any truth in History), they will awake to a lively sense of the extent of those privileges which they have despised, and the acuteness of that misery which they have deserved. I shall consider some further arguments for the concessions in my next, And am, Dear Sir, Very truly your's, AMICUS PROTESTANS. DEAR SIR, LETTER XIV. It is contended by some of your Clerical friends, that the great object of Protestants in diffusing Education and Knowledge, particularly in Ireland, will be best promoted by conceding equal Political Rights to the Members of the Romish Church. I believe, I am as hearty a friend to the education both of the English and Irish, as the warmest advocate of Education on either side of the Channel; but by what miracle (certainly not short of a Popish miracle) the proposed measure is to further the interests of PROTESTANT EDUCATION, I have yet to learn; and I can find no one who will undertake to inform me, except by the general assertion, that granting the concessions will cause every kind of evil to fly off at once from the great political alembic, like so much hydrogen, and that the residuum can only be pure Religion, universal Charity, and eternal Concord! I have already endeavoured to prove, that the dissolution of the connection between the Priesthood and the Laity, ("fond couple linked more close than wedded pair") is an event rather to be desired than expected, as the result of the intended concessions; but supposing this separation to be effected, will either the Priesthood or Laity of the Romish Church, admire or endure Protestant Education at all more than at present, or look more favourably upon the exertions making for this purposé ? -nay, with more of power to hinder Protestants from educa ting Children, and from diffusing the Protestant Bible, and Protestant Tracts-is it not morally certain, that such power will be exerted, for the purpose of preventing the continuance of even the good which is at present atchieving? Can any imaginable condition of things, render the Education of Children as PROTESTANTS, or the Instruction of Adults, as PROTESTANTS, at all more tolerable to Romish Bigotry, and Intolerance, (whether Clerical, or Secular) than they are at present; and may it not be fairly argued, when the Romish Religion shall come to be recognized and accredited,-shall be invested with power, and perhaps paid from the Public Purse,—that all attempts of Protestants to educate Roman Catholic Children, and perhaps to convert them, ought no longer to be tolerated? So far from any conceiveable advantage accruing to the great object of Protestant Education, the probability is wholly against the Church of Rome (especially in Ireland) enduring the efforts which are now making, and which are already most offensive, and odious to her system of darkness, superstition, and vice. On the other hand, let but the present exertions of enlightened Protestants proceed for a few years more, in the ratio they have advanced for a few years past, more especially in Ireland, and the results of that system of Instruction, which is now so extensively carrying on—above all, through the medium of the Hibernian Society, and the Sunday Schools, will be manifest to all. It will then be seen, that so much will have been brought about by these means, for the cause of Divine Truth,—the blessings of civilization, and the knowledge of the Scriptures, that there was no need of resorting to the wild and visionary theories of Political adventurers, and Irish fortune-hunters, whose introduction to Political Power, instead of forwarding the work of Protestant Education, must, in the very nature of things, obstruct and prevent it, unless we are resolved to believe, that Romish Priests and Laymen (in opposition to their own testimony) can tolerate and facilitate a Protestant Education. I argue then, that to grant the concessions, in the hope of the concert of Roman Catholics in our present glorious scheme, of Evangelizing and Educating Ireland, is to venture on a fatal compromise with Error, under which we cannot reasonably expect the blessing of GOD, if it be a part of His Word, that we are not to "do evil that good may come." The Education and Evangelizing of Ireland, are the legitimate weapons of pure Christian Charity, in the use of which, the Professors of Religion, may conscientiously look for the Divine favour and protection. The Political experiment of giving credit to Idolatry, currency to false Doctrine, and power to Persecution, however it may help a few ambitious Demagogues, to rise on the common ruin of both countries, is a rash and desperate adventure, which has neither precedent, nor prescription to recommend it; which sets at defiance the wisdom of ages; subjects to imminent peril those costly and precious Institutions, which have descended to us as the best inheritance of antiquity; cannot fail to hazard the extinction of the Religious and Moral light, which is at present dawning upon Ireland; and betrays such a perverse and crooked course of policy, as might least and last have been expected from