Introductory Remarks-Anecdote of King George III. The Romish Controversy revived-Duty of Protestants well to understand, and to act up to their Principles-Definitions-Constitution-Protestant.-Christianity planted in Britain at an early Introductory Remarks-Importance of the subPeriod-Augustine's Mission-Monks of Bangor-ject-Spirit in which it should be treated-VindiKing Alfred. OF PROTESTANTS. Spiritual and Temporal Power of Popery- Partizanship-Opposition Canon Law prevalent in Europe-Thomas à A cheap edition of the above Lectures has been printed and may be had at the Office of the Protestant Association, 11, Exeter Hall. Price of Lecture I., containing 23 pages, 2d.jeach or, 12s. per 100. Price of Lecture II., containing 36 pages, 3d. each, or 18s. per 100 for distribution. TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS. POST-OFFICE ORDERS. cation from the charge of Bigotry-Of Political to the Principles of Popery, not the Persons of Roman CatholicsThe Church of Rome may flourish in the Country We request our subscribers and friends to be which it Ruins-True Christian Charity-Nu- very careful in informing our publisher of the merical Increase of Roman Catholics-Bishops- exact Christian and surname of the party in whose Priests-Chapels-Convents - Monasteries - Nun- name Post-office orders are made payable, as other. neries - Schools Colleges-Guilds - Jesuits-wise considerable difficulty will arise at the PostVicars-Apostolic-The Press-Literature-Political office. It will further diminish the labours of our Influence-Privy Council-House of Lords-House publisher if all Post-office orders in our favour are Edward IIL-Richard II.: Statutes of Præmu of Commons-Causes of its increased Influence at once given payable at the General Post-office, nire-Laws made against Foreign Interference of Various Concessions reviewed-The Policy of them the Pope-Even when this Country and Church-Has it answered ?-Act of 1829-Anecdote, the were Roman Catholic-Such Laws still necessary- Red Lion Painter-Maynooth Endowment Act of Continental Romish Nations have very stringent Laws on this point. 1845-Opinions of Foreigners on the subject Prosperity no Criterion of Truth-Numbers not the Henry VIII., 1509-A Roman Catholic-Was Test of Truth-Sincerity alone, no proof of being what Popery made him-Persecuted Protestants as right-Public Opinion not the Test of Truth-Nor well as Roman Catholics-Quarrel with the Pope- Rule of Faith-The Bible alone is-Chillingworth Discovery of the Bishop's Oath to the Pope--The Bible and Rome opposed to one another Divided Allegiance-Pope Pius III. absolves all Why-Theological Errors of Popery referred to Christian Princes from Obligation to keep any Oath to King Henry-The Reformation-Popery, Idolatry in Religion, Treason in Politics, Despotism in Government-Creates Imperium in Imperio-Modern Romish Writers and Periodicals referred to. 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Blessings-Archbishop Tillotson quoted-Short James II.-His arbitrary proceedings-Imprison- Address to Statesmen Quotation from Mr. ment, Trial, and Acquittal of the Seven Bishops-Southey as to Puritanical Tactics, applied Abdicates the Throne-William III.-Settlemen to Romish Tactics in the Present Dayof the Constitution in 1688-Bill of Rights-Pro- The Bishops and Clergy Appealed to--Laymen testant Ascendancy-The Pretender-Ireland- Generally Addressed-Dissenters Appealed to Scotland-Review of Preceding Points. Concessions in favour of Popery.-Commencing in the Eighteenth Century, form Subject for Second Lecture. Objection answered, that the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829 has destroyed the Protestant Character of the Constitution-Reference to the Coronation Oath and Service, Ordination Service, Subscribers who have not already paid their subscriptions are requested to remit the same forthwith, by Post-office Order, made payable to "William Adolphus Macknight." The amount is ten shillings and sixpence. It has been resolved, on the suggestion of various friends, to continue our journal on an enlarged scale, as a Weekly Paper, to be published each Friday, price Sixpence, as soon as arrangements can be completed. It will then assume the name of “THE PROTESTANT STATESMAN, AND CHRISTIAN PHILAN THROPIST." If each one who now takes our journal will become a subscriber of 14. 6s. for one year, Subscribers will not be called on to make any remittance till receipt of the first number. and inform us of his willingness to do so, and will get one other friend to do the same, we shall Essentials and Non-essentials-Illustrations-Quo- see our way clear to proceed in the work. tation from Speech of Sir R. Peel-Religiousness of Man's Nature will not Save-Bordeaux ancient Romish Version of the New Testament quotedMistranslation, and Interpolations-PilgrimagesSacrament of Marriage-The Mass-Purgatory— The word Roman interpolated in First Epistle to Timothy, c.iv. v. 1, before the word Faith!-The word Printed by ALEXANDER MACINTOSH, Printer, of No. 20, Great New-street, London, at his Printing-office at the same place, and published by WILLIAM ADOLPHUS MACKNIGHT, of No. 6, Dorisstreet East, Lambeth, Surrey, at THE PROTESTANT ELECTOR Office, No. 3, Shoe-lane, London, where all communications (pre-paid) and advertisements are received.