"a "come. Wickliffe was raised up " as the morning star of the re" formation a star which never "set, but was the harbinger of Luther, who came forth as the sun, scattering the clouds which had "enveloped the earth, and ran like giant in his course, until his bright beams illumined the whole "hemisphere of Europe; and, through the medium of Henry "VIII, of Edward VI, Queen Eliza"beth, and succeeding sovereigns, "that reformation attained its pre. sent perfection and, though "brought forth in the tempest, and cradled in the storm, our church has been erected on it as its basis, "and the gates of hell shall never "prevail against it." will die away of themselves, when they behold such pains taken to instil them into an audience, whose situation in life places them above mediocrity, and when they see this same assemblage not only swallow them as "gospel truths," founded on the reformation, but actually engaged in sending them forth for the instruction and belief of others? For my own part I will not waste. my time to refute such unsupported assertions, which every catholic child that is able to say its catechism knows to be false; but I shall content myself with challenging the reverend Mr. Saunders to produce the decree of either pope or council, wherein the abominable doctrines which he has imputed to the cathoHaving seen the acuteness of the lic church, are attempted to be-espreacher's divinity, we need not be tablished. That wicked men arose, surprised that his historical informa- who turned the power and the riches tion should be upon a par with that of the church to their own advanof his theology. The above extract tage, and used them to gratify their of pulpit eloquence must afford some own sensual passions and wicked deamusement to the reader, as well as signs cannot be denied, as the principity for the intellectual powers of pal actors in the reformation so callthe reverend orator and his auditors. ed, in the reigns of Henry, Edward, An opinion is very prevalent Mary, and Elizabeth, furnish too among catholics, but more especi- many proofs to admit a doubt of the ally with those who take a leading fact. But these impious and depart in our affairs, that the gross no- signing men went out from the tions formerly entertained by pro- church, and commenced reformers, testants of the doctrines of the ca- not by defending the purity of God's tholic church, are now confined to holy laws, but by falsifying those the illiterate and vulgar class of the doctrines which he has declared to community, the increasing liberality be immutable-Instead of the caand improving knowledge of the tholic church exalting "the man of present age having, as they imagine, sin above all that is called God," it driven them from the ranks of the was a reforming parliament, that learned and intelligent. But will gave a power to the head of the they continue of the same opinion, church of England to control the now these have perused they solemn minds and consciences of men, by declarations of a member of one of extending the sceptre of absolute the protestant universities of en- dominion, and holding the rod of lightened England, and the rector intolerable tyranny over every subof two combined parishes in her me-ject of the country. The power tropolis, inhabited chiefly by indivi- given to the pope by the church was duals engaged in mercantile concerns, to guard and preserve the unity of and therefore above the common faith and the purity of her morals, line in society? Will they still not to coin new creeds, and impose believe these calumnious prejudices them for truths on the credulous. But the parliament of Henry having | manded to use and none other, under abolished the spiritual authority of pain of corporal punishment; this the bishop of Rome, which had been was soon followed by a second form acknowledged by the nation during of liturgy superseding the first, and the nine preceding centuries, and differing from it in many essential invested Harry with it, under the points. So likewise, in the year penalties of high treason, that ver- 1552, forty-two articles were agreed satile lay pope began to "exalt upon by the reforming bishops of himself above all that is called God," Edward and other learned men, in by issuing his commands to the peo- convocation assembled, "for the ple for a general conformity of reli- avoiding of diversities of opinions gious opinions; which opinions he and establishing consent touching altered according to the vagaries of true religion," which were sent out his own mind, and directed his sub- for the people to believe as the divine jects to receive them implicitly as dictates of God himself; but ten the ground work of their faith. vears after, when the church of "Hence" says Mr. Brown, in his His- England was under the guidance of torical Account of the Laws against pope Bess, (not Joan) another con Catholics, "his law of the Six Arti- vocation of bishops and learned eccles was amended by his lustitu- clesiastical reformers reduced the tion of a Christian Man,' which in number to thirty-nine in which diits turn soon gave way to his Eru- minished and varied state, all good dition; and so much, in fact, did protestants were ordered to receive the religion of the nation depend on them as true points of faith neces the will of this absolute and capri- sary to salvation. This however is cious monarch, that in 1541 a law not all, the liturgy was doomed to was passed, confirming by anticipa- undergo another rev sion, and sevetion, all tenets which shall here- ral important alterations having been after be enacted by the king's con- made in it, it was then imposed on sent."" Now, if this was not mak- the people by act of parliament, as ing the then head of the church of still dictated by the Spirit of Truth; England