Your petitioner therefore conceives from the (3) condemning language of scripture against this apostacy, that it is extremely dangerous for (4) Christians to advocate its cause, or in any manner, directly or indirectly, to attempt to support, or shew marks of favour to persons, who choose to persist in error, and to prefer the darkness, that arose out of the (5) edicts of Justinian, and the decrees of the early Roman Pontiffs, to the light that emanates from the gospel of Christ, and the revealed will of God.Under the Theocracy, particular care was used to preserve the Jews from too close an intercourse and friendship, with the people of the idolatrous nations that surrounded them—(6) Ahab ruined his family by disobeying the injunctions of the deity on this head, and by uniting with those, who first seduced him into false worship, and then destroyed the upright servants of Jehovah, although, he well knew that a preceding prince, far celebrated for his wisdom, had his kingdom divided, and one part of it given to his servant, because he mixed too much with, and suffered himself to be seduced into the errors of those who worshipped images, instead of God.-Idolatry and errors in religion, must be still (7) more hateful to the Almighty at this time, on account of the great knowledge the world enjoys, under the Christian dispensation (8) The meek and humble founder of it, never flattered or shewed any fayour to his countrymen, whether rulers, or 66 priests, or people, who persisted in their religious errors, and scornfully refused to listen to the plain and blessing truths he taught:-his rebuking language to them was, (9)" serpents, vipers, hypocrites "-In a question, where his divine religion is concerned, can a higher authority be referred to, than the author of it?(10) Can a more perfect example be followed, than that of Christ?—Your petitioner, therefore, being persuaded that to endeavour to support and uphold an apostacy, (11) sentenced to perdition" by inspiration, is daringly to raise the arm, and (12) to "fight against God," and consequently to endanger the safety of the crown of these realms, and the blessings and happiness the people of them enjoy, most earnestly and humbly prays your Lordships to avert the impending danger, by not suffering the Bill before your Lordships in favour of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, to pass into a Law. And, your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray. May 13th, 1825. |