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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent ia mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^^mmA^T^m OF THE CONVERSION OF TO THE FAITH OF THE 9 Catfjoltc/ APOSTOLIC & ROMAN CHURCH, ' •■ ■-""».« ->' ...-.> AmiMt REJUTATMijW OJ TUB C^KAENT OJWSCTIONS TO MANY ARTICLES OF CATHOLIC FAITH AND DISCIJPLINE. ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM.-ifjpA. m i. MONTREAL : .JPRINTXD BY NAHUM MOWERt u •'»'■ .*. '1 , ^ ' »J» McMASTER UNIVERSITY UBRAHU TO THE BIGHT REVEREND BISHOP OF BOSTON. My dear Lord 4Nd Frijind, I TAKE the liberty to inscribe my Pamphlet to your Lordship. — To you it owes its existence ; for to you (under God, J I owe my Conversion, It would, perhaps, have a better claim to notice, had Providence permitted me to prolong my pupil- age and mature my Catholicity under such Gama- liels as yourself; and the late beloved and ever la- mented Doctor Matignon. I PRAY God, that delaying your reward for the good of mankind, he will protract the life of so di- ligent a labourer in his Vineyard^that you may long remain to instruct by your precept, and edify by your example^;— in short, that the lapse of many years may still fnd you a blessing to your Diocese and an ornament to the American Republic / * I am My dear Lord and Friend, Your affectionate grateful Servant, THE AUTHOR, JBoucherville, L, C,\ Michaelmas, X 8g 1 . j FIRST, OR WHjENEVER a Citizen finds it a duty to change his Rehgion, he owes it in deferei.ce to public curiosity, so generally excited, to jmpait the motives which prompt his secession from iiis native communion. I HASTEN to acquit myself of this obligation-^ and I trust that my readers will recognizL- in the following recital of my conversion to iho Catholic Faith, every tiait of artless sincerity, dil- igent research and cautious deliberation, which a nrieasure connected with Salvation should so impe- riously require. I WAS born in Salem, Massachusetts, on the 20th of January, I77I, and was baptized by the Reverend Mr. Gilchrist, the Rector of St. Peter's Church. My family on both sides were Episco- palians, and my maternal grandfather, the Rever- end Aaron Cleveland, had been Rector of Halifax in Nova-Scotia. The war of the American Revolution coming on, the Clergy of this persuasion, being generally Royalists, emigrated, and the Churches were clo. sed. During this interval, our family attended Congregational worship in the meeting-house of the late Reverend Doctor Barnard, I WAS introduced to an acquaintance with the English Alphabet by Dame Chapman, a School- mistress of the vicinity ; and as soon as X had learned to read, the Catechism of the Westmin- ster Divines was put into my hands. This is a compendium of the Calvinistic doctrines then gen- erally held in New-England : and this I repeated periodically to our Pastor in the Meeting-house, with other children of the Society. The peace of 1783 re-opened the Episcopal Churches ; and we had for our new Incumbent, the late lieverend Nathaniel Fisher, a very able Preacher, as is suffi- ciently evinced by the posthumous volume of his Sermons. After attending a few preparatory Schools, in January 1782, 1 was admitted into Phillips* Acad- emy at Andover. This Institution was then in high reputation, and under the care and tuition of the Reverend EUphalet Pearson, a learned schol- ar, and a rigid disciplinarian,— JCind and indul- gent to the industrious Student ; to delinquents his look pf displeasure was petrifaction, Although Religion mingled with many of our academical exercises, hitherto I had experienced no very serious impressiops of this nature. While at Andover I met with Bunj/an*s Fiigrim*s PrQ^ gress. This was well calculated to inflan^e a youth- ful imagination like mine. Hervey's Meditations ^Iso fell in my way, and charmed me with their glitter of style and pious enthusiasm. I SOON afterward met with a work which has never since been out of my reach— Young* s Night Thoughts— io the reading of which I was recom- mended by the advice and example of my mater- nal grandmother, with whom " the Poet of the Tombs" was a favourite and daily companion. The perusal of this admirable volume impressed with the a School. as X had iVestmin- This is a :hen gen- repeated ig- house, peace of and we leverend IS is sufH- ne of his :hools, in >s* Acad- then in iuition of ed schol- id indul- linquents ly of our lerienced . While n*s PrQ' ! a youth- editations fiih their hich has ^'s Night 5 recpm- ly mater- it of the npanion. npresse^ me deeply. It presented m6 with new and exalt- ed views of the providence of God and the desti- nation of Man. It diffused a soft and tender mel- ancholy over my mind, and I aspired to Immor- tality. In July I78G, having passed the usual exaraina- tions in the Classics, I was adm'tted into Harvard University, the first literary Institution, in age and renown, upon the American Continent. The Presidency was then filled by the Reverend Jo- seph Willard. Among my fellow-students at col- lege was the celebrated John Quincy Adams, then a senior-sophistic: and was, at that immature age, a finished Scholar, Philosopher and Politician. That distinguished orator in Congress, Josiah Quincy, was my class-mate. This was the aera of Daniel Shay's famous in- surrection. The sound of the drum and fife in- spired me with a thirst for military glory. Too young, however, to enroll myself for war, I was merely an impatient spectator of toils and dangers which I could not share. My reading was conso- nant with this ardor of mind, and letting the dust gather upon books of every other description, Vol- taire's History of Charles XII., whose exploits engrossed every faculty of my soul, was ever wak- m^, in my hand ; and sleeping, under my pillow. Addison's Cato had already turned my head to Stoicism. — I resolved to pass unmoved through all the varyingscenesof life— undated by prosperity, and undepressed by adversity. My Mother falling sick and dying, I was with, drawn from the University, before I had comple- ted the year of my Freshmanship. I returned to Salem, and after a few months solitary application to miscellaneous studies, in April, 1788, 1 began the study of Physic, under the late Doctor Joshua Fhiiiuar, u Practitioner of high reputation. I NOW became a hard student. 1 lose eailv, retired late, and addicssed myself to the elenicn- taiy stihlies of the various branches of this profes- sion, with indefatigable industry. A morbid sen- sibility of heart, however, gave me an aversion to the operations of Surgery. Of course, in this de- partment, J made less proficiency. 1 WAS branded b} nature with a wild romanti- city of character, and ready for any enterprize to which the warmth and caprice of my temperament might impel me. 1 was seized with a gust for Travel ; and having finished my medical studies, I embarked in December, 1790, for South-Caro- lina. I arrived at Charleston on the first of Jan- uary, 1791. This was a scene of sufficient danger for the immaturity of nineteen years* A warm climate invites to luxury, and affluence furnishes the means. Aware of the perils which surrounded me, I de- tcriTuneU to be upon my guard. 1 kept much at he mv ; and when unoccupied by the calls of my p.K'fession, devoted my time to reading. Poetical Coin|K)siiion, for which 1 had much taste, and was Altered to luivc some talent, occasionally amused nie. 1 also cultivated Music with much zeal and some success. I RE-OPENED Young, and he fortified my love of abstraction and retirement. Blair's Sermons 1 al- so read wiih profit and delight. My companions were tew— and from my industrious seclusion from the jgay world, 1 hoped to escape the snares which had caught so many unwary youth. Alas ! I was mistaken. Gradually enlarging my sphere of So- ciety, I began to lose sight of those solid maxims of piety and prudence which I had brought froxn 9 New-E- ,'land. No longer had I relish for serious lecture aud private prayer j and iu a short time neglected public worship. About this time the new Theatre was built in Charleston, and opened under West and Bignall. The dramatic mania spread far and wide. I breathed the air of contagion, and found my way to tlie stage. One essay cured me of my folly, and I renounced at once and forever the sock and buskin. I RCMovED in July, 1793, to Savannah, in Geor- gia, where, in February, 1794, 1 embarked for the West4ndies.— 1 arrived at St. Martinis, and soon afterward fixed myself in the Virgin Islands. In this part of the world I met nothing calcu- lated to renew the pious impressions of my early years ; but much to make me forget them alto- gether. There was a Methodist Mission in Tor- tola, but seldom any other public worship. The poor Africans were among the few who appeared to have any sense of Religion. Hitherto, although far from living up to the standard of the Gospel, I had never been taught to doubt the truth of Divine Revelation. It was now my misfortune to add infidelity to my other follies, and to have the whole fabric of my religious be- lief overturned by a single blow. This was achiev- ed by Thomas Paine's Age of Reason, I read this book with undivided attention j and subscri- bing to every position, I became a convert to De^ ism. The Religion of Nature, in my estimation, afforded sufficient sanctions for every purpose of moral government ; and I considered all supernat- ural Revelation superfluous, devised by priestcraft, and addressed to the fears of men. The war with France was now raging in gll • parts of the globe, and every American heart psi. 10 pitated ii) devotion to the French Republic. Ea- ger to add my suffrage to that of my countrymeii, 1 sailed from St. Thomas for St. Domingo. Af- ter a short residence at Port de Paix, where my sole employment was composing and sinsing re- pubhca?^ songs, I solicited and obtained 'from Genera! Lavaux, a commission appointing me Qfficier de Santi en Second on board of the Ran- ger Coi'vette, in which in the month of Floreal of the Sd year 1 sailed for France. OxV my arrival at Brest, in Prairiai, I was assign- ed employment successively in the Marine Hos- pital of that Port, and in that of Pontanezen. In- ternal dissensions had now in some degree subsi- ded, and France began to breathe. Kobespierre and the Mountain party harJ perished, and the axe of the guiilotin was left to rust. In the autumn of 1795, I was invited to Paris, to join the commercial house o^ Dallarde, Swan & Co. I took place m the Diligence for Rennis the 24th Fractidor of the ;:Jd year. The Vendee country was still the tlieatre of war and bloodshed. We traversed it with an escort, through a thou- sand dangers and escapes, and arrived the 10th Vendemiaire of the 4th )'ear, at the French Cap> ital. *^ I HAD hardly began to recreate myself with the novelties of this superb metropolis, when the lapse of a few days exhibited one for which I was not prepared. This was the sanguinary scene of the 13th Vendemiaire, an jEra which will be recorded by the faithful historian, as equally tragical and, disgraceful to the French nation. X^r on this ca- lamitous day was fought that memorable battle between the militia of the Sections of Paris, and tMv, ^,,atMj wi tijc x>aiii;ijui v^uiivennon. liere IBoiiaparte (who was entrusted with the defence 11 blic. £a- Lintrymeii, ngo. Af- vhere my nging re- led from nting me the Ran- •f Floreal as asslgn- ine Hos- zen. In- ree subsi- bespierre d the axe to Paris, le. Swan r Rennis ! Vendee oodshed. I a thou- the 10th ich Cap- with the he lapse was not 3 of the c corded cal and, this ca- J battle ris, and Here defence «f' the f!onvention) made his coup d*essai as a com- mander, and was instrumental in the destruction of more than eight thousand of his fellow men. James Monroe, now President of the United States, was at this time the American Ambassador in France. Thomas Paine lived at his house. — I soon became acquainted with him : and meet- ing with the second part of his ^ge of Jieason, was fortified in my disbelief of divine Kevelation, I WAS still however, in some degree, under tlie influence of virtuous habit, which had been early fashioned by religious credence, though now ef- faced from my mind. I was anxious to sustain a good name by being in my narrow sphere a doeV of good. I gave alms liberally out of my small meanSf and innumerable w^ere'the services which I rendered to the poor English prisoners. These sentiments resembled that precious "leaven hid in three measures of meal," Matthew xiii. 33. In 1796, I was sent to the United States with dispatches. I em.barked at Havre de Grace, the 24th Germinal of the 4th year, and arrived at New A'ork the 10th Prairial. I went on to Phila- delphia and delivered my dispatches. Citizen Adet was then the French Minister. I re- visited my relatives in Massachusetts, with whom having passed the Summer, and deafened them with my Jacobinical clamor. I returned in the Autumn to France. I embarked at Salem the lOth Thumi- dor, 4th year, and arrived at Bordeaux the 2d Vendemiaire, 5th year. Desirous of seeing to greater advantage the South of France during the vintage, I proceeded to Paris on foot — descending the Garonne to Blaye, Koyan, thro* Rochfort, Rochelle, Nioit, Poictiers, Tours, &c.-— a journey of between four a,nd five hundred miles. 1 arrived the 8th Brumaire, B 2 ■.^r-f.'-^i'i'sy^r'' r TiiROPmLANTHRorY now began to prevail in France, and temples for the exercise of this spe- nIL 't^Tl ""'^''^^P ^^'■^ ^P^ned in various places. Had the views and sentiments of its pro- jectors quadrated with the import of the word, thev rl ^;f^%^een justly entitled to the gratitude of Defsm '* '"^^^ ""^ ""^"^^'fied system of I WISHED to make the campaign of the 5th in?l' ^ . ^-'^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^ ^PP^^'^^ t« government ior leave to jom the Army of Italy under Bona^ parte : but was too Jate for an appointment. In March, 1797, I was commissioned to go to ^ngland, in order to recover the amount of tome spoliations of American property upon the hieh seas. Un my arrival in London, finding the re- covery hopeless, I accepted an Assistancy in an Acadenjy at Kennington, a village of the vicinity. While here. I attended divine service regularly Tpaf nf fl.''"f'*'? f^'^'^ 9"^^^^ ^^ Lambeth, the seat of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury. Prayers were also read morning and evening in the School itoom In these exercises I assisted, and occa- sionally preached a Sermon. All this, however, I considered merely as a matter of routine, which fideir^ ^"^ to awaHen me from the torpor of In- HmI^k^ ^^^- ^^^^' ^^^"^ ^* Manchester, I was drawn by curiosity to visit Fairfield, a village of the Umtas Fratrum, or Moraviari Brethren, I Mas delighted wi h the beautiful simplicity of their worship, and felt a revival of pious emotions in my iieart. I his prompted me to enter into corres- pondence with the Reverend John Swertner, one of heir ministers, in order to learn the peculiar doctrines and discipline of this Sect, and with a >iew to admittance into their Society, lie obli. it ¥. -.-. ...W ww B a ..u i . ' M-.U. o^ -,^.,^^.^.,^^ 18 prevail in ; this spe- in various of its pro- *'ord, they atitude of system of f the 5th vernment ler Bona- jnt. to go to t of some the high ig the re- icy in an vicinity* regularly beth, the Prayers e School nd occa- •wever, I -, which )r of In- ^ed me with a candid exposition of their tenets but I aid not find them satisfj ?r, I was illage of hren. I of their ns in my corres- ^er, one pecuh'ar i with a Lie ODii- ed the desiijn no Airth er. ^actory, and I pursu- o-~ — "-" ' ,-* The Moravians address their prayers exclusive- ly to Christ. This appeared to me a sort of im- piety to tlie Father, and was a virtual denial of his existence. I conceived it, moreover, contrary to the express precept and example of our Saviour himself, who commanded us when we pray, to say " Our Father, &c." Their notions of Faith also seemed to my apprehension, wild and incoherent. IJjey do not indeed reject good works : but their practice is certainly more favourable to them than their doctrme. Many points too, of .lie Moravi- an discipline, had in my mind an air of extrava- gance. Their marriages I thought ill-assorted, and the decision of every question by the Lot in alrotestant Church, which declares that miia- cles have ceased, seemed to the last degree, ab- surd and inconsistent. Having returned to London, I ^ot acquainted with some members of the Society of Universa lists, tounded by my countryman, the Keverend Elhan. an Winchester, and addressed myself to the Rev- erena Mr. Vidler for a sketch of their doctrines. My much honored Father had indulged this be- liet, and entertained that peculiarity of it profes- sed by the Reverend John Murray, of Boston. But I soon suspected that this ground was unten- able by any who adhered to the plain text of Scrip- ture, and was solely supported by some detached passages, obscure and equivocal. I dropped the Universahsts. There had now been for several years m London a Society under the name of the New Jerusalem, I heard such astonishing ac counts of their doctrines, that mv rurincitT, ,... strongly excited to learn them in detail. For iQ ■^ „ u I !! purpose I addressed myself to the Reverend Jo- seph Proud, their High Priest, who lent me sever- al tracts, written by their founder, Baron Sweden- borg. I was struck with the intrepidity of his un- dertakirtg. Conjecture and hypothesis are out of the question. All is pronounced to be fact. On the bold assumption of immediate correspondence with the Deity, this hardy Dogmatist had erected a system of doctrines, unequalled for ingenuity of contrivance. 1 went through much of this volum- nious writer, and was for a while charmed with the subtility of his deductions ; but finding the whole scheme rest solely on the personal respon- sibility of one who wrought no miracle in sup- port of his pretensions, I took leave of him as an entertaining madman, and classed his tale with those of the Arabian Nights. My next tour was among the Quakers* Their modesty and simplicity had impressed me when a hpy, and I loved the people without knowing their doctrines. To learn them satisfactorily, I applied to some of the most intelligent of the Society, and attended their Meetings. Jf I was at first pleas- ed with their plain and artless deportment, I was soon dissatisfied with the nudity of their worship. i examined with the eye of reason and with the Scripture before me, their principal doctrine of ^ Divine Light within, which was to lead us into all truth. This was avowedly not the light of con- science, and I knew no other. I had no doubt indeed that conscience v»ras susceptible of, and re- ceived at times, illumination from above : but it still appeared to me incontrovertible that, clear or cloudy, enlightened from heaven, or obscured by the powers of darkness^ Conscience was our sole interior^-^guide. Their definition of this favourite «,- , ..J v.'v/...