the church, he may receive comfort and absolution.*^ • Serm. vil. Relig. pp. 408, 409. -.. ^ "■ I pnfeM. August. Art. xi. xii. xiii. Apol. " •r.vomewon. j Bishop^parrow*! Collect p. 90. ...,f LttterXLl , STl Confwmably with this admonition; it is orfaine^ in the Com- ^onPyer Book th^t when the minister visits any sick pemJ ^LlZl'Y'i^^' '"?'"'* tomakea,;,e«a?c.„y^«l^nS fft ' '^}^t^^^ ?•« conscience troubled with any weijiTv matfer" ftftervhich confession, the priest shall ab^ve him The Kb r* ■^ts;fi^''^' it,aftef this sort% d^w^;e^:Sif THP? p5n*J^/r'r ?«i*«"'y<^»'»W««erf7,;«,e,f ABSOLVE THEE FROM ALL THY SINS, in thi naml of thi Father fnform htial'*'' ^"glish churc^h, he desired his' prelatrtj V S f * I *^? ^onf'^en^^e at Hampton Court, what author^ tythis church clamed in the mic^ orabsdlutioT frZ Z roumoMhe"^.*^ 'l*''^? ''^«*" ^ entertaiajirm "iSTar:- count of the general confession and absolution, in the commu^ rtha?S.rLT"^'"?V^^ '^ '^^"^ »«* "^-"S salisfied. bThS at that time bishop of London,- fell on his knees, and said, " k tatton cfthe 910k Not only the confession of Augusta, (AusburaV Bohemia and S^^copy^retain and allow it, but flso ^UQZt and tti.o/«/,o„ » To this the king answered, I exceedinX^ w^ approve ,t, being an apostolical and Godly ordinance, iiven" K ^•j''*?u '*'e"''^«l that there are other passage^ of Scriptureu besides that quoted abbve from John xx. in pm?f of the auS ity exercised bj^the Catholic church in the forgiveness of sin ; such as ^^Jlfa/. xvi. 19, where Christ gives the keys of ih, kingdom ofheavtn to Peter ; and chap, xviii. 18. whefe he de- S A /" ^'' «POSt «8 ; Ker.7y / say unto you ;whatsoeL ye Shalt bmd on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever le shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. But here also Bp. • Order for the Visitation of the Sick. N. B. To encounwe the seeret rnS««Vf r"' ''•V!!"'"'^ "^ ="^'"«1 ha. made a Canon??eqSring her mmwters not to reveal the same, sle Canonej Eccles. A. D WJ2n III Jin ?he"w ''f S"'; ^^ ^- ^^- ,^«« '^' '^«''«"<=« °f B;n^rofJ'7sCc;;^ ^.u, n f^- °^ 9«nterbury , Dr. Laud, who endeavoured to enforce auril • Biirn^r^hirteK '"liT Confessor to thedulfeof^Buckingham, and from . ,.«('• -^ ■?' ■'5*^''' • 9?» L0U«r XL!. Porteu* and modem Protesunts distort the plain meaninff of Scripture, and say, tfeat norther power is expressed by ufese words than^ thbse of inflicting. «„L«/««.. punishmenlsJr^Toi Jlk the hUho'** ^«':«'«" *;Xn'««iing to these texts, I would gladly Jsk the bishop, why after ordaining the priests of his church by this very form of words, he afterwards, bv a separate folm commissions them to preach the word, and to minister ?• "No one, exclaims the bishop, "but God, can forgive sins." T^ue baotJsm tn fK"""'*"**'^^ forgiveness of sini committed before' S"l':?^rf /?!.■«*«— ."//"•air"-/" * pleniB to forgive ' . . -^ ~J jf"> •'• '"p. name or jest remsston of your sins, Acta ii. 38; so he is p\aam to fordve ' 8 TsfrcZ :„/ff '''P''r ' ^y "•^^- °f «<»«»rition. confS! saustaction, and the priest's absolution. Iv sSrtfnVi? .•^''''|»»!«" of confessing sins.Uich is so evident- SmkndedlhS'^'^'''''''*'^^^^ *«' and>o expressly » irZhj!L 'T-^f^y''"'" ^"^ one to ano/jCr, James v '16 the bishop contends that "It is not knowing a person's sin, '^ ie h«T 'i"*'»fy»h« priest to give him absolutifntbm knowW , he hath repented of them."t In refutation of this obiSon f "v ChJist whh i'- ?•"? ''"' ' '*y'^^»* »he priest, being veited to r./„" ^ a judicial power to ft,W or to hose, to forgive or Icl of thrr""**' *"'.tf ?** power, without laki-igio^i! zance of the cause on which he is to pronounce, and without \t^ — ^ as to his sorrnw Z\T ' "'^P?s'"on8 «» tne smnery- especiall ^ future iow fhL J ''"'.' t"*^ '*'°^"**"° ^ '«'""*" <"™'n »»»««» ienite^'tor^onfeJr'^F^^^^^ ""^'^^ ^t'^^'l'-™'" 'he >,;o „i» -^ t-wniession. l- rom th^s may be satheredi whptfipr « ltXV/;.^r '•' -^"A '^^ "'■ "•-««• -Aether \h7y a e Tbf detained In hi' '" ''^''^ ^*"" '^"^^ ^^^^^ «« 0"»in«rily to„ retained, ti 1 his amendment gives proof of his real renen tence. Confession is also necesslry, to enS,fe the Zstefof rimeTc'riited be"''t "'^*^' a'pubfi^^^reparatrfoftbe Xed in nPi^n ^ '•* ™*^^ ^° *^« -neighbour wh'o has been 3k„own^Z ' P/:°P««y' o' reputaticMi. Acco^ingly, it is ' WhXake u^« nf'""^ restitutions are frequWly made by those S who Tonl ^""*"r*» confession, and "^ very, seldom by . ,<^d who do not use it. I say nothing of the incdculable ad- ^ «* Sea ^e Form'of Oidering PriestK tP.tf. *. ,1" *''r,; - ". « '\m •^ letter XLI. 978 ««J?! L^ ^^? 'T^ '°.**'* '""•"«"'^ °f W« conversion, to nave a confidential and experienced pastor, to withdraw the veils behind which self-love IS V to conceal his favourite passions and worst crimes and to pxpose to him the enormity of his guilt, of which before he had perhaps but an imperfect notion ; and td prescribe to him the proper remedies for his entire spiritual cure. wfr!l*f'n^" 5'^*"° ^""^y ^^''""'^ church, with whom the word ol Ofod and the sacraments were deposited by her divina spouse, Jesus Christ, to explain the sense of the former, and the SlS'Tf °^ 'r' '•*"'"'• Jl ''^*'"' **•" «^"<^»» has uniformly taught, that confession and the priest's absolution, where thej can be had; are required of the penitent sinner, as well as con- tntipn and a firm purpose of anjendment. But, to belieVe tht JWliop, our church does not require contrition at all, ttough sbo has .declared it to be one of the necessary parts of sacramental penance, nor " any dislike to^in or loA God,"* for the iustifi- cation of the sinner. I will make Z farther answer to -this shameful calunrmy, than by refenring you and your frienda tb my above citations from the pouncil of Trent. In these, vou have seen that she requires "a hatred and detestation of .sin ;" m short, " a coninte andhumble heart, which God never despises .•" and moreover, " an incipient love of Glod, as the fountain of all justice. , ' ..-Si"*"^' •^." ^<''[<^»Wp has the confidence to maintain, that ] he primitive church did npt hold confusion and absolution ol this kind to be necessary," and that 'OTvate confession was never thought of as^A command of God, lpr|iine hundred #ears alter Christ, npr determmed to bgvSuchtfrtiU after 1.200."t The^ few following quotations from ahciept faithers "ind councils, will convince om Salopian friencjs what sort of trust they are to pl&b« in this prelate's assertions on theological subjects. Teftidlian who lived m the age next to thit of the apostles, and is the ear- liest Latin writer, whipse works wq. posfe(?ss, write* thtis • " If you withdraw from confession, think of hell-fire^ wjiich confession extinguishes:"! Origen, who wrote so^n after him, inculcates the necessity, of confessing our most private siris, evdn those of , ttaMight,^ and advises the sinner " to look carefdlly about him in choosing the person to whom he is to dohfess W? airis."|f St, Basil^n ^he fourth century, wrote thus .••yt is "n^essary tc MUscloswouir-sins to those to whom the dispensation of the di»in« mysteries is committed."! St. Paulinus, the disciple of St. Ambrose, relates, that this holy doctor used to " wcep'bVer 'the •P. 47 t f Horn. SinLevit U Ibid: Horn. 2 i ■ t ■aj'-rf"-" t Lib. d9 Ponit TRuieaaS. % •v, 9U JW^^" JM(. ■LeM«r XLL As-, penitenttwhoae coDfeMjoin he heard, but never disclosed (heif "Z;iv7i?",*?J'°^,*'"""''' The great St. Austin S Our mefciful God wills us to confess in this world, that we may not be confounded in the other,;t and elsewhere he says. Let no one say to himself, I do penance to God in private. Is t^''?iiT\ *»J Christ has ^.Whatsoever you loose on wrtA, shall be loosed tn heaven ?' f« itin vain that the keys have been given to the church ?»| I could produce a long list of other passages to the same effect, from fathers and doctors, and also from councils of the church, anterior to the periods he has assigned to the commencement and confirmaUon of the doctrine wuquestion : but I will have recouwe to a shorter, and perhaps ,i"L'^''r"""l ^'T^' ?*' *" •^°*'^'*°^ «^°"'d not have been ntroduced into the church at any period whatsoever subaequentto that of Christ and his apostles. My argument is this * it is ij^ £!.m .K 'ft^^"'** ***''* ''®^" ** *">" *•'»« introduced,if it Was not frony the fitst necessary. The pride of the human heart would ^ l»t?r ? 'f ''ol't? at the impositiort of kucla humiliation, as that of confessing all its mttet secret sins, if Christians had not previously believed that this rite is of diWne institution, and hTtL i""^ ^°' *^* P"*'**" °*' *^«"'- Supposing/how^ver, tat th6 clergy, at some period.had fascihate^ the laity, kings S .y °"' *' T®" *" peasants, to submit to this yoke; it ?ill stiJl remain to be accounted for, ^ow they took it no them- mist ei/SV""''?' P'r^ *?^ '»'-^°P'' ^^^^ »^e Pu^e TiS, ° must equally confess their sins with the meanest of the people tollT" ')^ ''""^•^ be explained, it would still be neS£ AxumTnf I'^P'^^I over Asia and Africa, from BagA»d to nW i: • fu ^J^T ^''''^^ ^"""^ *^« communion of the Catholic a src^I*;' fifth century, took upuh^.notion of penance being- n,rtt ^» • I"** ^'jfV ^"n'^^ssion and ,»bsolutioii^e essential parte of It aa they all believe at the present day. . With respect tl Lrri^'V^K^'^.^r'^ ChriSt}ans!theJsepa™Tei K down fii .L • ''^ V^"'.*^ P*'^"'* *^'«^ «"* prelate has set, the lll^PK"V^'^*'''^r'i""' ''"* th^'-gh'they reproached » „f«W Christians with shaving their beards, singing Alie- S, 57k°"^ r'^""' '*"•* other such like minutis, thel never . SS !k ^ °^ *".jr*"°' Respecting private confession or sacer- ianl n^l """"• -^ ""PP^'* the^ishop's assertions on this and SI f ' '^"'**' :' ^*'"'^ ''« 2«*«««"y to suppose, asl have Sa& l£7h«^ * ^""^'^"^ ™"* «f G^*'^ ^^Litin Chris- Uans Idst their senses on some one and the ^ame day or night! . • t Horn. 90. » Horn. 49. ' '•" In Vit. Ambros. In ledge are d( ' of wh meani desire tholic ignore other would cour^j ferven ing g unexc was a the pe comfoi authoif him ol souls, transp* that m; of this vinced apostle ihey a\ thatc^ as th^ Rbv. S I TRI swer to you, be this anc Bishop ■> I Vv, f Utter XUl ^i adve^ to the ffiy knowr [eligion, but sacjamelit is by '^no ire not only icr, the Ca- youth and their some one o> In finishinsfthis letter, I take case of some of your respe ledge, are convinced of the are deterred from embracing n, of which I have been treating, means' singular : who continually desirous of reconciling tbemselve tholic church, but also of laying /,„ ^ &nrw\h1.M '"*"■"'• ''.".^■^eio. someone ot wn!u k * *^"^ mmisters. convinced that thereby they would procure 0ase to their afflicted souls, yet have not the courage to do this. Let the persons alluded to humbly and ng grace, and let them be persuaded of the truth of what an t^f Jl„w ♦ ' »'»^.»" «nor joy he describes, where, persuading the penitent to go to his confessor " not as to one that can soe^ hi „? ?i -^^i^u *" ^^ '^°'" ^"'^ *'»'»««''■• to absolve and acquS iZftt^tT"'!'' goe8on,"Ifyoushalldo this, assure your tr^lllli' A ""•*«"^«ding of man is not able to conceive that tStS T T^u *?^ J°y *'^^ *=°"'^'^^' ^^'^^ «hall accriie to f .1" u*.' ^^"l' "^^^ '• Bprsuaded he hath been made ptfrtdker winced, as I am satisfied they are, that Christ's words to hi*, apostlQS, Rece^vethe Holy Ghost: tchose sins you' shallten^ haLri- r^*"- ''' ™"*" *^"* *^«y express, they must know ?» i.?f r*°V^ necessary to buy off overwhelming confusion t^pn, and with thia never-enduig. punishment. ;■-/ ■ ' i ■ ■ --■ :'' ^': ' . :■■' I am, Sue. J.M. -I liETTER XLit V <*ii&i;. ROBERT CLAYTO% k A. I TRUST you Will pardon me, if I do not send a spedal an- swer to the objections you have stated against my last letter to you, because you will find the substance .of th^m answered in mis and my nexl letter concerning indulgences and purgatory, bishop Porteus reverses the proper order of these rabjects, 1^ * ChilUngworth Sermon vU. p. 409. a". ■ i ' ■' ■ ■" ^ •I- '.#^v.- /•t-sP ,;^' '•«.i •n.;/ i i^- df*- .• * ^- IK r\ *•" ...*- # / i: r T « ^ .^; e -(•-/ di IMAGE EVA|.UATlbN TE$T TARGET (MT-S) CO 1.1 ■50 Kb »» I * ^ Ki f 22 £ |££ 12.0 |22 li IJi^ 1.25 1.4. '.\ k •L A ^^A y ^^A r/^ ^^ Hiuiugi"4iiic _Scieices Corpor&tioii 23 WfST JMAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. IJISM (716)872-4503 '^ ■ "deed hi, ideas are mucK confusea, and his knowledge very imperfect concerning them both. This fwV.im.» T" *" .indulgence to be, in the belief of Catholics, (without however, giving any authority whatever for his de' scrietion) "a transfer of the -overph.s of the saints' goodnes; joined^MTith the merits of Christ, &S. by the Pope as^S 5 hL' W' *"^"^'- '''•"^'*^^'°" «f 'heir sins: ^ho fulfil. S^ their lifetime, certain conditions appointed by him or whose Wr«m!. 1 '"*'''"' •P*^'^'^^*"*'^' ''«'»«^« thai Wickedness n!ir^- *'°T*'T'^'"* '^"'^ happiness hereafter-that re- Si' explained away or overlooked among other things joined with It, as saying so many prayers and paying so much money.»t Son,^ of the bishop's' friends have ySed mS lan^nZ* '^^'''"P?^" "^ indulgences, but in mJre perspicuous anguage. One of them, in his attempt to show that^ach Pope « BesSr"' ^'^ ''""" ■*^ "'"• "/ ««• "^ Antichrist saJS dn^» 15 ?*" °''" P^^'l"'"* "*'^»' ^y *«if indulgences, par- dqns, and dispensations, which they claim a power from Christ theS'Sav';^*"** ^^'f ^y ^"" *°'^ ^" «» ••f»'"<"«' » nianner & r^ encouraged all manner of vile and wicked practices .f.p?r„ r/f" "'*** numberiess methods of making a holy life Zl Im i^'^T" *' !"^' abandoned of salratiSn. provided they will sufficientljr pay ihe priests for absolution."} With the speaks of the matter thus, "the Papists have taken a notable course to secure men from the fear of hell, that of penances and tfbte?- J" *^"'''l"^° "'■" P*?t»»« price. afsoluSons are to be had for the most abominable anJnot to be named villanies and hcense also for not a few wickednesses."*-iLtreatinff of a subject, the most intricate of itself among the coSion tonics of controversy, and which has been so much confuseTrd Xlex- ed by the misrepresentations of our opponents, it will hi neces- sary, for giving you. Rev. sir, and myTher sklopian friends^ dear and just idea of the matter, that 1 should advance, step by stej), in my explanation of it. In this manner I propose showini you, first, what an indulgence is not, and, next. whaVit really is ♦« L Indulgence, then, never was conceived by any Catholic to be a leave to commit a sin of any kind, as De Coetlogon, • P. 63. TicU.5Ji.?p""2"73"" *" ""* ''^*"' "'P»''"*«» "^"-hoP w! t Biahop Fowler's Design of Chrirtianity, Tracti. vol. vi n 3ft5L • BesMD on the Man ef Sin, Collect. ^' W^-" - .'11^' i confusecl, 9th. This Catholics, or his de* goodness, w head o' fulfil, in or whose ks of it as wickedness ■ — that re- her things f so much hed much erspicuous ach Pope, ris^ says, nces, par- om Christ a manner, practices. i holy life , provided With thd int divine a notable inces and iitions are villanies, siting of a topics of 1 perplex- be neces* friends, a !, step by I showing really is. Catholic oetlogon. p Wi Ittter XLir^ ^ y^^L^*"^'*"' r"^ ""'^T ,^^"S« *«™ *i* believihg. The first principles of natural religion must convince every rafionrf &?«.^>.°^ i^™'"*^ T"*** Si^^leave to commhZ The iouJ tJ"? f K*'^"'* 'I''*" away, that of his sanctity, and, of course, that of his very being. II. No Catholic ever believed l^^ » Pwdon for future sins, as Mrs. Hannah' More and a SlP?"/^ other, Protestant writers represent YhJi fhisladydescnbes the Catholics as " procSrinir indemnktfn; ^^tn *' S* ?"" of'^Rome.- Some of her fSuv mou^'fi.*'- •i«P^«r'«'ly ^'t«n. "Believers ougS n™ £ mourn for sm, because it wad pardoned before it wal commiu ted-t but every Catholic knows that Christ himseTfcouZo; ttt"f " ^'^""'l '^"^ *'°"»«'"^''' b^^^*""* thTs would ir that he forgave the smner without Kpentance. III. An rduLT gence, according to the doctrine of 5e Catholic church? is nt and does not include the pardon of aiy-^in at ali;1ittle or «e« past present, or to come, or the eternS punishment due toltS .1i!r'*'"*"' • r PP***"- "«"««• if '»»« pardon of s "n in Ln. tioned m any indulgence, this means nothing more than ?hrre. nil W of the temporary punishments annexed to sUsS IV. We do not believe an indulgence to imply any exemoUon from repentance as B. Porteus slanders us ; for Z is a7C« lZZ^^':A^r ^ ^* °' \^^^ '- indispensaW;r. cessary for the effect of every grace ;t nor from the works of tr""urif?chS°?' "Jf' r ''T^'r church teacr'th« ine iile of a Christian diig^t to be a mfi-petual oenance & «nil ^l^^r'Z •"''''•^'' "« ""«•» ^'P (^^' commandment. ^^ must «4o„„d ,„ every good u^k'H Whether an obligation all this can be reconciled with the articles of being " iusti" by faith only,— and that " works done before g«ce CL of the nature of 8in."tt I do not here inquire. V It is fnc^! -.stent with our doctrine of inherent jusUJication,it U,C^^e. • Stricture on Female Education, vol. ii. p. 239 JcotiL?r^T5il«J'f?3-J- • SeM. xiv. De Extr. ijnc ' ' ' no '"m ■* wW V 278 Letter XUl. W the same prelaCfe chargos us, that the effect of an induleence Is to transfer "the overplus of thd goodness." or jnstification ol the saints, by the ministry of the Pope, tofis Catholics on, earth, touch an absurdity may be more easily reconciled with the sys- tem of Luther and other Protestants concerning imputed juslifi- cation: which, being like a "clean, neat cloak, thrown over a filthy, leper, •may be conceived transferable from one person to another. Lastly, whereas the council of Trent calls indul- gences heavenly treasures^ we hold that it would be a sacrile- gious crime m any person whomsoever to be concerned in buy- ' S^,"' r ''"^ *T ^ *" *■*'' J»ow«Ver, Rev. sir, frOhi denying that indulgences ttive ever been soldj-alas ! what is so sacred that the avarice of men has not put up to sale ! Christ hihiself was sold, and that by an apostle, for thirty pieces of silver. I do not retort upon you the advertisement I frequently see in the newspapers about buying and selling benefices, with the cure of fw »if T'lt , •** *t*™*> yo" church; but this I oMitend for, that the Catholic church, so far. from sanctioning this detestable simony, has used her utmost pains, particularly in the general councils of Lateran, Lyons, Vienne, and Tfent, to prevent it. 10 explain, now, m a clear and regular manner, what an in- dulgence is j I suppose, first, that no one will deny that a sove- reign prince, in showing mercy to a capital convict, may either pant him a remission of all punishment, or may leave him^ub- S? 1*1 *^u '•g'»'«'' Pun'shmenl ; of cours^e will allow that " linnJJ!""