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diff --git a/35663.txt b/35663.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..45beead --- /dev/null +++ b/35663.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4823 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Two Addresses, by Nicholas Rigby + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Two Addresses + One to the Gentlemen of Whitby and the other, to the Protestant Clergy + +Author: Nicholas Rigby + +Release Date: March 23, 2011 [EBook #35663] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWO ADDRESSES *** + + + + +Produced by Brownfox and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + +TWO ADDRESSES: + +ONE, + +TO THE GENTLEMEN + +OF WHITBY, + +WHO SIGNED THE REQUISITION, CALLING A MEETING +TO ADDRESS THE QUEEN, ON THE LATE (SO +CALLED) AGGRESSION OF THE POPE: + +AND THE OTHER, TO + +THE PROTESTANT CLERGY. + +BY + +The Catholic Priest of Ugthorp. + + "I would you had been there to see + How the light blazed up so gloriously." + + "And then in naked majesty, + With brow serene, and beaming placid light, + Came truth." + +WHITBY: + +PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HORNE AND RICHARDSON: +SOLD BY RICHARDSON & SONS, LONDON AND DERBY. + +ONE SHILLING. + +1851. + + + + +DEDICATION. + + +_The following pages are humbly, and gratefully Dedicated, to the + Catholic Noblemen and Gentlemen of Yorkshire, by the Catholic + Priest at Ugthorp._ + +NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN, + +Many of you, lately appeared boldly, and manfully on the platform at +York, in defence of our holy religion. Conscious of the justice and +innocence of our cause, you feared neither the sneers, nor the insults, +nor the shouts, nor the threats of its enemies, but, like your +illustrious ancestors, shewed that you considered your religion, as your +best inheritance, and held it more dear than life itself; whilst, on the +other hand, like your illustrious ancestors, you shewed that you yielded +_to none_, in _your loyal allegiance_ to your _temporal_ sovereign, and +to the state. Now it would be ungrateful, nay even base, in us Catholic +clergymen, not to second your manly, and zealous exertions in defence of +our ancient, and holy faith. To you, therefore, I most humbly, and +gratefully dedicate the following pages. I hope you will find, that I +have not advanced in them, anything that is inconsistent with the +principles of truth, of justice, and of honour. To have acted otherwise, +would, I am sure (for I have the honour to be personally acquainted with +most of you), be most insulting to your noble, and liberal feelings, and +would only have served, to confirm the hostility of the Protestant, and +to loosen the attachment of the Catholic, to that cause, which I had +undertaken to defend. + +Noblemen, and Gentlemen, when the Catholic looks back on the _past_, he +will learn to hope well of the _future_. He will observe, that the +irritating objections of former times, are now almost shamed out of +Parliament, and can hardly support their credit, even among the most +suspicious, and least informed Protestants. He will see, that our +opponents have uniformly been compelled, to shift their ground from +position to position, and after pertinaciously defending each, have ended +by abandoning _it_, and retreating to _another_. At first, the Catholics +were accused of favouring the claims of the Stuarts, but the extinction +of that family, has put an end to that charge. We were then told, that +the Catholics, could not be bound _by oath_, though _oaths_, had been +wisely devised as the _best safeguards_, against their supposed perfidy. +Next, the fathers of the great Council of Latern, were marshalled against +us; as if men were to be punished at the _present_ day, because +Protestants will not understand the regulations of feudal Princes, and +feudal Prelates _six centuries ago_. Afterwards, we were reproached with +the deposing powers, and temporal pretensions of the Pope; these were set +at rest at _that time_ (and we had hoped _for ever_,) by the answers of +the foreign Universities. Lastly, came the Coronation Oath, men, however, +could not be persuaded that the Sovereign, by promising to maintain the +liberties of the Protestant Church, was bound to deprive of their civil +rights all those, who might dissent from the spiritual creed of that +Church. Each of these arguments in its day, was deemed _unanswerable_, +but _each_ has _yielded to discussion_. _Past_ advantages, therefore, +Noblemen and Gentlemen, are an earnest to the Catholic of _future_ +success; and after the hour of the late excitement, about the Pope's +temporal and spiritual power, has passed away, I am sure, all sensible, +and unbiassed Englishmen will see, that the late hubbub, has been an +_ignus fatuus_ of imaginations distorted with fear, and alarm, which had +well nigh, misled the whole nation, into a quagmire of inconsistency, +illiberality and revolution. + + _Catholic Chapel House, Ugthorp, near Whitby, + January 21st, 1851._ + + + + +TO THE READER. + + +Reader, that you may the better understand the two following addresses, +you ought _first_, to read the copy of the requisition for the meeting, +&c., which is placed before these two addresses, and you ought also, to +read the little address which here follows, and which I published to +announce, that the following pages would shortly appear in print. In the +notice of the requisition for the public meeting, &c., you will find +these words, "extraordinary and presumptuous movement on the part of the +Pope." Now, reader, you must remember, that these memorable words are my +grand text, in the two following addresses. I here beg to offer my +sincere thanks to the gentlemen, who signed the requisition, for I am +sure, if they had studied from the deluge until now, they could not have +given me, a more suitable text for the Catholic cause, and a more +destructive one to the Protestant Church. But, reader, you will be able +to judge of this yourself, after reading the following pages. Read first +then, the following little address, and then read the notice calling the +public meeting. + + * * * * * + +_In the press, and in the course of a few weeks will be published, an + Address to the Gentlemen who signed the late Requisition to the + Magistrates of Whitby, to call a Public Meeting to address the + Queen on the late extraordinary and presumptuous movement on the + part of the Bishop of Rome._ + +TO THE INHABITANTS OF WHITBY AND OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. + +INHABITANTS, + +I have been lately often asked, why I did not attend the above meeting? I +reply, read my address when it is published, and you will there find an +answer to your question. It is a common observation of sailors, "only +give the ship plenty of sea-room in a storm, and then she will live." +Now, inhabitants of Whitby, and of the neighbourhood, if you will give +the Catholic Church (or, if you please, the Roman Catholic Church) only +the sea-room of fair play, you will, perhaps, find that the bottom and +sides of this spiritual ship, are well coppered with the solid, and +impenetrable metal of good reasons, and solid arguments, and that, full +rigged as she is, with the sails of truth, of justice, and of honour, she +can gallantly brave the hurricanes of her enemies, and ride triumphantly, +amid the storms of spiritual and temporal agitation, which have lately +threatened to shipwreck, and to sink her. + +When my address appears, I hope you will find in it, nothing that is +inconsistent with principles of truth, of justice, and of honour. To have +used any other weapons of defence would, in my humble opinion, have +served only to strengthen the Protestant hostility, and to loosen the +Catholic attachment, to that cause, which I had undertaken to defend. +You will, of course, expect a little of the comic, as coming from my pen, +well, as the poet says, + + Ridentum dicere verum + Quid vetat? + +Or, that I may not speak in a foreign tongue, "What forbids us to tell +the truth, with a smile?" + +Of course you will perhaps expect a little innocent stir, among the +Reverends in my address, and _perhaps_, you may not be mistaken. If you +remember, an _illuminated_ Cambridge Divine, some years ago, came to +Lythe, to make an "extraordinary and presumptuous movement" on the +consciences of us Romanists, (as he politely styled us), and learnedly +informed us, that we Romanists, were a set of spiritual chickens just +hatching, and that he came to break our spiritual shells, that he might +save the young birds, from being thrown into the scorching flames of +Purgatory in the next world, but while the courteous Clerk, was +performing this charitable office, to the benighted Romanists, _he_, +_himself_, unfortunately, even in this world, fell into the flames of +purgatory, which on this side the grave are made to burn, for those who +bear false witness, against their neighbour; and it is generally +believed, that he has never as yet been able to raise, from public +opinion, as much money as will free him, from those torturing purgatorial +flames. Oh, but you will naturally say, this is an old song, what has it +to do with the present subject? Why, it has a great deal to do with it. +Certain Reverends have been lately telling you, that the Pope of Rome, +has just made a most "extraordinary and presumptuous movement," on the +Protestants of England. Now you will perhaps find, from my Address, when +published, that even _these_ very Reverends themselves have been making, +for a long time, a most "extraordinary and presumptuous movement" on the +pockets and on the intellects of Englishmen; and have thus, like the +_illuminated_ Cambridge divine, unfortunately fallen into the very pit, +which they have been so very charitably, and officiously digging for the +_poor_ Pope. + +Sensible Englishmen, when these Reverends, would uncharitably excite you +against your long much injured, and unjustly abused Catholic fellow +creatures, just say to them, "Reverend gentlemen, you tell us that the +Scripture (the book of eternal life and of truth), teaches CHARITY TO ALL +MEN! why, therefore, should you wish us to exclude the _Catholics_ from a +share of that _universal_ Charity?" And in the next place tell them, "the +Pope and all his spiritual crew are either from God or not: if they are +not from God, all their human, and popish inventions will come of +themselves to naught, and why, therefore, should you wish us Protestants, +to break our charitable heads about _them_. But if they are from God, how +can either you or we fight against them, unless you arrogantly presume, +that you can conquer the Almighty! At least, so teaches the sacred +Scripture, for does it not thus plainly, and emphatically say, 'And now +therefore I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone, for +if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught; but if it +be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to +fight against God.'" (Acts v. 38, 39.) + +As I have been obliged to range in my address, over an extensive +_spiritual_ and _temporal_ moor, and as I have had to bring down, and bag +so much black game, of course my Address, will be of rather an extensive +nature. It is, indeed, now in the press, but of course its appearance +will, in some measure, depend upon the expedition of the printer, but I +will promise you, that it shall be got out of the printer's hands _as +soon as possible_, and then, it must appeal to the judgments of sensible +and unbiassed minds, as to its merits, and demerits. In the mean time, as +Englishmen always wish to know the text, I will give you the two texts, +which I have chosen for the titlepage of my Address. + + "I would you had been there to see + How the light blazed up so gloriously." + + "And then in naked Majesty, + With brow serene, and beaming placid light, + Came truth." + +Inhabitants, in conclusion, I confidently appeal to you, if you ever knew +me do an ungenteel act to any Protestant in point of religion. I have +always wished equal rights and equal justice for all, both for +Protestants and Dissenters; I have always wished to live in peace and +charity with all; in short, I have always endeavoured to observe, as far +as my human weakness would allow, that heavenly precept of our divine +Saviour, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have +love for one another;" and I can confidently appeal to the public, if +this has not always been the tenor of my conduct. I assure you, that it +is very contrary to my wishes, to have to appear before you, with my pen +on these occasions. Among the Protestants I have many sincere friends, +and of course, what I shall have to advance in my Address, may not be +very agreeable to their feelings. But as I really know, and +conscientiously believe, that the Church, of which I have the honour to +be a minister, is really the true Church of Christ, to shrink from its +defence for the sake of private feelings, and private interests, would, +in my ideas, be a most base and an unchristian act on my part. I exclaim +with the poet, + + "A day, an hour of virtuous liberty, + Is worth a whole eternity in bondage." + +Farewell, inhabitants, for the present, and if, when my Address appears +before the public, you would like to have a little _innocent_ merriment, +and to hear some plain homely truths, I hope you will not be disappointed +if you purchase my Address. + + _Catholic Chapel, Ugthorp, Dec. 21st, 1850._ + + + + +COPY OF A NOTICE + + +_To the Worshipful the Magistrates for the Division of Whitby, in the +North Riding of the County of York._ + + We, the undersigned Inhabitants of the Town and Neighbourhood + of Whitby, feeling deeply the propriety of presenting an + address to Her Majesty, on the late extraordinary and + presumptuous movement on the part of the Bishop of Rome, and + expressive of our loyalty and attachment to Her Majesty's + person, authority, and government, do request that you will be + pleased to convene a Meeting for these purposes, to be held at + an early day, in some convenient place in the town of Whitby. + + Dated, November 21st, 1850. + + James Davidson, Minister, + John Fox, Minister, + Joseph Hughes, Minister, + Francis Simpson, + John Cass Potter, Independent + Minister, + Henry Belcher, + William John Bullivant, Wesleyan + Minister, + Thomas William Belcher, + Thomas Richardson, + John Blanchard, + Appleton Stephenson, + James Walker, + John Chapman, + G. H. Holtby, + Gideon Smales, + William Jameson, + Henry Barrick, + Henry Simpson, + John Brewster, + John Rickinson, + George Clarkson, + James Wilkinson, } + Charles Fisher, }Churchwardens + William Frankland,} + Thomas Broderick Simpson, + Henry Simpson, + William Cavalier, + John Corner, jun. + James Brown, + Charles Prudom, + John Brown Nicholson, + R. M. Woodwark, + William Taylor, + Francis Kildale Robinson, + Robert Kirby, + Robert Swales, + John Green, + Charles Bartindale, + William Clarkson, + John Gaskell, + William Frankland, jun. + + We, the undersigned Magistrates, present at a Petty Session, + held at the Justice Room, Whitby, this 23rd day of November, + 1850, do hereby give notice, that a Public Meeting of the + Inhabitants of the Town and Neighbourhood of Whitby, will be + held, in compliance with the above Requisition, in the Town + Hall, at Whitby, on Thursday, the 28th instant, at Twelve + o'clock at noon. + + JOHN CHAPMAN, + CHRISTOPHER RICHARDSON, New Buildings. + + + + +THE ADDRESS. + + +GENTLEMEN, + +The copy of a notice on the preceding page, shows that you thought proper +to call a public meeting, for the purposes expressed in that bill. Now do +not suppose for one moment, that I wish to question either the right, or +the propriety of calling such a meeting. If our Protestant countrymen +choose to call, and hold meetings for the purpose of expressing their +sentiments on any public question, they have certainly, a right to do so, +and also a right to the free expression of their sentiments on those +occasions. But, gentlemen, have not _we Catholics_ also an _equal_ right, +to express _our_ sentiments on those subjects. That a regular opposition +to the Catholics, has been lately organized, must be evident to the most +inattentive observer. The clergy, and the head of the government, have +been placed in the front of the battle, and with cry of danger to the +_Church_, has been coupled that of danger to the _Constitution_. In aid +of these efforts, the press also, has been put in requisition, and the +labours of anti-catholic journalists, and the diffusion of anti-catholic +tracts, published in every shape, and adapted to every understanding, +bear ample testimony to the zeal, and activity of those, who assume the +lead in this anti-catholic crusade. We are doomed to hear daily, our +religion traduced, our spiritual but illustrious Head, bespattered with +the most vile abuse, our civil liberty menaced, our Clergy threatened +with pains, and penalties, our most sacred rites most contumaciously +designated by the first minister of the Crown as mummeries, and the Lord +High Chancellor vaunting his readiness to trample, on the mitres of our +bishops. Gentlemen, I think it cannot be expected that we Catholics, +should remain _silent_, and humble our heads before this whirlwind of +Protestant intolerance, and that, imitating the stupidity of the Ostrich, +we should endeavour to escape our hunters, by concealing our heads. But, +gentlemen, you may perhaps ask, why did you not attend our public +meeting? I reply, I did not hear of your meeting until a day after it had +been held, but if I had _heard_ of it _before_, I should not have +attended for the following reasons. Meetings that are convened by one +party, are generally _packed_ meetings, called under the excitement of +the moment, and the audience in general are unwilling to listen to fair +play, or to the arguments of their opponents. This was evident from your +meeting, for had it not been for the honest, and liberal conduct of your +chairman, Christopher Richardson, Esq., Mr. Taylerson, though not a +Catholic, would not have obtained a hearing, and how were his sensible +questions answered? By shouts, and hisses. But, gentlemen, I have another +reason for not attending. Each nation, like each individual, has a +certain character, and temperament. Now, whoever will deliberately +consider the character, and temperament of Englishmen, will find, that +when they are once roused, and excited, they are then unwilling to +listen, either to reason or argumentation, but let the heat of excitement +pass away, and let the cooler moments of reflection return, and _then_, +you may appeal to them with propriety, and advantage. It is very +imprudent and foolish for a wife to expostulate, and argue with her +drunken husband, but let the moments of sobriety return, and then, her +reasonable, and prudent expostulations, may be attended with salutary +effects. For these reasons, gentlemen, I did not attend your public +meeting. + +But you will say, why do you address us in particular? Why, gentlemen, I +cannot for a moment suppose that when you are cool, and unexcited, you +are so wedded to your own opinions, and so deaf to the claims of fair +play, as to be unwilling to listen to the arguments of the _accused_. +Surely you do not wish to trample down the accused, _unheard!_ If you do, +I really think it is a very "extraordinary, and presumptuous movement" on +your part, and I am sure every sensible and honest Englishman will think +the same. + +Well, then, gentlemen, let us now come to the point in question. I begin +by asking the very sensible, and rational question, which Mr. Taylerson +put to your meeting. What aggression have the Pope and Dr. Wiseman +committed? What English Law have they transgressed? If any, why not let +the law be calmly and quietly enforced against them? But if they have +broken no law, why all this fury, and tirade against them as if they had? +Oh, but, replied a certain influential gentleman, at your meeting, "If +there is not a law, there must be one made." I answer, that the principle +of self-defence will, in cases of real danger, authorize the adoption of +lawful precautions, I am not disposed to deny; but, then, those +precautions must be founded _on equity_; they must be such as _reason_ +will justify, or _necessity_ excuse. You are not to invade the rights or +privileges of others, on the _bare suspicion_ of _future_ danger or the +_mere_ possibility of a possibility. You are not to cane a man at +Lady-day, because he may affront you at Midsummer. If you think the +contrary, I must, gentlemen, candidly tell you, it is a very +"extraordinary, and presumptuous movement" on your part, against the +rights and privileges of your fellow creatures, and if any Magistrate, +were to advance such extraordinary opinions, in a court of justice, I +feel confident, every sensible and honest Englishman would deeply feel +the propriety, of presenting an address to Her Majesty, or to Her +Ministers, on so "extraordinary, and presumptuous a movement" on the part +of that Magistrate, against the rights and privileges of Her Majesty's +subjects. + +Gentlemen, before we proceed any further, I think it requisite to call +your attention to two points. First, that your _Protestant_ ancestors, +_really_ did to our _Catholic_ ancestors, what you now merely _fancy_, +without any grounds, that the _Catholics_ of the present day, are wishful +to do _to you_. Now, upon this point, I shall thus argue: Your Protestant +ancestors did these things either _justly_, or _unjustly_ to our Catholic +ancestors. If your Protestant ancestors did these things _justly_, why +should you Protestants make such a row, at the _mere shadow_ of these +things being done again? But if your Protestant ancestors, did these +things _unjustly_, then you must acknowledge, that the Church of England, +owes its first foundation to acts of injustice. The second point which I +wish to settle, before I proceed any further, is that the spiritual +members of the Church of Rome, have the most just, and the only claim, to +the honourable name of Catholic. Let us now hasten to the first of these +points. + +Gentlemen, the following facts, as _historical_ facts, are _undeniable_, +and whoever has the temerity to deny them as _historical_ facts, I +certainly envy not his knowledge of, nor his veracity for, historical +testimony. MARK WELL, I am not going to talk about the soundness, or +unsoundness of the following opinions, but I merely wish you to bear it +in mind, that it is an _indisputable historical_ fact, that these +opinions were really, and conscientiously believed by the Christian world +in former ages. Well, then, the following are undeniable historical +facts: That, in former ages, the Christian world believed that the +Catholic Church, was the first Christian Church, and began with our +Saviour, that St. Peter was appointed, by divine authority, to be the +Head of this Church, that the Popes of Rome were the true successors of +St. Peter, by divine authority, and that they were always considered, the +one Shepherd, to whom all Christendom owed spiritual obedience. All +Christendom, in former ages, with here and there an exception, held these +opinions, and when the Christian religion, was introduced into England +(which was effectually done about six hundred years after our Saviour), +these opinions prevailed in England, as well as in all other Christian +countries. The Pope was the Spiritual Head of the Church here, as well as +in all the Christian world. He exercised His Spiritual authority, without +any co-partnership with, or dependence upon the State. The Catholic +Church then also claimed to hold its possessions in the most independent +manner, it claimed a prescriptive right to all its possessions; in short, +it claimed to hold these possessions as firmly, and as justly, as a man +claims the rightful possession of his life, and his free will. Now, mark +well, I am not talking, as I just now observed, about the soundness or +unsoundness of these opinions, all that I am contending for at present, +is, that it is an indisputable historical fact, that these opinions +_then_ prevailed in all Christian countries, and that they prevailed in +England, for at least nine hundred years, for England was, at the very +least, nine hundred years a Catholic nation. During the prevalence of +these opinions in England, arose churches, parishes, cathedrals, and +bishops' sees, monasteries, and many of our universities, and colleges, +_then_ Catholic, but _now_ Protestant. + +Now, it is an historical fact recorded in the English Statute Book, that +your Protestant ancestors took from the Pope, his spiritual power in +England (for he never had any temporal power here, as these pages will +shortly prove to you), and your Protestant ancestors took from the +Catholics all the rich possessions which belonged, in their estimation, +by the strongest titles, to the Catholic Church; and, _mind_, they did +this after the Pope had exercised his spiritual power in England, for at +least nine hundred years, and after the Catholics had held this church +property for at least nine hundred years. But, oh, you will reply, our +Protestant ancestors did this by Act of Parliament! I grant it, and +surely you will not think it unjust in me, to judge you now by your own +acknowledgments. Now, your Protestant ancestors did this _justly_, or +_unjustly_. If they did it _justly_, by act of Parliament, why cannot the +same thing be done again _justly_, by Act of Parliament? Divide the +population of England into two parts, and if you number accurately, you +will find, that the Catholics and the Dissenters form, in my humble +opinion, the greater half. Should, therefore, the Catholics and +Dissenters, obtain an Act of Parliament, to take this church property +from you Protestants, what reasonable arguments could you advance against +it? Turn the question up, or down, you could not possibly escape. If you +allege that you have had possession for three hundred years, the +Catholics and Dissenters will reply, the Catholics had held it for at +least nine hundred years. If you argue it was given by Act of Parliament +to your Protestant Church, the Catholics and Dissenters will reply, the +Catholics held it, by the sanction of Government, for nine hundred years +at least. In short, turn the argument as you please, you are in a +_regular fix_. Oh, what a powerful, and unanswerable argument, have you +forced me to put into the mouths of the Dissenters, against _your_ church +property, even if you got it justly! Allow me then to ask you, why all +this tirade and fury about the _mere fancy_ of a thing being done to you, +which you assert, your ancestors did _justly_ to the Catholics. But if +you took this property _unjustly_ from the Catholics, then it is as plain +as the noon-day sun, that the Protestant Church, was first founded upon +acts of _injustice_. + +But some will perhaps imagine, we really wish to take the church property +from the Protestants. In the Catholic times of England, the church +property was divided into three parts, one was for the support of the +clergy, another was for the repair of the churches, and the third was for +the support of the poor, and this third was always administered to the +poor with the most scrupulous exactness.[A] Hence, among all the +barefaced calumnies, which have been uttered against the Catholics, even +her bitterest enemies, could never say that she was unjust to the poor. +But the Protestant _reformed_ Church thought it would be the least +trouble, to put these _three parts_ into _one whole_ sum, and apply the +_whole_ of that sum to _themselves_, and then, leave the nation to supply +the other two parts, by _Church rates_, and _Poor rates_. Now, let the +Protestant Church, only give back to the poor, that part which she +unjustly took from them, and as for the rest, I can only say, God speed +them with it, and long may they enjoy it. + +Some of you gentlemen certainly appear, to be _worthy_ descendents of +your Protestant ancestors, for _they_ took from us our church +possessions, _you_ are now enjoying these church possessions, but not +content with our possessions, you wish to deprive us, even of our _very +name_; for you are endeavouring, by every artifice, to deceive the +people, and make them believe--_you_ and not _we_ are the real Catholics. +You remind me of the words of the Poet, + + "Who steals my purse, steals trash, + 'Twas mine, tis his, and has been slave to thousands; + But he who filches from me my good name, + Robs me of that which not enriches him, but makes me poor indeed." + +You tell the people we Papists are Roman Catholics, but _you_ +Protestants, are the _real_ Catholics. Let us then, take up the +Dictionary, and _see_ what is the real meaning of the word, _Catholic_. +According to the Dictionary, the word (Catholic) means universal. Of +course, then, when the word (Catholic) is applied to a Church, it must +mean the Universal Church. Let us then now see _which_ is the Universal +Christian Church, and then we shall be able to judge, who have the +greatest right to the honourable name of Catholic. The testimony which I +shall cite to prove, that we are the most numerous body of Christians, is +that of Macaulay, a celebrated Protestant historian of the present day, +and whose historical pages have been quoted against us, in many of the +late public meetings, that have been held. Of course, if his testimony is +worthy of belief when _against_, it must also be so when _for_ us. +Speaking of the great body of the Roman Catholic Church, Macaulay says, +"The numbers of her communion are certainly not _fewer_ than 150,000,000, +and it will be difficult to shew that all the other Christian sects +_united_ amount to 120,000,000."[B] (Ed. Rev., Oct. 1840, p. 228.) You +here see, that Macaulay tells you, that the Roman Catholics amount to _at +least_ 150,000,000, whilst all other Christian sects _united_ into one +body, scarcely form 120,000,000. As therefore the Roman Catholics form +the greatest body of Christians, they must be the Universal Church. But +the Dictionary tells us, that the word Catholic means Universal, +therefore the Church of Rome is alone both Universal and Catholic, and +consequently has the most just and only claim to the ancient and +honourable name of Catholic. + +I thought, gentlemen, before we proceeded to the main subjects in +discussion, we had better settle the two above points. For after you had +seen, that your Protestant ancestors had _really_ and _actually_ done to +the Catholics, what you _merely fancy_ the Pope and the Catholics are +wishful at present to do to you, you would not think it _unreasonable_ in +us, to claim your attention, whilst we shewed you the unreasonable +grounds of your _present_ fears and alarms, and that, after you had seen, +that _we_ have the _only_ just claim to the honourable name of +Catholic,[C] you would not be startled, at hearing so often in these +pages, that ancient name applied to the Spiritual members of the Pope in +these realms. + +Let us now, gentlemen, proceed to the subject which has so lately alarmed +you, and many other Englishmen. There is nothing, that shews a man to be +so little, as to bluster, and talk about a subject, which he does not +understand. Now, gentlemen, had you been asked at the meeting, what the +Pope's Bull was? or, what the Catholic Hierarchy meant? what a poser it +would have been to the limbs of the law, or even to the limbs of the +Church, who attended your meeting; for they either understood these +subjects, or they did not. If they really understood them, I am sure +these pages will shew every sensible person, they had no reason to +consider the conduct of the Pope, either "extraordinary or presumptuous," +and if they did not understand them, I really think it a very +"extraordinary and presumptuous movement" on their part, to talk against +their fellow Christians on subjects, of which they were ignorant. Had I +done so, would they not have been tempted to apply to me the words of the +Poet? + + "A shallow brain beyond a serious mask, + An Oracle within an empty cask." + +For your information therefore, I will state in short, what we Catholics +mean by the Hierarchy, and the Pope's Bull. We all know, that good +_temporal_ government, consists in having all the various rights of its +members, properly understood, and justly protected. Thus the Queen, the +Peers, the Commoners, the Magistrates, in short, the higher classes, the +middle classes, and the lower classes, have all their rights properly +defined, and their several interests justly attended to in a good +temporal government. Now reason tells us, that this ought to be the case +in a good _spiritual_ government, and we Catholics maintain, that these +objects are best attained by the means of a spiritual Hierarchy; and, at +the same time we believe, that this spiritual Hierarchy, can be +established only by the spiritual power of the Pope. When the Pope +therefore thinks, that either the number of his spiritual members, or +their spiritual necessities, require the establishment of the Hierarchy, +in any part of the world, he issues his spiritual Bull, or decrees to +that effect; and all the Archbishops, and Bishops, and Clergy, and laity, +to whom this spiritual government is extended, receive it as a spiritual +boon, and fully understand and believe, that it has regard _only_ to +_spiritual_ matters. They all know, and believe, that it has nothing to +do with any _temporal_ matters whatever, in any shape or form, directly +or indirectly, and if any person, after this explanation, was so impudent +as to maintain, that the Hierarchy, or the Pope's Bull, had any reference +to any _temporal_ matters, either directly, or indirectly, affecting the +_temporal_ power of Her Majesty, over Her Catholic subjects, and the +_temporal_ allegiance which they owe to Her Majesty, my loyalty for our +gracious Queen, and my feelings of honour, would tempt me to address him +in the words of the Poet, + + "A lie, an odious lie, + Upon my word, a lie, a wicked lie." + +Gentlemen, after this short explanation of the Hierarchy, and of the +Pope's Bull, I appeal to you as free-born Englishmen, whether there can +be any English law, or statute against it? If there be, where is our +vaunted boast, of "liberty of conscience _to all_?" Now MARK, whether +there be any law in the Statute Book against it, I do not pretend to have +sufficient of the lawyer in me to determine, but _this_, I will shew you, +that the acts of the Pope, in establishing the spiritual Hierarchy in +this kingdom, by his Bull, or spiritual decrees, are in keeping with the +spirit, upon which the English law has acted during these late years. + +By the spirit of the English law, we, Catholics, are allowed to maintain +the Pope's supremacy in ecclesiastical, and religious matters; we are +also allowed to be governed by Catholic Bishops, and of course, we are +allowed to be governed by them, according to the proper and perfect form +of Episcopal government, and there is no English law, to prevent these +Catholic Bishops from taking the titles of any place, provided they are +not titles of places, held by the Anglican Hierarchy. Now, these +conditions have been observed, in the late establishment of the Catholic +Hierarchy in these realms. + +And that it is in keeping with the spirit of the English Law, Lord John +Russell's own words, will convince you. In the House of Commons, August +6th, 1846, he said, "There is another offence of introducing a Bull of +the Pope into the country, the question is, whether it is desirable to +keep up that, or any other penalty, for such an offence. It does appear +to me, that we cannot possibly attempt, to prevent the introduction of +the Pope's Bulls into this country. There are certain Bulls of the Pope, +which are _absolutely necessary_, for the appointment of Bishops and +Pastors, belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. It would be quite +_impossible_, to prevent the introduction of such Bulls." (Hansard, vol. +lxxxviii., p. 362.) Again, what said Lord Lyndhurst, speaking, in the +House of Lords. "You tolerate the Catholic Prelates, and you know, that +these Prelates cannot carry on, their Church Establishment, without +holding communication with the Pope of Rome. If the laws allow the +doctrine, and discipline of the Roman Catholic Church, it (the Roman +Catholic Church) ought to be permitted, to be carried on _perfectly_ and +_properly_." (Hansard, vol. lxxxv., p. 1261.) So you see, that this Noble +Lord proclaims, that to pretend to _tolerate_ the Catholic Religion as we +do; and _yet_, _prevent_ the Catholics from holding _free_ communication +with the Pope, would be a mere nullity. The Catholics, says he, should be +allowed to carry out the organization of their Church _perfectly_ and +_properly_. Now, _this_ cannot be done without the _Hierarchy_. +Accordingly, all the penal laws in question were, then and there, torn +from the statute book. + +Also Joseph Hume, Esq., who may be justly styled, the father of the +present House of Commons, and who, in that House, has been so long the +promoter, the pillar, and the bulwark of civil and religious liberty, +honourably, and openly, tells the world, that the Pope is warranted, in +all he has done, by the proceedings of Sir Robert Peel's government. +These are the words of the noble champion of civil and religious +liberty--"Your view of the subject, will be adopted as soon as the +thinking part of the public, get their eyes opened to the real merits of +the alleged innovation. I say alleged, because Mr. C. C. Grenville has +shewn, that the Pope is warranted in all he has done, by the proceedings +of Sir Robert Peel's government, which were not at the time objected to +by any person, except by Sir Robert Inglis, and his limited +class."