\.vi ».vr liivi «.» vliiJtiliVi-iVil iTAbli(^Ub a tiiilCi- % ■f verend Jo^ ; me sever- n JSweden- of his un- are out of fact. On spondence id erected genuity of his volum- rmed with tiding the lal respon- le jn sup- him as an tale with :s. Their le when a wing their I applied ciety, and irst pleas- ant, I was • worship, with the trine of a js into all t of con- no doubt f, and re- 3 : but it ;, clear or 5cured by I our sole favourite b U> UlllCi-' 15 ence, and much too subtle for edification. I gradf. ually withdrew from their coirespondence. Still anxious and not disheartened in my pur- suit, I began to attend the worship of a Society of Unitaridns, then under the pastoral care of the Reverend D. Disney, their Liturgy was model- led after that of the Church of England—and their doctrines appeared to me the simplest and most ra- tional 1 had met with. The recognition of one Supreme God, the Father of all— and of whom all other beings, however elevated in the order of nature or of grace, are but the creatures, had in my estimation an air of grandeur, which engaged all my attention. But as if I were doomed to be the victim of a fastidious taste, and endlessly to roam in quest of what I should never find, 1 soon dis- covered in the simplest form of Christianity, the most palpable inconsistencies. The Socinians pre- tend that Reason is our sole guide, and the only touchstone by which all doctrines, divine or hu- man, shotld be tried,— and that whatever cannot abide this test, should be rejected as false. In obe- dience to this rule,^ they deny the virginity of Blessed Mary, and the incarnation and Divinity of Christ, But in disobedience to the same rule they admit all the miracles of the Old and Ne#^ Testaments. I left them unsatisfied. In justice to myself; and to the honest zeal with^ which I engaged in these tiresome expeditions ii quest of truth, I must observe that I never ente/ ed into connexion with any of these Societies. \ postponed my adhesion to 'the momentof ultimate conviction. About this time I fell sick of a lingering fever and passed several months in sufierinff aiid con' T'j" ,"'^* iyuiiijj; my illness, i met wr!n Dod- dridge s Rise and Progress oflieligion in Hie Soul, vi*' It3 ! !i' I ■ I ■ : ! il I lliii This work IS of a high Calvinistical cast, and is ^vritten with much pathos. 1 trembled at his pic ture ot the impenitent sinner, and resolved that if by divine mercy I should be restored to health, I would solemnly dedicate myself to God. My ardor now began to abate. 1 saw on every side, hosts of Sects which claimed Divine Truth as exclusively their own, while the Bible served tnem a 1 as a vast armoury, whence they supplied themselves with weapozis, and waged an intermin- able war against each other. In short I met with nothing but disappointment, and began to despair ot hnding what 1 sought, in any Christian com- munion. .u ^i!^}^.^^ observed, that into my calculations the tathohc Faith had never entered. 1 had in- deed heard the Reverend John Thayer of Boston preach once or twi' ^ in Salem when I was youncr. I admired his eloquence, but was indifferent to lus theme. I had occasionally too, while in London frequented the Sardinian Ambassador's Chapel' m Lincoln'sJnn-Fields; but 1 was attracted by the music, and not by the Doctrine. I had imbi bed in early life most of the Protestant prejudices against Catholics, and never conceived that there was any truth in their Church, but what they en- joyed m common with all other Churches. In other respects, I viewed it as a sink of idolatry and corruption. "1 NOW thought of taking leave of Christianity altogether, and embracing Mahometanism, I was acquainted with the leading tenets of the Koran, and With a view to further' instruction, I wrote to the Turkish Ambassador. I was answered by hi» first Dratjoman, but so unmeaningly, that J was ashameR>f my project, and abandoned it X^ie at his pic- ved that if health, I • V on every ine Truth jle served r supplied intermin- met with to despair tian com- Iculations 1 had in- 3f Boston is young. 3nt to his London, Chapel, acted by lad imbi rejudices lat there they en- hes. In idolatry istianity I was Koran, wrote to 1 by his It J was if » gulrdian of Israel, who never slumbers nor sleeps, preserved me from this wicked temptation. Having at length wandered till I was iairly be- wildered among the ignes fatus of contending ^ects, I resolved to loojc no farther, but retire once more to the strong hold of Deism j and rest- ing satisfied with the existence and perfections of the Supreme Being and with my moral obliga- tlonsi together with what hope of a future state might be derived from analogy, desist from any larther pursuit. ^ On March 4th, l-J^gg. I was married in the Uuirch of St. Dunstan's, Ste{>ney, to Miss Kings- ley, of the Parish of St. George, in the East Mid- dlesex; Snortly afterward I received an appoint- ment upon the Hospital Staff of the Army, and was sent to Yarmouth, to assist in the Hospital hlled with sick and wounded Russians, after the disastrous campaign of that year in Holland. Notwithstanding my melancholy eclipse of mmd with regard to the great truths of Christiani- ty, books of devotion still continued to occupy my leisure hours. Having met with Law's Serious Call to a devout and Holy Life, I read it with great care and delight. I followed his method of pray- er for a considerable time—and the' I afterward discontinued .this practice, his book still shares many of my reading hours. I LEFT Yarmouth in July, 1800, and served sue cessively at York Hospital, in Chelsea, and at Blatchington Barracks in Sus^, with the 95th Kinle Corps. Early in 1801, I was ordered on service to the ^^st Indies. I sailed in the Packet from Fal- mouth, March 7, and arrived April 11th at Bar- badpes. During the passage, I lost a little Rov my tirst born. I lamented his death with the C I^ Hv il.i' ih acutest sorrow, and creation wore a gloom aronnrf nie. Besides, it was my misery to « mourn like those without hope." A future state was to me proMemati^al, and upon this melancholy occasion. ^ 1 wanted the benign influence of this belief to clieer my despondency. I determined to re-con- sider the evidence of divine Ueveiation. and eVen to anricipate mj; final conviction, by -performing wnthout J'aith the works of Faith.'' I according? ly gave myjfelf up to religious readityg and prayer earnestly mvoking the God of light and truth to direct my way, and guide me to that haven of tranquillity, of which my mind had been in lono- and atixious searclr. - " |uoM Barbadoes I sailed to Martinico ; thence to 5t. Lucia, where I was charged with a Hospi- tal of Invalids, by the late Sir George Provost then a Brigadier General. ^ ^^rovost, On ^my recal to Martinico, I met (for the first time, tho' not a rare book) with Thomas A. Kem- pis s Follmmg of Christ I was so pleasingly ed- ified by this little volume, and so much impressed with the holy delights of a religious life, that, in order to have a nefarer survey of them, I introdu- ced myselt to the Fathers of the Convent in St Fierre, by whom I was received with courtesy' and If t.-ned to with kindness. - ■ Aftkr the restoration of Martinico to the French at the peacfe of 1802, 1 proceeded on med- ical duty to St. Christopher's. There was a mis- sion ot the Moravian Brethren in this Island. Up- on tne strength of my former acquaintance with I some ot their Society in England, J cultivated the friendship of the Ministers who conducted this mission. I lived next door to their Chapel, and ' enjoyed much of their company. This circum- 19 >m arbnnrf lourn like vas to me ' occasion, belief to to re-coti- and eVen plforming ccording- d prayer, truth to haven of I in long ; thence a Hospi- Provost, the first A. Kem- ngly ed- npressed that, in introdii- tit in St. oiirtesy, to the on med- s a mi's- ;ircum. stance contributed to keep my religion* principles alive. J, Some of the worts of Doctor Priestley having fallen into nay hands, I examined his evidences di the truth of Revealed Religion with great atten- tion. They threw much ligh't upon the subjeqi, and dissipated many of my doubts. During my long sickness in London, I had con- templated, as already related, dedicating np^y self •to God by a formal act. Several obstacies had hitherto conspired to retard the execution of th^s design, but, I now resolved to delay it no Ipnger. I, accordingly drew up a Fomtt and having with jtnuch care brought it to tlie perfection I wisl^ed, J. t>orrawed the use qf the Moravian Chapel for th.e occasion, and on the 1st of Janizary 1803, | ^n^ tered it with a lighted candle before day, and hav- ing read my solemn Covenant, I signed ^nd: sx?aJ- ed it. I HAD not been long in ^ this Island, befojQ I projected and contributed t;o found a QhariUiible JnSkitution for the relief of ppor and destitute chil- dren. The history of this Est,ab|Ushm€nt has been given to the public. The Comnfiittee of Superin- tendence were solicitous that I should take charge of it-—ai)d having persuaded n\^ to resign my ap- pointment upon the Hospital Staff, 1 yielded to their inclinations. I governed this Institution for two years, and wa-s, I believe, under Di\'ine Pro- vidence, the hun>ble means of rescuing many a poor child from vice and misery, and bestowing jon him the benefits of a virtuous education. While in the e^^ercise of this charge, I met with the Sermons of Massillop, which I read with uncommon interest, J found in this inimitable Preacher^ an unction which penetrated to the mu% ^rom the moral of this eloquent Prelate, C 2 Ill \'rM m Mji' £0 Pofk^i- ■ ^. . ^ """ resolution to continiiP mir .. £'"„s »"'" rr ''""'"-•■''■•J "» Lf^t ^°"^^""S on madness. I hardly nraved Her behalf R f .t" i""" ^"''^ "^ "'« ^""'heon comrriHTr lu ^"® ^"'"^^ "•"<:'' had been sufflc ent to cool my enthusiasm. I contrasted the Gatho ,V P •..'°"l*'""y °f '^^ Professors of ■ e^k^ndtJ-^A '"''^ -cheerfully submitted to All iMa u '" ?«v°"on to their Religion _ t^l^A "^^ ■'^y""'' '''« •■each of hypocrifv a^ excued a powerful re-action in n.y ,^f„d ' ' ""' inth/° f^^y P^';? ""y q"0'a of the general tax "^s ' r,tTT°^ "''""'' ?''"™'"g fit^ of sic". tl«7r . V,^^ ? **' '" '"eh a state of debility Tn. > r^ '''''■§^'^ *° relinqnish my charge of he Smate "f '"^ T^ "^ '"«' ''^^'th in ,^J „at ve climate. E arrived at Boston in May. I Ll now Iiappily the means of hr.n,,i„„ .u„ T...f "^" ."."f '' which he he was so either that was not of that M as- ms of the ion of the itinue my ^e should ilated me lent, wag evolution, was that in it with K prayed bh'c- and Pantheon irs shew- ad been lore than >ntrasted 5ic cour- essors of litted to igion.—r isy, and eral tax V^est In- of sick- lebility, J of the ^ native ad now I whicli had long agitated my mind, to a decision. There was in this town a Catholic Church, and Catholic Priests to hear and answer my enquiries. I imme- diately addressed myself to the Reverend Mr. Cheverus, then the assistant Minister, but since raised by his wonderful merit to the Episcopacy, with the title of Bishop qf Boston, He received me with great kindness, and introduced me to his Colleague, the late Reverend Doctor Matignon. I found m Mr. Ciieverus a man of uncommon zeal and uncommon talents. He had acquired a critic- al knowledge of the English language, and preach- ed to the delight and edification ot all who heard him. In Doctor Matignon I discovered a man of equal zeal and extraordinary piety, mingled with the most captivating suavity of manners. They ^ lived in habits of friendship with the principal in- habitants of Boston— and the various Protestant Ministers of the neighbourhood were delight ' to assist at the consecration of their new and beauti- ful Church. Among other works, Mr. Cheverus put into my hands a httle book of which I had been long in quest— Bossuet's Ka^osition of the doctrine (if the Catholic Church in matters oj Controversy. This celebrated writer, the famous historian Gibbon aa- serts to have achieved his conversion, and he adds by way of consolation, that he *^ surely fell by a noble hand." 1 read this tract with much inter- est, and found it luminous, candid and convin- cing. To this succeeded many other pieces of a similar description. • I REMOVED to Salem, and continued my.corres. pondence with Mr. Cheverus, at intervals, for four years. I had read and reflected enough to aban, dun all hope of finding satisfaction in anv Protes= tant communion : but still my scruples with re- pifuid to the Catholic Faith were not resolved. 1 had detjernuncU to take nothing upon trust and during our controversy, every article of CathoHc doctrine passed the ordeal of a critical exanv ination. I hai) not much dilliculty with regard to the Sacrifice of'tfie Mans, and the Real Vrescnce (jf Christ in the Eucharist — although I did not much inMx the terra TransubstantiaUon. i had more with regard to the existence of Purgatory ^ whi h appeared to be of Pagan origin. The w vship aj- 80 oi Maryi and the Saints, as well as \\\v. vei era- tion of Relics and Images struck mc< :-■ both irra- tional and unscriptural. ;^ ,,..^ , It is worthy of remark that one of the greatest difltculties which I had to overcome was not of Protestant growth. 'J^his was the doctrine- of the Trinity. I saw no tenet in any system of religion apparently more repugnant to reason xmd scrips ture than this. 1 had applied to the best com- mentators for relief, but they had all left the sub- ject m my mind darkened with new obscurities. This will ever be the case when men undertake to measure Divinity by a scale of humanity, and to sound depths unfathomable by the human under^ standing. On the other hand, there were anti.cathohc tenets, whose belief I cherished with fond pertina- x'ity. The principal of these was the doctrine, which, however varied u^ ''.^'^rent appellations, is essentially the same-?-! ic^an the Faic of Seneca with the ancient Stoics—the Predestination of President Edwards with the Calvinists— and the Philosophical Necessity of Doctor Priestley with the Socinians. I took leave of this dogma with reluctance — and even since my conversion have laboured, by pressing St. Austin into the service, to iMpnrnnrijf^ f-hla latrorifo fonaf «T.'fU r^„*^U>»i:^:4.. ~:s^-iv±:s g jUfi4 !_ ' j» '' M « f9 jsolved. i trust — and )f Catholic ical cxani- 1 regard to l^resence of 1 not mucli had more orj/f which ^'cvship aj- hn vei^era- .both irra- - ■■y .»■' le greatest vas not of ineof the >f religion iiid scrip- :>est com- t the sub- bscuritiea^ lertake to }% and to ui uQderi> i,-cathohe I pertina^ doctrine, latioiis, is f Seneca nation of -and the :ley with ^ma witli ion have 5 service. I NEED not recapitulate the arguments whicf^ drculated between me and my Itatned correspon- dent, in this most momentous of nil discussions^ because th«^ substance of them will be incorpora- ted with the following pages. Suffice it to observe^ that after an obstinate contest I began to gi\'e way ; and in a short time afterward announced mv suiTender, and proposed to enter rlirectly into ffcliowship with the CathoHc Church. This, how- ever, was a more serious measure than I had ima- gined. My correspondent desired 1 would take more time, — and urged the necessity of some im- portant preparatory steps. During this delay, new scruples tormented me, which I Irankly imparted to Mr. Cheverus, who answered them in the most affectionate terms, which marked neither chagrin nor disappointment. The controversy, however, was soon to close. I had exhausted every source of argument in my power against the doctrines of the Catholic Church, and I now saw that I could not, with any consis- tency, reject them, if I professed myself a Chris- tain. There still remained to me, nevertheless, one resource — that of Dtism, and a steady d(?niai of supernatural Revelation. But again to remove from the pale of every visible Church, was a mel- ancholy alternatrve, and I wished to avoid it. At every step in this all-important enquiry, more and more light was shed upon my path ; and at length ' I perceived, that to resist any longer, were wilful and unpardonable obstinacy. I accordingly ap- prised my correspondent of my final conversion to ' the Catholic Faith. After some preliminary in- structions, followed by a general confession at the feet of Mr. Cheverus, I made my first communion ijni the Church of the Holy Cross in Boston, at the Festival of i^ntecost, May i^lst, 1801). In this m^ mtcresting ceremony I was accompanied by mf \Vife. and Elizabeth King, a late pupil of the In- wlsUmiils "" ^ ^''^^ ^'''"^^^' '''^^' ™^ ^'''"' ^^^' Soo>^ afterward I was invited to settle in tower Canada. Nothing could be more seasonable and to my taste, than this overture. Accordingly hav- ing made the necessary arrangements, I took leave ot my friends, and departing with my family, ar- lived on the iSth of June at Montreal. J BiiouGHT and exhibited on my arrival, the fol- lowing ve.y flattering testimonial, which Mr. Che- verus had given me with his Valedictory Bles- Sing. Omnibus, &c. &c. Ego infrd Scriptus in Nov^-Anglii Missionarius Apostohcus testor dilectum Stephanum Cleveland Ulyth, arta Medicum, inter Protestantes riatum et educatum, divina juvante gratia, fidem Catholicam sumina pictate amplexum fuisse. Die Pentecostis Ultima, Pane vita3 primu vice refectus est. In ftciei professione et sacramentorum paiticipatione Socias habuit dilectam ipsius conjugem necnon et pupillam ipsius tutelas commissam quae ipsius exem- phs et documentis ad Sanctum Kcclesiam Caiholi- cam suaviter et fortiter attracts sunt. Ilium abe- untem sincero prosequi desiderio et ut charissimum in Christo fratrem ut virum pictate et zelo religio- nis msignem. Ecclesiarum Pastoribus et Omnibus iibique Catholics fidei prolessoribus commenda- tum velim. Datam Bostonii in Nova-Aughi quarto Calen- das Junii 1809. Joannes Cheverus;, Sacerdos, _ Idem testo/, Francisci/s a. Matignon, Vic, Gen, ied hy my of the In- e from the J in Lower enable and lingly hav- took leave family, ar- al, the fol- Mr. Che- tory Bles- ssionanus Cleveland natum et atholicam sntecostis est. In cipatione lecnon et ius exem- Caxholi- lum abe- rissimum o religio- Omnibus nmenda- ) Calen- erdos. 25 I COULD not offer an English version of this doc- ument, without incurring the imputation of van- ity. In November of the same year, I established myself in the practice of Physic at fioucher- ville, a pleasant Village on the St Lawrence, nine miles below Montreal. I was confirmed by M. Plessis, Bishop of Quebec, August 30th, 1810, and superadded to my own the holy name of Saint Francis of Salis. I conclude this little biograph- ical sketch by observing, that in obedience to the injunction jf this eminent Saint to enter into the Confraternity of the place where we live, I sought and obtained admission into the Congregation of the Blessed Virgin, at their Festival of August $^5tli, 1814. The present Tract, of which I invite the peru- sal, has already passed through one edition. It was favourably received and extensively circula- ted. This honor has tempted me to renew my labours ; with what success (as the matter is dif- ferently methodized,) the event can alone deter- mine. In palliation of ite faulty, and in deprecation of criticism, it will, I trust, be sufficient to state, that my Pamphlet was composed amid the calls of an importunate profession, in the languor of dis- ease, and under the pressure of mijifbrtune :— cir- cumstances which would, in the humane minds of my readers atone, I am persuaded, for grievances «f uglier hue, and of greater magnitude. STEPHANUS SOLYMIENSIS. Nov-Anglorum. -'1 tit li SECOND, «m. 111 i IGNORANCE, although very properly con- trasted with Truth and Knowledge, is not howev- er their worst enemy. There is a greater, and that is Prejudice. There is, it may be safely presumed, no quali- ty of the human Mind, native or acquired, more base in its origin — more rapid in its growth— more active in its operations — more tragical in its ef- fects — in short, more dissocial and cruel in its char- acter, than Prejudice. As it is of the most ma- lignant, so it is also of the most singular cast.— Other vices and follies are limited in their nature, and require proper recipients. Some assault the rich ; others, the poor : — Some, the high ; others, the low : — Some, the young ; others, the old :— Some, the male sex ; others, the female. But Pre- judice has no choice either of place or company^ It finds access every where. — It penetrates the in* most recesses of the mind. — It bursts every bar- rier. — It surmounts every obstacle. — It is equally and country— in an Indian. D2 Mi iiUUiU, 111 iuWU 28 Wigwam, and in the Palace of an Emperor -All prietv Ztrr't '' "'1^'°''' wUh m'l^^Tpl" Pnety, that it has been called by an eminent no been mn,? I ■" ^ ',""■".''