omnipotent, and exalting just as if the divine and, invariable himabove God himself, by empower-attribute of the Deity could be faing him to rescind the laws of truth,shioned to the whims of a she-pope which cannot vary, and substitute and her intriguing advisers, or the his own fanciful conceits in their corrupt counsellors of a boy-king.room, at the same time giving him As to the sale of indulgences and authority over the lives of those who the purchase of pardons, I have yet dared to dissent from his commands; to learn when and where they could if this was not extending the be obtained in the catholic church: sceptre of absolute dominion, and that they are granted under this proshaking the rod of intolerable tyran- testant government is too notorious ny over the minds and consciences to be denied. If a rich man or woof men," I must acknowledge I do man is tired of the bands of wedlock, not understand the common accepta- they have only to commit the crime tion of our vernacular tongue. But of adultery, which by the jewish this is not the only reign in which law was punished with death, and our reformers assumed absolute do- by the catholic church is esteemed a minion over the consciences of men. grievous sin; and if they have gold In the 2d and 3d of king Edward enough to pay the usual fees, a diVi, a form of prayer was issued, as vorce is easily obtained in the spidictated by the Spirit of Truth, ritual courts, and an act can be prowhich all Englishmen were com- cured from the legislature to enable ORTHOD, JOUR. Vol. VI. H over which he was called to preside and govern, would not admit of such an act of iniquity, and he therefore refused the request of the king; the consequences that have followed are now before us. Perhaps the reverend gentleman will deny my conclusions and contend, that as the "holy lord god" and his satellites had succeeded in sweeping all the treasures of christendom into their own bosoms, they were determined to tyrannize over the poor conscience-stricken monarch, and punish him for his cupidity. But let him remember, that Harry found wealth enough in his kingdom to the parties to marry again, in direct contradiction to the express words of Christ, in the 6th verse of the 19th chapter of the gospel of St. Matthew, "And, I say to you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry auother, committeth adultery; and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery." Yet, not withstanding this explicit declaration of God himself, how many living instances are there of individuals who have been married according to the rites of the established church, after having been openly convicted of fornication and adultery, but are now considered as living in a legiti-corrupt his parliament, which did not mate state of matrimony? Pray, good Mr. Saunders, is not this granting indulgences to commit sin? Is not this purchasing pardons to commit crimes? Is not this obtaining a right to perpetrate an act of wickedness? But if such were the practices in the catholic church in for f scruple to grant him that indulgence to commit every act of wickedness he desired, although he could not obtain a grace from "the man of sin," either by bribery or threats, to be guilty of a single crime against morality and religion. Much, however, as I differ from mer times; if the pope and the the very acute orator's character of priesthood did thus hoodwink the popery, yet I cannot help coinciding world during the dark ages, till in part with his pompously typical they swept all the treasures of chris-illustration of the rise and progress. tendom into their own bosoms," why of the reformation. I agree with did they act so stupid a part as not him, that the principles of the mornto grant old Harry an indulgence to ing star of this direful event, Wickriot in his lustful desires? Had liff, never set, but were the harbinger they done this, he would probably of still more diabolical doctrines never have aspired to become the espoused by Luther. Truly has he head of a church. Had "our holy said, that the reformation was lord god," pope Clement VIII, when "brought forth in the tempest, and his omnipotence was shut up in the cradled in the storm;" the page of castle of St. Angelo by the catholic history too well displays the emperor Charles V, consented to in-vages of the whirlwind, which has dulge king Henry in his wickedness, not yet subsided. For the Wickas the latter was then suing him to liffian star no sooner rose, than sediconsent to the divorce, he would tion and rebellion followed in its have had a fair opportunity of being train. The risings of the mob under not only revenged on his imperial Wat Tyler and sir John Ball I have and undutiful son, but he might detailed in my last number; these have kept his spiritual authority over were followed by the tumultuous the English monarchy as heretofore. insurrections of other discontented Clement, however, knew he had a demagogues in succeeding reigns, sacred character to preserve; he particularly that of sir John Old-, knew that the canons of the church, castle, which very nearly put down. ra "The opinion that the Roman catholic is the only true church that there is no salvation out of its "pale, its revenues also depending much on the subjection of num"bers to its sway,and, the idea that all are to be brought within its influence by persuasion, or by power, leaves no room for the exercise of "liberality, and destroys every westige of liberty in respect both of "body and of soul. 1 the constituted authorities both in church and state. Luther had scarcely began to dogmatize, when the people of Germany were up in arms, and death and desolation stalked over those countries which admitted the contagious effluvia of evangelical liberty. Nor has our country escaped the destructive influence