LETTERS TO DR. JOHN M'HALE, "Quis enim est hic philistæus incircumcisus qui exprobravit acies Dei viventis ?"—VULG. Doctor,-When I read your letter of Jan. 28, in Saunders's "Dublin Journal," to Sir R. Peel, I felt an inclination to offer some re marks upon that extraordinary production; but I thought it better to wait and see whether some other individual, of more ability and leisure, might not reply to it. The "Times" and other journals have condescended to notice it, and friend Tresham Gregg, has inflicted upon you a tolerable castigation; but, as I entertain views upon the subject myself, which are somewhat dis-similar from what I have yet seen, I feel it right to pursue my original purpose. At the outset, I request the favor of you to believe, that I have not omitted your hierarchical title from motives of personal incivility, but, because I do not recognise, in the Church of Christ, such an officer as that of Archbishop—and because there is no municipal law, as get, which enjoins, that any member of what is termed the Church of Rome, should be so designated. But, there is another reason why I neither call you most reverend, right reverend, or reverend ; but merely address you by your academical title; namely, because I do not admit the validity of your orders. Now do not stamp your foot, or foam at the mouth, with genuine hierarchical rage, for I am only following your own example, and that of your fellow Romanists, at least since the GLORIOUS Reformation. Upon what principle is it that you regard the Archbishop of Canterbury, York, Armah, Dublin, &c., with all their Suffragans and Presbyters, as so many tinkers; and, that you would as soon permit the latter as the former, to officiate in any of your temples? Why is it that your old friend Ward (England's Reformation, London, 1715) has made such a hubbub about the Nag's Head consecration ? Not because there was no bishop there to transmit the holy oil of succession, but because, although there was more than one bishop present, Titular Archbishop of Tuam. (and whether at the Nag's Head, in Cheapside, or at Lambeth, is, for this purpose, immaterial) who had been duly consecrated bishop, yet that having become heretics and schismatics, they had lost the power of exercising episcopal functions, and, therefore could no longer transmit the oil; that, as a consequence, Matthew Parker was never canonically consecrated; and, that therefore he could not transmit the oil; ergo, that Doctors Howley, Bloomfield and Philpotts, and much better men than either of them, have no more right to sit in the chairs of Canterbury, London, Exeter, &c., than I have; and are in your estimation, pro hac vic, no better than so many tinkers, cobblers, &c. (Ward's English Reformation, nullity of prelatic clergy, passim.) Now, Dr. M'Hale, if you are an honest man, the above is your present actual belief; and my present actual belief is, that what is termed the Church of Rome, is a medley of heresy, schism, and mystified paganism; and that, consequently, none of her sons have been competent, since she became so, to transmit the holy oil to you; ergo, that you are no better, pro hac vice, than a tinker, cobbler, &c.; and, consequently not entitled to the appellation of reverend. But I have a further objection to the validity of your orders, than either of the above, namely, that neither you nor any priest in your communion, not even he who setteth upon the seven hills of the eternal city, and exhalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God, (2 Thess. i. 4.) can tell, with that precision which is indispensable, in order to justify your claim to the power of the keys, out of what cruet the holy oil was poured, which has anointed you, viz.: Whether from the prevaricating Arian Liberius, (so say St. Anthanasius and St. Hilary) or the more honest Arian Folix; from that of Gerbert, Archbishop of Rheims, whilst a schismatic and under suspensions. or from that which the same individual made use of, when he was afterwards elevated to the pontificial chair, by the name of Sylvester II.; from that of Benedict VII. (Franco)-from that of Benedict VII. (Bp. of Sutri) or that of John XIV. (Peter of Pavia) from that of Gregory V. or that of John XVI. (Philagathes,) from that of Silverius or Vigilius; or passing by a great deal more broken glass, and to come to modern times, whether from that of Benedict XIII. (Peter de Lunâ,) or those of either of his various contemporaneous competitors. You will observe, that I have not noticed that class of Popes whom your great oracle Baronius thus stigmatises: "In this century the abomination of desolation was seen in the temple of the Lord; and in the see of Saint Peter, revered by the angels, were placed the most wicked of men; not pontiffs, but monsters; when filthy and impudent whores governed all at Rome, changed sees at their pleasure; disposed of bishoprics; and introduced their gallants and their bullies into the see of St. Peter." And, remember it is by each and every one of the preceding links, including all those who are the subjects of the above obloquy of Baronius, that