^! V^ T '" ^"^" ""^ *««« •frith respect to tZ Whl II ^"^"y «"PP«»« that no p««rho is vewed in *';«1;m- :k'''^^ ^®"^ ?*** ™.*"y instancy' S» there of God's dTilT InVT*'- «"»hof sinand the eternal punishment due to It, and yet leaving a temporary punishment to be endured spiritual death and everlastmgstorments was remitted to our first TK„.'.i"^"i, .^T°^"*'^» •»"* "°» *at of corporal death. 7^Z' *''°7^«?. God reversed his severe sentence against the '!t};''r}^'^'^l^^\^^^^^ Nevertheless, in the dly v,henl vjstt,I mUvmt thetrstn upon them. Exod. xxxii. 34 Thus. E "rr ?* JTT** ^**'**° ""** *° *« "^d"! °f Penitents the child that IS bom unto thee shall die. 2 Kings, alias Sam. xii. •• Becanus de Juttifs, * s«m t.! ^ o JnS*i"i*'' *""?"'*•* ^? " •" PO""-'"" of ."'indulgence Wely E!3i? ^*"?1* ^°' * ""•?" '""° ofmoney; but he dgw noTMv who I n 14. tetttr XLtt. 270 prophet, 6ai the choS ofArt / ^""i* °^"''"'* ^^^ ^'^ hi» ' faraino, and pestilence?/;!/ ^xfv '^TPf"-^' P^^hments/war. teaches that the same is still thf ^^^ Catholic church and wisdom, in the forlive "ess of Zr"'"""V'" ^""^'^ ™«'«^y aince she has formally co„dX„tdth/r™"-"'* "'"'" ^'^P^"'" J penitent sinner, who Ifter thrj^f r P'°P"J»"»on. that " eVery remission of h s gd t and eter^^r'n ""^^ {"«»'fi«^«*^». "Stains the remission of all fem^orat pSm' m'S'-'^t «''»-'« -'^^ '''' andeternalpunishmem ofsr-hi^ I ^^® essential guilt ted by the Precious merf^ r^u^^'ot?''*' T **"'^ ^^ "P^*' a certain temporal pu3mL^ P^ ' """' "^^/"^ ^^"«» J but himself to endure. "Ctth^!".:^"'* '[f??''^^^ fof the penitent >m careless abJut Sn^LTSsii^i' ^'j'^ "'""''."'^''^ . for this temporal punishment LIT ^ ^ • "®''<^® satisfaction part of the sScrameT^f pT„aLcfe' been instituted by Chriit as a as the council has °sa^ Sbo^r-Ult t^ ? '''"'*'*" "'"«♦" This council at the same tJm! a i® . ® * pemtentia 1 fe." tionfor temporal pumper //'^^^^^^^ this very saUsfa-t Christ.X N^erthEs aTthl ""-^ efficacious thrJugk Jesus M St *Peter in partfcuiarL^JS Kll^ "' ''^'^' ^ the ^stlest WHATSOEVER vri^af 1„^ ^^'' successors, is unlimited; ' in heaven, Mat. xviriSTQ^T ''''■'\**''" ** ^''«*«'' «'*» and teaches that her jurisdiction p;Jti!fr! *u? ''''"*''' believes so as to be able to reS ifXlJor S "!. *•'■ ^«^ "'"'"'action, stances, by what is called In i&r5&p\'^^^^^^ ' ercised this power in behalf of th?; 7^^?:* S*- ^aul ex- conversion and theVmyerl bftS^^^^ the church has claimed and exercUed thl . '* ^ ^''^ "• ^ ° ' '^"<» the time of the apostles dow^n.? "'""^ Power ever since power, like that ofTbitT is no arhr''"'"u ^' «^'" *is just cause fo, the exerdse of'it « I ,*"!?'y ' *b«Fe most be a penitent, or of the S.S or" f cS;*^/ «^*.*^' 8*^ °'* *« there must be a certaiHrowrSon tZ ^T *" 8*°«'»* ^ »"<» ^ mitted and the good wirk7iS2ed 1 He"„^ P""»'"»«°» "• end:., and l^-c':; ^ri^l,?— ^^^^^ • Cone. Trid. Seas. vi. can. 30. t Sem. xiv. «. I J'ii ,®^"- *"• ^ Indulg- tBeii;;ii:£4b.1'SUii:c^ Epk ConcU.i. Nle; '« •• Ibid. •it I ^ X^ 290 fY ".f 'i^\ k««- jri//. ■js - • ■ to answer for it, if they take upon themselves to grant indulgen- ce^^ for unworthy or insuffteient purposes. VI. Lastly, it is the received doctrine of the church that ail indblgence, wlien truly gained, IS not barely a relkxatlon of the canonical penance en- jOMied by the church, but, also an actual reraisson by God of the whole or part of the temporal punishment due to it in his sight. 1 he cpntrary opinion, thojligh held by some theologians, has been condemned by Leo X,* and Pins VI :t and indeed; without the effect here mentioned, indulgences would not be heavenly trea- sures, and the use of t^m would nol be benefcial, but rather perntctous to Chrlstians./contrary to two declarations of the last general council, as Bell^rmin well argues.J m' The above explanation of an indulgence, conformably to the doctrine of Theologians, the decrees of Popes, and the defini- tions of Councils, ought to silence, the objeciions and suppress the sarcasms of Protestants bnthis head : but if it be not suffi- cient for siwh purposes, I would gladly argue a few points with them fco^celRing their own indulgences. Methinks, Rev. sir I see you start at the mention of this, and hear you ask, what Pro- testants hold the doctrine of indulgences ?— I answer you-; all the leading sects of them, with which I am acquainted. To be- ■ gin with the church of Englwid : one of the first articles I meet WHh in Its canons, regards indulgences and the use that is to be made of the money paid for them."^ In the synod of 1640 a canon was made which authorized the employment of commu- tation-money namely, of such sums as were paid for indulgen- ces from ecclesiastical penances, not only in charitable, but aleo ih publtc uses.U At this period the established cldrgy were de- • Art. 19> inter Art. Damn. Lutheri. t Const. Auelor. Fid. t L. i c 7 pron 4 * « " Ne qua (iat posthac solemnis penitenUse commutatio nisi "rationibu* gravionbus que de causis. &c. Deinde quod mulctHu pecunia"^ velTn relevam paupemm. vel in alios pios usus erogctur." ArS pfo c!ero" -„1L" '^'"'* "° Chancellor, Commissary or Official, shall, have nower to commute any penance, to whole or in part; but ei her? oKShcr wUh the to tehu'h ""*' k" '•i'W »''• ■* ^"^' and just Account of s^Sf communions! S.„^,h ! "P.} who shall see that all such moneys shall be disp^ed of fo^ cJl £iL*;if P"^^"= "T* »«=<=°^<'i"g to law-saving always t^^cleLu' cal officers their due and accustomnbtefecs." Canon 14. Snawow d E In the remonstrai.ee of grievances presented by a commXe rf'tho"£lr r^ZZ of mt'ir/* '"' *''■ 1''^™ ^"' *"» " SeS'Sops ecS Ourry. Vol. i. p. 169. "»«»' »wn ua». CommoM Joum. quoted by :;f ' I*"" tH ■ / .\ letter XLU \ 981 state against the p4bS„? i? <^r^'^' ^V''"''''^ ^""J that Jn'fact. the monerhrrSsedbv^^^^^^ ^"^' '"^ = ""^ ed in a real crusade /itTo. k u^r ^"'^ences was employ- the impious, „Uy :5 he'r^'^rl'lljir!? ?»-. ««> ^espoU fht'XSrif .?"-' '-^^ ever linUi thal'ciJKtuheS^^^ '^^^^ ever .-ainWn'eci / of God as well as of mTn a S® observance of eveiy law Hill says. "J iVa Z^npiif -"'"^ "^ *'» ^^'^^t' "' Richard distinguVh sL accoX^TA?"/ /"^^ "'^ *^" «*'^^''°«" »<> person."* With resott to nt ^"'^i *?^ T "^co'ding to the that he was n the Kit V^T** h'^«'•• '' » »°t«rio"» , kinds, to hiinsSf Ind hi Idpfef' 'Fhi«'"f ^'"'^'' ?' I"'**"" pensed with himself anH ^L.^^ • n *^'»"»' 'o' example, he dis- ^ ?eligiohs 1& partSl^^^^^^^^^^^ -- of a ith?a^B'riSiS!t^^^^^^^ and the murder of pS ^ ^'^i of -bishops and bishoprics, of his inl£^^^^ mostcelebmed Melancihonfhe gr4,X £mL' V«T"''*^^ sideration of the kUer's nmS '^' Landgrave of Hesse, in con- stated, to mar^y aCcoTwrT- "^/'o'^f*?'"'". for so it )s , '^-y -edit is^rtrtL"st''Lt^^^^^^^ «"* was invited by Cranmpr »nH *vHa f "<^7' *^o, for his learning, and made the^divTnirp^ofe^^^^^^ England ness of the pretended ffi^^ Cambridge, the whole busi- tinism. HifSIre tht? -riT"' '" ^"dulgenceof liber- - seem only to Co embraced hi r ' ^f*-" ^T ^^^'^^ P^^P'^ the yoke of discLlLe and th ^r'^® ' '" ^'^^' "^ ^^^^^ off &c. which la7uXthe'"lJfe^ or fasting, penance, I am, &c. J. M. • Fletcher's Checks, vol. iii lished from the original bf,S,^iof%*^^± belongimj to it. was pub- .and republished by*Bol^t!X?rb^k%?'^"'**°* "^"^ Landgiivik . « Bucer.DeRegn. Chris l.i. 0.4. ^« r. ■** ; ; LETTER XLIII. To the Rev. ROBERT CLAYTON, M. A. ,Ri». Sir**" ""°^'^°«'^ ^^° PRAYBRS FOR THE DEAD. In the natural ^rder of oijr controversies, this is the prooer tT ^K*T' i. P"'^'''"''^ ''"d P'*y«" fo' the dead OnX ti'lr^'^Kl"'"'-^ '''^'"%""'^ ^^^^ " There is no sC^! i«lH ^f n ♦ ,. *'*"'«'«=« Of purgatory : heaven and hell we wJ^ thS ;^'" v\^'"« ' •'"^ purgatory we never mm r^..i ^''•'"gh surely, If there be such a place, Christ and his apostles would not have concealed it from us."* I StixhoJe r.;.i h?i P "^ "°^*'^'* commands us to keep ihelsfdavof iL^A l^ • "^^ P^'P^tuaWy read of sanctifying the -^abbJh or la/Sl *^tL "V"-/!!: ""^J '^"'^»'^« Sunday, a! a d^y of obZ Ct7es^u& ni ?''" ^' '"?'^/" *'''"«»''0"' Christ^nd his apostles would not have concealed it from us! I miffht likfl. tZ'r '"h r "■• ^'^V\* ''•''•'^P «<■ Lincoln, that'the inspired Epis thVnS? »•*•*"/* "P**" «he Christian religion."! But I meet lir In '°? V'T' ^y «*y'"^' ^'«»' *«t the apostles did t^ach trines r? ^5' ^"'*""' of purgatory, among'heir other doc- QThe 01^n'J^ftll^l^•;^ll^^^^^^^^^ To begin with the Old Testament ; I clainuarieht of consi- denng the two first Books of Machabees as IfcSal part of Aem; because the Catholic church so considers S.tfrom whose tradition, and not from that of the Jews, as St AiS Kes:lrifT-'^r°r?^*"^«''«'™««J- No^TntheseS , of these books,.it is related that the pious general, Judas Mac- ^ cesrb:'off'"?r *l!?"^*?f ^'^'^""^^ "^ Jerusalem rsacrifi- yil^nn tlf ^"^^ ^V ^'^ '°'**'«"' «'«'" i» battle, after which nar- Zsed /fl fr* '^"""Sht to pray for the dead, that they may he inseoaS In"" *'•"• X^""^: *"• *^' ^ "««^ "«>» poinlout the for tK / TT" ?^" " between the practicVof praving ■! ...i'l letter XLI. 288 never meet people, on this he^ onet Xd '^^TS? ""^ '^* Y'^^ «*■ ^od's That the Jews were-?„ the hkbft ? ""^ /.««" befpre Christ, ri.es^^for the relief of the Parted °irT"^*°'"« '««^°'" anity, is clear from St PauTs fii^^^^^^ <^*'"«»'- wha mentions themf tiS ^JrceS^l^^^^ Corinthians, this people continue tp pay for feeir ?W« a t^T' *"** ^''^ present Ume, ^ be leSrSlm^/rZli^*-". ** '''' heaven. otherwieSC^,rjZfi*':[J^"*«'"^ Not instead of Abraham • bm ev dLt? ^tT^^ ''""*«"' »« ^od teaches.t Again.^f th J'^ift: J'^ "^Z^' - St. Austin where he savs CAritt Ji.j r • " ***' '^«*®'r speaks. preac^dto those spirits that Jr?in ZiZt , tt ?!!"'"'S^he 48 evidently the 'same which i« mZ/- ^j"""; ^ ^^^' "'• ^9- I* He descended . JX/^ not he S"'? Ik *^.^ *P"'*'««' "««<* •• - their torments, as the blMohemer <- i *« ^^"'"^d. ^ -ufler Fi,«« above-mUoned, or 4 JS^ '"' "'l"^^ '*"» »>•« state. It is of this orison t-nS-^ ^T' V" "^'*' » "'ddle blessed Master soiaks whir ^ ^'"^ '? **'® ^°^i^ '■athers.& our imrt thenf^tTtiojl^Tl^j T' ^ 'f '^'' '*"« ^^--^ -^i ^'" 59. Lastly, what Xr -if ^^'"'^y '*"' ""'*• Luke xiii Epistle to^he Cor?lTans ZV'tl *?,?«»»??« of St. Paul's^ thers affix toit»wh«r«S '**'*?'' *^*" ^^at which the holy fa- he himself ihZ^^TavedZ^t t"T t' '^" '"^'^ '"" •• *«' The prelate's diversS'a^tlmnt« ..f^ •^;;'- ^ ^°'^- "'• ^3' l*- -.proofs Of pur^aS^.^rVto^^^^^^^^^^ IZS^^ « Tertul. St. Cypr. drieen" «?t A«,h^ e* * '"«''' 1- >•• c. 16. » Orlgen, Horn 14 n iS V- o?''^'l' ^*- J««™. *c- iotd. in this life, that I mav n^t npS'fh^^K* 'l? P^^" '^us: « Purffy me. O W «wd. ye< *, « ^>ft" ^ ""* """^ *« chttUauig fire of thee Jko tiiU t84 Letttr Xmi. *^ >: to mem being even mentioned. I migW here add, as a further proof; the denunciation of Christ, concerning bhsphemu against the Holxf Ghost : namely, that this ixn shall not be forgiven either tn this world or in the world to come. Mat. xii. 32 : which words clearly imply, that some sins are forgiven in the world* to come, as the ancient fathers show :* but I hasten to the proofs of this doctrine from tradition, on which head the prelate is so ill advised as to challenge Catholics. » U. "Bp. Porteus, then, advances, that « Piirgatory, in the present Popish sense, was not heard of for fouf hundred years after Christ ; nor universally received for^ne thousand years, nor almost in any other church than that ofRom^to this day."t Here are no less than three egregious falsities, which I proceed l»m i^'^Ik !*""„'*'*u"? .*^* •••« ^»'^«^'P «««"»« not to know, namely, that all which IS necessary to be believed, on this sub' 4?ct, w contained in the following brief declaration of the coun- thL?„Ti' iP-T "* purgatory, and the souls, detained there, are helped by the prayers of the faithful, and particularly by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar."t St. Chrjsostom, thJ light of the eastern church, flourished within three hundred years of the age of the apostles, and must be admitted as an unexceptionable witness of their doctrine and practice. No^ miNTn^nv 'te^^ci '11! "^^ "«» *i*Sl,t gJod reason OR. Ldl n^^K^I T^*^ APOSTLES, that mention should be made of the dead in the tremendous mysteries, because they^ knew well that these would receive gfeat benefit from'it."! Jntn? 'r*"" ■'''*'* '^, *^« "S*^ "«*»»<> «^at of the apostles! speaking of a pious widow, says, "She prays for the Voul o her husband and begs refreshnient|| for ^im." Similar testi- r«n-o» r <^>;P"»n'»'» •he following age are numerous: I shall satisfy myself with quoting one of them, where, describing ^e difference between some souls, which are immediately ad- routed into heaven, and others, which are detained in purga- tory, he says, "It is one thing to be waiting for pkrdon ; ah- , other to attam tagbry: one thing to be sent to prison, not to fm^r -r'Jh ""«»««»««/ J«?ing »paid; another to 'receive mmediately the reward of faith and virtue : one thing to suffer lengthened torments for sin, and to be chastise^ and purified for a long time in that fire; another to have cleansed away all sin by suffering,"! namely, by martyrdom. It would take up too .^. • Serm. t See th( tait6,4tc. I Assei^ f Apolog - iii w i i i - i JUI— W 1'*^ Inter XLIII. 3^ . ^^ E^^.Z^^T^'^SUO^ of dimonstrate, that the doctrine of JhT^t t"" *"'* ^ntew. who i^ i» now, not only 4hi^a^hl^^u"'''^'^" the same that dr^d yeaJs from L t me of fe *''° ^^^^'''^ <•"« ^^n- ers'for the deed and an i^L J?-' *'* aspect both to pray- in paTtiXlar. whrWyXr^at^ f^^^^^ era and aacrifices of the churrh !ff i ^'•"V'gh the pray- more mercifully with th^ denlrL S, "'T-.«'«««J«. God deals How affecting i^thir8aintAj«Vr*"u*^^^^ deserve!"- St. Monica, whU sL entZTK^L^ *^«»A of his /mother, the altar, and wheVaLr iTd'^ ^^"*,!° '"'""'"^«' ^er soul a order, as' he declXX oburtu'^^^ '^^ U, the doctrine Of the%riel-aUhu*herA^^^^^^^ " 't V fies IS conformable to that of his own r'^rSl ** '"^'^P "'S"^' has been demonstrated,! that herris „^'™' " * ?«^^ agrees With it, nor one of them wWI.^ °"® °^ *''«'" "'hich Catholic church, in the only twot^rnlZ„"«H '^"^ '^« as to tjere being a middle^s aTe.S we caH^J ^er "amely,. 88 to, the souls, detained in it h«i^„ i? i ^?"' P*"'^^'^' and the living faithful True it -/l?^ ^'''P*** ^^^ ***« P'»y«rs of that thefe 80ulsVjrnild\y 7 does our churcli require a hpl.of «r .V*" ^V*^* » but neither jjgly.she made aTnS.\ ^l^' ^^e^raL"' ^ "^^^^^^^ Florence, on their barely confesiina «n^ I i^. ^'O"""' of said two articles. '®'^ «'**"'«««"? and subscribing the. aforo- in. I should do an iniurv Rbv air t^ J pass over the concess JSLTrnTneKot^* t^ T'* ^ «» other writers on the matte? M^Tonlr^' P'^''?'" *"«* ther admits of purgatory alE^f;i. V IT^ occasions Lu- Melancthon conLfes tSt'^ncTent ptt^rTh ^"'^^^^^ says that the Lutherans do not fiSd foul? S.h ifi n ?^*"*'.*°** mates, that the souls of all th« ?.?«» '""'* ^"^ it.| Calvm inti- bosom till the day of judgmen ; ?n tf T^'" ^'''«»'«n,'s church of Ehgland which i^tll l^ S."' ^""ffy of the ley. and declledVact or;:rit^^^^^^ Cranmer and Rid- • Serm. 172. Enchirid. cap. 109 HO ♦ n^^c^ . , tuit6,&c. S ABsei^dnes, Art. 37. f Apolog.Clonf.Auj. Diaput. Leiptie. T IiMtit. 1, UL e. 8. £ '^..„-e£^ 1 - 380 Letitr XLIIL Johnson whose published Medhations prove, tha? he consUnMv prayed for his deceased wife. But what need irihLfrr ^ - words on the subject, when it is clerr tharnfod r„ p7of^^^^^^^^^^^ in shutung up the Catholic purgatory for iSJerfTct jTsJ; s' have opened another general one Tor them, and all Cwicked of CalvLTt ?^*''"*^''':, ^' r^» known that thSiS'ei or Calvin, at Geneva, and, perhaps, every where else ins^arl of adhering to his doctrine, in condemning mortals ?o etlmni torments, without any fault on their ^^.