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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Is the Vicar of Brompton a Tractarian?, by
+Arthur Ellis
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world 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.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+
+
+
+Title: Is the Vicar of Brompton a Tractarian?
+
+
+Author: Arthur Ellis
+
+
+
+Release Date: June 2, 2015  [eBook #49113]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IS THE VICAR OF BROMPTON A
+TRACTARIAN?***
+
+
+Transcribed from the 1855 Charles Westerton edition by David Price, email
+ccx074@pglaf.org
+
+
+
+
+
+                                  IS THE
+                            VICAR OF BROMPTON
+                                    A
+                               TRACTARIAN?
+
+
+                     A QUESTION FOR THE PARISHIONERS.
+
+                                    BY
+                                A LAYMAN.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+    “You call me a Tractarian, I am not so in any sense.”—See the _Letter
+    of Dr. Irons to the Editor of the Record_.
+
+    “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just, but his neighbour
+    cometh and searcheth him”.—_Proverbs_ 18 chap. 17 verse.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+                                 LONDON:
+                            CHARLES WESTERTON,
+                           WESTERTON’S LIBRARY,
+                20, ST. GEORGE’S PLACE, HYDE PARK CORNER;
+                         SEELEY’S, FLEET STREET.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+                                  1855.
+
+                            _Price Sixpence_.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+  _If any profits arise from the sale of this little publication_, _they
+  will be given to the funds of the Chelsea_, _Brompton_, _and Belgrave
+  Dispensary_.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+
+
+
+PREFATORY REMARKS.
+
+
+IN placing before my fellow parishioners this publication, I think it
+necessary most distinctly to disavow any personal hostility to the Vicar,
+as an individual.
+
+I feel it the more incumbent on me to say this, as my object is not so
+much to prove the errors and unscriptural teaching of the “Tractarians,”
+as to make it plain (by his own words and actions) that Dr. Irons must be
+considered as altogether identified with the “Tractarian” party.
+
+On a fitting occasion, however, I shall be ready (the Lord enabling me)
+to shew, that the principles and practices of those clergymen who have
+unhappily embraced “Tractarian” error, are as contrary to God’s blessed
+Word as they are to the Articles of our Church; and that these principles
+(if honestly carried out) as necessarily lead to Rome, as a humble and
+prayerful study of the Bible, will assuredly lead the sincere enquirer
+into the light and liberty of Gospel truth.
+
+It is the policy of the more wily amongst the “Tractarians” to keep aloof
+in some measure from the “Ultras” of their party, and to follow the
+Jesuitical advice given from a certain quarter, not to be over hasty in
+bringing in Anglican forms and observances amongst their congregations,
+but to win them over by little and little.
+
+This policy will account for much that is going on in our parish, where
+we have a Vicar who _says_ that he is not a Tractarian “in any sense.”
+
+I feel assured that the parishioners of Brompton are not prepared for
+that open and undisguised “Tractarianism” practised in some of our
+churches; but when I bear in mind the fact, that during the past year two
+or three of the most noted amongst the “Tractarian” Clergy have been
+preaching in the Parish Church, it shews the necessity of being on our
+guard to resist the insidious attempts made from within, as well as the
+endeavours now making from without, to bring us into the bondage of
+“Tractarianism,” or into the more open and unadulterated principles and
+practices of Romanism.  It may be well for us to remember that at the
+recent opening of the Popish Institution (the Oratory) in our Parish,
+there were reported as being present twelve Romish priests or laymen, who
+until the last few years were clergymen of the Established Church, and
+belonging to the “Tractarian” party.
+
+In making use of the word “Tractarian” a necessity has been laid upon me,
+for though I deprecate the use of party names, I know of no other term
+(not even Puseyism) that would so distinctly point out the principles
+which have led to such melancholy results to the Church of England.
+
+We must not however suppose these principles are in themselves _new_;
+they are as old as the earliest ages of Christianity.  The Galatian
+Converts were seduced from the simplicity of the Gospel by them; and
+coming down to the days of Charles the First, our own Church has great
+cause to lament the progress they made at that unhappy period.