--(Joseph Hume, to the Editor of the _Hull Advertiser_, Nov. 18th, +1850.) + +There was a time, when the Protestant Bishops were excluded, for some +time, from the House of Lords. In 1661, a motion was made to restore +these Protestant Prelates to their seats, and _mind_, six and twenty +Catholic Peers voted in favour of these Protestant Bishops. But such is +the illiberality of the present time, that now, the Catholics find the +most determined and eager opposition on the Bishop's bench. There are, +however, exceptions; few, indeed, but on that account, more entitled to +our gratitude. Long will the name of the late Bishop of Norwich, be +cherished in the remembrance of every sincere Catholic. And happy am I to +observe, another Protestant Prelate, willing to walk in his charitable +footsteps. I mean the sensible, the pious, and the learned present +Protestant Bishop of St. Davids. This illustrious Protestant Prelate, +liberally and candidly, told the Archbishop of Canterbury, that in his +humble opinion, "the provision cited from the Act of Elizabeth, has been +virtually repealed by the Roman Catholic Relief Act * * * * And it was +equally set 'at defiance,' by the appointment of Vicars Apostolic, who +have so long exercised their functions without complaint or molestation. +And it seems unreasonable, to charge the Pope with defying a law which, +has been so long permitted to sleep." For these and other reasons, this +most liberal minded Protestant Prelate, lately refused to sign the +address of the other Protestant Bishops to the Queen. (Bishop of St. +Davids to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Nov. 26th, 1850.) Well I cannot +but gratefully, address this generous Prelate in the words of the poet-- + + ----"I quit you now, + But peradventure I may come again! + Your bounteous kindness ne'er shall be forgot, + While beats this warm heart within my bosom." + +Certainly, you will say, these are high, and weighty authorities on the +Catholic side, and clearly demonstrate, that there can be nothing wrong, +on the Pope's sending his _Bulls_, into _this_ country. But, perhaps, the +_greatest_ grievance lies in _this_, that the _Catholic_ Bishops, have +assumed _English_ titles, calling themselves Bishops of Hexham, of +Beverley, &c. _This_, you hear it said, is _contrary to all_ law and +decency. Now, _mark_, gentlemen, how soon I shall prove to you, that it +is neither against law, nor decency. I observe that the law as it regards +Catholics, _forbids only one_ thing, it forbids _Catholic_ Bishops, to +assume the titles of _Protestant_ sees. Thus it forbids us, to have an +Archbishop of _Canterbury_, or a Bishop of _London_, of _Durham_, &c. And +why so? Because there are _Protestant_ Bishops of _these_ places. But it +_manifestly_ allows us to take the titles of _those_ places, in which, +there are no Protestant Bishops. For, if the law meant, to exclude us +from _all_ places and _all_ titles _whatsoever_, why did it _not say so_? +But, it says _no such_ thing. It excludes us _only_ from places where +there are _Protestant_ Bishops. Well, this restrictive law, the _only_ +law, that there is upon the question, has been most _scrupulously_ +observed in _every_ instance by the Catholics. Not _one_ of their +Bishops, has assumed the title of any _Protestant_ see. For who ever +heard of a _Protestant_ Bishop of Hexham, of Beverley, or of Liverpool. +How then can it be contrary to law? But I have yet, more to say on this +subject. Lord John Russell is an advocate for the repeal of _even_ this +_restrictive_ law, which he considers, an absurdity in a land of +religious liberty. Nay, he considers it _childish_ to hold the Catholics +under such restrictions. "I believe," said he (in July 19th, 1845, +speaking in the House of Commons,) "I believe we may repeal, those +insulting clauses, which prevent a Roman Catholic assuming a title held, +by a Bishop of the Established Church. I can conceive _no good_ grounds, +for the continuance of this restriction." (Hansard, vol. lxxxii., p. +290.) And again on February 5, 1846, "as to preventing persons assuming +_particular_ titles, nothing can be more _absurd_ and _puerile_, than to +keep up _such_ a distinction." (Hansard, vol. lxxxiii., p. 502.) Now, +gentlemen, _this_ was spoken in the _House of Commons_, and by the +_first_ Minister of the Crown. You see, _he_ vindicates for the +Catholics, _greater_ liberty than _they_ have either _exercised_, or +_demanded_; the liberty to have Catholic Bishops, _side_ by _side_, with +the _Protestant_ Bishops _throughout_ the land. And yet, let me ask, did +the then Member for _Whitby_, or indeed _any_, of the thirty and more +members, who represent this great county of York, raise a _voice_ against +_these_ opinions and views? Did they cry out, that _this_, would be _an +innovation_ of the _Royal_ prerogative, and an _encroachment_ upon the +_spiritual_, or _civil_ liberties of this realm. No, _not they_, not +_one_ of them. Both the _Parliament_ and the _Public_ heard _all_ this, +either with _approbation_, or with _indifference_. Judge, then, with what +scorn the Catholics, hear themselves charged with insidiousness, and +aggression. Insidiousness! Why, the leaders of the two great portions, in +the state (for who stood _higher_ with the _Tories_ than _Lord +Lyndhurst_, and among the _Whigs_, than _Lord John Russell_), and yet, +these _two_ leaders, _actually_ encouraged, and invited the Catholics _to +do_, what they _have_ done. I repeat, they not only claimed for the +Catholics the _right to do_ them, but _encouraged_ them _to do_ them. +After the Catholics had _thus_ been encouraged, and backed by two of the +first leaders, _one_ of the Whigs, and _one_ of the _Tories_, after they +had received the sanction of the _public_ by its silence, or indifference +on these points, the Catholics at last received the Hierarchy from the +Pope's hands; when lo! Lord John Russell, immediately writes a flaming +philippic on the subject, suddenly and unjustly rouses the indignation of +the people; and the Protestant clergy immediately head the crusade +against the Catholics, for _doing_, what they had been encouraged, and +invited _to do_ by two of the first ministers of the land, and _for +doing_, what the English _public_ had _already_ sanctioned, by its +silence, or by its indifference. Really, gentlemen, was not this a "most +extraordinary and presumptuous movement" on the _rights_ of your Catholic +fellow subjects? And, _this_, in the _nineteenth_ century, when the march +of intellect, and of civil, and religious liberty, have been making such +rapid progress in the British Empire. But what have I to say to Lord John +Russell's late letter? I answer, it is not _my_ business to reconcile +Lord John Russell's _former_ declarations, with _his present late_ +proceedings, they are as _marvellous_ and _unaccountable_ in the _eyes_ +of the _public_, as they are in _mine_. He will shortly have to give an +account of his stewardship, before the Parliament, in whose _presence_, +he made the _declarations_, which I have _quoted_. If he _means_ to +continue a _Champion_ of _civil_ and _religious_ liberty, he must +_retrace_ his steps--but if he chooses to _abandon_ the _sacred_ cause, +_then_, he will dwindle into a _most insignificant_, and _contemptible_ +statesman: and will not be _permitted long to direct_ the government of a +_free_ and _liberal_ people. + +Thus you see, gentlemen, that the words of Lord John Russell, and of Lord +Lyndhurst, the opinion of Joseph Hume, Esq., and that of the learned +Protestant Bishop of St. Davids, plainly shew, that the late acts of the +Pope, have been in keeping, with the present spirit of the English law. + +Hence in Ireland, the Catholic Hierarchy, has not only been recognised, +but royally honoured; and the same form of Ecclesiastical Government, has +been gradually extended, to the greater part of our Colonies. Australia +was the first, which obtained this spiritual advantage, and this was +_openly_ done, and was _publicly_ known, and yet, no remonstrance was +ever made against it. The Catholic Prelates of Australia, in every +document, are addressed by their titles, and are acknowledged, and +salaried, as Archbishops and Bishops, respectively, and this not by one, +but by successive English governments. Our North American possessions, +were the next, to receive this spiritual government, Kingston, Byetown, +Toronto, and Halifax, have been erected into dioceses by the Holy See, +and the titles of their respective Bishops, are acknowledged by their +local governments. The Holy See, has also formed a new ecclesiastical +province in the West Indies, where several Vicars Apostolic, have been +appointed with titles, and with all the spiritual powers, allowed by the +Hierarchy. Now, gentlemen, if the Catholics of _Ireland_, and the +Catholics of our _English_ Colonies, are thus allowed by Government, to +enjoy the spiritual benefits of the Hierarchy, do you not think it +unreasonable, that the Catholics _of England_, should be refused the same +spiritual blessings? Do not the Dissenters also, enjoy in England, the +free exercise of _their_ spiritual powers? Dr. Dillon, assumed the power, +and ordained, what he called Presbyters, and no Englishman thought +proper, to call him to account, for assuming those spiritual powers. The +Moravians, and the Irvinites or the Apostolicals, have their Bishops in +England, and yet, they are not taxed with illegality. The Scotch Kirk, +the Baptists, the Methodists, the Quakers, the Independents, the +Presbyterians, and all other Dissenters, appoint their Ministers for +themselves, and mark the limits of the separate districts, in which they +are to exercise their spiritual authority, and yet, no one has the +presumption, to question the legality of their exercising such authority +in England. If therefore, all these various dissenting sects are allowed +these spiritual privileges, why should the English free-born Catholics, +be debarred from them? + +Her present Majesty was advised to erect, and did erect, (5 Vic. cap. 6.) +a Bishopric of Jerusalem, and assigned to it a diocese, in which the +three great Patriarchates of Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria, were +formed into one See, which had episcopal jurisdiction over Syria, +Chaldea, Egypt, and Abyssinia, and subject to further limitations, or +alterations at the Royal Will. Now do any of these possessions belong to +Her Majesty? No. But you may reply, there are in some, and may be in +others, British Protestants, and therefore, the Queen thought proper, to +extend Her spiritual blessings to them. Granted. Why therefore, has not +the Pope, an equal right to extend _his_ spiritual blessings to the +Catholics of England? It is plain then, that the Irish Catholics, and the +Catholics of many of our Colonies, are allowed to exercise _their_ +spiritual rights unmolested, it is plain that all other dissenting sects, +are allowed to enjoy in England the same spiritual privileges, and it is +plain likewise, that the Queen assumes and exercises abroad, in the most +independent manner, Her spiritual powers, tell me then, in the name of +common sense, by what law, either human, or divine, you wish to deprive +the English Catholics of the free exercise of _their_ spiritual rights? + +Oh, but you will object, "the Pope has assumed a right over us +Protestants, he has parcelled out the land of England, he has named +Archbishops and Bishops, and appointed them to rule over _us_, whom he +impudently styles heretics." To this objection, gentlemen, I reply, Do +the Catholics in England acknowledge the Queen's supremacy in _spiritual_ +matters? Do the Dissenters of England acknowledge Her supremacy in +_spiritual_ matters? No. Now divide the English population into two +parts, and if you calculate accurately, you will find, that the greater +half of the English population, consists of Catholics and Dissenters, who +do not acknowledge the Queen's _spiritual_ supremacy. But when the Queen +issues Her Spiritual Instruments, or if you please, Bulls, does she not +parcel out the land of England? Does she not name Archbishops, and +Bishops, and _apparently_ appoint them to rule over _us Catholics_ and +_Dissenters_, in short, does _She_ not in those Spiritual Instruments, or +Bulls, _apparently_ assume over _us_ Catholics and Dissenters, the very +same spiritual power, which the Pope appears to assume, in His Bulls, +over Protestant Englishmen? But do you ever hear of us Catholics, or +Dissenters, styling this an extraordinary movement on the part of the +Queen? No. Because we have the common sense to know, that such parcelling +out of the land, and such extension of Her _Spiritual_ Authority to her +Archbishops, and Bishops, regard only the _real_ Protestants of the land, +and that they have no more to do with us and the Dissenters, in a +_spiritual_ point of view, than they have with the inhabitants of Turkey. + +If you would likewise ask some of the limbs of the law, who attended your +meeting, they would inform you, that in Acts of Parliament, that in +deeds, and in the drawing up almost all the various instruments of the +law, there are certain forms, which to _us_ appear most ridiculous, and +outrageous, and if you questioned them on these points, and asked them, +about all this strange rigmarole of words and of phraseology, they would +tell you, it is only a certain necessary form in law, and that although +it may appear strange _to other_ people, still, it is perfectly +understood _by all_, who are versed in the laws of the land.[D] Why +cannot these gentlemen, therefore, have the good sense to extend this +explanation to the Pope's Bull, and then they would find this parcelling +out the land by the Pope's Bull, and this delegation of spiritual power, +of Archbishops, and Bishops, as if extending to Protestants, was a mere +phantom of their own imagination, and that in reality, it regarded +_none_, but the _spiritual_ subjects of the _Pope_ in this kingdom, and +that it did not regard _even them_, only in a _spiritual_, and _not_ in a +_temporal_ point of view, either directly or indirectly. + +I observe, in your public notice for your meeting, two Dissenting +Ministers, put their names to the requisition. Now, although the +Protestant Church may _honour_ these gentlemen, with the name of +_Reverend_, does it consider them to be ministers? It certainly does +not.[E] And I will prove it to you. If these Ministers were to go over to +the _Protestant_ Church, it would ordain them, and by that act, tell them +that _before_, they were mere _phantoms_ of Ministers, and that they had +_never_ had any spiritual power, or jurisdiction whatever. If therefore +the orthodox Protestant gentleman, whose name stands so conspicuously +between these two Dissenting Reverends, were to be asked, why he styled +them Reverends, when his own Church, considers them as mere phantoms of +Ministers, what would he say? Of course he would tell us, it was a mere +matter of courtesy, for he was obliged to agree with his Church, that +they were mere phantoms of Ministers. Now, gentlemen, just apply this to +the Pope's Bull in _your_ regard. You read the Pope's Bull, and +erroneously imagine that the spiritual powers, which it asserts, really +regards (or is to regard) you Protestants. Whereas you ought to consider +it, as a _mere phantom_ of _spiritual_ power in _your_ regard, and I +moreover add, you ought to consider it, as a mere phantom in any +_temporal_ point of view, even as it regards _the Catholics_. Do this, +gentlemen, and then, you will perceive, that the idea of it extending to +_you_ Protestants, either in any _spiritual_, or _temporal_ point of +view, whatever, is a mere chimera of your own imaginations. + +But after all, I know many of you will _still_ urge, that the Pope may +_gradually_ extend his _spiritual_ power over you, and then, by degrees +extend his _temporal_ power over you, until at last, he has completely +established over you his spiritual and temporal domination. Gentlemen, I +will answer this argument shortly indeed, but I hope satisfactorily, and +I feel confident that, unless you are as the poet says, + + "Convince a man against his will, + He'll hold the same opinion still," + +you will be convinced, from what I shall advance, that the above +objection, is another chimera of your own imaginations. + +True and genuine religion, must be founded on the free, and spontaneous +consent of the heart. If therefore, you Protestants ever allow the Pope, +to extend his spiritual power over you, _without_ having _first_ +sincerely, and deliberately considered the _real_ grounds of the Catholic +Faith, and of the Pope's title to spiritual supremacy, and without your +having _first_ given your _free_, and _spontaneous_ consent to them, I +hope you will forgive me, if I politely tell you, I should consider you +as a set of religious donkeys, and that you ought not to be allowed to +_bray_ in this free country. + +But you will object, it will be _you_ Catholics headed by the Pope, that +will make us renounce the _Protestant_, and embrace the _Catholic_ faith. +To this objection I answer. First, the Catholics of England have promised +to maintain, support, and defend, to the utmost of their power, the +succession to the crown. Now, this succession, by an act entitled, "an +act for the further limitation of the crown", is, and stands limited to +the Princess Sophia, Electress, Duchess Dowager of Hanover, and to the +heirs of her Body, _being Protestants_. Such are the very terms of the +oath, which we Catholics have taken; as long therefore, as the +Established Church is secure of having a Protestant Sovereign, it cannot +be in any danger of subversion. + +Secondly. The Irish Catholics have gone still further, and to silence +even the predictions of their enemies, have disclaimed, disavowed, and +solemnly abjured every intention, to subvert the present Church +Establishment, for the purpose of substituting a Catholic Establishment +in its stead, and have solemnly sworn, that they will not exercise any +privilege, to which they are, or may be entitled, to disturb, or weaken +the Protestant religion in that kingdom. + +Thirdly. But I will suppose for a moment, that the Catholics were at last +to determine to perjure themselves, and to violate the promises, to +which they are so solemnly pledged, let us see the obstacles, they would +have to surmount. First, there would be the Sovereign, the head of the +Protestant Church, with the immense patronage of the Crown at her (or +his) disposal; secondly, there would be all the spiritual Peers, and with +the exception of a few Catholics, all the temporal Peers; thirdly, there +would be the great majority in the House of Commons, in proportion to at +least, ten Protestants to one Catholic. Now, by what spirit of magic, are +a _few_ Catholic Peers, to become the _majority_ of the House of Lords, +or is _one_ Catholic Commoner, to outvote _ten_ Protestants. By what +miracle, is the Queen (or King) to abandon the defence of _that_ Church, +of which she (or he) is by conviction a member, and by law, supreme head? +By what manoeuvres, are the Catholics so to blind the confidence of the +Sovereign, as to worm themselves into the possession of all places, of +power, and trust? Before the Catholics can aid the Pope to extend his +temporal or spiritual power over you Protestants, they will have to +surmount all the above obstacles. But by what human power can they ever +surmount the above obstacles? Really, gentlemen, is it not childish to +talk either about Catholics forcing you to become Catholics, or their +wishing to aid the Pope, to extend his spiritual or temporal domination +over you Protestants, with all the above obstacles staring you in the +face. + +But, gentlemen, if on the other hand, you should think proper to +seriously, and conscientiously, examine the _real_ grounds of the +Catholic religion, and if you should think proper, to examine +_seriously_, and _conscientiously_, whether the Pope, is the _real_ +successor of Saint Peter, and of course in that case, the _real_ +spiritual head of Christ's Church, if you should ask yourselves the +reason, why the Catholic Faith, has been the belief of the most +extensive, and enlightened nations of Europe, and of the most illustrious +characters, that ever did honour to the name of man,[F] if upon careful +investigation, you should find that the Catholic Faith, was the faith of +those, who built our Cathedrals, who erected our Universities, who laid +the foundation of our envied Constitution, and who secured the great +charter of our rights at Runnymede, in short, if you should find that the +members of this creed, have in every age, stood forth the champions of +liberty, and at the same time remained faithful worshippers of God, if +after the most careful, and impartial investigation, you should find all +these things to be real, and undeniable facts, _then_ I would address you +in the words, with which St. Paul addressed King Agrippa, "I would to +God, that both in little, and in much, not only thou, but also, all that +hear me this day, should become such as I also am, except these bonds." +(Acts, ch. xxvi., v. 28.) Yes, gentlemen, I repeat it, if after the most +serious, and minute investigation, you should find the above things +_real_, and _undeniable_ facts, _then_, gentlemen, the sincere wish of my +heart would be, that you might all become Catholics, and the _spiritual_ +children of the head of our Church, but, _mind_, without our bonds, that +is, without having to suffer, what our Catholic ancestors had to suffer +for their faith,[G] a faith, which they conscientiously held as their +best inheritance, and which, they held more dear, than life itself. + +I would also address you in the words, in which Gamaliel, a doctor of the +law, addressed the Jewish Council respecting the Apostles, who were +unjustly cast into prison. "And now, therefore, I say to you, refrain +from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel, or this work, be +of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, you cannot overthrow +it, lest perhaps, even you be found to fight against God." (Acts, ch. 5, +v. 38, 39.) Gentlemen, if the Catholic Faith, be an invention of _human_ +counsel, and a work of _human_ policy, rest assured, it will of _itself_ +crumble into nought, but if it be _of God_, and if it be the _will of +God_, that England should return to her ancient faith, you cannot +overthrow it, and you cannot fight against God, for as the wise man says, +"there is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel against +the Lord." (Prov. ch. xxi., v. 30.) + +Gentlemen, I think you must acknowledge, that I have answered, shortly +indeed, but I hope satisfactorily, your objection, as to the Pope's +gradually extending his _spiritual_, and temporal domination over you +Protestants. Gentlemen, I am not aware, that any one at your meeting, was +so uncourteous as to throw in the face of Catholics, either the +Gunpowder, or Oates' plots. Still, you are aware, that it has been done +at _many_ of the late meetings, and in many places of England, to the +injustice of Catholics. Allow me, to solicit your attention, whilst I say +a few words respecting each of these plots, and whilst I show you, it is +most unjust to throw those diabolical plots in the face of Catholics, +either of the present, or of former ages. + +The Guy Fawkes plot, or as it is usually termed, the Gunpowder Plot, is +often sneeringly, and insultingly thrown in the face of Catholics. Now +let it be remembered, that the original conspirators were only eight in +number, that they were also of the most abandoned character, and that +some of them, years before, had abjured the Catholic faith, and let it +also be remembered, that this plot was disclosed even by a Catholic, Lord +Monteagle, and that the Pope in a letter expressed his detestation of it, +and ordered the Catholic clergy, to prevent by all means in their power, +all similar conspiracies, and to exhort the people to patience and +obedience. Now I ask, is it reasonable, that the wicked deeds of these +few and abandoned conspirators, should be thrown in the face of the whole +body of Catholics; as well might you upbraid our Saviour with the crimes +of Judas. The plot was unknown to all good Catholics, they had nothing +whatever to do with it, and it, and all other plotting whatever, were +condemned and forbidden in the most severe manner, by the Clergy and the +Pope. What could Catholics do more? Why, therefore, are the Catholics of +the present times to be condemned for a plot with which they had no more +to do, than the Protestants of the present day? But I will suppose for a +moment, this diabolical plot was concocted by real Catholics. Can it be +unreasonably urged, against the Catholics of the present day? If you +answer, yes, I will then prove that the Ministers who attended your +meeting, were cursers, murderers, and deserters of Christ. For if you ask +each of them, if he is a minister of Christ, he will answer, certainly. +Well, then, one of the Apostles betrayed our Saviour, another by oaths +and curses, denied him, and all deserted him on the night of his passion. +Now, if the above line of argumentation, against Catholics be valid, then +I may conclude, that the Ministers who attended your meeting, were +murderers, cursers, deniers, and deserters of Christ. Really, if I were +to adopt this mode of argumentation against them, you would think, and +justly, the _upper stories_ of my intellect were of a very strange +structure. How can persons, therefore, have the barefacedness to apply +such reasoning to the Catholics of the present day, respecting the +Gunpowder Plot. + +Whoever will read the history of Titus Oates's Plot, will find that it +was concocted against the Catholics, by some of the brightest characters +for rascality, and perjury, and infamy, and cruelty, that the world ever +beheld. Oates' plot consisted in this, that he accused the Catholics, and +Jesuits in particular, of a plot, to murder King Charles the II., (1678), +to transfer the sovereignty of the realm to the Pope, and to extirpate +the Protestant religion from the land. But was not Titus Oates himself a +_Jesuit_, or at least, a _Catholic_? You shall hear who Titus Oates was, +from the _pen_ of _Protestant_ Historians. + +"Oates, the former of this dreadful plot, was himself the most infamous +of mankind. He was the son of an Anabaptist preacher, took orders in the +Church of England, became chaplain on board the fleet, and was dismissed +for some unnatural practices, not fit to be named." (See Hume's History.) +You shall hear too, who his accomplices were; "Bedloe, a man, if +_possible_, more infamous than Oates himself;" (See Hume's History.) And +these were soon backed by others. "A wretch, named Carstairs led the way, +and soon, from all the brothels, gambling houses, and spunging houses of +London, _false witnesses_ poured in, to swear away the lives of Roman +Catholics." (See Macaulay's History of England.) And yet, on the +barefaced testimony, of these abandoned, and infamous wretches, the +Catholic Noblemen and Gentlemen, were, with the exception of the Duke of +York, expelled from their seats in Parliament. Some of them, (although as +innocent of the crimes of which they were accused, as the new-born babe), +were tried, and executed on the false, and contradictory evidence, of +these base wretches. All of them, died protesting their innocence; and +many of them, embraced the opportunity to declare their abhorrence, of +the doctrines so commonly, but so unjustly, attributed to Catholics. +Their speeches at the place of execution, are still on record. (See "A +Remonstrance of Piety and Innocence," 1683. Dodd's History, vol. iii., p. +356.) And if ever a man, may be believed to speak with sincerity, it is +when, in the full possession of his senses, he stands on the brink of +eternity, and expects the next moment, to be presented before an +Omniscient Judge. One of them, Lord Stafford, referred the Peers, at his +trial, for an account of his religious creed, to a small tract, entitled +"Catholic Principles." This small tract has often been printed, and was +then, and is still, considered to convey an accurate notion of the +Catholic faith. Well may Hume say, that "this Popish plot, is an +incident, which, for the credit of the nation, it were better to bury in +eternal oblivion, but which it is necessary to perpetuate, both for the +truth of history, and to warn, if possible, their posterity, and all +mankind, never again to fall into so _shameful_, so _barbarous_ a +_delusion_." (See Hume's History.) And yet Oates was rewarded with +appointments in the Royal Palace, and had L1200 a year assigned him, as +the wages of his iniquity, and Bedloe L500: and Oates was called "the +Saviour of the nation." + +But how did these wretches come off at last? You shall hear again, from +Mr. Macaulay. About seven years later, when the madness, and the delusion +of the people, had passed away, it was resolved, to bring these +wretches, who had spilled so much blood, to their _own_ trial. "Some of +the wretches," (says Macaulay) "were already beyond the reach of justice. +Bedloe had died in his wickedness, without one sign of remorse or shame. +Dugdale had followed him to the grave, driven mad by the furies of an +evil conscience, and with loud shrieks, imploring those, who stood around +his bed, to take away Lord Stafford. (A Catholic Lord, whose life he had +sworn away, seven years ago.) Carstairs, too, was gone. His end, was all +horror, and despair, and with his last breath, he told his attendants to +throw him into a ditch, like a dog, for that he was not fit, to sleep in +Christian burial ground." Mr. Macaulay thus describes Oates' appearance, +at _his_ trial. "A few years earlier, his short neck, his legs uneven, as +those of a badger, his forehead low, as that of a baboon, his purple +cheeks, and monstrous length of chin, had been familiar to all, who +frequented the courts of law. He had been the idol of the nation--men had +uncovered their heads to him, and called him, the deliverer of his +country. They _now shuddered_ at the sight of the _hideous_ features, on +which _villany_ seemed to be written, by the _hand of God_." (See +Macaulay's History of England.) Horrible as were the sufferings of Oates, +they did not equal his crimes. Such, gentlemen, is a short, but true +account of Titus Oates's Plot, and of his abandoned, and perjured +accomplices. And yet, some have the audacity to throw this infamous plot, +in the face of the Catholics, even at the present day. To such I would +say, "you are either ignorant of history, or not; if you are ignorant of +history, it is the part of a simpleton, to talk on subjects which he does +not understand." But if you are acquainted with history, I beg to address +you in the words of the poet-- + + "A moral, sensible, and well bred man, + Will not offend me, and no other can." + +Gentlemen, I now appeal to you, if it is