^now hoV that Ti most confirmed in ^guilt and the finally W^Xnts^n ,t cud, be/ saved :t ihus establishing, as Fletcher of MadelSr „h Twel'l I- ^^"-'^'rf "''y"* A late celebrated AeotLal' a? well as philosophical writer of our own country Dr PrSv bemg on his dfeaAbed, called for Simpson's v^olonth htL' iZ/.mI'"'' ,^««"*'^««'. which he recommended in There terms It contains my sentjments : we shall all meet Vallv we only reqmre different degrees o^discipline. suiteTto Z^. - ferent tempers^ to prepare us for fid^l hajipiness.! H^wlSn 18 a general Protestant purgatory: and why should SataSd his crew be denied the benefit of it ? fiut U) confine rnvsJl? to eminent divines of the esCablished church. Onelnr^l^^ ted preachers, who, ^f course. « never mentions hell to eat no. lite.' expresses his wish, "to banishthe subject of *verksifn J punishftient from all pulpits, as containingN i dl°rine a o2 ' 2?SS;'"'*."."^^"""'/^ ^^''^'^ sentiment is app^lud;d by a^ other ejment dmne. «rho reviews that sermon in the Brit?^ Critic. ••; AnotheV modern diviae censures " the threat of fe er lev tfC' ' '''"'' of infidelity.''ti TJie renoS Dr. pt iS^i^" ^^^..'^*^'*'^*'"'"» '"'» •!»•'« ""'^e' systems of theoto- F' T^""^ *|" force a smije from its 6ld students, notw thstand ing the awfiilness of the subject) Dr. Paley. I say! Jo fTr Set ' ^«f *5 fo^? in Collier's Ecc. Hist. vol. ii. p! 257 tt lUv. Mr. Polwhele's L«t. to Dr. Hawker. V, i "/ Letter XLtll. mm J« puniahrtient of the infernal regions h. ^ - There may be vCTjr liftle to chon-Tn* ^ «"PP<»«e that, •ome who are in helJ, and otherr X « **? *'"'' ^""''"'on of *ame liberal spirit the clZi\ r^ '" ''««''«'» •'"• lo the that " God's wSa"h and dal ^ ^^ P'"'^'*"' "'" '^'^'''''y teaches than the sense and tha.TZ'ir Z™ '^"'*"« in the'sound degree of evil."t In anott %tt^orh|^^^^^^^^^^^ 018 hope, and quotes Dr HartW «!*"'*'' "® "Presses "ail men will be ultimaeelv hS^ 1^''^'''''"? ''^^ ««"««.' thaJ . ita^ork in reforming pSplK;d.?T'":fx*""«"' '"'^ done ment be Hot aufficie„f|/3ea' i^ tl " ?' * ^^ *'» ''^"'i- foUomng. from a passa^C^h ch V^^f "/• P"'f »?'y. «ake the he subject. " With reLd " mJI 5 • .' • '^'5««"y '«<=t"ring on it may not be founded eSrnr^.t'"^ «f purgatory, though unnatural. Who can beTthe JiS^^^^^^^ torments ? Yet who can say that fr^^ '''^^"•"? '" everlasting , not inflict them ? The mi„?J? Lu^stiksT''"^'^ J"'''' '^•» . It finds one on y ; in conceivm„ J^*. '""^ """"e resource • after deathrmry^^ifJThe'o?,^?^^^ punishment , make u, ^t last.acceptable, even foT^I ! ""«*'• P«""'i«n8. and . IV. Bishop Porteus iW tim„^! !u ^f"^'' 'nfinitely pure."|| .tateofsouIs^aTb^r^iX-Xtf'br^^^^ - —In answer to this, I sav th«7 if ^m ^^1\ ''"^ pWlosopby. heathens, ancient and modern «; iLS'Y'i:^'' '^"^ "*« disciples, together with the Pr^ J 7 '®. ^^"''"•net and his have embracid this doctr ne if oX '\"' "'"?" 1""'«d above. •? to the dictates of nrrd^l^fon T^**""^ ''^^"'^^^^ hou«^ arguments, ^t a^temp^rafv ' ^^^ maii.8 due, to sji^er the S n?i P^^'^'^^ent generally re- ' «, have been fitted Agfin !"\f'""*/ punishment due to even^^e>,, ^^an falls s,TlL%}orJr'^J'y^r^'' *« must gtvean account of evervidU ^II^*^^,' '^' ""^ that men 36. On4 other hand wT^f '''•'*'" '%>/>*«*. Mat. xii instant of our life, in thlh LT"°"' *^^* tWeisnot "n Without the possibility of our calS "'^^ ^^'S*"'/ terminate, , What then. I ksk. will berom« «p , ^^ ".P°° ^^^ for mercy \ either of these pr^dicam^^^^^^^ a«, surprised fn r«ason that nothing deSed sLl^^^nr T^ ^"''' ScriilLro and -1 ^w our just !nd ^^^j^s^ ::n ts - ^ • Monl and Polit. Phllo« ♦ ? » " V Plato in Go^i„, yj^,^ ^„,y^ j^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ « Vol. ir. g.^iia . JM Letter XLITI. gtiiltijessM bishop Fowler and other rigid Protestants main- u-.j I ^t con'iemn ^ the same eternal punishment the poorchild who has died under the guiU of a lie of excuse, and thb abandoned wretch who has died ;n the act of murdering his father ? To say that he will, is so monstrous a doctrine in it- self, and. so contrary to Scripture, which declares tliat God will render to every man according to his rfccrf*, Rom. iL 6, that it seems to be umv§r8ally exploded.! The evident consequence of this is, that there are some venial or pardonable sins, for .the ex- piation of which, as well as of the temporary punishment due to other sins, a place of temporary punishment is provided in the next life, wljpre, however, the soiils detained may be Velieved by the prayers, alms, and sacrifices of the faithful here Jii earth' O ! how consoling is the belief and practice of Catholii in this matter, compared with those pf Protestants ! The latti show their regard for their departed friends in costly pomp aW fea- thered pageantry ; while their burial service is a cold, diJponso- late ceremony; and as to any further communication with the deceased, when the grave closes on their remains, they do^ not so much as imagine any. On the other hand, we Catholics know, that death itself cannot dissolve the eommunion of snints which subsists m our church, ^or prevent an intercouse of Ikind and often beneficial offices betWeen us and our departed friends Ofttentimes we can help them more effectually, in the okher world,:by our prayers, our sacrifices.and our alms-deeds, than we could in this by any temporary benefits we *conld besiow upon them. Hence we are instructed to celebrate the obsequies of the dead by all such good works ; and. accordingly, our fuhe- ral service consists of psalms and prayers, offered up for their repose and etemal felicity. These acts of devotion, pious Ca- thohcs perform for the deceased, who were near and dear W them, and indeed for the dead in general, every day, but partib- ularly on the respective anniversaries of the deceased. Such benefits, ^ve are assured, will be paid with rich interest, by those souls to whose bliss we have contributed, when they attain t6 ^it ; and if they should not be in a condition to help us, the God \of mercy at least will abundantly reward our charity. Qn thti tother hand, what a comfort and support must it be to our mindsj »»lien our turn comes to descend into the grave, to reflect that we shall continue to live in the constant thoughts and daily devo- tioqs of our Catholic relatives and friends ! I am, &c. J. M. • Calvin. 1 jH. c 12. Fowler in W.f.»n»> Ty^et.. toI. ^I. t> T a - uf. Msy ryoi ni. pp. j w. 45i TSS' ^ :«KMe= /• m„ ^f^ ^»l . «\«M ,m•» HV ^ < ^ H» i!«- W iit r m , Uu m'lt u l* M>. '< 'l> mfW i l m n »l 1» tM»lM ictrine in it-- 289 LETTER XLIV; '^o the Rev. ROBERT CLAYTOU, M. A. Rbv. Sir, «treme unction, i » The Council of T^int term. »t.« lion, the Con,«Jaior«VSL? ^f'^"'^^'<'f^^^Teme unc teus makes this tj^ubilt of T. K* *"^ *'''^'^'"*'' «« ^'^^op Por- is the proper place'^fofCto i^^:?? '%T T. ?'--''^-« • fon^^ chapter upon it becau«, M^k • ■ *"''*'«J»'P writes a clear tesfimonyThich tH aL^^^ ^TT' 't "^ «''*'» "'^'^ »^« of this sacrament- i„ reSi^? ii. ^ i"^* ''*"" **» »»>« 'ea»t) tation of his chle^bTi T J yStf « ^^'^^ ''"^^ '" "fu- cite that testimonrw ixTnul Y'Wt "'*''« *° ''" »J»an to this ; Is any TansUk l?«l ; '^^ ^'^'^ Testament : it is the, church, LT^t hLTaSr"'!"' ^'" ^^"^ '""'*• ;^"'* «/ ' the name of the 1^^ TZ T *""' '"^T^''^ *''» "^^^ "«'. «» «>* «a„; anit*. iJ LJ' ^^'y'lf'f f'^'^ ^hall save the sins, they shall he fj^i ^m /.T' ^"?/^' '""^ *f ** ** »» all that is rec^nJXS^r'dlTv' W^^^ ^"« '^^ »«* chism. ,0 «>l8titute a SmL • fnr S^"^ Protestant Cate- visible sign," namelv th? ^ ? ' ^°^ .**'*'® " »" outward ward 8piritu'al^c7'j;:/;r 3 f'' *«r«"«an in- ^ tion of Christ. M tKL bv ^'j w!!'"-''' *^'« » *« Ordina-' less the bishoi choose?^ .llJ ^^^ *?* .'*""» *'* ''*«"««' ." un- a Sacrament, Sr means o? JL?!' '^V^"" ^""^^ aposUe fabricated purpose from; his heaven y^rsleTm^rK*^^^^^^ »«. ahip say, in opposition S m! I' • ^** "**"» ^*»«» h« lord- taeJt? He saTtha? A^^S r**'''";^*"*"^ ^°' «"' Sacra- men, was the SX IthT?^ ""■ '''",""'' ''^ «"«'» « oW primitive timesf with w^SSIm 1 "'r "'""^'y «'"V'A«» in those times, except when elther^^/' ''^S "° ^^"*''»» ^^^ i" met with? Headdrth»t!l !• ^"''°''* men were not to be means/*, c^esThr^^lrl^r^''''''' 'f '^ "^'^ fnan^s sins, he boasts of bSgtis X^on'''"''"" l ^"'^ «'''«r «»" t^a «nglo*sed meaSgft itaXV aK^^r'^'"7' '^ ''' P'""' distort Jof it byt:;; ?xz:r:!i^^:^^^z.t j\> 290 Letter XLIV. meiu wi"; IS .Lv" I, " ceremony of wwhing ctechu- ». fiad «. end of the Sninii ''^T'* ".""'''"• 'HI fians, except in mit^cniL7 ""' ^'"."ng J^e pnmitive Chris- . of the apostles, Bber^^^kTu^JZ I u *^ */* "^^'^ *" ''"» as a means of obtainTe the^ „- , 5 f ««nr«»»ion of sins, M oil, pr^cri6edXt. tXt^^l rf ! *" f ' '*' r'"""^ in the fourth centuryf speakirof .Hp n ^^'^y*?^*?'". *ho lived ting sin. says, they exm h wL„ ^ P***" °^ P"««*» i" '^^it- the rite meLoned^bySt WsVcr Th^f ' • ^" ^ ^'^^"^ •Innocent I. in the same ai f'n ^* ''^ testimony of Pope this sacrament the r*tt!!\u '° ^."P'"^** *» ^ *»>« warrant £r it;« that tLugh tt So ' Sl»r!T''^ ^ the subjects of notchoosetofrapXS^rJ''^ "^ '^^ testimdny, he does the irrefragablf aXSs of S Tyriro?Teill ' ' "T '"'' Anuoch, St. Gregory the Gr«« 1a ^f **'*<'"a. Victor of order once more to recur to th»t t ^'I'l V«"«'-»bJ« Bede, in that the Catholic church has n.H„ TJ"'! convincing proof. doctrines in latter ieswhichTrl?!^ '^'^ sacraments and in the primitive agef The Nf.? *"*u **'^'^ '^^'^ ""1"'««^" communion of thfchurch in ^;^^"Ti! ''^"o '''^*^''« "^ f'<"nXe ■these rival sects ox'st/nnime^;""'^'''* Eutychian, in 45?^ east, at the presen"?ay and thev bnr'^*'T*' '^^ Armenians, &c. matnldn in Cf ?' *" T" *'**»« <^'««'»». t^«c/..»aso„e«/rZ^iUt: N'oZr""' ^*'^'''"' factorily vindicate our church from th: .K ? ^''" "" "'»'•»- innovaUon, in the Darticn[!rV ^'V'^® ^''^ imposition or How much Ire conSeX hasTh"''""'^' ^,»!»««« facts do. ther, acted in denyhif a once t T"' *^"f ' ^"••" ^»" Epistle,andcondomi has "aehX "'^ "^«'- •»«"»«•'• ^ « as a chaffy composition, and un- J Hom/ii. in Levit. / De&yP"/.^*^' ^"P- »»• Letter XLV. ^ ^ unction, contained in it "n Th?m» .•" P^* °^ ««'«««« all. pious Calholics will contite T " '""' '" *P"« "^ »hem tion and grace, in thetUa^TZl **P '"estiraabJe consola- by our Saviour Jesus Chriit «»»wch, were provided I am, dec. M. ^LETTER XLV. To the Rev. ROBERT CLAYTON, M. A. Rkv.Sir, '^"""'=* ''«= 'o^s be antichrist. cuL^bftwelTe ajr/orroSrr ."' '^^-^^^ "^ ^ teus, which is concerning the chZ^ *'°T''^""'' •»" ^ Pol- and this he compressTfn to a trrl L':;** P^^"' °^.*''« ^^^i of misceUaneous matters, J Ae W Zf ^fVT",.-/■ ' Letter XLV. 393 by which the church who«fi f-hiT'i. /t""' ^''^ Anticlirst, and ca.ed.becam./yie^;„Tt'L t^^^^ divinely authenti- This revolution, haf^^^ reailt JaC { '^ "'""" f ^^I'^'PAem^r ■ greateetand the' most reSS^Z ''"'• T^'^ ^*^'* ''^«" »he deluge : hence, we mighreiDeS .h Jf . ^«'>PP«"«d »'"*^« *« to bear testimony to KS 'wifL''* *""^'«"' **>» P'ofe^^ "» taking place. Let u« n„i^' iT "'"^ T*«' " »» *« t«me of the most confidently of thL.«r!nTn *^® T*^ copiously, and ^Christ was borne ^nt^JJT^^rsh'^t' l^^^ ''^P''^^"' full size m 376. that Hr wn- «. i!- ^^' *''** be grew to his he began to d^cUne^^^^e frhr"' TrT^- ^" ^^G. tS:; that the world would end in I7i . "^e"?^ ^'^ '" 1640, and firms, that Antichrist appeared mm^H .^"'*''^''"' ^""«^" *f- and caused the extenuJ^ShS wSr^i/''":,*^ '^P"^^^'' to disappear.! The P«.»»»; . \^^ .'* '*"b and sacraments lished that Antichrist te "' *^'i"''' "^ Transylvania pX' claredthathiScolit/illP^^^^^^^^ ^^ f'i NapperX *a«thema„.§ MelancTho„ savs th.'t"£** '•"? ^?P« 'S''^««« was the first Antichrist II uTn T* * ^''P® Zozimus, in 420 the great and g^d g '" Leo An* 'J^'''^'"' *>»" chaiacter S the year 606 af^e ^^ar of 't^^ ^^ ^'°"^ ^^''"'"fi ««» on , the year 727; but all agree s^vs S^R "'"15' ^P' ^^^^'O" o^ the Antichristian power wa^Se«L?'K .'^"""'^^ ^«"' " »»>»» Notwithstanding this con^X„» ^ established in 757, or 758."»» law, Bullinger.Ld, ong^'il-l'!:^^^^ Cranmer's brother-in. era of this grand revoLon JI ' ^'^?'* ^''« y«w 763*8 the 1073. Musculus couW .rl ""'*.•'"""«' ^ad put it off tJ. till about 1200 Fox not S faortf' ^At^'''' •" »»«« «h»'ch have seen, not'tiH L dia 1^^^^*^*"^'* ^"•^°- Luther, a. we •hem » h.™ been re"r«,Z;r'if .'^»' °"»". wko admU ; P« Abolend. Christ, per Antichri* I I n loc i . nft . * ..» " -j.f ""^ .tiaMcn nt 4 lapMtwmo ^wHt^ t De Alvegand. Stot Eecl««, Vol. ii |»»g » mO Oatt — ^ ■- ..^.jtrrutuauswrnh - 394 Letter XLV. Ceitainly Bott, the vouchers for which conttra^ict each other » none at all. ^ Nor are the predictions of these egregious interpreter*, con- cerning the death of Antichrist, and the destruction of Popery more consistent with one another, than their accounts of the birth and progress of them both. Wi have seen above, that Braunbom prognosticated that the death of the papaL Antichrist . would take plate in the year 1640. John Fox foretold it would happen in 1666. The incomparable Joseph JWede, as bishop Haiaiax calls him,* by a particular calculation of his own in- vention, undertook to demonstrate that the Papacy would be finally destroyed in 1653.t The Calvinist minister Jurieau. who had adopted this system, fearing that the event would not verify It, found a pretext to lengthen the term, first to 1690. and afterwards to 1710. But he lived to witness a disappoint- ment at each of these periods.^ A lix, another Huguenot preacher, predicted that the fatal catastrophe would certainly take place m 1.716.^ Whiston. who pretended to find out the longitude, pretended also to discover that the Popedom would terminate in 1714 : finding himself mistaken, he guessed a sec- ond time, and fixed on the year 1735.|| At length, Mr. Rett, from the success of his Antichrist of Infidelity aglhist his Anti- Christ of Popery, about twenty years ago, {for he feels no diffi- cvAiym dtmding Satan against himself M&t. xii. 6.) foretJd that the long wished for event was|at the eve of being accom- phshed,! and Mr. Daubeny having, with several other preach- ers. witnessed Pope Pius VI. ih chains, and Rome possessed by French Atheists, sounds the trumpet of victory, and exclaims, all IS aajcomplished." Empty triumph of the enemies of the church! rhey ought to have learned, from her lengthened history, that she never proves the truth of Christ's promises so evidently as when she seems sinking under the waves of perse- cution; and that the chair of Peter never shines so gloriously. as when It is filled by a dying martyr, like Pins VI, or a cap- tive confessor, like Pius VII; however triumphant for a time, tbeir persecutors may a|^ear ! But these 4eajers in prophecy undertake to demonstrate from tfte characfers^f AnUchrist, as pointed out by St. Paul and St. John, that this succession of Popes is the very man in question • P. 286. t Bayle'a Diet. I. r. n . • — ' "*• « Ibid. i Ibid. i: Esny on Revel. ^ Vol ii chtp 1 •• The fall of Papd Rome. In like muiner O.' S. F*ab4r. in his two iic-a^, .„ las crumbled to dust" ^ ■ ' — —'-^"v —«.—«•» *uw Mi« sua- , bmit OB wipemitioB aaHwittr^^edw itt^ ^t^^JZ:^ *'- ?''^°'?.'n?Jy tbe bishop of LandafFsavs • " I l.- i infidelity of more thah one vonL ^ ' J' ^»^« known the' showing him the charalrofTnniTr^^'PP"-^ '«™°''«'J. by in his prophecy cotSn" mZJI ^/ZVtII^^ ^4 m that concerning the apostasy of- the 1atSr'timI^l%^'- ""** illustrations of 'he7' Fi^L ff '*''"*,,f '^^ ^«^- Mr. l^ett's m4 off, in other wor Js Jh ^*"'°™P*"'«d with a revolt or questfontibeSssTdiir* » g^at apostasy"; blit it is a er this chapter K«^-^^*°'^''"^°P^*^0"'''heth- lic churches ha[cTas?o?R^r'''PP"\*'''« *° *« ^athS- ions? 'IvLide tWs Snt le^tr»"r ^^^ ^^^P' hW opin- principal articles of thrtwi me ask, what are the rf?st and MweSlbj^^rs thatoJl? -^i!'?,' P^^^^^'^d by his church of St. WaCutasVkeltse Sf^r H^ »fr« his canons ? InconLablyXso M^f^^^^^^ ^^^ blessed Trinity ami thA jL V i^r"'®®* * helief m the of the eternSLTe/ Cv^^™2°^ '^' consubstan.ial Son throughout the woZ' holds .hVlTT"'.*^** «^«'7 Catholic Christianity as firmly now as St Atl JSl"'""'^' ^"'«'«« <»f hundred years ago f bm wh« skvAf?"! ^^^^^ ^'^ fi'"^^*" less other Protestant ChrS Tu-'^ lordshij^with number- Let the prefrc^to L SeSn h*" 'T*'"^' °" *««« heads ? does nof .;,e„Vrf.„; fhe 'Stv hr'"'''^'* V" *^''='»' ^ »»« who deny5.orthe''XiT£\t;rX^' ?r"^"»' •do a/e„ Ay v,orshipping Jesus Christ I T.t tl u*^ f>^comtng How muchild iSic^ /"v.P™'!'"^^ ^h''* *»« believes.^ between the WsL ofTn^^^^V*'" •'"««^'«" «f «^«*'«^. Calvin, Bv*. cier ^Ji*^ *"? ™e. decided by Luthw proofs VShist^raSrd^m?^ ^f'""'' '« **'"/ f«' ^J in. him from ^he ^cirorcU'u^X"^!^^^^^ I Biahop Watson's Charge, 1795. 1 :^ivi^. 396 ItUer XLV, inlilT. V?^''*"l'''" *P°«***«- The second (iharacter of Antichrist set down by St. Paul, is, that he opposelh and 7s ff;^P<'!;oveal that^ called God, or ^hat iZorsMpped,Z Aa/ Ae suielhtn the Temple of God, sIfLng himself Z tf he were God, 2 Thess ,i. 4. . This character Mr. Benson and b shop Watson think applicable to th^ Pope, who. thVv sav claims the attributes and homage due to 'JbL Dei^y. TleaTe you, Rev. sir, and your friends, to judge of the truth of this liie otW r*!rr •"'^'"» yo"' ?at the Pope has his confessor! like other Catholics, 10 whom he confesses his sins in private ;;Hn.K''"^***y''f !*>''"« "'*'''»'« ^^\ before the altar fn tho.. ht'^'^'^r^ f ?^ P'°P'« confesses, t^at he has « sinned hi anf.hr.A • '^"f /««d.'^begging them versy, has been enveU oped ma q^ud of misrepresentation, I must besin with dissi. £Z- V"*!?'