+
+I am the more solicitous that this should not be lost sight of, as Dr.
+Irons says his own views “were not obtained from the Oxford Tracts.”
+This is very possible, but has nothing to do with the fact, that the
+Reverend Doctor holds substantially all the errors of the “Tractarians.”
+
+That the principles of sound Protestanism still prevailing in this
+neighbourhood, combined with the faithful preaching of the gospel in many
+of our churches and chapels, may by God’s blessing be an effectual
+bulwark against the covert, as well as against the open, enemies of our
+time-honoured Church, is my earnest prayer.
+
+                                                                     A. E.
+
+19, _Alfred Place West_, _Brompton_,
+         11_th_ _December_, 1854.
+
+
+
+
+IS THE VICAR OF BROMPTON
+A TRACTARIAN?
+
+
+IN a letter bearing the signature of the Reverend Dr. Irons, which
+appeared some time ago in the “Record,” there is a distinct denial on the
+part of the Reverend Doctor as to his being a “Tractarian.”
+
+In making a few comments upon the letter alluded to, I feel that I am not
+overstepping my duty as a parishioner of Brompton, and much more my duty
+as a professed lover of Scriptural truth, in opposition to Romish and
+Romanizing error.
+
+Dr. Irons says, in the letter alluded to, “I am not a Tractarian in any
+sense,” and adds, “that he has always differed from the teaching of some
+of the Oxford Tracts.”
+
+If the English language is to be understood in its plain grammatical
+sense, _some_ refers to a few, or the smaller portion, and, consequently,
+Doctor Irons _does not_ differ from the teaching of the Tracts,
+generally.
+
+I have never met a “Tractarian” who did not profess to be at issue with
+one or more of the ninety Tracts; and I have no doubt but Dr. Pusey
+himself would unhesitatingly affirm, that there was teaching in _some_ of
+them from which even he dissented.
+
+Could we have asked the reverend gentlemen who have lately apostatized to
+Rome from one of the churches at Stoke Newington, I can easily imagine
+that they too would have differed from the teaching of _some_ of the
+Tracts, though their principles and practices, before they finally left
+the Church of England, were daily giving evidence how completely (as a
+whole) they were identified with the party.
+
+It must be borne in mind that from the time this “Tractarian” blight came
+over our Church, it has been the practice of its clerical adherents to
+deny any affinity with Romish error, and to beguile their congregations
+with the assurance, that the holding of “Tractarian” principles was the
+best safeguard to the Church of England.
+
+Not only did their most talented men write and preach in this strain, but
+the literary organs of the party still say so; and when, from time to
+time, the more honest among them secede to Rome, their friends attribute
+their apostacy to any cause but the right one, sometimes laying the blame
+upon the evangelical party for protesting against their unsound and
+unscriptural teaching.
+
+Dr. Irons, in the letter referred to, defends himself from the charge of
+refusing to sign the Anti-Papal Petition in 1850:—the charge, however, is
+neither (as the Doctor calls it) “practically unjust, or untrue.”
+
+Dr. Irons _did_ refuse to sign the Petition, and the reason given at the
+time for this refusal was, {6}—that a “rider” was added to it (by a vote
+at the public meeting); “that the Romanizing principles and practices of
+a portion of the clergy had encouraged the Pope to act as he had done.”
+
+It is not here necessary to prove that the “rider” enunciated a fact; it
+is sufficient to shew that Dr. Irons refused to sign the Petition, and to
+state the reasons he gave for that refusal; and then to leave it to the
+unbiased judgment of his parishioners to decide between his actions, and
+the paragraph in the letter, which says, “I am not a Tractarian in any
+sense.”
+
+Dr. Irons refers to the ‘_Morning Post_’ and other papers for his
+sentiments as expressed on the occasion of the meeting.  I was present at
+the meeting, and paid some attention to the speech of the Reverend
+Doctor.
+
+I do not deny but there was indignation expressed against the
+“aggression,” but this indignation went very little beyond what might
+have been said, and what was actually said, by sincere Romanists, ere the
+glorious reformation of the sixteenth century had shone upon our country.
