World upon their Coronation. Of their forged Decretals, Every Christian commanded to prove his own work. Of Papal Dr. Challoner's "Rational Inducements" to Popery. Vincent of Lerins-Luther-Henry VIII.-Queen Elizabeth-Philip II. of Spain-The Doctor's historical inaccuracy: his political doc- trines, under the guise of religion, unjustifiable. The Reforma- tion restored to Britain its ancient independence. William I. denied the authority of the Pope. William II-Henry I. The ries"-female duties in, and out, of a Cloister. Antiquity of Error no excuse for its continuance. Protestants' treatment of "heretics." The practice of Christ's Precepts only necessary RATIONAL INDUCEMENTS TO ROMANISTS TO JOIN THE PRO- 182 53 1, for Rome, read Romish Church. 85 112 1, (of note), for men who, read Protes- 15, dele not. 15, for has, read have, (note t), for Exceptiones Legales, 20, for favourable, read favoured. 2, (of note), for know, read knew. 6, (from foot), for his, read this. 6, (of note*), for those, read indivi- 1, (of note). for The somewhat, read These somewhat, 3, for set, read sat. PREFACE. -PREFACES are passed over by thousands, unread, although every reader looks for, if not at, a Preface. We trust, however, the one we have just commenced will meet with a more favourable reception, since we have sat down deliberately to state a few general remarks on the subject treated of; and also on the abuse which we feel, by anticipation, will be cast by a particular party upon this, our humble offering, at the shrine of Common Sense, Perhaps this hint may not be thrown away upon the party alluded to-we hope it will not; and, to add to its weight, we beg to remind them that mere abuse in the present case will be unavailing, unless they can first prove by the Scriptures that Popery is the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, We have, throughout the present work, denied it; and if our assertions be not fully borne out by the copious extracts of Holy Writ which we have adduced, it will be no difficult matter for the Romish clergy to show the misapplication of them. In the present age of liberality it is impossible at least, we have found it so to open a Popish book which teems not with a most liberal portion of condemnatory asseverations against all Protestants, who must, they are assured, be damned in the next: world, and who are in the same sentence, perhaps, gravely complained of, for their "heretical prejudices against the Religion that has denounced them. Popery is ever" up in arms" when the terms "bigotry and "superstition" are applied by any writer to the most bigoted and superstitious, save and except only when urged by those of her own communion; who, at least, when addressing themselves to Roman Catholics, bestow a general sprinkling of these and similar expressions throughout their pages upon all who dissent from her. If there be any persons who really are superstitious and bigoted-since we never knew any who so acknowledged themselves-it is such only, we presume, of whom we can expect to hear of their own "infallibility,” none that we ever read or heard of who are not chargeable with these prejudices either think or profess themselves to be" infallible.” Bigotry and superstition, then, be the epithets used by whom they may, can only apply to the superstitious and the bigoted; and, if the tenets of the Romish Church be not calculated to engender them, the extreme folly of those who charge her with false devotion and intolerance must be the more apparent, from its injustice. However, mankind are generally apt to be more tenacious of hearing unpleasant truths of themselves than the most palpable falsehoods. When Protestants aver that the frail basis of Popery is "superstition and bigotry," their Romish brethren appear to be more angry than they would be were the former to declare them rank Atheists; when Papists tax the Protestant Church with these vices, the latter smiles at the inconsistency of the charge. In the course of the following pages, we have applied these terms where as we think, the subject strictly warrants our doing so not in the way of retaliation, but simply because we knew of no others in which more clearly to express what we really meant. If we have used them unjustly, we know and will chance the consequences; but still think we have nothing to apprehend on this score, although we cannot, with Dr. Milner, pronounce the "Admonition' of Dr. Porteus to be " empty declamation," merely calculated for the stupid and the bigoted," which concludes thus: "Let others build on Fathers and Popes, on traditions and councils, what they will: let us continue firm, as we are, on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, JESUS CHRIST himself being the chief corner-stone."-(Ephes. ii.) b The chief object of the following sheets is to induce such Romanists, as may peruse them, to attentively READ THE SCRIPURES, as we have repeatedly urged them to do throughout our comments; and, surely, if the Papal Church be the "true and only Church of Christ," as her Priests assert, the only authentic History of CHRIST'S DOCTRINES and ACTS must confirm them in their present faith? Protestants are never afraid that the WORD of GOD will induce Christians to [turn to Paganism;-by their circulation of it they daily witness its effects in turning the Unbeliever to Christianity the Church of Rome denounces Protestants as more "invincible heretics" than Pagans doubtless, dwindle on for some time longer in the sickly condition to which her own impurities have reduced her, however Falsehood may endeavour to disguise her monstrosities. A thorough "Reformation" in religion and morals can only be accomplished by striking at the root of the evil to be subdued; and that the blow has been struck with a well-directed aim, look now at Eng land, and as history shows her to have been, when, crushed by clerical intolerance, her vigorous powers lay prostrate in the dust, enslaved by the galling manacle of MIND, forged by the foreign despot of the Vatican!-Look now, we say, at England, where every individual may freely breathe his conscious aspirations to his GOD, after that form which is most consonant to his own feelings, and where the noblest CONSTITUTION upon earth is so deeply imbued with the spirit of Justice and Christian Charity towards all mankind, that he who basks in the radiant beams of its protection fears not those dark clouds, which enshroud the "Hideous Figure" that would annihilate him, should burst upon his head :-no, those only apprehend the evil consequences of this "Figure," whose subserviency of mind has been cherished by its agents whilst they led them to worship it; and who are, even now, exerting themselves, to the very uttermost, to increase the number of its blind adorers. Popery has been taught to know, by dear-bought experience, that "knowledge is power;" and hence it is that her most favoured agents are unremitting in their efforts to with-> hold and to subdue the power of knowledge. But in |