of the new law, instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord, and necessary for the salvation of mankind, though not all for every one: to wit, baptism, confirmation, eucharist, penance, extreme unction, orders, and matrimony; and that they confer grace: and that of these, baptism, confirmation, and orders, cannot be reiterated without sacrilege. I also receive and admit the received and approved ceremonies of the Catholic Church, used in the solemn administration of all the aforesaid sacraments. I embrace and receive all and every one of the things which have been defined and declared in the holy council of Trent, concerning original sin and justification. I profess, likewise, that in the mass there is offered to God a true, proper, and propitiatory sacrifice for the living and the dead. And that in the most holy sacrament of the eucharist, there is truly, really, and substantially the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ: and that there is made a conversion of the whole substance of the bread into the body, and of the whole substance of the wine into the blood; which conversion the Catholic Church calls Transubstantiation. I also confess, that under either kind alone Christ is received whole and entire, and a true sacrament. I constantly hold, that there is a purgatory, and that the souls therein detained are helped by the suffrages of the faithful. Likewise, that the saints, reigning together with Christ, are to be honoured and invocated, and that they offer prayers to God for us, and that their relics are to be had in veneration. I most firmly assert, that the images of Christ, of the Mother of God, ever Virgin, and also of the other saints, ought to be had and retained, and that due honour and veneration is to be given them. I also affirm, that the power of indulgences was left by Christ in the Church, and that the use of them is most wholesome to Christian people. I acknowledge the holy, catholic, apostolic, Roman Church, for the mother and mistress of all churches; and I promise true obedience to the Bishop of Rome, successor to St. Peter, prince of the apostles, and vicar of Jesus Christ. I likewise, undoubtedly, receive and profess all other things delivered, defined, and declared by the sacred canons and general councils, and particularly by the holy council of Trent. And I condemn, reject, and anathematize all things contrary thereto, and all heresies which the Church has condemned, rejected, and anathematized. I, N. N. do at this present freely profess, and sincerely hold this true Catholic faith, without which no one can be saved; and I promise most constantly to retain and confess the same entire and unviolated, with God's assistance, to the end of my life. C Such is the Roman Catholic profession of faith at the present time; and that we may not expose ourselves to the liability of error, relative to that profession since 1823, we beg to notice the "Declaration" of the popish bishops of Ireland, dated 26th January, 1826. This declaration is comprised in fourteen Articles, religious and political, and is signed as follows: Patrick Curtis, D.D. Cornelius Egan, D.D. Peter Waldron, D.D. Patrick Burke, D.D. The foregoing names being affixed to the "Declaration," it does away with any doubt as to its genuineness; yet, as it invariably occurs, whenever we have occasion to compare the documents of the "Infallible" Church with each other, that the discrepancy is palpable, so will it be evident to our readers that, whatever may have been the object in view, the "Profession" and the "Declaration" are, by no means, in strict accordance, either with regard to the theoretical or practical doctrines of Popery. Although the "Declaration" is the latest official document we have seen,* we shall in the course of our remarks, only quote such "articles" contained therein as relate to the "Profession of Faith ;" and not to their political professions with the latter we have already said, we intend not to interfere. We now proceed to the "GROUNDS of the Roman Catholic doctrine;" and even these, when compared with the "Profession" above quoted, will appear somewhat too slender for any man to rely upon, who obeys this command of CHRIST:-"Yea, and why even of your own selves judge ye not what is right?" * This observation was written early in the year 1827. The Grounds of the Catholic Doctrine, as contained in the Profession of Faith of Pius IV. CHAP. I.-OF THE CHURCH. What is your Profession as to the article of the Church? It is contained in those words of the Nicene Creed, holy, catholic and apostolic Church." What do you gather from these words? I believe one, 1. That Jesus Christ has always a true Church upon earth. 2. That this Church is always one, by the union of all her members in one faith and communion. 3. That she is always pure and holy in her doctrine and terms of communion, and consequently free from pernicious errors. 4. That she is catholic, that is, universal, by being the church of all ages, and more or less of all nations. 