-London, September 20, 1847. THE "TIMES" AND ROME. There is an article in the Times of Monday powerfully written, as most of the articles of that journal are, but of a very dangerous character and tendency. We know not how to acquit the writer of the charge of extraordinary want of information, or an over-abounding credulity, or a desire to impose on the simplicity and confiding spirit of others. Shall we be thought guilty of a want of charity in making such assertions, when we know there have been many secretly attached to Rome who yet have openly continued united to Protestantism, that they might the more effectually, because with less suspicion, carry on the work of destruction? A letter which appeared in the Times a short while ago, signed, Anglo-Romanus, was very efficient in preparing the minds of many for fresh measures in favour of Popery. That letter, though many unsuspecting Protestants may not have thought it, was written by one of the most subtle and powerful emissaries of Rome. English Protestants require now to bear in mind, that much of the periodical literature of the day is guided by the spirit of Popery, and that many of the suggestions and recommendations, injurious in their results to our Protestant institutions, emanate from members of the Roman Catholic Church, who are making use of channels which were once little suspected, to advance the cause of Romanism amongst us. The article to which we refer is on the renewal of diplomatic relations with Rome, and commences as follows: "The adjustment of our diplomatic relations with the Court of Rome on a footing more creditable to the common sense of two European nations, may be found to carry with it advantages even beyond the facilitation of that intercourse so clearly discovered to be indispensable." We cannot see that renewed intercourse with Rome is indispensable for England, however desirable it may be for Rome. To speak of the Pope and his two millions of people, which we believe is about the population of the Roman territory, or Papal states in Italy, as of any influence as one of the European nations, merely as a temporai sovereign, were all but ridi culous. It is only in reference to his power as a spiritual potentate that he rises to any degree of magnitude or importance amongst the nations of Europe. the ghostly pretensions of the Pope of Rome upon no less truth than solemnity." The writer may term opposition to the spiritual power of Popery "fencing with a shadow." Upon what, however, rests all power, short of physical power, but upon opinion? These edicts from Rome,-the emanations of spiritual power, called shadows,-have a far greater weight, as they seem to come with higher sanction to the minds of many, than the acts of the British Legislature. The same article continues : "It is true that the Muniment-chamber of the Vatican may contain a register of claims upon the ecclesiastical or temporal properties of these islands. It is also true that Francis V., Duke of Modena, Reggio, and Mirandola, may reserve his right to the more exalted title of Francis I., King of England. But, to be gravely concerned about the lien which any Clement or Gregory may hold upon the supremacy of an English Sovereign is about as reasonable as to take order against the hereditary claims upon our allegiance of that ingenuous Prince who has just fled from his capital to his Royal Cousin of Parma. There is no division in this empire of the temporal and spiritual supremacy. It were to be wished that against this veritable proposition even theoretical or speculative protestation had now ceased. We no longer, however, enforce the test by the gallows and the quarteringblock, and we can well afford to allow a liberty of conscience 'which confines itself within proper limits." The cases here put as analogous, are by no means so. Were the Duke above alluded to and the Pope alike seeking the throne of these realms, we m.ght deride the power of the former, whilst we might be justly apprehensive lest the interference of the latter should excite disturbances; for the Pope has a powerful band in this country-a well organized army of bishops, priests, and subordinates, to carry out his purposes, and spiritual power to enforce his edicts. Hence the danger of Popery to a Protestant State. Against liberty of conscience we have never protested, but we do contend, it is a misnomer to call treason liberty of conscience, and that we ought to be upon our guard against those who turn "faith into faction," and make their religion subservient to the overthrow of our institutions and the ex The writer further on proceeds :- [PRICE 3d. "As long as the authority' of the Pope is only what it is and what for centuries it has been," continues the writer, "we can safely dispense with any notice of it more costly than a practical and daily refutation of the claims it may contain." Popery became weak in our country, because it was opposed by statesmen and theologians, who knew its power, and took wise precautions against it. It is becoming powerful now in the British Cabinet, Parliament, and Church,-because the principles of the Reformation have been abandoned, and the bulwarks erected by our ancestors have been thrown down. At the present time, England is more exposed to the efforts of Romanism, than almost any of the Continental states. One motive that has been urged for renewed intercourse with Rome, is the better government of Ireland; in other words-because the Pope has power in Ireland. Yet, when Protestants take alarm at the rumoured augmentation of such power, by making it more official and direct, the same parties turn round and deny that the Pope has power. The writer thus concludes the article, which we have been able only thus briefly to notice : "The Earl of Minto, during his diplomatic tour through Switzerland and Italy, will be enabled to act with the due weight of official dignity at all the Courts vitally interested in the present movement. While announcing the views of England on this important question, and bearing the intelligence of her resolution to see the Treaty of Vienna respected, and to countenance the states of the péninsula in the assertion of their independent rights, he will ascertain the sentiments with which the Court of Rome may respond to an overture SO opportunely and generously made. The most moderate and reasonable concessions on the side of the reigning Pontiff will demolish all objections of form that could