not evident from what I have +advanced in the preceding pages, that the late crusade against Catholics, +has been most unjust, and most cruel. If you will seriously, and coolly, +and impartially consider what has been advanced, you must be convinced, +that all your alarms, and those of many other Englishmen, are mere +chimeras of your own imaginations. But if, to some of you, the above +reasoning does not appear satisfactory, I am sure it will to every +sensible and unbiased Englishman. Englishmen, indeed, like all other +nations, have _their faults_, and _their perfections_. In times of +general excitement, and of public panic, nothing is too absurd, for their +credulity. In the hour of excitement, and of public panic, _pigmies_, +appear _giants_ to them, and _mole-hills_, swell into _mountains_. +Witness the late railway mania. This mania, spread like wildfire, through +the higher, the middle, and even the lower classes, and threw the whole +nation, into a fever of excitement. Before their excited imaginations, +rose the golden dreams of their _six_, and _eight_, and _ten_ per cent., +of railways, as the _best_ and _surest_ investment for their property, in +short, as the easiest and most direct means, of turning their mole-hills +of money into mountains of gold. _In vain_, were Englishmen warned, and +cautioned by _sensible_, and _thinking_ persons, _against_ these _golden_ +prospects of their excited imaginations. Convinced, they either _would +not_, or _could not_ be. But lo! the mighty bubble burst, and then, to +their loss, and sorrow, they both _saw_, and _acknowledged_ the _folly_ +of their former excitement, of their _railway golden dreams_. + +Again, I say, when Englishmen return to their _cooler_ moments, and +_seriously_ reflect, on all the _late hubbub_, about _Pope's Bulls_, and +_Guy Fawkes_, and _Gunpowder Plots_, and _Catholic Mummeries and +Superstitions_, I feel confident, they will verify the words of Dr. +Hughes, the Catholic Prelate of New York, who lately preached in London, +on his way to Rome. "I am sure (says this distinguished Prelate,) that +this great, and liberal nation, (England) _will_, after this _temporary_ +excitement is _over_, _be ashamed_ of their _present_ conduct, and will +be _astonished_, how they could _ever think_, of proposing any steps, +which tended to _abridge_, the _liberty_ of _any_ portion, of their +countrymen, and violate that freedom in religion, which _is their boast_. +The (English) Ministry _cannot_ go _one_ step back, upon the track of +_persecutions_, if they make but _one_ step, in _that_ direction, they +will be _condemned_, by _every liberal_ minded man, and will be looked +upon, with _contempt_ by the _rest_ of the nations of the _world_." (Dr. +Hughes' Sermon. London, December 1st, 1850.) + +Hence we find, that _most_, of the _great_ and _enlightened_ statesmen of +_England_, always _boldly_, and _freely_, advocated the freedom, and +liberties of the _Catholics_. _As long_, as we retain _any_ respect for +genius, and discernment, for Parliamentary eloquence, and political +wisdom, the names of Pitt, and of Fox, of Burke, and of Windham, of +Canning, and of Peel, will stand _foremost_, in the _public_ estimation. +These eminent statesmen, however they might _differ_ on _other_ subjects, +concurred in supporting the _cause_ of the _Catholics_. _Their's_ was the +conviction of _liberal_, and _enlightened_ minds, who forgot the +distinctions of _party_, in their _zeal_, to serve the cause of +_justice_, and of _freedom_. Yes, they _well knew_, that the _British_ +Constitution, was _not_ a constitution of _restraints_, and _penalties_, +that it was _framed_ to preserve the rights of _freemen_, that it was +formed, for the _whole_, not for a _part_, and that it was destined, like +the sun, to shed its benign influence _upon all_. And _hence_, they knew, +that they could not _better_ consult its _prosperity_ and _stability_, +than by fearlessly, and manfully battling, for _equal_ rights, and +_equal_ justice _to all_. + +Gentlemen, I must now beg leave to retire, as my presence is required, in +a _more august_ assembly. You know, your address to the Magistrates for +calling a meeting, &c., was _headed_ by certain Protestant Ministers, and +you know also, that most of their fellow labourers in the vineyard, of +the Protestant Church, have been most _active_, and _zealous_ in the +_late_ crusade against the _Catholics_. Now, to pass over these reverend +gentlemen with _silent_ contempt, would be, in my humble opinion, an act +of great _incivility_, and _disrespect_ on _my_ part; and which, _they_ +might perhaps consider, _a most extraordinary_, and _presumptuous +movement_, on _my_ part; I beg leave, gentlemen, therefore, to adjourn to +this _august_ assembly, and as I shall have to show these reverend +gentlemen, what "an extraordinary and presumptuous movement," _their +Protestant_ Church, has been making, _for a long time_, on the _pockets_, +and on the _intellects_ of Englishmen, I shall be very glad, if you will +accompany me, and see verified the poetical words of my two texts, +annexed to my first _little_ address to you-- + + "I would you had been there to see + How the light blazed up so gloriously." + + "And then in naked majesty, + With brow serene, and beaming placid light, + Came truth." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[A] Lingard's Anglo-Saxon, vol. 1, p. 189, 190. + +[B] Macaulay, tells us, that the number of Roman Catholics is not fewer +than 150,000,000, and that it would be difficult to shew that all the +other Christian sects united, amount, to 120,000,000. I quite agree with +his words, "not fewer," and "it would be difficult to shew;" for upon an +accurate calculation, it would be found that the Catholics amount nearer +to 200,000,000, than to 150,000,000, and that all the other Christian +sects, united into one body, are nearer 100,000,000, than 120,000,000. +However, Macaulay's statement is quite sufficient to prove what we have +cited it for, viz:--that the Roman Catholics are the greatest body of +Christians, and therefore have the best title to the ancient and +honourable name of Catholic. + +[C] In the Apostle's Creed, _we all_ profess to believe in the _Holy +Catholic_ Church. Now, if this is not _our_ Church, I would ask, what +Church _is it_? Is it the collection of sects which have sprung from the +Reformation? But, then, it would not be _Catholic_, for as they are the +smaller number, they cannot claim universality. Is it the Theological +hodge-podge, the farrago of all the religions, which believe in the +Gospel? Then it cannot be _Holy_, for we should form the _principal_ part +of it, and you know, the immaculate Church of England tells us, our +doctrines are idolatrous. I really think, people had better leave us in +the _quiet_ possession of our old inheritance, the honourable and ancient +name of Catholic, and _then_ they would avoid the above ridiculous +consequences. + +[D] I have sometimes been asked, and the question has sometimes been +slyly popped to me, and to others, by certain limbs of the law, if I was +a _Jesuit_? I answer first, that I have not the honour to belong to that +learned, and much calumniated body, the Jesuits. I answer secondly, I +perfectly understood the _sly_ drift of these _questions_, and +_inuendoes_. It was as good as to say, "Jesuitism is a strange compound +of all kinds of tricks and quirks, and of mental reservations, and +deceptions. Now this little spectacle fellow, is one of them, and +therefore, he is up to all the Jesuitical trade, and is a perfect +specimen of it. Nay, I believe, that he could slyly board us with his +Jesuitical tricks, _even_ while we were looking on." Well, one good turn +certainly deserves another. And now, I must as politely as I can, tell +these limbs of the law, that if I am to judge of the law from the little, +that I have really seen, and know about _them_, and that if Jesuitism be +_really_, what they _imagine_ it is, and if the whole of England ever +became Catholic, and then, from Catholicism jumped to Jesuitism, in this +case, I certainly think that these limbs of the law, will not have to +study, the celestial arts of Jesuitism, as pourtrayed in their own +imagination; for they will be _already_, perfectly dubbed masters of +Israel in that art, and they will certainly occupy distinguished places, +in the various departments of _mental reservations_, pious frauds, and +charitable tricks and quirks upon their neighbour's pockets. Really this +reminds me of Paddy, who had just arrived from Ireland, and was +_sneeringly_ asked by a _busy_ Englishman, what kind of a crop of +Murphies, they had had in Ireland? Pat had a shillalah in his hand, he up +with it, knocked down the Englishman, and said; "And sure your honour, we +have had a very good crop of Murphies, and you may know it by the feel, +for that is the stalk of one." Now, I hope these limbs of the law, will +not be offended at me for taking up my spectacle shillalah, and just +politely flooring them, for their _Jesuitical inuendoes_ and _mental +reservations_ in my regard. I hope they will not be offended, at my +defending myself, for their own profession will teach them, that every +one is allowed fair play, whether he be a metamorphosed calumniated +Jesuit, or a limb of the law in the body of a man's pocket. But far be it +from me to adopt their extensive, and sweeping mode of argumentation, +viz., the law of the land is a heap of deceptions, and tricks, now such a +man is a lawyer, therefore he must be a sleight-of-hand gentleman in that +art. Before I make this sweeping conclusion, I ought _first_, to examine +seriously, and carefully, if the law _really is_, this strange compound +of deceptions, and I ought then, to examine and really know, that this +lawyer has really acted according to this deception, I ought to do this, +before I condemn him personally, or open the flood-gates of condemnation +on the whole respectable body of lawyers. This is the argumentation which +reason and justice tell me I ought to adopt. Now just let these limbs of +the law, adopt this line of argumentation with regard to Jesuitism and +Jesuits, and then, they will be both limbs of the law, and limbs of fair +play. + +[E] But some one will perhaps inquire, does the Protestant Church +consider _your_ Catholic Ministers _really_ ordained? I reply she does, +for were any Catholic Priest to go over to the Protestant Church, she +would not ordain him. And why? Because the Protestant Church got her +ordinations (if she has any) from us, and to question _our_ ordination, +would be to strike at the foundation of _her own_. + +[F] "Catholicity, which has been this night, the subject of so much +abuse, has been the belief of the most extensive, and enlightened nations +in Europe, and of the most illustrious characters, that ever did honour +to the name of man."--(Speech of Lord Hutchinson in the House of Lords, +May 10th, 1805.) + +[G] The following are the words of Mr. Cobbett, a protestant, writer +respecting the introduction of the Protestant religion into these realms. +"The Queen (Elizabeth) reigned for forty five years, and these forty-five +years, were spent in deeds of such cruelty, as the world had never heard +of, or read of before; and all for the purpose of compelling her people, +to submit to this established (Protestant) Church. With regard to the +cruelties of this monster, in woman's shape, her butcherings, her +rippings up, her tearing out of the bowels of her subjects, her torments +of every description, in which she was always cordially supported, by the +lawgiving makers of the (Protestant) prayer book, I must refer the +reader, to my history of the Protestant reformation; suffice it to say +(here), that in these forty-five years, which were employed in the +establishing of this Church, there were more cruelty, more bloodshed, +more suffering, than ever were witnessed in the world, in any other +country in a like period of time." (Cobbett's Legacy to Parsons, p. 38.) + + + + +AN ADDRESS + +TO THE + +CLERGYMEN OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. + +"A marvellous project, (is) i'faith, and a merry jest withal!" + + +MOST REVEREND GENTLEMEN, + +You cannot be _surprised_, that I have _not_ taken my text from the +_Scripture_, for many of you tell the people, that we _Catholic_ +Clergymen wish to conceal from the people that sacred volume. To have, +therefore, taken my text from the _Scripture_ for the _sake_ of the +_people_, would be like falsifying your words, and to have quoted it for +your instructions, would have been most presumptuous on my part, as every +one knows you are masters of Israel, both in word and deed, in the +knowledge of that sacred volume. Had I, therefore, been so presumptuous +as to have quoted Scripture for _your_ information, you might have +perhaps addressed me in the words of the Poet-- + + "Ye Popish blockheads, mitred Cambridge cries, + Begone; I and my friends alone are wise, + Rich with the spoils of Babylon, 'tis fit + That _we_ should claim monopoly of wit." + +Well, among the great diffusion of biblical knowledge, which has been so +_gloriously_ spread among the people by your Scriptural Church, as by Law +established, I happened one day _fortunately_ to hear, that you +Reverends often told the people, that there was a golden and heavenly +rule in the Scriptures, viz.:--_that they were never to do unto others, +what they would not wish others to do unto them_. Now we cannot for a +moment suppose, that like spiritual guide-posts, _you_ would wish to +inculcate this golden rule to _others_, and not follow it _yourselves_. +Well then, you have been _lately_ trying to arouse the indignation of the +people, by informing them in the most _dignified_ manner, that the Pope +of Rome has just made a most "extraordinary, and presumptuous movement" +on the Protestants of England. Now what shall we say, if it turn out, +that you and _your Reverend_ Protestant ancestors, have for a long time +been making a "most extraordinary, and presumptuous movement" on the +_pockets_, and on the _intellects_ of Englishmen? + +Let us then proceed to examine _coolly_, and _calmly_, the above points. +I will endeavour, most Reverend Gentlemen, to discuss these points with +as much temper, and forbearance as I possibly can. But, you must +remember, that _you_ and many of _your_ Reverend body, have been +endeavouring to convict, _without ceremony_, the _numerous_ and +_respectable_ Catholic body of England, of the crimes of wishing to +extend their _popish spiritual_ and _temporal_ domination over the +Protestants of England. For this purpose, your zealous and Reverend body +have, with pious industry, raked together the filth of ancient +controversy, and poured it _without mercy_ on the heads of Catholics, and +on that Church, of which it is my pride to be a minister. Now, Reverend +Gentlemen, _you_, who deal so copiously in hard words, certainly ought +not to complain, if you should happen sometimes, to meet with them in +return. If _you_ demand respect from _others_, you ought certainly to +respect a _more numerous body_ of Christians, (I mean the Catholic +Christian world,) who have no reason to think themselves, your inferiors +in talent, learning, or judgment. Well then, let us now proceed to the +discussion of the above two points. + +Most Reverend Gentlemen, in a book (but _mind_ not the _Scripture_) +called the _extraordinary_ Black Book, published in London in the year +1831, by Effingham Wilson, Royal Exchange, I find the following +statement of the income of the Church of England as by Law established. +Of course, I am aware, that certain changes have been made by Government +(since the publication of the above book) as to the amount of individual +incomes, but the _aggregate_ sum is still absorbed by the Protestant +Church, as by Law established. Well then, in the above-mentioned, +extraordinary Black Book, I find the various incomes of the Church of +England there stated, and would you believe it! they form a sum of money, +TO THE TUNE _of nine millions, four hundred and fifty-two thousands, five +hundred and sixty-five pounds per annum_. + +Now let us see, how well the Bishops, and Archbishops of the Reformation, +have thriven on the above _spiritual_ food. The following is an extract +from the probate duty returns, and of course, must be _real_ testimony as +to the _worth_ of these _poor in spirit_ children, when they awoke "in +that undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveller returns." + + EXTRACT FROM PROBATE OF WILLS. + + L + Stopford, Bishop of Cork, left his family 25,000 + Percy, Bishop of Dromore 40,000 + Cleaver, Bishop of Ferns 50,000 + Bernard, Bishop of Limerick 60,000 + Knox, Bishop of Killaloe 100,000 + Fowler, Archbishop of Dublin 150,000 + Beresford, Archbishop of Tuam 250,000 + Porter, Bishop of Clogher 250,000 + Hawkins, Bishop of Raphoe 250,000 + Agur, Archbishop of Cashel 400,000 + Bishop Warburton 500,000 + +Now just add up the above items, and then, you will see that these +_Protestant_ Bishops and Archbishops, _after_ maintaining themselves, +their wives and families, left _behind_ them, according to the probate +duty returns, _no less than the enormous sum of two millions and +seventy-five thousand pounds sterling_. Really, when these _mammon-godly_ +souls entered the gates of heaven, with all these paraphernalia of gold, +how amazed must the celestial inmates have been! They would wonder +whence these _golden_ spirits came, but of this they would be convinced, +that they must have come from the land of the _living_, and had certainly +_piously_ reformed the words of the Scripture, "Blessed are the poor in +spirit," and really verified the words of my text, "What a _marvellous_ +project is faith, and a _merry_ jest withal!" + +So far, Reverend Gentlemen, I think the people will begin to conclude, +that your Reverend body has, for some time, been making a most +"extraordinary and presumptuous movement" on the _pockets_ of Englishmen, +and would to heaven! I could stop here. But I must _now_ show the people +of England, that _your Protestant_ Church as by Law established, is +receiving more money by _four hundred and fifty-three thousands, five +hundred and sixty-five pounds_, than all the other Christian churches in +the _whole_ world. The above _extraordinary_ Black Book, gives a scale of +the _comparative_ expenses of the Church of _England_, and of all the +other _Christian_ churches in the _whole_ world. Now by this scale, it is +shown that the _total_ income of all the Christian churches in the +various parts of the world, is eight millions nine hundred and +ninety-nine thousand pounds; and the above scale shows, that the income +of the Church of _England_, is nine millions, four hundred and fifty-two +thousands, five hundred and sixty-five pounds. Now, if you will just +place the _smaller_ of these under the _larger_ number, and subtract the +one from the other, you will see that the _income_ of the Protestant +Church _in England_, exceeds the total income of _all_ the other +_Christian_ churches in the whole world, by _four hundred and fifty-three +thousands, five hundred and sixty-five pounds_. Oh, mighty England! thou +boastest, _and justly_, that thy majestic fleet rides on the waves, the +triumphant mistress of the seas; and thou mayest also _as truly_, but not +_so justly_, boast, that thy _Scriptural_ Church, as by Law +_established_, rides triumphant on the _golden_ waves of _mammon_, and +that she is _really mistress_ of the world, _in point of mammon_; she is +_truly_ the _grand_ and _golden_ emporium of _clerical_ incomes. Oh, how +justly may the ministers of this Church, address her, as their golden +calf, in these words of the Scripture, "Where _thou_ goest, _I_ will go; +and where _thou_ lodgest, _I_ will lodge; and _thy_ people shall be _my_ +people." (Ruth i. 16.) "Yea! and we will kill the fatted calf, and slay +the rams, and make _merry_." (Prov. v. 9.) + +But you will reply, we got all this money from _you papists_. Yes, +courteous clerks, to the _honour_ of the Catholic Church be it said, that +all this money was left by our _charitable_ ancestors; and I will now +judge you from _your own_ mouths. _Mind_ and _mark it well_, that in the +_Catholic_ times of old England, the above sums of money were divided +into _three_ parts: _one_ for the maintenance of the clergy, the _second_ +for the repair of the churches, and the _third_ for the support of the +_poor_. In those good old _Catholic_ times, there were no church-rates, +nor poor-rates. But your _god-like_ church as by law established, thought +it more just, or at least _convenient_, to pocket _herself_ the _whole_ +of the above sum, and to leave to the _public_ the charitable office, of +providing for the other _two_ purposes. Really, Most Reverend Gentlemen, +I candidly appeal to you, if this was not "a most extraordinary and +presumptuous movement" of your clerical ancestors on the _pockets_ of the +people; and _really_, must not people of the _present_ day think it "a +most extraordinary and presumptuous movement" on the part of you Reverend +Gentlemen, to continue these _pious_ frauds, and _godly_ practices of +your ancestors? In _this_, at least, you _fully_ observe the commands of +the _Scripture_, "Remove not the landmark of thy forefathers." Oh ye +poor! (whom I sincerely love for the sake of my Saviour,) when I enter +your hovels, where sickness, misery, and want meet together, and witness +the scenes of distress that are passing there;--when I see a few handfuls +of dying embers, that are calculated rather to starve you, than afford +you the necessary comforts of warmth;--when I see the bed of +wretchedness, on which you cast your wearied limbs;--when I view the +tattered clothes, which scarcely cover you decently, much less protect +you from the inclemency of the weather;--when I behold your pale and +sickly countenances, that bespeak the poorness and scarcity of your +food;--when I view your poor little children, begging in vain, with tears +of artless innocence, a morsel of bread to satisfy the cravings of +hunger;--when I witness scenes of this heart-rending description, (scenes +which are not very uncommon now-a-days), the _charity_ of our _Catholic_ +ancestors, and the _inhumanity_ of _your_ Church as by law established, +rush vividly on my mind, and call to my recollection the words of our +Saviour, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess ye the kingdom prepared +for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave +me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink. I was a stranger, and +you took me in; naked, and you covered me; sick, and you visited me; I +was in prison, and you came to me. Then he shall say to them also that +shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting +fire, which was prepared for the devil, and his angels. For I was hungry, +and you gave me not to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. +I was a stranger, and you took me not in; naked, and you covered me not; +sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. Then they also shall answer +him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a +stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? +Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did +it not to one of these least," (namely the poor), "neither did you do it +to me." (St. Matt. xxv. 34 to 45.) Oh how _strikingly_ does the _first_ +part of this sacred passage apply to _our charitable_ Catholic ancestors? +But shall I apply the second part to _you_, or _your_ Protestant +ancestors? Oh! heaven forbid I should! I say with the great St. Paul, I +judge no man; but charity for you, and the poor, induce me to entreat of +you, and to ask of God to give you His grace, to commence a real reform +in your _church property_, for the _sake_ of the _poor_, and to restore +to the _poor_, what your Protestant ancestors so _unjustly_ took from +them. + +But you will perhaps reply, that all this church property, has been +_justly_ given to your Protestant Church, by the _law_ of the _land_; for +as the law of the land, _justly_ secures _to the landlord, his rents_, so +the law of the land, _justly_ secures to _your church, the tithes_. I +answer, in the first place, that by no law, either human, or divine, can +property be _justly_ applied to any _other_ purpose, than to _that_ for +which the _intention_ of the testator left it. Now one-third of this +church property, was left by our _Catholic_ ancestors, for the support of +the _poor_; and _as long_ as this property, was in the hands of the +_Catholic Church_, the poor always received _their just_ share. Hence, +among _all_ the calumnies against the _Catholic_ Church, even her +_basest_ enemies, could _never_ accuse her of _injustice to the poor_. I +answer secondly, the law of the land, as to _landlords_, is a _good_ law, +because the landlord gives to his tenant _value_ (viz., the use of the +land) for what he (the landlord) receives; whereas the law of tithes is a +_bad_ law, because it often exacts tithes, where the payer has never +received, _one farthing_ of value from the _parson_. Now in this case, it +does appear to me (and I am sure it must to many others) most unjust to +demand it _from persons_, who never received a _pin's-worth_ of good, +from _your_ ministry in their lives. Nay, perhaps the _only return_ they +got, for the payment of their tithes was, to hear their religion +_abused_, and to be held up before the public, as guilty of those _very_ +crimes, which _these_ reverends _themselves_ were _really_ committing, +either by their robbing the poor of their just share, or by unjustly +exacting from _others_ money, for which the _payers_ had never received +one farthing of value.[H] + +And now, most Reverend Gentlemen, I must just let the people see, how you +contrive to blind them, by throwing _popish_ dust into their eyes. All +the noise, which you make, _about the pope's bulls, and about popish +spiritual and temporal domination_, is a mere _ruse de guerre_ of _many_ +of you, (some of you indeed, I believe, are sincere in your motives, and +actions,) to divert _public_ attention, from the _great temporalities_ +of the established Church. You call, and hold your public and glorious +meetings. With upturned hands and eyes, with high-_souled_ strains of +_devotional_ eloquence, with cordial community of feeling, got up between +the _established_ Church, and _those_ whom you indeed honour _with your +lips_ by the title of reverends, but whom, _in your hearts_, you deem +_mere phantoms_ of ministers, with silvery tones, and well-turned +periods, of _rag-tag_ and _bob-tail_ inspirations; you excite the +breathless attention of your audience, and profess the _most sanctified_ +attachment to your _godly_ Church, and to your glorious Constitution, +under the protection of whose wing, _you_ are _slyly_ basking in the +sunshine of _godly_ mammon, and _worldly_ wealth. Should any poor +_Catholic_, or _charitable dissenter_, (who wishes _you_ to _do_ to +_others_ as _you_ would be _done_ by,) obtrude himself on the notice of +your meeting, a thundering philippic is _instantly_ raised against +_popery_, and gaining strength and speed, and loudness in its progress, +rumbles onward, until at last, it bursts forth into a _tremendous_ +elemental roar, increased by the zealous acclamations of an enraptured +and fanatical audience. Oh, most Reverend Gentlemen, this is really a +_glorious_, and _very profitable_ humbug. _As long_ as _you_ can manage, +to keep the people in _this feverish state of excitement_, the gulls will +think more of _discussing pope's_ bulls, _Guy Fawkes's, and Gunpowder +Plots_, than of _questioning_ the _moral_ basis of the law, which +entitles _you_ to take from _the poor_, their _just_ share of _Church_ +property, left by _our charitable_ ancestors, and of exacting tithes and +Church-rates from _those_, who do not belong to _your_ flock, and _for +whom you do nothing in return_. Thus, you _successfully_ stave off the +_discussion of Church_ property, professing all the while, the most +_devotional_ concern for the _spiritual_ welfare of _the gulls_, on whose +_pockets_, you are making a most 'extraordinary, and presumptuous +movement.' Thus _you_ reap the _profits_, and _laugh_ at the _fools_, who +are _cajoled_ by _your grand_ displays. Really, most Reverend Gentlemen, +this extraordinary and presumptuous conduct, does, in my humble opinion, +_beat all the powers of impudence_.[I] + +Most Reverend Gentlemen, I have now proved "the extraordinary and +presumptuous movement," which _your scriptural_ Church as by law +established, has been making for a long time on the _pockets_ of +Englishmen. I must now proceed to show, what "a most extraordinary and +presumptuous movement" she has been making for a long time, on the +_intellects_ of Englishmen. Would to God that occasion had never been +given to me to touch on _this_ subject! But remember, that _many_ of your +_reverend_ body, have been _publicly_ advancing the most _pretty_, and +_polite_ things against _us Catholics_. The newspapers, will bear ample +testimony to the _strange_, and _horrid_ things, which _many_ of your +_reverends_, have _lately_ uttered against the Catholic Church. Now, what +they have in general uttered against us, is, _unfortunately_, _not_ +founded on _truth_; but mind, what I shall advance is _really true_, +although _most awful_, nay _almost_ incredible, had not your _Protestant_ +testimonies borne _ample_ witness _to it_. Remember, also, that although +Our Saviour was the _most_ meek, and kind creature that the world _ever_ +beheld, _still_, when the _honour_ of His Heavenly Father was _insulted_ +and _outraged_, He cast the buyers and sellers out of the Temple. Now, +some of your reverend body, have, in my ideas, lately used all their +endeavours to insult, and outrage the Catholic Church, which, I consider, +the Temple of God. Pardon me, therefore, if I should with the spiritual +arms of _truth_, (and I hope of _charity_,) cast _them_ out of that +temple, and show the world, they had _better_ have been in _their own_ +temple, and have tried to have _re_formed _it_, _before_ they had +endeavoured to turn masters of Israel, in their _neighbours'_ temple. + +But _this_, Reverend Gentlemen, I must say, that if the Catholic Church, +had _no better_ foundation than _declamation_ against the _Protestant_ +Church, I would not be either a _minister_, or a _member_ of it for a +_single_ day. But mind, the Catholic Church has both a _good_ foundation, +and can also show the _flimsy_ texture of the _Protestant_ Church, when +Protestant ministers are so _imprudent_ as to attack her. + +Most Reverend Gentlemen, I can only say, had _you_ remained quiet, _I_ +should have been _innocent_ of the disagreeable task, of having to state +the following _awful_ facts. But as _you_ have not, I can only add, I am +_innocent_ of the consequences, look _you_ to them. I will not indeed +exclaim, with the Scripture, "Its blood be upon you, and upon your +children;" but I will rather say, in the spirit of charity, may it bring +you, and your followers, to a serious consideration, and to a sense of +duty. But some of you reverends will _perhaps_ infer, from the awful +truths which I shall advance, that I must believe that all, who are not +of _our_ communion, must go to hell. _Appalling sentence!