5. That this church must have in her a succession from the apostles, and a lawful mission derived from them. 6. (Which follows from all the rest.) That this true church of Christ cannot be any of the Protestant sects, but must be the ancient church communicating with the pope or bishop of Rome. As this chapter consists in mere vain assertion, unsupported (like the twelve New Articles of Faith already given, by any thing in the shape of scriptural authority; to avoid unnecessary repetitions, we will pass on to the first section, where each article is separately treated of; and where it will be seen what portions of Holy Writ have been tortured-we really know not by what other term to express our meaning -to establish the doctrines of Popery to the prejudice of Christianity. SECT. I.-That Christ has always a true Church upon earth. How do you prove that Christ has always a true Church upon earth? From many plain texts of scripture, in which it is promised or foretold that the church or kingdom established by Christ, should stand to the end of the world. Matt. xvi. 18. "Thou art Peter," (i. e. a rock)" and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing, &c. teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and behold I am with you always, even to the end of the world." Ps. lxxii. 5. 7. 'They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. In his days," that is, after the coming of Christ, "shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace, so long as the moon endureth." Dan. ii. 44. In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom," the church or kingdom of Christ, "which shall never be destroyed—and it shall stand for ever." What other proof have you of the perpetual continuance of the Church of Christ ? The Creed in which we profess to believe the holy Catholic Church. For the Creed and every article thereof must be always true: and therefore there must be a holy Catholic Church. 66 Can you prove that Christ's church upon earth is always visible? Yes, from many texts of scripture, as Isa. ii. 1, 2, 3, &c. and Micah iv. 1, 2, where the Church of Christ is described, as a mountain upon the top of mountains, exposed to the view of all nations flowing unto it." And Dan. ii. 35, “As a great mountain filling the whole earth." Matt. v. 14. “As a city set on a hill which cannot be hid." Isa. lx. 11, 12, As a city whose " gates shall be open continually; and shall not be shut day nor night, that men may bring thither the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought." Upon the walls of which city God has "set watchmen," Isa. lxii. 6, “which shall never hold their peace day nor night." "That Christ has always a true Church upon earth," no Christian ever denies; but whilst it is readily admitted that Christ has always a true Church upon earth, what is there in the above extracts from the Scriptures to prove that the Roman is that Church? It will be seen, in the course of the present examination, that Holy Writ has been unsuccessfully ransacked to establish the doctrines of Popery; but it cannot be too often repeated, nor too deeply impressed upon our readers, that these very brief sentences are ALL of the sacred writings permitted by the Romish Church to be perused by her followers; and of the aptness or the misapplication even of these, neither intending to turn to the right nor to the left from fact, we leave it to our readers themselves to decide. The question is proposed, "How do you prove," &c. It has never been disputed, that we ever heard of, we repeat, by Christians, that Christ's Church must be true; but the Pope has not yet told us what constitutes mankind members of that Church: but let those who would inquire, peruse the Gospel, wherein it will be seen that those only are of his Church who follow the examples he has set them, and whom he himself "blessed." tell us are Matthew, ch. v. 3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for THEIRS is the kingdom of heaven." 4. "Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted." 5. "Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth." 6. "Blessed are they which do hunger after righteousness; for they shall be filled." 7. "Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." 8. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." 9. "Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God," &c. &c. Whatever Church approximates the most nearly in its practice to these sacred precepts, we hesitate not to say is the truest Church of Christ; and if the Romish Church be the meekest, purest, and most merciful Church on earth, she certainly must then be the most true Church of Christ. In what degree, however, these heavenly attributes are allied to her, we shall hereafter, from her own mandates, be better enabled to judge. These are open to comment, certainly; but we shall draw our positive proofs from her own maternal bosom. To the second question, "What other proof have you,' &c., as the only reason given for a professed belief, is, because it must be always true;" we shall take leave to say that, from the "Infallible head of a Church" a little explanation on the subject of that which Protestants call the "Apostles' Creed," and Roman Catholics "the symbol of |