sensibly be raised, and the occasion may not only display the goodwill of England to the lesser powers of Europe, and her determination to uphold the legitimate rights of nations, but it may at length bring about the formal removal of obsolete anathemas, which now serve no other purpose than to stigmatize the policy which suggested them. Thus it would appear that er Majesty's Ministers are authorizing or sanctions that hich is alike illegal, unconstitutional, anddangerous 5 and the disturbances of Italy are to be made the pretence for more closely identifying Protestant NO ELECTOR PROTESTANT England with the apostacy of Rome against which | dare to meet, to 'the good sense and good feeling ' she protests. If the maintenance of the stipulations of the treaty of Vienna was the sole object in view as a point of international law, the way to secure the observance of that treaty would be by negotiations at Vienna, not by a Minister at Rome. If Austria has out-stepped her bounds; if the better spirit and terms of a solemn treaty have been violated, let our diplomatists and those of other powers concerned in securing due adherence by each of the high contracting parties to the stipulation of the treaty, look to this;-but let not Protestant England renew negotiation with Rome. Let her not be either officially represented at the court of the Roman Pontiff; nor let the emissaries of Italian theology set their foot in the palace, or rule in the dominions of the descendants of the House of Brunswick. EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. THE TABLET AND THE ROMISH BULLS. Sir,—It is painful to remark that none of your correspondents should have noticed the fallacious statement which appeared in the Tablet of the 28th August, and embodied in a letter to the editor of the Times of the 7th inst., namely, that certain treasonable Bulls of Rome had long since ceased to be recognised, and consequently were now perfectly harmless. But so far from that statement being true, it appears, in fact, that since the passing of the so-called "Catholic Emancipation Act" in 1829, namely, in 1832, one at least of those Antichristian Bulls, the Bulla Coena Domini, which excommunicates as accursed heretics, the sovereign, and all her Protestant subjects, were set up as the law of Rome by the Romish hierarchy in Ireland, in defiance of their evidence, professions, and oaths. of their countrymen. Mark their audacity in com- CONVOCATION OF THE CLERGY. The clergy of the archdeaconry of London were summonded to meet at St. Sepulchre's to appoint procurators to represent them in convocation on Tuesthe name of the Archdeacon of London (Mr. Hale), day the 7th inst. As the summons was issued in great surprise was expressed on the part of the clergy to find that simply his Surrogate (Dr. Philli more) was in attendance. On that gentleman taking the chair, Dr. WORTHINGTON rose to demand why the curates of the diocese were excluded from the summons issued to himself and the other incumbents present. Answer was returned that they were not in acted. Dr. WORTHINGTON further demanded why convocation was considered as necessarily connected with the dissolution of the two Houses, being anciently perfectly distinct and totally independent of a temporal Parliament ? No answer was given, except that this was no subject of inquiry at that Meeting. Dr. WORTHINGTON then demanded to see the minutes of what the convocation had done during their late session. "Mark the subdued tone, the prostrate spirit, of these Resolutions. A few days before, the whole body of the Papacy was vociferous, clamorous included in the document under which the Surrogate its denunciation. Mark now the feeble wail of this This, however, on being read, appeared to nega. miserable few assembled in a room in this hotel: tive the course pursued by the Surrogate. The assembly was, therefore, primâ facie, illegal. their whole boast of a refutation of the first Meetng is, their defence set up by Mr. O'Connell in the Dublin Review, on the suppression of a single date, and even that a falsehood, while the bulls produced at the second Meeting, involving the perjury, the cruelty, the intolerance, the persecution, the treason, of their whole hierarchy, they do not even dare to mention. No. They were silent; and their silence acknowledged the truth of the publication of these laws of the Pope in Her Majesty's dominions. Their silence confessed their guilt-matter of importance to inquire into, whether the To this Dr. WORTHINGTON replied, that it was a their conscious guilt. Cum silent, loquuntur; cum functions committed to Dr. Russell and Dr. Sheptacent, clamant. They knew that it was true; and herd had been fittingly discharged by those gentle they dare not meet the case, lest they might draw and that this fact could not be established unless men in their representative capacity in convocation, public attention to investigate the facts. They they possessed the minutes in question. He bethought, if they said nothing, it might die away-it that nothing was done in it, but he considered it an lieved that, virtually, Convocation was a nullity, and might pass off merely as the news of the day; but important element of the Anglican Church, and one if they attempted to defend the case, they knew which brought forward the voice of the Presbyter that all England would have been awake to its atrocity." Sept. 20, 1847. A PROTESTANT SENTINEL. These also were not forthcoming, and it was contended had nothing whatever to do with the present matter. body as well as the Episcopal, a neglected but most important question. No answer was given. The Rev. Mr. LUPTON, one of the Minor Canons of St. Paul's, then proposed Dr. Burnet and some other gentleman whose name we could not catch, but both these gentlemen declined the honour. The same gentleman then proposed Mr. Marshall and Mr. Letts. A