+
+Our forefathers of that period felt the galling chain of ecclesiastical
+and civil oppression laid upon them by the Papacy, but the light of
+gospel truth had not penetrated their hearts, and, therefore, in their
+opposition to Rome they made no protest against her soul-destroying
+doctrines.
+
+The speech of Dr. Irons certainly amounted to something more than what
+took place in Scotland, where one of the Bishops of the _Scotch_
+Episcopal Church signed a protest against the aggression, “because it was
+contrary to Ecclesiastical order that one bishop should intrude into the
+diocese of another.”
+
+In referring to the ‘_Morning Post_,’ as giving the speech of Dr. Irons
+at the public meeting, it must be remembered that the ‘_Post_’ was then
+(if not now) an organ of the “Tractarians,” and that the tactics of the
+party it represented were to hoodwink us, and under cover of a zeal for
+“Church principles” to disseminate Anti-Protestant views.
+
+I respect the liberty of the Press, and would not willingly give up its
+great advantages, but I bear in mind that it would be about as
+preposterous to expect from the columns of a “Tractarian” periodical any
+thing favourable to sound Protestanism, as it would be to look for a true
+exposition of constitutional principles in civil government from the pen
+of the Russian Autocrat.
+
+One of the most remarkable features in the Anti-Papal demonstration in
+the autumn of 1850, was the part acted by a portion of the “Tractarians.”
+
+Sensible that their party were more than suspected of being the origin of
+the “Aggression,” they were generally very early in the field to hold
+meetings, and to display an _apparent_ opposition to Rome; but if we take
+the trouble to look into their proceedings at these meetings, we shall
+find that their principal aim was to get credit for zeal against Popery,
+and thus to blind the people to their own Romish practices, and prevent
+(as far as they could) anything like a real expression of Protestant
+feeling on the occasion.
+
+As to the fact that two of the most noted “Tractarian” clergymen in
+London were lately invited to preach in the Parish Church, Dr. Irons
+says, they were his friends; “one of them a very old one;” but if the
+Doctor is not a Tractarian “in any sense,” he might have shewn
+hospitality and kindness under his own roof, rather than give these
+gentlemen the opportunity of propagating the errors of their principles
+and party in the pulpit of the Parish Church.  More recently, a third
+well known “Tractarian” Clergyman was advertised to preach in Dr. Irons’
+pulpit.
+
+There is an old homely proverb, “Shew me the company a man keeps, and I
+will tell you what sort of a man he is.”
+
+Having thus commented upon the communication of Dr. Irons in the
+“Record,” I would place before my fellow parishioners copies of some
+letters which passed between the Reverend Doctor and myself several years
+ago.  My object in doing this is not to say harsh things against the
+individual, but to demonstrate that the Doctor is by his own admission a
+“Tractarian.”
+
+I do not presume to sit in judgment on Dr. Irons, though I should think
+more highly of his candour and consistency, if he did not deny the
+holding of those opinions which I am constrained to believe he does
+entertain.
+
+I am no admirer of a certain bishop in the West of England, but we must
+do him the justice to acknowledge that he is an exception to many of his
+“Tractarian” brethren.
+
+There is no faltering on his part as to what his principles really are,
+and though we differ from him entirely, we recognize that we have a
+plain-spoken Englishman to deal with, who would feel it beneath his
+dignity to deny that he does not heartily side with the “Tractarians,”
+and endeavour by every means to advance their views and opinions.
+
+Lamentable to the Church of England as are the proceedings of this
+dignitary, we should not think the more highly of him were he to assert
+that he is not a Tractarian “in any sense.”
+
+The four following letters passed between Dr. Irons and myself soon after
+the public meeting relative to the Papal Aggression in 1850. {8}
+
+                                     “19, _Alfred Place West_, _Brompton_,
+                                                  “2_nd_ _December_, 1850.