_ Christ +certainly has said, that he that will not hear the Church, is to be to +us as a heathen and a publican (that is, excluded from our spiritual +communion.) But Christ does not say, he will _go to hell_, much less, +therefore, ought _I_ to _rashly_ condemn him. St. Paul, also, warns us to +judge _no man_, for this good reason, because _we, also_ shall have to +stand before the tribunal of Christ. Far, therefore, be it from me to +open the flood-gates of damnation, even on a _single_ individual, much +less on the _whole_ body of our Protestant brethren. Although, therefore, +I shall shortly advance truths, most awful, and almost incredible, still, +let no one imagine, I mean anything PERSONAL. Oh, no, I will say with the +poet-- + + "Let not this weak unknowing hand, + Presume thy bolts to throw, + Or deal damnation round the land, + On all I judge thy foe." + +Well, then, let it be remembered, that I shall advance only undeniable +facts, without intending to deal damnation _on you_, or on the _whole_ +Protestant body. + + "I (shall) only speak right on, + Yes, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, + That love my friends, and that they know full well, + Who gave me public cause to speak the truth. + I'll tell you _that_, which you yourselves _might_ know." + +A certain Spanish chemist, thought that _God's_ formation of his master, +had not been executed in the most perfect, and durable manner; and this +chemist had the audacious presumption to imagine, that if he demolished +his master, he could raise him to life again, to a more perfect, and +durable specimen of workmanship, than he was, when God first made him. +For this purpose, this audacious chemist cut his master into pieces, and +put the various parts into his sublimatory glass, with the design of +raising his master again, by chemical operation, to a more durable, and +perfect state of life than he was, when he was the handiwork of _God's_ +formation. Now, Most Reverend Gentlemen, I will not apply this to your +Church, but _this_ I will do, I will show you what the Church _was_, and +_is_, which the fathers of the Reformation wished first to demolish, on +account of her imperfections, and then, to raise her again to a more +perfect specimen of spiritual life; I will show the characters of these +spiritual chemists; I will show you the wonderful works of their +spiritual chemistry, and the wonderful spiritual works of their +scriptural hands; and then, I will leave you, and others to judge, +whether these first reformers, and these new soul menders, _did, or did +not_, really imitate the strange, and presumptuous conduct of this +Spanish chemist. + +When God first created man, He imprinted on his heart the light of +reason, which (whether aided by revelation or not, it is not necessary +here to enquire) taught him his duty to his God, to his neighbour, and to +himself. This light was also imprinted on the hearts of his descendants; +but as man fell from God by sin, the light of this natural law was +greatly impaired, both in the hearts of our _first_ parents, and of all +_their_ descendants. The light of this natural law, though much impaired +by Adam's fall, is, and ever has been, imprinted on the hearts of all, +and is, and ever has been, the foundation of all moral rectitude. The +imperfection of this natural law was, before our Saviour came, supplied +by the aid of revelation, which Almighty God communicated to mankind, at +various times, through His chosen servants. But at _last_, the Almighty +was pleased to send His only Son from heaven to earth, to supply the +deficiency of this natural law, and to teach mankind, in the most perfect +manner, their duty to God, to their neighbour, and to themselves. Hence +our Saviour beautifully says, "He came _not_ to destroy the law, but to +fulfil it," that is, He came to supply the imperfections of the natural +law, caused by Adam's fall, and to teach us, in the most perfect manner, +our duty to our God, to our neighbour, and to ourselves. Hence, for this +purpose He became man, and united our humanity to His divinity. In this +God-man, were concentrated all the treasures of divine wisdom and +knowledge; and to this God-man, were given all power in heaven, and on +earth. It is plain, therefore, as our Saviour beautifully says, He came +to be the way, the truth, and the life to all mankind; that is, He came +to be the way, by showing us the true way of heaven, which had been +darkened, and obscured by the sin of our first parents; He came to be the +truth, by revealing to us those supernatural truths, which the natural +law did not reveal, and by revealing to us more clearly those truths, +which the natural law revealed only obscurely; and lastly, He came to be +our life, by communicating to mankind His graces, by which they were +enabled to _practise_ the truths, which this divine law _taught_, and +thus, by the _knowledge_, and _faithful practice_ of this divine law, to +arrive at last at the kingdom of heaven. Hence, fully sensible of this +truth, the Apostles are continually in the Scriptures reminding us, on +_the one hand_, of man's fall, and the sad consequences of that fall; and +_on the other hand_, of our liberation from sin, and of the abundant +blessings we have received, by redemption through Jesus Christ. + +Now, that mankind _in every age_, might be partakers of these abundant, +and spiritual blessings, Jesus Christ was pleased to found a Church, and +to invest this Church with the same spiritual powers, which He had +received from His heavenly Father. This Church, _through Jesus Christ_, +was to be the _infallible_ source of all spiritual knowledge, and of all +spiritual grace; in short, it was to be the _visible_, the _infallible_, +and _the incorruptible_ Church of all ages, with the world for its +boundaries, and time for its duration. + +I will now, give you a short description of this Church of Christ; +attend, and I will tell you, in as few words as I can, what this Church +always _was_, and really _is_. Catholicity, or Christ's Church, began +with our Saviour, received her mission, her powers, and her doctrine, +from Jesus Christ. She has been distinguished in every age, for the unity +of her faith, and the sanctity of her doctrine, for the universality of +her extent, and the apostolicity of her origin. No _earthly_ +consideration, could ever induce her, to swerve _one iota_ from the +sacred deposit, and unity of faith, delivered to her by Jesus Christ. +Hence, whenever she found any in her communion, either layman, priest, or +bishop, or _even a whole nation_, wishing to _change_, or _add to_, or +diminish _one tittle_ of the _faith_, delivered by her heavenly founder, +she _at first_, like a tender mother, expostulated with them, appealed to +the grounds and truth of her faith, and traced it to the mouth, either of +our Saviour or His Apostles; but if they disregarded her tender +expostulations, she then, as St. Paul did the incestuous Corinthian, cut +them off from her communion, and showed them, when _her faith_ was at +stake, she feared neither the _frowns_ of individuals, nor the _strength_ +of nations. Every article of her faith is so holy in itself, and so +conducive to true holiness, that she challenges her greatest adversaries, +to show the _smallest stain_ in any part of what she _really_ teaches, +and the most convincing proof of their being _unable_ to do so, is, that +not daring to attack her _true_ doctrine, they, by calumny and +misrepresentation, lay things to her charge which she even _detests_ and +_condemns_.[J] And then, after combating a _phantom_ of their _own_ +creation, exult in an easy and decisive victory. From the dawn of +Christianity to the present day, there has not been a nation converted to +Christianity, but what was converted by her zealous exertions, nor is +there a religion under the sun except hers, that can prove that any of +her members, were ever honoured on account of their virtues, and +sanctity, with the name of saint. She can look back through eighteen +centuries, and shew that the unity and sanctity of her doctrine, are the +_very same_ in the _nineteenth_ century, as they were in the _first_ +century. She can trace a long succession of popes, even to the first +pope, who was St. Peter. She can present you a long catalogue of learned +and polite nations, of scholars, philosophers, and divines, of generals, +statesmen, and princes, of saints, martyrs, and confessors, who looked +upon her faith as their best inheritance, a treasure which they held more +dear than life itself. In short, she can prove, that she is _now_ that +Church, which _our Saviour first_ founded on a rock, against which, He +promised, that the gates of hell should never prevail, and that He, and +His Holy Spirit, should remain with it, teaching it all truth, _until the +end of the world_. Hence, she has passed through the stormy trials of +_eighteen_ centuries, which would have long since shivered any _human_ +institution into atoms, and now stands forth, ever fresh and vigorous, in +all her pristine strength, but silvered with the venerable hoar of ages. + +This is a short description of the visible, infallible, and incorruptible +Catholic Church of Christ; I will now show you how this Church was +formed, and how it was to be perpetuated, _from age to age_, with the +world for its boundaries, and time for its duration. The Prophet Daniel +foresaw this Church, when he said (Dan. c. ii.), "The God of heaven +should set up a kingdom, which should _never_ be destroyed." And our +Saviour (Matt. xvi.) informs us, that He is the maker and builder of this +Church. Hence He assures us, that as He Himself was sent by His Heavenly +Father to preach the Gospel (Luke iv. 18.), so He, also, sent His +Apostles: as My Father hath sent Me, I also send you. (John xx. 21.) For +this purpose He revealed to His Apostles _all_ the divine truths which +_He_ had received. "All things," says He, "whatsoever I have heard of My +Father, I have made known to you." (John xv. 15.) He then gave them a +commission, to teach _all_ these truths to _all_ nations. "All power," +says He, "is given to me in heaven and on earth: go ye, therefore, and +teach all nations, teaching them to observe _all_ things whatsoever _I_ +have commanded you; and behold I am with you _all days, even to the end +of the world_." (Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.) But when our Saviour gave these +commands to His Apostles, He at the same time, imposed upon mankind a +strict obligation, _to hear_ and _learn_ His gospel from the Apostles. +Hence He says to His Apostles, "He that heareth _you_, heareth _Me_, and +he that despiseth _you_, despiseth _Me_, and he that despiseth _Me_, +despiseth _Him_ that sent me." (Luke x. 16.) But whilst our Saviour, +imposes upon mankind the necessity of _hearing_ His Apostles, he pledged +His _infallible_ word, that they should _never_ lead _the people_ astray, +or teach any false doctrine. For this reason, He promises that He will +send down His Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, to teach them all truth, +that He and His Holy Spirit will remain with them _for ever_, teaching +them all truth, and that the gates of hell shall not prevail against +them. (John xv. Matt. xvi.) + +That this _absolute_, and _infallible_ authority of preaching and +teaching, was not to be limited merely to the _persons_ of the Apostles, +nor merely to the _period_ of their ministry, but was also to extend to +_their_ successors in office, and _to all future ages_, I will now prove. +Our Saviour tells His Apostles, that they are to go, and teach _all +nations_, and that He will be with them, _even until the end of the +world_; and that the Spirit of truth, shall remain with them _for ever_. +Now, as the Apostles, _did not_ teach _all nations_, in their _own_ +persons, and were not to continue on earth, until _the end of the world_, +it was manifest, that the commission was not to be confined to _their +persons_, but was to be given to _their office_, that is, to them and +their successors _in office_, who shall continue _until the end of the +world_, to _complete_ the great work of teaching all nations, which the +Apostles _first began_. That this was _actually_ the intention of _our +divine Saviour_, we learn in positive, and distinct terms, from these +words of St. Paul: "And He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and +other some pastors, and doctors for the perfecting of the saints, for the +work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." "That +henceforth we may be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried +about with every wind of doctrine, by the wickedness of men, by cunning +craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive." (iv. 11, 14.) _Such +is_, most Reverend Gentlemen, and _such always was, the visible, the +infallible, and incorruptible_ Church of Christ, which was to be +perpetuated _from age to age_, with time for its duration, and the world +for its boundaries. + +Oh, but you will reply, this Church once fell into error, at least so say +the first Reformers. If, most Reverend Gentlemen, I were to assert that +_you_ all once committed _murder_, you would very sharply ask, _when_, +_where_, and _how_? And if I could not prove _when_, _where_, and _how_, +I think you would deem me (and justly too) a very near relation to the +father of lies. Now, your first Reformers _said_, indeed, that the +Catholic Church once fell, but _most unfortunately_, they _forgot_ to +prove _when_, _where_, and _how_. As, therefore, these first Reformers, +forgot to prove these _most essential_ circumstances, you must excuse _us +Catholics_, if we prefer _God's infallible_ word, to the _mere ipse +dixit_ of these _first celestial_ lights of the Reformation. You know God +says, heaven and earth, _shall_ pass away, but His word _shall not_ pass +away. + +But you will, perhaps, answer, really they must have been _strange_ +beings to have _asserted_, that _God's infallible_ Church had fallen, and +_not_ to have been able, or at least to have _forgotten, to prove_ such a +bold assertion. Do you know, I was just thinking the same; and, +therefore, I beg to introduce a few of these beings to your notice: and I +know _none_, that has a greater claim to our first notice, than Martin +Luther, _both_ for the _originality_ of his spiritual doctrines, and for +the _sublimity_ of the _celestial_ revelations, with which he was +honoured. And _mind_, had not Luther and his disciples, left the most +_incontestible_ testimony of what I am about to advance, it would really +have outraged and defied _all credibility_. + +Well, then, know, and _never forget_, that Martin Luther, the first +luminary of the Reformation, had a conference _with the devil_, in which +Martin assures us, that he was convinced by the _devil's powerful_ +argumentation, that the Popish Mass was a heap of idolatry. The following +are the words of this angel of _light_ on this subject: "Being awakened +at midnight, the devil began to dispute with me, according to his custom. +"Listen to me, Master Doctor," said he: "do you consider that, for +fifteen years, you have said mass almost every day? What, if all this +while, you have been guilty of idolatry, and, instead of adoring the body +and blood of Christ, have adored only bread and wine?" I answered him, +that I was a priest lawfully ordained by the bishop; and that having, +from a principle of obedience, discharged my ministry with a sincere +intention of consecrating, I saw no reason to doubt the validity of the +consecration. "True," replied Satan; "but in the Churches of Turks and +Heathens, is not everything done in an orderly manner, and in the spirit +of obedience? Does that authorize their worship as orthodox, and +perfectly correct? What, if your ordination were null, and your +consecration as vain and useless as that of Turkish priests, in the +exercise of their ministry, or of the false prophets under Jeroboam?" +Here (adds Luther) I was seized with a violent sweat, and my heart began +to beat in a strange manner. The devil is very artful in adjusting his +reasoning, and he also pushes his arguments with great force; he has a +voice, strong and rough, and is so pressing in his objections, one after +another, as scarcely to allow you time to breathe. Hence, I can conceive, +how it has repeatedly happened, that persons have, in the morning, been +found dead in their beds. In the first place, he may suffocate them; he +may also, by his method of disputing, cause such a trouble in the soul as +to render her unable to make any further resistance, and thus she may be +compelled instantly to leave the body; which has nearly been my own case, +more than once." + +After this preface, Luther mentions five reasons which the devil alleged +against the sacrifice of the mass; reasons extremely frivolous in +themselves, but which Luther considered of sufficient weight to justify +his yielding to them, saying to those who might blame his conduct, that +"if _they_ had heard the devil reasoning in the same forcible manner as +_he_ had done, they would take care not to appeal from his arguments to +the practice of the Church, and the usages of antiquity, which would +never satisfy them." This conference may be seen in three different +editions of Luther's works, printed by the care of his disciples, viz., +(Wittemberg, T. 7, p. 479. Jenae, Ed. Germ. per Thomas, p. 82. Attenberg, +T. 6. p. 86.) + +Really, most Reverend Gentlemen, this is a very strange history. +_Certain_, however, _it is_, that _Luther_ omits _nothing_ to persuade us +of its truth: for he mentions the very words which the devil used, the +tone of his voice, the nature of his arguments, the impression which the +conference made on his body and soul, which sometimes follow from +debating with this king of the lower regions. + +After the death of Luther, his disciples, and especially Melancton, took +care to insert the conference in the collection of Luther's works, +printed in Latin at Wittemberg, and the writers of the Luthern and +Calvinistic party agree, that it was _certainly the production of +Luther_.[K] (Hospinian, par. 2. Hist. Sacramentariae, p. 26, et. p. 131.) + +Now Luther either _had_ or _had not_ this conference with the master of +lies. If he _really had_, Luther ought to have known, that _such_ a +master was not very likely, to teach him anything _very good_, and that +he was not a very _fit_ person, to convince him of the idolatry of the +mass. For if the mass, had _really_ been idolatry, I think the devil, +would _rather_ have encouraged, _than_ tried to overturn it. But if +Luther _had not_ this conference, then the ambition of Luther, for having +wished to appear connected with so bad a master, indicates so strange +and exotic a genius, so depraved and bad a taste, that it reflects +_almost_ as much dishonour on Luther, as if this conference had really +taken place. + +You will perhaps object "that Luther is nothing to us." Most Reverend +Gentlemen, I have not quoted him to insult you, or to throw any +disrespect on you; for _you_ are certainly not to be _answerable_ for +Luther's _deeds_. But I have quoted him to let you see, what kind of a +genius, this father of the Reformation was, and I must now candidly ask, +if you think he was _a fit_ person, to reform Christ's Church. Had he +indeed begun, by endeavouring to _reform_ the devil himself, we might +have pardoned his religious enthusiasm; but for him to tell us, that the +_infallible_ Church of Christ, had fallen into error, and that he had +come to reform it, under the instructions, and guidance of the master of +lies, is _really_ most outrageous, and cannot be equalled by any thing, +that I have either heard, or read on this side the grave. That the human +mind, should be capable of falling into such dreadful delusion, would +appear almost incredible, had not the Holy Ghost assured us, that God +abandons to a reprobate sense, those who wish to change _truth_ into +_falsehood_. (Romans i. 25-26.) + +Zuinglius, another bright son of the Reformation, professes to have +learnt his main argument against the Real Presence from a spirit, which +appeared to him in the night, but whether it was a _black_, or _white_ +spirit he does not remember. However, he made great account, of this +nightly instruction of his _unknown_ friend; read the place of Exodus, +which had been pointed out to him by his _unknown_ friend, and afterwards +preached before the whole congregation, on the subject of this +_wonderful_ discovery. (Hosp. ii. p. 25-26.) Luther was positive and +sure, that the devil, whom Oecolampadius, (another reformer,) employed, +strangled him during the night in his bed. "This is the excellent +master," continues Luther, "who taught Oecolampadius that there are +contradictions in the Scripture. See," says Luther, "to what satan brings +learned men." (De Miss. Priv. Luth.) + +Such were the nocturnal revelations, with which some of the first +reformers were honoured, and I think now, you will not be surprised at +the following character, which is given _them_, and the _other_ +reformers, _even_ by _Protestant_ testimony. Zanchius, the celebrated +Protestant professor, thus complains of the conduct of his _reforming +Protestant_ colleagues: "I am indignant, when I consider the manner, in +which most of us defend our cause. The _true_ state of the question we +often, on _set_ purpose, involve in _darkness_, that it may not be +_understood_; we have the impudence, to _deny_ things the _most evident_: +we _assert_ what is _visibly_ false: the most _impious_ doctrines, we +_force_ on the people as the _first_ principles of _faith_, and +_orthodox_ (true) opinions, we condemn as _heretical_: we _torture_ the +Scriptures, until they agree with our _own_ fancies, and boast of being +the _disciples_ of the _fathers_, while we refuse _to follow their_ +doctrines: _to deceive_, _to calumniate_, _to abuse_, is our _familiar_ +practice: nor do we care for anything, _provided_ we can defend our +cause, _good_ or _bad_, _right_ or _wrong_. Oh what times! what manners! +(Zanchius ad Stormium, tome viii. col. 828.) + +"But _forgery_--I blush for the _honour_ of Protestantism while I write +it--seems to have been _peculiar_ to the _reformed_ * * * and I look _in +vain_, _for one_ of these accursed outrages of imposition, among _the +disciples_ of Popery." "But _forgery_, appears to have been the +_peculiar_ disease of _Protestantism_."--(_Vindication of Mary, Queen of +Scots_, vol. iii. p. 2 and 53. _By the Rev. John Whitaker, B.D., Rector +of Ruan Langhorne, Cornwall._) + +You have now seen, who was the instructor of _some_ of the first +Reformers, and the two above passages (_mind, from Protestants_,) must +convince you, that _they_ and _their_ reforming Protestant colleagues, +appear to have been apt scholars of this master of lies. Well, I have +shown you now, the character of the spiritual chemists of the +Reformation. I will now show you, some of the wonderful _spiritual_ +works, of some of their _supernatural_, and chemical hands. + +Among these, I must rank as _first_ and foremost, the wonderful spiritual +deeds, of your Scriptural Church as by Law established. Most Reverend +Gentlemen, The Thirty-nine Articles, are the fundamental Articles of your +Protestant Creed. Now, in the Thirty-fifth of those Articles, I find, +that your Scriptural Church professes to believe, in the Protestant +homilies there named. Among which I find the second is, "against peril of +idolatry." Now, the following, are the words of your Protestant homily +against idolatry. Its words are these: "The preaching of God's word, most +sincere in the beginning, by process of time became less and less pure, +and afterwards corrupt, and last of all, altogether laid down and left +off, &c. Not only the unlearned and simple, but the learned and wise; not +the people only, but the bishops; not the sheep, but also the shepherds +themselves, being blinded by the bewitchery of images, as blind guides of +the blind, fell both into the _pit of damnable idolatry_; in which all +the world, as it were drowned, continued unto our age for the space of +eight hundred years; unspoken against in a manner, so that laity and +clergy, learned and unlearned, of all ages and sexes and degrees, of men +and women and children of whole Christendom, (an horrible thing to +think,) have been at once drowned in abominable idolatry, of all other +vices most detested by God, and damnable to men, and that for the space +of eight hundred years together. And to this end has come that beginning +of setting up of images in churches, then judged harmless, in experience +proved not only harmful, but exitious and pestilential, and to the +_destruction of all good religion universally_." Thus far, your +Protestant homily. + +Really, most Reverend Gentlemen, if in my comments on the above passage, +I have often to use the word _damnable_, you must really _pardon_ me, for +you see, I have just been taught this _pretty_ word, by your Scriptural +Church, and you know, she is master in Israel. Pray, most Reverend +Gentlemen, where was your Protestant Scriptural Church, during this +_eight_ hundred years of damnable idolatry? If it was a member of _no_ +Church, then, it was not a member, or part of _Christ's_ Church. But if +it was a member, or part of any _one_ Church in _all_ Christendom, then, +it was utterly drowned in abominable, and damnable idolatry. I wonder how +your Scriptural Church, can extricate herself out of this spiritual +labyrinth. + +Well, then, here we have, _according_ to _your_ Scriptural Church, a +universal apostacy. The true Church decayed, the whole of Christendom +drowned in damnable idolatry, and all good religion destroyed +_universally_, and _that_, for eight hundred years; and we have also +_your_ Scriptural Church either not existing, or buried in this universal +spiritual destruction. Really, your Scriptural Church, Sampson-like, not +only demolished the _whole_ spiritual fabric of Christendom, but also +perished _herself_ under the ruins of this universal spiritual +destruction; but the strangest thing of all is, whilst with _one_ hand, +she was endeavouring with her spiritual power, to hurl the Catholic +Church, into the vortex of this universal spiritual destruction, she, +with _the other_ hand, charitably saves _us_ Catholics (as Moses was +saved from the waters) from this deluge of universal spiritual idolatry; +and I will now show you how; for your Scriptural Church, in her sixth +article of the Thirty-nine Articles, teaches that, "Holy Scripture +containeth all things necessary to salvation." Now, this very Scripture, +(the book of salvation,) declares (as I have already shown in my above +description of the Catholic Church,) that, the Catholic Church should +_never_ err, and of course, could _never_ fall into idolatry. And, +therefore, in obedience to your Scriptural Church, and to the Scripture +itself, we believe that the Catholic Church, _never_ has fallen, and +_never will_ fall into idolatry. For the Scripture says, "Heaven and +earth _shall_ pass away, but God's word, _shall not_ pass away." Really, +your Scriptural Church, is very kind to us in this respect, and I almost +begin to think, she must be a worthy descendant of Pharo's daughter, who +saved Moses from the waters of the Nile. + +Well, Most Reverend Gentlemen, you see your scriptural Church, has now +hurled the whole of Christendom, into the vortex of universal, +abominable, and damnable idolatry, and either involved herself, in this +sweeping deluge of abominations, or committed suicidical destruction on +herself; but, _strange_ to say, she has _charitably_ saved us benighted +Papists, from these abominable, and universal waters of idolatry, as +Pharo's daughter, kindly saved Moses from the waters of the Nile. Now, +_how_ your scriptural Church as by law established will contrive to +gather together again, and unite all the various parts of this +universal, spiritual edifice, just destroyed by her hands, I am at a loss +to determine. If _she really can_ collect, unite, and form these various +spiritual parts, into a _more_ perfect, and durable edifice, than _God +Himself_ had made it, I shall _then_ begin to think, that she is invested +with powers, which _even God Himself_ does not possess. But by _what_ +spiritual art of chemistry, is she to perform this wonderful, and +_superhuman_ operation? If she has recourse to _the Scriptures_, she will +_there_ learn, that God had built this spiritual edifice on an +_imperishable_, infallible, and incorruptible foundation. And surely, for +her sake, God will not _contradict_ Himself; and if she has recourse to +her thirty-nine articles, they have already annihilated her. O poor +scriptural Church! thou hast often made _sad_ work with _other_ Churches; +but _at last_, alas! thou art in _sad_ straits thyself. O! how thou +remindest me of the man, who + + "Halting on crutches of unequal size,-- + One leg by truth supported, one by lies, + Thus saddled to the goal, with awkward pace, + Secure of nothing but to lose the race." + +Well, but you will say, this immense spiritual edifice _must_ for the +sake of the _salvation_ of mankind, be _re_-built. Should I offer _my +officious_ services, to assist in this pious work of reconstruction, your +scriptural Church might perhaps say, I destroyed _more_ than I built. +Well, she could not, even then, justly complain of this; for _she_ has +_just_ cut into pieces, demolished, and annihilated the _whole_ of +Christendom, with her destructive weapons of universal, abominable, and +damnable idolatry. + +In all _material_ edifices, it is considered of the greatest importance +that the _foundation_ should be _firm_, _safe_, and substantial. Of +course, we have reason to expect _these_ requisites in the foundation of +all _spiritual_ edifices; and of course, we may _naturally_ expect them, +in the new erection of God's work which your Church has just destroyed, +but which she is _now_ going to re-construct into a _more_ perfect and +durable form than _God_ had made it. Now, upon _what_ foundation will +your Church _re_construct this demolished spiritual edifice? In her +twenty-first article of her thirty-nine articles, (and mind, she has +sworn to these articles as God's truth,) I find the following words: +"General councils may not be gathered together without the commandment, +and will of princes. And when they be gathered together, (forasmuch as +they be an assembly of men, whereof all be not governed by the Spirit, +and word of God,) they _may err_, and _sometimes have erred, even in +things pertaining unto God_." + +Now, please tell me, Most Reverend Gentlemen, of _what_ is your new +spiritual Church to be built? Surely not of brick and mortar! but of +course, it is to be erected, on the testimony of man, or of some body of +men. But your article says, men may err, and _have_ erred, _even in +things pertaining to God_. Therefore, your council, or councils, of your +new Church _may err_, and therefore, how will you build upon these +_fallible_ men an _infallible_ foundation? + +But you will indignantly reply, the article intimates, that they may err +_unless_ governed by the _Spirit_, and word of God. Well, Most Reverend +Gentlemen, is it likely God will give _them_ his Spirit, and unerring +word to _re_construct a new Church, when they have just destroyed the +infallible, and beautiful work of _God's own hands_? Is it in the nature +of things, that _God_ should _contradict_ Himself, to second the BABEL +ideas, of your scriptural Church, yet to be formed? + +Really, Sir, some of you Reverends will exclaim, _how_ you are _garbling_ +that twenty-first article! Why have you _slyly_ omitted to quote the +_last_ part of that article?--Well, as you have called, for the _last_ +part of this article, I will now quote it; and as your Church (_first_, +indeed, unfortunately destroying herself) has just so charitably saved +us, benighted papists, from the waters of idolatry, I do sincerely hope +this _last_ part of your article, may enable you, to _re_build a godly +and spiritual edifice. Well, then, now for the _last_ part of this +twenty-first article, which you say, I have _slyly omitted_. It runs thus +verbatim: "Wherefore, things ordained by them, as necessary to salvation, +have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared, that they +be taken out of Holy Scripture." Now, Most Reverend Gentlemen, as you +have just asked _me_ a question, allow _me_ to ask _you another_. If any +of you, were wishful to purchase an estate, would you not _first_, have +the title deeds of that estate, _carefully_ examined by some eminent and +respectable lawyers, _to be sure_ that the title deeds, were perfectly +good, and satisfactory, _before_ you advanced the money? Now we have just +learnt, from the _last_ part of your twenty-first article, that the +Scriptures, properly speaking, are the deeds of a _Christian_, by which +he is to obtain a _good_ title to salvation. Of course, therefore, we may +_naturally_ suppose, that your scriptural Church would hand down to her +followers the Scriptures, in the _most perfect_ and _unmutilated_ state. + +Well, we will now see whether she _has_ done _this_, and _then_ we shall +be able to determine, if she can _re_build her godly, and spiritual +edifice on so heavenly a foundation. We will now consider how she got the +sacred Scriptures, after her shipwreck amid the perils of idolatry, and +whether, _after_ she got them, she handed them down to her followers in +the perfect and unmutilated state, in which she _first_ received them +from the _Catholic Church_. Luther, the father of the Reformation, even +after he had left the Catholic Church, candidly says, in his Commentary +on the 16th chapter of St. John's Gospel: "We are obliged to yield many +things to the Papists, that with them is the word of God, which _we_ +received from _them_, otherwise we should have known _nothing at all +about it_." And, in his book against the Anabaptists, he makes the +following confession: "Under Papacy are many good things, yea, +_everything_ that is _good_ in _Christianity_. I say moreover," continues +he, "under Papacy is _true_ Christianity, even the _very kernel_ of +Christianity." From these two passages of Luther, it is evident, that +your scriptural Church, _first_ received the Scriptures from the _hand_ +of the _Catholic_ Church, and that she received them, in a _perfect_ and +_unmutilated_ state; otherwise, how could Luther's words be true, (and +_mind_, he uttered these words _after_ he had left the Catholic Church) +when he assures us, that under Papacy is "true Christianity, yea, +everything that is good in Christianity, nay, the _very kernel_ of +Christianity." + +Now let us see _how_ your scriptural Church, corrupted and mutilated the +sacred volumes which she had received from the Catholic Church in a +_perfect_ and _unmutilated_ state. + +Luther was the first, after the Reformation, who put out a Protestant +translation of the Scriptures, which was _immediately_ condemned by +Osiander, Rickerman, and Zuinglius. Of this translation of Luther, +Zuinglius says, (Lib. de Sacra.) "Luther was a foul corrupter, and +horrible falsifier of God's word. One, who followed the Marcionites and +Arians, that razed out such places of Holy Writ, as were against him. +Thou dost," says he to Luther, "corrupt the word of God. Thou art seen to +be a manifest, and common corrupter, and perverter of the holy +Scriptures. How much are we ashamed of thee, who have hitherto esteemed +thee!" But Luther not only falsified, but he also added, to the texts of +the Scripture. "I know well," says Luther, "that this word, alone, (which +he added to St. Paul's words, Rom. iii.) is not found in the text of St. +Paul, but should a Papist, annoy you upon it, tell him at once, without +hesitation, that Dr. Martin Luther, would have it so, and that a papist, +and an ass, are synonymous." (Tom. 5, Jena Edit. p. 141, 144.) + +But Luther, soon had an opportunity of retaliating, on his disciple +Zuinglius. When Proscheverus, the Zuinglian printer of Zurich, sent him a +copy of the Zuinglian translation, Luther rejected it, and sent it back +to him, calling at the same time the Zuinglian divines, in matters of +divinity, "fools, asses, anti-christs, deceivers, and of an ass-like +understanding." (See Zuing. tom. 2, ad Luth. Lib. de Sacr. fol. 338.) + +Of the translation set forth by Oecolampadius, Beza says, that it "is +in many places wicked, and altogether differing from the mind of the Holy +Ghost." And he also condemns that of Castalio, as being sacrilegious, +wicked, and heathenish. (In Respons. ad Defens. and Respons. Castal.) + +We should naturally expect that Beza, after thus reproving the +translations of Oecolampadius and of Castalio, would _himself_ have +produced an immaculate one; but the learned Molineus observes of his +translation, that "he (Beza) actually changes the text, of which Molineus +gives several instances." (In sua Translat. Nov. Testi. part 20.) + +Castalio wrote a whole book against Beza's corruptions of the Scriptures, +and yet, he adds, "I will not note all his (Beza's) corruptions, for +that would require too large a volume." (In Defens. Transl.) + +Of Calvin's translation the learned Molinaeus thus speaks: "Calvin, in his +harmony, makes the text of the Gospel to leap up and down. He uses +violence to the letter of the Gospel; and besides this, adds to the +text." (In sua Translat. Nov. Test. part 12.) + +Here, then, you have Zuinglius and