of religious innovation.At the commencement of the kingdom's emancipation from the spiritual authority of the bishop of Rome, the property of the church, which till then had been esteemed the patrimony of the poor, was sequestrated, to debauch the integrity"I say, that that spirit of intolerance of the senate, and supply the wants of a lascivious court. Nor were the liberties of the people less regard-in every sect of separatists from "Nor can this civil and religious "liberty be enjoyed under any ec"clesiastical establishment but such "as our own. I speak not invidiously, "which marks the character of the "Roman catholic body, is manifest ed, as the most arbitrary acts were "the establishment, and in the passed to enforce conformity in re- "smallest dissenting community in ligious belief; spies and informers "the country. Each has its hierarwere encouraged to betray those who, chy. Without submission to all dared to assert the right of con"their rules, in doctrine and in science; and domiciliary visits were "practice, the members may be cut enforced by the minions of a profli-off from communion with them, gate and wicked ministry. But" and deprived of all the ordinances more of this when we have seen his "of God. These hierarchies, be account of the blessings at present enjoyed by this country from the reformation, which I now give in his own words. they who they may, scatter their anathemas with unsparing: hand, "and make every object of their dis"pleasure tremble beneath their rod. "We are redeemed to the enjoy- "But the established church of the "ment of civil and religious liberty "land has no hierarchy is bi-things invaluably precious to us "shops and ministers, possess no as Englishmen and as christians."power. We cannot deprive men of What good would our lives do us "any of the ordinances of God's without them? We should de- "house, nor drive them from the 66 spise our existence if deprived of" means of grace, nor punish an "the one, and we must sink under "the loss of the other: but thanks "be to God for the enjoyment of "civil and religious liberty. offence that is not recognized by "the civil authorities. The king is "the head of our church not a spi, "ritual head,, from whom we derive life, nor a head of intelligence communicating knowledge; but "he sustains this character, as the master of his family, who, being "the first in the house, is the bead "of that house; who protects its "and provides for it; and, in a su "bordinate sense, lest any should "This is a blessing which could "not be enjoyed under the papacy," and for this single reason, because "the papacy is an hierarchy. It possesses a power above the civil 66 power-a power over the con"sciences as well as the bodies of <f мен. 1 1 "hurt it, he keeps it night and day. "May our monarch be preserved as › the nursing father of the church! "May we prize our civil and religi 66 ous liberty, and place it amongst "the benefits of our redemption.' the papists are kept out of power," it is evident that he entertains an idea that our catholic ancestors were all groaning under the bondage of despotism. But is he ignorant that when this kingdom subniitted to the papacy in spiritual matters it enjoyed the blessings of civil liberty in a far greater degree than ever was possessed by protestants after the refor mation. To whom are we indebted for the trial by jury? To whom for the great charter of our liberties? To whom for annual parliaments ?On the other hand, to whom do we owe the establishment of the high commission court ? To whom the formation of the star-chamber? To whom corrupt parliaments and packed juries?-To whom browbeat> If the reader can get through these extracts without experiencing a further incitation to use his risible faculties, he possesses a greater degree of gravity than falls to the lot of mankind | in general. What an admirable logician! and how attached to "the cause of truth as founded on the reformation!" Oh! happy, happy country! Oh! thrice happy land! that has to contribute some millions annually to support a church government of archbishops, bishops, deans, prebendaries, canons, rectors, vicars, &c. &c. &c. yet possesses no hier-ing judges and perjured witnesses, archy!!! Oh! glorious church, crowned with a head incapable of -conferring intelligence or communicating knowledge! Truly, had a catholic clergyman given such a profound description of the constituent parts of the church of England, we should no doubt have seen him visited with an ex-officio information, to answer before a court of justice for a libel on the head and members of the ecclesiastical establishment of the kingdom. What a pack of falsehoods has this master of arts jumbled together in these quotations; and what stupid ignorant dolts must his parishioners be to swallow down such barefaced fibs. That we should not enjoy such civil and religious liber-civil and religious liberty is and can ty as is now enjoyed in this country, were catholics emancipated from the penal laws is certain; because the code being abrogated, the country would enjoy that in substance which is now only known in name. From what the preacher has here advanced, combined with his bold assertion in the advertisement prefixed to this discourse, namely, that "the civil and religious privileges that are now enjoyed can be continued only while pensioned by the nation, as occurred only be enjoyed by a country like our own, where the people have been brought to such a state of credulity and selfishness, as to despise every other state for not being free, yet are the veriest slaves of all the nations on the earth, since they fancy themselves in possession of civil 11berty and national happiness, yet have not even the shadow of either. For how stands the fact? Why, at the very moment the preacher was |