those, who themselves profess to value the blessings of a Reformed Church, a Protestant Constitution, and a free Government, I shall pursue this subject in my next, And am, Dear Sir, Your most faithful Servant, DEAR SIR, LETTER XV. The notice which I have taken in my last, of what appears to me (I wish not to say it offensively), the FOLLY of Protestants, and of Protestant Ministers too-nay, of Evangelical Ministers also, in expecting, that the concession of the Romish Claims, will forward and facilitate Protestant Education, and Protestant Instruction, either in England or Ireland, has naturally reminded me of the kindred folly of many among us, who call themselyes Protestants, in reference to the ROMISH CHAPELS AND SCHOOLS, which are now springing up in every quarter of this (as yet) Protestant country-a species of infatuation, which resembles the inconsistency of a man who, while he professedly admits, that a neighbouring conflagration is to be deprecated, and ought to be kept from extending to his own house, is yet observed, at the same time, to be feeding it with combustibles. This modern liberality of sentiment, appears to me, an offering of "a strange fire,” which the GOD of Truth and Holiness cannot (consistently with his own revelation of his will) either approve or reward, as being neither taken from his altar, employed in his service, or tending to his honour. It is, however, from indications like these, that we have been told, even by our Evangelical friends, that "the present state of the Protestant mind, affords an argument for conceding the Romish Claims." I am surè, Sir, that with all possible respect for the Charity of Christianity, you will readily acknowledge, that there is also the Charity of Indifference, which is commonly another name for the Charity of Ignorance: but which is any thing else than the Charity of the Gospel. The great Dr. JOHNSON, in remarking on the spurious pretensions of FREDERIC the GREAT, to Charity, ob> serves, "It is the great taint of his character, that he has given reason to doubt, whether his Toleration is the effect of Charity,' or Indifference; whether he means to support good men of every Religion, or considers all Religions as equally good." The following is my comment, upon this text of our great Lexicographer and Moralist:-On opening the new Romish Chapel, in Moorfields, not only was a large number of PROTESTANTS present at the celebration of Mass,* but they contributed very generally, and largely, towards the expences of that Chapel, when several hundred pounds were collected. We have here, the gross inconsistency of modern Protestants, "If any person," (says the great Lord BACON) "do scandalize the Liturgy, he makes a rent in the garment; but, much more, such as are not only differing, but, in a sort, opposite unto it, by using a superstitious and corrupted form of Divine Service-I mean such as say or HEAR MASS.”—Judicial Charge on the Commission for the Verge. H building Romish Chapels, and thus contributing to the support of a worship, which their ancestors deemed Idolatrous and Unscriptural, and "resisted unto blood." If it be said, that, in this enlightened age, we ought not to hold such illiberal ideas, I answer, that unless the Romish Religion can be proved to be a totally different thing from what it once was, the sound arguments of our greatest English Divines, and the protests of "the noble Army of Martyrs," are of equal force now as formerly, and, consequently, if they were not mistaken, those who can publicly pay for the support and extension of Popery, or publicly argue, and write, so as to produce the same effect, have degenerated from the National Faith; for certain it is, that our Protestant ancestors, and these, their modern descendants, cannot both be in the right. Of a piece with this anomaly, is the contribution of money and influence, which it has become the fashion for other Protestants to afford to the ROMISH SCHOOLS. From the official account of the Associated Catholic Charities, which lately appeared in the different Papers, we find, that no fewer than 2460 Children, were then educating in London, with a large proportion of Protestant money; which number has very greatly increased since. As far as Education alone goes, there is, doubtless, something very captivating in the sound; and all who look no farther, are likely to be attracted and seduced; but, what is the plain English of the whole matter? Why, that many, if not most, of these poor Children, are Educating as Roman Catholics-are regularly carried to Mass-and are taught, that the well-meaning gentry, who are paying for their Education, are all esteemed Heretics by the Mother Church, and, as such, are out of the pale of Salvation.* Now, Sir, again I ask, upon what principle are we so absurdly liberal, as to train up Children in a Religion, diametrically opposed to the National Faith, and the Professors of which Religion, still * "HERETICS they call us, by the same right that they call themselves CATHOLICS, both being wrong."-Preface of Translators of the English Bible. |