CHRISTIAN DUTY

OF

GRANTING THE CLAIMS

OF

THE ROMAN CATHOLICS.

WITH

A POSTSCRIPT

IN ANSWER TO

THE LETTERS OF THE REV. G. S. FABER,

PRINTED IN THE ST. JAMES'S CHRONIcle.

BY THOMAS ARNOLD, D.D.

HEAD MASTER OF RUGBY SCHOOL,

AND LATE FELLOW OF ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD.

K

OXFORD,

PRINTED BY W. BAXTER,

FOR J. PARKER; AND C. AND J. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD,

AND WATERLOO PLACE, LONDON.

PREFACE.

IN venturing to offer the following pages particularly to the notice of the clergy, my main object has been to correct this prevalent impression, that it may be wrong

in

a religious point of view to grant the Catholic claims, but it cannot be more than inexpedient to reject them. I have therefore argued the Question on the grounds of right: although I allow, that in the ordinary discussion of it, the topic of right is one which it is on many accounts better to wave; and where the opponents of the Catholics do not make conscience their plea for resisting the

claims, it is enough to press them on grounds of political expediency. My particular object will account for my omission of many powerful arguments which are usually brought forward in favour of concession; and especially for my not noticing more at length the trite objection, that the measure now before Parliament is an inroad upon the constitution; whereas it is in fact the fulfilment of it, if by the constitution be meant a system for the government of the commonwealth on the principles of liberty and justice.

For my writing on the Catholic Question at all I need offer no other justification than the universal interest it excites, and the great misapprehension and irritation which exist concerning it. I write, because I wish to remove the one and allay the other