The doctrine of breaking an oath never renounced by the Church P. 187-195. LETTER XXVIII. Lord Clarendon's view of a reunion between Protestants and Roman Catholics. The impediments thereto. Danger of Councils to the Church of Rome, and the uselessness of them to other Churches. The Pope's conduct towards Charles II. The expulsion of Jesuits insisted on as needful, and the re- nunciation of all foreign jurisdiction. The difficulties of conces- sion to Roman Catholics are greater now than in Lord Clarendon's time, and why. Statutes to be first repealed. Mr. Burke's opinion, and that of Lord Colchester. Mr. Fox willing to grant equal power to Roman Catholics eighteen years ago. The late Lord Ellen- borough's decision on the points here noticed, and especially of LETTER XXIX. Two Classes of Roman Catholic Controversialists. Each described: Bishop Milner and Mr. Butler adduced as ex- amples. A critique on Mr. Butler's historical writings, and par- ticularly his last work: deemed unfaithful, defective, and un- worthy of credit. A brief account of Dr. John Milner's last work, in reply to the Bishop of St. David's; with an exposure of his uncharitable calumnies, which are detailed further in an Appendix at the close of this volume. The Author's apology for his own CONTENTS OF APPENDIX. THE genuine principles of Roman Catholics developed in their animosities and bitter religious persecution, as well as to calum→ niate the Protestant Clergy, &c. This collection signed by Fabri- Extract from the Dublin Correspondent, with the names of many dignitaries of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in Ireland; proving that this work is sanctioned by almost the whole body of Popish Remarks by the Editors of the Antibiblion on seeing Dr. Troy's re- vocation of his name. Mr. Butler and two Popish Journals copy Dr. Troy's paper, but omit the answer to it by his Bookseller in Extract from the Freeman's Journal of Dublin, containing Arch- bishop Troy's recantation, October 24, 1817; and Mr. Coyne's Remarks by Fabricius, on the above-named censure of Dr. Troy and the withdrawment of his name. Postscript to these Remarks. Additional observations thereon, by the Editor of the Antibiblion ; including the original attestations and official sanctions given to that Bible, and an exact copy of its title-page, &c. with a Note from Dr. Challoner's modern editions of the same work; and also Proceedings of the Irish Catholic Board, respecting the Douay Further Remarks thereon by the Editor of the Antibiblion; fully refuting the statements of those Gentlemen in Dublin, and con- firming his observations by Extracts from the Orthodox Journal, as likewise by the contents of a pamphlet printed at Dublin in 1817. Application of the whole to the case of Roman Catholics The Author's answer to a charge of wilful corruption of the Bible. This charge made by Mr. Gandolphy, Bishop Challoner, Bishop Milner, &c. against the Translators of our Bible in the reign of King James I. Their allegation stated, examined, and refuted, by the Author of these Letters. The contrary proved to be the fact; and Roman Catholics themselves clearly shown to have corrupted the Holy Scriptures, by departing from numerous early editions of the Latin Vulgate, as well as from the Greek copies of the best Epistle Dedicatory, TO WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, ESQ. M. P. SIR, THE condescending and kind manner in which you have always acted towards me, affords encouragement to believe that you will not deem me obtrusive or direspectful in addressing to you the following pages. If I have the unhappiness to differ on this momentous subject from some few friends, to whose judgment I submit on most other occasions, it is a misfortune which I cannot hope to remove, except by mutual explanations. The crisis has at length arrived, Sir, I conceive, when the religious and civil privileges of Protestants in this empire are threatened with imminent danger,-when the augmenting intolerance, activity, and strength of their adversaries inspire them with increasing confidence of success,-when new measures of attack are devised, and dormant Papal institutions are re-established,-when clamorous demands are made on the Legislature for an unconditional repeal of ancient fundamental statutes, essential to the very existence of a Protestant constitution,-when such unconstitutional claims are urged with a pertinacity and renewed vehemence, which no negative voice of the Crown or of Parliament has been able to repress, and when the obvious design of these annually encroaching demands, is not for obtaining any na A tural right or liberty, but for gaining a large measure of POLITICAL POWER, which may be easily abused, to the irreparable loss or injury of Protestant freedom. Sir, "a rumour has lately been prevalent, that the Roman Catholics expect to gain admission into Parliament, not by a direct concession of their claims, but by a side-wind" § -which. if true, shows how one clandestine step inspires the reasonable hope of another being taken! When a late concession was made, under circumstances which surprised the nation, a Roman Catholic Editor of a daily print in London, used the following exulting language: "The road to military fame AND POWER is now thrown open to the Roman Catholics; and in making this GREAT CONCESSION, it would seem as if EVERY point of importance were conceded with it, &c." He then reminds the reader of his newspaper, that if danger be apprehended "from their machinations, you have thereby granted them the means of inflicting a vital injury;" and he confidently asks, "Should they be disposed to turn their swords against the State, COULD A VOTE IN PARLIAMENT DISARM THEM? If the Catholics be enemies to the State, they have obtained roa But, however meritorious the individuals were on whom such Parliamentary honour was justly bestowed, this is a very different thing from granting LEGISLATIVE POWER, and enabling them to guide the HELM of our national vessel. Yet, Sir, this is the POWER which the Roman Catholics now demand, without securities or condition! I do not deem it any reproach on persons whose religious principles are totally different from my own, to believe that they conscientiously § See an advertisement to the Bishop of ST. DAVID's new publication, in answer to GENERAL THORNTON's Speech, &c. 8vo. 1819. Hatchard. British Press: after the passing of an Act " by a side-wind,“ in favour of military officers who were Roman Catholics. |