• *'"'' ^^"""^^er reason, has and Ifit I ^^.^ P"^*""' J" '-■'""" the number Tiers whi h ;" "r*"'" • "'^ ""^ """•"'' °f ■"'""- tiers wuch have been invented to blacken l.Pr e^nce, would be a task beyond mv strenirth. So lo-K Lave they been in circi.latio.,_propacated with :a t'Z"""' ■"''""'■^'' """ •"-'- witn such tenacious constaucv, that few even among the most liberal and cam! d of our Protes SeS:n'ron%r^ '"'' ''"T •'°'- -K-cIou.: prt possessions on this score. On everv othpr cnKiLf Cran ,'^iTr"'"'»8 >-°" "hlJ ate ta haish and intolerant. Gross as are the i ntrutiK tZdTtifj'^'r""''"^' "'°' ''etectedtd S ed Need r rf T'' ""^y "^« >""' believ. sand who hear the calumnies, there is scarrelv «.,« who learns their refutali, n aIaV, sC'>r«-Iy one «n«s strapping the Catholic Church of this uTly mask, are so struck with her native dign tv and beau y^and the astonishing contrast between the iieacfiery of which they have h therto been the victuns, they fly to this'arK of truth and safety and are happy to live and die in her Communion Keconciled myself to the Religion ofourcZ* mn Ancestors, /may be pardoneTrl ^sh the same happiness to others. Vith these sen^ J,ents andas a propei- sequel to th6 history of my Sr trln^A^'TV/^^ ^'^'' ^" ^^^^^e o?tlie Dot tunes to which I am a Convert, against the nonn lar cavils, which the zealots of thf a^fare a^s^S ' pThiri'T r' "^'^' '^ ''^ se^crnratd pe^rhap3 to the destruction, of our weaker breth- torv\n!f ''''"''"^ ""^ ?" P^f^^^^' the most satisfac. CafhohV nrT''^ ^'7 ^^ '^' ^«^t""^s of the catholic Church, may be found in the Profe- Jnn tirt^'^^T^ ''''^ '''' Decrees of t&^^^^ ^JT^J:'^'^^ ^^^ commonly called the " The Council of Trent was assembled from all so parts of Christendom, soon after that famous re- volt from the Church, generally called the Ag^or- mation, an event which deluged Europe with so many calamities, and which she has still so much reason to lament. It was one of the most numer- ou,, as well as one of the most virtuous, wise and learned Assen^blies ever convened in the Chris- - tian world : and its object was the condemnation of the recent Heresies of Luther and Calvin. "I S. C. B., with a firm Faith, believe and pro- fess all and every one of those things which are contained in that Creed, which the Holy Roman Church maketh use of: To Wit . ' I BELIEVE in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all things visible and invisible — And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all ages— God of God, Light of Light, True God of True God: begotten not made ; consubstantial to the Father, by whom all things were made : who for us Men, and for our Salvation, came down from Heaven, and was in- carnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made Man. Was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate : he suffered and was buri- ed : and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures ; he ascended into Heaven ; sits at the right hand of the Father, and is to come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end.— . Anp in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who begotten with the Father and the Son is ado- red and glorified, who spake by the Prophets..— And I believe On6 Holy Catholic and Apos- tolic Church : I confess one Baptism for the re- T Kesurrec* famous re- 1 the b^i^T' rope with so ttill so much nost nuDier- us, wise and 1 the Chiis- iidemnation Calvin. Jve and pro- which are [oly Roman Almighty, ' all things Lord Jesus and born of •d, Light of Jgotten not y whom all and for our and was in- rgin Mary, also for us d was buri- :cording to aven ; sits is to come ng and the no end.— d Giver of id the Son, 5on is ado- phets.-^ and Apos- for the re- Hesurrec* M tion of the Dead, and the life of the world to come. — I MOST steadfastly admit and embrace all Apos- tolical and Ecclesiastical Traditions, and all oth- er Observances and Constitutions of the same Church.— I ALSO admit the Holy Scriptures, according to the Sense which our Holy Mother the Church, has held and does hold, to which it belongs to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the Scriptures : neither will I ever take and interpret them otherwise than according to the unanimous sense of the Fathers. — I ALSO profess that there are truly and properly Seven Sacraments of the New Law instituted by ^esus Christ, and necessary for the Salvation of Mankind : though not all for every one : to wit. Baptism, Confirmation, The Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Orders, and Matrimony: and that they coafer Grace : and that of these, Bap- tism, Confirmation and Orders cannot be reitera- ted without Sacrilege. — I ALSO receive and admit the received and ap- proved Ceremonies of the Catholic Church, em- ployed in the solemn administration of the afore- said Sacraments.— I EMBRACE and receive all and every one of the things which have been defined and declared in the Holy Council of Trent, concerning Original Sin, and Satisfaction.-^ I PROFESS likewise that in the Mass there is of- fered to Uod, a true, proper and propitiatory Sac- rifice for the living and the dead. — And that in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, there is truly, really and substantially the Body and JBlood, together with the Soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ : and that there 'hi " 3i S ""°. the Body and the ^^fne into the ?«SSi::£^ the,Cath.«o Church, cX amlthTM^"^",'^'' '.'•'' ther^f^'S Purgatory: .h„ i ff ^ ^"1''* ""^*«"' detained- are helned W the suffrage of the faithful.— ^ ^ ,f,„ V '° ^^ honored and invocated : and that Ihey offer prayers to Gqd for us, and that the/J ft^.c8 are to be held in venemtion.- ' ' ' - rf Sn^""'^ T/' *.'"" *'** ^""K^^ of Christ-, othir s^^ ^' °5 *^°''' ever Virgin- and also of o^herSa.n^, ought to be had and retained : an^ I ALSO aiSrm that the Power of Tmliiraeii^I was left by Christ to the Church ; and^K dj .thenl ,s most beneficial to Christian peopr- 1 ACKNowLEDCE the HoIy, CathoKc, Apostolic rfalfrZ ?"'"'' for the^Mother a d mS to fh. r! ''' /"u ^ P'T'^e true obedience t^ Pnn^i °/.>°^ !^°'"^' Successor to St, .Pe. Chrisi!!! ^ ^^'^^^ ""'' Vic^rpf Jesus nthli^'ff'^"^ ^undoubtedly receive and, profers all thP S, '!?! ' '''''^"■'•*' '^^^"ed and declared by the Sacred Canons and General Councils, and Oar Ucularly by the Holy Cou.xil of Trent 1- ^ thil? condemn, reject and anathematise all thmgs eonttary thereto : and all Heresies which matiid ''*' *=<""*'''"°ed. rejected and anathe. * iwfs ■tvi JUff do at this time freely profess and sio. ■- n i r ii n ii m I i ,, i tance of thc^ le into the 'hurch c»lls iind alone, and a true Purgatory : : lieljfied by getter With : and that that tli^Jr >f Christ-^ ind also of md : arid > be giye^ dulgehces the use of )Ie.— Apostph'c Mistress jbedience ' St. J?ei Qi Jmis >rofe?s all :lared by ,apd pal- latise all es which anathe« and sin** cereiy hold the true Catholic Faith, without which no one can be saved : and I promise most con- stant y to retain and confess the same entire and inviolable, with God's assistance, to the end of my This and this only is the Catholic Faith. And he >yho subscribes to its belief, and who leads a hie in conformity to its dictates, is a Catholic Christian and an heir of Salvation. isjow let any dispassionate enquirer review thi« Creec^with calmness and candor— with a spirit of ove and meekness-and then ask himselt' what there is m it to stagger his confidence and preclude his assent ? And would he believe, if sober histow Zf'v T """"'^ *'''/'^*' *^^^ ^" opposition to this Faith, ancient and Apostolical as it is, should ^ave engendered insurrections, wars and slaughter ; and that in order to overcome it, and to substitute the ravings and chimaeras of ambitious madmen, .he Daemon of Schism and Heresy should have with blood r ' ^"^ crimsoned whole lands In the first place this Profession of Faith con- tains all ike essential and necessary Articles of the Christian Rehgzon, This our adversaries admit. And should It be doubted for an instant, the hon- est enquirer has only to examine the confessions ot the various Protestant Communions, and he will Unci that their Fundamental Articles are in exact consent with the Nicene Creed, which makes the first part of the Cathohc Profession of Faith. In- Mm '^ ^^^" adopted in most Churches 'ver^ ^ But to put this matter beyond all dispute, let mm peruse a document which we quote from the uukeof Brunswick's «*Fiffev Rpasnns » «n^ «>:.;«ij t'ontams the Decision of the Faculty of Helrostadt, 34 (a famous Lutheran University in Germany) and he will be surprised with an illustrious testimony of the purity of Catholic Doctrine. ^ It appears* that the opinion of the Faculty of Divinity in this University was asked on the fol- lowing Question— «*Whether a Protestant Prin- cesa, destined to marry a Catholic Prince, may with a safe conscience embrace the Catlwlic Ke- ligion.** The Faculty begin their answer hy saying that • the Question propounded cannot solidly be sol- ved, without deciding first, whether or no the Catholics are in Fundamental Errors, and such as are opposite to Salvation?" "Our answer (say they) is without hesitation in the Affirmative— i?/- cause the Catholics are at the bottom of the same Religion with w^/and have the necessary faith to know God, in order to Salvation. For the foun- dation of Religion and a Christian life is the be- lief of God the Father, our Creator, of God the Son, the Messiah ; who had been promised, and has delivered us from Sin, Death, the Devil and Hell : and of the Holy Ghost, who enlightens us. We mpst also admit the ten Commandments of God, which teach us our duty to God and to our Neighbor : the Lord's Prayer, which instructs ns how to pray : the practice of the Sacraments of iJaptism and the Lord's Supper, according to Christ's Institution and Command. Moreover, we must acknowledge the power of the Keys' and believe with therm that God has given in the Church to the Apostles and their Successors in Apostolical functions, the authority of declarine: to penitents, that their ISins are forgiven ; and to denounce to the impenitent, God's hatred against them, and what iude-ments Hp nrpnnrf^c f/^r *K^rv. and so eitl^er to remit or retain 6'/n*— and therefore 35 ^miiny) and testimony « Faculty of m the fol- tant Prin- rince, may Ulwlic lie- saying that dly be sol- or no the nd such as iswer (say itive — Be- f the same ry faith io the foun- ts the be* God the lised, and )evil and jhtens us. iments of nd to our structs us iments of •rdin^ to loreover, he Keys^ en in the essors in ieclaring r and to i against /AT" *Kt»rv» therefore tt'tf somelimes repair to the Confession chair to re- 0eive Absolution of our Sins" They proceed in a similar strain, and in one place they say " Neither can it be denied, that the Roman Church is a true Church, wherein the ministry of God's word, and the use of the Sacraments sub- sist, for if it were no more, or had not been a true Church, all its members would be in a state of damnation, and irrecoverably lost, which none amongst us would dare to advance. Nay, Malanc- thpn himself has maintained, that the Roman Church did not cease being a true Church, because the word of God was sufficiently taught in the di- vers parts of the Catechism, which contains the ten Commandments, the Creed, and tfie Lord's Prayer, and in the service of Baptism, and the Epistles and Gospels that are read on Sundays." They finally decide the Question in this manner — «* Having demonstrated that the foundation of Religion subsists in the Roman Catholic Church, so that one may be orthoddK and live and die well, and obtain Salvation in it — it is easy to decide the question propounded. The most serene Princess may in consideration of her marriage, embrace the Catholic Religion." Can any thing be more satisfactory than all this ? It is matter for curious speculation, with what anxiety the authors of this Document, by the man- ner in which they speak of the power of the Keys — Apostolical SuiCessfon-^Covfession — Remission of Sins, S^c, labor to approximate their own Confes- sion of Faith to the Catholic — aware that the Ar- ticles wTiich the Reformers had rejected, were as* well warranted by Scripture as those which they retained. • " When a man ('savs the crpflt. "Rnssnpt^ fivps-. E 2 56 fori model of doS ?i„^,°"'i'-''""^ ""'' ""'' about to „,ake a crp'r/tion'^r^o; ^J,^ T^^ST he always says something wh.ch he wm M L.'^"""' and afterwarih Aiic ,»,♦ ® «""*-» ne would not say, discussion of the sZr^ 1.^.^ '"T^l "^ *" » this Profession of I'alth T "''"='' co-^Pose -alysis and ^sS of' S" ttThir"' urged aStrhlXter^rSVt^^^^^^^ tendom, before th^ moi- c ^'^^^" <^r all Chris- .e«w.« siKrtt"^L'd''o;7v'^r^^^^ jonty of the Christian worid. Happy Vt T believe, we will bestow Jfl ^'fi'^" do not wluch they Jbelieve '''"^' "P°° «"« cious boon' KlilZ-^« -'^ ^« P- 87 This most subiinie and benevolent of all pur- poses was to be accomplished by His Assumption of our nature — by His Precepts, Example, Mira- cles, I'assion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and perpetual Intercession. The channel through which His Graces were to be communicated to us, was a Church ; which, by commemorating His Sacrifice on the Cross, and applying His Sacraments to human exigency, was predestined to secure Salvation to all true Peni- tents who should be found in her bosom. Now, it is obviously and most imperiously the duty of every Soul living, to be associated to this Church, wherever it he. But this is impossible, unless it be known. Therefore, all Tradition, oral and Scriptural, has assigned certain marks and fea- tures to identify and distinguish it, which are aa prominent and palpable as the King's head upon the national coin. She is One. She is Holy, She is Catholic ox Universal She is Apostolical, Among the thousand Sects, heteroclite and het- erogeneous, engendered by the Reformation, cai^ one be named which possesses these traits of the true Church of Christ ?— -Certainly not. Many boast them. But few possess any of these fea- tures, and not a single one can challenge them collectively. The more accurately we survey the various Protestant Communions at large throughout Eu- rope and America, the -result will be the more un^ propitious to these lofty pretensions. They all re- pose with tranquil recumbence upon merely ficti- tious titles to legitimacy. ^^viNG thus evidently shewn where the true Church of Christ is not, we will shortly exhibit Wiiere she w. 38 The first Article of controversy, relates to Jms toheal and Ecclesiastical Traditions. ^ iHE Catholic Cl^urch has been accused of im- posing articles of faith and ruler of practice m known to Christ and his Apostles, aKrwar." lanted by either Reason or Scripture. In answer to this objection, we may observe that if our Protestant Brethren are opposed to Tra' dition as suck they must take leave of Keli^rion aItogether-.for all Religion is Traditional The Patriarchal, Jewiali and Christian Covenants were Revelations to those to whom they were immedi- ately addressed, but are only traditional to their postenty. * Great stress has been laid upon the difference between the Bible which our Protestant Brethren call (and that truly) the Word of God, and other Traditions, of which slie is the Guardian and Irustee. J^iiERE is however, no essential difference be- tween them The whole is tradition and the whol^ IS the Word of God— and these Traditions, wheth! er written or unwritten, are equally entitled to our homage and obedience. The Traditions of the Catholic Church com- prehend the Bible— the works of 'the ancient Fath- ers-the ancient Liturgies-the ancient monu- ments—the universal practice of the Church— the condemnation of ancient Heresies— the acts of Councils— and the customs of Rome. When Christ established his Church, as the eter- nal depository of his Religion, not a line of the New Testament was yet in writing : nor during his residence on earth, did he write a syllable him- seJl. All his instructions were colloquial. It pleased indeed the Holy Spirit, after the events much preceded, accomnaniprl nnri f,^^l/.«r«J u:.. ***^^^^m^ , 3^ l)ivine Mission, to inspire the chosen Apostles to record them, in order to aid the infant interests of Christianity, by publishing to the world the most remarkable traits in the history and character of this divine Religion. But though these writings embrace the essentials, they were never intended to record the subordinate points of faith and prac- tice. Still less were they designed to be their own interpreters^ or to leave the awful truths which are the subject of them to private interpretation That umvritten Tradition is competent to the preservation and application of every Precept, moral and ceremonial, of revealed Religion, is suf- ficiently evident from the circumstance that from the Creation of the world to the sera of Moses, a period of two thousand five hundred years, there was no Scripture at <7//,— yet there was no com- plaint, nor even apprehension, that the rule of faith was imperfect or obscure. It is remarkable hdw our Protestant Brethren are obliged, in spite of their professions, to do jus- tice to the Traditions of tlie Church and forget their Bible, when these are in question. Why do they observe the Jirst day of the week, for pur- poses of worship, instead of the se^veiith, instituted by Jehovah himself, on Mount Sinai, and pro- claimed m thunder and in flame ? Why do they l^l^'""'^ ^'K'^'''^ ' "^'^y *^° ^^^^y baptize by effusion!^ V\ hy do they not practice pediiuvium or foot^wasi mg, so emphatically commanded by our Saviour ? Ihe truth is, and it is a splendid triumph for Cath- olicity, that all these observances, the adoption of some and the rejection of others, are derived from tlie Catholic Church and are a homage to her Tra- ditions.— See Deut. xxxii. 7. Ps. wiii. a fi r, ^ L^""'' o''-?' ^ ^^''''' "■• 1^-"^'- 6. 2 TimVi; X3.-1U 2.-111. 14. . 46 The iiext article relates to the Holy Scriptures. Its tenor is more than sufficient to shield Catholics from holding them in cheap estimation. It is true indeed that with filial obedience, the Children of the Universal Church submit to her judgment and her's alone, the true sense and interpretation of these divine Oracles. Suspending farther eluci- dation however of this matter for the present, we will refer it to the moment when we shall examine the Protestant Rule of Faith. The next Article relates to the Sacraments, Which are seven in number. 1 Baptism. Q. Con- frmalion. 3 The Eucharist. 4 Penance. 5 EaUreme Unction. 6 Orders. 7 Matrimony. 1. ^^i'r/^'ii/.— Against the matter and form of this Sacrament, ol. Protestant Brethren urge a va- nety of objections. The Quakers declare that Baptism of water is not of divine institution. The Anabaptists, that the baptismof Infants is without Scriptural authority. The Socinians and others, that It is no Sacrament, and is not necessary to Salvation. "^ On the contrary, we alledge that Catholic Bap- tism has all the three conditions of a true Sacra- ment. — 1. It is an outward visible sign— 2. It has the power of imparting Grace— 3. It is of divine ordination. We say that Baptism is of water.— See Acts viii. 36. 38.-X. 47- 48. We assert that the Baptism of Infants is an Evangelical ordin- ance. See Luke xviii. KJ. John iii. 5. We af- firm that it is necessary to Salvation, and for proof refer to the last named text. 2. Confirmation. — This ceremony our Protes- tant Brethren insist is no Sacrament, and is of modern invention. On the contrary, we declare that it possesses, in common with Baptism, tlie three essential requi- 41 Sites of a true Sacrament, and as such has been adnainistered from the age of the Apostles, aa ap. pears most evidently in the pages of Tertullian and the Fathers. See Acts viii. 15, 1 7.