poll was demanded by Mr. Le Mesurier, on the part of Dr. Russell and Dr. Shepherd, and strongly urged by Mr. Scott. It was, however, relinquished by Mr. Le Mesurier. The Madrid Heraldo of the 14th instant accuses Mr. Bulwer of having written a letter to the Minister of the Interior, warning him of a plot Mr. LE MESURIER proposed the old representafor getting possession of the Queen's person at the tives, Dr. Russell and Dr. Shepherd, but this promoment of her Majesty's going to the theatre;posal was, we believe, not seconded. which charge it designates a calumny directed But that your readers may the more readily be against the Mo erados. It is added that the subinduced to satisfy themselves on this vitally import- stance of this letter having transpired, had caused great fermentation. The same paper states stat ant subject, I think I cannot do better than refer by way of corroborating the charge, calumnious them to the full statement of facts laid before rumours are circulated, affecting the Generals of the public in 1836, entitled, "The Doctrines Pro-Provinces, who are said to be preparing a military rising against the Government. Mr. Bulwer, mulgated by the Romish Bishops in Ireland in 1832," according to the same authority, has demanded the and referred to in a speech in 1843, "The Pope and expulsion of Narvaez. The Progresista journals, on the other hand, accuse the Moderados of working Popery exposed in their power and plots against the by all means, fair and foul, to regain lost ground. religion, laws, and liberties of the empire," from The Eco del Comercio asserts that French agents are which is extracted the following :endeavouring to corrupt the garrison. What amount of truth may be in the accusations so freely dealt at both sides, we leave our readers to settle for themselves. The Courrier Français is prohibited in Spain on account of articles offensive to her Majesty. -: "The Roman Catholics called a Meeting at Paglioni's hotel, to take some notice of these bulls; and their Resolutions were drawn up by Dr. Wiseman, and adopted.. MARGATE. In the garden of S. T. Marchant, measuring five feet six inches in circumference, and Grosvenor-place, may be seen a monster pumpkin, of the estimated weight of seventy to eighty pounds. It is only in its infancy at present, and is expected to equal, in weight and size, its parent, which was last year presented to the Queen, and weighed upwards of 150 lbs. "We have too much confidence in the upright ness, good sense, and good feeling, of our fellow countrymen, to consider ourselves called upon to take any further public step, for the purpose of meeting or denying charges, which an opportunity has been refused us of answering in the face of those who made them, and which have been a thou-Witton Park Iron Works, the week before last, was sand times denied and refuted.' Mark the appeal of these men from proved facts, which they did not The make of the three furnaces at the It further appeared, also, that Dr. Russell was illegally chosen as the representative in Convocation, he not being in the archdeaconry. About four clergymen then voted for Mr. Letts and Mr. Marshall, Dr. Worthington avowing that he would neither act, propose, nor vote in such a state of things. The other and larger portion of the clergy remained quiescent. Dr. Worthington, however, took the liberty to tell the Surrogate, that he viewed this as properly a synodical assembly, competent to the full discussion of all ecclesiastical matters, and that however it might suit existing purposes to episcopal organs, the time was coming when be suppress the voice of the Church, save through fitting position in its government. The Meeting trusted the Presbyter body would take their just and then separated. Lupton, Scott, Letts, Marshall, Charlwood, Hills, There were present the Rev. Messrs. Mackenzie, Le Mesurier, H. Hughes, and Drs. Burnet and Worthington. The whole proceeding was most un satisfactory, the absence of the Archdeacon from ote of the most important Meetings he could hold-that of the late procurators-the illegal election of one of them in the last house-the small number that voted for the existing procurators, who were evidently contemplated as defunct officials, from the very date of their active existence, as our Irish Countrymen would say-all contributed to lead the clergy to the conclusion that these things had better not be than continue to be the laughing stock of the community. ISLINGTON PROTESTANT INSTITUTE. BY JAMES LORD, ESQ., BARRISTER-AT-LAW. (Specially reported for the Protestant Elector.) The Rev. J. SANDYS took the chair at seven o'clock, and, after a few preliminary remarks, called upon the Rev. WILLIAMS to offer up prayer for the Divine guidance and blessing. After which, Mr. LORD proceeded to address the assembly, in substance, as follows: came forward as a candidate there, solely and exclusively upon the Protestant interest, was deSUBJECT :—“ THE POSITION OF POPERY AND PRO-feated. Still he was not defeated because there was TESTANTISM-THE VATICAN AND ST. JAMES'S." not sufficient strength in the Protestants there to carry the question, but because there were divisions among the Protestants of the town of Liverpool; and, therefore, a supporter of Popery succeeded in being returned as one of the Members for that borough. This is only an illustration of that old and well-established principle, "Divide and conquer." Protestants have been, and are, alas! so unhappily divided amongst themselves, as well in matters of religion as in politics, that Roman Catholics, who are an united and a compact phalanx, whether among electors, or among Members of Parliament, or ia the Cabinet, or in the assemblies of our colonial | and tributary possessions; and proceeding cautiously, they manage, among all these divisions of Protestants, to carry on successfully their game, and to get