you must hold on your connexion with Peter; and, that if any one of those links be broken, the chain is severed for ever. But the cardinal proceeds, as if a ray of divine truth had, for the first time in his life, broken in upon his mind. "The Church was then without a Pope, but not without a head, its spiritual head (Christ) never abandoning it." (Baron. ad anno 900.) Thus, with one stroke of his pen, throwing poor Peter, and all his prerogatives, and all his successors over board, and actually recognising and adopting the only true principle upon which churches of Christ have been formed since the time of his crucifixion. Remember also, that the above argument proceeds upon the principle of admitting that the apostle Peter was bishop of Rome, and that he was succeeded by Linus; all which I deny, and you know you cannot prove and as to which subjects, and the fraudulent chronology appended to your Rhemish Testament, a work is in the press which will also exhibit in detail all the broken cruets and conduit pipes through whom all divine successionists are bound to claim. Now, what right have you to be offended with me, for denying the validity of your orders, any more than all the members of the national hierarchy have with you for your audacity in stating that hierarchy to be "what is termed the Church of England," or, for denying the validity of the orders, as you know you do, of all her clergy; aye, and that of Scotland too, taking into the account that they have the municipal law in their favor, which you and yours, as yet, have not! Your letter, of the 28th January, is not the first letter of yours which has come under my observation; but I think that exceeds even all the others, in arrogance, gratuitous assumption, and ill-disguised mortification. Notwithstanding your taunts and boasts, all your letters exhibit much less the well-grounded assurance of the truth of your faith and principles, than the quailing of him, who, Adam Clarke's comment in locis pertinentibus. look'd up and knew This mountain scale aloft. Yes, Doctor, you know that the late transactions in the national hierarchy, which appear to afford you so much gratification, and the occasional revival of Popery in both countries, you know, and I know, are but the certain signs and precursors of that doom, to which you and all those who identify themselves with the scarlet lady, (Apoc. XVII. 4.) are inevitably destined. And, in making this reference to the Apocalypse, I would again remark, that neither you, nor any Romanist, have a right to take offence. I need not, I suppose, inform you, that there are four opinions as to the significant symbol portrayed by St. John (Apoc. XVII. 5. XVIII. 2.) with two only of which you and I have at present to do, viz. No. 3, which, though now the general opinion of all Protestants, was propounded, more than a century before the Reformation, by your own Abbe Joachim, and espoused by all or most of the Franciscans; namely, that the allusion in question contains prophecies concerning the tyrannical and oppressive conduct of the Roman Pontiff, the TRUE ANTI-CHRIST, and foretels the final distruction of Popery. And No. 4, which was invented, or at least defended, by your friend, Sigor Pastorini, alias the Titular Dean of Wells, alias Dr. Walmesly; and, which is believed to be the opinion, or, at least the professed opinion of all Romanists, viz.: that the passages in question contain a prophetic declaration of the schism and heresies of Martin Luther, those called reformers and their successors, and of the final destruction of the Protestant religion. (Adam Clarke, Preface to Apoc. et aliis variis.) Now no Protestant would think of being offended with a Romanist, who sincerely believed No. 4, and expressed that opinion, as founded upon that portion of the revealed will of God. Then why should a Romanist be offended with a Protestant, who sincerely believes No. (and I am such a Protestant) for expressing that opinion? Nothing could create an angry or irritable feeling upon the subject, but the consciouness of error, and the irresistible, though unwilling conviction, that the obnoxious application of the passage in question was but too well founded. Genuine Protestants, therefore, are not alarmed at the signs of the times, or the evident prognostications of the awful events which are coming upon the earth, except that as men of peace and humanity they depricate the probable effusion of human blood to which you and yours are rushing with a demoniac fury: for, know that, although "it be impossible but that offences will come, woe is denounced upon those through whom they come." Luke xvii. 1. "And that all these light afflictions, which ar, (comparatively) but for a moment, will work out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2 Cor. iv. 17. You alluded with evident satisfaction to what appears to you "as the disorganization of the national hierarchy, and to the intestine discord by which its crazy frame is falling asunder" but you should recollect, that if indeed that hierarchy be "tottering to its base," it is because the holy men