-xix. 6. 2 Con i.21. 22. Heb. vi. 2. 3. Tn^ Holy Evchahist, — This Sacrament i« feo intimately connected with the Sacrifice of the Mass, that we will discuss them presently together. 4. Penance,-^*' This (says the excellent Bish- op Cballoner) is a Sacrament, by which the Faiths ful that have fallen into sins, confessing the same with a true repentance and a sincere purpose of making satisfaction, are absolved from their Sins by the Minister of God." Three things are re- quired on the part of the Sinner, in order to ob- tain Forgiveness and Absolution— viz : Contri* tion. Confession and Satisfaction. This Sacrament is declared by our Protestant Jirethren to be an imposition on the vorld that it has no foundation in either Reason or Scripture, but is the invention of a lat^ date, in ord^r, as Thomas Paine says of national Churches, « to ter^ rify and enslave Mankind, and to monopolize pow- er and proiit." i- i— Qn the contrary, we are of opinion that those who declaim in this manner, forget their own na- ture, and the world in which they live. The state of Man is a state ef ruin. He emer- ges into existence defiled with native and heredi- tary Sin, and under sentence of eternal death : from which nothing can redeem him but the bloo4 of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and its ap- pbcation through the medium of the Sacraments Which he has established in his Church. Of these, Penance is one of the most important. « Except ye do Penance (says he) ye shall all likewise uer, Jsh." Those who cavii" at this doctiine of *the F 4? Catholic Church, do not sufficiently reflect npon their condition. Some wonder that a benevolent Deity should impose sufferings upon his poor crea- tures for involuntary transgressions. Others in- sist that Clirist has sufficiently satisfied for Sin. To the first class of objectors we urge that Man is not now, what he once wa. He is fallen from u state ^of Innocence into one of Guilt. Guilt en- tails misery. Reason and the whole ceconomv of God's moral government teach us with sufficient certainty, that Sin and suffering in this life are in- timately connected, and that the one follows the other, as its penalty and its corrective. We are not only Delinquents in a Prison j but we are Pa- tients in a Hospitah As well may a sick man murmur that a different diet is prescribed for him, from one for another in sound health, as for mor- tals to complain of the regimen which infinite wis- dom and goodness have ordained for the cure of our spiritual maladies, and to ensure our restora- tion to primsfeval felicity. Ho\^ natural then it is, to co-operate with this kind intention of Provi- dence, and impose upon ourselves voluntary pain, whenever the ordinary effects of our frailty and wickedness appear insufficient for pardon and re- formation ! It is not the broad but the narrow path which leads to Heaven. As Christ our Saviour bore his Cross, we must also bear our's. He tells us ex- pressly that unless we suffer, we cannot hope to reign with him. Consequently, not only all the unforeseen afflictions and calamities of life are to be cheerfully endured, but we must occasionally seek them. Not only pains, involuntary and ac- cidental — but voluntary and elective, must be suf- fered. It is onlv throup-h trials and *r»^»"la*>f>n« that the diade:m of the Saint is won. 4^ jflect npOH benevolent i poor crea- Others in- id for Sin. that Man alien from Guilt en- conomy of [i sufficient life are in- bllows the . We are we are Pa- sick man d for him, iS for mor- ifinite wis- lie cure of ir restora- then it is, of Provi- tary pain, railty and )n and re- ath which r bore his is us ex- hope to ly all the life are to :asionally r and ac- St be suf. ihiilatinnia To the second class of objectors we will reply anon. Confession, which is a requisite and a condi- tion of Penance, is, independently of its Divinity, one of the most admirable institutions that was ever conceivecj for the good of man. In every age, in every land, and among every description of people, the Church has had and still has, the happiness to see thousands of Sinners appeal to the sublime consolations of this duty, and not ap- peal in vain. Absolution is never accorded the Penitent, unless he fulfil the conditions requi- red by the Institution. From this important du- ty no Christian is exempted, It is equally obliga- tory on the Clergy »s the Laity — and to see a Priest of the highest rank, and Archbishop or a Cardinal, approach the Tribunal of Penance and humbly kneel at the feet of his Confessor, andsofl tened by Contrition, divulge in his ear every Sin, fault and inadvertency, and receive forgiveness at his hands, is one of the most beautiful and edify- ing spectacles which the Catholic Church affords. If neither the Divinity of this hqly Institution, nor the injunctions of the Church, nor the verdict of the pious and penitent of all ages be satisfacto- ry to the incredulous Protestant, let him listen to the opinion of a Philosopher, who disbelieved Re- velation. ^ " Confession (says Voltaire in his Dictionary) is highly beneficial— a strong curb to vice and of very early institution. It was anciently practised at the celebration of all the Mysteries of the Churph ^ ;^nd we have imitated and sanctified so devout an observance. It avails greatly, turning resentment and hatred into forgiveness and friend- ship. By it the petty rogues are induced to re- store what they have stolen j"— and in his Age of F^ 44 Lewis the XV. I,e declares "tWfession is the greatest of all restraints to human wickedness.*' " O 6WEET balm of the wounded spirit ! (apos- troplnzes the eldauent Pr. Milner.) *0 sovereign restorative of the 8pul»9 life and yigor ! best known to those who taithfully use thee and not unattested by those who neglect and blaspheme thee !" The b»>-^ pf llngland. Dr. Johnsop, says in a ponvers* ,th his f'riepd Boswell upon Confes- ?r?"'o" ^ ' ^^^ ^^^"^ ^^^ ^'^a^ Js a good thing. Ihe Scripture says * Confess your faults one to an- otherj^and the Priests confess as well as the Lai- ty. 1 heii It mtist be considered, that their Abso- lution IS only upon repentance, and often upon penance also. You (the Protestants) think your ems may be forgiven without penance, upon re- pentanpe alone." See Numb, v. (j. 7. Mat.iii.6. Actsxix. 18. James V. 16. , Absolution has been pronounced "aleayeto co^imit Sm." This calumny would have been spared, if its inventors had duly weighed the con- ditions on which pardon is granted to the cbnfes- Buig J^mner. Confession alone is by no means a sufhcient title to forgiveness. To this must be ih "^^r^"^"^^°"' *»fl Satisfaction (if possible^ for Thus sanctioned by Reason, as a power in the liighest degree conducive to pufity of manners, and consolatory to the poor fallen Sinner, so also IS It supported by Scripture, as a power promised and given to thef astors of the Church, See Matt. XVI. lO.-xviii. 18. John XX. j. 23. 5. ^XTujsME UKCTioN.'^1i:his h'ds al| {he quali- ties of a true Sacrament, and notwithstanding tfte otyections of our Protestant Brethren, is of divine .authoruy, and of Apostolical u^age. >e James as 0. Ilvir OK/yrii».— This wdinance >may be dis- patched in as rev, words as the preceding. It has equally all the featurels dt'-a true Sacrament, and is e^jually hfippoited by Scripture. See Luke xxii. 19. John XX. n, Acts-vi. O.-xiii. 8.-xiv. 4. 1 Tim. iv. B. 2 Tim. i.e. 7' MytTHmoNY,'— tittle detafl is necessary to shew that this Iiistlitution is likewise of Divine origin, and is a true Sacramerit. 'See 'Gen. ii. 24. Matt. 3(ix. 6. Mark x. 11. m, Luke xvi. 18. J«»n- vii. ^. 3. 1 Cor. vii. 10. 11. '89. JEph. v. SS. IThess. iv. 3. 4. 5. ^ Such are the Sacramento of theCathdlic Chwch, Divine m their institution and salutary in their ef- fect. To abuse "their application or to abridge their nirdber, is enuafly to profane -their charac- \pr and to endanger Salvation. •ii ^^^aJ^^^^ Article relates to the ^Ceremonies of the Cdthohc Church, whidh we will nptice amonfe oiir miscellaneous matter. The succeeding Article, rdatJng to Ori^/W/ Sin ;indJu^tiJicdtm, has been among our Protes- tant^Brethren tfie subject of much complaint awd misrepresentation. TiiE Catholic Church is accused of deprecia- ^ing the vdlue of the Sacrifice of our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ on the Gross, and of over, rating dnd sdbstituting the merit of good works, '^low it is impossible that any expressions should be thbre cleur and pdinted*^more satisfactory in themselves, and in morp, perfect consent with Rea- son arid Scripture, than f hose used by ^heCoundl ot Trertt upon this subject. ^ We believe (say they) that our Sins Are freely forgiven us by the Divine mercyfbr Jesus Christ^ sake. '-— Sess. 6. ch fl. Th^v nHH «« w^ «^^«:j to tfe justitied ^rii/w, because none of those acts 46 which precede Justification, whether they bo o^ faith or good works can merit his Grace** As to the merit of good works, the Council of Trent de- clares that " Eternal life ought to be proposed to the Children of God, both as a Grace which h mercifully promised to them by the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as a recompence which h faithfully rendered to their good works and mer- its, by virtue of this promise." Again, " Although we say that Holy Writ esteems good works so much, Jhat Jesus Christ himself promises that a glass of cold water given to the poor shall not want its reward, and that the Apostle testifies how a moment of light pain endured in this world, shall produce an eternal weight of glory — neverthe- less, God forbid that a Christian should trust and glory in himself and not in the Lord, whose boun- ty is so great to all men, that he will have those gifts which he bestows upon them to be their mer- its" Onpe more, " We who can do nothing of purselyes, can do all things with Him who strength- lens us, in such sort that njan has nothing of which be may glory, nor for which he may confide in himself; but all his confidence and glory is in Je- sus Christ, in whom we live-fr-iq whoip we merit — in whom we satisfy — bringing forth fruits worthy of penance, which draw their virtue from Him, ai)d by Him are offered lo his Father and apcept- led of by his Father through Him." — So th^t, jt ,^ppears clearly from these decisions of the Coun- cil of Trent, *' That our Sins are pardoned us out of pure mercy for the sake of Jesus Christ — that we are indebted for that Justice which is in us by the Holy Ghost to a liberality gratis bestowed ujp- on us-r-and that all the good works we do are bu^ $0 many gifts of his Grace." Add to all this the Praver which the Catholic B they bo o^ :e.*' As to :>f Trent de- proposed to ze which h nediation of pence which ks and mer- " Although 3d works so nises that a r shall not ;estifies how this world, — neverthe- d trust and jrhose boun- have those e their mer- nothing of 10 strength- ig of which confide In irv is in Je- we merit — Ljits worthy fropn Him, ,nd apcept- -So th^t, jt the Coun- ted us out hrist — that is in us by stowed up- do are hh p PafhhTih I 49' Church uses in her daily Sacrifice. — *« Vouchsafe^ O God, to grant to us Sinners, thy Servants, who hope in the multitude of thy mercies, some part and Society with the blessed Apostles and Mar- tyrs — into whose number we beseech Thee to be pleased to receive us, not looking upon our Mer- its, but graciously pardoning us in the name q/Je^ sus Christ our Lord" What more satisfactory explanation would the I most obstinate disputant demand ? The Church's doctrine on these points is abun* dantly supported by Scripture. See Gen. iv. 7.- xxii. 16. 17. 18. Ps. xvii. 11. 23. 24.-xviii. 8. 11. Matt. v. 11. 12.-X. 42.-xvi. 27. 1 Cor. iii. 8. 2 Tim. iv. 8. The following article relates to the Sacrijice of the Holy Mass — in the language of the inspired St. Frartcis of Sales— «« The most Holy, Sacred and Sovereign Sacrifice of the Mass, the centre of Christian Religion, the Heart of Devotion, thc^ Soul of Piety, and an unspeakable Mystery : which comprehends in it the bottomless depth of God's Charity— and by which God, uniting Himself re- ally to us, liberally communicates his Grace and Favors," This sublime definition and eulogy would be alone sufficient, it might be imagined, to silence every cavil and gain every heart. But Prejudice can convert nourishment into poison. This Article likewise declares the Beal Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacra, ment of the Eucharist^ — which involves a Doctrine that has afforded matter for more acrimony of cen- sure and even levity of ridicule, than perhaps anj other tenet of the Catholic Church. She teaches, that the Eucharist is the true body and blood of Christ, under the appearance of Bread and Wine. These elements undergo the 4i most important and nairacqloqfi revolution tiiat Ai^ mighty Pomer can eflect. Thiu wonderfia change, the sole perqiiisitfe and charact^mtic of the truQ Church and Ministry, is produced by tlie wfficia- ting Priest, and tliis we call Transubstantiation. Jt has been urged against this doctrine, that it is not ortiy a miracle greater than all others, but is of a very different nature^-^for \«hefeas the oth- er Miracles recorded in Holy Writ were addressed to the eyes and ears of men ; here on the contra- ry, the senses are worse than useless ^ fof their testimony directly contradicts tlie Miracle^ In answer to this objection, let it be observed, that \ve are not to dictate to our Divine Master, in what manner to operate flis Miracles. We haye no need of any remote arguments to prove, however, that we have faculties of higlier authori- ty than our ^senses ; and that many tri^ths in di- rect contradiction to their testimony are supported by the most invincible evidence. * For example, the eye sees, as plainly as solar effulgence can ena- ble it, that the Sun rises in the east, ascends to the zenith, declines and sets in the west. Now who does not know that this apprehension is a mis- take ? Do men in general discover this by any astronomical researches of their own ? No, They trust to those of others, and prefer their authority to that of their own senses. " Blessed are those who have not seen (^sys our Lord and Saviour) and yet have believed." The doctrine of the Real Presence has ever been thought so essential to Christianity, that among all the Svhismatic CL arches which have separated from Catholic unity, there is not one to he found before the aera of the Reformation, which caUed in question the presence of Christ in the Eucha- Hniu nniir'K crLoira.* 4-k^^ir ^U-^«-» t-^ At£C — •-. w^vr, M4vt--£^ =;v---.-wi Liicv »-fiyap *U \XllKii Ip 4- \r\£\^^ j 49 other points from Ih^ Catholic Church and from each ofhor, they all itnited in this belief. The perpetual consent ol tae Greek aiui 'all the Orien* tal Churches, in this Article, has been demonstra- ted and is acknowledged on all sides. And it is not a little remarkable, that even the Church of England, declares in her public Catechism, that *• llie body and blood of Christ are verily and in^ deed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper." As Keason is by no means hostile to this doc- trine, so Scripture supports it with the whole weight of its authority. Sec Matt. xxvi. 26.— Mark xiv. 22. 24. Luke xxii. l{). John vi. 51. ryZ. X Cor. x. lO.-xi. 24. 25. 27- 29. These texts are clear and decisive, and leave no room for cavil pr objection to any who believe the Gospel. If It be asked, why the Catholic Church ihter- p^ts these passages in the literal . sense, let the gj%at rBpssuet reply in 'her behalf. " There is no more;Teason to ask us why we fix ourselves to the literal sense, than there is to ask a traveller why lie follows the high road. It is their part, who have recourse to the ^gurative sense, and who take bye paths, to give a reason for what they do/' Tne Holy Mass is the unbloody Sacrifice of the • 1)ody and blood of Christ. As vet inactive, though pesent in the Euctiaristic Sacrament, He is in tlie Holy .M^sfi offered up tohis Eternal Father, as a propitiatory Sacrifice for the Sins of tlie whole ^vvorjfd. '^Tiiis introduces one of the heaviest ebargeg ^v/hich has ever been invented against the Catholic 'Church— that oi^ Idolatrij. It is rourrdly asserted .that Catholics are the grossest Idolators, and wor- ship brpad and wine as God ! ' ^^*^^- What is Idolatry ? A Catholic child, who hai • ' -.■ ,. Q CO made his Hrst communion would ansWer<^" Idotu^ try is rendering to the Creature the homage and worship due alone to the Creator." If this defi- nition be correct, it will require neither much ad- dress, nor many words to clear Catholics from tliis reproach. It is not then the elements of bread and wine which are worshipped in the most Holy Eucha- rist — nor even these elements consecrated for re* ligious purposes — but it is these elements, humble as they are, converted, changed and Transubstan- tiated into the body and blood, the real and true body and blood of Christ, Now it is hoped, that among our Protestant Brethren, tiiere is no one who would have the im- piety to assert that this worship ought not to be rendered, provided this doctrine be true, and Jesus Christ be really present on the Altar. Now would this worsliip be Idolatrous, were even the doctrine Jalse, It is the Lord Jesus Christ our Redeemer whom Catholics adore. If they imagine Him io a place where He is not, and by»mistake worship Him in that place, surely as no indignity is inten- ded, no Sin is committed. ** There is no Idolatry in the Mass, (says Dr* Johnson to his friend Boswell.) They believe God to be there, and they worship Him.^ It has been objected to the Sacrifice of the Mass, that it pretends to be a renewed oblation and propitiation of our Lord — thereby annulling or diminishing the Sacrifice which He once offer- Cil for our sins upon the Cross, In answer to this objection, we say it is meant to do neithei.-. The Sacrifice of the Mass is not a new payment of the price of bur salvation, but IS mPI'plv a rnmntPvnn'r/iti'nfi Skanrifipa or\r\Urirk/v ^t\ Sinners the merits of i^Ihrist's Passion and Death. 51 Nevertheless, although His blood is only shed mya. tjcaljy, and his death only intervenes by representa- tion,(to borrow the expressions of the great Bossuet) yet it is a real .Sacrifice inasmuch as Jesus Christ is really present in tne Eucharist, and is offered up to His Eternal F?ither. In fine, " This Sacrifice is instituted (says the Council of Trent) only to re- present that which was once accomplished upon the Cross ; to perpetuate the memory of it to the end of the world ; and to apply to us the saving virtue of it for the remission of those sini which we commit every day." It has been insisted that although Sacramental Communion be as ancient as our Religion, yet the Mass bears little or no resemblance to the primi*' tive*rite; but is, on the contrary, new in name and character. Now it appears from the most au- thentic and ri^mote records, that this Sacrifice ever bore the same name and exhibited the same shape that it does at the present day, St, Ambrose writes in the 4\t unt^ler either kind alphe. ' ' THfs has been the occasion ot^triuch ofeloqut a»d aspersion. It i? thought to begreal presunip: ti^oll in the Oatholic i*riesthood, to rec^eive tffe Cornmumon in both kinds themselves and to dtmv the Cup to the liiit^. / : -^^.