+
+“SIR,
+
+“At the Meeting of the 15th November, one of the speakers alluded to the
+fact, that of the many clergymen, who had apostatized to Rome, all, or
+nearly all, were from the ‘Tractarian,’ or High Church party, whilst few
+or none were from that section of the Church, usually known as the
+Evangelical, or Low Church party.  You replied (or remarked) to the
+statement, ‘Six of one, and half-a-dozen of the other.’
+
+“It would not, sir, become me to attribute to you, the Chairman of the
+Meeting, an intentional misrepresentation; but I may be permitted
+respectfully to remark that your assertion is entirely at variance with
+clear and well established facts.
+
+“It is very possible that amongst the Perverts, some three or four once
+belonged to the Evangelical party, but in every case these clergymen had
+embraced High Church or Tractarian principles, before they finally joined
+the Church of Rome.
+
+“Apologizing for troubling you with this communication.
+
+                               “I am, Sir,
+
+                                              “Your very obedient Servant,
+                                                   (Signed) “ARTHUR ELLIS.
+
+“The Rev. W. J. IRONS.”
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+                                                              “_Brompton_,
+                                                 “_December_, 3_rd_, 1850.
+
+“DEAR SIR,
+
+“Your note needs no apology—I believe the facts of these unhappy
+secessions to Rome, to be far more fatal to the Evangelical party, than I
+at all implied.  I am not able to give you a list of the ascertainable
+and presentable names of Converts, though I am anxious to get it.  My
+belief is, that a very large majority had received a very unsound
+religious education among the Low Church people (and some among
+Dissenters), and embraced Popery, in consequence of having no thorough
+hold on the principles of their own Church.
+
+“Whether in their progress towards Popery, they travelled through our
+territory as travellers, and not as dwellers, or natives, does not seem
+very important to me.
+
+“I know that some have gone straight from a Dissenting Chapel to Popery;
+one case in particular has been brought to my notice; but I do not wish
+to cast stones at others, on account of these things.  I only said what I
+did, in consequence of the accidental remark of the speaker, and if I
+annoyed you, I am sorry for it.
+
+                               “Believe me,
+
+                                                        “Faithfully yours,
+                                               (Signed) “WILLIAM J. IRONS.
+
+“To ARTHUR ELLIS, Esq., R.N.
+
+“P.S.  Mr. Sibthorp was a very low Churchman, Mr. Newman was brought up
+an Evangelical, and Mr. Pownall’s son, and Mr. Capes.  If I get a list I
+will send it to you.  Mr. Capes preached very strongly in my former
+neighbourhood against High Churchmen, and I said at the time, it is he
+that is in danger of Popery, and not I.”
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+                                                 “19, _Alfred Place West_,
+                                                 “12_th_ _December_, 1850.
+
+“SIR,
+
+“I have been favoured with your note of the 3rd instant, to which I
+should have replied before this time, had I not waited for the list
+mentioned in your postscript.
+
+“As this list does not appear to be forthcoming, I am the more confirmed
+in the conviction expressed in my former communication, that your
+statement at the Meeting is altogether at variance with clear and well
+established facts.
+
+“Instead, however, of bringing forward proof as to the correctness of
+your remark, you are pleased to take a step in advance, and to express
+your belief, that a very large majority of the clergymen, (not a mere
+‘six of one and half-a-dozen of the other,’) who have gone over to Rome,
+received their religious education ‘among the Low Church people.’
+
+“I do not, sir, presume to question what you believe: all I ask for, is
+something in the shape of satisfactory evidence, that your belief has any
+better foundation to rest upon, than that of Dr. Pusey, who believes that
+the Protestant Church of England, and the Apostate Church of Rome, ‘are
+almost identical in their views on the doctrines of original sin and
+justification.’
+
+“If your opinion as to the effect of Evangelical teaching, had any
+foundation in fact, how comes it to pass, that the Perverts to Rome,
+whether from the clergy or laity, are in almost every case, from
+‘Tractarian’ congregations.
+
+“I have not, sir, received a University education, nor does it require
+the mathematical powers of a senior wrangler to discover, that if your
+premises are correct, the friends and apologists of Romish error would be
+found not in ‘Tractarian’ Churches, but in the congregations of St.