others against Luther's translation, +and Luther against Zuinglius's translation, Beza against Oecolampadius +and Castilio's translation, and Castilio against Beza's translation, and +Molinaeus against Calvin's translation. Now, which of all these false +translations was your scriptural Church to adopt as her only rule of +faith and for that of the people? Why, you Reverends will reply, she was +to adopt her _own_ English translations. + +Well, then we had better examine, and see whether they were any better +than _any_ of the above translations, Carlile, in his treatise on +Christ's descent into hell, says of the English translators, that they +have "depraved the sense, obscured the sense, obscured the truth, and +deceived the ignorant; that in _many_ places, they do detort the +scriptures from the _right_ sense, and that they show themselves to love +darkness more than light, falsehood more than truth." And in an +abridgment which the ministers of the diocese of Lincoln delivered to +King James, they denominated the English translation, "A translation that +taketh away from the text, that addeth to the text, and that sometime to +the changing, or obscuring of the meaning of the Holy Ghost; a +translation which is absurd and senseless, perverting, in many places, +the meaning of the Holy Ghost." Burges, in his Apology, sec. 6, exclaims, +"How shall I approve under my hand a translation, which hath so many +omissions, many additions, which sometimes obscures, sometimes perverts +the sense, being sometimes senseless, sometimes contrary?" And Broughton, +in his letter to the Lords of the Council, gives this reason for +requiring a new translation without delay, that "That which is now in +England is full of errors." And, in his Advertisement of Corruptions, he +tells the bishops, "That their public translations of Scriptures into +English is such, as that it perverts the texts of the Old Testament, in +eight hundred and forty-eight places; and that it causes millions of +millions to reject the New Testament, and to run to eternal flames." + +But some of you Reverends may reply, those were the Protestant +translations of _earlier_ times; but we have got _better_ translations +now. Well, then we must now examine the truth of your assertion. In +November, 1822, the Irish Protestant Society passed the following +condemnatory resolution of the Irish translators: "Resolved, that, after +a full enquiry, the members of this society feel satisfied, that material +and very numerous errors, exist in the version of the New Testament, +edited by the British and Foreign Bible Society." According to Mr. Platt, +thirty-five variations were discovered in the first ten pages, of which +seven were considered to be material. "This proportion in a Testament of +four hundred pages," says the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Percival, "gives fourteen +hundred variations, and two hundred and eighty material errors in a +single volume." We find in the Monthly London Review, page 220, "That in +April, 1832, a memorial was addressed on the subject, to the +vice-chancellors of the Universities of Cambridge and of Oxford, and the +other delegates of the Clarendon press." It was signed by the following +gentlemen: + + T. Bennet, D.D. + T. Blackburn. + George Collinson. + F. A. Cox, L.L.D. + Thomas Curtis. + T. Fletcher, D.D. + E. Henderson. + J. P. Smith, D.D. + T. Townley, D.D. + R. Winter, D.D. + +The names, attached to this memorial, are too respectable not to +communicate a great degree of importance, to any statement to which they +are affixed. This memorial states, "That the modern Bibles, issued from +the press of the University of Oxford, abounded with deviations from the +authorized version of King James the First. That, though some of these +errors were merely typographical, yet of those that were intentional, the +number was of a serious amount. That in the Book of Genesis, there were +upwards of eight hundred errors; in the Psalms, six hundred; in the +Gospel of St. Matthew, four hundred and sixteen; and in about the fourth +part of the Bible, an aggregate of two thousand, nine hundred and +thirty-one." + +The same Monthly London Review, for February, 1833, speaking of the +pamphlet of Thomas Curtis, of Grove House, Islington, on his discoveries +of the falsification of the Bible, says: "In this comparatively brief +pamphlet, we find the exposition of one of the most singular deceptions, +to which the world has yet been exposed. The imposition, is nothing short +of a downright falsification of the text of Scripture. Need we add a +syllable more, to rouse the attention of the thinking community?" In the +same pamphlet Mr. Curtis remarks: "About twenty years ago, an intelligent +reader at one of the printing offices, where the Bible was in a course of +printing, took the trouble of drawing up a specification of a number of +gross errors, which he found in the very copy, _that had been selected by +the proper authorities_, as the _standard_ of correctness to which he was +to adhere. The errors pointed out by the penetrating reader, amounted to +no less, than seven hundred and thirty-one, and these occurred in the +various chapters, from the beginning of Genesis, to the end of Jeremiah." + +Well, most Reverend Gentlemen, it is plain from what I have stated (and +where is the person who can contradict what I have stated), that the +_first_ Protestant foreign Reformers, corrupted and falsified the sacred +Scriptures, that your English Protestant Reformers, did also the same, +and that even at the present day, your English Protestant translations of +that sacred volume, are in a most awful and corrupt state. And would to +heaven I could stop here! + +But what will the English people say, when they learn, that your +Protestant scriptural Church, has _not only_ falsified and corrupted the +Scriptures, but that she has had the audacity, to expunge from the canon +of the Scripture many books, which are _as much canonical_ (that is, as +much the inspired word of God) as those, which she still retains in her +present Protestant canon. I will now prove this. The Protestant Church, +received at first (as Luther truly informs us) the Scriptures from the +Catholic Church. The Catholic Church, therefore, must be good authority +in this respect, otherwise how can the Protestant Church be, sure that +her first Scriptures, were the real word of God? Now, the Catholic Church +has ranked, for at least fourteen hundred years, many books as +_canonical_, which _your_ Protestant Church rejects as _uncanonical_. In +the year 397, a Catholic council was held at Carthage, at which the +learned and pious St. Augustine assisted. In that council, the canon of +the Scripture, was satisfactorily determined; and in that very council, +many books were declared to be _canonical_ (that is, the inspired word of +God,) which your Church, has had the audacity to tell the people, are +_not canonical_, that is, they are not to be considered the inspired word +of God. But _what_ reason had your scriptural Church, to assume the +audacious power, to condemn as _uncanonical_, books, which were declared +by this illustrious, numerous, and learned body of Christians, _to be +canonical_, (that is, the inspired word of God?) I ask you, _what_ reason +had your scriptural Church for this _audacious_ step? I answer, none. O +but I fancy I hear some of your reverends exclaiming, You are wrong _for +once_, old papish botheration. Look at the passage in the sixth of our +articles, between _our canonical_ and _un_canonical books, and there you +will find a good reason for your _popish_ question. + +Thank you, courteous clerks; I will now quote the passage, and give +_your_ scriptural Church the benefit of it. "And the other books (as +Hierome saith) the Church doth read, for example of life, and instruction +of manners, but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine." +(Art. 6, Ch. Eng. P. Book.) Well, most Reverend Gentlemen, _truth_ and +_falsehood_ are in this passage, mixed up together _to a nicety_. In the +first part, your scriptural Church tells the people that she, like Hierom +(and mind, St. Hierom was a great Catholic Saint), reads her +_un_canonical books, for example of life and instruction of manners. +Well, _her object_ for reading these books, as far as it goes, is very +good; but then, your scriptural Church _slyly_ adds, "but yet doth it not +apply them _to establish_ any doctrine:" an artful inuendo that St. +Hierom did the same. Now St. Hierom wished, indeed, the Catholic Church +to read these books, for example of life, and instruction of manners; but +St. Hierom, at the same time, included in the Catholic canon _all_ the +books, which had been ranked in the Catholic canon by antiquity. Now, if +your scriptural Church, quoted St. Hierom's authority in confirmation of +the _first_ part of this passage, why does she slyly intimate, to follow +him in the _second_ part, where she contradicts St. Hierom, by asserting +that certain books of the Scripture, are _uncanonical_, which St. Hierom +believed, and taught were _really canonical_? Come, Reverend Gentlemen, +your Church _must_ have had some _sly_ reason, for this _contradictory_ +conduct. Now, _do_ tell us _what this_ reason was. Well, if _you_ will +not tell, _I_ must. + +You have seen, how the first reformers _falsified_ the Scriptures, to +make the sacred text, harmonize with their _reformed_ ideas; but _what +puzzled_ them _most_ was, they found there were certain books, which they +could not _possibly tune_ to _their new_ ideas. They _durst_ not indeed, +_entirely_ reject these sacred books; for they knew in _what_ veneration, +they had been _always_ held by _antiquity_; but on the _other_ hand, they +_durst_ not admit them as _canonical_; for _then_, the _testimony_ of +_these_ books, would upset _their new-fangled_ ideas; they thought, +therefore, the _most convenient_ method, was to make _flesh_ and _fish_ +of them, and _then_, they could either _admit_, or _contradict_ them, +according to their _own spiritual convenience_. + +And that I am speaking the truth, I will give you _one single_ instance, +and from this _one_, you will be able to judge of _the rest_, of their +sly method, of squaring the scripture to their _new_, and _re_forming +ideas. Of all the tenets of the Catholic creed, there is _none_, that has +been _more lustily_ inveighed against, and accordingly, _none_ that sound +_so awfully_, to an _English Protestant_ ear, as Purgatory, and Prayers +for the dead. (_O keep your seats, Most Reverend Gentlemen, I am not +going to put you into Purgatory, although you may imagine it smells very +strongly of it on this side the grave._)[L] Well, mind this doctrine of +Purgatory, and of Prayers for the dead, was the belief of the Jews, and +of all the first Christians, and continued even to the time of the +Reformation. Now in the book of _Machabees_, this doctrine is so +_plainly_ laid down, that no man in his senses, can contradict it. Read +the following passage, and tell me, if I am not speaking the truth. "And +making a gathering, he (Judas Machabeus) sent 1200 drachms of silver to +Jerusalem for sacrifice, to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking +well, and religiously, concerning their resurrection. (For if he had not +hoped that they that were slain, should rise again, it would have seemed +superfluous, and vain to pray for the dead.) And, because, he considered +that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up +for them. It is, therefore, a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the +dead, that they may be loosed from sins." II. Mac. xii. 43-46. + +Now this passage was so _clear_, and _positive_ a proof of purgatory, and +of prayers for the dead, that the first Reformers found, that they could +not get rid of it, _without denying the divine_ authority of the book. +_Accordingly_, these new soul-menders, told the people that the two Books +of Machabees, were not included in the Jewish Canon, but _unfortunately_, +they _forgot_ to tell the world _the reason_, (viz.,) because the Jewish +Canon was compiled by Esdras, _long before_ the Books of Machabees were +written. And now, you may understand the _sly_ words of your sixth +article, "but yet it doth not apply them (these books) to _establish any +doctrine_," viz., to establish the _Catholic_ doctrine, and to _overturn +their new-fangled_ ideas. + +Now, Gentlemen, is it not plain that your _Church_, hath _both corrupted_ +the Scriptures, and expunged from her _Protestant_ Canon, many of the +_inspired_ books of those sacred volumes? + +And now, allow me to quote the _first_ part of the sixth Article of your +Church, and then, tell me _what_ the _people_ are to do, to save their +souls, and how your Scriptural Church, _is ever_ to be raised again, to a +new spiritual life. "Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to +salvation: so that, whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be approved +thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as +an Article of the Faith, or to be thought requisite or necessary to +salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture, we do understand those +Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was +never any doubt in the Church." + +Now this part of your Article, assures us, in the strongest manner, that +the Holy Scriptures, contain all things necessary for salvation, that +they are the sure palladium of a Christian, and his title-deeds to +eternal life; and it also says, that in this sacred volume, are to be +included all the books of whose authority, was never any doubt in the +Church. Now, it is also plain from what I have advanced, (and find me a +person who can overturn by _solid_ argument what I have advanced,) it is +plain, I repeat it, that your Church has _both_ falsified the text of the +Scripture, and expunged from her _Protestant_ Canon, many books, whose +authority and divine inspiration, were held by antiquity in the greatest +veneration. Now, most Reverend Gentlemen, do tell me what the people are +to do. On the _one_ hand, your Church tells the people, there _is no_ +salvation _without_ the Scripture: and on the _other_ hand, your Church +has falsified the text, and also expunged from her _Protestant_ Canon, +many _inspired_ Books of the Scripture. Really, can you obtain the +possession of property by _corrupt_ and mutilated title-deeds? Certainly +not. How, _then_, are your people to obtain eternal life by your _false_, +and mutilated title-deeds of the Scripture? Really, most Reverend +Gentlemen, if the prejudices of my popish education do not strongly +deceive me, your Protestant mutilation of the Scripture, and your Sixth +Article, are pregnant with the most _paradoxical_ consequences. O how +justly may I apply to _your_ Scriptural Church, the observations which a +distinguished minister of the Church _of England_, applied to the +operations of the Bible Society; these are his words: "Surely, it is +enough to make a Christian's blood run cold, to think of the sacrilegious +presumption of a Society, which dares thus to tamper, and trifle with the +revelation of the Almighty, and dares publish to the heathen, and attempt +to pawn upon its credulous supporters, these schoolboy exercises of its +agents, as the Sacred Word of God! It is the circulation of such +translations as these, that, more than once, at the meetings of this +Society, have been blasphemously compared to the miraculous gift of +tongues. And such a system is supported, and such comparisons applauded +by many, who, on other occasions, lay claim, and justly, to the +characters of piety and intelligence."[M] O how justly might he have +applied these observations to his own Church.[N] + +We have now seen, most Reverend Gentlemen, the falsification, and +mutilation of the Sacred Scriptures, by the Protestant Reformers. Your +Sixth Article tells the people, that the Scriptures are the only means of +salvation; but of course, she must mean _correct_ copies, and +_authenticated_ translations of those sacred volumes. Now, what are the +people to do for eternal life, placed as they are, on the one hand, +between your falsified, corrupt, and mutilated Scriptures, and on the +other hand, the absolute necessity (according to your Sixth Article) of +culling their religion from the Scriptures? But, as there is no hope of +salvation, for the people in this awful fix, do you think, you could +raise a church for the people, instead of these falsified scriptures? But +then, it is evident, that you cannot raise that church, on the frail +foundation of these falsified, and mutilated scriptures. Really I am +sorry, that I declined the assistance of the Spanish chemist, as he +might, perhaps, have thrown some new light, on this subject by his +wonderful chemical operations. O! but a very bright idea, has just popped +into my mind, that your Protestant prayer-book, was first made 'by the +aid of the Holy Ghost, and for the honour of God.' Surely, we shall now +succeed, by the aid of the Holy Ghost, and for the noble object of God's +honour. Well, then, we will now see, how this prayer-book, was first made +by men, 'aided by the Holy Ghost, and for the honour of God;' we will +then see, how these very men who at first declare, that this prayer-book, +which was made by the aid of the Holy Ghost, and for the honour of God, +afterwards most solemnly swear, that all these inspirations of the Holy +Ghost were heretical, and contrary to true religion, and then, how they +bring back this prayer-book, and enact the most severe penalties on all, +who will not adopt its use. + +In the reign of Henry the Eighth, the faith of Protestantism, and +defection from the Catholic faith, first partially began. In the reign of +his son, Edward VI., Protestantism, made a-head, and Catholicism, rapidly +declined. It was in the reign of this youth Edward VI., (only eleven +years of age,) that the Protestant prayer-book, was made by Act of +Parliament. In the preamble of this Act (i. & ii. Edward VI.) we are +informed that Edward (only eleven years of age) appointed the Archbishop +of Canterbury, and others, who, "aided by the Holy Ghost, and for the +honour of God," made this prayer-book. Take notice that this Act (i. & +ii. Edward VI.) declares, that this Protestant prayer-book, was made by +these men, "aided by the Holy Ghost, and for the honour of God." This Act +of Parliament, provided also, that if any clergyman, refused to use this +prayer-book, in the public service, he should, for the first offence, +forfeit to the King one year's income of his benefice, and be imprisoned +for six months; for the second, he should be deprived of the whole of his +benefice, and be imprisoned for one year; and for the third offence, he +should be imprisoned for his whole life. But this Act, was not confined +merely to the clergy, it extended also to the laity. It enacted, that if +any layman, should by interludes, plays, songs, rhymes, or by other open +words, declare, or speak anything to the derogation of the said common +prayer-book, penalty after penalty, was to follow, until he had forfeited +all his goods, and chattels to the King, and to be imprisoned for life. +Such, was the first formation, of your Protestant prayer-book, as the Act +of Parliament, (i. & ii. Edward VI.) plainly shews. + +Now, let us see the result, in the next reign. Edward died seven years +afterwards, and was succeeded by his sister, Mary, who was a Catholic. +Almost, as soon as Mary had ascended the throne, the very men repeal the +whole of the famous Act, for making the common prayer-book, and that too, +on the grounds that this prayer-book, was contrary to true religion, +although, in the former reign, they had solemnly declared, they had been +assisted, "by the Holy Ghost" in the making of this prayer-book; they +also abolished all the pains, and penalties, which they had enacted, in +the former reign, against the clergy, and laity, for not using this +common prayer-book, and this too, on the express ground, that they had +been for years, wandering in error, and schism, although, they had had +the barefacedness to assert, in the previous reign, that the Holy Ghost, +had assisted them in the formation of this common prayer-book. + +Well, Mary died about five years afterwards, and was succeeded by her +sister Elizabeth, who was at first a Catholic, but shortly turned +Protestant. Now the second Act of this Queen, (i. Eliz. chap. 2.) brought +back again, this prayer-book. In Mary's reign these very men, had +abolished this very prayer-book, as schismatical, they now recall this +common prayer-book, and inflict the most severe penalties, upon all, who +will not use it, in the public service. For the first offence, it was now +enacted, the clergy were to forfeit a year's income, and be imprisoned +for a year; for the second offence, they were to forfeit all their +incomes, and be imprisoned for life, for refusing to use this common +prayer-book, in the public service. The people also, were compelled on +Sundays, and holydays, to attend the Church, and to use this common +prayer-book, under various penalties, and in failure of paying these +penalties, they were to be imprisoned. Bishops, Archdeacons, and other +Ordinaries, were to have power, to inflict these punishments. Really the +conduct of these men, is, so inconsistent and monstrous, that if we had +not Acts of Parliament for it, I should have been afraid to state it, +upon any other authority. In the reign of Edward, these very men make the +common prayer-book, and declare it a work of the Holy Ghost, and for the +honour of God; then, in about seven years afterwards, in the reign of +Mary, they declare this book to be schismatical, and contrary to true +religion, although in the former reign, they had asserted, it was a work +of the Holy Ghost, and for the honour of God; and then in about five +years afterwards, these very men recant again, recall this prayer-book, +and inflict the most severe pains, and penalties, both on clergy and +laity, who refuse the use of it. Most Reverend Gentlemen, may I ask you, +what kind of a prayer-book, must that be, which was made by these +inconsistent, and monstrous men? and yet, such is your Protestant +prayer-book, of the Church of England as by Law established. + +But some of you reverends, will perhaps reply, really, Sir, it is too bad +of you, thus to lower our Protestant Prayer-book, for we Protestants all +know, how many beautiful, and admirable parts there are in that Church +Prayer-book. Most Reverend Gentlemen, before I answer this objection, we +must quietly trace back our steps to the Spanish chemist. Of course, I +have forbidden myself the application of his wonderful, chemical +operations to your Church. But then, you yourselves can apply them, and +judge whether there really is, any analogy or not, between his chemical +operations, and the spiritual works of your scriptural Church. Well, +then, I have shewn you, what a beautiful Church God and Jesus Christ +first built; and I have shown you the sure, and infallible foundation of +that Church, which was to be perpetuated from age to age, with the world +for its boundaries, and time for its duration. I have shewn you, how, in +the sixteenth century, arose a body of men, the most audacious, and +strange spiritual chemists, that the world ever beheld, whether you +consider the spiritual instructor of some of them, or whether you +consider the strange doctrines they advanced, and the barefaced manner, +in which they defended, and propagated their new-fangled ideas. I have +shewn you, how these strange spiritual chemists, wished to demolish God's +infallible Church, how they cut it into pieces of universal and damnable +idolatry, how then, they put these various parts into the sublimatory +glass of falsification, and mutilation of God's word. You then saw, how +these spiritual chemists, and their followers, have been trying in vain, +for these three hundred years at least, to collect, and unite, and form +these various parts of Christ's Church (which according to their bare +assertion, had fallen into error), into a more perfect, and durable form, +than that which God had first given it. You have seen, how these +Protestant children of the Reformation, honoured England with a +Protestant Prayer-book, the formation of which, almost defies all the +power of credibility; and were there not Acts of Parliament to show +this, it would be an insult to any Englishman, to assert such a thing in +his presence. Now with all these facts before you, is there not a great +analogy, between the outrageous conduct of your Church, and that of the +Spanish chemist, who destroyed his master, with the design of raising +him, to a more perfect and durable state, than that which God had first +given him? + +I ask you, most Reverend Gentlemen, with all these awful and +incontestible facts before you, will your Protestant Church, ever be able +to raise Christ's Church, to as perfect and as durable a state, as she +_is now_, and _was then_, when you withdrew from her? Your Protestant +Church has been trying her hand, at this work of reformation, for more +than three hundred years, and still she is something like the Irishman's +wife: Pat got married, and in about three months after, went to the +priest, and said, "Plaise your reverince, you didn't marry me and my wife +rightly." "Well," asked the clergyman, "how did I marry you wrongly?" +"Plaise your reverince, didn't you say, I was to take my wife for better, +and for worse?" "Certainly," replied the priest. "Now, plaise your +reverince, she's all worse, and no better." Really, how justly may we +apply this to your Church of England as by law established. In short, +this country, the wonder of the world in commerce, in the arts and +sciences, in the extent of her navy, and the power of her army, this +wonderful nation, presents, in point of religion, a confused medley of +every sort, and of every form of worship, a perfect chaos of doctrines, +in which every one plunges, and tosses, dogmatizing as fancy or feeling +directs. In consequence of this confusion of religious opinions, men know +not, to whom to listen, what to believe, or what to do. This confusion of +religious opinions, and doctrines, commenced with the Reformation, and +has continued, and daily increased ever since. O how justly did a chief +of the savages, address, near Boston, a missionary, who had gone with his +Bible, to convert the pagans of that country. "How," asked this chief, +"can _your_ religion be the _true_ one, since you _white_ men do not +_all_ profess the _same_? Agree among _yourselves_ in this point, and +_then_ we will attend to you." (Phil. Gaz. Nov. 1817.) + +But some of you reverends, will ask again: Really, sir, do you pretend to +assert, that our Common Prayer-book, and that our Protestant Church, do +not contain _any_ spiritual treasures? I answer, that in all counterfeit +coin, which is well executed, the gold is often laid on the base metal +rather thickly, and with great ingenuity. Now, this is the case with your +counterfeit prayer-book, and with your counterfeit religion. Whoever will +take the pains to examine carefully, the strange mixture of good, and of +evil, which is to be found in your Protestant Prayer-book, and in your +Protestant religion, will, at first, stand astonished, but his +astonishment will soon cease, when he finds that the little good which is +in them, flows from the Church of Jesus Christ, which you formerly left, +and that the evils with which they abound, flow from the inventions and +the ingenuity of man. + +Allow me to give you a few instances of this. In the Apostles' creed (and +in your Thirty-nine Articles you admit this creed as the word of God), +you profess to believe, in the Holy Catholic Church. Now, this is the +real word of God, which your Church admits; but then, you also solemnly +declare, that you believe in your hearts, and from your soul, that the +doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church is idolatrous. Now this is the mere +human invention of your Protestant Church. Now when these two doctrines, +the one from God, and the other from man, are brought in contact, let us +see what sad consequences they make with you, and your scriptural Church. +You profess to believe, in the Catholic Church; but Catholic, means +universal, and as the Roman Catholics form the greatest body of +Christians, their Church only, can be the Catholic, or universal Church; +for Catholic, and universal, mean the _same_ thing. But mind, you destroy +this Catholic or universal Church. How? Why you swear, that her doctrine +is idolatrous. How, then, can she be holy? Thus, you see, by joining in +religion the word of God, with the inventions of man, you destroy (though +perhaps without intending it) the holy Catholic Church, in which you +profess to believe. + +I will now give you another instance. At the end of the Communion Service +of your Common Prayer-book, I find these words: "It is hereby declared, +that thereby no adoration is intended, or ought to be done, either unto +the sacramental bread or wine, there bodily received, or to any corporal +presence of Christ's natural flesh and blood. For the sacramental bread +and wine, remain still in their very natural substances, and therefore, +may not be adored, for that were idolatry, to be abhorred of all faithful +Christians." Of course, the plain meaning of these words is, that Jesus +Christ is not present in the Lord's Supper, and therefore, it would be a +great crime to there adore him. But, what does your Church Catechism +(which is in your prayer-book) teach children on this subject? Why, it +asks them, "What is the inward part, or the thing signified?" Your Church +Catechism answers: "The Body and Blood of Christ, which are _verily_ and +_indeed taken_, and _received_ by the faithful, in the _Lord's Supper_." +Now this declares, that our Saviour, is _really_ present in the _Lord's +Supper_, for how can you _really_, and indeed _take_ Him, and _receive_ +Him, if He is not _really_ there? Thus, in _one_ part of your +prayer-book, you solemnly declare, that our Saviour is _not_ present, in +the _Lord's Supper_, and therefore it would be idolatry there to adore +him; but in _another_ part of the _same_ prayer-book, you teach children +that He is _present_; and that they _verily_ and _indeed take_ Him and +_receive_ Him in the _Lord's Supper_. The Act of Parliament of Edward +VI., for the making of this Common Prayer-book, declares it to be a work +of the Holy Ghost; but I hope you will excuse me for saying, that I think +it was a very curious Holy Ghost, and whether it was black, or white, +really I have not sufficient of the prophet in me to divine. But how was +this _manifest_ contradiction, introduced into your prayer-book? Why, I +will tell you; the doctrine of the _real_ presence of our Saviour in the +Blessed Sacrament, had been believed by the great body of Christians, +ever since the time of our Saviour, until the Reformation. Luther and +Zuinglius, indeed, as you know, were convinced _by the devil_, that our +Saviour was _not_ present in the Blessed Sacrament, and that, therefore, +it would be idolatry to believe it; but then, how were they to manage to +substitute their new-fangled opinions, for the constant belief of all +former christian ages? Why, they made flesh and fish of them; they mixed +together again the word of God with the inventions of man, and then, +thought that the people's orthodox stomachs, would _swallow better_ their +new-fangled religious ideas. + +But, what has often amused me the most, in your scriptural Church, is +this; you solemnly declare, that the doctrine of Catholics, is +idolatrous; but, should any of these poor Catholic sinners, condescend to +lay their idolatrous bones, in any of your churchyards; what do you +_then_ declare? Why, that you commit to the dust, this Catholic, (who +according to you during life has been a most idolatrous sinner,) "in the +sure, and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord +Jesus Christ;" for you would thus pray: "O merciful God, we meekly +beseech Thee, that when we shall depart this life, we may rest in Him +(Christ) as our hope is, this our brother doth." Thus you tell us, that +during life, we Catholics live in the horrible sin of idolatry, and then, +after death, you are willing to commit us, _for a comfortable fee_, "to +the dust, in the sure, and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal +life, through our Lord Jesus Christ." + +Again, you often warn the people, against the idolatrous practice of +praying to the Saints, and assure the people, there is _only one_ +mediator, our Lord Jesus Christ. And yet, on Sundays, you have no +difficulty, in recommending the sick, to the prayers of the faithful. +But, why should _you_ do _this_, when according _to you_, there is _only +one_ mediator, our Lord Jesus Christ? If _you_ can thus ask the prayers +of the faithful, without injuring the mediation of our Saviour; why +cannot the _Catholic_, ask the prayers of the Saints, without injuring +the mediation of Jesus Christ? O! but you will say, the Saints, and +Angels cannot hear our prayers. Well but does not the Scripture tell us, +"that the devil goes about, like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may +devour," and does not our Saviour say, "there is more joy in heaven, over +one sinner doing penance, than over ninety-nine just?" It appears, +therefore, the devils know, and hear what is passing upon earth, and why +should not the saints and angels of God? Nay, it is evident, they _must_ +know and hear things, which are passing upon earth, otherwise how could +they rejoice _in heaven_, on the conversion of sinners _on earth_? + +But, as you boast so much of the admirable, spiritual treasures of your +prayer-book, and of your scriptural Church, just tell me, most Reverend +Gentlemen, why they have never yet, been able to produce a single saint? +The Scripture, tells us, that a tree, may be known from _its fruit_. And +yet, among all the rich spiritual treasures, of your prayer-book, and of +your scriptural Church, for these three hundred years, you have _never_ +yet produced a person, who, on account of his virtue and piety, has been +honoured by posterity with the name of _saint_. Nay, so great is your +poverty in _this respect_, that your Church, has been obliged to _steal +Catholic_ Saints, and barefacedly insert _them_, in your _Protestant_ +calendar. Really most Reverend Gentlemen, your scriptural Church, is of a +very strange texture. I have shewn you above, how remarkable she has +always been for forgery; I have also shewn you, how she unjustly robbed +the poor of their just rights, and how, she has endeavoured, by all means +possible, to rob us of the honourable name of Catholic; and how, she has +stolen many of our great Catholic Saints, and presumptuously inserted +_them_ in her _Protestant_ calendar. Really, Gentlemen, may I not exclaim +with the poet-- + + "Can such things be, + And overcome us like a summer's cloud, + Without our special wonder!" + +But, Sir, if the Protestant prayer-book, and the Protestant religion, be +such a monstrous compound of inconsistencies and errors, as you would +fain lead us to suppose, pray tell us, why England, was so foolish, as to +renounce the Catholic, and embrace the Protestant faith? The answer to +this objection I would most willingly waive, as it would lead me into a +field of persecution, and _cruelty_, over which my feelings would not +wish to travel. But as the answer to the above objection, has been so +ably given, by a _Protestant_ member of Parliament, to a _Protestant_ +Lord, I think I cannot do _better_, than give it in his own words. And +_mind_, when you read this letter, you must not imagine, that you are +reading the _mere_ opinions of _this_ writer; no, the opinions which he +there states, are _incontestible facts_, which stand, almost as large as +life, in our English Statute-Book; and are there, recorded so plainly, +that no man in his senses, can have the presumption to deny them. I beg +leave, therefore, to lay before you, the following letter, of a +_Protestant_ member of Parliament, to a _Protestant_ lord, on the present +subject; and I am sure, that the incontestible facts, _facts of our own +English Statute-book_, there stated, will convince you, how England once +Catholic, was brought over to Protestantism. + + A LETTER TO LORD TENTERDEN, + + LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND. + + _April 6th, 1829._ + + "MY LORD, + + "I have read the report of your Lordship's speech, made on the + 4th instant, on the second reading of the Catholic Bill, and + there is one passage of it on which I think it my duty thus + publicly to remark. The passage to which I allude relates to + the character of the _Law-established Church_, and also to the + probable fate that will, in consequence of this bill, attend + her in Ireland.