^ t -^ As this regulation appears impossibfe to be as- cribed to any sinister motive, Ave nee^ not' iro /ar to learn tfie reason of it. f. The quirch has tau|fht iom tihe earliest ages that tlie Sacrament is eniire, whether administered in owe kind oi' ia both. One reason, out of rnany, why theXup is withheld fi^om the tatty, is, le^st the blood ot Christ, in the sliape of wine, slin/ilrl ^2 1 PI 5B be spilled, ^tJ great profanation and confusion en- !fe6 in large Congregation«,^>»''^*^ ■ -'^ » 0*E fciird alone, as su^eieht for its intt^mioii as a Sacrarttent, is justififed by the doctrine and prac- tice of the Apoistle!); ^'^';v4^^'^ -t^^* '■ In th^jir private Gtiaracter, thfe Clergy them- selves *n^v^r receive the Eucharist but in one kind. If they receivb it in* both ki^ids at the Altar, they do it as dfl^biating' in thd person of Christ, whoot- fers his body and Wood ik the Mass as a Sacrifice for the siijs of Mankind. ' . ' DtiV'JdWKSON observes on this subject-^" Catho- lies may think that m what is merely ritual, devi- ations from the primitive mode may be admitted on the ground of convenience : and I think that they are ^s well warranted to make this alteration, as we (the Protestants) are to substitute .sjprmM^/^ in the roojn of tHe ancient Baptism." • We might add that this privation is no article of Catholic Faith, but one merely of DimpUne ; which tnay be abrogated by the Authority wiiich ordaiwed it. >. i i Communion in one kind as sufficient to salvation* is satisfactorily certified by Scripture— See Luke xxiv. 30, 31. John vi. 51. Acts ii. 42, 46 Rom. vi. 9. I. Cor. x. I7. The next article relates to Ptirgaiorj^ arid. Prafy'. ersfor the Dead, all which have been pronowncetl unscriptural and absurd. ^ They are neither— and the real doctrine of the Catholic Church on this subject is of a nature to silence and satisfy the most scrupulous. She teaches us that the Saints and some few others who have passed lives of singular piety and virtue on earth, are at their death immediately re- CGIVPfl infn rrl/Arv S\Ua inf/»»»*Ma ..« ..1.-.^ .-K^*. 4.I ^' __- — ,„ ^.,,.^, f -,,-_, itiisj^iinrj tan iSJov, J-iiat iircic are others, and but too rtany, whose guilt is so 64, great that in quitting their mortal bodies they are cast into Hell. Finally she declares that there s^x^. great numbers, who, not deserving of eternal pun* ishment for their sins, nor yet so immaculate a$ to go immediately to Heaven, are placed by Di^ vine Justice in a middle state ; where their person- al sufferings,^ united with the Prayers of the Faithr. fu I on earth, may finally avail to procure thera Pardon and Salvation, Upon this important and consolatory belief is founded tli^ Catholic s^nd pi- ous custom of praying for the Dead. A mtiltir plicity of passages might be eited from the Greek and Latin J athers, to proye the antiquity of this salutary practice, Tertullian who wrote soon af- ter the death of our Saviour, speaks tf it oflen» and it is recognised as an Apostolical Tradition in the most ancient Liturgies of all the Christian Churclies before the Reformation-j-^as the Roman, Greek, Syrian, Armenian, Nestorian, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Indian, &c. &c. ** Purgatory (says Dr. Johnson) is a very harmless doctrine. They (the Catholics) are of opinion that the generality of mankind are neither so obstinately wicked as to deserve everlasting punishment, nor so good as to merit being admit- ted into the Society of Blessed Spirits ; and there- fore that God js graciously pleased to allow of a middi0 state, where they may be purified by cer* tain degrees of suffering. There is nothing un- reasonable in this."— rHe adds, " If it be onpe es. tablished that there are souls in Purgatory, it is as proper to pray for them, as for our bjrethven of mankind who are yet in this life.*' Jn fact, this tenet is so consonant with Reason as well as Scrip- ture, that a vast number of intelligent Protestants have avowed their belief in it. One of high rep- utation observes in his Lectures : *^ With regard 5s they are t there £^re. ernal pun*- laculate as 5d by Dif eir person- the Fftithr. :ure them Drtant an4 liq £^nd pi- A mtiltir the Greek lity of this :e soon af- f it often. Tradition Christian e Roman^ Egyptian, s a very cs) are of re neither verlasting" ng admit, md there- Ilovr of a I by cer- hing uh- ; onpe es. y, it is as ethren of fact, this as Scrip- •otestants high rep- h regard 55 to the doctrine Of Purgatory though it may not be founded either in lledson or Scripture, it is nofc unnatural. — Who can bear the thought of dwell- ing in everlasting torments? Yet who can say that God, everlastingly just, may not inflict them ? The mind of man seeks for some resource. It finds one ow/^— in conceiving that some temporory punishment after death may purify the soul from its moral pollution, and make it at last acceptable even to a Deity infinitely pure." As the Doc- trine of Pufgatory and Prayers for the Dead is sanctioned by good sense and remote antiquity, so it has also the support of Scripture. These pray- ers made and still make part of the Ritual of the Jewish Synagogue- — see ir. Mace. xii. 4S, &c.-- See also Malt. v. 25, 26, xii. S2, 36. i. Cor. iii. 13, 14. 15. J. Pet. iii. 18, 19, 20. Apoc. xxi. 27. The next article relates to the Invocation of the Saints — to which may be added that of the Bles- sed Virgin Mary and of the Angels, In this exercise, Catholics are accused of ren- dering these glorified Persons divine worship, and of being thereby guilty of Idolatry. LEt it be then repeated for the millionth time^ that Catholics do not worship them, at least in the Protestant acceptation. They do indeed address them in certain forms and with much solemnity : but it is only to beseech them to add their Play- ers to ours, and to intercede for us at the throne of the Most High.—Catholics recognize no pow- er in them to help us by their own immediate act. They can assist us only by joining their supplica- tions to ours. If our'Proiestant Brethren should still insist that God has no need of their vicarious Prayers, but is ever ready to hearken to the Peti- t?ions of the humblest of his creatures, and that 56 ilieir intercession is superfluous, as our Jlrorti Je-* 4SUS Christ is our sole Intercessor with the Father ^ we can retort the objection^ and mk tlie.iu wliv they soh'cit the prayers of ^ack other.? j^' the Pjayers of' the JBlessed Virgin and of tl^e ^ngeis land Siiints .cannot avail us» we may be very sure that nothing can be expected from those of our poor, sinful ^eliow creatures. But that their Pra}|fiis can and do avail us, we have the-express testimony of Scripture — ^See Luke xvi. 9. I. Cor. xii. 8. and Apoc. v. 8. We have a communion with them — Heb. xii. 22, 23. They have power over nations — Apoc. ii. 26, 2.7-v. ,1 0. They knovf what passes among us^ — ^Lul^e xv. 10- j. Cor. xiii. 12. i. John iii. 2. They are with Christ in Heaven before the Resurrection ~ii. Coi:. y. 1, 6, 7, 8. Phil. i. 23, 24. Appc. iv. 4-vi. 9r- vii. 9, 14,15. &c.-xiv. 2, 3, 4.-xix. 1, 4, 5, 6.-xx. 4. The Prayers of God's Servants have greatinfluence with Him— Ex. xxxii. 11, 14. i. I&ngs vii. 8^ 9, 10. Jobxlii, 7,8. Rom. xv. 30. %h. vi. 18, 19. I. Tiles. V. 25. Heb. xiii. 13. James v. 16. The dignity of the Blessed Virgin Mary ap* pears from Luke i. 28, 42, 43, 48. Th£ Invocation of Angels appears from Gen. xlviii. 15, 16. Osa. xii. 4. Apoc. i. 4. They have been honored by the Servants of God—Jos. V. 14, 15. They have a charge over us— Ex. xxiii. 20, 21. Ps. xcii. 12, &c. Matt, xviii. 10. Heb. i. 14. They pray for us^— rZach. i. 1,2. They of- fer up our Prayers — Apoc. yiii. 4. , ,* The next Article relates to the use of Images^ and declr ^s that honor and veneration are due to ilnem. , - . • l^EW tenets of the Catholic Church liave excited .,i.,„ auti i1- cuniroversy , laan uiij^^t shalt not make to thyself any graven Iiipage,*' sav 57 the divine Commandment — and it never ceases to be quoted to cover Catholics with confusion. Now, that the strict Protpstapt S|^nse is not that of the Law of Moses, must be evident, on exam- ination, to the most comn\pn apprehension ; unles? we acknowledge that the Scriptui'e is inconsistent, with itself. For Images were not only permitted in the Jewish worship, but were absolutely cowi- inanded by God himself — as appears from Ex. XXV. 18, &c. Numb. xxi. 8. 9* They were plac- ed on each side of the mercy seat in the Sanctuary —Ex. xxxvii. 7. And in the Temple of Solo- mon— ii. Chron. iii. 10. By Divine Command— t. Chron. xxviii. 18, If), lielative honor to the Images of Chrigt and his Saints authorised, Heb* xi. 21. See also ii. Kings vi. \% 15, 14, 15, l6* II. Chron. v. % &c. Ps. xcviii. 5. P\\\\. ii. 10. *'* Our intention is tiot (says the admirable Bos- suet) so much to honor tlie Image, as to honpr the Apostle or Martyr in presence of the Image. ** The honor we render to Images (says the Coun- cil of Trent) has such ^ reference to those tliey represent, that by means of those Images which we kiss, and before which we kneel, we adore J^- sus Christ, and honor the Saints, vvhose types they are." This Council forbids us expressly "to be- lieve any divinity in them, for which they ought to be reverenced ; to demand any favor of them or put any trust in them.*' To all this it may be added, that the use of Images is no duty of posi- tive obligation. The Council of Trent merely says the practice is good and beneficial. If it be asked how this practice is good and beneficial, we answer, that it is most admirably calculated to an- imate and enliven the pious affections. In every Catholic familv are seen the Crucifix^ and nictures of ihe Blessed Virgin and of the Saints. We H w L -<■«-■ 58 kneel in prayer before the Image of our cruciffed Saviour, that our minds, impressed with the awful ideas of his Passion and Death, may be extited to fellow the precepts and example of the great Cap- tain of our Salvation, and learn that ** we have Re- demption through his blood.** Hence may be inferred the utility of Images, and the honor and respect which are paid to them by all the members of the Catholic Church. With regard to Relics, besides the motives to their retention and respect in common with Ima- ges ; there are particular reasons which urge the Catholic Church to enjoin the veneration of RelicwS, 1. They have been the victims and living temples of God. 2. They are pre-ordained to a happy Resurrection. B, They have been and are daily the Instruments of the power of God, for the work- ing of innumerable miracles. 4. They serve to encourage the Faithful to an imitation of their virtues. "Nothing is more evident (says the learned Bishop Challoner,) from all kinds of monuments of antiquity, than that the veneration of the Relics of the Saints, is one of the most ancient things of Christianity ; as may be seen in the writings of the Holy Fathers, particularly St. Basil, St. Greg- ory Nyssen, St. Gregory Nazianzen, St. Cyril, St. John Chrysostom, St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, St. Austin and Theodoret." See 2 Kings xiii. 21. Matt. ix. 20. 21. Acts xix. 11. 12. It is here incumbent upon me to observe, once for all, that on this, as well as on every other point in the controversy, I quote only the real doctrine of the Catholic Church. It is to be regretted that in practice many have departed from her precepts ; and as some have fallen short of her injunctions, so others have carried them to excess. Among 09 other indiscretions, the use of Images and Relics may sometimes have been perverted to purposes of improper devotion, But tlie best things are h- able to abuse, Of this truth, the Bible itself is a melancholy example. The next Article relates to Indulgences, which are intimately connected with Penance, and in like manner have been sadly misunderstood and thoughtlessly censured. «• By an Indulgence (says Bishop Ghalloner) we mean no more than the releasing of true Penitents from the debt of temporal punishment, which re- mained due to their sins, after the sins themselves, as to the guilt and eternal punishment, had been already remitted by the Sacrament of Penance, by a perfect contrition." "The power to grant Indulgences (says the Council of Trent) has been given to the Church by Jesus Christ, and the use of them is beneficial to Salvation." But the Council adds that " This power ought to be retained, yet nevertheless used with a moderation, lest Ecclesiastical discipline should be weakened by an over-great facility." «» When therefore (says the great Bossuet) the Church imposes upon Sinners painful and labori- ous works, and they undergo them with humility, this is called Satisfaction ; and when, regarding the fervor of Penitents, or some other good works which she has prescribed them, she relaxes some part of that pain which is due to them, this is cal- led Indulgence" That a debt of temporal punishment may re- main after the guilt of it is removed, we may learn from the royal Psalmist. It appears from the Book of Samuel, that though Nathan assures Da- vid that the Lord had put away his Sin, yet He Ar^nr^.tnryaA orcctincf Wivn maTiv tpmnnral afnictlonSt 60 frJ^l^^HT'^^ ^'■'^"^'"^ Indulgences i^ eviaoiifc ii^rn Matt/ XVI 18. iy. Adversity, and is now raising her to new splendor. We have seeti Greek and Protestant unite tp re-instate the fallen Pon- tiff in his sovereignty, and to decorate with anoth- er wreath of glory the Chair of St. Peter. She is Apostolical, in the Scripturality, Unifor- mity and Invariability pf her Doctrines. Precise- ly those which she teaches at the present day are co-eval with Christianity itself. As a proof, a triumphant proof of this, allusion is made to them in the writings of the earliest Fathers of the Chureh — those holy Men, for whom our Protes- tant Brethren profess to feel (and I believe sin- cerely) the highest veneration :— -nor has any in- vestigation been able satisfactorily to fix a later date to a single Article of Cr^tholic Faith, Infi- nite are the attempts which have been made in nocturnal researches amopg the musty and man- gled records of the middle ages, to controvert this position, but in vain. Much of the clamor wjiich has been excited against the Catholic Church on this subject has arisen from an egregious mistake. Articles of F^'th have been confounded with those o^ Discipline, Over the latter, the Church has the most absolute control ; over the former, none at all. Her Discipline has varied in different ages ; but h r Faith is immutable. Among the liberal of our Protestant Brethren, the Fathers of the Church have always obtained credit and esteem. Let us hear their report on this important subject. . 5r. IftEiNCEUs, who lived in the second century, of 9. speedy nally, when I the Vicar for depar- luin. God and is now seen Greek fallen Pon- with anoth- er. ity, Unifor- }, Precise- »nt day are a proof, a ide to iherr\ lers of the our Protes- believe sin- has any in- ) fix a later 'aith. Ipfi- n made in y and nian- itrovert this imur wjiich Church on js mistake. I with those I!hurch has >rmer, none ferent ages : t Brethren, ys obtained ir report on id century, 6^ says ** The Founders of the Church delivered thd Episcopacy and government of the Church to Linus : who was succeeded by Anacletus, Cle* nient, Evaristus*' — enumerating the others in suc- cession down to the Chief who then ruled the Church, and concluding with these words, " This is a most full demonstration that the same lively Faith, taught by the Apostles, is still even unto this day, preserved in the Church and duly deliv- ered." Tertullian, one of the earliest of the Fathers, speaks thus, " Wliat I believe, I received from tlie present Church, and the present from the primitive : the primitive fiom the Apostles : the Apostles from Christ." St. Cyprian, who liv- ed in the third century, says " We know Corneli- us the Bishop of Rome to have been elected by Almighty God, and Christ our Lord, the Bishop of the most holy Catholic Church : neither are we ignorant, that there ought to be one God, one Christ our Lord, one Holy Ghost, and one Bishop in the Catholic Church." Lanctantius, who lived in the fourth century, says " It is she alone, which, as the ancient Fathers write, retains the true wor- ship. She is the fountain of truth and the tem- ple of God, into which whosoever shall not enter, or out of which which whosoever shall depart, can have no hope of everlasting life and Salvation." In fact we should never cease if we continued these quotations. The Unity and Indivisibility of the Church, of which the Bishop of Rome is the sovereign Pontiff, are their favorite and endless topics. We may also be permitted to adduce as one of the most signal and decisive test of the true Church, that she has the gifl of Miracles, Here the Catholic Church shines with transcendent lus- tre. Not a sect which has had the misfortune to secede from her communion, has ever nretendea to this distinction. It follows irresistibly, thivt if the Catholic Churcii has ever, in the most solitary instance, been the instrument of a single Miracle, the triumph is all her own. - To controvert this stubborn pretension of the Catholic Church, her adversaries boldly aver, that Miracles once necessary, are no longer so, and have therefore ceased. In what book or record, or by what sentence and authority Miracles arc declared to have ceased. Catholics have yet to learn. If this assumption find any support in Ho- ly Writ, let the specific texts be cited. This appeal, however, to Scripture in a question of Miracles, is altogetiier idle and superfluous. A Miracle, so far from meeting any extriiisic evi- dence to support it, is inteuded by its nature to give evidence and support to other truths. The doctrines of Scripture itself are founded upon Mir- acles : and had not the Miracles been performed, the- doctrines which they were destined to sanc- tion, had never been proclaimed nor believed. No hypothesis, however ingenious, can be ra^ tionally opposed to a matter of fact. Has then a Miracle ever been performed in the Catholic Church ? Let faithful history answer, whose re- fcords are full of the most exact details of miracu- lous power exercised iji this Church, that the most sceptical enquirer can desire. To cite merely a catalogue of preservations and cures, together with other immediate interpositions of Divine agency, wrought through the instrumentality of living and departed Saints of this Church, would fill yol- umes. j./Yi 1 From this immense mass of matter, it is difficult to select any particular examples for citation, when the whole 'seems so equally adapted to the pur- G9 iretendeu ly, tljivt if St Rolitarj' I Jtdiracie, on of the aver, that If so, and dT record, racles arc ;e yet to >rt in Ho- 1 question perfluous. riiisic evi- nature to ;hs. The jpon Mir- erforraed, d to sanc- ieved. 2an be ra^ [as then a Catholic whose re- jf miracu- t the most merely a ether with 2 agency, living and 1 fill yol- is difficult ion, when the pur- t)09e. It is sufficient on this occasion to observe that the Miracles of St. Austin, the Missionary to whom Eng'and owes her Conversion from the dark- ness of Paganism to the light of the Gospel — and those of St. Francis Xavier, the Apostle of the In- dies, have been acknowledged by the most judi- cious and impartial Protestant Writers. Let it be understood however, that this power is not one which the Church can exercise at her option. It is only imparted occasionally, and ne- ver but for some signal purpose. The preceding Positions established, no argu- ment is necessary to prove that the Catholic Church is infallible. Her infallibiHty is a direct and in- disputable deduction from the Premises. After recording the vei-dict of Reason, calio, collected and dispassionate, in favor of the C$tho- lic Church— let us see with what splended suffrage Scripture ratifies this decision. The Church of Christ is everlasting, Ps. xlviii. 8.-lxxi. <5. y.-lxxxviii. 3. 4. 29. tJG. 37.-cxxxi. 13. 14. Is. ix. 7.-liv. 9. lO.-lix. 20. 21.-lx. 15. 18.- Ixii. 6. Jer. xxxi. 35. SO.-xxxiv. 17. Ezec. xxxviii. 24. 26. Dan. ii. 44. Matt. xvi. 18.- xxviii. 10. John xiv. 16. I7.