+Saviour’s and Park Chapel, where from Sabbath to Sabbath, the blessed
+truths of the Gospel are preached, in all their Evangelical fulness.
+
+“I may very well leave it to my Dissenting neighbours to answer for
+themselves, if they feel inclined to do so; but I may be permitted to
+remark, that if your belief has any foundation to rest upon, the
+principles you imbibed at Oxford, may not, in the opinion of your
+‘Tractarian’ friends, be considered a sufficient guard to counteract that
+Evangelical teaching, which I believe it was your privilege to partake of
+in your earlier years {11} and that consequently (reasoning in your own
+belief), your present position is not free from danger: as you must be
+looked upon rather as a ‘traveller’ pursuing your onward course to Rome,
+than as a ‘native’ or ‘dweller.’
+
+“I beg leave to attach hereto the opinion of Cardinal Wiseman, as
+expressed several years ago, ere ‘Tractarian’ buds had in so many
+instances opened out into Romish flowers.  The Cardinal does not say one
+word as to his expectations from the Evangelical party; his hopes are
+built on Oxford, and on those ‘to whom our Saints, our Popes, are become
+very dear, and in whose eyes our rites, our ceremonies, nay our very
+Rubrics are precious.’
+
+“You are kind enough to say you are sorry if you have annoyed me by your
+observation at the Meeting.  I assure you I was not annoyed; I certainly
+felt pain and sorrow, similar to what I experienced when I read the
+statement of Dr. Pusey before referred to.
+
+“I believed there was no foundation for either of the statements, and I
+thought I saw in both of them the fatal effects of that teaching, and
+those principles which led the present Romish Priest at Islington, to
+claim the right, whilst officiating as a minister of the Protestant
+Church of England, ‘to hold all Romish doctrine, so long as he did not
+teach it from the pulpit;’ and which led another individual of the
+‘Tractarian’ party to defend the lawfulness of subscribing to the
+articles and formularies of our Church, in a ‘non-natural sense.’
+
+“My paper reminds me I must draw this letter to a conclusion, and in
+doing so, I earnestly pray, sir, that Our Heavenly Father may enlighten
+your understanding, dispel from your mind all error and prejudice, and
+lead you by the teaching of His Holy Spirit, to retrace your steps from
+the perilous position you now occupy, amidst the shifting sands of
+‘Church Principles,’ until you find yourself in safety in the impregnable
+fortress of Bible Truth, and of that article of our church, which so
+truly says, ‘Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary for
+salvation, so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved
+thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as
+an article of Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary for salvation.’
+
+                                  “I am
+                              “Reverend Sir,
+
+                                                   “Your obedient Servant,
+                                                   (Signed) “ARTHUR ELLIS.
+
+“The Rev. W. J. IRONS.”
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+The opinion of Cardinal Wiseman referred to in my letter.
+
+    “It seems impossible to read the works of the Oxford divines, and
+    especially to follow them chronologically without discovering a daily
+    approach towards our Holy Church, both in doctrine and in
+    affectionate feeling.  Our Saints, our Popes, have become dear to
+    them by little and little; our rites and ceremonies, our offices,
+    nay, our very rubrics are precious in their eyes, far alas, beyond
+    what many of us consider them.  Our monastic institutions, our
+    charitable and educational provisions, have become more and more
+    objects with them of earnest study; and every thing in fine, that
+    concerns our religion, deeply interests their attention.”
+
+See “Letter on Catholic Unity,” addressed to the Earl of Shrewsbury.
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+                                                              “_Brompton_,
+                                                 “_December_ 13_th_, 1850.
