this instance to prevail against the more enlightened and more virtuous part of the Union. But how have the Roman Catholic powers acted? So far from co-operating with us for so humane an object, Spain and Portugal and Brazil and France have persisted in carrying on the trade, France especially to the utmost of its power, and with circumstances of additional barbarity. This, Sir, is a point on which I believe there can be no discrepance between your wishes and mine. Is it honourable to your Church that such a difference should exist between the Protestant and the Romish powers? Is it consistent with that part of its conduct in former ages for which you have claimed our grateful acknowledgement? Could the restored Jesuits employ their influence in France more worthily than by following the example of their predecessors in opposing this nefarious traffic? Could the Government of France give better proof of its piety than by abolishing it? Could the Pope, as the Head of your Church, consult its reputation, and fulfil his own duty more effectually than by condemning it? I pray you, Sir, receive this as it is meant, and be assured that you could not rejoice more in seeing such a reproach removed from the Roman Catholic Church, than I should do.

426

LETTER X.

VIEW OF THE PAPAL SYSTEM.

I COME now, Sir, to the Letter in which you bring into the field the Achilles of your argument. But it is an Achilles which, instead of having been dipt in Styx, is vulnerable all over! Before I take from the quiver those arrows

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which are sharp, and shall not miss," let me ask leave to correct an error in my introductory pages. The mistake, indeed, is of little moment; were it of greater, it should be as frankly and readily acknowledged; though you have accused me of wilfully retaining a misstatement after its falsehood had been pointed out, which accusation, when it comes to be examined, will prove "the little reliance that can be placed "...not on me, Sir, but on the accuracy of your own assertions. The error now to be corrected, relates to prunello. I supposed the commodity to have been obsolete, whereas

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I am given to understand that it is still in use, and may be heard of at the shoemaker's, if not at the mercer's; for one of my own family informs me that she sometimes wears prunello shoes. I am reminded of making this acknowledgement here because there will be occasion in the present letter to bring forward some of those tough facts and indigestible deductions which you have arranged under that odd appellation, coupled indeed with another which is not so inappropriate.

*

In my former work, when the narrative had been brought down to those ages in which the corruptions doctrinal and practical of the Romish Church were at their height, a view of the Papal System was introduced. You have protested against the very appellation as "particularly offensive ;" and yet, Sir, you cannot but know that whatever you may be pleased to call your own semi-reformed and Cis-marine as well as Cis-montane system, papal is in strictest propriety the designation which belongs to the Romish Church, in those ages when the papal power was at the full. I said that those corruptions are studiously kept out of view by the writers who still maintain the infallibility of that Church:

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and you have written the Book of the Roman Catholic Church to prove, by the most complete of all possible examples, the truth of that assertion. Your Achilles, though not dipt in Styx, has drank just enough of Lethe to make him forget whatever it was not convenient to remember.

You flatter yourself, Sir, that you shall obtain a verdict of acquittal for the Romish Church from the charges of superstition and idolatry, by stating just so much of its doctrines as you think it expedient to avow. I will prove these charges by bringing forward what you have kept out of sight, and by adducing evidence of its practices.

to

DEVOTION TO THE VIRGIN MARY.-THE SAINTS.-RESPECT TO THE CROSS, AND TO THE RELICS OF THE SAINTS.

FIRST of the Virgin Mary. You desire* me open Mr. Gother's Papist Misrepresented,' abridged by Dr. Challoner, the editions of which abridgement are countless," and there, you tell me, I shall find these strong expressions: "Cursed is every goddess-wor

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shipper that believes the blessed Virgin Mary to be any more than a creature; that worships her, or puts his trust in her, more than in God; that believes she is above her Son, or that she can in any thing command Him. Amen."... Certainly, Sir, I will not say Amen to this, whatever you may do; for if I did, I should curse nine tenths of the Roman Catholic world. I will rather say, God have mercy upon them, and enlighten them; and while they remain unenlightened, accept their devotion, however it be misdirected!

You state, as having been decreed by the Council of Trent, that it is a good and useful supplication to invoke the Saints, that by means of their prayers we may obtain favours from God through his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. You tell me that Martin Luther says, "let no one omit to call upon the Blessed Virgin, the Angels and Saints, that they may intercede for them at the hour of death. You ask me† whether several distinguished divines of the English Church do not maintain the same doctrine, and whether what you have stated is not a true and clear exposition of the doctrine of the Romish Church upon this important sub

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