[O] + + "Now, with very sincere respect for your Lordship, I do think + it my duty to the people of this country, to show that the + character which you have given to the Church of England as by + _law_ established, is not correct; to show that she is not, and + never has been, _tolerant in matters of religion_; and is not, + and never has been, _favourable to civil liberty_. In short, + with most sincere respect for your Lordship, with greater + respect for you than I have ever had for any public functionary + in England, and with the greatest admiration of your conduct in + your high and important office, with all these, I think it my + duty _flatly to contradict_ your Lordship with regard to the + character of this Church, and especially in the two particulars + mentioned by you. I do not charge you with insincerity: for why + should you not be in error as to this matter, when I know that + _twenty or thirty years ago_ I myself should, in a similar + case, have said just what you have now said on this subject? + Nevertheless, it being error, and gross error too, and I + _knowing it to be error_, I am bound, in duty to my readers, to + expose the error; and I am the more strictly bound, because + this error coming from you, is the more likely to be widely + spread. + + "First, then, my Lord, let us take your proposition, 'that + there is no Church so tolerant as this.' I am sure your + Lordship has never read her history; I am sure you have not; if + you had, you never would have uttered these words. Not being + content to deal in general terms, I will _not_ say that she has + been, and was from her outset, the most intolerant Church that + the world ever saw; that she started at first, armed with + halters, ripping-knives, axes, and racks; that her footsteps + were marked with the blood, while her back bent under the + plunder of her innumerable innocent victims; and that for + refinement in cruelty, and extent of rapacity, she never had an + equal, whether corporate or sole. I will not thus speak of her + in general terms, but will lay before your Lordship some + historical _facts_, to make good that _contradiction_ which I + have given to your words. I assert that this LAW-CHURCH is the + most INTOLERANT Church I ever read or heard of; and this + assertion I now proceed to make good. + + "This Church began to _exist_ in 1547, and in the reign of + Edward VI. Until now the religion of the country had been for + several years under the tyrant Henry VIII. a sort of mongrel; + but now it became wholly Protestant by LAW. The Articles of + Religion and the Common Prayer-book were now drawn up, and were + established by Acts of Parliament. The Catholic altars were + pulled down in all the Churches; the priests, on pain of ouster + and fine, were compelled to teach the new religion, that is to + say, to be apostates; and the people who had been born and bred + Catholics were not only punished if they heard mass, but were + also punished if they did not go to hear the new parsons; that + is to say, if they refused to become apostates. The people, + smarting under this tyranny, rose in insurrection in several + parts, and, indeed, all over the country. They complained that + they had been robbed of their religion, and of the relief to + the poor which the old Church gave; and they demanded that the + mass and the monasteries should be restored, and that the + priests should not be allowed to marry. And how were they + answered? The bullet and bayonet at the hand of German troops + slaughtered a part, caused another part to be hanged, another + part to be imprisoned and flogged, and the remainder to submit, + outwardly at least, to the LAW-CHURCH; (and now mark this + tolerant and merciful Church,) many of the old monastics and + priests, who had been expelled from their convents and livings, + were compelled to beg their bread about the country, and they + thus found subsistence among the pious Catholics. This was an + eye-sore to the LAW-CHURCH, who deemed the very existence of + these men who had refused to apostatize, a libel on her. + Therefore, in company, actually in company with the law that + founded the new Church, came forth a law to punish beggars, by + burning them in the face with a red-hot iron, and by making + them slaves for two years, with power in their masters to make + them wear an iron collar. Your Lordship must have read this Act + of Parliament, passed in the first year of the first Protestant + reign, and coming forth in company with the Common Prayer-book. + This was tolerant work, to be sure; and fine proof we have here + of this Church being "favourable to civil and religious + liberty." Not content with stripping these faithful Catholic + priests of their livings; not content with turning them out + upon the wide world, this tolerant Church must cause them to + perish with hunger, or to be branded slaves. + + "Such was the tolerant spirit of this Church when she was + young. As to her burnings under Cranmer (who made the + Prayer-book), they are hardly worthy of particular notice, when + we have before us the sweeping cruelties of this first + Protestant reign, during which, short as it was, the people of + England suffered so much that the suffering actually thinned + their numbers; it was a people partly destroyed, and that too + in the space of about six years; and this is acknowledged even + in Acts of Parliament of that day. But this LAW-CHURCH was + established in reality during the reign of Old Bess, which + lasted forty-five years; that is, from 1558 to 1603; and though + this Church has always kept up its character, even to the + present day, its deeds during this long reign are the most + remarkable. + + "Bess (the shorter the name the better), established what she + called a _court of high commission_, consisting chiefly of + _bishops_ of your Lordship's '_most tolerant_ Church,' in order + to punish all who did not conform to her religious creed, she + being '_the head of the Church_.' This commission were + empowered to have control over the _opinions_ of all men, and + to punish all men according to their _discretion short of + death_. They had power to extort evidence by the _prison_ or by + the rack. They had power to compel a man (_on oath_) to _reveal + his thoughts_, and to _accuse himself, his friend, brother, + parent, wife, or child_; and this, too, on _pain of death_. + These monsters, in order to _discover priests_, and to crush + the old religion, _fined, imprisoned, racked_, and did such + things as would have made Nero shudder to think of. They sent + hundreds to the _rack_ in order to get from them confessions, + _on which confessions many of them were put to death_. + + "I have not room to make even an enumeration of the deeds of + religious persecution of this long and bloody reign; but I will + state a few of them. + + "1. It was _death_ to make a new Catholic priest within the + kingdom.--2. It was _death_ for a Catholic priest to come into + the kingdom from abroad.--3. It was _death_ to harbour a + Catholic priest coming from abroad.--4. It was _death_ to + confess to such a priest.--5. It was _death_ for any priest to + say mass. 6. It was _death_ for any one to hear mass. 7. It was + _death_ to _deny_ or _not to swear_, if called on, that this + woman was the head of the Church of Christ.--8. It was an + offence (punishable by heavy fine) _not to go to the Protestant + Church_. This fine was L20 _a lunar month_, or L250 a-year, and + of our present money, L3,250 a year. Thousands upon thousands + refused to go to the Law-Church; and thus the head of the + Church sacked thousands upon thousands of estates! The poor + conscientious Catholics who refused to go to the 'most + tolerant' Church, and who had no money to pay fines, were + crammed into the gaols, until the counties petitioned to be + relieved from the expense of keeping them. They were then + discharged, being first publicly whipped, and having their ears + bored with a red-hot iron. But this very great 'toleration' not + answering the purpose, an act was passed to banish for life all + these non-goers to Church, if they were not worth twenty + pounds; and, in case of return, they were to be punished with + death. + + "I am, my Lord, not making loose assertions here; I am all + along stating from Acts of Parliament, and the above form a + small sample of the whole; and this your Lordship must know + well. I am not declaiming, but relating undeniable facts; and + with facts of the same character, with a _bare list_, made in + the above manner, I could fill a considerable volume. The names + of the persons put to death merely for _being Catholics_, + during this long and bloody reign, would, especially if it were + to include Ireland, form a list ten times as long as that of + _our_ army and navy, both taken together. The usual mode of + inflicting death was to hang the victim for a short time, just + to benumb his or her faculties; then cut down and instantly rip + open the belly, and _tear out the heart_, and hold it up, fling + the bowels into a fire, then chop off the head, and cut the + body into quarters, then _boil_ the head and quarters, and then + hang them up at the gates of cities, or other conspicuous + places. This was done, including Ireland, to many hundreds of + persons, merely for adhering to the Church in which they had + been born and bred. There were ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SEVEN + _ripped up and boiled_ in England in the years from 1577 to + 1603; that is to say, in the last twenty-six years of Bess's + reign; and these might all have been spared if they would have + agreed to go to Church and _hear_ the Common Prayer! All, or + nearly all, of them were racked before they were put to death; + and the cruelties in prison, and the manner of execution, were + the most horrible that can be conceived. They were flung into + dungeons, and kept in their filth, and fed on bullock's liver, + boiled but unwashed tripe, and such things as dogs are fed + upon. Edward Genings, a priest, detected in saying _mass_ in + Holborn, was after sentence of death offered his pardon if he + would go to Church, but having refused to do this, and having + at the place of execution boldly said, that he would die a + thousand deaths rather than acknowledge the Queen to be the + spiritual _head_ of the Church, Topliffe, the attorney-general, + ordered the rope to be cut the moment the victim was turned + off, 'so that' (says the historian) 'the priest, being little + or nothing stunned, stood on his feet, casting his eyes towards + heaven, till the hangman tripped up his heels, and flung him on + the block, where he was ripped up and quartered.' He was so + much alive, even after the bowelling, that he cried with a loud + voice, 'Oh! it smarts!' And then he exclaimed, '_Sancte + Gregorie, ora pro me_:' while the hangman having sworn a most + wicked oath, cried, 'Zounds! his heart is in my hand, and yet + Gregory is in his mouth!' + + "The tolerance of the Law-Church was shown towards women as + well as towards men. There was a Mrs. Ward, who, for assisting + a priest to escape from prison (the crime of that priest being + saying mass), was imprisoned, flogged, racked, and finally + hanged, ripped up, and quartered. She was executed at Tyburn, + on the 30th of August, 1588. At her trial the judges asked if + she had done the thing laid to her charge. She said 'Yes!' and + that she was happy to reflect that she had been the means of + 'delivering that innocent lamb from the hands of those bloody + wolves.' They in vain endeavoured to terrify her into a + confession relative to the place whither the priest was gone; + and when they found threats unavailing, they promised her + pardon if she would go to Church; but she answered, that she + would lose many lives if she had them, rather than acknowledge + the heretical Church. They, therefore, treated her very + savagely, ripped her up while in her senses, and made a mockery + of her naked quarters. + + "There was a Mrs. Clithero pressed to death at York, in the + year 1586. She was a lady of good family, and her crime was + relieving and harbouring priests. She refused to plead, that + she might not tell a lie, nor expose others to danger. She was, + therefore, pressed to death, in the following manner. She was + laid on the floor, on her back. Her hands and feet were bound + down as close as possible. Then a great door was laid upon her, + and many hundred weights placed upon that door. Sharp stones + were put under her back, and the weights pressing upon her + body, first broke her ribs, and finally, though by no means + quickly, extinguished life. Before she was laid on the floor, + Fawcett, the sheriff, commanded her to be stripped naked, when + she, with four women who accompanied her, requested him, on + their knees, for the honour of womanhood, that this might be + dispensed with; but he refused. Her husband was forced to flee + the country; her little children who wept for their dear and + good mother, were taken up, and being questioned concerning + their religious belief, and answering as they had been taught + by her, were severely whipped, and the eldest, who was but + twelve years old, was cast into prison. + + "Need I go on, my Lord? Twenty large volumes, allotting only + one page to each case, would not, if we were to include + Ireland, contain an account of those who have fallen victims to + their refusal to conform to this 'most tolerant Church in the + world.' Nay, a hundred volumes, each volume being 500 pages, + and one page allowed to each victim, would not suffice for the + holding of this bloody record. Short of death by ripping up, + there were, _death_ by martial law, _death_ in prison, and this + in cases without number, banishment and loss of estate. Doctor + Bridgewater, in a table published by him at the end of the + _Concertatio Ecclesiae Catholicae_, gives the names of about + twelve hundred who had suffered in this way, before the year + 1588; that is to say, before the great heat of the 'tolerance.' + In this list there are 21 bishops, 120 monastics, 13 deans, 14 + archdeacons, 60 prebendaries, 530 priests, 49 doctors of + divinity, 18 doctors of law, 15 masters of colleges, 8 earls, + 10 barons, 26 knights, 326 gentlemen, 60 ladies and + gentlewomen. Many of all those, and, indeed, the greater part + of them, died in prison, and several of them died while under + sentence of death. + + "There, my Lord, I do not think that you will question the + truth of this statement: and if you cannot, I hope you will + allow, that no lover of truth and justice ought to be silent + while reports of speeches are circulating, calling this 'the + _most tolerant_ Church in the world.' But, my Lord, why need I, + in addressing myself to you on this subject, do more than refer + you to the cruel, the savage, the bloody penal code? Leaving + poor half-murdered Ireland out of the question, what have I to + do, in answer to your praises of this Church, and your + assertion as to its tolerance, but to request you to remember + the enactments in the following Acts of Old Bess, the head and + the establisher of this Church? Stat. i. chap. 1 and 2; Stat. + v. chap. 1; Stat. xii. chap. 2; Stat. xxiii. chap. 1; Stat. + xxvii. chap. 2; Stat. xxix. chap. 6; Stat. xxxv. chap. 1; Stat. + xxxv. chap. 2? What have I to do, my Lord, but to request you + to look at, or rather to call to mind those laws of plunder and + of blood; _fine, fine, fine_; _banish, banish, banish_; or + _death, death, death_ in every line? Your Lordship knows that + this is true: you know that all these horrors, all this hellish + tyranny, that the whole arose out of a desire to make this + Protestant Church predominant. How, then, can this Protestant + Church be called 'the most tolerant in the world?' I have here + given a mere sample of the doings of this Law-Church. I have + not taken your Lordship to Ireland, half-murdered Ireland; nor + have I even hinted at many acts done in England during Bess's + reign, each of which would have excited the indignation of + every virtuous man on earth; but I must not omit to mention two + traits of tolerance in this Church: FIRST, Edward VI. was + advised to _bring his sister Mary to trial_, and, of course to + punishment, for not conforming to the Law-Church; and she was + saved only by the menaces of her cousin, the Emperor Charles V. + SECOND, when Mary, Queen of Scotland, had been condemned to + die, she, though she earnestly sued for it, WAS NOT ALLOWED TO + HAVE A PRIEST TO PERFORM THE RELIGIOUS OFFICES DEEMED SO + NECESSARY IN SUCH CASES. They brought the Protestant Dean of + Peterborough to pray by or with her; but she would not hear + him. When her head fell from the block the Dean exclaimed, 'So + let our Queen's enemies perish!' And the Earl of Kent responded + 'Amen.' Baker in his Chronicle, p. 273, says, that the death of + this Queen was earnestly desired, because 'that if she lived, + the religion received in England could not subsist.' + + "This Church has been no _changeling_; she has been of the same + character from the day of her establishment to the present + hour; in Ireland her deeds have surpassed those of Mahomet; but + it would take a large volume to put down a bare list of her + intolerant deeds. She at last, however, seems to be nearly at + the end of her tether; the nation has always been making + sacrifices to her haughty predominance. Boulogne and Calais + were the first sacrifices; _poor-rates_, and an _enormous + debt_, and a _standing army_, and a _civil list_ have followed; + all, yea all, to be ascribed to the predominance of this + Church, and her haughty spirit of ascendancy. But now the + nation has made so many and such great sacrifices to her, that + _it can make no more_. It cannot venture on _another civil war_ + (about the _twentieth_), in order to support the ascendancy of + this Church; and be you assured, my Lord, that that hierarchy + in Ireland, to uphold which you seem so very anxious, is not + much longer to be upheld by any power on earth, seeing that all + the miseries of Ireland, all of them, without a single + exception, are to be traced directly to that hierarchy: and in + these miseries _England sees terrific danger_. + + "The case is very plain. The opponents of the Catholic Bill + say, We dislike it, because it exposes the Church, and + especially the _Irish Church_, to imminent _danger_. The answer + of the Duke is, I cannot prevent this danger without _risking a + civil war_; and the State _cannot afford that_. The Law-Church + might reply, Why there have been many, many civil wars carried + on for the purpose of upholding my ascendancy; but to that the + Duke might rejoin, Very true; but we have now a + paper-money-system (also made to uphold you) _which cannot live + in civil war_, and the death of which may produce that of the + State itself; and, therefore, you must be now left to support + your ascendancy by your talents, piety, zeal, charity, + humility, and sound doctrine. This is the true state of the + case, my Lord, and, therefore, unless the Church can support + itself by these means, it is manifestly destined to fall. + + "I am your Lordship's most humble and most obedient Servant, + + "WM. COBBETT." + +Most Reverend Gentlemen, after reading the above letter, (and mind, the +writer informs you, that what he there asserts, is proved by acts of +parliament,) after reading the above letter, can it for a moment be +thought strange, that England should have left the Catholic, and embraced +the Protestant faith? Nay, is it not more strange, with all the above +_incontestible_ facts before us, is it not, I repeat, more strange, that +there should have been left, a single Catholic, or a single fibre of +Catholicity, in this country? And had it not been for the providence of +God, this would certainly have been the case; but the Scripture +beautifully informs us, "that to them, who love God, all things work +together unto good." (_Rom._ viii., 28.) + +But, Most Reverend Gentlemen, I have ranged over so much spiritual +ground, and have been so busily occupied in bagging black game, that I +have nearly forgotten the famous text, "extraordinary and presumptuous +movement," which your meeting were so kind as to give me to preach from. +Really, I must not forget _my text_, otherwise you will begin to +conclude, I must be a very _bungling_ preacher. Let us, then, now return +to my famous text. I think, that you must have been already convinced, +from what I have stated, in the first part of this address to you Clergy, +that your scriptural Church, has been for a long time, making a most +"extraordinary and presumptuous movement," on the _pockets_ of +Englishmen. By _now_ recapitulating what I have just said in the latter +part of this address, I think it will be also plain, that your Church has +been making, for a long time, a most "extraordinary and presumptuous +movement" on the _intellects_ of Englishmen. + +I have shown you, as above, what a beautiful Church Christ built, which, +erected on an infallible and imperishable foundation, was to be the +Church of all ages, with the world for its boundaries, and time for its +duration. I have shown you, how your first Reformers, and your Protestant +scriptural Church, had the barefacedness to assert, that this Church of +Christ once fell into error, although _God_ had pledged his solemn word, +that this Church _never should err_; I have also shown you, how this +assertion of Christ's Church falling into error, was the _mere_ ipse +dixit of the _first_ Reformers, and of your scriptural Church; and that +they had both unfortunately forgotten to prove, _when_, _where_, and +_how_, this _infallible_ Church of Christ had fallen _into error_. Now, I +appeal to you, if this was not, a most "extraordinary and presumptuous +movement," of your scriptural Church, on the _intellects_ of Englishmen. +I have also shown you, the characters of the first Reformers, who the +spiritual instructor of some of them was, and what strange, paradoxical, +and new ideas, they advanced, and how, by forgery and lies, they +contrived to palm their new-fangled religious ideas, on the minds of the +people. Really, Gentlemen, was not this, a most "extraordinary and +presumptuous movement," of these Reformers, and of your scriptural +Church, on the _intellects_ of Englishmen? I have likewise shown you, how +your scriptural Church, assures her people, in her Thirty-nine Articles, +that the Scriptures are the only means of their salvation; and I have +also shown you, how the first Reformers and your scriptural Church, have +falsified, and mutilated, those sacred volumes. On the one hand, it is +declared, that the Scriptures are the _only_ means of salvation, and on +the other hand, it is plain, that these sacred volumes, have been +falsified, and mutilated. What, then, are the people to do in this awful +fix? Really, Gentlemen, is not this, another most "extraordinary and +presumptuous movement" of your scriptural Church, on the _intellects_ of +Englishmen? I have shown you, also, with what kind of a book of Common +Prayer, your Church honoured the people. I have shown you, how, _at +first_ it was declared, to be the work of the Holy Ghost; how then, it is +declared _not_ to be the work of the _Holy Ghost_, but the work of +_schism_; how it is then recalled, and adopted, as a most fit means of +devotion for the people. I have shown you, how artfully God's holy Word, +and man's human inventions, are there mixed up together; and that, when +they come in contact with each other, in what strange and paradoxical +situations they place your scriptural Church. Really, Gentlemen, is not +this also a most "extraordinary and presumptuous movement" of your +scriptural Church, on the _intellects_ of Englishmen? Our Saviour +declared, that his kingdom was not of _this_ world; and hence, neither +he, nor his apostles, endeavoured to propagate, and support his doctrine, +by force, cruelty, and persecution. But does not the above letter, and do +not acts of Parliament prove, that it was by bribery among the great +ones, and by force, and cruelty, and persecution, and death, on the +middle and lower classes, that your scriptural Reformation was +introduced, and forced on England? Really, Gentlemen, was not this, a +most "extraordinary and presumptuous movement" of your scriptural Church, +on the _consciences_, and on the _intellects_ of Englishmen? + +Now, most Reverend Gentlemen, you and many of your reverend body, have +been lately calling public meetings, in which you have unjustly +endeavoured, to rouse the indignation of the people, against the Pope for +making, "an extraordinary and presumptuous movement" on the Protestants +of England. Now I have plainly proved, in my first address, that the Pope +has _not_ made an "extraordinary and presumptuous movement" on the +Protestants of England; for, by the spirit of the English law, as I have +shown, the Pope is _perfectly justified in all he has done_. But +Gentlemen, is your Protestant Church, justified _in all_ the +"extraordinary and presumptuous movements," which, I have shown, she has +been making so long on _the pockets_, and on _the intellects_ of +Englishmen? Certainly not. Thus you see, you have unfortunately thrown +your Scriptural Church (which feeds you so well with more than nine +millions a-year) into the very grave, which you have been so charitably, +and officiously, unjustly digging for the poor Pope. Really, most +Reverend Gentlemen, I think every one, will conclude, that this is a most +extraordinary and presumptuous movement, of _you_ and _your_ reverend +body, on your good, and kind mother the Church. May they not justly apply +to you, the words of the old proverb, "Physicians, cure yourselves?" Most +Reverend Gentlemen, to those clergymen, who have adopted the above +inconsistent conduct, I can only say, I may applaud their intentions, but +I must condemn their bigotry. They may indeed, be friends to their Church +in their hearts, but their mouths, and pens, are her most dangerous +enemies. + +Before I conclude, I beg leave to say a few words about the Puseyites, a +few words to the dissenters, and a few words to the English people; and +then, I must drop the curtain, and beg leave to retire for the present. + +There is a circumstance, connected with the Whitby meeting, upon which I +have as yet made no remark. You came together, on that occasion, both +ministers and people, obedient to the trumpet call of Lord John Russell. +Now, that trumpet blew two blasts, which gave "no uncertain sound." The +_first_, was to denounce the papal aggression; the _second_, was to warn +you of "a danger, which alarmed him (Lord John Russell) much more than +any aggression of a foreign sovereign; alarmed him more, than Pope and +Cardinal Archbishop, and territorial titles put together, more than the +hierarchy, with all its mapping, and parcelling out of the land, nay, +more to be dreaded, than an invasion of England, by the fleets and armies +of any earthly power!" In the name of all that is terrible, what is this +danger, that is impending over us? He says that it is a danger, "_already +within the gates_." What does he mean? Why, Gentlemen, he means (and you +all know it) Puseyism, and Popery, which have long been spreading, in the +_very bosom_ of the _Protestant_ Church of England. Lord John proclaims +to you, _this latter_ danger, even more loudly than _the former_; and +yet, upon _this latter_ "extraordinary and presumptuous movement," _you_ +were silent at _your_ meeting, _each_ and _all_; you heard him +proclaiming, that the abomination of desolation, had got possession of +the holy place; and that the bewitching fascination, of the Harlot of +Rome, had reduced even some of the Protestant Bishops, into dalliance +with her; and yet, _not one_ word, from _any_ minister among _you_, +Protestant, Independent, or Wesleyan, _not one word_ either _to deny_ the +existence of the danger, or to propose means to _ward_ it off. You +_readily_ flocked together, to repel the _lesser_ danger, but, the _much +more_ alarming danger, (according to Lord John) the danger "within the +gates," it seemed touched _you not at all_. Really, _in this_ you appear, +to be worthy disciples of Lord John Russell, who sat nearly seven years, +under the Rev. Mr. Bennett, with all this danger staring him in the face, +and yet, blew not _then_ a _single_ blast of his _warning_ trumpet. +Really, Gentlemen, what was the cause of your silence, on this occasion? +Was it lack of zeal, or lack of courage on your part? We shall, perhaps, +be better able to judge of this, when I have told you, what sort of +Puseyite enormities, Lord John has detected in the Church, and how, he +takes upon himself, to chastise and correct them. Never, since the days +of Cromwell, the Vicar-General of Henry VIII., has any layman, or +churchman either, dared to play such tricks, or brandish such a rod, in +the face of the Church of England, as this imperious minister has done! +Mark, how this leader of the House of Commons, this lay Metropolitan of +all England, superseding both York and Canterbury, see, how he calls to +account his venerable brother, the Bishop of Durham. "Clergymen of our +Church, who have subscribed the thirty-nine articles, and acknowledged +the Queen's supremacy, have been the most forward, to lead their flocks, +step by step, to the very verge of the precipice." Well, sad shepherds +these, to lead their flocks, to the very verge of the precipice, and +_sadder still_, that one thousand, eight hundred of these Church of +England Clergymen, have signed a protest, _against the Queen's supremacy +as recently_ exercised; thus rebelling, against the acknowledged, and +sworn head of their Church. Well, Lord John thus describes the danger, +"within the gates." + +(1.) The honour paid to saints; (2.) the claim of infallibility for the +Church; (3.) the superstitious use of the sign of the cross; (4.) the +muttering of the liturgy, so as to disguise the language, in which it is +written; (5.) the recommendation of auricular confession; (6.) the +administration of penance, and (7.) absolution. + +All these things, are pointed out by _certain_ clergymen of the _Church_ +of _England_, as worthy of adoption! Here, according to Lord John +Russell, is the "enemy within the gates." Here, are seven enormous +errors, pointed out by a layman, as corrupting, and disfiguring the pure, +the Scriptural, the reformed Church of England. I will make a few remarks +on each, marking the number of each, as I proceed. + +(1st. The honour paid to saints.) So certain Reverend Gentlemen of the +Church of England, are no longer to honour the saints, as they have done; +the Whig prime minister, will not permit it. But can it be, that Lord +John here intimates, that these Protestant Clergymen, have been paying +_divine_ honour to the saints? Why, this would be idolatry! "Thou that +abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?" Catholics, indeed, honour +the saints, but a true Catholic, would sooner die, than give _divine_ +honour to any saint, or to all the saints in bliss. But, whether you +Reverend Protestant Gentlemen, are to honour them at all, or with what +sort of honour, or with what degree of it; all this you will learn, +perhaps, from Lord John Russell, or from some of his Bishops. In the +meantime, you had better observe the _Protestant_ Church doctrine, as to +holy angels, laid down in your _Protestant_ collect, on the feast of St. +Michael, where your scriptural Church, prays, that "the holy angels, may, +by God's appointment, succour and defend us on earth." (Coll. of St. +Mich. Ch. Eng. Prayer Book.) Surely, this doctrine of your Church of +England prayer book, will not alarm Lord John Russell, and surely, the +Bishop of London, will not openly reprehend this, in his next charge, to +the clergy of his diocese; although, in my humble opinion, it smells very +strongly of the popish doctrine of angels, and saints, and looks very +like, leading the people, step by step, to the very verge of that +precipice. + +(2ndly. The claim of infallibility for the Church.) It seems, some of +you, Reverend Gentlemen, have had the _temerity_ to preach up, the +infallibility of the Church. _This_, is to be "put down." _You_ are not +to claim _infallibility_ for _your_ Church. Infallibility belongs to the +_Catholic_ Church, which is "built upon a rock," which is the "pillar and +ground of truth," "formed upon the prophets, and apostles, having Christ +for its chief corner stone," with which Church Christ has promised, "to +abide all days, even to the end of the world." Such is the Catholic +Church, according to the _Scriptures_. But, as regards _your Church_, +Reverend Gentlemen, you are to be diligent in teaching, that your Church +is _not_ infallible, is not built upon a rock, _not_ founded upon the +prophets and apostles,--has not Christ for its chief corner stone,--for +if _she had_, she would _assuredly_ be _infallible_. But above all, you +are to teach, either that Christ did _not_ promise, to be always with His +Church, or that, even his abiding presence, with the Church, is _not_ +sufficient to make _her_ infallible; at all events, you are to teach (if +you teach anything) that _your_ Church, has _no claims_ to infallibility, +and that she may be involved in the grossest errors, and may be +altogether, misleading and deluding, both you and your flocks. This +shows, what a cuckoo cry, that was, which the vicar of Leeds, was +sometime ago, sounding with _such iteration_, from the housetops, crying, +"HEAR THE CHURCH." This cry, has died away, and I suspect, Dr. Hook will +not _renew_ it, with the return of spring. For why, in the name of common +sense, should we hear, or follow the guidance of this Church of England, +which does not pretend, to be a _sure_ and _infallible_ guide? Or where +indeed, shall we find the Church? In convocation? that has been +extinguished. In synod? She is not permitted to hold one. On the bench of +Bishops? The Bishops, are _notoriously_ at sixes and sevens, all over the +land, both on matters of _faith_, _discipline_, and _ceremonies_. + +Yours, Reverend Gentlemen, is a _hard_ lot! I know nothing to equal to +it. You glory in liberty of conscience, and are the bound slaves of a +_fallible_ Church, as if she were _infallible_. The Bible, and the Bible +alone, is your rule of faith, and yet, you are remorselessly compelled, +to subscribe to the thirty-nine Articles, which have been _added_ to the +Scriptures, and which are in part self-contradictory, and in part, +impossible to be understood.