— The Church is the Kingdom of Christ, Dan. ii. 44. Luke i. 33. — The City of the Great King, Ps. xlvii. 2. His rest and his habitation forever, Ps. cxxxi. 13. 14. The House of the living God, 1 Tim. iii. 15. The fold of which Christ is the Shepherd, John x. 16. The body of which Christ is the head, Eph. v. 23- Cok i. 18. The spouse of which He is the Bride- groom, Eph. V. 31. 32. Ever subject to Him and ever faithful to Him-24. Ever loved and cher- ished by Him, 25. 29. And joined to him by an Indissoluble union, 31. 32. The Church is the piiiar and ground of the truth, X Tim. iii. 35. — I ^ God's Cdvenant mih her is an everlasting /!oV6- nant of Peace, Ezec. xxxvii. 6^. Confirmed by a solemn oath, never to be altered, like that made to Noah, Is. liv. 9. A covenant like that of the day and night to stand to all generations, Jer. xxxiii. 20. 21. God shall be her everlasting light, Is. Ix. 18. 19. Whosoever shall gather together against her shall fall ; and the nation that will not serve her shall perish. Is. Ix. 12. 15. 17. The Church is al'rvays one, Cant. vi. 9. 10. John x. 16. Eph. iv. 4. 5. Always visible. Is. ii. 2. 3. Mic. iv. 1. 2. Matt. V. 14. Spread far and near, and teaching many nations, Ps. ii. 8,-xxi. 27. Is. xlix. G.-Hv. 1. 2. 3. Dan. ii. 35. U. Mai. i. 1 1. The last Article relates to the Sacred Canons of the Church, and her General Councils, All these are identified with the Church herself; and as she is infallible in matters of Faith, so whatever eman- ates from her Councils, must necessarily bear the impression of her Infallibility. Such are the principles upon which the Catho- lic Church urges her claim to the proud pre-em- inence of being that true Ckurch, predicted by the Prophets of Israel, and in due time founded by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and against which *' the Gates of Hell shall never prevail." Now, let me ask whether these tests be not sa- tisfactoiy and decisive ? And whether there be another Religious Society in the whole world, which in support of the same pretensions can ad- duce the same proofs, or any other of equal validi- ty ? No surely. Can we then doubt for a mo« ment that she is the true Churchy the Church with- out spot or wrinkle, the pillar and ground of truth, the cliaste virgin and beloved spouse of Jesus rhn*st : ** A ZEAL without Knowledge" has constantly 67 i ing /!oV6- med by a t made to )f the day er. xxxiii. ;ht, Is. Ix. er against not serve le Church l(j. Eph. c. iv. 1 . 2. teaching ix. G.-liv, Canons of All these md as she ^er eman- r bear 'the he Catho- I pre-em* led by the jnded by d against -evail." be not sa- there be le world, IS can ad- ual validi- for a mo« irch with- I of truth, of Jesus constantly nourished a mortal antipathy to the Pope ox Bish- op of Rome, who has long been an eye sore to our Protestant Brethren, who think he is worshipped as a God ! The Papacy is indeed an office of great trust and dignity. And the same Divine Authority which created, his elevation in the person of St. Peter, still maintains him in his rank, as a regular Descendant from the Prince of the Apostles, in the line of Ecclesiastical succession. Why our Lord and Saviour required such a Chief for the government of his Church, and why he chose that he should be invested with so much external gran- deur, we are not to enquire, but refer it to His Almighty and Sovei^ign Will. This eminent per^ sonage has been very much calumniated, and bulky tomes have been written to perpetuate the real or supposed vices and intrigues of the Popes. But true History tells another tale ; and we may safe- ly challenge all Nations to exhibit a succession of Sovereigns more pious, virtuous, wise and learned, than those who now for eighteen Centuries have filled the See of Rome. So much for the Catholic Profession of Faith..^^ We now proceed to notice sonie miscellaneous ob- jections, which relate not to matters of Faith, but merely to those o^ DiccipUne. The Sign of' the Cross, so universal among Cath* olics, is censured as superstitious. But a thou- sand testimonies prove it to be as ancient as Chris- tianity. ** At every step, (says Turtullian) at eve* ry coming in and going out, when we put on onr clothes or shoes, when we wash, when we sit dowa to table, when we light a candle, when we go to bed — whatsoever conversation employs us, we im- print on our foreheads the Sign of the Cross, The Catholic Church has been accused of a 12 •» splendor and magnificence in her general a^con, omy and public worship, inconsistent with the simphcity of the Gospel. "God (it is said) is a ^mt, and they who worship Him, must worship Him m spirit and in truth." , It is not sufficiently considered that God was not less a Spirit in ancient times than He is now. And yet He not only approved, but instituted for His chosen people a form of worship, the most splendid and magnificent that the world had ever seen. That the worship of the Apostles and pri^ mitive Christians was simple and unadorned, is freely granted. But this (as Soame Jenyns acute- Jy remarks, in answer to the same objection res, pectmg the service of the Church of England) was perhaps rather their misfortune than their cboace. During the first Persecutions they had no pubhc worship at all Their ceremonies were per- formed, and the bread of life was broken to them in private^m the dark recesses of caves and grot, toes; and wherever else they could escape the in, spection and interference of the civil power. _ " The malignant influence of Calvinism Csaya Dr. Johnson) has blasted ceremony and decency together." .,, ■ *^ It is objected as an unedifying practice that the public service of the Church is performed in LaU tn; a language unknown to the people at laiL^e. even in Catholic countries. This objection is easily answered. A Umver. sal Church requires a Universal Language. It re- quires also a language fixed and permanent in its construction, not varying and fluctuating, and em- barrassed with different idioms and Provincialities. 1 he Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is daily pffered in ev- !JIP^f!^_^^/^^^^"^^" ^T*^' Missions expose Ec. c*e«astiv3 to frequent and remote changes of plac^. 69 Were tb« public Service of the Church performedi in the vernacular language of each nation, a for? eign Missionary would be a stranger in every coun, try but his own, ^nd would be unequal to the du, ty imposed on him. But thp Mass and Vespers being in Latins an ancient and stable language, » Priest of the Catholic Church is at home in every quarter of the globe. In the infancy of Christi- 4nity, the language of the Church and of the Peor pie was tlie same. Jlome was, as it still is, the seat of the chief Bishop ; and Latin was the Ian* guage of Rome, This tongue was vitiated by the incorporation of barbarous dialects introduced into Italy by invasion and conquest. So that it is not Uie Church which has adopted a foreign language, but^^he People, The Church continued, preserve ed and consecrated the Ancient vernacular tongue. Besides, those who assist at the S?icrifice qf the Mass, have nothing to do with what is called the Ordinary of the Mass, which is entirely said by the o^ciating Priest. This is not a pMbiic Litur* gy. Every one of the congregation respects his own private prayers; which adds much to th^ beauty and solemnity of the Catholic worship. This objection, whatever it be worth, is not exr elusive. The Greeks, Armenians, and Oriental Churches in general, celebrate their divine service in a language not familiar to the commonv.people, A CoNVENTiAL LiFE — has been taxed as nour- ishing superstition — hostile to the best interest of Society— rand destructive of population. In answer to these allegations, in the first place, let us never forget, that in a question of Salva^ tion, no human interests should come in competir tion with this most important of all concerns.-r- " Unum est necessarium" savs our Lord and Sa, viour— "One thing is needful."— And he is but a 70 tepid Christian who can suffer this great dutv to be arrested by any considerations of minor moment* In the next place, we urge that it is a state of life as ancient as Christianity^ and is sanctioned by the counsels and practice of the pious of every age. Let us hear the report of Eusebius, who lived at the time of the first General Council. "There have been instituted in the Church of Christ (says he) two ways or manners of living. — The one raised above the ordinary state of nature, and common ways of living : reiects wedlock, pos- sessions and worldly goods, and being wholly se- parated and removed from the ordinary conversa- tion of common life, is appropriated and devoted solely to the worship and service of God, through an exceeding degree of heavenly love. They who are of this order of people, seem dead to the life of this world ; and having their bodies only upon earth, are in their minds and contemplations dwel- ling in heaven. From whence, like many heavenly inhabitants, they look down upon human life, ma- king intercessions and oblations to Almighty God for the whole race of mankind. And this is not with the blood of beasts, or the fat and smoke and burning of bodies ; but with the highest exercises oftrue piety, with cleansed and purified hearts, and with a whole form of life strictly devoted to virtue. These are their sacrifices, which they are continually offering unto God, implore his mercy and favor for themselves and their fellow creatures.- Christianity receives this as the most perfect man^ ner of life." — The other is a secular life. The Religious Orders take three vows — the first, of Poverty'y the second, of Chastity ; the third, of Obedience — all which find sufficient sanc- tion in Scnpture : See Matt. xix. 12^ 21. &c. That Monastic JfciStablishments atlect the popu- :lutv to be momenU a state of auctioned 3 of every >ius, who jncil. :hurch of living. — af nature, lock, pos- vholly se- conversa- devoted , through fhey who o the ]if« »nly upon ons dwel- heavenly life, ma- ^hty God his is not noke and exercises i hearts, 3voted to they are lis mercy :reatures*- ect man-r )ws— the tity ; the ?nt sanc- &c. he popu- latioii of a country has been denied and disproved by many Protestant writer^^particularly by Da* vid Hume, The Celibacy or single life of the Regular and Secular Clergy of the Catholic Church, our Pro* testant Brethren hold to be obnoxious to equal censure. In answer to this we observe, that the duties imposed on the Catholic Clergy are far more mul- tifarious and weighty, than on any other order of men perhaps in the world. If they be faithful to their vocation, their whole time is absorbed in the discharge of these obligations. Mass must be said every morning — the sick must be visited — the Sacraments must be adminiatered-^the Dead must be interred — Confession; a never-ending duty, levies a heavy tax of occupation. Add to all this, that they are bound to recite their Breviary at the Canonical hours, occurring seven times a day,^^ They are exposed also to be sent as Missionaries to the ends of the earth. Let the candid judge, whether married men be competent to the dis- charge of these various and momentous duties. " " He that hath a Wife or Children (says Lord Bacon) hath given hostages to fortune ; for they are impediments to great enterprizes" — and else- where — " A single life doth well with Churchmen; for Charity will hardly water the ground, when it must fill a pool." Thus sanctioned by Reason, Religious Celibacy has also the support of Scripture. Continency proved possible, Matt. xix. 11. 1^. The vow binding, Deut. xxiii. 21. The breach of the vow damnable, 1 Tim. v. 12. The practice commend- ed, 1. Cor, vii. 7. 8. 27. 37. 38. 40. For reasons which oarticularlv affect the Clprorv. f\9. R^. R^ The Catholic Church is tajted with uncharita^ t1 hkness in her opinions, and with cfuel^ in hef conduct? d^ouncing as Heretics, All who. are not oif her communion — and consigning them if in her power, to tortures and death I It is true in* deed that Catholics believe, and that upon Divine Authority, that out 6J the Church there is no mlm* Horn Bt)t what is it, to be out of the Churcb—that Cnly ark of salvation ? They who are not imme- diately in her communhrti are not therefore, by a necessary consequence^ out tyf ike CJmrch. Hear the great St. Austin of Hippo—" They that de* fend their sentence (though false and perverse) With no stubborn stomach or obstinate heart ; es- pecially if it be such as themsetvea broached not, but received of their deceived parents 3 and do seek the tluth warily and carefully s beiiig ready to be reformed if they find it : Such are not to be reputed Heretics J* - « Not every one (says the Annotators to the Rheims Testament) that erreth in Religion is a Hereik, But he only that after the Church's de* termination, wilfully and stubbornly standeth in his fklsc opinion, not yielding to decrees of Coun- cils, or the Chief Pastor of the Catholic Church/* AoREEABLY to this doctrinc The Church excepts from this denunciation, all Children who have re- ceived Christian Baptism-^which alone, obviating the effects of Original Sin, qualifies them with a title to inherit the promises. She excepts also, all who are in a state of invincible ignorance* — " Be- cause (says the learned BellJu-min) wlierever there is ifwincike ignorance^ united with a sincerity and love of troth*— in mrtve of the dispositbiis of their hearts, the Persons so circumstanced belong^to the true church" Tki^ai two classes comprehend a j^ooigious numOci' 01 Souis, who thuugh in a jslate i^ in lief who are .hendifid is true in* m Divine no mlva* •cb— that ot imme-^ bre, by a h. Hear ^ that de* perverse) eart ; es- jhed not, ; and do tig ready not to be s to thei gion is a rch'iS de* ndeth in of Goun- >hurch/* I excepts have re- Aviating' tk with a also, all r— "Be- ^ei* there rity and I of their igtothe Bhend a II a £late f*rj" •f exterior, separation from the visible Church, ata nevertheless, inwardly united to her by charity. Fob. purposes inscrutable to tiie human intellect^, God has seen fit to keep in a condition of uncath* olicity, many pious and virtuous aawefl as learned Persons of various^ Sects, /their prejudices are those of birth and education, and not of the heart* The pretended persecuting spirit of the Cathou he Churdi is exhibited«n vast relief in the muddy details of Fox and other zealots : but it is difllcult to substantiate their charges by any documents of authentic History. ^ On the contrary, we assert that the Catholic ehurcb is of a^ tolerant character. " During the space of eight hundred years (says W. E. Andrews^ the sagacious Editor of the Londoti Orthodox Journal,) in which the Catholic Church reigned uncontrolled; and her Winisters were invested with tlie plenitude of power^ not a drop of blood was shed in support of her spiritual rights, nor a; temporal law passed to punish those who dogma* tised her doctrines." A^TER all Ihesef deductiotl* hov^ev^r, that the Representatives of the Catholic Church have in many instances abused the power con^ded to them, is nevertheless acknowledged and lamented.-^ " Wherever there ai^e men (says Seneca) there are f^lts.*'.-— The Church, though divinely commis- sioned, is a /, 74 burnt down no less than nine htmdred towns and villages,, and murdered three hundred and seventy- eight Priests and Religiovis persons, in the course otone rebellion. The total number of Churches in France which they burnt, was computed to be no less than twenty thousand. The history of the Reformation in England, though less sanguinary than on the Continent, has caused many a Con- version to the Catholic Faith. But it is high time that all these complaints and reflections were hushed forever. The wrong was reciprocal. We are none of us answerable for tlie misdeeds of our ance^.ors. God is love. '1 he Religion of Christ is a Religion of love. Instead then of bri^ndishing the lirebrands of religious con- tention, and reproaching each other for the crimes of our forefathers — crimes the offspring of a bar- barous age— -and which in this we all equally la- ment ; let us learn to love one another — to live by faith and not by sight— and to pray and labor for our mutual Salvation. " Non est Religionid ReKgionem cogere." , Another slander imputes great corruption of manners to Catholics, aud boldly asserts that they substitute devotion for morality-^thinking that a few pater-nosters and ave-marias mumbled over, are sufficient to atone for the most enormous of- fences ; and that Catholic Priests are loose and yinprfncipled. In answer to this charge, we boldly insist, that if there be any thing in which the Ca- tholic church is pre-eminent, it is in the rigid mO' rality of her doctrine. What she preaches, she fails not to practise. Her Clergy are in general pious, just, and temperate; and her Laity are as virtuous at least, it is presumed, as the membeiie #1 other communioiis* 75 owns and id seventy- the course Churches ted to be )ry of the ariguinary ny a Con- laints and vrong was lie for tlie ve. The Instead i^ious con- he crimes of a bar- ]ualiy la- '— to live md labor uption of that they ng that a )led over, rmous of^ loose and we boldlj h the Ca- rigid mO' ches, she n general ity are as membeiw It is true that a few of the Catholic Clergy* (and 9tiU more Laymen) do not live up to their profession. Some Ecclesiastics are proud, others anjbitious— sQoie dissipated, others covetous, and caring (as Massillon expresses it) more for thQ Jleece than tlie Jhck, This is raatjter for regret, but not for surprise. Did not our bjessed Lord complain that one of his chosen twelve pisciple^ was a DeviU If in the very infapcy of the, Church, under the immediate inspection of our Saviour himself, and anjong his own apostles, there could lurk treason and murdev j wh^t wonder is i^ that in so considerable a body ^s the Catholic Cler« ^y, there should occur, sorpe examples of lamenta^ ble defection ? But for oar consolation, if there be here and there a Judas in the C^hojic Church, 90 there are Peters and Pauls— men iliu^tripMS for piety and virtue, whose every thought f^nrf deed are a splendid commentary on that ^09pe} whiclv they are 9ent to proclaim. Look at the inniime? rable band of Martyrs who have bled for the Faith ! Look at the numerous Miasionaries, whp traversing sea and land, have penetrated to the deepest caverns of savage retreat, to announce the glad tidings of a crupified Saviour ! Look at the various Cpnvents all over Christendom ; which, however calunjniated, exhibit the most sublime virtues, and where the severity of the evangelical law is pure and unmitigated ! There, thousands of holy men consecrate thpir diys and nights to Pevotion • There, thousand^ of faithful Virgins, with their lamps trimmed and burning, employ every hour of their life in offering pr^^^'crs of in- tercession for a wicked world ! Finally, the Clergy and Dignitaries of the Ca* tholic Church have been traduced as foes to civil li^ fceitp^i as well as to light and knowledge-^particilff iwmiiM 7tf hdy Awpteyedtn keeping the cmrimon people i« ig. noratice, and in witWiolding fjem them the BM» fit Salvation. > WfiRE t^iese tfeniendoa* charges founded in tiuih, -they would lon^r ago have awihilated th^ w^teosiofls, if not the vef y existence, of the €a. itmic 0)urch.— But they are false. All ^^he Rtpiblics m Europe havu been reared *nd fostered i« the bosom of^the Catholic Churdh. Magm Umia, the Wlwat k of Brkish fr^dora, J^as the enterprise of ^atbolics. The House of Commons, that sole democratic branch of t4^i€ Con- Sntuti^, had the same origin. In the language 0* an Insh orator— "It ^as in tbe bosom of tbe Catholic Church that our free Constitution feeeiv- ?d Its l^uth. Catholics rooked its cradle. Catho- lics watched its infancy, cherished its ehiiahood, and matured its youth.