continued accessions of strength and power among us. It is not so in our own country alone, but it is so likewise in America. While the Liberals there boast of their independence of all foreign interference, yet the Church of Rome, from her being the first spiritual power directed upon temporal matters, is gaining vast control and immense influence over the affairs of America itself. Mr. Chairman, My Christian Friends,-It is a matter of sincere gratification to see myself surrounded, on such an evening as this, by so numerous an assembly. It evinces most clearly, that the interest which was once taken in this cause has not at all been diminished. It shows that the question has taken a deep hold upon your hearts' best feelings; and tells us that, in time to come, we shall find you even more determined and persevering, than in time past you have been, to maintain the cause of our Protestantism, our reformed Christianity. Many events of a most striking and important character have taken place since last I had the opportunity of addressing you. They are events which, by many, may be considered more of a political than of a theological character. But living, Sir, as we do, in this great, this enlightened, this Christian country, there are comparatively few political events which are not, more or less, fraught with principles that bear upon our common Christianity. This is true with regard to the general policy of our country, and more especially so with regard to many measures vitally affecting our religious as well as our civil institutions. In that great event to which I am about to refer, the general election that has taken place since I had the privilege of addressing you, we have had an opportunity of watching what, on the one hand, are the feelings and determinations evinced by the Roman Catholics as a body, and what, on the other hand, has been the way in which the efforts of the Roman Catholics, their encroachments, are likely to be met by the Protestant feeling of this country. I desire cordially to express my assent to the sentiments with which the Rev. Chairman opened the proceedings. I am perfectly aware that the object of the Islington Protestant Institute is not to wage war with individual Roman Catholics. I am perfectly aware that man is not infallible,-I know that ten fallibles meeting together do not make one infallible, nor yet 200 fallibles make one infallible, I know that there is nothing in this world which is infallible, excepting the word of God-the written, revealed word of God. The difference between the Church of Rome and ourselves is this,-the Church of Rome assumes to herself that she is infallible, she calls upon all baptized persons to bow down to her, to yield their consciences, their understandings, their wills, to her dictates and commands;-whilst we call on all, throughout England and Ireland, throughout the Italian states, throughout the universal world,-to bow to God alone, to submit to nothing that is inconsistent with his revealed and written word. (Cheers.) The elections, Sir, which have recently taken place, have shown to us, on the one hand, the determination of Roman Catholics to carry on their warfare (a thing of which we were well aware before), to carry on their unceasing warfare against the Protestant institutions of our country; and they have shown, on the other hand, the determination of many Protestants to uphold those institutions. True there has been much comparative indifference on the part of those from whom better things might have been, and had been, expected. But, Sir, our cause loses nothing of its interest, still less anything of its importance, from the indifference which is evinced by those who ought to show the greatest interest in the question. The cause which we have in hand,-the issue now pending, the risk and result which we have at stake,—is the maintenance of our pure, our reformed faith, and those religious and civil institutions in which, and by which, we believe our country has so long been prospered. In taking notice of the elections to which I have referred, there are some to which is attached a special interest and importance. If we look at Liverpool, we find, that the Hon. Gentleman who There is a maxim equally true in theological and political matters, as it is in physics, "that a small and a compact body, unitedly and steadily moving onwards in its course, will ride over a much greater body than itself which is resting or sitting still!" Whilst we, as Protestants, by our comparative indifference, and our numerous divisions, are hardly doing anything, the Church of Rome, by her compact phalanx, is gaining victory, conquest, and triumph, because we Protestants are disunited and indifferent. If we look at other towns besides Liverpool,-if we look, for instance, at London,-we find the Protestant feeling not sufficiently expressed, and by no means represented, by the present Members. We know perfectly well what took place there, and I believe it was owing principally to the efforts and influence of the Islington Protestant Institute, that of all the District Committees for promoting the return of the Protestant Conservative candidates, there was scarcely one that exerted itself more strenuously and energetically than the Committee sitting in this parish. (Cheers.) This was ful, energetic, and persevering, we must be thankful to Him whose cause it is in which we are engaged. The subject announced for the present lecture is, "The Position of Popery and of Protestantism;' and my object, Sir, on the present occasion, is, not so much to speak of the position of Popery and of Protestantism in t.is parish or in this country, in Great Britain or in Ireland, but throughout the greater part of Europe, in order that those persons who think that Popery is not progressing may see the vast advances Popery has made, and the efforts which Popery is