+
+“DEAR SIR,
+
+“If you really wish to believe that all Converts to Rome, or most of
+them, come from the ranks of ‘the Tractarians’ I cannot help it.  I can
+only assure you it is contrary to all my experience.  In every case which
+has come under my notice for the last ten years, there is proof of the
+truth of what I said in my former note; but I did not, and do not, like
+to bring a railing accusation against my Evangelical brethren, else I
+would, as you find, have said, that my experience was quite against the
+assertion now commonly made.  I supposed, however, that other persons had
+had a different experience from my own, and I charitably allowed ‘Six of
+one and half-a-dozen of the other.’  For myself I can only say, that
+though I should like to know well enough how the case stands, I should
+attach no importance to the fact, if the balance of advantage were a
+trifle on one side or other; much less would I think of writing to you in
+an uncourteous or uncharitable tone about it.  The extract from Wiseman
+which you kindly sent me, I easily understand.  He, Jesuit like, wishes
+to damage High Churchmen, because he knows that ours is the only strong
+ground against Rome; {13} just as in the days of Queen Elizabeth, Jesuits
+preached Calvinism as Evangelical Ministers and Dissenters, on purpose to
+divide and destroy Churchmen and their principles.  Dr. Wiseman never
+abuses Low Churchmen.  But may I request, that as I have not time for
+letters on such small points, you rather would, (if you desire it,) call
+on me any morning you please, and in a Christian and gentle spirit,
+converse on any important topic which you may desire to discuss.
+
+                                                  “I am, faithfully yours,
+                                              (Signed) “WILLIAM. J. IRONS.
+
+“To ARTHUR ELLIS, ESQ., R.N.”
+
+                                * * * * *
+
+In the foregoing Correspondence between Dr. IRONS and myself it will be
+seen, that I addressed him under the conviction that he was one with the
+“Tractarian” party, and that his statement about “six of one and
+half-a-dozen of the other,” was offered as a kind of defence of his
+friends.
+
+In the answers of Dr. IRONS to my communications, it is quite evident,
+that he never thought of denying his identity with the “Tractarian”
+party; the tenor of his letters is not to shew that he is not a
+Tractarian “in any sense,” but to defend “Tractarianism” from the charge
+of being the primary cause of the many secessions to Rome from amongst
+his clerical brethren.
+
+Compare the letters of the Rev. Doctor with his more recent statement of
+not being a Tractarian “in any sense,” and there can be no doubt as to
+what must be the verdict.
+
+There are, however, some points in both the letters of Dr. IRONS to which
+I would allude more fully, and comment upon more at length.
+
+The Rev. Doctor states that he is anxious to get a list of the
+“ascertainable and presentable names of the Converts.”
+
+If such a list would have given so formidable an array of Evangelical
+Churchmen and Dissenters, I can hardly suppose but Dr. IRONS (giving him
+all credit for not wishing to cast stones at others), would have procured
+it, from the desire to shew me and other of his parishioners, that the
+real cause of these perversions was in the “unsound religious education
+received amongst the ‘Low Church People and Dissenters,’” and that
+“Tractarian” teaching and principles had nothing to do in the matter.
+
+When Dr. IRONS can make good his position by an “ascertainable and
+presentable list,” or by any other evidence equally convincing, I feel
+assured, that many who are now under the conviction that “Tractarianism”
+is the Broad Road to Rome, will acknowledge their error, and confess that
+they have done the “Tractarian” party much injustice.
+
+In the second letter of Dr. IRONS I would especially draw attention to
+what he says in reference to the praise so lavishly bestowed upon the
+“Tractarian” party by Cardinal Wiseman.
+
+The question, be it remembered, is not as to the honesty of the motives
+which led the Cardinal to bestow such eulogiums on his Oxford friends.
+
+It is a much more simple question and much more easy of satisfactory
+proof.
+
+Is the Cardinal’s opinion of “Tractarians” warranted by facts?
+
+Let the names of Wilberforce, Manning, Thynne, Haskell, Allies, and a
+host of others, now Priests of the Church of Rome, give the answer.
+
+We must not lose sight of the fact in dealing with “Tractarians,” that
+just in proportion as they have received the commendation of Cardinal
+Wiseman and the Organs of the Romanists; in like proportion, have all
+true Protestants been energetic in the condemnation of their teaching and
+principles.
+
+Dr. IRONS says that Cardinal Wiseman “never abuses Low Churchmen,” but he
+omits to say (what is much more to the point), that the Cardinal never
+_praises_ them.