- ""•* *"** '''^"'y •'^^»"» what tfe fSh of he It ?. nnt ^r*" Y^"'r'?» »^« "^^^^ »" question.^ ci vi 1 ? ' ",' **"* ^"'^^ "^^ *•»" <=*»"<'l>. »hat the Pope has any civil or tcmp<,ral suprtmaoy, by virtue of whrch he can deww pnnces. or give or tato away the property ^fXrpeZiT not dr^m h T^ Ae supremacy, which he possesses, did Wnd in'thf^T" "t"**' *'?^ "^^» °f *»»« above-mentioned it; rML'STV?' P''''?^^ly declaredHhat his kingdo^ - ho -^ V • • Hence, the Catho ics of toth our Islands orz^^i'T'*'!;'"'''? ^^^"^''^™ «<""«' denied, ;;;; S or nre .^?/ ^^ f"^ t^ jurisdiction, power, wipSSl xeilm t" ' P'f «'"*"«°««' •!>; ««f ly or indiyctly; within this reaim.t But, as it is undeniable, that different Pone., in cZ-' "^?'>'" Pronounced sent;nce of deposition Sn.t f ^«rl. f« ^ ^ "S** "°^ ** * "^Wer of faith) that they had urn whiS. n^p". »««"« P V' ^y *»y of midgatingtSe odt TtS K ^'•/o"«"« and other Protestants raise against them L *?«*?'•*" "'*'* *^^ S^'""^"' »» ''Wch the pontiffs aS JLi •"'• 'f'-'"""'^ ^" '^'^ business. H^etofore Ae hngdoms, principalities, and states. co«ll«,sing the Larin church when hey were all ofthe same religionT formed, as U were one SorrZiSiYalrf ' *^ ^r *" *»»« accredltod C S^Tv'il al^aiJ Z T '•""'*''' ^ "•* *•**»• *« A« duty oi civil aiiegiaiRe and submission cannot extend *bi.vonii xiii. 32. marked **«/», in I , the peopl fishst, tOj /Var no/, But the I diction ci • Tilloti Puritan pr whether hi •uccessor, I questioo. Russelath for salvatioi whatever. elared for L t Markii < Mat. s» •• Ver. a ,■■'« m w: ■■■"^r^ ^i»?Ues.; SI. Matthew SiiZh^;?^ «^»y ■uperior to. the Sher leather .postlepianUy/^a rivTttt"; "'^"^ '^y^'^» In fact, 88 Boirtiiet olwerves t • S? S . * ^"^ P''«'« <<> Peter.f few his faith uTchrisrrthe firi f*"«;^" the fim tocoJ after hi. resurr^liiS tlL £!t tf "** ^u^T Christ appeared. »he people ;! thelST to con^lrt tflT** '5f. ''*'''^'' "^ 'his S receive the Gentil«."tt A^^? wo^i " l ""1A*« «'« "^ Jnction implied, in S^pXi beinrL;?* " ^T"* "° ^i,. declare three several times ihi hlF t!.¥ "P«n by Christ !# time charged to /e*rf CAn^lT/S Jnd^j ?" \' '^'"'f '""'h 'keep pho, whom the lambs we Sed A n '^'JS''* '" /««* *•' '•» here signified, but that thir.S °"*"^ •** ^hat else shepherd, hot only WiSrei Tf^^''^ **' «'=* 'he part of a ■igoifiod by our Lo&'s pray °r T, the f-.i %'.•"* " P'«n>y particular, and the charireth«rLu ^ai»h of this apostle, in ^ Simon, ieiia. si:zzi^j^^;jt^^^^^^ you, as tvheat! but Ihave«ratdr.J'^\*^''^ ^* ««y «/i not: and thou, b.ingo^cecZ^jfA^"- ?*'' '*'*' % /«>*/« »*ii. 32. Is there fo mysterfori?"^'^- '\ *"'*'•"• L"k« marked by the EvanStTcEn 1" *>** «r«»«»*ance, . '% m preference to that of JamJl" !! iT"-^ """ ^^'"•'' iJ'V. together with our WsSf. y'T^u'oM rfrew^*/ «/ But the strongest prbof of T^ptlr^'t^tT'';,- ^"'^* ''• 3- 10- ':r ^°-^-^ ^" ^''^ «^^^ '-"^^^te^n • Tillotson's father WMM. a, u. .. ' fo?!^l!f- " ""^'t'on. when theyaEteivT.i-?lL'^ *»*" '" »*»«««» lord ' for wlvation, on his dmclaiminz thawJifi/ """t^^. •» a point neces^ whatorer Presently after, thfrevolS^ll'"''" °f resistant in anywS » Mit. ■Ti'. ^ . •• Vm. 37. ♦♦n>kl.at.47. T Act! li. J4. n John jDd. IS. \: ;^- ■\jC msk Utter XlVl SI «. wtt Saviolnr to hiin^ in the quartet of Cesarea Philippi, upon hla making that glorious confession of our Lord's divinity: Thou krt Christ, the Son of the living God. Our Lord bad rtysteri- ously changed his name, at his first interview with him, when Jesus looking upon him, said, Thou art iSiVimwi, the SoftofJona; thou Shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter, John i. 42 : and, on the present occasion, he explains the mystery, where he n^ya, BUssed art thou Simon, Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father, who ts in hea- ^7;,« "JJi '"y '"'*** •' '*«' '*»" «•■' P't'f (a rock,) and UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHuihiKf^ti gates of hell shall not prevail against U ; and I will give to then t^Mjceys of the kingdom of Heaven : and whatsoever ^hou shalt bmd on earth, shaU be bound in heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt toose on earth, shall be loosed also in heaven. Mat. xvi. 17, 18. i ou • . "^'^' ^ **•'• ^^ *^« ""cere Christian, and especially the Christian who professes to make Scripture the sole rule of bis faith, who, with these passages of the inspired text before his eyes, will venture, at the risk of his soul, to deny that any special dignity or charge was conferred upon St. Peter, in pri ference to the other apostles ? I trust no. such Christian is to b« found in your society. Now, as it is a point agreed upon, at leist in your church and mine, that bishops, in general, succeed to the rank and^unctions of the apostles, so, by the same rule, thb successor of St. Pqter, in the See of Rome, succeeds to his pnmacy and juBsdiction. This cannot be questioned by any serious Christian, who reflects, that, when our Saviour gave his orders about feeding his flock, and made his declaration about building his church, he was not establishing an order of thines to last during the few years that St. Pe^t had to live, but oJe / that was to last as long as he should have a flock and a church ' on earth, that is to the end of time ; conformably with his pro. raise to the apostles, and their successors, in the concluding words of St. Matthew : Behold I am with you always, even tl the end of the world. Mat. xxviii. 20. ' That St. Peter (aftor governing for a time, the patriarchate of Antioch, the capital of the East, and thence sending his disciple, Mark, to establish that of Africa at Alexandria) final- ly fixed his own See at Rome, the capital of the world, that his successors there have each of them exercised the power of su- preme pastor, and have been acknowledged as such by all Christians, except by notorious heretics and schismatics, from fte apostolic age down to the present, the writings of th« fa. Hhemrdociow, aad huto^iu* of the church unanimously teat^^ St.] in a salen i. 16 next Och, he i Abou Corin the I hfe,l and ii In I St.P( thetra it " th having every author] flourisl church Speaki places, late, & exerted Asia wi faster, measure . century, iug, thai his cha " the roc nation tl " the Se unity.^tf Pope St< proves n< thority , s he suppoi ^sp»-; Uttn XLVt. 3^ ^lem to „e Peter, whe^ he T*^ ^ikTlT ^^ ^ '" ^»^- »• 18- St. Ignatius, who WM a dSnf«f-^'r ''"y*- G'''«t- next auccwsor, after Evodiusbf St P«L ^'^ ?^ '*'^»'«''. «"d och. addressea his most cJ^brated eoi^le tlT.?" ^« °^ ^nti- he says, » PRESIDES in iW ^ *° ^^^ ''^"'ch, which About the same ti^e,d^wenLt jr"*'^ ^^ *« Romans.^ Corinrh, the case wm reS? .?^ 1^ P'^« '" *e church of the Holy Pope cT^Sr'f *" '''^ ^''"'^h ^ Md in8truction.f apostolical answer of exhortation • fte tradition of the anostles r.r»«: ^ ,.*^''''"8«.'"t» referrinir to I "the greatest, mS^tarcSlSd^^?''-^ ^""^* ^«''- havwgbeen founded by St PetirTnd ?t P "^''^"^"y I'nown, as every church is bou,,d to conform k"'' »« which (he sa^s) authority "t Tert„llia„,1;SelnnL%"'^°^l^Wor flounshed near the same timS Sli- L d °'"** church; who church." ant^iiays. thTt «S ?h„" u' '^«»"' ".|he rock of the Spealdngo?Ae bishop eing dis- ivided the )ct, wrote )W8: **I, r. I am of Peter, that rock. profane, eluge. I Marc. Utter XLVL 305 downtothe^preseht tme Ho^-*5^^^*^^^^^^ *'-^""""' ^"^^ apostle, Pope Gregory SeGrer?-?- ?! ""^'^''''^y «'' «« divine, on Lu ^^^niu'^&^^^tl ^Z!:'''''^ it is pS.per to '^^oi.il^i^l^^^^^ before him, and came after Wm ^5 i • °?*'"^ who went power of supreme pMto?,tLu2out^^^^^^^ »«d exercise the this veryatfempt Jf JohrKrys ^The caS^ SpeaKng of church was committed to Peter 3%«t h- i. ? ""f. *« ^^ole ve^al ystle.;t With res^tVto^rLToTc l''h*^ Who doubts but it is subject to the apostoL See •'•««/ '"'^''' When bishops commit a fauh. I knoWn^ »K f u- i*"** ?^*'"' »ub ect to it," (Ta. See of Ron^^l A, „o Pni* '*"'**'» " "°» vigilant, in discharging the Ziea of h?- uT *'*' «"«' "«>ro Gregory, so none o^Sfper^s exerc^-^^^^ ""**'*»"' **» St. widely Extended acts of thr»urmacrthan hT?^"""?"'?'"' °^ ficient to cite here his directio^ ,o S^' wf^ ^?r. ^\ """f" whom he had sent into this ,«io«j f .u °^ Canterbury, was to act with respect to the Pr«n»K 1° u ' ^ '*"*'' ^'"'^ he of this island. nameCie BriSrp^Ss^^^^ ^1^ ^''^P- Picush and Scotch in the northern paS -^o^.L *"^ ^''^ Pope Gregory returns an answnr in 7l.i^f n" • *°'' question give you n'oXrisdic^rovTrT/wshop^^^^^^^ '^e ancient times, my predecessors have c^nflrd ^'e S"' ^?k'" ensign of legatine authority) on the bishoD of x^\ l"*" <*''® ought not to deprive of the authority he hfs fei^l A '"'T ''^ commit all the bishops of Britain toVour care Z tK ' ' '"*' among them may be instructed, the weak Zlu^hl a '^^I"!"* perverse corrected by your autCtvT C"?- ^^' ""^ ** to believe that Bp. Pwteus aTh^« f«n •" '' " P°'''''''*« Venerable BedeV HisS^ of th^R^^lIS .''"?'"^*''*' '«»d * %. ad ntniM. » ^ I Hist Bed. 1. i. c. 27. "is. »55."Slili.J.S. "''''»• 'l><^- SM LttUr XLvi. VII , Edward VI, and their successor, or that he had given the mystical keys to Elizabeth and her al^cesabrs. I havi shown ma former letter, that these sovereigns exercised a. more des^ tM.-i^'"''!*"'®' *" S^"" eccl<{siaslical and spiritual affairs of «„H .?S !5: *t" *"5^ .'^^P® «^''"' ^^' «"«» '" »*»• city of Rome, and that the changes m r Luther acknowledged It, anii submissively bowed to it, during the three first year? of his dogmatizing about justification ; and till his doctrine was condemned at Rome In like manner, our Henry VIII. assert- VaU: ""V'°*? alKwk in defence of it, in reward of which the > Fope conferred upon h,na and his successors the new title of Defender of the Fatth. Such was his doctrine ; till, becominff ainorous of his queen's maid of honour, Ann Bullen, and finding the Pope conscientiously inflexible in refusing to grant him a ^e^r ^T.y.'^f former, and to sanction an%duherous con! church of England, and maintained his claim by the arguments lUm-nrt' ri,""'* *''*•'/ •^*'"*'« '' '" W» fi"t speech in par- lamenMermed Rome "the mother church," and in his writ- Th! £ i.i?l ^T .^ ^ " '^*»'' P**""^^ of the West." The late archbishop Wake, after all his bitter writings against the Pope and the Catholic church, coming.to discuss the irms of a proposed union between this churoh and that of England, ^pressed himsdf willing to allow a certain superiority to the ^riirr^' M ^"^^ ^""»''»" ^^ expressed the same •entimeni.^ aensible as he was, that no peace or order could ;^t' '?K•^' ^^"•*"" church, any moiST than in a poUtical rtate. without a supreme authority. Of the truth of this maxim, £^.t riu "rV*** ^'t'*®" •"«" ^^*'«> Protestantism has t""<» united at present, nqr prevemed f^m r T^ -" "*'*" •>« sions. Therefore oXs^w frj^^n'P'T*^. «»« fresh divi- others are also, that ProtestonTs l!^ co|«vmced, as many themselves, unless thevTofn th„.« T ""^Hr """«d amonj See; without which Enlve'ca^'Lr *** *« «°"«»* government. Hence he wishes tL?.K ^ '?/ ««"««' «hurch « maybe removed. amo^wWeh^t^rf bishop of Rome was not one 1 mIi- .1 ' *" /""wy of the though that primacy ntSry ti':;^^^^^^^ LETTER XLVn. '''o J^MES BROWN, Jun. ksq. ' x ».i.?4S; »Att!!"fi:i:i.'- i- f ■ 8.-B.....b,. .~ . r .ii„, rcui. ,1... •* "• t Apol. ad airet 308 Letter XLVll. Society m mdre respects than one ; and #s it is his wish Oial 1 should address the few.remaining letters I have to write in answer to bishop Portens's book, to yoa. sir, who, it seems, agree with him iR the main, but not altogether^ on religious sub- jects, 1 shall do so, for your own satisfaction and that of vour friends, who are stilt pleased to hear me upon them. Indeed .tire remaining controversies between ihat prelate and myself are ot light moment, compared with those I have been treating of! as they consist chiefly of disciplinary matters, subject to the 'vSdrdshi "^ °'" ^''"'''"^"^^^^ misrepresented by The first of these points of changeable discipline, which the bishop mentions, or rather declaim^ upon throughout a whole chapter, 18 the use of the Latin tongue in the public liturgy of. "pL ?" ?T^- }^ ". natural enough that the church of England, which is of modem date^ and confined to its own do- vHiam, should adopt its own language, in its public worship: and, lor a similar reason, it is proper that the great Western or Latin church, which was established by the apostles, when the Latin tongue was the vulgar tongue of Europe, and which still 18 the pommon language of educated persons in . every part ol It, should retain this language in her public service. When the bishop complains of "our worship bfeing performed in an un- AnowH tongue,"* and of our " wicked and cruel cunning in keeping people tn darkness^ by this means, under pretext that they reverence what they do not understand,'! he must be conscious of the jrreligious calumnies he is uttering: knowjnff. as he does, that Latin is, perhaps, still the most general lan- guage ofXhristianity,^ and that, where it is not commonly understood, it is not the church which has inlMtuced a foreign language among the people, but it is the people y/ho have for- gotten tfmr ancient language. So far removed is the Catholic church from "the wicked and cruel cunning bf keeping people in Ignorance "by retaining her original apostolical languaAs, the Latin and the Greek; that she strictly commands her pas' tors every where, "to inculcate the word of GJod. and the les- sons of salvation, to the people, in their vulgar tongue, every Sunday and festival throughout the year,"|| and " to explain to them the nature and meaninfeof her divine worship a« fre- • P. 76. " .1 tP, 63. "^ -• J p gg « The Latin language is vernacular in Hungary and the n'eiirhbourins countries: it la taught in all the Catholic setUeSs of the uni veSTand ft iSl'^!ni'"y ?? 1f"/° 'he Italian. Spanish, aiid French.as to bTu^'„Zj TTtToncnrTfia: Seas. xxiv. c. 7. qufsntlj imagini the mo] the con the ad( this is ] cred ac which mouths into the chary ol titude pi ful, as t] their hai can join the Jew above-m( But W( "to see practice" himself a swer, tha or alludes still perfo imprudeni ■ingall kii sessed, at reason, al era and < oil things principal worship, tl p is, as 1 h face of th( tongues, R so that insi which is S( .nothing bu her liturgy, and dialec other in tht mont and for roligiom * Umb. flu „:jL^ LettwXLVIl 805' the more , hey rJverenc! TZ^P^ J!"***'?**"^ °^ our liturgy the contrary f pwUcXl titK * '^^ '^""« ""'* "^ precis! J the adorabTe^^cS''^^* -;P-;,^^^^^ this is performed by ih^riestT ;n«„ J "' *** * P»« of cred action, as well as a form n^^**' '**''*"'*' '^^"^ » »»- which the iriest savs wn.S °\''°'^»' "o^e of the prayers mouths of theTeopir'S« trl- \ ^'^P'" °' rationalVthe into the ^^\e' Jm^A^^}^'''"''''^ """^^^^^^ «fo«e chary otferedTnceM^i^tEf^^^ atonement ;f and thus Za- titude prayed Sut t ^ut S • ''^ *r '^'-^' ^^*'« *« ""-I" ful.asVyharSsLoni^;!.".""*^''*""'*"* ^ *« f"»l». above-mentioned pnesis, m the sacrifices pracice" T ^e^ninf the ialin m* Judged of the Romania J himself and St. Peter eatahnfiJi u^"^' ^'*'^'*'^' »<■»" »"• he 8wer, that the oir„otrv^rftr£rK"°"P^^^^^^^^ I «' or alludes to the pubic li^rl w£ f^P^'.'^^^^ •Pe»tions still performed in the old oStii^^wr"^^^ ^*''' *« '* »- mprudent and ostentatious u^e of th« J?**h°'^ " '^Sarding an ing all kinds of lanffuages whi.h ^r.^ "'^ '^"f"*'' '» »P««k. aessed, at that time^n^rn JS ?'? T"^ °^ *« faithful pos- reason allegeJ bTsr,Pa„^T *"l;^? '^^^^^ ''"l** very ers and eXrtatLT'wS Prohibitrng extemporary pray- I •^tt j'¥?S w- "S;:''^ ,x. j^ and diaScts . wTth tlf« f** "*/** '"^^^ *^'ff«'«nt lan^ages, other in the ees^ntlf^^^^^^ solne alteration^r mont and sacrifice Th^'^^'''^ """"'J '''^^^'^ *»»« ^^'X «»"»' for roiidour^S: ^itaVl!^!!!!^!5!jJM^ roHg i o.^ wo rs hip. W—;: ; ^;;^;^ •Id«.«^.^c.a tL.vit.xTi.,T rLutoMO. SIO lMt0r XLVII. guage wnh the substance of their primitive li^u^ /leave Z fr. 1 1- ? *®'**'" parts of their service: lastly that w)i«n tK- ^ uervaiues tue Holy Scriptures, or prohibites the use pf them : ^^!"i:^'^'M>ii9i- t St, Jerom, Epist. 123. i ^*'l!"'.* Polyglot Proleg. Hey.&c f Mosheim, by Maclaine, vol. if. p. 576 *u!^l!c.i.?oYr°''^""^^''>'''"^°^^" iuten.pt in hi, England, R^^ leUtrXLVh. dunng these eighteen Lni^J^^\u^ Z'^'f'^'' f' *° ""»«». does vouch for their auZZTcL Li ^ '''°°*' **»" <^»n and r«/.«n Bur then, shetnotr^^^^^^^^^ their in^i. "/ God, called tradition as wpII T- " »nwntten word tures; that the (oT^TL^i^rllZr T'?. *^'*''' »'»« Scrip, latter, and that, whTn nations ^Z ^°' '** '"''*^*y «f »£ iorn,ed by the «».«Sv/rr;. ttiST^^^^^ ^^"''^^«- oirogaied by the inspired eXics .nJ V ^'* *"*? "°*i«« apostles and evanaelists ocfEtfi Gospels, which the churches. I„ shm Sfh thT ^ ^^"* *? such nations or tholic rule of faith 'oS'S.eXr^^^^^^^ ^Z^""'^^' ^«"» ^^e Cal according to its more sSne^rJ^^- ^""^'f^* cJ^^rch. consisting, the ;,a,,L and thrirXS^ tir""' °/ **° ^''^^' «»«««? each has its particu^ S i^thr^^^^ T*^ *«^' ^--' M well as in other res3 Th« „^ "°*^*' consideration, the rule of faith in ffi?rn J? ^^fu'""* "« "^""^ to stud^ to be enabled to- aLutLLiv- "°«^«»ried ..pplication^ that of preachinPX fc t! .hl'-^"' f .''" '^•^'- ''«'•>' Ambrose calls the XrS &^ *f P^^^P^^' He^ce St. the coJncil oFcXne trs^tC^^ fcerdoiar Book, and ' the hands of eccfes^afi " t fL't ^^l*^ /J'^ ^ «« ^^ must, and do emnlov t,7 n " "*'*• '^e Catholic clerirv < gation IS oenpi-ftllv in«./».k ^. «"'/ writ. But no such obli. ft is sufficStr^S^^^^^^^ t ''^'^'^A^''?