Find a Neat Answer to the Manuscript.-The Answer falls to Advice to Controversial Writers.-A Vision under the Guid- ance of the Shepherd Angel of Hermas.-The Temple of A Second Manuscript.-Contents of the Manuscript.-The Fathers and Tradition.-Who and what are the Fathers ?___ Does the authority of Tradition rest upon the Fathers, or the authority of the Fathers upon Tradition ?-Liberal grant to the Traveller, on the score of Passages from the Fathers.- Rome, the great receptacle of Superstition.- Destruction of books by the Orthodox, a source of Rome's apparent Unity of Doctrine.-Persecuting zeal of Theodosius the Great.- His Inquisitors.-Conscience perverted by zeal.-Ancient Protestants. Simplicity of Christianity, an indirect Cause SECOND TRAVELS OF AN IRISH GENTLEMAN IN SEARCH OF A RELIGION. CHAPTER I. Preliminary Statement.-Retrospect on the former Work.Avowal of Prejudices.-Fashionable Opinions on the first Travels. True state of the Author's mind when writing the former account of himself.-Introduction to a Catholic Family. Father Sohan and his means of annoyance.— Infallibility, Magnetism, and Fashion.-Hopeless Love.Priestly intrigue: Doubts about confession.-Forced retreat. -Determination to visit Rome. BEFORE I commence the narrative of what I may call, my second theological expedition, I must guard against the notion that I wish to puff the two Volumes, in which I have laid B before the public the occasion, circumstances, and result of my first Travels in Search of a Religion. I confess that I shall not be sorry if the two narratives are compared. But as it would be unfair, in regard to those who may be inclined to read the present work, to make it unintelligible without a perusal of the former, I shall, as briefly as possible, state what is absolutely necessary to make this narrative complete in itself. The readers of my first two Volumes will allow me to repeat the following facts: When the "Catholic Relief Bill" received the royal assent, I was residing in Trinity College, Dublin, where I had already taken a degree. For some time previous to the passing of the Bill I had wished to find Protestantism true. I am now rather ashamed of the motive which had thus biassed my mind. A lady whom I did not, could not love, had given me to understand that her hand, and a good Living were ready for me, if I became a Protestant. The difficulties of such a situation may be |