+
+When Romanists shall praise Low Churchmen and Dissenters, we may be
+assured that serious errors are creeping in amongst them.  If friends
+condemn, we may yet be right.  But if enemies bestow their praises upon
+us, there can be little doubt but we are wrong.
+
+I will not attempt to put my knowledge of Church History on a par with
+that of Dr. IRONS.  A life spent on the watery element has precluded me
+from the opportunity of being deeply versant on such subjects; but I have
+always understood, that in the days of Queen Elizabeth, the Protestant
+Ministers of the Church of England were, with few exceptions, Calvinists:
+and the idea of a Jesuit pretending to be a Calvinist and preaching to
+_Dissenters_ in such a character in Elizabeth’s reign, appears to me
+altogether an imagination of the Reverend Doctor; and must have reference
+to a subsequent period, when principles (the exact counterpart of
+“Tractarian”), had crept into the Church and were bidding fair to lead
+the nation back to Rome.
+
+The Puritans of Elizabeth’s reign were not Dissenters, they had not then
+been driven out of the Church.  If Elizabeth did carry a high hand
+towards them, her conduct was merciful and humane if put in contrast with
+the tyranny and oppression they suffered at a later period, when the
+Monarchs of the Stuart line were aided by the bigotry and persecuting
+principles of Archbishop Laud and others, whose memories are held in such
+high esteem by the “Tractarians” of the present day.
+
+In endeavouring to ignore the evidence of Cardinal Wiseman in favour of
+“Tractarianism,” Dr. IRONS certainly has the example of high
+ecclesiastical authority.  In a correspondence lately published between a
+Bishop of our Church (whose “Tractarian” leanings are but too evident)
+and an esteemed Clergyman; the Bishop takes nearly the same line of
+argument (if such tortuous reasoning can be called argument), in regard
+to “Tractarian” publications highly eulogized by the literary organs of
+the Romanists.
+
+The Bishop, however, omits to mention, that these publications, so highly
+thought of by Papists, are altogether condemned by every sound
+Protestant.
+
+In bringing this little publication to a close, I find it has run out to
+a length I did not look for when I took up my pen.
+
+I would express a hope that in any thing I may have said of individuals,
+I have not given way to unkind or acrimonious expressions.  It is foreign
+to my feelings to have done so; and I would desire to remember “that the
+wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
+
+Far abler pens than mine have already shown forth the true character of
+“Tractarianism,” and unmasked its semi-popish principles and practices.
+If, in the object I had in view (as alluded to at the commencement of my
+prefatory remarks), I have said any thing to serve as a warning to my
+Protestant friends and neighbours, and to lead them to be more in earnest
+in contending for the faith “once delivered to the saints,” I have an
+ample reward.
+
+I now leave the question (Is the Vicar of Brompton a Tractarian?) to the
+judgment of those who may take the trouble to read this Pamphlet.  I can
+truly say, I shall sincerely rejoice to have it made plain to me that
+what Dr. IRONS says of himself is a true picture, and that he is not a
+Tractarian “in any sense.”
+
+
+
+
+FOOTNOTES.
+
+
+{6}  The official statement, with the names of the (then) Churchwardens
+attached to it, says, “that the Vicar has declined to be a party to the
+Memorial in consequence of the words in italics being added.”  These
+words were the “Rider.”
+
+{8}  I asked for, and obtained, the sanction of Dr. IRONS to publish
+these letters (if I thought it worth while,) soon after the
+correspondence had taken place.
+
+{11}  DR. IRONS is the son of a respected Dissenting Minister, who was
+held in high esteem by many eminent Clergymen of the Evangelical party.
+
+{13}  “The nearer the candle the safer the moth.”  Such is Tractarian
+logic.  I respectfully borrow this apt illustration from the “Heir of
+Montresor Abbey,” a work published by Nisbet & Co., and written by the
+Protestant Authoress of “The Two Paths.”
+
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IS THE VICAR OF BROMPTON A
+TRACTARIAN?***
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