^ °" *»>«' '^^y ; whom God has appTntld to Ji *"'''' f ^"'^ '■'«™ t»»Ose them, whether by ffioLs ' .TT'^ *"«J «? «plain it to or in the tribunaUf &;r' Th' T'' '"^^l ^^ ^^' of all good subiects ^ «!S !" a . f ' V* '* "<** *® bounden dutv •it is spfficienttr C^^^ ^f^' "f their count^r^ of the judges, and Sw t^^m *° '"'""" *** *••« ^«"«on8 ard. b; th'L ^ameC^^^^ hTla^r'Tourr""^-"*^" '»»«•» •' did not make th^ LZLa ■ ^^"''* ^^ Pxetisable if thev order toSeX Stflir^'""''"".*"^'' ''«"«'*'>» «"dyX did prohibit the"laL/oft'h«r'^ the Catholic church never reqiJred, by wXf prLaratbn '^^^^^^^^^ *° "^^ ' "^^ «»>/ portantstJy.thitthevTo^ft ^ • T'**^'^'"'^ ^^^ i™- « would en^blTthem^^^^^ S,:! ''"7k '^ f" '""'^^ ^"^'^»i<"'. Ij-i^tJages, or i,I that anpSn? . "^'^ ,^'*« *» tJ^®*' original f^^li^'wiiK I^atin version? the ^desirous of r/ading7r:toi:r?o7.ue"r. 1^^^^ Trid.S*s.v.cap.8. Sti..Mr.c«p.4. t h ey g houl dnjbft. J> .'-\''- Utter XLVn. / ai2 furnished with some attestation of their piety and docility, in order to prevent their turning this^salutary food of souls into a deadly poison, as, it is universally confessed, so many thou- sands constantly have done. At present, however, the chief pastora have every whjere relaxed these disciplinary rules, and vulgar translations of the whole ScnptUre are upon sale, and open to every one, in Italy itself, with the express approbation Jf the Roman pontiff. In these islands,, we have an English ersion of the Bible, in folio, in quarto, and in octavo forms, against which our opponents have no other pbjection to make, except that it is too literal,* that is, too frfbjhful. But Dr. Porteus professes not to admit of any restribtjofi* whatever " on the reading of what heaven hath revealed,' v^pt ■ respeqt to any part of mankind." No doubt, the revealed iiftii$ff themselves are to be made known as much as possible, to a)l„ibiankind ; but it does not follow from lience, that all mankind ftre to read the Scriptures : there are passages in them, which, I am confident, his lordship would not wish his daughters to peruse j and which, in fact, were prohibited to the Jews, till they had attained the age of thirty .f Agai^j, as Lord Clarendon, Mr. Grey, Dr. Hey, &c. agree, that the misapplicationjif Scripture was the cause of the destruction of churc^ and.MMb^ and of the murder of the kingiirthe^and^ rebellion, andlS'fa6must be sensible, frpra his own observation, that thosame caiAe cxpdsed the nation to the ' same cajsmities in the Protestant riots of 1780, I am confident the bishop, as a Christian, no less than as % British subject , would have taken the Bible out of the hands of flugh Peters, Oliver Cromwell, lord George Gordon, and their respective • <;rews, if this had been in his power : I will affirifl the same, ' with respect to count Emanuel Swedenborg, the founder of the modern sect of Jerusalemites, who taught, that no one bad . nnderstood the Scriptures, till the sense of them was revealed to him ; as also with respect to Joanna Southcote, foundress of a still more modern sect, and who, I believe, tormented the bishop himself with her rhapsodies, in order to persuade him, that she was the woman of Genesis, destined to crush the serpent^s head, and the woman of the Revelations, clothed with the sun, and crowned with twelve stars. Nayj I greatly deceive myself if the prelate would not be glad to take away every hot-brained Dissen- ter's Bible, who employs it in persuading the people, that the church of England is a rag of Popery, and a spawn of the whore o Balwlon. In short, whatever Dr. Porteus may choose to say o • Sra the bishop of Lincoln's Elements of Theol. vol. ii. p. 16. t 8t Jerom in Proem Eaech. St, Greg. Nw. do Mwlerand. DIsp. Letter XtviL 913^ lever " on 1 w I V of one of .hem : " aSSchT o ^M " ' M*'.! 'l""'^' *''« *«'S wise men in all Gret" S amnn!?/ *=°" ^^ .h^-^dly find seven the ..me number of i^rani'J^oT TH '' '* ^f'"^' ^ ^'*^ divinely inspired. 'lierrrs „nt , ? .'^''^y *•■«»» doctors and the lo/es. cLs of trLpie wilt' '? "T^"^-^^^"^ the word of God. The Sml^s, n^t. '^"l^" '^'■«*"« <"«' there come out of it locZsTkhJ *'*"" '** ^ "P^"*"^' *"^' '« »he ut- Christies and Infidels TrTnCTJ/ IT"'' ^^^ description. personl>XxZnitarian; wTo h2 ' if ^"'l^'^ ^^^ »« '^ree •^rousrP«3Si^sJ";;;'/b':iie'v^^^^^^^^^ idola. baptism; Anabaptists, who Dlunars,Sk-f"* Christians by as mere Pagans * and OiitLro^ ««ch Christians into the water. that of theifo^A TmaSn • Irmi"^" '"t'^'l''^^'^"' «««P Jieve themselves to hafe been iuXS ".i?'"'''**^'*''' ^^° be- Antinoraian Methodiste who mSt^^ T'*?* repentance, and Without ^^epin/£'^:J:'SC^^^^ ^aved who glory in having preserved the whoI« L • ' ^'""•chmen, mwsal and ritual of^he CaSics • and Z *"? P*""*" *^* Dissenters, who inin in X„T • ' , *"® countless sects of teristical tenets and »nuaA . '"'^6""en, lor a time, their charac- ^ «« the only Sgl'cessarJ Tht bI^ S ""'^"^ ^^'*' ^•*^' th,t all th/se coLndinrSigilnfsts stuldX'^l T *'*^"*«»»' mg they please to the RiuJl ^, -j j , ,^ whatever mean- thl Bible ? Nay they a 1 ' E'tv?'^ '^^y '^^^ »»»« '«« of doo worshippe«VZr„rut t^^ T '"* ««» the Hin. Lama, and the Taboo cfnnS of tU P ^""'A'^ ""^ '^^ <5'»°d ■ame thing, vainly fi^,cvrn',ill-t ^**''''° 9«ean ^ do the cious. reclaim be erSou^' anJ '"""""t '"'i' ''^''"^ »»»« *i- mean time, the e^pewrcrof fiurte.r'' '^^ ^"«""«- '" *« forgery, robbery, mude? su J?r /*Y' P~'*"' **» tl'^ creasiSg with tj'e Zt iarn,"^'?' £ thi f"*' «"*»?«- «» ". original errors, that not ^l^J istnvTtSr ^S^K •^Wthon^PttiyglotProl^m. , / au ' Lttter XLVIII. fr!"'*^^ T n"",^""^ ^***'*>''« P«""a^«d focxchaDe f°™ =" but™ \ auchan eitra'vaganc^ Th^JraUrn'^' *'".»°* '"bseribe ti ^. relics and miracles -whir-htl T** ''"""ased the subjects of "that it i? not 1^^::^^itr^:t'i::-' ^^-J^^ ^rwird; "J -.them, than that .he chX Sstlad *^f f"^ *»""? "'"'•^ about rehps, and inventing JvIijrmiJrfK *»*^ " ''^nwating fictitious accuses her of doKi LSn ' "* ^^ "•?«* calumniously proofs of them botb^t hritld w?'?1f' '" ^**•«•'^"•g ^^e quire. In short, there are hntn f""''fbe took pains to in- lordship's accum'iiS 7lraL^lTu- ""' '^'^ '"^^^^^^ i" »>" seem to require a particuKZr ? ^'* '*''**'" '^*'"''^*' ^^ch of these is the foIlowS " ^T """kT ** P'«««"V One (the Catholics) engS8uch^.f.rr ^^ »«nde,,cy is their celibacy and uaelefs Te.frSa f^^^^^^^^^ people i,^ vows of them to silly austeritiSl ««^ i • " *°® *°''^*'' tbeir oblicina never' en^aa^c, anv nerann »i, • "' ?'**=*»» the church t].econtri?.:h7e.T8irmrsrz;"r:nr °'^ «' to prevent this obligation from T.W f** '7"*'^^ ^«"«"fev der any undue inJlJTf Tr"e ft fa "TTi n^^' '^^ «"- " %cible to alUlf^^it^^^^^^^^ -Plicit and CWa^. True it is. alao. that L^lLgX^^l^li^L^^Yerr^^^^^^ > L'^hn ,hn1* ?'"^"- ^r^- S^"- ^V. n. - Wh o !, eh*|>i,; ;r;r?co?T\"f "*' 'y - j ' v ^g. ".w. > ■'1 « Mat xbL 19. i. 1116 \ Letter XLVIIL mhiistera, she selects those for the sfervice of her altar, and for assisting the faithful in their spiritual wants, who voluntarily embrace this more perfect state.:* but so has the Establishment expressed her wish to do also, in that very act which allows her •Je'Sy to marry.t In like manner, I need go no further than the homily on fasting, or the "table of Vigils, fasts, and days of abstinence, to be observed in the year," prefixed to The Com- mm Prayer Book, to justify our doctrine and practice, which the • S**^^"^* **"** ^'^' *■* '*** *y** °^ ®*«'y consistent Church- ! Prot^ant. I believe the most severe austerities of our saints never surpassed those of Christ's precursor, whom he so. much commended,!: clothed as he was with hair-cloth, and fed with •the lociists of the desert. In a former letter to your society, I hare replied to what the bishop here says concerning the deposing of kings by the Ro- man pontiff, and have established facts by which it sppesrs, that more princes were actually dispossessed of the whole, or a large part, of their dominions, by the pretended jrospel-liberty of the Reformation, within the first fifty years of this bfeing pro- claimod, than the Popes had attempted to depose during the preceding fifteen hundred years of their supremacy. To this accusation another of a more alarming nature is tacked, that <>f our "annulling the most sacred promises and engkgement», when made to the prejudice of the church."^ These are other words for the vile hackneyed calumny of our not keeping fauk teilk hereltes."i In refutation of this, I might appeal to the doc triae of our Theologians,! and to the oaUi of the British Ca- thohcs ; but I choose rather to appeal to historical facts, and to the practical lessons of the leading men by whom these have been conducted. I have mentioned, that when the Catholic , ■■ ■•■'•J. ' «.* J*"* ?u°°?^ Council of Carthage, can. 3, and St. Epiphanios timr. 48. 59, trace the discipline of sacerdotal continence^ up to the Apoifles t ;• Although It were not only better for the estimation of priesa and other ministers, to live chaste, sole, and separated trbm women, and the bond .^ of marriage, but also they might thereby the better attend to the administra- tion of the Gospel; and it were to be wished that they would willinjtlv en- deavour themselves to a liff of chastity, &c." 2 Edw. vi. c. 21. See the njunction of queen Elizabeth against the admission of women into col- leges, cathedrals, fcc. in Strype's Life of Parlcer See likewise a remaik- able instance of her rudeness to that archbishop's wife. Ibid, and in Ni- chol's Progresses, A. D. 1531. t Mat. xi. 9. § P 71 II In the Protestant Charter-school Catechism, which is taught by att- tnmity, the following question and answer occur, p. 9. «♦ Q How do Pa-- pists treat tha«e whom they call heretics 1-A. Tikey hold that faith is not oath ot allegiance to their ^tever•ign■.** ^r^ • V 8«« ia particular the Jesuit Becanui De FUk HmmUU pntlmndM. ^1— -i^ 'm-. ■ - - -^~-~- =-^ — 1;:. "*«!>, Letter XLVIII. f 317 queen Mary came to the throne, a Protcst&nt uftxper, lady Jane. r.^w"B*^"'"o^*''"'i*'*' *« '''«»'°P« CrJnmer. Ridley^ hef ?orl*;.r"''' ''^'^t *t ^"^«'*"«« *"^ engagement, to her for no other reason than because she was a Calholic, and the usurper a Protestant. On the other hand, when xMary was succeeded by her ProtesUnt sister. Elizabeth. Ihough thoJat^o! lir' ♦®°/"]"°" numerous and powerful than the Pro- ^aS^\ a hand was raised, nora seditious sermon preached against her. In the mean time, on the other side of the Tweed "Zflt ^■''^'' tlieir apostle Knox, publicly preachfd that neither promise nor oath can oblige any man to obey or give leZrr 'V^'""'"./?*^"^' <^°^ '"• *°*hi«h lesson his S . ^ague, Goodman, added : " If govenors fall from (Jod. to the - ga lows with them."t A third fellow-labourer in the same Gos! S^lJ^K^^^"*'''*"?"'?"""^"®^' •^»» "princes may be de- TuA ^L rr.KP-*''^?"J^^" *J^""'« ^Winst God and hie «K ^- "^.i''*Lu*'®" ""'•J**'^ *'« fr«« <■«»"» their oaths and obedienee."t The same, in substance, were the maximsTf Calvin, Beza, and the Huguenots of France, in general: the temporal interest of their religion was the ruling princible of mies of church and state having hunted down the earl of Straf- fang, Charles I declared that he could not, in conscience, concur U«h«r «nH ' w-n" ^^^ ""T ^^"^ '■"'■*"«** '" *he archbishops. ?«niS«/? ^|"'»?»' ""d three other Anglican bishops, the^ decided (,« spite of his majesty's conscience, and his oath tl administer justice in mercy) that he might, ,„ conscience, send IhlST"^ ^1 V^ *S^*' '^^'''^ ^« "J'd accordingly.^ I should like to mk bishop Porteus. whether this decision of hi. a.va^'fb?7 tlSS k";!'"' !*"« ^" 'he express doctrine of the 0«. Bflva Bible, translated by Coverdale, Goodman; «tc. in (hat citv .nrf i« common use among the English Protestants, till kiSjamS'refi' for « ^rXV'l r^'rJ^ "/ 2dJVIal these tram,lato«„p^^^^^^ Soflt. v"r Hi^JT "^ ^"'^- T"'"'»"°'«'. ^y A. Johni,n. in wL^nl .eJ.S"if1h?Parfi,mi^'''?i"- P- ^»L-«" *»»• «*er hand, when R«».7r„^ u A '^'"""nent^* •oldiers, who had beec taken priaonera at Brentford, had sworn n«vpr «»!» t« k«., — . :-A .^ . , H»^n«™ « never a gain to bear nrm^ against K^^"^ tromTfiit oath." saya CUrendon. « by Neal'a Hiat. bj Grey, Tof. iii. o. 10. . ' their divines." Enm. of 318 Letter XLVIIl predecessors was not the dispensation of an oath, and the an. nlilhng of the most sacred of all oblisa'ions ? F« !??« 1« most of the leading men of 4e na^S^SLst^^^^^^ having sworn to the Solemn Uagne and Covenant ^^ till lormi y. But whereas, by a clause of the oath in the same act, all subjects of the realm, down to constables and school Zr:^Zt:S:^.7''' P"™"'? ^•^"-^ diSnratt'etpT,.. which we do no?.*'L iT' '"'?"''* .""^ ^°^'""« necessary.* iW'+ Th«f? \^*^r i««™«d well know from their writ- W Ltir ^^« J»l«ehood of this position most strike you, on look- ingback to the authorities adduced by me from the anc^nt vertVhich'^IT"*"'' •" ^'*"!f °f •»•« ««^«"^» l!^i!^»« of "mro. Z«\ -I ' ^''''* maintained: but, to render it still more eiar- riUS, two different heretics of the fourth century Both St Ep.phanius4 and St. Austin.^ rank Aerius amon7 the heresi' a'cor'of'rs'rr"'^"^^'?"^ •"*'«-« eTacVtL same IS avowed bgr all Protestants, namely, that " prayers and sacri- , fices are not to be offered up for the dead," and th" two others by most of them namely, that " there is no' obSiatfon Jo w! ing the appointed days of fasting, and thai prices ought not to be distinguished, in any respect, from bishops 1 So far we J the primiuve Christians from tolerating these hlresiesIthaTTt^ • Statute 13 and 14 Car. 11, cap. 4. ! 2f.%'*f- **"" '''•Ed. Frob. M told- St John Punaacen •■ h ere ti c s i ; — - ' -WWr / Letter XLIX. an- 319 ■upporters were denied the use. of a place of worship, and were forced to perforin it in forests and caverns.* Vigilantius like- wise condemned prayers for the dead, but he equally reprobated prayers to the saints, the honouring of their relics, and the ce- libacy of the clergy, together with voiys of continence in gene, ral. Against these errors, which I need not tell you Dr Por- teus now patronises, as Vigilantius formerly did, St. Jerom di- rects all the thunder of his eloquence, declaring them to be sac- n/c^ou* and the author of them to be a detestable heretie.f The learned Fleury observes, that the impious novelties of this here- tic made no proselytes, and therefore, that there was no need of a council to condemn them f Finally, to convince yourself, dear sir, how far the ancient fathers were from tolerating differ- ent communions or religious tenets in the Catholic church, con- formably to the prelate's monstrous system, of a Catholic church, composed of all the discordant and disunited sects in Christen- dom, be pleased to consult again the passages which I have col- lected from the works of the former, in my fourteenth letter to your society ; or, what is still more demonstrative, on this point, observe, in ecclesiastical history, how the Quartodecimans, the JNovatians,^ the Donatists, and the Luciferians, though their res- pective errors are mere maJehills, compared with the mountains, which separate the Protestant communions from ours, were held forth as heretics by the fathers, and treated as such by the church, m her councils. I am, &c. J. M. H LETTER XLIX. To James brown, Jun. Esq. on religious persbcutfsn. Dear Sir, I PROMISED to treat the subject of religious persecution apart, a subject of the utmost importance in itself, and which is spoken of by the bishop of London in the following terms : " They, the Romish church, zealously maintain their claim of punishing - • Fleuty'8 Hiat. ad An. 392. 1 Epist. 1 and 2, a«iversus Vigilan. j aj An 405 § St. Cyprian being consulted about the nature of Novatiatfs errors, an- •wera: " there is no need of strict inquiry what errort he teaches while he teackei oiUtffthM chunk." He elsewhere writes; "The church beinff oik«,^«iMifie(4>eir«Mi>«~same time, withrn anH wtthQUt. TriBe be with N^ vatian. she uiwt with (Pope) Cornelius; if she be with ComeUus, Nova- Uan i» not in her." Epist 76 ad Mag. ""»■• 'P. 820 letter XUX. i fled oratorical hvoocriW ^r ' j *? '"^^ resource of i you, as soon as they can ■ the fa^tk T . "'''«'»'y nftrdeir I. To proceed reeularlv in LI .. K*?' ***'"'' //«"» »'• :^.\ with penalties. i»pri3on«rr^^^^^^^ Wall lawifuln an"! tlXrit^^^^^^ «'"'' -«>- lenity was content even inthH **y^'.7*V *®/®<'cle8iast cal ii.ent.and avSd all san^^' r^' ^? *^^ 8»ice,dotal judg- secular emperws miXS thLr'^™""'*''? ^''^'^' »b« same centu?y, two s|am-sh bL wT ui "*^" ?*^ "**'«• I" «he interfered in^Oie capSlpunfste tics, both St. Mnh^i^^nri^Zt^^ rX«i ^'^^'^ ^'«- uion with them, even to ^m ifv »n - ' "^^ ^ ^""^^ *^0"'n«- . they were 8olicitinT?nbeE.^ ?w^PT^^ tfiej;) time, TertJSfan \af ful' h.^ ^l^. ''«''°'« religion to force reliirion 4 S ' ^t does not belong to when St. Austin and SscoLIj '^ "T^^«'*'"e time aftef it, gory the Great.Vad coLrd'ouTLi E^^^^^^ '^P^ «^- tian faith, they particularly incZi^J? T^"»*"' ^ the, Chris- ble means to wduce anv of 1.? u- *^ *""' "*»* *« "«e forci- But what need^6f"reLfhti:f ^^^^ ^« ^^'"P'-M law.as it stood in ancient timli ^ tUis head, since our carion all those who hile actS^o^cJ^r T. " f". «*?"