[P] You exult in freedom of thought, and in +the privilege of private interpretation, but if you _dare_ to exercise +_either_, you are dragged to the ecclesiastical courts, to answer for +your temerity, at the bar of a Lay Judge. Ah! Reverend Gentlemen, +Cranmer, and Latimer, and Ridley, did an _evil_ thing; they bowed their +_own_ necks, and prepared for _your_ necks, a galling yoke, when to rid +themselves of the supremacy, of the divinely appointed head of the +Church, they cried out, "we have no king but Caesar." From _that_ day to +_this_, Parliament, and Parliamentary leaders, have lorded it, over your +inheritance, both _spiritual_ and _temporal_. You _must_ either submit to +_Lay_ tribunals, or there are _no loaves_ and _fishes_ for _you_. + +How beautifully is your Church thus described by the poet,-- + + "For she was of that stubborn crew + Of errant saints, whom all men grant, + To be the true Church militant: + Such as do build their faith upon, + The holy text of pike and gun; + Decide all controversies by + Infallible artillery; + And prove their doctrines orthodox + By apostolic blows and knocks; + Which always must be going on, + And still be doing, never done: + As if religion were intended, + For nothing else, but to be mended." + +(3rdly. The superstitious use of the sign of the cross.) The true +Catholic, knows that the Son of God, obtained the salvation of the world, +by dying _on a cross_, for all mankind; and hence, like the great St. +Paul, he glories in the cross of Christ, and frequently crosses himself, +with this holy sign, to remind himself of Jesus Christ, who obtained so +many spiritual blessings for mankind, by the great sacrifice, which he +once consummated _on the cross_. Hence the Catholic Church, keeps the +cross, as the sign of the pledge of our redemption, in all her churches, +and chapels, and by this holy sign, reminds the faithful, that all the +blessings, that they either _have_ received, or _can_ receive, _must_ +come through the _merits_ of Jesus Christ. Hence, in the oblation of her +holy sacrifice, in the administration of her sacraments, and in all her +sacred rites, and ceremonies, she is continually using this holy sign, to +remind both herself, and the faithful, that it is by the cross, that is, +by the merits of our Saviour's death, and passion, that she, and all +other faithful, are to triumph over the world, the flesh, and the devil. +Hence, this sign was used by antiquity with the greatest veneration. +Thus, Tertullian beautifully says, "We sign ourselves with the sign of +the cross, on the forehead, whenever we go from home, or return, when we +put on our clothes, or our shoes, when we go to the bath, or sit down to +meat, when we light our candles, when we lie down, and when we sit." But +it appears, that the superstitious use of the sign of the cross, is +offensive to Lord John, and, that it may lead people, step by step, to +the very verge of the precipice; and therefore, you clergymen, must not +make use of the sign of the cross, but you must keep the lion, and the +unicorn, in _your_ churches, to remind the people, that _your_ church is +the church of men, as by Law established. You may indeed, bow at the name +of Jesus, and kiss the Bible, before you swear by it, in a court of +justice, but, in the house of God, you had better omit the superstitious +use of the sign of the cross, although, if _one_ of the popish ceremonies +be _superstitious_, it is manifest that the _other two_ ceremonies, must +be _also superstitious_. + +(4thly. The muttering of the liturgy, so as to disguise the language, in +which it is written.) Now, what this sentence really means, I am at a +loss to divine; whether, it refers to the indistinct utterance, of the +clergyman's enunciation, or it means, that some of these Protestant +clergymen, have been performing certain parts, of the Church of England +liturgy, like Catholics, in the Latin tongue, I am at a loss to +determine. It is a pity, when Lord John is finding fault, about +muttering, so as to disguise the language, (and of course the meaning,) +of his Church liturgy, it is really a pity, Lord John did not express +himself, in more intelligible terms; but, perhaps, the obscurity of Lord +John's meaning, may be owing to the blunt acumen of my popish +understanding. I am rather, however, inclined to think, that Lord John, +is here warning his clergy, against the use of the Latin tongue, in the +Church liturgy, and if so, he is perfectly right. For the English +Protestant Church, is a _modern_ church, its _language_, therefore, +should be _modern_, that its _liturgy_, may announce to posterity the +period, in which it was formed. But the Church of Rome, is an _ancient_ +Church, and therefore, _she_ preserves her _ancient_ liturgy, the +language of which, remounts to the _origin_ of Christianity. I do not +believe, that history, can furnish an instance of a people, who ever +changed the language of their liturgy, and who did not, at the same time, +change their religion. But are the Catholics of the Latin Church, +singular in the use of an ancient tongue, in their service? Certainly +not. The Greeks, Russians, Armenians, Syrians, Copts, Ethiopians, +Georgians, and the other Christians of the East, all retain the +liturgies, which they received from the fathers of their faith, and which +are written in languages, unintelligible to the common people. The same, +was the discipline of the Jews, after their captivity; and we do not +find, that it was ever blamed by Our Saviour. But is it true, that the +modern Church of England, has always held in such abhorrence, the +celebration of her liturgy, in an unknown tongue? certainly not: for, in +the year 1560, an act was passed, for the introduction of the English +Protestant Common Prayer Book, among the natives of Ireland, who were +compelled, by the severest penalties, to assist at the celebration of the +English liturgy; though these poor Irish, were _utterly_ unacquainted, +with the English language. Hence, Dr. Heylin, in his History of the +Protestant Reformation, (Eliz. p. 128.) says, "The people, by that +statute, are required under severe penalties, to frequent their churches, +and to be frequent, at the reading of the _English_ liturgy, which they +understand, _no more_ than they do the Mass." * * * "By which," continues +this Protestant writer, "we have furnished the Papists, with an excellent +argument against ourselves, for having the divine service celebrated in +_such_ a language, as the people do _not_ understand." + +But is the adoption of the Latin tongue, peculiar only to some of the +Protestant Clergymen, of the present day? I answer no; for in the Act of +Uniformity, the Protestant minister in Ireland, if he could not read the +_English_, was permitted to read a _Latin_ translation, which was, no +doubt, equally _unintelligible_ to the most of his parishioners. (See +Dr. Heylin's Hist., as above.) In the same year, the Universities of +Oxford, and Cambridge, and the Colleges of Eton, and Winchester, obtained +permission from the head of their Church, to perform the divine service +in the language of Rome. (Wilk. Conc. Tom. iv., p. 217.) Thus you see, +that the muttering of the Liturgy, so as to disguise the language, in +which it was written, is not (if I understand rightly Lord John's +meaning,) is not peculiar only to some of you Protestant ministers of the +present day; for it was claimed and exercised by some of your Protestant +ancestors. But then, we all know, Lord John is a consistent and +straight-forward man, and therefore, he may perhaps wish you, to adopt in +your Liturgy, a _modern_ language, significant of the _modern_ origin of +your Church, and therefore, he may perhaps wish you to show, by the +language of your Liturgy, that your Church, is _so many_ hundred years +_too late, to be the Church of Christ_. + +But if the muttering of the Liturgy, &c., by the Clergy, be a great +crime, is it not a far greater crime, for the Protestant Bishops, and +clergymen, so to mutter the tenets of their creed, as to disguise the +language, and the meaning of them, by their perpetual disunions, and +contradictions? Is it not a _notorious_ fact, that in _one_ Protestant +Church, you are taught to believe in ecclesiastical infallibility, in +_another_, in the all-sufficiency of the Scriptures; in _one_ Protestant +parish, you have a sacrificial, mediatorial priest, in _another_, one of +an opposite, and contrary opinion; in _one_ Protestant Church, you have +an altar, in _another_, you have a communion table; in _one_ Bishop's +See, the Protestant prelate _rigorously_ insists, on the _necessity_ of +spiritual regeneration by baptism, in _another_ Bishop's See, it is +acknowledged to be an _unnecessary_ act of religion; in Pimlico +Protestant Church, you have auricular confession _insisted on_, in a +Liverpool Protestant Church, you have the _punishment of death_, +recommended as a _penalty_ for such a practice; in short, is it not +_notorious_ (as I said before) that the Protestant Bishops, and +Clergymen, are at sixes, and sevens, all over the land, about _their +articles of faith_, _matters of discipline_ and _ceremonies_? Really, +what are the people to do, amidst all this disunion, and dissension about +their religion, so as to disguise, and confound the sense, and meaning of +its tenets? Had not Lord John Russell, better have called his bishops, +and Clergy to an account, on _this_ Babel muttering of religion, before +he chastised them, for the muttering of _the Liturgy_? The building of +the mighty tower of Babel, was arrested, and demolished by the confusion +of tongues; and be assured, most Reverend Gentlemen, unless your +Scriptural Church, changes this muttering, and confusion of tongues, of +her weathercock, and Babel faith, and doctrines, she must also be +demolished. For does not the Scripture, plainly tell us, that "a house +divided against itself, cannot stand?" and the rains (of fallibility, and +of muttering the Liturgy, &c.) fell, and the floods (of clerical +protestant dissensions) came, and the winds (of disunion among the +bishops, about the necessity of baptismal regeneration) blew; and they +beat upon that house, (the Protestant, fallible, Babel, Church,) and it +fell; and great was the _golden_ fall thereof, for it was built, _not_ +upon the rock of God's _infallible_ word, but upon the mere _fallible +inventions_, and _pecuniary conveniences_ of men. + +(5th. The recommendation of Auricular Confession, to which, I beg to add +(the 7th) Absolution.) + +Every well-instructed Catholic, knows that no man, _as man_, can forgive +sins; but at the same time, he knows, that _God_ can forgive sins, and +that God, _can_ give that power to _man_; for the Apostles were men, and +yet, Jesus Christ (as I shall shortly shew) gave his Apostles, a power to +forgive sins. You know, that our Saviour, was both God and man, and that +he acted, sometimes as God, and sometimes, as man. Now, if you will read +the ninth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, you will find, that our +Saviour worked a miracle, to prove that He as man, (but mind assisted by +his heavenly Father) had power to forgive sins, even on earth. Now, he +gave this power, also to his Apostles, for we read in St. John's Gospel, +(chap. xx. 22,) He "breathed upon them," and said, "Receive ye the Holy +Ghost: whose sins, you shall forgive, they are forgiven; and whose sins +you shall retain, they are retained." Now, why was not this power of +forgiving sins, to extend also to _future_ ages? Are not God, and Jesus +Christ, as good and as kind, _now_, as they were, in the _time_ of the +Apostles; and are there not, as many sinners _now_, as there were _then_? +If therefore, God, and Jesus Christ, in their infinite mercy, gave this +power of forgiving sins, _to the Apostles_, for the good of mankind then, +and if there are, as many sinners _now_, as there were _then_, in the +name of common sense, why was not this power of God, given to the +Apostles for the benefit of mankind _then_, why was it not, to extend +also to all _future_ ages, for the benefit of mankind _afterwards_? No +such things, cries out the Lay Metropolitan of England. Such doctrine, +would lead the people, step by step, to the very verge of the precipice. +But of what precipice? Would you believe it? to the recommendation of +Auricular Confession, and Absolution, as laid down, in the _Church of +England Prayer-book_. + +In the Church of England form of Ordination, the Bishop says, to the +candidate for the priesthood: "Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose sins ye +shall forgive, they are forgiven, and whose sins ye shall retain, they +are retained." These words, most Reverend Gentlemen, were said over each +of you, by your Bishops, when you presented yourselves candidates, for +ordination. Now, did you receive any spiritual power, or was this a mere +form? If you answer, it was a mere form, you then have no more power, in +this respect, than a mere layman; but if you answer, you did receive a +power, it must have been, either a _declaratory_, or a _judicial_ power +to forgive sins; if it was only a _declaratory_ power, viz., to declare, +that the sinner, would obtain forgiveness if he truly repented, then, +_any layman_, possesses this power _without ordination_; for any layman, +can confidently declare, that _penitent_ sinners are pardoned; but if you +received a _judicial_ power, to forgive sins, then, this is popish +doctrine, and this would lead you, and your flock, step by step, to the +very verge of the precipice. But to the verge of what precipice? Why your +Protestant common prayer-book, shall now tell you. Really, most Reverend +Gentlemen, I am afraid of quoting this passage, from your prayer-book; +for it will not _merely lead_ you to _the verge_, but it will _hurl_ you, +all headlong, down the precipice of the popish doctrine, of Auricular +Confession, and Absolution. + +But we had better, go step by step, and therefore, I will quote a _choice +piece_, that occurs in your Protestant common prayer-book, just before +the recommendation of Auricular Confession, and Absolution. Your godly +prayer-book, says, in the visitation of the sick, "the ministers shall +not omit, earnestly to move, such sick persons, as are of ability, _to be +liberal to the poor_." It is a pity, O godly Church, that thou didst not +give this advice to thyself, at the Reformation, when thou stolest, so +much money from the poor, and then, made the nation make up, by +church-rates and poor-rates, for what thou hadst stolen. Thou art really +a very disinterested spiritual physician, for thou art most solicitous +about thy children, practising the virtue of _charity themselves_, but as +for _thyself_, thou will practise charity, as soon as it is convenient, +or as soon as the spirit moves thee, or the nation makes thee. + +But what comes next, in your godly prayer-book? Why, rank, and downright +Popish doctrine, of auricular confession, and absolution. In the +visitation of the sick, your prayer-book thus says; "Here shall the sick +person be moved to make a SPECIAL confession of _his sins_, if he feel +his conscience, troubled with any weighty matter. After which +_confession_, the Priest shall absolve him (if he humbly and earnestly +desire it) after this sort: Our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath left power to +His Church, to absolve all sinners, who truly repent, and believe in Him; +of His great mercy, forgive thee thine offences: and by His authority +COMMITTED TO ME, I _absolve_ thee from all thy sins, in the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Really, most +Reverend Gentlemen, if all this, is not rank popish, auricular +confession, and absolution, I know not what is; and _mind_, standing as +large as life, in _your_ Church of England, Common Prayer-book, which was +made by act of parliament, by "the aid of the Holy Ghost, and for the +honour of God." Really, what are you, and Lord John Russell to do _now_, +when your Protestant godly Prayer-book, has not only _led_ you to _the +verge_, but _hurled_ you all headlong down to the _very_ bottom, of +popish Auricular Confession, and absolution? Why, you must either +renounce your Protestant prayer-book, and declare, it is _not_ a work of +the Holy Ghost, nor made for the honour of God; or your orthodox +stomachs, must swallow, by wholesale, _this abomination of desolation_, +of popish auricular confession, and absolution; and thus, allow the +dreadful enemy, to remain "within your gates," an enemy more terrible +than an hostile invasion by foreign powers. + +(6th. The administration of Penance.) This, most Reverend Gentlemen, is +the sixth error, in Lord John Russell's catalogue, of seven errors, but +the last, which I have to answer, as I have already, included the +seventh, in the fifth error. If Lord John, wishes to intimate, that +Catholics teach works of penance, to be of _themselves_ a _sufficient_ +compensation for sin, Lord John has yet, to learn, the _first_ rudiments +of the Catholic creed; but if he means, that Catholics consider the works +of penance, as one of the conditions, on which our Saviour, is willing to +communicate the merits of His death and passion, to the soul of the +sinner, Lord John's meaning is just. But does Lord John, seriously +condemn this doctrine, founded, as it is, on the plainest evidence of +scripture, and confirmed by the practice of the earliest ages? If I +understand Lord John rightly, he certainly does. Lord John, is perhaps +the zealous champion of the all-sufficiency of Christ, and in his +opinion, to do penance for sin, after the great sacrifice consummated on +the cross, is to lead the people, step by step, to the verge of an awful +precipice. If this, is Lord John's creed, it must, at least, be a very +consoling one. Indulge your passions, it exclaims, to the sinner, indulge +your passions, and cease to sin, when you can sin no longer; fear not the +rigours of penance; to weep and pray, to fast and give alms, to repent in +sackcloth and ashes, are external ceremonies, which are confined to the +popish creed; but to practise them, in our _new_ dispensation of _free_ +grace, _as by law established_, would be, to lead the people, to the very +verge of the popish precipice. It is curious to observe, how Lord John's +liberation from penance (if I understand him rightly,) has improved, on +the rough sketch, which was delivered by our forefathers. St. Paul, was +accustomed to keep under his body, and to bring it under subjection by +acts of penance; and I have no doubt, he thought he was acting in a +manner, pleasing to Christ, and yet, we learn from Lord John's doctrine, +(if I understand it rightly,) this great apostle, was leading the people, +step by step, to the very verge, of the awful precipice of penance. The +penitents in ancient times, often spent whole years in works of penance; +they fasted and prayed, they lay prostrate at the porch of the Church, +they solicited the intercession of their less guilty brethren. By these +penitential austerities, they hoped, they were fulfilling the will of the +Redeemer, and yet, alas! according to Lord John's doctrine (if I +understand it rightly) they were going, step by step, to the very verge +of the awful precipice of penance. Even the learned men, who compiled the +Church of England, Common Prayer-book, appear to have been involved in +this awful error. "There was formerly," they tell us, "a godly +discipline, that at the beginning of Lent, such persons, as stood +convicted of notorious sins, were put to open penance, and punished here, +that their souls, might be saved at the day of the Lord; and it were much +to be wished, that this said discipline, may be restored." (Church Eng. +Com. Pray. book.) Little did they imagine, that this godly discipline of +penance, by means of which the souls of sinners, were to be saved in the +day of the Lord, would be reproved by a Protestant layman, as an error, +which would lead people, step by step, to the verge of an awful +precipice. Yet so (if I understand his meaning) says Lord John Russell, +and he is lay Metropolitan of all England. + +I think I cannot better take leave of Lord John, than by addressing him +in the words of the Reverend Mr. Bennett, under whose Puseyite teaching, +he sat for some time. "If my course was insidious, (Lord John), why did +you take part in that course? If I so muttered the liturgy, as to +disguise its language, why did _you_ join in so glaring a profaneness, +for nearly seven years? If I practised 'mummeries and superstition,' why +did _you_, come to join in them, for nearly seven years? Why did _you_ so +far and so deeply join, as to receive at my hands, so late as Ash +Wednesday, 1849, the holy Eucharist, yourself and your family? If I were +one, of those designated in your letter, as bringing a greater danger, +than the Pope, why then, my lord, was it, that _you_ said not all this +before?" (Rev. Mr. Bennett's Letter to Lord John Russell.) + +In conclusion, I can only say, that I am afraid Lord John Russell's +letter, has been a most _unfortunate one for himself_; and as such, I +regret it exceedingly. It has certainly placed him, in the opinion of +sensible Englishmen, in a very ridiculous point of view; and how it will +be received by future ages, it is not for me to divine. + +My dissenting Brethren, to you who have honourably come forward, and +assisted us Catholics, in the late hurricane of bigotry, and of insults, +I return you my mead of sincere thanks. Your conduct shows, that you have +acted the part of consistent men, that you are true supporters of civil +and religious liberty, and that you have not forgotten the former noble, +and disinterested exertions of the late Daniel O'Connell, in your cause. +You cannot but remember, that the late Daniel O'Connell, nobly and +disinterestedly, battled for _your_ rights and privileges, on the field +of civil and religious liberty, _even before_ he had gained those rights, +either for the English Catholics, or for his dear country, poor +Ireland.[Q] + +But what shall I say of those dissenters, who have joined with the +Protestant Church, in the late fury and tirade against us Catholics? Can +I call _them consistent_ men? Consistent men indeed! Do not all the +dissenters, the Presbyterians, Methodists, Independents, Baptists, +Unitarians, and Quakers, do not all these dissenters deny, as well as we +Catholics, the spiritual supremacy of the Queen? Nay, do not all these +dissenters, claim _their_ spiritual rights and authority, _independent of +the Queen_? Why, therefore, will you refuse the exercise of their +spiritual rights, to your _Catholic_ fellow creatures? Why will you +unjustly deprive _them_ of those privileges, which are the _birth-right_ +of _every_ Englishman; nay, of every human creature in the world? Does +not the scripture, which you so often extol, tell you, "that you ought +not to do unto others, that which you do not wish others to do unto you?" +What, then, are we to say of those dissenting ministers, or minister, who +on one day are seen claiming the power to give spiritual ordination to +others, then, shortly after, attending an Anti-Protestant Church meeting; +and, lastly, see them or him, arranged by the side of the _Protestant_ +Church, for the express purpose, of refusing to the _Catholic_ Church, +the exercise of those spiritual rights, which they, or he, had not long +before deemed it their, or his right to assume? Nay, what is still worse, +he had _even_ wished to refuse them the rights of a base criminal, viz., +that a charitable dissenter should not be allowed to speak, or merely ask +a question, in defence of the Pope, and of the benighted papists. Really, +was not _this_, a most inconsistent, "extraordinary and presumptuous +movement," of this dissenting minister? Well, I can only say, if the +_religious_ creed of this minister, be not _more consistent_ than his +_political_ creed, I really envy him not the possession of it, and I +think I cannot do better, than address him in the words of the poet: + + "His notions fitted things so well + That, which was which, he could not tell, + But oftentimes, mistook the one + For t'other, as great clerks have done." + +I must now say a few words to the English, in general, and make a few +remarks on the unjust manner, in which the Catholic religion, has in +general been hitherto, treated and abused. That you may the better +understand this, I will make use of the following supposition. Let us +suppose, for a moment, that we were in a court of justice, that a person +was going to be tried, that some of you were witnesses against him, that +the rest of you, were to form the jury, and that I was to be the judge. +Now, if we were to examine, _only_ the witnesses who were _against_ the +accused, and _not_ allow a _single_ individual to speak for him, if we +were not, to allow the poor man to speak a word in his _own_ defence, and +were the jury, and the judge, then to pronounce him guilty, do you think, +we should treat that man _fairly_? _However innocent_ he might be, he was +sure to be brought in _guilty_. And why? Because the witnesses were +against him, the jury was against him, and the judge was against him; and +not a single word was allowed to be spoken in his defence. Now, ye honest +men of England, would you not think that man was treated very _unfairly_? +Would you not feel for such a man? And would you not pity his case? I am +sure you would, and all with one voice exclaim, "Let the poor man have +_fair play_, and let _us_ 'do to _him_, as _we_ would be done by.'" + +Now, my friends, let us apply this example, to the Catholic religion. +Have you not read books, that gave you the most horrible account of the +Catholic religion, have you not heard people, tell the most infamous +things against this religion, and have you not, _even_ in places of +_worship_, heard this religion, most _cruelly_ called, and abused? But +did you ever ask yourselves, whether all that you then read or heard, was +_really_ true? Did you consider, that abuse, is no argument, declamation, +no evidence, accusation, no verdict? Did you examine the witnesses on the +_other_ side? Did you read any _Catholic_ book, or consult any +well-instructed _Catholic_ layman, or minister on these subjects? Did you +not condemn the poor Catholics, _unheard_, and without giving them a +_fair_ trial? But mind, I am not blaming _you_, nor the _public in +general_, for this ignorance of our religion, nor am I surprised at it. +No, considering what has been the state of things, I cannot conceive how +it could have been otherwise. For these misrepresentations, and false +statements against our religion, have been often made by very +_respectable_ persons, and often repeated to the people, either from _the +pulpit, where_ nothing but the _truth_, should be spoken, or in tracts, +and books, which either _are_, or _profess to be_ written by _learned_ +and _sincere_ members of society. Thus hearing these statements, and +accusations, from _these_ sources, the people very natural enough +conclude, that all that is said against the poor _benighted_ Papists, +_must be true_. But my friends, I beg of you that _in future_, you will +always remember, that the law of England, strictly forbids any one, even +the _basest criminal_, to be condemned _before_, he has had a _fair_ +trial, that it is an excellent maxim in life, "hear _both_ sides _before_ +you _judge_," and the Scripture expressly says: "Thou shalt not bear +_false_ witness against _thy_ neighbour." Why should not then the _same_ +principles, be adopted in _judging_ of the _Catholic_ religion? When +then, in future your hear any abuse, or accusation against the Catholic +religion, I beg of you to ask yourselves two questions: _First, am I +certain_ that the _Catholic_ Church maintains _such_ doctrine? and +_secondly, if it does_, have I heard the _proofs_, which may be advanced, +_in confirmation_ of _that_ doctrine? Oh! would only all Englishmen, +grant the Catholics this common boon of justice! how soon would that +dark, and heavy cloud of prejudice and misrepresentation, which has so +long hung over our religion, immediately burst, and as the sun, after +having been shrouded in clouded majesty, amidst the terrific storm, +bursts forth with more transcendent brightness, so would the Catholic +faith, after having been so long darkened with the mist of false +representation, burst forth, with a lustre and brightness, which could +not help attracting the eye of every sensible, and thinking mind. + +One or two more remarks to you Englishmen, and then, I really must for +the present bid you farewell. You cannot be ignorant of the many +Protestant clergyman, who, are either returning in _many_ respects to the +Catholic faith, or who have _already, publicly_ renounced the +_Protestant_, and embraced the _Catholic_ faith. Now, with all these +venerable examples before _you_, ought not _you laity_, to begin to +think, that _you also_, have a right, nay, that it is _your duty_, to +examine how religious affairs, stand in England? You cannot read, without +feelings of interest, and surprise, the account of the _numerous_ +conversions, of these _Protestant_ clergymen, to the _ancient Catholic_. +Although you may condemn the change, still you cannot but admire the +singleness of their purpose, and the strength of their minds. The +Catholic Church, has no _earthly_ treasures (for the Protestant Church +got all these long since) to offer these ministers for the great +sacrifice of wealth, of friendship, and other worldly interests, which +they have to forfeit, for _renouncing_ the _Protestant_, and _embracing_ +the _Catholic_ faith. On the other hand, your rich, but poor in spirit +Church, lays before them _golden_ prospects, some of the best, and +highest preferments of your Church. But, they have turned their backs +upon them all, either to accept the lowly charge of a Catholic Priest, or +to sink into some despised, and humble situation in life. To many of you, +these sacrifices may appear folly; but remember these converts, have +lately studied in the school of St. Paul, who "suffered the loss of all +things, and accounted them as dung, that he might gain Christ." (Phil. +iii.) Thus, they have cheerfully renounced the riches, and honours of +this world, to associate themselves in faith, and worship, with those +holy, and illustrious members of the Catholic faith, who, in every age, +and clime, have made it their aim, and glory, to bring their dear, but +erring brethren, to this one fold, of the one Shepherd, Jesus Christ. + +I can only say it appears to me strange, passing strange, that if +Catholicity be such a monster, as some would gladly persuade the world, +it appears very strange, that there should be such an inclination in +England, of late years, to return to this ancient faith. Every one must +acknowledge, that the march of intellect in England, during these late +years, has been immense; but if Catholicity be such a monster, as our +enemies _charitably_ represent it, what is the reason, so many are +beginning to enter into its fold, and what is the reason, Catholicity in +England is so much in the increase? This great increase, is acknowledged +even by our enemies. One would _reasonably_ think, that if Catholicity be +such a monster, the march of intellect would have _naturally_ guarded the +people against it. It surely will not be said, that the people have not +been sufficiently warned against it. What! not sufficiently warned +against it! Have they not been warned against it, these three hundred +years at least? Have they not been warned against it, in books of all +descriptions, from the large folio to the penny tract? Have they not been +warned against it, in almost every pulpit (except Catholic) in England? +Have they not been warned against it, again, and again, in the House of +Lords and Commons? Have they not been warned against it, in almost every +rank of society? In short, have they not been warned against it by every +means, that human ingenuity could devise? But surely, we shall not be +told, that this inclination to Catholicity, is owing to the want of +scriptural knowledge in England? Want of scriptural knowledge indeed in +England! Have not millions of money, been subscribed for the printing of +the scriptures, have not millions of bibles, been printed and circulated +in England? In short has not almost every one a bible, to which he +confidently appeals as his word of life? And yet notwithstanding all this +_warning_ against Catholicity, notwithstanding this immense diffusion of +bibles in England, Catholicity is rapidly increasing, to the great dismay +and "horrification" of our enemies. What then, can be the reason of this +late increase of Catholicity in England? Why, I will tell you, the people +of England, can now most of them read, and the march of intellect is +abroad, and by these means the people begin to find out, that their +Catholic fellow creatures, have been long, an unjustly abused, a +shamefully treated, and basely calumniated body of Christians. The +people, therefore, naturally begin to feel for them, and are now +unwilling to be deceived, by the idle rant of those misinformed, but +positive writers and preachers, who + + "Without the care of knowing right from wrong, + Always appear, decisive, clear, and strong, + Where others, toil with philosophic force, + Their nimble nonsense, takes a shorter course, + Flings at your head, conviction in a lump, + And gains remote conclusions at a jump." + +It is related in the Anglo-Saxon history, that when the Catholic +missionaries came from abroad, to announce the truths of the Gospel to +our pagan Anglo-Saxon ancestors, it is related that an aged and +venerable, but unconverted Thane thus addressed his pagan prince on the +subject. "When," said he, "O King, you and your ministers are seated at +table in the depth of winter, and the cheerful fire blazes on the hearth +in the middle of the hall, a sparrow perhaps, chased by the wind and +snow, enters at one door of the apartment, and escapes by the other. +During the moment of its passage, it enjoys the warmth; when it is once +departed, it is seen no more. Such is the nature of man. During a few +years his existence is visible: but what has preceded, or what will +follow it, is concealed from the view of mortals. If the new religion, +offer any information on subjects so mysterious and important, it must be +worthy of our attention." (Ling. His. Anglo-Sax. vol. i. pp. 29-30.) +Happy shall I consider myself, O Englishmen, if in the above pages, I +have advanced anything, that may be thought worthy of your attention on +the subject of religion. Our lives, as this pagan, but aged and venerable +Thane justly observes, are beautifully pictured by the short flight of a +sparrow, flying through the narrow space of a hall, with a door open at +each end. But after this short passage of life, there is something most +awful, and mysterious awaiting us, and the true religion of God, only can +unfold to us, how we may best prepare ourselves for the revelation of +those awful moments, when time shall end, and eternity begin. Surely +then, the sincere search after the true religion, must be a subject +worthy of your information, of your attention, and of your frequent +consideration. Happy, again I repeat it, shall I consider myself, if +anything that I may have said, shall tend to assist you in the above +important, and essential investigation. Refer, however, the glory and +honour, not to me, but to the holy Catholic Church, under whose guidance +I have been instructed. O holy Church, the pillar of truth and the child +of Jesus Christ, if I stray from thine unerring word, I shall soon (a +weak and frail child of Adam) fall down the awful precipice of spiritual +inconsistencies, contradictions, and errors. Should I have advanced +anything contrary to any article of thy holy faith, I am ready publicly +to recall it. Under the safe shelter of thy unerring authority, I will +fix my resting-place, and there, fear neither the scoffs of the infidel, +nor the flimsy reasoning of those, who have unfortunately strayed from +thy secure paths. O Englishmen, if you would only seriously, and +conscientiously examine the _real_ merits of the Catholic Church, you +would soon find that she is built upon the pillar of truth, and that she +is the admirable work of that wise builder, Jesus Christ, who built His +house upon a firm foundation. "And the rains fell, and the floods came, +and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, but it fell not, for it +was founded upon a rock." (St. Matt. vii. 25.) + + +ERRATA. + +FIRST ADDRESS. + +Page 1, line 23, for "rights" read "rites." + 8, note line 6, for "Gospels" read "Gospel." + + +PRINTED BY RICHARDSON AND SON, DERBY. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[H] In the preceding pages, I have asserted, that the Protestant Church, +is unjust, in taking from the poor their portion of church property, +which was left them by our charitable Catholic ancestors; nay, that it is +also unjust, to exact tithes from those, who do not belong to the +Protestant Church of England. Now this bold assertion against the +Protestant Church, certainly requires a little explanation. A law may be +considered in _two_ points of view, as a law of the _land_, and as a law +of _God_. Now as the law of tithes in the Protestant Church, is +sanctioned by act of parliament, of course the Protestant Church, is +justified in exacting these tithes, for it has the law of the land at +_its back in this respect_. But then, the Protestant law of tithes, +considered in a _moral_ point of view, is certainly an unjust law. And +why? Because it takes from the poor, what was _justly_ left them by our +charitable ancestors, and it exacts money from the Catholics and +dissenters, without doing any thing to them _in return_ for this money. +Thus you see, that the law of _man_ and the law of _God_, sometimes +_contradict_ each other; and this is _often_ the case, in your scriptural +Church as by law established. But is not _God_ _always_ above _man_? +Certainly; and therefore the _law_ of _God_, ought _always_ to have the +preference to the _law_ of _man_. But this subject of Church tithes, +reminds me of the famous Dr. Hook of Leeds, who is _often writing_ +against the Roman Catholic Church, but slyly _never_ condescends to +_answer_ any of her replies. Now, _mark well_, I am going to prove, _even +to a demonstration_, from the words of Dr. Hook, that the Roman Catholic +Church, is _really_ the _true_ Church of _Christ_ in _these realms_. +Well, you will say, if you _can_ do _that_, Dr. Hook must be a _very +strange_ and _inconsistent_ doctor of our Church. Really, do you know, I +was just thinking the same. In the year 1832, the Somerset County Gazette +informed the public, that Dr. Hook, in a sermon which he preached _before +the Queen_, uttered the following _remarkable_ words: "Were all +connection between church and state, at this very moment to cease, the +church (that is, the Protestant Church) would remain _precisely_ as she +_now_ is; that is to say, our bishops, though deprived of _temporal_ +rank, would still exercise all those _spiritual_ functions which, +conferred by higher than human authority, no human authority can take +away; still to vacant sees they would consecrate new bishops, still +ordain the clergy, still confirm the baptized, still govern the church." +Such are the famous words of Dr. Hook, in his sermon before the Queen. +Now let us see how _nicely_, they _prove_ the _Roman Catholic Church_, to +be the _true_ Church of Christ in these realms. Whether this prophecy of +Dr. Hook respecting the _Protestant_ Church, would be _really_ verified, +were his church to be _separated_ from the state, I will not here +enquire; but _this_ I will say, it has been already really verified with +regard to the _Catholic_ Church _in England_. For although at the +Reformation, the _Catholic_ Church was deprived of all aid from the +state, although she was unjustly spoiled of those temporal riches left by +her charitable children, and although the exercise of her faith, +subjected her followers to the most _severe pains_ and _penalties_, +(which must be for ever a disgrace to this country), still, Catholicity +could not be extinguished in these kingdoms; for her bishops "_still +continued_ to exercise all those _spiritual_ functions, which, conferred +by _higher_ than _human_ authority, no human authority can take away, +_still_, to _vacant_ sees, they consecrated new bishops, _still_ ordained +the clergy, _still_ confirmed the baptized, _still_ governed the church." +And hence this _Catholic_ Church, notwithstanding all the _stormy +trials_, which she has undergone _in England_, exists now, and is exactly +the same in spiritual power, as she was before the time of the +Reformation. If, therefore, Dr. Hook considers that _this_ would be a +_mark_ of the _true_ Church of Christ, were it to be _verified_ with +regard to his _Protestant_ Church, we may _justly_ infer, according to +the _Doctor's_ principle, that the _Roman Catholic_ Church, is the _true_ +Church _of Christ in these realms_. And why? Because the doctor's +principle, has been _already really verified_, with regard to _this_ +church in these kingdoms. Really, I begin to think that the _famous_ Dr. +Hook of Leeds, must be some relation to Martin Luther; for Martin, _even_ +after he had left the Catholic Church, proves, in the following words, +that the _Roman_ Catholic Church, was the _true_ Church of _Christ_. In +his book against the Anabaptists, he makes the following _candid_ +confession: "Under Papacy are many good things; yea, _everything_ that is +_good_ in Christianity. I say, moreover," continues he, "under Papacy is +_true_ christianity even the _very kernel_ of christianity." Here we have +two doctors of the Protestant Church, leaving, _even after_ they had +strained every nerve to _overturn_ this Catholic Church, we have, I +repeat, these two Protestant doctors, leaving in their writings to +posterity, _one_ by his line of _argumentation_, and the _other_ by his +_own_ words, the most incontestible proofs that the Roman Catholic +Church, is _really_ the _true_ Church of _Christ_, and that her fabric, +is adorned with all the rich treasures of christianity. O how true is the +declaration of the wise man! (Prov. xxi. 30,) "there is no wisdom, there +is no prudence, there is no counsel against the Lord." + +[I] Joseph Hume, Esq., is, or nearly I believe, the oldest member of the +present House of Commons, and it may be _truly_ said, that, perhaps, no +one in that House has acted with _greater_ consistency, and more +_disinterested_ zeal, for the promotion of the welfare of his country. He +has _always_ been a staunch advocate for reform, a patriot for the rights +of the poor, and a manly defender of civil, and religious liberty _to +all_. Hence, poor Dan. O'Connell, was sensible of the _distinguished_ +political merits of this _great_, and consistent statesman; and hence, +when an _English_ constituency rejected this worthy member from a seat in +the House, Dan. _honourably_ obtained in _Ireland_ a seat for _this +useful and consistent_ member. Now, I am glad to find, that the _remarks_ +which I have just made, agree with the opinion of _this eminent_ +statesman, _respecting the loaves and fishes of the protestant clergy_. +The following, are the words which Joseph Hume, Esq. has _just_ uttered +on this subject: "but their zeal (that is, the zeal of the protestant +clergy,) against the Catholics, looks to me, to originate from _fear_ of +the _loaves_ and _fishes_, which they now so _largely_ enjoy for doing +_little_, and in _many_ cases _nothing_ of public duty." (Joseph Hume's, +Esq., letter to W. J. Cole, Esq., Lechdale, Gloucestershire, 24th Dec., +1850.) + +[J] I cannot help relating here a circumstance (I hope it is not foreign +to the purpose) that happened to one of my acquaintance. He was +travelling in a coach, in which were three other respectable passengers. +Among other subjects, the conversation (as is often the case) turned on +Catholics. One of the gentlemen, immediately commenced a philippic +against the Catholics, and called them idolaters, superstitious, +murderers, and many other _pretty_ names. My acquaintance allowed the +gentleman, to pour out his abuse for some time _without interruption_, +and appeared much amused by his bold assertions, and flaming descriptions +of the poor _deluded_ papists. During the conversation, a person in +liquor, rode up to the coach window, and began to annoy the passengers, +by his yells and impertinent behaviour. My acquaintance immediately said +to the gentleman, who was telling such pretty things about the Catholics, +let us have this drunken man taken up, he has murdered two or three +people. The gentleman replied, "Are you, Sir, _certain_ that he _has_ +murdered two or three people? Can you _prove it_? Because it would be +very _unjust_ to take the man up, unless you could _prove_ the crimes +which you mention." "No," answered my acquaintance, "I am not certain. +And let me ask you, if _you_ are _certain_, that all the charges, which +you have just brought against the _Catholics_ are _true_? I am a +Catholic, and must tell you they are _false_, and if _you_ would only +follow the advice, which you have just given _me_ about this man, you +would find the truth of what I say. If _you_ would not wish _me_ to +accuse this man of a crime, which I am not certain he _has_ committed, I +beg that _you_, for the future, will _never_ accuse the _Catholics_ of +charges, which _you_ cannot _prove_ to be true, and which, if you would +only take the trouble to examine, you would find to be _absolutely +false_." The gentleman looked _much perplexed_, and was so ashamed of +himself, that he never spoke another word until they parted. The other +two gentlemen _enjoyed the joke wonderfully, and laughed most heartily_. + +[K] We read of the ancient prophets, whom God sent to reform the Jews +that they began their prophecies by admonishing the people, that the Lord +had spoken to them: "Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the +Lord hath spoken." Isai, c. i. v. 2. Whereas God has permitted that the +doctrine of the Reformation, should have been originally announced to the +world, by a man of insupportable pride, who disclaimed the authority, and +doctrine of all Churches then upon the earth; who made no difficulty of +acknowledging, that it was from _the devil_, he learned _one_ of the +principal articles of the Reformation, and who might therefore, have said +to his followers, "Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the +_devil_ hath spoken." + +[L] But some will perhaps ask, why did the _first_ reformers inveigh _so +much_ against _Purgatory_ and _Prayers for the dead_? Why the first +reformers liked _spiritual_ commerce, _without_ duty if they could only +contrive it. Now, as a remuneration for Prayers for the dead, our +charitable ancestors had left certain handsome sums of money; now these +reformers liked the _money_, but _not_ the _obligation_ of the Prayers; +and, therefore, they inveighed _right lustily against_ the Prayers, but +took care to slyly pocket the money. But when this spiritual commerce +could _not_ be carried on unless the duty was _performed_, they very +kindly retained the popish practice, and thus secured the money; witness +the tolling of the bell for persons _just_ dead, the churching of +females, and of burying the dead. These and other are in reality the +remnants of popish ceremonies, and the performance of them inspire on the +_Catholic_ mind _devotional_ feelings; but by Protestants are, _in +general_, looked upon very lightly, in a _spiritual_ point of view. But +then take away these popish ceremonies, and off flies the fee. Will the +fee for baptism be now demanded, as baptism has been _lately_ declared to +be an unnecessary act of religion in the Protestant Church? Our Saviour +said to His Apostles, "Go, teach all nations, _baptizing_ them," (that +is, all nations,) but the Protestant Church says to her ministers, "Go +teach all nations," but as to the _absolute necessity_ of baptism, our +Saviour _must_ have been wrong, and, therefore, go please yourselves +about it. + +[M] Appendix to "Reasons why I am not a member of the Bible Society. By +the Hon. Arthur Philip Percival, B.C.L. Chaplain in Ordinary to His +Majesty."--Fifth Edition. + +[N] Would my Lord Harewood, who _lately_ figured so conspicuously on the +platform in York, as the advocate for the pure and unadulterated Word of +God, without note or comment, point out to the people _the sure guide_, +which they are to follow, amidst this _awful Protestant_ falsification, +and mutilation of the Sacred Scriptures? The Spanish chemist (as related +above) cut his master into pieces, and put the pieces into his +sublimatory glass, with the hope of raising his master, to a more +perfect state than he enjoyed, when God made him. Now, my Lord, from +what I have said above, has not the Protestant Church, cut the +Scriptures into pieces, and put them into the sublimatory glass of +falsification and mutilation? but, my Lord, will she be ever able to +raise them again, to as perfect a state as they were in, when God made +them, or when your Protestant Church received them, from the hands of +the Catholic Church? I am sure, my Lord, she will be here at _fault_. +Another remark or two, my Lord, and I have done. The man, who embraces a +religious opinion from conviction, has undoubtedly the right to maintain +it by argument. But truth will be his first and principal object, and +the champion of truth, will disdain the petty artifices of substituting +assertion for truth, and misrepresentation for fact. He will never +condescend to swell the crowd of idle disputants, whose ingenuity first, +frames a creed for the Church of Rome, and then, after combatting a +phantom of its own creation, exults in an easy and a decisive victory. +My Lord, just adopt this advice in all your _future_ observations on the +creed of Catholics, and then, you will escape two ridiculous +consequences; of exalting the Scriptures on the one hand, and of +transgressing on the other, one of the golden precepts of that sacred +volume, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." But +far be it from me, my Lord, to _assert_ that you have _already done_ +this. I merely wish to guard your Lordship, against the above ridiculous +consequences. Now, as your ideas, with regard to the _Catholic_ doctrine +on the Scriptures, appear to be rather vague, I will just state, in +short, our doctrine on that subject. Our Saviour commanded his apostles +to go and preach his gospel, and after they had done this for a certain +time, he then inspired some of them to write certain books, for the +fuller instruction of those persons on certain points, which they either +did not perfectly understand, or of which they were ignorant. For, as +the apostles were absent from these persons, (for twelve men could not +be in many places at the same time,) they found it necessary to +communicate by their pens, certain instructions which these persons +required. Now, as what the apostles _wrote_, as well as what they +_preached_, was _equally_ the inspired Word of God, the Catholic Church, +afterwards, carefully collected those sacred books, which were written +by some of these inspired men, gave to the whole of these sacred books +thus collected, the name of the New Testament, and presented this volume +to the people as the inspired Word of God, and has handed it down as +such to her faithful in every age, in as perfect a manner as possible. +And in the distribution of it to her faithful in every age, she has +followed the example of the apostles. For she orders her ministers to go +_first_, to preach and teach the gospel to the people, and _afterwards_, +for their further instruction, she puts the sacred Scriptures into the +hands of the faithful. But mind, as your Protestant Reformers have +_shamefully_ corrupted and mutilated the sacred Scriptures, she rejects +your human and metamorphosed translations, forbids the use of your +incorrect, corrupt, and mutilated translations, and puts into their +hands, _well-authenticated_ copies of that sacred volume. Hence, on +account of her _great anxiety_, for the distribution of _correct_, and +_well-authenticated_ copies among her faithful, certain Protestants have +the _audacity_ to assert, that the Catholic Church, forbids the use of +the Scripture to her people, or at least, will not let them read the +pure word of God without note or comment. Do I impeach the veracity of +these Protestants! Of some indeed I do, but not of all. But this I will +say, most of them might know better, if they would only seek information +from proper sources. I hope, this short explanation of the _Catholic_ +doctrine on the Scripture, will satisfy Lord Harewood, and caution him +never to speak on matters, which _essentially_ concern _his neighbour's_ +interest, _unless_ he _first_ perfectly understands them. + +One word more, and I have done. I once heard, that a Noble Lord, +attending a great County Meeting, in the York Castle-yard, had achieved +for himself a lasting notoriety, by declaring, that in his opinion, "the +Bible ought to be read by all men, and women, and children, and _even +idiots_." And scarcely had the merriment excited by this memorable burst +of sound sense subsided, before his Lordship was heard thus resuming his +exhilarating eloquence. "Yes, even by idiots. I myself have derived great +advantage from that book." The effect upon the meeting was electric. The +noble advocate of the unfortunate idiots, had so completely identified +himself with his clients, that laughter became irresistible, and to what +class of intelligent beings, his Lordship belonged, most evident. I +believe this is the only instance on record, of a Noble Earl, +establishing his religious opinions, at the expense of his understanding. + +[O] Here follows a long extract from Lord Tenterden's Speech, which it is +unnecessary to reprint. + +[P] By the fundamental rule of Protestantism, every individual, possesses +the right of private judgment, and of course, is allowed to interpret the +Bible, as his reason, or his feelings, suggest; and yet, _mark_ the +contradiction, he is _not_ allowed, to interpret the _thirty-nine +Articles_. For in the declaration prefixed to this singular code, it is +said: "His Majesty, prohibits his loving subjects, the least difference +from them, or putting their _own_ sense upon them; but requires them, to +be taken in _their literal_, and _grammatical_ sense." Now, Dr. Paley +says, that "the Thirty-nine Articles, will be found, on dissection, to +contain about two hundred and forty _distinct_, and independent +propositions; many of them, inconsistent with _each_ other." In fact, few +of the English Clergy subscribe the articles in the literal, and +grammatical sense; "and Burnet says, that in his own times, the greater +part of the clergy, subscribed the Articles, _without examining them_," +and that others do it, because they _must_ do it, _though they can hardly +satisfy their consciences_, about some things in them. Dr. Balguy says, +that "the Thirty-nine Articles impose upon us doctrines of dark, and +ignorant ages." How just, then, must the observation of Gibbon be, "that +the great body of the English Clergy, sign the Thirty-nine Articles, with +a _sigh_, or a _smile_." Really, to require that men, should take these +Articles, in their literal, and grammatical sense, whilst many of them, +have _no literal_, or _grammatical_ sense, nay, moreover, to oblige men, +to swear that they believe them, is, in my humble opinion, a violation of +common sense, and of decency. In all this, there may be some degree of +political wisdom, but it is surely, an act of very gross, religious +inconsistency. + +[Q] The name of Ireland, brings to my mind, the great O'Connell, the +pride of his country, the wonder of England, and the admiration of the +world. When I read the direful grievances of that ill-treated nation, I +wish, for the sake of England, (which I dearly love) that those +grievances had never been written, either on the pages of history, or on +the records of heaven. Oh, Ireland, how thou remindest me of the +sufferings of my Saviour! "a man of sorrow, and the outcast of the +people." Had not _his_ divine example been continually before _thy eyes_, +thou never couldst have endured thy load of miseries, of sorrows, and of +persecution, and so nobly have proved thy loyal allegiance to thy +sovereign, even amidst a deluge of insults, and of wrongs, and of +injustices, that would have maddened any other nation, into a whirlwind +of fury, and revenge, and rebellion; but thou rememberedst the words of +thy Saviour, "love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, and +persecute you." But thy days of sufferings and of sorrow are, I hope, +hastening to a close; but perhaps, the time of retribution for England +has yet to come. Oh, may Heaven avert this dreadful day of reckoning for +my dear country! But, Oh, Ireland, I must not forget the pride of thy +heart--the great O'Connell--the much-abused and calumniated Dan. He is +now, indeed, beyond this land of misery; but alas, he died a beggar! Yes, +HE whom the newspapers _formerly_ held up, as a _most base knave_, a +_deceiver_, and a _money-hunter_, _even he_ at last, died a beggar, for +the _love_ of his country. He nobly sacrificed his, from ten to fourteen +thousand a year, which he was making by his profession, and in lieu, +accepted the comparatively small and precarious offerings of his +countrymen, every farthing of which he spent in promoting their welfare; +he blasted all the patrimonial prospects of his own family, and at last, +died a martyr and a beggar, for his country; and yet, there is not one +English Protestant newspaper to do him common justice, by _even hinting_ +at these _heroic_ actions. Oh, how justly may I address them in the +severe words of the poet: + + "You all did hate him once, but without cause, + What cause withholds you, then, to mourn for him? + Oh, judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts! + And men have lost their reason." + +But, Oh immortal Dan! their praises or censures to thee are equally +worthless, for thy colossal deeds during life, and thy heroic death, have +immortalized thy name. But of all thy sorrows, the _stab_ that _burst_ +thy generous soul, was the "_unkindest cut of all_;" for when some of thy +countrymen, whom thou hadst _raised and honoured_, wished to take into +their hands the maddening weapons of injustice, revenge, and rebellion, +and wished to bury thy dear country in the ruins of bloodshed and +revolution, thou, + + "Then rushing out of doors, to be resolved, + If these men so unkindly knocked, or no, + Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, + Quite vanquished thee, then burst thy noble heart!" + +On which was engraved, in vivid characters, love for thy religion, +patriotism for thy country, loyal and sincere allegiance to thy Queen, +and a burning desire for civil and religious liberty for all mankind. Oh, +how justly may we apply to thee, the words of the poet, + + "Thou art the ruins, of the noblest man, + That ever lived, in the tide of times." + +I, formerly, like many other Englishmen, thought only very lightly of thy +actions; but thy noble deeds convinced me of my _rash_ judgment; and as +some little retribution, I have paid this small tribute to thy memory. +Oh, may God forgive me for my rash judgments, and may thy colossal soul +rest in peace. + +But can I here forget "the finest Protestant (as the immortal Dan. justly +observed) that Ireland ever saw?" O no! I know indeed, some will sneer at +it, and call it the voice of flattery, but in the eyes of poor Ireland, +it will be regarded as a just act of gratitude, to remember the liberal, +the high-minded, and chivalrous nobleman, the Marquis of Normanby. When +this kind hearted, and enlightened statesman, first placed his foot on +the shores of Ireland, "the cauldron" (of political discords) as Lord +Plunkett had said, "was boiling over, and the polemic (religious) contest +was thrown in as an ingredient." But as soon as the Marquis of Normanby, +hoisted in Ireland his political flag of truth, of justice, and of +honour, then the cauldron (of political discord,) gradually cooled, and +the polemic (religious) contest gradually subsided, into the more +congenial calm of peace, of union, and of charity. Hence, might be seen +the noble Marquis of Normanby, and his charitable marchioness, gracing, +and gladdening by their presence the streets of Dublin, unattended by +military escorts, but _safely_ guarded, by the generous hearts, and +faithful loyalty of a grateful people. To have touched even a single hair +of their heads, or to have offered the least insult to these noble, and +generous creatures, would have instantly brought down on the base +offender, the indignation and fury of the people. There the noble +Marquis, without any detriment to his political dignity, walked without +guards, surrounded by the hearts of the people, an honour to England, a +just representative of our most gracious, liberal, and well-beloved +Queen, the idol of the people, and the saviour of Ireland. But why +mention merely Ireland? His _whole_ political career, has been a +consistent course of truth, of justice, and of honour. When only young, +the golden prospect of Tory promotion, the inheritance of his noble +father's political influence, a seat in Parliament already obtained by a +Tory constituency, were all laid before him; when lo! his penetrating +though youthful mind, saw that his dear country required reform, and +therefore, sacrificing all the above golden prospects, he disinterestedly +ranked himself, under the banner of reform. Afterwards a sinecure, but +profitable office under Government, was offered him by the Whig ministry; +but his political creed, was reform and consistency, and therefore, he +politely declined the tempting offer. He is afterwards honoured with the +government of Jamaica, and there shews himself the sincere friend of the +slave, and on one occasion, generously and manfully exposed even his own +life, to vindicate and obtain their just rights: and how dearly he was +there beloved, the sorrowful and sincere lamentations, that bade him the +last farewell, can best tell. He is honoured also, with the government of +Ireland, and gradually peace, contentment, and union, begun to smile on +that long agitated, and mis-ruled land. But in all his political +promotions, to his honour be it remembered, that he never solicits nor +asks of Government any places of office for his relations. Such has been +the consistent and even tenor of his political career. Long, will the +name of Normanby, be dearly cherished, in the heart of every sincere +Catholic, of every grateful Irishman, and of every true English reformer; +and he will be handed down to posterity, as a worthy descendant of the +Mulgrave family, whose character has always been distinguished, for their +acts of justice, liberality, and charity to all, _without any distinction +of religious creeds_. Well then might the immortal Dan declare, that "The +Marquis of Normanby, was the finest Protestant, that Ireland ever saw." + + + + + TRANSCRIBERS' NOTES + + + Introduction + + Page iv: Latern as in the original + + First address + + Page 1: goverment corrected to government after "The clergy, and the + head of the" + Page 2: intolerence corrected to intolerance after "before this + whirlwind of Protestant" + Page 6: descendents as in the original + Page 9: addres corrected to address after "would tempt me to" + Page 12: te corrected to to after "But it manifestly allows us" + Page 12: " added before "as to preventing persons" + Page 14: Torento corrected to Toronto after "Kingston, Byetown," + Page 14: Irvinites as in the original + Page 15: freeborn standardised to free-born + Page 15: diocess corrected to diocese after "and assigned to it a" + Page 15: Caldea corrected to Chaldea after "jurisdiction over Syria," + Page 18: Portestant corrected to Protestant after "If therefore the + orthodox" + Page 19: " added after "limitation of the crown" + Page 21: ancesters corrected to ancestors after "having to suffer, what + our Catholic" + Page 25: villany as in the original + Page 26: distintinguished corrected to distinguished after "I am sure + (says this" + Footnote A: Anglo Saxon corrected to Anglo-Saxon + Footnote D: pourtrayed as in the original + Footnote D: shillalah as in the original + Footnote D: floodgates standardised to flood-gates + + Second address + + Page 9: phillippic corrected to philippic after "meeting, a thundering" + Page 14: he standardised to He after "mankind; that is," + Page 19: ' changed to " after "prophets under Jeroboam?" + Page 20: Luthern as in the original + Page 23: apostacy as in the original + Page 24: Pharo's as in the original + Page 24: suicidical as in the original + Page 28, 29: variable spelling of Molineus/Molinaeus as in original + Page 29: " ( added before "In Defens. Transl.)" + Page 29: detort as in the original + Page 30: " added after "delegates of the Clarendon press." + Page 31: " added after "to the end of Jeremiah." + Page 42: . added after Gaz + Page 56: heirarchy corrected to hierarchy after "put together, more than + the" + Page 56: " added after "of any earthly power!" + Page 66: " added after "liberal to the poor_." + Footnote H: " removed before "our bishops, though deprived" + Footnote J: phillippic corrected to philippic after "immediately + commenced a" + Footnote N: " added after "and _even idiots_." + Footnote Q: collossal corrected to colossal after "rash judgments, and + may thy" + + General: Errata applied to text. + General: Spelling of inuendo, inuendoes as in the original + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Two Addresses, by Nicholas Rigby + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TWO ADDRESSES *** + +***** This file should be named 35663.txt or 35663.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/6/6/35663/ + +Produced by Brownfox and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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