t reading and the circulation of the scriptures," say the British catholic Bishops, "are urged "and recommended as the entire rule of faith,

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as the sole means by which men are to be "brought to the certain and specific knowledge "of the doctrines, precepts, and instructions of "Christ; and when the scriptures so read and "circulated are left to the interpretation and private judgement of each individual :--then "such reading, circulation, and interpretation, "are forbidden by the catholic church."-The reasons assigned for this prohibition, are extraordinary. If the scriptures contain the revealed word of God, and truths that are calculated to make men "wise unto salvation" how can the "reading and circulation of them, and the in"terpretation of them by private judgement "lead men to contradictory doctrines in the primary articles of christian belief-to incon"sistent forms of worship-to errors and fana"ticism in religion-and to seditions and the greatest disorders in states and kingdoms?”This is charging God with folly-it is charging him with giving his creatures a revelation, containing laws and directions, that lead to every thing that is bad-to anarchy and corfusion, to sedition and disorders in states and kingdoms-it is opening the mouth in horrible blasphemy.—And, if the scriptures can produce this shocking effect, then Rome must look upon England as highly criminal for promoting their circulation. How different is this opinion,

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from that of Paul, who says, "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for "instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished "unto all good works."-If this great apostle is right, these Bishops must be wrong. And in fact, do they not propagate these opinions in England, for the same reason that Demetrius condemned the preaching of Paul, and stirred up the people against him at Ephesus?—They see very clearly that the circulation of the scriptures, and the reading them will open the eyes of their people, and introduce the greatest disorders amongst their shrines, images, crosses, saints, and pictures, and endanger the safety of their church, which only rests upon delusion and ignorance.-Hence, " the present grievous "and noisome sores" of Rome---hence, her

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gnawing her tongue for pain-and hence, her present publishing her abominable doctrine, "which shews she means not to repent of her " evil deeds.”—But whilst she does all this, how wonderfully she fulfils this great prophecy of St. John, and shews that the religion of Christ is particularly under the direction and government of God, at the present moment.—

In the conclusion of their Declaration, the catholic Bishops say, "We confidently trust, "that this explanation will be received by all "our fellow-subjects, in a spirit of candour and charity and that those who have been hitherto

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ignorant of, or but imperfectly acquainted "with our doctrines of faith, will do us the jus"tice to acknowledge, that as catholics, we hold

no religious principles, and entertain no opini"ons flowing from those principles, which "are not perfectly consistent with our duties

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as christians, and as British subjects".Protestants are here called upon to acknowledge, that it is not inconsistent with christian duties, for catholics to maintain that the revealed Will of God will lead to fanaticism, sedition, and disorders in states and kingdoms,—that inferior sort of worship ought to be paid to saints, images, and crosses-and that God comes at their call to be eaten in the mass.-If" mala ❝ verba de deo" is to blaspheme, is not this blasphemy? And are not protestants here called upon to approve and sanction it? This address I hope, will be rejected with the same spirit of indignation, and in the same language, that Christ rejected the solicitations of the devil to listen to him: "get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, "and him only shalt thou serve".-If the catholics thus boldly and arrogantly, whilst under their disabilities, open their mouths in blasphemy, and ask the protestants to approve it, what would they do if they possessed all the power they wish for?-In the day of adversity and captivity, Israel wept by the waters of Babylon and remembered Zion; but whether in prosperity or adversity, Rome blasphemes, and is

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equally distant from "repenting of her evil deeds".-Never was prophecy so exactly, so literally, so clearly fulfilled-Rome perseveres in all her abominable doctrines-and will continue in them, till the threatened vengeance falls upon, and utterly annihilates her.

To save six or seven millions of people from the wrath of God and impending destruction, would be a very great and benevolent act.Though the friends of the catholics, whether statesmen or divines, hold all interference of this kind as unjust, and to be condemned, yet in such cases the prophets always interfered:in such a case Christ interfered, and commanded his followers to interfere, till they had taught all men their duty to each other, and to God. But, if they forbid us to interfere in matters of religion, why should the friends of religious liberty and non-interference between men and their God, interfere with us, and endeavour to force upon us, and our constitution, (which is essentially protestant,) the errors, and abominations of Rome ?-Why should they try to persuade, or rather to compel us, to admit amongst us, that, which will destroy the peace and quiet of our worship? For, we most conscientiously believe it would be a violation of the duty we owe to God, to put the members of the church of Rome in Great Britain, upon an equal tooting with those of the church of Christ; and we hope we may be allowed to have consciences equally tender, and equally

susceptible of impression with those of catholics, and seceders from pure protestantism.-Was the worship of Christ undisturbed whilst his father's house contained in it filth and impurity? On that occasion, he scrupled not to give offence to men, because he was discharging a duty that was acceptable to God.-In any thing relating to political and civil affairs, it is generally allowed to be just, to occasion men pain and trouble, and even to inflict punishment for the sake of making them good citizens:-but, to interfere and endeavour to make men virtuous subjects of God's government, seems to be in the estimation of some, exceedingly unjust and cruel, if not criminal.-And yet, the history of the prince, who proudly asked the question, "who is the Lord, that I should obey "his voice?" and then scornfully added, “I 'know not the Lord, neither will I obey him," should teach us that God's government ought to be an object of very deep interest to us.

Admitting the catholics of Ireland to be in the galling state of misery described in their publications, and speeches at political meetings, I am of opinion, that the whole of their sufferings arises entirely from that mass of corruption, which they call their religion.-The retributive justice of God is visible in this matter, and is making that corrupt religion which during thirteen centuries was an engine of torture to "all the nations of the earth," a grievous source of torment and plague to itself.-Crime