«*«' '«"d«'« • p. 71. - *^ ._i tp.t-«. limb . } Kir. y5 ' "'''-.%r £!;.'arwSi t 41 era lestab- X " ^ ^ tetter JCLIX, jjj guilty of it. he"^ S;d r^^^^^ »'«'T'" '"'^"^"y luher name, that het wwer ^L.^?- '/T*"'^' *° <•««'»'« cision; and/in' ca»Vihrr.H!L^' "?* ^""''*' than such de- (or his pardon. S the lolo/lV^^^ » required to pray •ngJohn^Huasof h^^sy^^^^^^ condemn^ . further.* "y* *'®"™ "»* it* power extended no blild^giv^^rn^sThTpu^rn" "^ -r-«-of theeata* does not belonTt^ th? cClh ?««*=«' ^"d'.atural morality, it from exerciaiXi Must S,H P'*^*"* P^'"*'*'* ""^ »»»»«» them, when thfa is juVJS ^b^g; «««?'*'""« '"S P""»»''°» gymaa incufirreirulariS h^ .JkIT ' ""' '^°"'** ^''J^ cler- to provide fcr^hJs?"i^i"*ir"f pnnces and magistrates concur to the deX or m^. ? .^"*"?^"' P~''''*«'* *»• did not Thus it appwrsXt thoX^Tf ""/ P""*''"»« ''"^•"ber. ia «.any jJthoTic^'l^^^^^^^^ laws ciaiid^t%^rrthe?hiS'''^*'^^ t .f^"'''*' ^^"'^ ^" council, A. D.iais bvth!t canon of the fourth Lateran magistrltes wire' e^iS ATxrmll^'l'.^''™^^^^^^ ""^^ resp^cUve territorieJ, mde^ pTTttjl^"''''''''' I'''"' »^«'' their sovereign Prince if L J i "',*«»« bemg confiscated to churches- in'^afrthev w^Jir ^^^^'V"** ^ their several has been a hunTed liLro^., ^"Z"' .^"™ ''»''^ <='"'«». i* years. ,«,'t onl^that S churirS »8-"-» Catholics, of I'ate heretics, but io reouiles tho»^ claims a right to exterminate ' assist in this JSrkTdeSl *Z "'^^ ^n' P*»"»™™i«» ^ aid and But it must firsrbe obwJ^ed «!:: ^^ '""''' *"^ '" »" P'»''«»' passed. There w«rf #1,^; °®*'^®«*' o* » temporal nature, were Lhops.eiherlnrrJoirb^T"'' ^''^^^J^^ Pope and the the LaSnemp^^rs^7he wJ^Vf '^:^ G'««'' »"<« Sicilies. Arrairoh Cvnrn. -?/ I '^"8'*"'*' f^'*"^*. Hungary, ih* fives of a vKkn/Kl"!-^?'^^^^^^^^ ' ^"^ »''« representa- ^^^^y^^^^^^^Siat/ml^Mxr^J^^^^ • SsBi. XT. See Labbe'i Concil. t. xii. p. ]». t P 47 ' ' -^— :- -■■-,■. ■ ' ~~- »»» . 32« > Utter XLIX. ^V'f'''fJ^^':''*°>'*fJfJ^dhumar^ nature; namely, the extirpation .of he Manichean heresy." which taught, that there werb two first principles, or Deities ; one of them the creator of devjls, of animal flesh, of wine, of the Old Testament, &c.>the o.hef the author of good spirits, of th> New Testament, &c ; that unnatural lusts were lawful, hut not the propagation of the hu- man species ; that purjury was permitted to them, &c.*^ This detestable heresy, which had caused, so rtuch wickedness and bloodshed in the preceding centuries, broke out w:ith fresh fury, m iha twelfth centpry, throughout diflerent parts of Europe more particularly , in the neighbourhood of Albi, in Languedoc were they were supported by the powerful counts of Tholouse . Commmges, Foix, and other feudatory priijces ; as also by nu' merous bodies of banditti, called Rotarii, whom th^ hired for Uiis pdrpose. Thus strengthened, they set their sovereigns at defiance carrying fire and sword through their dominionsfmur- ■ M I^?^ , *"^J«*'»«'. particularly the clergy,, burning the . ft /"? monasteries, and, in shqrt, waging open war with them, and, at the same time, with Christianity, morality, and hu- man nature itself; 'casting the Bibles Into the Jakes, profaning the altar-platfe, and practising their dstestable fites for the ex- tinctiop of the human species. It.Was to put an end to these horrors, that the great Lateran Counpil was hejd, in the year - 1215, when the heresy itself was qondemned by the propel au- thorily of the church, ^nd the lands of tlie feudatory lords, who protected It were declared to be forfeited to the sovereign princes, of whom 4W were held, by an authority derived from those sovereign prffffes. The decree of the council regarded onhr the prevathng heretics of that fime, who, though "wearing diflerent faces," being iridiflferently called Albigense?, Cathari. Poplicol» Paterirfi, Bulgari, Bacomilii, Beguini, Be^ardi. and « Brethem of the Free Spirit, &c. were " all tied together by the tails, as 'heir council expresses it, like Sampson's foxes, in the same band of Manicheism.f Nor was this exterminating canon ever put in force against any other heretics except the Albiiren- ses, nor even against them, except in the case of the above named counts ; a was never so much es published, or talked of. in thesb islands: so little have Protestants to fear from theif «i * ®"®'** Protestant hiatorian Moitheiin's account of the shocking viola- tion of decency and other crimes of which the Alb eLn.es RrliLrnni &e Free Spirit. &c.. wer^guilty in the 13fh centurj!'^ VoK ili^J *^" "* t For a ai i cc inctr yet cil e a r accon nfrT *• "'^ • -^ '' • - •*■-*??• „-„_, ~uuii j»., "liy, lur many aaaiu ]>tten to a Pre(>endary, Letter IV. nal ciiAiDutanc instances relating to it»se* ■•:gEi., o Tiip^^ Lttter XLIX. : . 323 c'iSof'f^^^^^^^ '«-^°- °^*« ^^'-J -non of th, r«/J' "i."* f*/ "« ^l»>efly the Smithfield fires of queen Marv»s • of fm^^V""?^ "''''' ^•'^ '^^ inexhaustible declaSn of thrPr^r ^T''"^''^' ""^ *« unconquerable ^,rejudiceB of the Protestant,populace against the Catholic religion as •breathing the vey s^uit of cruelty, and murder/ac^oJding to the expression of the above quoteti orators. Neverrheless I have unanswerably demonstrate'd elsjwhere.f thaT"[f qTeen ' Mary jva^ a pwsecutor, it was notin virtue of the tenets of he? religion that she persecuted" I obseRed/thardarLg rLost of h^::;''- ^'\r^^^? i*«>testant was molested in^acS hlr^;/;!f°"i*'' '\*^ instructions, which the Pope sen commL/ '°"'*""* *'" ** '*^'"°""' *'^«^« » "°t » word to re. whTrtll ?"''"'r ' ""j:,'" ^^'^^ o»« "'O'd in 'he synod, which the Pope's legate, Cardinal Pole, held at that time m Buraet remarks, in favour of persecution'. This . representJtiv" of his holiness even opposed 4he ^persecution project, wiAall his influence, as did king Philip's chaplain also, who even preachod a^inst it. and defied the advocates of i t^ LZc^ an authority from Scripture in its favour. In a word? we have the. arguments ra^ade use of in tfce queen's council, by those ad- vocates for persecution. Gardiner, Bonner, &c. bV whose ad- uZJZ r Tr ' ^u* T' °^ '^«'" pretended, that the doc trine of the Catholic church required such a measure. On the contrary, all their argument? are grounded on motives of stite 'f„.S i".^««?/" cannot be denied, that the first Protestants, < in this, as in other countries, were possessed of, and actuated by a spirit of violence and rebellion. Lady Jane was set up and supported in opposition to the daughters of kiiig Henry, by all the chief men of the party, both churchmen and laymcV^ aJ I have observed. Mary had hardly forgiven this rebellion, when a fresh one was raised against her. by the duke of Suffolk sir Thomas Wyat and all the leading Protestants. In the T^l *""*• M-^'/" """ attempted by sojne of them, and her deuth was publicly prayed for by otheS; while Knox and Goodman, on the other side of the Tweed, were publishing books Against the Monstrous regiment ofWome^, and exciting «r'fl^ri,?^«r"* "li S** '?!'«"'«■"• i^d antisocifl doctrine and ptmctiees t Letters to a yrcbeiiaary. Lpttfir IV, oq naw<.cnti»««ta»»» ««ie8, who flocked to England, from mat, when king, he lost his crown in the cause of toleration • hxs Declaration of Liberty of Conscience, having bL the deterl - mining cause of his deposition: But what need of words t«X prove the odious calumny, that Catholics " breathe Te spirh of cruelty and murder," and are obliged, by their reliL" to tt CofTrkntTr'y rr' '^^ ^'^'^y- -^"a« "^^ tne tour of France^ Italy, and Germany, has experienced the contraty ; and has been as cordially received by the Popf him! 8elf.in his metropolis of Rome, where he is both nri,,ce aSd knowS'tlTbe V^"T' 1 •- ;?"«"•'» P'otestanTas K we^ known to be the most zealous Catholic !— Still, I fear, there are STnl. ;?•*""" '" y?" '"^^'y^ «» *"« »'« many other p"! testants of my acquaintance elsewhere, who cling fast to tbki charge agamst Catholics, of persedution. as the fast e^ourc" ' iave ^J:eVr'*"^''^• "'^' '' j"'"^^'-' th" cXiic: fk I' . r "T" *"•* P'aces, unsheathed the sword airainst ' part of the Catholic religion to persecute. On the otherhand inany Protestants, either from ignorance or policvToiadJ^' claim for themselves, exchisively, the credit of tolerJ^kT Ail an mstance of this the bishop of Lincolh write. VTconsidlj toleration as a mark of the true church, and a. . princb"e r^ commended by the most eminent of our reformers aSd divine A In these circumstances, I know but of one argument to stop the mouths of such disputants, which is to prove to them th« per! secution has not only been more generally pJacSsed by C wSvdef?nd«5 ^J'^°"''' *!."* «''^' that^? has bee? mo^ r^d Hfl« " fiJ '"PP°"^^ ^ *« •"«'» *™i°«n» " Reform. MS «nd divines of their party, than by their opponents. ^ I .-\ t' e g ^Si^"^'' "^ - '- ^ '^' ^**'">^' F »^nda.y,p. m ' * ■, ■ i letter XLtX. S95 - De^cSJ^^^ •""•' """«^*tely aourtied the trumpet of of Derditinn ^h- P^T "^X .<»<», ^e «<>» laU on those masters forr^ »n^ '. • ^^*' cardinals, and bishops, with all our SS'n He^r^ir '^ 7 t*-e bathed ou? hands in thcSr Piood I ) He elsei^here calls the Pope, " a mad wolf amin^t whom everyone ought to take arms. withourwauS S .n order from the maj^sirate," He adds, " if you feU bffore th« beast has receive/ its mortal wound you S have bi o^! «r in».«niiv«B-<;J!ir u- I. V ^ '^JBsars. I By tlfese and srmi* only excuifl the Lutherans themselves to propairate their reli g.on by 6re and sword against the emperor anWerCathoKo princes, but d«, gavo occasion to auZ sang^rnSy "nd f mSc toe lower part of Germany. Coeval with these was the civU war which another arch-refortoer. Zuinglius, ligSld ud in Ae persecution which he raised equally a^inst the Ca&ouS Eokt deLr;?* r^*''" *•** "oderL Melancthon wroti : Bucer whn^ of rehgiouft persecution,! and the conciliatory «tS:'-i^?u^'"r' professor of divinity at Cambridge. n'«",»^^q»lh«lics. for which purpose. amongouTer tToned' wii^orBl''* '"'" ^^^ *"? publfshe^lh; abovf.l„! the h«.Z nf Ik • ' * "^"^ **''•'**'* ""^ »*»*'•' persecution arose in the bosom of. their own society ; Arminius, Vossius, Episcopius^ SrnZft ''f n^'-'^'^Pr'^^ ^y 'he illustriou; sta ZenT Bamevelt and Grotius, declared agdnst the more rigorous of m^nToU"-?-. '^^«y ^o"'^ "o^admit. that GodTe ees wWtK *>cked.and then punishes them- everlastirtgly for mous crimes For denying this, Bamevelt was beheaded,! Gro- tius was condemned to perpetual imprisonment, and all the emo^- of ffc svnSn? S;^ r" called were banished, at the requsTtl ^[riH r ?T* ^^"^ *"•' '^»"'»"«« and their country, with ^^sfrrK"" °^ ^' u^*"*'*" •'"'^'^y- I" «Pe«king of Lithel- o? S' Lht? r "'^ >y '"^"y persecuting decrees and practices m.J! nfr I '"•' *^^""* 9*I"J»»t8 and Zuinglia„8.%„d many •nore of Calvinitoagamst Lutherans ; while bSlh parties aS in showing no iJjercy to the AnabapUsts. BefoVe I quTS continent, I must mention the Lutheran kingdoms of Denmark clnr^'^T' -^^ ^'"e''^ ^' •^""«*" has fignified aboveTtie W mln ' nf*'- " '^^ «*»'rP*'ed. and ProtestaTrtism established by means of rigorous, persecuting laws, which denounced the punishment of death against the former. Professor Messenius hi°r°*y^"^*^*' ^T J 600, mentions fofr CathoHcs who had recently been put to death, in Sweden, on account of their religion, and eight others who had been imprisoned and tortured on that account, of whom he himself was one** ■ , i '?'? P*"" **^®' "^o*^' to the northern part of our own ±dJJ^^^? ^n™'" of Scotland, hav?ng tHber,^"; murdered Cardinal Beaton, archbishop of St. Andrew'iHand riotously destroyed the churches, monSsterie^ ai!d eveV thiSg else, which they termed monuments of Popery, assembled in a tumultuous and illegal manner, and before e^'ntheTr own re' * f • ^^ Letters to a Prebend, p. 103 ~^ ~"^"^ "^'"~ ^7' BrLndtf^" ^**""* ^"'"*' ""*"^ "^ **'° **"*^" °^ °°"'"°' $• h^fejr' "y °""'^*' "y ^'^ '^^ *''"'" °f Port carried off ihe \ o-.l"'!l!.^^5^t- «l»°;e«> by Le Bran. Mess. Explic. t. ir d 40. « Glib, gtuarfs Hist. cS Ref. in Scot vol. i. p. 47, £c. ' ^' / m$ UutXLlX. I?!!*nj7?* «*«M«h«d by law, thev condemned the C.t]bolic« t^"nlrti:^T^''l the exercise of their,: "such^ri^ tors say, Robertson, "were men, at that time, to the spirit w.. ST""** *^ '**■ **^ '*"'"«"'^y '"• Their chief .,iS ' TnH "it" Knox, an apostate friar, who, in all his publicaUona lil TT' "^T"*""^' *''" " " " "o» Wrtb. but God's S 4.o„ which confers a right to the throne and to magistracy ;' hi^t" no promise or oath, made to an enemy of the Sutrth« IS to a Cathohc, is binding ;" and that « every such ,„emy £ iniS?r''°V'^'^?/P*''«'*''+ Not content with'Si" eL^t-TJ* ^■\^'' *9ld his queen, to l«,r face, that the Pr^. testants had a right to teice the sword of justice into their hands in^v„«nT^..^^''^°'"'''^^y with this doctrine, he wroti into England, that "the nobility and people were boUnTu conscience, not only to withstand the priceedin« of that Jeza" and iill her i^iests with her."^ His fellow a^stles, Goodman I^^' P"fb»"*«. Rough. Black, Ac. constaSy inculS S th^p^ople the sanpe seditious and persecuting doctrine ; and the Presbyterian m.n«tew, in general,, earnest^ pressed for the* execution of their innocent queen, who was accused of imur! der, herpetrated by their own Protestant leadersT The sTme unrelenting intolerance w,s seen among " the most m^ZZ- of th^r clergy, " when they were assembled by orde"?f Sfif nuntiy, jj^rroj, and their followers, on makinff a nrnn»r «.« fZT^''^' ""* ^' '^^•"*"«^ '"^ *e church! and'Kxemp; \ Z? .. T^' PT!^™""* •" '^^«'« "•*«*»»«'« *«" answer^ tt ^**?«'* '^ ?"^ ^^•"•'^y «" ^^'^"y open forthwe ni n^^V'' ff^^T ""blemen had bee*, guilty ofLZ' (Ao Catholic religion) a crime deserving defth VthelSi Srl°.K®"'' and man, the civil magistr^e could not legX pardon them, and that, though the church should absolve them It was his duty to inflict Junishment upom tbl/TC"' ^tsrciUcrt ** '"^ ^«^«"*>^^^ the"prlby?:^ia;: against Catholics, when, among other penances, ordJned by Se fit «f rT' T""*' *"•' °'^" "•«'»^" who 'shouM break the fast of Lent, whipping i„ the church was*one.*» ' ^^ iSSrvIS^^t.^-^^ t See Collier^ EccHirt. vol. «$^^ I £'tedby Dr. Pateraon, in hit Jenw. and Babel / letttr XLIX. I 89t ^ stance, which distinuuiahfi. him fi« " i • '* " *"" circum- ' cutor/lhat hrSrnromJTJ t? •'•™'." f'^^T other per.,r. thoJe who agrera wUh him in T J."^ '", ""^''^^r.' ^"* '^«° "^ catea/ that he was inl„ro» i ^ '•' " f^™"^"^ ''X *•" «>»^o. T.^ .f A.L, Jo.n Si «3°S.?r.rT.„ 'jL't". ?".f r burnt : preventine the v«..«„ J; * o j , • "® 8"* "ctiially them, by teilZ him that^^nfi "*L ^^^^X'^^ '^™™ Pa'donini fathers of the EntfUr chntnk* **° ''*** ""»«» ^min^y Ridley, and biLTLiSLrh^^i 7^' "nqueationably, bishop persecutor, of pCSs ,^S« ^*•" "**'"*' Pe'««''«tor», anf •than of A„aba^i3t^::.rh:?.tur1eTr' '"^'*1"° '"' En&l^r^iXSiTS^^ -««^- ^ etr ttii^rs'er rr7 ?- r-^-^- ^"l^^^s tholics were hanired L!^„ 5' ^** *''°''* ***> ^"»dred Ca. the n^rl pro&nVSse o?r'1^ ^""7 '**'^ '«*«"• f^' for almost%„rthousld v^s Of'tit^'"" I'^'t ''"*^««'«" Jondemned for denvina th? f *'* number fifteen were bndred and twomvTxC ^0""'° * "^'Tt^ -upremacy. one ' ' fo't. Acta and Monum. t See Lettcra to a Preb. p. S See tlie proofs of these Varta^^iu ♦ j r* ^^™ef" Ch. Hiat. p. 11. b. \ CoUier. in Letter^ t Tp^J^'Ziy"^ ^""" ^*'** B»™«». Heylin, ind -*«»» ^ true; the lawi of pera^cutiin decla^ -V \ 830 r- ■■■ Ltuw XLIX. When to these sanguinary scenes are added those of many hun- dreds of other Cathohcs, whq perished in dungeons, who were driven into exile, or >vho were stripped of their property, it win ^pear, that the persecution of Elizabeth's reign, was far more grievous than that of her sister Mary; especially when the proper deductions are made from the sufferers under the latter ♦ Nor was persecution confined to the Cathdlics ; for, when great numbers of foreign Anabaptists, and other sectaries, had fled into England, from the fires , and gibbets of their' Protestant brethren in Holland, they found their situation hiuch worse here, a^ they complained, that it bad been in thei^ own coun- Xr^. To silence thes^ complaints, the bishop of London, Ed- wiji Sandys, published a book in vindication of religious Mrse- cution.1 In short, the Protestant church Vnd statt concurred to their extirpation. An assembly of them^a the number of twenty-seyen, having being seized ujx>n in 1575, somb of them were so imimidated as to recant their opinions, some were scourged, .two of them, Peterson and terwort, were burnt to fifrtll r"V^^'1? u""J> "»' banished t Besides these foreigners, the English fiissenters were also grievously perse- cuted. Several of them, such as Thacker, Copnm,,"^ri ,en. th«v ;i?^KT' — '^J **'• r"^ P"' *° '*«*»^' *h'«h rigours they ascribed principally to the bishops, particularly to Parker^. Aylmer, Sandys and VVhitgift.§ The Vnamed, they accused ^,ll«5"'.r«.*'^'^u'"?°' °^ ''^^ ^*'"°"» inquisitorial court called the Star Chamber, which court, in addition to all its tn«J.L? ?* ?"^««X,r'i«8, employed the rack and torture, to extort confession H The doctrines and practice of persecu- tion in England, did not end with the race of Tudor. James 1, though he was reproached with being favourable to the Ca- tholics, nevertheless signed warrants for twenty-five' of them to be hanged and quartered, and sent one hundred and twenty- u£ u T '"*" banishment, barely on account of their ri- whn"i:5^"^'.