still making, and thence draw the inference that it is comparatively of no avail for us to exert ourselves in promoting Christian missions in foreign lands and heathen climes whilst we neglect to educate our people at home in the Christian religion, in the religion of the Bible, and are sending forth Roman Catholic priests, trained and educated at our expense, to counteract by the baneful influence of a false system of religion, all our efforts to turn Pagan nations to the worship of the true and only God. My own firm belief and solemn conviction is, that the Almighty has been pleased to commit his revealed and written truth to this nation-that he has made us the depositories of the Christian religion, almost in the same manner in which he constituted the Jews of old the depositories of the Jewish religion; and if we are regardless of, and unfaithful to, the trust reposed in us-if we betray the confidence placed in us, it will call down upon us Divine wrath and vengeance. We have neglected this duty; but because we have neglected it in past time, it is no reason that we should still persist in our neglect. On the contrary, it becomes cs now to retrieve the past-to regain lost time-to show ourselves firm and courageous in maintaining and supporting the great principles of the Christian religion, by which alone Pagan lands can be fertilized or Pagan nations can be saved. theo Now, Sir, the progress of Popery in our own country I have brought before you on a former occasion. I have shown its increase numerically-I have shown its advances politically and logically-I have pointed out the efforts made by the Church of Rome, and the betrayal of our institutions alike by theologians and by statesmen. There can be no question that Rome, in her political, moral, and social principles, is opposed to all that we hold most dear, most precious, and most valuable; and we may pronounce of Popery, with regard to one and all of these points, that it is idolatry in religion, treason in politics, and despotism in Government. That it is idolatry in religion, is a grave charge to make against that system, but we must not, by a false liberality, permit ourselves to be blinded to It is no question of charity whether the sun shines at noonday; it is no question of charity whether the Church of Rome is idolatrous, or the tendency of her principles and doctrines to lead men to idolatry: it is a question of fact. When we have her own books and her own documents before us on the one hand, and her practices both in our own country and in those countries where she is possessed of the greatest power, on the other; when we see her adoring a piece of bread; when we perceive her offering up prayers to the Virgin Mary and departed saints, I will not say it is a false feeling of charity and liberalism, but a base desertion of our duty-an abandonment of our religious principles-a betrayal of truth-to call the great differences which exist between Popery and Frotestantism, a nullity, and to believe that Popery is as good as Protestantism. Then if we glance at Dublin, we find that one Then if we consider the two University elections : That Popery is idolatrous in its tenets, and in its practices, I could prove from documents I have with me now, and to which I shall not, on the present occasion refer, unless called upon more particularly to do so. I pointed out to you, from the Encyclical Letter of the present Pope, that he calls upon Roman Catholics to join with him in supplicating the Virgin Mary: I quoted from another work called The Glories of Mary, in which supplications are continually recommended to her, and also to other saints and departed persons, in which latter work you will remember I brought before you the story of a vision, which is represented to have happened to one person, as recorded in this book, in which two ladders were seen placed on the earth, and reaching up to heaven; the one red, at the summit of which was Jesus Christ; and the other white, at the top of which presided the Virgin Mary, and it was observed that many who endeavoured to ascend the first ladder, after mounting a few steps fell down, and on trying | again were equally unsuccessful, so that they never attained the summit; but a vcice having told them to make trial of the white ladder, they soon gained the top, the blessed Virgin having held forth her hands to help them. This is an awful illustration of the fearful state into which the moral and intellectual and religious feelings of multitudes have been brought through the influence of Popery. I do not say there is no religiousness in this, there is religiousness in the Hindoo or the Mahometan; but it is not that religiousness which is acceptable to God it is not that religious feeling directed according to his own written and revealed will, which worship alone he will accept, and which only is pleasing in his eyes. We pity those who are in error,-we lament over the Jew who has been expatriated from the land of his fathers on account of his various transgressions, and who has been brought up in error; but do not for one moment permit a false feeling of charity to make us believe that idolatry and true worship are the same thing; or because men worship they know not what, become indifferent to the cause of truth. But this system is no less opposed to us in political than in theological matters; and we may accept this, I think, as a maxim that cannot be departed from or disputed, that any system which is in its nature opposed to the revealed will of God, can never be for the true and best interests of any man, Church, or nation. Because, Sir, we can never remove from our minds the consciousness, that God who created this world still presides over it; though we see him not, he sees and knows all things, and can do all things; and that neither individual, nation, or Church can ever escape his wrath, nor