engaged in raising the superstructure were unwillingly, and through pressure from without, compeiled to fill in her foundations with no small portion of the "wood, hay, and stubble" (1 Cor. iii. 12) transmitted through ages of superstition and error from Rome, instead of following the example of the Apostle Paul, and carrying out their own plans and wishes, like wise master builders, building upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST himself being the chief corner stone: (1 Cor. iii. 10.; Ephes. ii. 20.) Verily their descendants are now paying the penalty for the short comings of their predecessors, and their inefficient cleansing of the Augean stable they had to deal with; for while they (meretriciously) have held out the right hand of fellowship to you-you and yours have, with a poniard in your left hand, inflicted upon them a wound (perhaps a deadly wound) below the belt. You, Sir, fear not,even if the English hierarchy should fall to pieces, as she may, and probably will, under such leaders as Wellington, Peel, Howley, Bloomfield, and Philpotts; she will, nevertheless, rise again, and like a Phoenix from its ashes, become a purer church, exhibit a brighter flame, and, when purified Continental OPINION OF ROMAN CATHOLIC PERMANENT ENDOWMENT OF MAYNOOTH COLLEGE. "The measure which he has lately introduced to Parliament is neither more nor less than a revolution in the policy pursued by England since the Reformation. It is the greatest concession yet made by Protestantism. **** "Not only does the Reformed Government of England renounce a useless contest against Catholicity, but it becomes the ally and the protector of that religion which it had persecuted and oppressed during three centuries for the endowment of the seminary of Maynooth is but a first step in a new course, and leads forcibly to the general and regular maintenance of the Catholic clergy by the State. *** The Protestants : from the remaining dregs of Popery, will be more in conformity with the law of the New Testament, and become "a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but be holy and without blemish." Ephes. v. 27. The English hierarchists in genera, have also committed another grievous error, viz.: that of admitting what is termed the Church of Rome, to be a Christian Church at all; at least, at any time since the æra of the iniquitous compact between the tyrant Phocas and your friend Boniface III. And here, again, you have no right to be offended; for when you speak contemptuously of the hierarchy of the United Kingdom, as what is termed the Church of England, you evidently intimate, that you acknowledge her not to be a Church: that you do not actually, we know well enough, but it was not necessary, except for the purpose of insult and irritation, for you to have made the discourteous remark, proceeding, but too plainly, from a mind and conscience ill at ease. If, however, you choose to deal in such balderdash, you, at least, have no right to complain if the taunt is retorted upon you; for you know, as well as I, that no wellinformed and rightly-minded Protestant, believes or admits that the Romanists constitute a Christian Church; and that what is termed the Church of Rome, has been abundantly and repeatedly proved to be destitute of any one of the notes which your great advocate, Bellarmine, has declared to be the necessary adjuncts of the Church of Christ. Yours, obediently, Corner. (To be continued.) J. B. are not deceived by this grant. They even consider, and with certain reason, that it would have been more rational on the part of the government to pay stipends to the existing priests, than to take the pains to create and educate more, and thus establish a ROMAN PROPAGANDA. The endowment of the seminary at Maynooth will lead necessarily, within a certain period, to that of the entire Catholic clergy.” * **** "Whatever may be said respecting England, we shall never cease to render that country justice. When her religious principles, or even her prejudices, are at stake, she sacrifices her interests without hesitation. The old Protestant leaven still ferments in the hearts of the English people. It was, perhaps, considered extinct, but it only slumbered. Before many days we shall find that it is awake."- Extracted from the "Journal des Debats." PREFACE. HAVING conducted our periodical to the close of another year, we desire to acknowledge the kind Providence that has so far succeeded our labours, and has permitted us, as we would fondly hope we may assert, without becoming liable to any charge of arrogance or presumption, to be of some service to the land to whose religious interests its pages have been principally devoted, and for whose spiritual welfare it was originally set on foot. To say that we have succeeded to the extent of our wishes or designs, would either intimate that these had been very narrow and contracted, or, that our overweening self-complacency had led us to estimate the character and success of our labours at a much higher rate than circumstances would warrant. 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