®*f*'l"'«.*^*^"« of-20/.per month from those r^r«^ fr'K"""'*,- *•* ^^""^ '«"•''«• »»*» ^« ^^ repeatedly caJlod upon by pariiament to put the penal I^ws in force with greater rigour; m order, say they, "to advance the glory of • 3^S*fletter» to a Prebendary, pp. 149, 150, >ei.i«ni HI a rreoendary, pp. 149, 150, . Brandt, Hist. Reform. Abreg. vol. i. p. 334 Almigl and hf Catboii pounde set up I of Rom the kii tio'n."t th\ pel Coinmi; the bis charged Wightni warrant field ; a! mew Li unrelent pariiame graced tl the reiio of the e pists, is perdition At lengtt per han( charactei Sion col tion, " un berty of } procured rom thoi objects England '^time, the) pretended cuticn of while he executed 1 * Rushw< t ChanJli I Ibid. .01. 11. pi !l Mosheim, vol. iv. p. 40. • tbid. N< ;" Letter XLIX. " 331 Almighty God, and ^he everlasting honour of your majesty'^ and he was warned by archbishop Abbot, against tXmi'n^ ^«Sh '' •? /^" • '^'"^''^"S •^">«' •" Your majesty ia h'pro? pounded a toleration of religion;. Bv vour aJ «i, 1 k ^ -et up that most damnable aS LeSafd^oet^e Ttheich tl r%*^' ^•^r ^'^ ^»^y»°» ; "'d thereby draw down u^n to^'t'"fn'?K"''^ ^°""'"' ?"'*'' ^«*^y ^'-* Ld Sig^ lion, t In the mean time the Puritans complained loudlv of thyersecution. which they endured from the c^rt of' Hiah CoiWion, and particulariy from archbis^p B^loft "^S the bishops Neale, of Litchfield, and King of London Th-? w«r?«„?f I- *"" oP'nwns. but also, with getting the kinff^ warrant for bis execution, who was accordingly burnt at S mew* Lelt'^lh"''' ""** ^'''^'•"^' *" *»'« sat^ wa^'slhot mew L,egat, who was consumed in SmithfinlH t 'ruT parliament and ot many bishops to Charles I. which had Hi« A» I .L L °c;""» *"<* tnat, therefore, It is a erienoui xii,^k ~r'Zd '"hi""'""'"'"'' ^'"' '"-'-And™'", g^i::;" hrupt per nand, had an opportunity of givina full s/.i.n« «« «k • cu..on of «,„ English taUioIic, wer. aJmrf"™ h^ C r # 1 ..'» . * - ,->! ". . ' V '.-■': ,.,;iS,i • A.^. ■ , - ' ■ ^ .* ' • liita^v^^ =^,:"i 983 Letter XLIX. cntical tyrant aftemards invading Ireland, and being bent m exterminating the Catholic population there, persuaded hw-- soldiers, that they had a divine commission for this purpose, as the Israelites had to exterminate the Canaanites* To make iu end of the clergy, he put the same price upon a priest's as upon a wolfs head.f Those Puritans who,*Meviou8ly to the ^ civU war, had sailed to North America, to avoid persecution jet up a far more cruel one there, particularly against the Qua- Kers, whipping them, cropping their ears, boring their tongues jrith a hot iron^and hanging them. We have the names of four of these sufferers, one of them a woman, wha mie executed /at ooston.| « ]u' u-^^ Catholics had behaved with unparalleled loyalty to the king and constitution, during the whole war which the rnTT! ^^®'l:^l«*'"/^**»®• ^*^" even been demonstrat- ed,^ that three-fifths of the noblemen and gentlemen who lost !w i'Tf" Tu*? "f« of royalty, were Catholics, and that more [nan half of the landed property, confiscated by the rebels, be- longed to the Catholics ; add to this, that they were chiefly in- strumental in saving Charles II, after his defeat at Worcester • hence there was reason to expect, that the restoration of the king and constitution, would have brought an alleviation, if not an end of their sufferings : but the contrary proved to be the case : for then all parties seem to have combined to make them IrL.r!?.^'* ,** J**'^ °» *"■' persecuting spirit and fury. In proof of this, I need allege nothing more than that two different T^rhBmenU voted the reality of Oates's Plot ! and diat eighteen innocent and loyal Catholics, one of them a peer, suffered the death of traitors, on account of it; to say nothing of seven other pnests, who, about that time, were hanged and quartered for the mere exercise of their priestly functions. Among the absurdities of that sanguinary plot, such as those of shoSting the king with stiver bullets, and invading the island with an army of pilgrims from Compostella, &c.|| it was not the least to pretend, that the Catholics wished to kill the king at all: that king whom they had heretofore saved in Staffordshire, and whom they well knew to be secretly devoted to their religion; but any pretext was good which would serve the purposes of a persecuting faction. These purposes were to exclude Catholics not only fr(,m the throne, but also from the smallest degree of political power, down to that of a constable, and to shut the ♦ iIm*"^' ""y** *'*"*^- *»»"*«* ^y Curry, vol. ii. p. 11. t l^iq C tatleotam's Catholic Apology. L E di irf S^ NgrtA*! ,-,V'''" i--,^*-*!-^"^^ •'"^f^fi^mu^ ■] letter XLIX. a,. floors of both houBM »r«.j: by the act rMuirine thg LX-If • '' "J** *° »*« second, teined at a per Jof naS if? ''^"•"^'A'^ ' »««»> «b^ spirit of thecleZ iT^^Jf'T f^^^^'y- What tho pressed Catholics aDneL!i *°** »"?•«. Y'* '«»P««» ^ »he op- folio volumes of inS JS^L"** "''" 'PP*"" « *e three under the tiUe ofAPrLerZii^^'''^'^''''''T^'' »^«» published, l>«nd, such wai the uZZThTT'c ^^^- ^n «he othe; the Catholics. th« tW oromo^ "if V^'' ps-enters against Power.t though n"le8sin?iISr^*u* Test Act with all their tholics and «i eveJJ nir." ' ? themselves- than to the cJ might ^^nZr^h^^ZT'rl^y '-^^^ » toleration whTct down i\mM3Kk cSrJ '^- ^h®'* " »<> need of brindnir than th||(P;;^nhthr *" »''^<'0""»'y to a later periX thoIicBPESotli! '"%'" I observed before, a Ca. fessorsof the ancient^liS^? JLS^P""? '**? \«*'"»» ^'»« P«»- of this country contim^K^' fonn'^ers of the constitution' his present S esty T„ .^J''"*"^ '? ^^^ '«'g"' »'" Aat of old JersecWlais have tL'""^?^^ "•"«" •"«>« of the tionjd. enacteJ Ta mlemySK"'''*' ^V^l *^*^''«* ">«»• ■ents as our weatest na^^^^o ^- '^^''"»?'' ^h'ch Hume repre- bIer«Mc^'S^e"u•^liS^^^^^^^ the impracL. we rigidly adhered to under^«,„ declaration against Popery, first of these is. that hey are nZJ*'"";''*^* P'""**''**- The utablisked church : and yeTit T^S ^ -^m '*l * W^' "/ '^ had maintained its around «n5 I* ""^«n>aWe, that this church ing the period wh.TjJeci ^u ''*'"?''"•* T""^ ™°'« ^ur- done since that rvent Thf 5^** ^*^'' ^h*" »» ha« ever holding of ilrrand'eLrmttsTl"'*''** *« -*- this point, let a Protestan Ti/I™-. c "/' P^^'^cution. On heardV" We aLe ff ' r.^ •'^ ''^ ^'*' '»*« ^•'^"ts be •ake. is against fhrieliSsS^^hr'""'.'""'"'^ ''°' •'•"''cience depriving men of the"r L^Ll^ ^T ^.""'^ •«» " ""X '»«- ^r claim as men We ar« Ti ^ ""'* "«^^^' ^^^^^ ^'•ey negative rscoura^LTnts for 'r'^r'" • "P'^' "»''» *•»« •""»"«« pesecutions/AnTanacitvhv?''^?"^'' ""'«•«" ^ """"y a judge or ^ cotnel rrehTo'^ ^Tn/^f t7 '?"'" ^^- ''^ '""'^•^ uve .gscourUen.,'and, co^nsTquCi:: r^^^^^^^^^^ Ja':^'«''°f'^,rig^voUv Hi.t.ofCh„rche,.vol.ii. • DMtt Swift'a works, vol. vill. p. 66. i /•■! fiS I ^ * 934 Letter XLIX. ' luffer fSTtSi Sr^^r** •*'' ** P«"««"»'wn which Catholic.. hSIhli / •**' w' m question, does not consist so much «;7: ?•"* ^ "*T ^? ^y, 8^hject: I presiimei, that if the facte ' tol; aXTn'rif*^? ' K-^»?*» •• toleration Wthrlj/ *• *"*! ''^""■^h.^d M a Priifipl^. recommended by the most emment reformers and (Protitwit divines - At aU events, I promise myself, that a due EiderS of the points here suggested- wifl efface the remSa Si^s of ' MheToH w'^IlHr**^ T"?*' '"^^ Mono hit on . wsed Ifi f' '"'?*? u*P*'" ""^ Persecut^n. and of her sup- lords'' S.«? P"ri *^* ^'^'^^ of the Tnund with fire and Tw • u^®^ ""** ^**« "«*' that she doea hot claimHurt tha . m het very general councils, she has disclaired aU SX hert'cs^^Ihi' ' \"^ i**?'^" pronouncing those Tbe oJsS^ ment W il ^"^^' '^^*" *^^y "« "*We to severe punish' fultancLPTh^. ' T,f ^" '^°™ ''"^^^•"S' « ""'i^ar dir- cS rawfl,« K^ must have seen, moreover, that, if perseSx cuti^g laws have been made and acted upon by the^ princes and ' "rSo'rmtTZ.^t^"*^ .6untries,7he sLe cSt has'" the aS S L? r'i''L T"^ ''"""'^y* ^'"^ *« Alps to on one side prth« other, m this matter, I will here ooint out mu?'a"; ir^/rT'T'"^ circumstances of such weight, a| ^ofl^^t^J^'^^'i-i^^^^^^ In the first place, when Catholic states and princes have ner- T^ui'i^'"''''^""' '* **» »««l«"lable\lia. hand, .Protestants, evTry wTerl n"?^ '^'T- "" ^''^ «'h«" W».^, in oppbsi^ion to^resISlifh "f ^"'"'^ in behalf of ne^ of the respeSive states n!!/.'* ^**^^^ cr^^n freedom of worshb th^v enZ'"' ""a^ vindicating Aeir K^secution, to force A Jij^^^i^^^^^^ ^r^conmy,hy don it and adopt theirs • Ci T . **'''* '^''S'O" *« abin- their fellow Protestenl' »? '^^Xac^d ip the »ame4ay by from theiJ "wn Tmatfyt^^^^^ V^«* ^'^-^'^ ' ; head, as in Scotland k HnS f'o^^" Calvinism got a they were riotous mX, Sh' ul?Th?'^J •*"'*. ^"^""-^^ pastors, rose in rebellion alinst'll.S 1 r, ^''®*'^**" «'" their ing secured their indTpenlere ^Z ^7? P""''^«' «°d ^^^' tremities against the CaAoS '^ *''^^'* *^ sanguinaiy ex- fully persuaded, tha? Ae e L «! ^ Pe^f cU,i6„, they were: tians who refuse to Wher IJI ^k"' ^'A^^*' *?»« Chris- lh««,are dbstinate heJetfcs ''IL/ T„^"^^^^^^^^ "P0« ' testants persecute Christian« «f i« ' j """r s'f""" caprn* Their grand rule tultnAL^r..^^ ^""^"^''^'^l "^hktsoeve, i consisiTnov can an7pS'ta„tT!r''^" ^f "^^^ ^ ^»th what ties, to swear that I do not Sf ^V'^ Tl ^^ ?**'"» "^ Penal, khlv u..,K ♦ui- _ Z.****. °°t heheve il, and that to art ^Jr^J .' -—• aiiv i^roiesi ties, to swear that I do nnthlv. '-*».';'"' "'*'; "X Pa>ns or penal, ' i»bly with this peitiiasirisli^M *« *^t confdrml. tionVwhichi««S"!l^°!',"/°^»trjr ,, But religious peASdq.^ odious, will not much loWer fi„^ rl • tioiiwSi^reJ^^'X^^'J.i^tr^l B«treligi;;u;;S;; fuge in the most g^neTous of tS«* "*''^'"." ^ '"^'^^ ^"^ "" " victorious arguments whil5i 1'®*^ "^"^ *^« ™*^^ Christ, our t«, Sr 1^7* *i" *™* "^'''^^h «f -barbarc* rites o? LZ^' h« /? "'fTu^ "I ''"' ''^°™ *e outcry, that she, hewelf s^'hll^'^*^^'?*^'.^^.**»« calumnious * *inan victims.^ * ''^"°^>' Molpch, that requires hu- "" ;"~^^^""'~ "^"^^ ^ """^ '"^'"' "^'- : I" wi Ale. J. "M;i""v ' »"1 M- ~^- W i: " ^ # "^ 335 LETTER L. \^o tkt FRIENDLY SOCIETY of NEW COTTAGE. ; J^ coNCLirsioN. ' L HT FRISNS8 AND BRETHRBnriN eURIST, ' ^^ „ ^ Havino, at length, fii^ished the task you imposed upon me, eight months ago, iq ^y seVeral letters t^ your worthy presi- dent, Mr. Bfowo, and ottiers of your sdciety, I address this, my concluding letter, to you, in Xommon, as a slight review of them. I observed to yeu, that, to succeed in any inquiry, it is liecessary to know and to follow the right method of making It: hence, I entered upon the present important search after the truths of the Christian Revelation, wriih a discussion of the rules or methods, followed, for this purpdse, by different classes of Christians. Having, then, taken for granted the foUowing , inaxims,-.that CAriW has appointed some rule or method of learning his revelation ; that this rule must be an unerring one ; and that it must be adapted to the eapaeities and situations of mankind, in general ; I proceeded to show, that a supposed pri- vate */>«m, or particular inspiration, is not that rule; because tbis persuasion^as led numberless fanatic*, in every age, since that of Christ, into the depths of error, folly, and wickedness of every kind. I proved, in the second place, that the written Word or Scripture, according to each one's' conception of its meaning, is not that rule>; because it is not adopted to the ca- pacity and situation of the bulk of mankind < a great propor- tion of them not being able to read the Scripture, and much less to form a connected sense of a single chapter of it ; and, because innumerable Christianr, at all times, by following this presumptuous method, have given into heresies, impieties, con- tradictions, and crimes, almost as numerous and flagrant as those of the above mentioned fanatics. Finally, I demonstra- ted, that there is a two-fold word of God, the unwritten, and the written ; that the former was appointed by Christ, and made use of by the apostles, for converting nations ; and that It was not made void by the inspired Epistles and Gospels, which some of the apostles, and the evangelists, addressed, for the most part, to particular churches or individuals ; that the Catholic church js the divinely commissioned guardian and in- terpreter of the word of God, in both its p^rts ; and that, therefore, the method, appointed by Christ for learning what -inrlws uughi, on^iho vnnous ftnioles of his~ religion, Islflr^ agree, '.i Lttter Ih m »« pointed out'byV&r^^d^^^^^^^ ^ «.nt .ucge..io„. and that it is .he only oL whtht'adard which Ifiads to the peace and unitv of ih« Pk.; r Y ^^' At this points my laboura might have ended • m tl,« r-.iw.i- wur senses and commod. reason, to discArn than. t» i. ^ ^«Ui« which, «K,ng U.. numlt »d J^ ^SS ChmtMM, dl ptelending t. h.,e found OM aTIuX rf rI ly. ONE. HoS CATHoJc^1„7rio*V°'o'l'.C^°'^*; ^ 938 Letter L. -Li. ?k » ?' ■*^'^''°*>«^«e.* a» "och by Protestant, them. JfS '.u 1 f P?**®"!*?* "rtany »»w«» of ^Raining sanctity, t^thnf tK* ^»"«^t"?"'?; '^nd that God himself ftte;i,s& tnith of this church, by the miracle* with which, from time to ShI' IT*" 5'' ««?'"'»"«;y I and, whereas .^ny eminent Protestant writers have charged the Catholics with deception »nd forgery on this head, I have unanswerably retorted tho iia^fLTyr'T^Tu ^\"°'^'' were wan'tingTshow that the CaMo/ic cAi^A bears the dorioua name of CATHO. I.IC, and very few to demonstrate,' that she is Catholic or wii- ^/IC; T?***"? .^°* ^-^^V and^time, and that she is also -Swden L L -i?"" P°'"»' ^°^«'^«r. I exhibited in a more ZollnuS, r™^ '* ""T*'* t'y "•«*"» °'' »••« "ketch of an Xtt« u -" fn««logical table of the church, which I i^t ^^h' ."^^^"S*^ succession of her pontiffs, her most emi- neretics and schismatics, who have been lopped off from this tree, m every age from that of the apostles dJwn t7thrSe8eit Z'lc,'^^" *'Hr^',!'.''» '^- CatholicVcan exhibVany tfing "f Sid^ fh'I "k ^!''""''" reproached the seceders of^his tfme wrnf;.fin head you must have observed, in particular, the ZtiJ^, *» "Postol'cal succession of ministry, which,! showed, all Protestant societies labour finder, and their want of sMess » ^tempting the work of the Vti;>s,the convSln of TiS rTiI"'^^]'^ series of my letters has been edployed in tearinir rthe hideous mask, with wkMb ralnmnir -«^ „.:»i.^."' 1 "ll"? off the hideous mask, with wW^ calumny and mlsreVreVentS a„V.W ?■; '"• *" ""deavour,.! trust, I have beei successful, tod that there is not one of your society who will anv more re. proach Catholics with being Idolaters, on accTlTfSrt ."Sn.lhV'*' """"^T'!: "'■, ^^'"^ ^"^ ^" »""»•'"' o the'r de- ?h";*Div tST';"*^ '^ ^"""V-.? °" **'*'°"°» °f A« 'Adoration \^as?L?w^S^iy'"\^*'""k^*'^'^*'" ^^^^^ *« Sacramental veUs nor wUl they, hereafter, accuse us of purchasine or oAormse procuring leave to commit sin, or the^ previous^' don of sins, to be committed ; or, in short, of perfidy ZShn cnielrr or systematic wickedness of any kind. sJ'?ar S tal^ of w"' J-*!!'*^"*^*" y°"' •°"«^' »°«««d of the carica. Welw in J; A ^'m^T"' ""^/'^*' ^»«°»°^ controvertist. 1,!°.? ^f*""*.* " ^* communion of thia original church ; boar. fag. M Am dwly d0M.aU iil« marJn a? the tfu> 1 ^^ * Letter L. 839 gifted, M she manifestly is, with so many helps for salradon : and possessing the only safe and practicable rule for ascertain >ng the truths of Revelation. The consideration which. I un- derstand has struck some of them, in the most forcible manner. IS that which I suggested from my own knowledge and experi- ence, as well ^as from^the observation of the eminent writer, whom I named ; namely that, no Catholic, at the near approach thfl'fl' * ""'l-^''"'' '^"•'•«'?'* "/ ^yi'^g in any other religion. Some of ybui* number have said, that, though they are of op mion that the Catholic^ religion is the tlue one, yet they have not that evidence of the fact, which they think sufficient to jus- fiS.5 ^rrf l^°j "pportant a Point as that of relIgion.~God lorbid that I ^hoflld advise any persqn la embrace the CathoUe lout having sufficient evidence of its truth: but I the persons in quesuon, that they have not a meta- ;.' . . fvidence, or a mathematical certainty of the truth of -hnstianity, m general? they have only atnoral evidence, and certainty of It: with all the miracles and other argument^, by which Chnst and his apostles proved this divine system, it wM . stUl a stumbling block to the Jews, and folly to the Gentiles, 1 cor. 1.23: in short, there is light enough ita it to guide the sincere faithful, and o^^curity enough to mislead the perverse imbelievers, according to the observation of St. Austin- be- cause, after all, faith is not merely, a divine iUustrationof the C understanding, but also, a divine, and yet voluntary motion of e will. Hence, if, in travelling through this darksome vale. Locke, I think, obselrves with respect to Revelation in gene- ral, God 18 pleased to give us the light of the moon or of the ■tars, we are not to stand still on our journey, because he does not affi»rd us the light.of the sun. The same is to be said, with respect to the evidence Jn Aivour of the Catholic religion : it is moral evidence of the first quality ; far superior to that on which we manage our temporal affiiirs and guard our lives; and not. in the least,4)eIow that which exists for the truth of Christianity at large.