even prosper without his blessing; nor expect that blessing, except in proportion as he conforms himself to what he has required of him. We therefore come to the conclusion that a system opposed to the word of God can never be for the real welfare of men or of nations. If Popery were to present herself to us for the first time in her true colours, and were to tempt us with the promise of all the wealth, power, and happiness in the world ever possessed, on condition of joining her, we should say, You promise us this on condition of our doing that which is opposed to God and God's word, and we cannot for one moment believe you. But we are not left alone here, we have practical illustrations, from the page of history, and from events passing daily before our eyes, that that system is opposed-diametrically opposed,-in its very essence, to the intents of nations. I have said, that it is treason in politics, and I will tell you why. Because it sets up another object to which the allegiance of the subjects of princes is to be given, than of the king, queen, or Government of the country. I care not whether it be a republic, an aristocracy, monarchy, a mixed form of Government, like our own; in each or any of these cases, the system of Popery usurps if not the entire, yet a great portion of the allegiance of the subjects of those states. It creates what our great lawyer calls, an imperium in imperio, an empire without an empire. So that if, as was frequently the case in times past, and as has sometimes occurred in Popish countries, even at the present day,-if at any time there should arise questions with reference to the theological government of the Church of Rome, as the appointment of bishops or archbishops, the monarch might appoint one, and it might require confirmation by the spiritual powers at Rome. If the monarch might refuse to confirm the appointment of the Pope, or the Pope that of the monarch, of course a controversy would immediately arise, which appointment should be regarded as valid. This is a question which in past ages has raised continual divisions, not only on the continent, but also in our own country. In the course of the last few years, a question something of this nature, led almost to an open rupture between the King of Prussia and the archbishop of Cologne. The archbishop was sent to prison by the King, but he appealed to Rome, and, at length the question was compromised. History bears repeated testimony to the confusion raised by the spiritual power of Popery. And what a powerful engine is this! For upon what rests power? Why, Sir, it rests in almost every case, upon opinion, or else upon physical strength alone. In most cases it rests upon opinion. Why is it that in this country we yield obedience to a dictum which issues from King, Lords, and Commons? Because we know it to be the constiuted authority | souls." "As to laws, the Pope cannot, as the Pope of the land. Why, in Turkey do they obey laws enact a civil law, or confirm it; nor can he repeal emanating from a different source? Because they the laws of princes, because he is not a political emanate from that source to which the people of that prince. But he can do all these things, if any civil country have been taught to yield their obedience. law is necessary for the salvation of souls, and Unless these laws are supported by physical power, kings do not choose to enact it, or if any law be inthe obedience given to them is the result only of pub- jurious to the salvation of souls, and kings do not lic opinion. But, in our own country in particular, choose to repeal it." public opinion has ever guided, to a certain extent at I might enlarge greatly upon this point. There is least, the framing of its laws and institutions. In a one passage from St. Thomas Aquinas. The Church free country laws and institutions which fail to be of Rome canonized this man on account of his popular, are likely to be repealed. Public opinion, eminent virtues. Now, that Church never makes a therefore, to a great extent, guides all these matters; yet man a saint till his writings have been examined by it has to a very considerable degree, been placed in certain persons appointed by the Pope, and they the hands of the adversaries of our Protestant insti- have certified that they contain nothing that is tutions. Public opinion, in this country, is almost erroneous or objectionable. To show how highly omnipotent. Yet public opinion is not always right-this author is estimated at Maynooth College, I will it is not infallible. The old Jewish martyrs opposed state to you, that the Principal of that Institution public opinion, because public opinion was wrong; received a letter from Rome in reference to the so they went to the den of lions, and to furnaces, and works to be used in the course of instruction there; so forth. Public opinion was opposed to the Reforma- among them he was particularly recommended to tion at one time, and what was the consequence? take the works of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. AuMartyr after martyr was sent to the stake. I ask gustine as guides in matters of difficulty; and, in you, are we right as Christian men, in permitting reply, they say that, "in doubtful matte s, about public opinion, which at all times is so powerful, to which they dispute in the schools, they will take be put into the hands of men, who are emissaries of care to embrace and follow them (St. Augustine and the Church of Rome, and, as such, are opposed to St. Thomas Aquinas), as their guides and masters in our religious privileges, and to the best establish- questions of this kind." So that you perceive that ments of our country? Yet, Sir, this public those educated at Maynooth College are especially opinion has been, for a great number of bound to respect what is set forth in the teaching of years, possessed, throughout almost the whole St. Thomas Aquinas. Here is a passage from his extent of Ireland,-certainly through the whole work, entitled Secunda Secundæ, qu, 12, art. 2 :— Popish part of Ireland, by a party who are trained and directed by the emissaries of the Church of Rome; inen instructed and educated at our expense to anathematize Protestants and Protestantism-to curse and execrate our religion-to prevent the people from the reading of the Scriptures, or at least to teach and construe it only as the Church of Rome or its emissaries expound it to them. Can we, then, wonder if the Roman Catholics of Ireland, and those who, time after time, are emigrating to our colonial and tributary dependencies, -are we to wonder, I say, if these men look with far greater reverence to edicts issuing from the Vatican, than to those which are promulgated from Saint James's?