** Literary works witbout number have been written by authors o* ilxis com- munion, i« support of the rights and liberties of inankina. Among others, we may instance the il- lustrious Sir Thomas More, who wiote the lHo- m, or the scheme of a perfect Commooweakh s ki whidh (says David Williams, a Deist) ** are inorereal p inciples, real truths, md real facts, than m all the systems of government, the codes ,TJ,* ^"^ *^^ commentaries on laws in tlm whole V t'^ This great man was so zealous a Catho. •Ac, that be was put to death by Henry the eighth ; becauge he would not renounce his allegiance to the Soyer ign Fontiff, and recognize the suprema- cyorthissanguinarj Tyrant in the Church. Protestant writers of the lii^est reputation, have been zealous to eulogize the Catholics, as iovera of Freedom. None h|iv^ executed this in- tention ^nore successfully than that wOhder of our M^» And r»rt<4«» rvf TitolA¥>iJ tu,i,,v.,^„ ...u,. j__l ?opIe m ig. I the Biblft >unddl if\ wiated th€ )f theCa- eeii re»red e Churdh. \ freedom. House of r the Con- I knguagQ lom ot' th« (Ml feeeiv- . Catho- *hHdhood, :« without 41^8 "Com- ^berties of lee the li- the Uio- mweshh : -Jst) ** are eal facts, the eodes the whole a Catho- e eighth ; giance to sii|)rejna- ch. •piitatioti, holies, as d this in- ier of ouf Gaehdicity gplenAjJ jMsMoe, and that in « strain of eloquence, unparaiieied perhaps in «ny ianguaf?e. 4yOo« at the Missions of Paiaguay. The Cath- die -Church had prcgected the converf?ion of the Aborigines o^* tbi^ extensive region to the Ohf is- tiai- Faith. A few Jesuit^ undertook tik cciga»ti« and ha»ardous enterprise. With a Cruahx in their hand and a chaplet ^t their girdle, they ^^ac- €d danger and death amid tlie pathless wilds of Soubh America. They chewed the leaf of ll)« forest for food, and slaked tlieir thirst with tlve ram from heaven. Their lodging was among the branches of trees— and tlieif si lumbers were hourly interrupted by the roaring of lions, tygers and panthers, and the hissing of serpants. Nothing, however coi|ld appal these brov^ and indefatigable men. yhe hostility of the Savages made up the measure of their sutferings. But their zeal, pa- tience, and trust in God, triumphed over every obstacle j and conciliating tl>e barbarians l>y de- grees, they founded a Colony—anil such a colony ^s the world never yet saw. We say nothing of tt as a rdigious^ but merely as a political establish* flient, though in either yiew it excites equal won- der and ments equal praiset. The republir of Ha- te was no longer a dri im. In 'Paraguay /asre- dlized a society the ha| inest, and a legislation the most perfect, that Hfstory had yet presented t«^ human admiration. Let those who stigmatize tl^e Catholic Church in general, and tlie Jesuits in par- tic'ar, as enemies to civil libtrty and the rights o£ man, read the Relation of' the Missi. ns of Para- |^ttay,'and thank ^God for the preservaaon of the one and the restoration of ihi^ other { It is equally false that the Catholic Clergy are ^nemies to light and knowledge. They wlio love f© cowtittst the learning of the iHieieirt i*ag^ns witih 7» I that of modern Christians, will do well it«Arl "XT^l,,,^^ k^^ i i<. i "Ml ho€i> translated into all tl>€ knguages of the known wwKK where tlie Catholic Faith ia professed. It » true unU k was necessary^ tlm in the disuibu- tioil of copies, mnong many where a spirit of cavil iwAl contention was remly Ixy obli(jii€ interpretation fo wros« the sense to their own tlestructioni the Pastors of the Church, midcr so wei^^hty .. respon- sihilily, harve shewn some reserve. Who can won- der at t\m prndence, after what we have seen take plade antong our Protestant Brethren, in whose connnunion* an opposite line of conduct has muU tipled opinions and divisions without end ? itwiNu ihus anticipated and (we trust) obvia* ted all current, and alnioj^t all possible, objections to Catholic Faith and Discipline, we may conft* dent[y affirm that this task is, nevertheless, alto- gether gratuitous and snuerogatory. For if it bo oiearly established, that the Csitholic Church is tlye true Church of Christ J all discussions respecting her tenets, is SuperHuous. Because if she be the tru<5 Church, she is infallible, if infaUible, she can impose ik) t^rtides oi^ cretlence, false or even doiibtiul. The interenco is irresistible. Let us never ceuse to insist, that the Catholic Clmrcb unites every feature and qualification, which Reason and Religion teach us to expect in the true Church of Christ. Ofie in shape and form— //o/y in cb.aracter — Cnmraal in extent^ — MKl-Aposioikai in Faith and Doctrine, and in thtif succession of her Pastors. In all these traits (we repeat it) the Protestiknt societies are evitiently {leficient. If then tiie Ca- tholic Church be not the true Church of Christ, tliere is and qan be ^ofie. Consequently,, they who deny her authority, must take refuge iu De- ism, and reject all Revcrtied Religion, NoTW|THsxAN©iNG the disaordance of Uieic lie known med. It ' distiibu- t o( cavil pretatiuii ;?tion, the ♦* rcspon- cati won* iecn take in wiiose has mul* ? ;t) obvia-i bjectioiwf ay conii* ess, a}to- 1' if it bo ck is the jspecting. le be the ibU}, she t or even Catholic iHcationi xp€Gl in Ape and ?xtent^ — d in thd otesti^nt tiie Ca^ f Christ, ^y, they Q ill De- f tlieic 81 opinions, vet our Protestant Brethren insist, that they have a standard of truth, and a rule of faith to winch they appeal ou all occasions, and by Ts the Sibl!"'"'''' '" ^' ^"'"'"'^ ^'""^^'^ This of IWulb^'^' Chillingworth) is the Religion On the contrary, Catholics maintain that the Bi. ble. however inspired, is insufficient as a rule of laiUi, and a giude to salvation. Lkst this sentiment should be misunderstood, it may be proper to state, that no people on the face ) the earth, entertam a more profound veneratioa or the Ho y Scriptures, than the Clergy and Lai- tyof the Catholic Church. The solemnity and genuflexions which are exacted in reading them at Mass, are edifymg to all strangers whS occa- sionally assist at this Sacriflce. One side of the High Altar is called the Gospel side, and the oth- o{ hat o the Ep^slie Nor are they less respect, ed by Catholics individually. They are read with great devotion ; and by many upon their knees. 1 HE Bible (says ChiUmgworth) is the tteligion ot Protestants." . & ^ * What is the Bible ? The Bible it will be an- swered, is the History of the most remarkable Dispensations of God to Man. It records a series ot the most astonishing events, analogous to no- thing w iich we, of the present age. have ever seen or heard— events in constant contradiction to th« usual routine of things, and in perpetual violaUon ot the common laws of nature. irM '^'''i" \^'^ ^"'^ ^^^"^^^ ^ha^ evidence does th« Bible aliord in proof of the amazing and miracu- lous trfinsactions which it relates ?— None wiiattv- er. No book can authenticate itself —It mtst then be believed nnnn pTtPWini t^kof. •...««., a„j ^i what is this ? — Tradition, So true is it that every thing in Religion is traditional. In the next place, through what channel ? Did the first Reformers witness the events narrated in Holy Writ, or even see them recorded ? — Certain- Jy not. From whom did they receive the Bible ?- From the Catholic Church. Consequently then she is the regular channel of Tradition, is the sole legitimate depository of the Scriptures, and can alone prove their authenticity — and explain their meaning. The Founders of Protestantism rejected the unwritten Traditions of the Cliurch, on the pre- text that they were fabricated and false. If the Catholic Church could with impunity have exe- cuted such imposition as these on the Christian world, could she not likewise have invented the Bible itself? Should our Protestant Brethren object that the Old Testament has been also transmitted through the channel of the Synagogue ; we might reply, that not a Christian in existence believes it upon this testimony. And had the Catholic Church rejected the Jewish Records as she did the Jewish Worship, not a Protestant at this day would have received them. With regard to the New Testament, should our Protestant Brethren cite the Greek and Eas- tern churches — and alledge that it has been e- qually transmitted through their channel ; w« might rejoin that both Greeks and Orientals have separated from Catholic unity— and like the Pro- testants, owe their Bible to C atholic Tradition. Luther himself acknowledges all this, and sayg " We are obliged to yield many things to the Pa- pists — that mth them is the Word of God, whick 93 ;hat every el? Did arrated in -Certain. ? Bible ?- ntly then s the sole , and can (lain their icted the 1 the pre- j. If the have exe- Christian ented the t that the I through jht reply, IS it upon : Church le Jewish )uld have t, should and £as- been e- lel ; we tals have the Pro- lition. and says ) the Pa- d, whick we received from them : otherwise we should have known nothing at all about it. * These facts being admitted, what guarantee have our Protestant Brethren, that the CathoIi« Church is not the sole inventor of Christianity, and that she has not herself forged the Records which proclaim its establishment ? — Certainly none what- ever. AGAiN-r^Suppose the Bible true^ — of what num- ber of books and what precise books does it cortJ sist ?— 14; is itself silent upon the subject. Twen- ty books at least, it has been calculated, are lost. Among them are that of tJie Wars of the Lord-^ See Numbers xxi. U^^that of Jehu the son of Hanani, 2 Chron. xx, 34i.-^that of Nathan the Pro- phet, 1 Chron. xxix. 29.r— that of the Prophecy of Abijah, ^ Chron. ix. ^9,^that of tb- Vision of Iddo the Seer, See ibid.— that of 3a'u.uel the Seer, See 1 Chron. xxix. 29.-r--t!iai af Gad the Seer, ibid.— that of Jasher.— The Fpistle of Paul to the Laodiceans, See Col. iv. IG.— that of the Chroni- cles of the Kings of Judah and Israel, and many others—besides three thousand Proverbs by Solo- mon, and fifteen hundred Canticles ! Now we ask, who knows what these lost books contained ; and whether they might not have con- tained something, the knowledge of which is ab- solutely necessary to Salvation ? ^ Once more — Suppose this difficulty vanquished, others arise not less obstinate and perplexing, and the Protestant still holds 1ms faith by the most precarious tenure. *' The Bible (says Chillingworth) is the Religion of Protestants." But what Bible — that is, what copy, what edi- tion ? The learned Dr. Mills computed that in feis tim^, there were not less thaiji iUrttf thousand, readings of the New Testament. Cm we for ii moment doubt that in these various rei^dings, there IS matter enough to foEm as many sects, when we see a hundred sects divide upon the same reading ■^yiz ; that of the Bible printed in Use reisn of King James the first ? ■ If it be urged, that these variations are trifling and accidental, neither subversive of sound doc- trine, nor implying any treachery in the Transla- tors : let us appeal to the sentiments of the Re- formers and other Protestants themselves, whose mutual complaints, sarcasms and abuse are un^ paralleled in the annals of controversy. Whitaker B'Ay?, ^' Forgery, I blush for the honor of Protes- tantism, while I write it, seems to have been pe- culiar to the Reformed, I look in vain for one of these accursed outrages of imposition among tb^ disciples of Popery.** ZuiNGi^ius says to Luther—" Thou corruptest, O Luther ! the divine word. Thou art an open and bold perverter of the Sacred Scriptures. Al- - though we have esteemed thee beyond measure, yet we now blush at thy prophaneness." Luther is not much in his debt, but calls him and his fol- lowers " Asses, fools, antichrists and impostors.** The Bible of the divines of Basil, Beza calls «• wic- ked, and quite repugnant to the dictates of the Holy Ghost.'* The Bible of Castalio, tiie same Bejsa calls " Sacrilegious, wicked and pagan.** Of the Bible of Beza himself, Castalio in his turn says, " Indieed to mention all Beza*s corruptions of the Scripture would fill a volume.** And Mo^ linoeus says '* Beza changes entirely the text.**— The Bible of Calvin, the same Molinoeus criticises with egual severity, and says '^ Calvin makes the t^xt of the Gospel leap up and down. He uses vioknee to the letter V tbe Gospel and adds if we for ft gs, there ivhen we reading reign oi 5 trifling ind doc- Transla- the Rcr 5, whose are un^ i^hitaker ■ Protes- jeen pe- r one of ong th« riiptest, an open !S. Al- leasure, Luther his fol- ostors." s *• wic- s of the Le same 1." Of lis turn uptions uiMo- ?xt."— riticises kes the le uses adds if the text.- InLutlier's Dutch translation of the New lestament only, there were found o/j^ //^ow, sand Jour hundred heretical errors ' merited or found any better quarter. A Petition directed to King James the First, comptams « That our translation of the Psalms comprised m the Book of Common Prayer, doth n addition subtraction and alteration, difer Irora CT: P / ? ^^^^^^^^ corruptions wcr^ found 1\Z Tf «/a;2., and that by Protestant, ihem- seives how many might be found fmm the be^in^ mng of Genesis to the end of the Apucatmse, it ex. amined by an impartial judge? ^ Mb. Carlisle vouches "That the Enolish ransto have^depraved the sense, ooscurecf the truth deceived the ignorant; that in many place?. tlftl' '\ Scriptures from the ri,.htinsel: and that they shew themselves to love darkness more than light-^falsehood more than truth >» ihatthe English translation of the Bible is a translation that takes ^way from the texts-that adds to the texts, and that sometimes to the chan. olnJ' ^^'""7"^, ^^' the meaning of the Holy Ohost. For which cause, Protesumts of tender trreto""'' "'''^' ^'""' '''"^^'^ ^^' subscribing niy nand, a translation, which hath so maw/ omis^ mm, many additions, which sometimes obscure ^n^eumes pervert the sense: being sometimes fe^^iieless, sometimes contrary." This great evil of corrupting the Scripture, being well considered by Mr. Bimighton, one of fUe moat zealous sort of Prntpstanfc ^uw^^a u:^ 80 to write an epistle to the Lords of the Council, desiring them with all speed to procure a new translation. Because (says he) that which is now m England is full of errorsJ* And in his adver- tisements of coruptions, he tells the Bishops " That their public translation of the Scripture into En- glish is such, that it perverts the text of the Old Testament in eight hundred and forty eight places, and that it causes millions of millions to reject the New Testament, and run into eternal flames /** Finally, the translators of the great English Bible declare that " Among the numberless trans- iations which are extant this day in Europe, there is none 0/ them all of divine and infallible authority " Thus it appears that the Bible is written in va- rious and obsolete languages, translated and re- translated over and over again, offering at length in- numerable copies, obscure and interpolated. Who has the sagacity, the patience, the time and the opportunity to collate, examine and compare all these copies, verse by verse, and erect a system of faith upon his labor? Nevertheless, every person, without exception, who takes the Bible as his sole guide to salvation, is absolutely bound to do this. And after all his industry and research, it is at least a million chan- ces to one that he mistakes in his doctrine and that his soul is lost ! We repeat it emphatically once and again, let none imagine, from the color of this argument, that Catholics do not entertain the most profound res^ pect for this Divine Volume. They esteem it more than all other writings whatever. But they do not ascribe to it impossibilities. They know and they never cease to urge that the Bible cannct be ifs own interpreter. Books cannot speak. What then is precisely, and without equivocationj it's use? Council, J a new h is now is adver- s " That into En- tile Old ht places, jject the les r English jss trans- 36, there thorityJ^ m in va- and re- ength in- 1. Who and the ipare all ystem of :ception, alvation, 2r ail his on chan- ine and gain, let ent, that und resi- lit more y do not md they t be tfs What it's use? S7 Simply this and this only. It is a Lcviv in the hands of a Judge, excellent when applied : but Absolutely incapable of self application. God, who wills the salvation of man, who would rescue him from sin and death, and raise him to a state of immortal life and glory, has appointed three powers which co-operate in this work of transcen- dant love and mercy, viz i a LegUator, a Law, and an Interpreter, The Legislator is the Al^ fnight^ himself. The Law, is the Traditions of the Church, whether written or unwritten. The Interpreter is the Church. In this compound agency, the last (I speak it with awe) is as neces- sary as the first : and without whose cooperation the second is absolutely useless. ' To render this more clear and incontrovertible let us suppose a code of laws framed for a country which were to be obeyed without the intervention and coercion of courts of justice. What would be the consequence of this arrangement ? Exactly what we see take place among our Protestant -Brethren, with regard tc the laws of Scripture. And as men who recognize no common authority to explain and apply these laws, interpret them in their own way, and of course differently : one crying, this is the trurh according to Scripture another that—So in a community where every re- gulation was to be adjusted by private opinion without judge or jury, every man offending or of- lended, sinned against or sinning would interpret the law in his own favor, to the multiplication of crime and the oppression of innocence. It would not be possible to govern a community. It laws were left to arbitrary interpretation and execution. The Church, founded by our Lord and Saviour, is the grand tribunal, to which her children are to refer in all tbeir soiritual conrmK, 88 It she exacts the most implicit obedience, slie t^- pays it with peace an security. This principle of submission and subordination so necessary to every society^ though formally denied by our Protestant Brethren, who avow> that the very essence of Protestantism is the ri^ht q/ private judgmentf is nevertheless, virtually admit- ted. Assemblies and Synods have been convened in the several countries of the Reform to digest and impose articles of faith. And though the foundation of their revolt from the Church, rests on the right of private judgment j yet among our Protestant Brethren this right, which has been claimed and maintained by rebellion and blood- shed, is as much controlled by the decisions of their Assemblies and Synods, as it is among Ca thoiics by the decrees of the General Councils. The Synod of Charenton in France in 1()4<4«, noti- cing the error of the Independents, who teach that " Every Church ought to be governed by her pro- per laws, without any dependance upon any person in ecclesiastical matters, and without any obligation to acknowledge the authorhy of Conferences and Synods, for her regulation and conduct," urge on the contrary and with great animation, " That this sect is as prtjudicial to the state, as to the Church : and that it opens a door to all sorts of irregularities and extravagances, that it takes away all the means of applying any remedy to it, and that if it took place, there might be as many religions framed as parishes or particular assem- blids" Rational as this decision is in itself, can any thing be imagined more inconsistent and un- becomnig, than such language in the mouths of men, who had themselves renounced the autho- rity of the universal Church ? Among tlie various abuses of terms, their i« , she f d- dination formally 10 avow> :he right y admit- onvened y digest ugh the :h, reRts" long our as been I blood- sions of 3ng Ca Councils. 