~At aXl events, it is wise to choose the safer part : and U would be madness to act otherwise, when eternity is at stake. The grpat advocates of Christianity, SS. Austin, Pascal, Ab- ^' badie, and others, argue thus, in recommending it to us, in pre- ference |o infidelity : now, the same argument evidently holds good, (oi pr eferring the Catholic religion to every Proteatant wtem. I The nioBt eminent FfSlestanr divines, tucli as Luther. Meltnotkan, Hooker, Chillingworth, with the bishopi. Ltud, .--. .€.-__- ^ , _^.— ^ uo Letter L. ^ Tnylm, Sheldon, Blanford, and the modern prelates, Marsh and PorteuB himaelfj all acknowledge, that salvation may be found in the communion of the original Catholic church : but no divine of this church, consistently with her cliarac^ristical unity, and the constant doctrine of the holy fathers and of the Scrip, ture itself, as 1 have elsewhere demonstated, can allow, that sal. vation is to b«^und out of that communion ; except in the case of ^innncible ignorance. .It reiiiains, my dear friends and brethren, for each of you tp take his and her part : bnt remember, that the part you severally take, IS taken for eternity ! On this occasion, therefore, if evdk you ought to do so,.reflect and decide serioiisly and conscie»J tiously, dismissing all worldly respects, of whatever kind, from your raiinds ; for what exchange shall a man receivvfor his soul !^ and what will the prejudiced opinion of your fellow mortals avail you at the tribunal, where we are all so soon to appear! and in the vast ^yss of eternity in which we shaU quickly be all in> gulfed ! Will any of them plead your cause at that'bar ? And will vour punishment be more tolerable from their sharing in it ? Finally, beseech your future judge, who is now your merciful Saviour, wiih< all the fervour and sincerity of your souls, to be- stow upon yoq the light to see your way, and the strength to follow It, which he merited for you, when he hung, for three hours, your agonizing victim, on the cross. Adieu, my dear friends and brethren, yre shall soon meet to- rtther at the tribunal I have mentioned ; and be assured, that look forward to that meeting with « perfect conedence, that you and I, and the Great Judge himself, wiU then approve, in common, of the advice -I now give you. •ms^xvlSo : ^ l-i ij(\\ t -r*f-K ' ^ POSTSCRIPT J.Al \/ " i ■ . . ■ - 1 %to m sscoMD sDinoN or ADDRESS ' ' . ■ . TO TUB -■ ' ■ - > ■■ '^~ t ' ■ ■' . ■ ' RIGHT REV. LORD BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S, OOOUIONID BT HU LOBMHIV^t •ONE WOJlrfTO THE REV. DE. l^LMEE.* My Lord, Should s grave and dignified author be found Msettled ia bis opinions, and contradictory in his assertions, he would un- avoidably puizle his readers to make out his meaning, and dis- tress his hterary opponents to preserve a due respect towards • mm ; but much more so, should such a venerable character de- scend to the regions, of burlesque and of ridiculous absurdity. « In we course of last summer, the Right Reverend Bishop of bt. David's published, what he called. THE PROTEST ANTS CATECHISM, a work professedly intended, not only to defeat the claims of them Catholics to more extensiv») reli- gious and ci*il freedom, but also to deprive them of that por- tion of It which thejjr actually enjoy. Among the other articles, announced m The TabU of Contents, at the head of this work, IS the following: 'Section the 24th: Means of co-operating with the laws fw preventing the dai^er and increase of Po- pery.>-Fnlm this and other passages in his Lordship's work, we had too much reason to fear, that he was disposed to vote r Pr*^*^™***' *° *® "*""*■' °^ ^'" power, the rto-enactment of Elizabeth's sanguinary Statutes against us : which fej* was augmented by his twice quoting the following awful words from MUtons prose works: * Popery, as being idolatrous, t> not to t if"v ' "*®'^ ^" P"**'*® °' in frivatt; it must now be thought how io remove K, and hinder the growth thereof. If they say that, by removing their, idols, we violate their con- sciences, wo have no warrant to regard conscience, which is Aot grounded on Scripture.* The adoption of these intolerant sen- timents by a Lord of Parliament nfturally alarmed us, not Mf ' ' ' i ' , — w ~*,^^t;?^ =«£ a43 PosUcnpt. the l.ves of fifty more ,raillioniM,|- hisZjXs Sje "^ in a °' attention to what he writes, when i is evidlit fSt W"'°" >«5on after he appearance of thi. Catechism. itoUieht Rev Author advertised, at the head of the GeniiZ^JT u^ new work, as being then actuallv J„ fi,» " f '"'f^"""' » THE GRAND srH^SiSi^ 5® P'®"' ""^w^he title of X,??- . u • , »^H'SM. Being theft engaged in answariiKr Ae Catechism, I own, I hailed this%romi8e of frwh paraSes* to support those which I .was refutins- for I »r«i^ i!,f fi ' aware that the farther his lordship advf need in thIJhSl '"'*'^ about this pubhcat on also : but whether « fr./!!?- ° j.,"**"^ lHiowhisiDiiid.aiid who WM .videnUy imbued wi& hi. Mgo" Poatsertpt. KM '0 ed notions, in the fonowing manner. Speaking of thli ch«f ^auvre, as the Prelate or hia intimate friend sarcastically calh »he present work, he says : • The addrOss is made to the Bishop .or 6>t. David's in a style of peculiar acrimony* and iniolenee, Msuredly intended to prevent that most estimable and learned Prelate from descending to notice such an arrogant wWter. Then he will cry Ktc/o/y, and his partizans will re-echo the exclamation, and will attribute to their arguments what is due only to their insolence.' Now, my Lord, as I know that this is not the general char|afej)f my pubUcation, and, otherwise, as 1 feel that no l>,■■" ; ' Postgenpt. Papal envoyg, labmtr«lto bring over our British and Irish Bi- shops to submit Jo his supremacy, that is, to embrace Popery /• You are further Jo Ufiirn that, although Popery is essentially Idolatry, it, did noi becoMi 4 schinm dill the sixteenth century ! ' Happy i6outdit bei£ their {the Catholics) eyes epuld be open- ed to mfalse foun^tio^s,of a foreign jurisdicti^ which led to that most umtotiontd schiim of the sixteenth century, and could ^'induced to repair the^ evils of their past defection, by rtlum- ing to the bosofi of their Mothejc Church id England and Ire- land Pj: But, alhsL these ' jDatholics separated from their . Mother Church, and this separation was THE GRAND SCHISM of the sixteenth century .'J- — Such, my Lord, are the humorous self-c,onfuting< lectures which this good>natured Bishop puts on his Miire to deliver to us in his Protestant's Catechism ; and which, besides the amu8ement>''they afford us, inform us of what I so much wanted to learn, namely, at what period the Prelate dates the defViction of Catholics from the Protestant Church, and the commencement of his Grand Schism. It is probable, however, that some difficulties which he met ^th in bringing the reigns of Queen Mary and Oliver Cromwell in England, as well as that of Francis I. in France, «nd of Philip II. in Holland, ihto hiis system, caused him to give up his pro- jnised work on the Crrand! iSeAtfin, in despair. '' In proof, however, that his Lordship was serioin when he published his CafMAwfR, he offers different pleas in his Threo Words, and One Wbrd. He says, in the first place : ' If I taught nothing about God, or Christ, or the commandments, in my CofecAifm, Dr. Mk may see these subjects treated in some of my other works,'^ To this I answer, very possibly this may be the case ; still, a Bishop's Catechism, which contain* not a word of Christian doctrine or practice, and which teaches nothinig^ttut intolerahco and persecution, is an unexampled phe- nomenon in Christianity. — Besides this, I may say, that I have applied at the shops qf all the Bishop's publishers to purchase spme of his best publioations, 9nd at the shop in the Strand, No. 107, barolyto get a" sight of them, without success. The Prelate adds, • There "is, at least, one great moral and practical lesson inculcated m thi Pro^stant's Catechism, which Dr. M. has overlooked, though taught by St. Peter himself,, namely, submission to the king's entire sovereignty.'!!— And does the Right Rev. Author of tb^ Catechism allege this, inproof of hi» seriousness in composing and publishing it, whi^h, if it meao« \ Catech. P. 84. t TI|ree Word», AdrertiMin. p. iv t Ibid. p. l«. I 1 Three Worii, Advertuem. p. 19. , I P.9lC f'. .i_=,4^..j - ■ . 1 -. ' .• ' ■ ■'■■.:!*'''-.■■'■.■'-'■ '""^:y:^:. . ■'' ■'■ ',1.1 S46 Postscript. X c!.ri..i.«, j.wXorhtvT^Lnr; t*? r*- *■■!""» when he answ^md /A- m ■' . V **"' ^'- Pe'er »o subm t. conjectures concerning St p„, ,. u •"** *".'^®'' *"'»'» Jo«»w Its inhabitants, to refer to t^r r^o.? Z^^' °*'""ff cpnverted ginaLriterB of ouTLTstor^ K'h 1^^^^^ o^- in proof that the BritonT^Sj ^t^l^^T' ^°'"»"'J'"^ Gallic. tius and D«vianus/Ses of PoTeSw ''''^ ^"S»- century ?— Does it not invlnLfT- *^'«"*.«""8. "» the second cessioiofcommulat„rwl a,fd^ '""'V '"'- of Rome, on the part of the Rr^'i»T p- u "''"'J''*'''" ^' '*"« See ing i^erVnodsaCrece^ingi^^^^^ '■''^'l"*"*- that even the Prelate's tZn L.A ^ • ' "V"^ *" demonstrate, vid'a »nrl 1^- V • ***" Preaecessur in the See of St Da- Tia 8, and his favourite author GiraWn. Po^k- • *?'-."*■ ' befoMBhe Pope himself in T«%» lAk ^^'nhrensis, claimed jurisSonTh'iLXut Wal^^^^^ 1?,^ ''°*"'^' ^ ^'''^ ^'^^'^^^ ine of these P^aTenoy^^-ArJnot'hfr"* v ^*- •^^""«""'' by the evidence I have hrn„o),» f dispositions invalidated p. 15. t P. 20. ik^L. . -j Poatsenpt. ' H7 Pope*8 Supremacy ? Have I not shaken his system, wh^ I evinced, in particular, that every one of our Primatefi, U^ St Augustin, in the sixth century, down to Cranm^in the' «a^ ' teenth, received his confirmation or institution [from whi«^h alone be derives his Archiepiscopal jui^dictio^,} by a Special grant of the Pope f— Should the Right Rev. Prelate, after this^ signify, in my hearing, that I have not sufficiently answered him, ., he will not find me tnickward in so doing But, it seems, the work itself was, in the opinion of the Pre* late to whom the Address is made, answered a century before it was written. In fact, ho says : ' In tBfs elaborate correspond- ence, though not Mithout its interest of learning and research, ''there is nothing material advanced in defence of Popery, to which the readej^ mil nut find an answer in Bishop Bull's Let- ters to'' Bossuet, and Smith's Errors of the Church of Rorne de- tected.** Bull, who was Bishop of St. David's at the beginning of the last century, j^as certainly an able and learned divine, and drove his Ariafl 'adversaries before him; but, after this, levelling his horns at thC|l^ock of St. Peter, they were broken short by a Catholic Divine of equal talents and superior leamr* ., ipg. Dr. Edward Hawarden, S. T. P.t Smith, of Dover, was one of those wretched Prils^ts, who, wanting the grace necessary Tor living up to the strictness of their obligations, have attempt- ed to excuse their breach of them, by abusing the Church which imposes them upon thetn. His puny embryo was stifled in the birth, and he himself, soon after his fall, met with that awful end, which has been the^general fate, within our own me- mory, of this class of convertSffas the Prelate calls them.^ But, ■• P. 14. t See Preface to his ^hte Church of Christ, vol. ii. t Dean Swift used to say of such < convOTts from Popery;' 1 wish, vhen the Pope toeeds his garden, he would not throw his netUes over our wait. § Smith dropped down dea^ in Canterbury Cathedral, 'about the year 178i0. Abouf the same time an unprincipled priest of Staffordshire, of the name of Tayler, metTwith the same awful fatv in stepping into a stage coach. Another still more unprind|iled priest, who chose to incur ex- communication,' and who even denied the inspiration of Scripture, Dr. Geddes, used to send for the helps of the Churbh when he was'sick, and to laugh at them when he recovered. At last a pjtest actually coming to ra* concile him to God and the Church, found that he had unexpectedly ex- pired. Lewis of Leominster, having sent his concubine- to bring up, hi». breakfast to his bed, was found a corpse by her. Holmes of Essex,* and Rogers, alias Rozier, of Birmingham, who the evening before ailed, noth- ing, were found in Xhe morning breathless. James Queu^l and James Nolan, having both been warned by their friends, to my certain knowledge, of the fate they might expect, but continuing to waver about returning tp their duty, dropped down dead in the streets, the former at Worcester«.tbe latter in London. My townsman, Billinge, finding bimMlf Sttil * * Pesttenpt. rci^j?'d::re ;f;;r.?t'tir ttr^'"^ ^' 'ken before it was knit b,«ltk • l^esHon, was not bro- of no descriotion whftt«v»r «• i j *"<'®V« 'Mt Keligwn, : ment. except C.G^fhotJ' Sd ^^f rLT?" ^'"^ ^'^'•*- eluded fr„™ p.ri?3 "^t. X^^"*^!?,. 'Vr.'f «. M.enanl8 of the mb union." ^S .k o' f" ""' '""'»'P- «^t ever exclude cZfZlLTp.t.^t^JT"^- THREE WORnr.TilwOatMi % f^'' J# V. It ^ M .^ ^ W'fij'ainst Catholics, [Ulvocations^lnentaI te-^ fl Postterift. J] u ^jKkeirise in th^ beaAg the ^than the j|i,7/ of it||, lnf/act.|p who! . plaranon iftswelled mmh im^d chai of evadinga|fafe*bIigatipit.oath8b^ they acti^alf^^Mssed ,llteft, it^elf-e»dfe5rwoul« . whole D^hiriHito riugator#, WSj|P% ?1 1^*i^*'^ Thoftn. in hillte¥a|i^-^--^ ^'^ -^' ' • "^3 1?'!?^' /r r • A^S^r. W fellingfy ^vmmbers of Parliament themselves, whether it r^»«Jr S? .kL *^"'-'engiou«,wd moral feelings,* to il.iWl.L fi,"**"^ Christians u,«j|o^th, with the g&loC '^^^}!^yiT ?"'y «i«".«*,elv6s of that crime, but aWby^^qu, tteaof It by Ae most Sled Piptestant Bishops M^ dS •%r?*^ eof W boas^whenV DeclaS ^ kS K« . . JJ^<^«»e'^» then arP| as follows: 'How is • iSaJator^T ,K^- '^'•.°".»"y>»tpHiipte,that those, who. preparatory to their going into holv or^ we call..>1 ...li» ♦« WreiS.^ this subject the,r particul^study, should only l»e reqfiuted to consider the practice as hims eiven beeasiSta «J«y2^«/irtp;„/when thS Members JtlfSZV^oT^^. *JJ*w«*^M^l^ng^r seats, are obliged to' declare, that they 'S^^^I^f^^^^^'^^^^'^^^J^ God, ^o believe Z ^ ff LTrt t ^^ ""PersSiSSrBOt Kk^ise idolatrou^? -Ux me Wee^h tfo House to consider well the consequences nli ;r:r""® ^^ ^^ ^•'^- P'*'"* °1»«>««» ^ make a vi Jr- ois tesult, upqn the General, by way of proving that The uL requires no stfboger declarations a^ainst^^UirCatho ics from ^ EsrhlSS ""^ /*"»T?»t. Aan it dofs fn,m the C^of Z Esuiblishn»«nt ; and that the latter, in . subscribing the^9 AiJ! des, ^o, in fact, charge the CathoHcs with idolatrv Let us now attend ,o his proofs. He says: "The aS;. be «de. saying that the doctrine of -Transubstantiation ha. Le„ be^asuM to many superstitious. Bay raQreoy- ^'— - ' ^ nmtto the plain sense of scriplun, and of a Saerathent : aiid that the Sacrami ordinance, reserved, carried about. 1 * 7 ■ b •• the BithoM Jeremy Tl Archbishop Sheldon, Prebel Deiclaotfion waa under co inning, of Ely, protested tb; •^'1 HM. of ki$ own Times. . that it is repug-K 'bvbeth tlu nature not, by Christ's and worshipped.*' / . "' I, Montague^ Foriiec. ^,Chilling«Arth,lbc. the House of Pcen, - . •t in conaci«Ace sweur. ■-, k ■<•.' 5atholic«,^ . lentol fe2¥ Postteript m K igly r it # , * » %to t-^of ■ - — — -.-^ bek fiishup has that h^ has . to the Prelat( niy foregoing tiation, And ' leave them . V\ r^r irpfcr '"«"'r"i!'""'" ^!^«-S;°"r le a false attack on the gallant General ; and n completely beaten- on his own ground.-l-A8 ' 4 disingenuous statements of thaarguments in ST ° w' ^''^ ^'*""''« '^'J xSnTbatai" feeble nibbling atthem. in his Appendix, t shall In conclusion, toy Lord, I am so litjle apprehensive that the Catechism and the defence of it, put togSuierwm induce a AXwlfe' ^ Great UniveiSal c4ch 'to quit wj^ the fi^cAwm of the sixteenth century, that I mieht safelv nr^mjl without danger of being called u^n to LKy p^^rg^*' hat, upon satisfactory proof of this having hapLned in S instance, I would furnish a second instanc^e inTysdf Nor am I in the least, fearful that a single Peer or GeKan who S Qar^lSS- 'I ™** i» P-«-em agaiirhe Ca" iSyS^^^ll^ltf"*"*'^^ ^ ^" »° •»>' these episcopal ^^S^ "r ■ ?^* M?*' *» *•»» Catechism is now reduced •,.- 7° »"? e^«ffl»e, fir *•« evident purpose of bcins widciv ,wl'^T?T*^ ^"^r J"™P«"/ W^es. and AinoIeT ISr l?f ^ - u'w^.T^'Sy ll*''^ •ne*o,«,r.s. who: hav« a' ready deeply imbibed his Cdimip's feratfd^i^nfe of Pm ' testantisq, thjwwearin^ against Pqper^thePmay^f workid SSti^sled^ ?f 1 demonstratij.* of 7e'5^ith^ |ho,V,^T ^^ wituessed ^ the formej^^lmwpioa^f Pi»testa^^^ l^r m '# ^ ■ l^ 0' George Gordon, in^ his associators. These, we ^en^r i ."urwhh th«r;'fi'r ^^r^i:! '««"•» MembeioT^hTL'SS^ ina H^!^„ i • 1"" ?•* "'."t"' *'™'''"»*^ *• Catholics by bunP^ JI^thrRiu 'f """rt '^^..'•r"-. »"d demonst-rated tS, puriTy ' oHheir Rehgion, by dennilishing the prisons and stormi.^ t^ I hare the honour to remain, my Lord/ ' Your Lordship's obedient Swvant, XW»h,*rhmptonrMareh 7, m9. J- M . D. D >>. ■ ■\: V ms ■A ■ ■• ; X !:;»') ll\ 4 11 I li' ' 1 .^ .r -;W r\it^:»~- +'4— :- 'I 1, '■Iff' -S^ M J- * -i* V ^W w» - M M. ,^ r«memi«r, e Legisla^^L I By burn^^ the purity • rmiiig the -V *^ 8r Jp *% ^