-that they look upon our laws as those of an heretical King, Lords, and Commons, State and Church, and as far less obligatory than those propagated by what they regard as an infallible Church? Such, I believe, is the effect and tendency of Popery. I could illustrate this by a great number of quotations from a variety of documents I have with me, on the especial subject of the power and authority which is claimed by the Church of Rome over princes. In Reiffeustuel, a writer on common law, a work of great celebrity in the Church of Rome, and used in the course of instruction at Maynooth College, there are principles laid down, which will corroborate entirely what I have just said : "It is inferred that vassals and slaves are, ipso facto, freed from their service and fidelity towards an heretical law, as likewise male and female servants from obedience to the same." "For the Doctors commonly infer that the Pope, on account of this crime, can, for the sake of religion, absolve the laity from an oath of fidelity, and from any other obligation, though confirmed by an oath which they held beforehand to the delinquent; both as well beeause, in every promise, the cause of religion' is considered excepted, as because, in such an obligation and oath, it is tacitly understood, if he continues, such a person with whom I may lawfully communicate, or if he does not render himself justly unfit and unworthy." To the same effect I have a number of extracts from the works of Cardinal Bellarmine, a writer of great eminence and authority in the Church of Rome. Speaking of the power of the Pope, Cardinal Bellarmine says,-"The Pope has the chief temporal power, at least, indirectly." We are not contending now that the Church of Rome says the Pope has temporal power over princes, but that he has such spiritual power, that he can direct it to temporal purposes. To explain this particularly, the Cardinal adds," So far as relates to their persons, the Pope cannot, generally, depose temporal princes, even for just causes; but he can change kingdoms, and take them away from one and give them to another, as the highest spiritual prince, if that be necessary to the salvation of "Whether a prince, on account of apostasy from the faith, loses dominion over his subjects so that they are not bound to obey him?" After citing the arguments which he supposes to be adduced in the negative, he adds: "But against this we have what Gregory VII. says,- We, holding the statutes of our sacred predecessors, absolve by the apostolical authority those who are bound to excommunicated persons by fealty or the sacrament of an oath; we absolve them from the sacrament of their oath, and prohibit them to observe faith towards them, by all means, till they make satisfaction. But apostates from the faith are excommunicated, as also heretics, as the Decretal says elsewhere, De Hæreticis, chap. Ad Abolendam. Therefore we must not obey apostate princes.' He then goes on to point out, that "it does not belong to the Church to punish infidelity in those who never received the faith according to the Apostle. (1 Cor., chap. v.) "How can I judge those that are without?" But the infidelity of those that have received the faith can, according to law, be punished, and conveniently punished in this, be cause they cannot govern faithful subjects, for this would verge into a great corruption of the faith; because, as it is said in a preceding part, the apostate contrives evil in his wicked heart, and sows discord, tending to separate men from the faith,' and, therefore, as soon as ever any one is denounced excommunicated, on account of apostasy from the faith, his subjects are, ipso facto, absolved from their allegiance, and from the oath of allegiance by which they were bound to him." Just to the same effect are a variety of remarks in Dens' Theology, which I have here. I have with me two separate volumes of two separate editions, one published by Mr. Coyne, bookseller to the College of Maynooth; and the other printed at Mechlin, on the Continent. The passage that I am now about to read, is from the Dublin edition, and it is, in substance, this : "Are unbelievers to be compelled to join themselves to the bosom of the faithful? "We answer, that unbelievers who have been baptized, as heretics and apostates generally, and also baptized schismatics, can be compelled by corporal punishments, to return to the Catholic faith and the unity of the Church." Now here are extracts taken not only from the old writers, St. Thomas Aquinas and Cardinal Bellarmine, but from Dens' Theology, corroborated as it is by reference to the Council of Trent. The Canons of the Council of Trent are thus referred to by Dens' Theology, to establish the doctrine that persons may be compelled by corporal punishments to return to the bosom of the Roman Catholic Church. This is quite consistent with the Popish religion, but it is quite inconsistent with ours. This is enough for me to say in order to show that the system of Popery is what I declare it to be, |