4, noti- ;acb that lier pro- y person [)Hgaj,ion Qces and :," urge , " That to the sorts of it takes dy to it, r ossein- lelf, can and un- louths of le autho- their i« 89 bond rtiore l)alpable than the word Church amontf our seceding Brethren. They speak with great confidence of the Protestant Church, in contradis- tinction from the Cathohc. But where is this Church ? No where. A vast variety of sects has appeared within the last three centuries in Europe and America, denominated Protestant : from their protesting against the Church of Rome. But they have no other bond of union whatever. Thev are many of them bitter foes to each other, and profess tenets of reciprocal contradiction. In this chaos of ^eeds^amid this anarchy of sects and opinionsi. it is true with mathematical certain- ty, that all cannnot have truth on their side All may be wrong, but all cannot be right. Yet alas ' n7f \PP^^* ^"^ ^^^^ ^^™^ standard of truth— the liibte : though no two sects and scarcely any two men of this whole number can agree ia their in- terpretation of its meaning, Tpiusitis evident that out of the Catholic Church, there is no certainty of faith and tto as- surance of salvation, and many an example has there been of a Catholic, after rejecting the an- thority of his native Church, becoming Sn Atheist, IHE Authors of the Encyclopcedia speak very pertmenly on this subject. « The first step (say they) which the curious ahd indocile CathohV ^kes, when he begins to be dissatisfied ^?h h is KehgioH IS to adopt the Protestant rule of inve tigation, to constitute himself a judge of Relicrion and become Protestant. Led on by this rufe Tn the ardor of investigation, he soon begins to di^ covei that the principles of Protestantism are f„ coherent, and its doctrine unintelligible. S m therefore, conducted by the same rule, he ^oen forward, and becomes a Socinian. Soc niurnsm he finds out has all th^ nprr.w;.:.. „ J7 " "*^*?'» M 90 Cencie^ of Protestantisrti, and he declares himself a Deist. Well, still discontented, because still parsued with difficuhiesr, he i? sen«il ly becomes a tyrrhonian. Pyrrhonism h a state too drea(*^"ul to eudure, and he concludes the series of his erroff by linking into the dreadful abj ss of Atheram." If all be true that is recorded, even by Protes- tants themselves, the history of the Kefon* ^tion is a satire upon itn n taie and pretensions. If sound doctrine gained nothing by this Hevolty there are abundant vouchers to prove that pine morality gained as little. Even in jthe inlim^y of this unhappy Sec ssion, when prudetiee and policy ought at least to have sav« d appearances, what was the character of Protestantism and Protes- tants ? Let us listen to their own report.— Pare- lus l-.berus, a learned Lutheran minister, utters this bitter complaint — " Our whole evangelical congregation abounds with so many divisions and scandals, that it is nothing less than what it pre- tends to be. If you look upon the evangelical teachers themselves, you will see that some of them are spurred on with vain glory and an invidious zeal. Some of them raise unreasonable debates, and then maintain them with unadvised heat. — There are many of thr m who pull down by their picked lives, what they had built up by the truth of their doctrine. Which evi s as every one sees with his own eyes, so has he great reason to doubt whether our evangelical congregation be the true Church, in which so many and such enormous vices are discovered.*' •Andrew DuDiTH, in his epistle to Beza, write* as foMows — •* What sort of people are our Protes- tants, struggling to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doptrine, sometimes to this side, sometimes to that ? You may perhaps know what 91 himself tse still Jreac'^ul is erroro ram." Protes- rni^tion ms. U HevoUy lat pure Un^y of l1 policy .'9, what Protes- -^Pare- ', utters ngelical ons and t it pre- ngelicat ot' them ividious debates, heat. — by their he truth me sees :^o doubt the true lortnoua U write* Protes- )ut with his side, )w what theii stentitnents in reli^ion are to-day : but you can nerer certainly tell what they ,viU be to-rti^r- row. In what article of religion do these churches agree among themselves, whicii have cast off' the Bishop f ^ome 5 Examine all from top to L t- tom, ycm sh »" scarce find one thing affirmed oy one is not immediately condemned by a- nother lor wicked doctrine." Luther himself in many places, complairtA of his Followers growing worse and worse — ** And men, (says he) are now more revengeful, covetous and licentious than they were in the Papacy.;" " Heretofore (he remarks in anotiier place) when ' we wer< -^educed by the Pope, every body did willing! V ,bllow ^ood 'works. And now no man either sayeth or knowcfh any thing, but hnw to get all to himself by exactions, pillage, theft, lying, usury, &c." He eise\yhere declaims-r-'* Men are become so extiavagant by the Gospel we have f)reached to them, that they think every thing awful that flatters their passions, and have lost all fear of hell fire. There is hut one peasant in i\\Q district of Wittemberg, who endeavours to instruct his fkmily according to the word o)l God. All the rest go st-aight to the Devil, The same Luther acknowledges that under the Papacy are many good things ; yea,' All that is good in Christianiti/. ?« 1 say, moreover, (rejoins he) that under the Pa- pacy is true Christianity f even the very kernel of iPhristianityJ* Melancthom says^* It is plain, that in these countries, men*s whole concern almost is about banquetting, drunkenness and carousing. And so strangely barbarous is the people, that most mien are persuaded that if they do but fast one day, they must die the following night." Galviit says, " of so many thousands, who re- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT.3) 1.0 I.I m m 2.5 us u 2.0 IL25 ■ 1.4 1.6 A" Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-<5c3 A .^ » y. f/j 9us vuit perdere, prius detnenUt" Luther says-—" I am burned with the flames of my untamed lusts and the desire of fvomen, I, who ought to be fervent in spi.it, am lost in im- purity, in sloth, &c.*' In another i>iace he says, ** Relying on the strong foundation of my learn- ingf I yielded not in pride either to the Emperor j King, or Devih-^XiOt not to the universe itself.** " Luther (says Hospinian) is a man absolutely furious ; accustomed to combat the trutk, not only unjustly, but in contradiction to his own conscience,** " Hie is (says OScolampadius) puffed up with ar- rogance and pride, and seduced by Satan.". Zur inglius says, ** Indeed so great is the power which Satan possesses over Luther, that He seems to aim at the possession of the ^hole man.*^ Calvin is called by Beza, ^* a mere mad dog^r^a malevolent man ; judging of men by t;he measure cf his love or hatred for them." Valmersays also of Calvin, •* He is violent and perverse: but so much the better, since violence is necessary to promote our Zuinghus is called by Luther *? A son of cause. Hell, an associate with Arius-— a man undeserving to be prayed for,** Melanpthop is styled by Iflirir cus and Armsdorf? " A shoe for every foot-^-^a corrupter of the word of Gdd-^a Pelagian."— Stanearus calls him " The northern Antichrist.'' Melancthon testifies of Carlostadius, that he was «* void of piety and humanity, and more of a Je^f than a Christmn.'* Luther says of CEcolampadius, " He! was beaten to death by the Devil.*' ' John Knox, the ringleader of the Revolt in Scotland, is stited by Whitaker "A deluded Idiot in his no- tions— a wild raven in his speeches—- a son of viov ^s and of ;he flames omen, I, ost in im- e he says, my learn- Emperor, itself.'* ibsolutely not only nscience*^ I with ar- il.". Zu- ver which ms to aim Calvin 19 lalevplent f his love of Calvin, much the omoie our ' A sor; of td^servmg ibyinirir y foot-i*^a agian.*'— - itichrist.'' at he was of a JeTf impadius, ." John lotland, is in his no*i on of vioi- lence tied Barbarism— th^ religtoui sacheto o{ religious Mohawks." Dn Johnson hoped that he was buried in the highway, Barnet says, " The' open lewdness in which many lived with^Ot shame or remorse, gave gre^ occasjoq for their adversa- ries to say, that they were in the right to assert justification without works ^ since they Were to every good work reprobate. Their gross and in- satiable scrambling after the goc^s and wealth that had been dedicated with; good designs, with- out applying any part o. it to the promoting of the Gospel, the instruction of youth, and the re^ Jieviilg of ihe poor— made all people conclude that it was for Robbery and not for Reformation, that their zeal made them so active. The irregular and immoral lives of many of the professors of the Gospel, gave their enemies great advantage to sayl that they ran away from Confession, Penancci Fasting and Pfayer, only that they might be un- der no restraint, but indulge t4iemselyes in a licen- cious and dissolute course of life." Fletcher ot Madiley says, " How few of our celebrated pulpits where more has not been said^r sin than against it. Even adultery and murder {sLCCording to theso preachers) do not hurt the pleasant children of God: but rather work for tJieir good, God sees no sin in hlievers, whatever sin they cowtwi/."— Oh I jam satis est. The candid Protestant will see the pertinacy of these Extracts-^and not suspect me of anv wish to give pain. I would gladly have omitted them J but I could not do justice to my subject, and ex- hibit the advantages of Catholic union, without depicting the miseries of Protestant disunion, dis- sension and uncertainty. Far be it ftora me to confound our Protestant Brethren of the present i&y >»ith those who were guilty of these excesses^ :il !Lct it be, however, ackhowledged, that the l^ml of an infallible authority in matters of faith, wasr titihappily the cause of them. The radical evil still exists, and if it produce not such bitter fruits as in former times j our Brethren of the Reform owe it not to their doctrine, but to the general in- fluence of civilization and refinement* The sole, sure and safe remedy for all the dis- orders engendered by the multiplication of sects, and the diversity of opinions, is for all dissentient Christians, of whatever communion, to return to Catholic tfnityi The Church, a tender mother. Opens her arms to receive with smiles and embraces her wandering Children. She has never ceased to pray for them in their estrangement, and longs to reckon them once more among those of her household. \ That this is the only remedy for the evils of the Reformation, and that this will prove effectual, has been the deliberate sentiment of many Protes- tants of high reputation. Grotius (whose name is an hotior to Letters) was clearly of opinion, that ** Protestants will ne- ver be united with each other, until they are so with those who adhere to the See of Rome : without ^' hich, no common agreement can be expected.-— .ie wishes therefore that the rupture now existing, as well as the occasions of it, were removed. A- mong the causes of which, the Supremacy of the Fope^ according to the cannon cannot be reckoned, as Melancthon confesses ; who even deems the Su- premacy neaessar^ for the preservation of unity .-^ Neither is this putting the Church at the Pope's feet, but it is only the ancient and respectable order^ of things restored again" Leibnitz ^another illustrious name) gives his opinion as follows—" As God is the God of order. the iirtini aith, was? dical evil ter fruits : Reform meral in- 1 the dis> of sects, ssentient return to mother, embraces 3r ceased iDd longs le of her B evils of efiectual, y Protes- Letters) will ne- sy are so without lected.— existing, jed» A- c^ of the eckoned, s the Su- ^unity*-'-^ \Q PODC'S A. \ble order^ gives his of order. 97 and as the Church One, Catholic and Apostolic, un- der a hierarchy embracing all tlie members, is from God : It follows that in this body there is by Di- vme Right, One Supreme Spiritual Magistrate, acting within his own limits, having a dictatodal authority, and the power of executing what is necessary to discharge his duty for the advantaffe ot the Church. Even should Borne, which is the metropolis of the Christian world, be chosen the seat and residence of this Power, from merely human considerations ; really it is requisite in ev- ery commonwealth and consequently in the Chris- tian Church, that there be one supreme Magistracy • whether it be determined to center all its authority m one individual, or divide it between many. And in the latter case, it is fit that one of the members should have the authority of dictator or supreme Magistrate, which is the same, though with a lim- ited power." In another document he sighs for the restoration of the ancient order of thin.rs— . "which (he says emphatically) would bring back to us the Golden Age," ^ « There is (says St. Cyprian) but one God and one Christ, and one Faith, and a People joined in one solid body with the cement of concord This unity cannot suffer a division, nor this one, body bear to be disjointed. He cannot have Ood for his Father, who has not the Church for his Mother, It any one could escape the Deluge out of Noah's Ark, he who is out of the Church ma/also escape." IHE great ht. Austin thus addresses the Dis- senters of his time—" If you think you have been sufficiently tossed about, and wish to see an erici to your anxieties, follow the rule of Catholic dis- cipline, which came down to us through the Apos- ties from Christ himself, and which shall descend irom us to the latest posterity." N r 98 There aie two considerations, which duly weighed, would no doubt facilitate the return of our Protestant Brethren to the Catholic Church. Ift tlie first place, the return of a Protestant to the;, coAimunion of the universal Church cannot strict- ly be called ^.Conversion. He does not join a strange and foreign Church— be only returns to the Church of his Forefathers.-**He is not convert edf but merely reconciled. In the next place, tliia return does not imply absolutely a change qf doctrine. The convert still retains the fundamental articles of his former be- liefs—and only enlarges his creeds. Dr. Johnson observes with his usual wisdom and penetration—- *« A man who is converted from Protestantism to Popery may be sincere. He parts with nothing. He is only super-adding to what he already had." These reflections are of the most consolatoiy nature, and ought surely to influence tlie minds of our Protestant Brethren to a measure fraught with such transcendant advantage. Still perhaps will they insist, that there are corruptions in the Catholic Church.— Enough, and perhaps more than enough has been advanced in refutation of Uiis charge. But supposing for a moment, ^and tlie concession costs us nothing) that in the long lap«e of time the Catholic Church " covered with the awful hoar of innumerable ages" may have lost something of her primitive attraction and sim- plicity; is this a reason for estrangement and re- jection? — A^e the matron graces of Christ's Spouse less engaging than were her bridal charms ? Or (to try another simile) would an Heir leave a venerable Palace, which bad descended to him from the most remote ancestry, merely because, in, the revolution of years^ a few cobwebs had col- lected upon the walls? 90 1 duly turn of Ihurch. ; to Ui& ; strict- join a urns to 'orwerU t imply ert still ner be- ohnson ation-^ — itism to iothing. jr had." lolatoiy 3 minds fraught perhaps s in the 18 more ation of It, ^and he long ed with ay have nd sim- and re- Christ's charms? leave a to him lause, in, had col- X HEBE close the subject.— There are in tho va- rious- Protestant communions thousands of well disposed persons, who only require to have the substance of the controversy impartially laid before them, to receive the truth in all its integrity. To my fellow citizens of this description, I address this humble attempt ; and affectionately request them to weigh the arguments thus offered to their consideration. Let them not forget that Religion is the most important concern of mankind : and that while all the Protestant sects unite in acknow- ledging that Catholics may be saved ; the Catholic Church, •' the city of God," and sole depository of all truth, emphatically declares that out of her pale, there is no salvation. O that we raay^ all know in this our day the things which belong to our peace, before thev be forever hidden from our eyes. HHSSSS ■»' ! , ' rt ! UNIVERSAL PRAYER, Translated from the original Latin of the Sovereign Pontiffi, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holu Ghost — Amen. *^ ^ I believe in Thee, O Lord ! Rfay I believe more firmly. I hrojie irr Thee, O Lord ! May I hope more safely. I love Thee, O Lord ! May I love 1 hee more fervently. I repent, O Lord ! May I repent more earneetly. I adore Thee as my First Beginning. I. desire Thee as my Last End. I praise Thee as my Constant Benefactor. I invoke Ihee as* my Merciful Defender. Direct me by thy Wisdoi».— Restrain me by thy JMstice*— Console me by Thy Pity* Protect me by tby Pow€r. That I may be Thine according to my Baptism. I re» noiHiCC the Devil and hia Works-^the World and iU Pomp»-^ the Flesh and its Lustfw-Heresy and its Errors. To Thee I consecrate my Thoughts, that they may be occu- BK' ..mrasfi^:" 100 pied with Thy Greatncsa; my Words, that ihey may proclaim fhyGoodnew; my Actions, that they may be regulated by Thy Law ; and my Sufferingi, that they may he.gubmisaive to Thy Decrees. 1 will whatever Thou wiliest— because Thou wiliest, in the manner Thou wiliest— and as much as 1 hou wiliest. v May I Accept what Thou Approvast^ Reject what Tho\i Hatest Shun what Thou Forbiddcst— and Observe what TIiou Commandest. To this end I beseech Thee — to Enlighten my Understanding— to Inflame my Will— to Purify my liody— and to Sanctify my Soul. May I Bewail my ftist Offences— Surmount Future Temp- tations—Correct vicious Propensities— and practice the Chris- tian Virtues. Inspire me, good God ! with a Love of Thee— a Hatred of Myself a ieal for m v Neighbor — and a contempt for the World. May I studiously Respect my Superiors — Condescend to my Inferiors — /Assist my Friends — and Spare ray Foes. May I vanquish Pleasure by Austerity— Avarice bj Liberal- ity—Auger by ft^eekness- and Tepidity by Devotion. Infuse in my heart, Fear without Despair— Confidence with- out Presumption— Piety without Enthusiasm— and Joy without Levity. Render me also Prudent in Undertakings- Couragious in Dangers — Patient in Adversity— and Humble in Prosperity. Grant, O Lord, that I may be Recollected in my Prayers — Sober in my Repasts— Diligent in my Employments — and con- stant in my Resolutions. May 1 80 govern my Senses, that I may Hear nothing In- jurious—Speak nothing Licentious— See nothing Impure— and do nothing Perverse. May 1 be careful to maintain — an Inward Innocence — an Outward Modesty — an Examplary Conversation- and a Regular life. May I assiduously watch to Subdue nature— to Cherish Thy Grace — to Obey Thy Law — and to secure my Salvation. May I learn from Thee how Little what is Earthly— how Great what is Heavenly—.;, how Short what is Temporal — and how Durable what is Eternal. Grant that 1 may Anticipate Death — Fear Thy Judgments- Escape Hell — and Obtain xieaven. Finally, Grant Repentance to Sinners — Perseverance to the Just — Peace to the Living — and Happiness to the Departed. Through Christ our Mediator — Mary our Intercessor — the Prayers of the Saints— and the Suffrages of the Church. — AMEN. nay proclaim regulated by iUbmissive to rillest, in the t what Tho\i bscTve what ly Will— to Jture Temp- ;e the Chris- a Hatred of r the World, scend to my I i bj Liberal- ion. idence with- Joy without ouragious in rosperity. y Prayers — s — and con- nothing In- mpure — and Examplary ]!herish Thy ation. Heavenly— J itisEterngl. Lidgments— mce to the Departed, ccssor — the urch. —