Part 11

(6th. The administration of Penance.) This, most Reverend Gentlemen, is the sixth error, in Lord John Russell's catalogue, of seven errors, but the last, which I have to answer, as I have already, included the seventh, in the fifth error. If Lord John, wishes to intimate, that Catholics teach works of penance, to be of _themselves_ a _sufficient_ compensation for sin, Lord John has yet, to learn, the _first_ rudiments of the Catholic creed; but if he means, that Catholics consider the works of penance, as one of the conditions, on which our Saviour, is willing to communicate the merits of His death and passion, to the soul of the sinner, Lord John's meaning is just. But does Lord John, seriously condemn this doctrine, founded, as it is, on the plainest evidence of scripture, and confirmed by the practice of the earliest ages? If I understand Lord John rightly, he certainly does. Lord John, is perhaps the zealous champion of the all-sufficiency of Christ, and in his opinion, to do penance for sin, after the great sacrifice consummated on the cross, is to lead the people, step by step, to the verge of an awful precipice. If this, is Lord John's creed, it must, at least, be a very consoling one. Indulge your passions, it exclaims, to the sinner, indulge your passions, and cease to sin, when you can sin no longer; fear not the rigours of penance; to weep and pray, to fast and give alms, to repent in sackcloth and ashes, are external ceremonies, which are confined to the popish creed; but to practise them, in our _new_ dispensation of _free_ grace, _as by law established_, would be, to lead the people, to the very verge of the popish precipice. It is curious to observe, how Lord John's liberation from penance (if I understand him rightly,) has improved, on the rough sketch, which was delivered by our forefathers. St. Paul, was accustomed to keep under his body, and to bring it under subjection by acts of penance; and I have no doubt, he thought he was acting in a manner, pleasing to Christ, and yet, we learn from Lord John's doctrine, (if I understand it rightly,) this great apostle, was leading the people, step by step, to the very verge, of the awful precipice of penance. The penitents in ancient times, often spent whole years in works of penance; they fasted and prayed, they lay prostrate at the porch of the Church, they solicited the intercession of their less guilty brethren. By these penitential austerities, they hoped, they were fulfilling the will of the Redeemer, and yet, alas! according to Lord John's doctrine (if I understand it rightly) they were going, step by step, to the very verge of the awful precipice of penance. Even the learned men, who compiled the Church of England, Common Prayer-book, appear to have been involved in this awful error. "There was formerly," they tell us, "a godly discipline, that at the beginning of Lent, such persons, as stood convicted of notorious sins, were put to open penance, and punished here, that their souls, might be saved at the day of the Lord; and it were much to be wished, that this said discipline, may be restored." (Church Eng. Com. Pray. book.) Little did they imagine, that this godly discipline of penance, by means of which the souls of sinners, were to be saved in the day of the Lord, would be reproved by a Protestant layman, as an error, which would lead people, step by step, to the verge of an awful precipice. Yet so (if I understand his meaning) says Lord John Russell, and he is lay Metropolitan of all England.

I think I cannot better take leave of Lord John, than by addressing him in the words of the Reverend Mr. Bennett, under whose Puseyite teaching, he sat for some time. "If my course was insidious, (Lord John), why did you take part in that course? If I so muttered the liturgy, as to disguise its language, why did _you_ join in so glaring a profaneness, for nearly seven years? If I practised 'mummeries and superstition,' why did _you_, come to join in them, for nearly seven years? Why did _you_ so far and so deeply join, as to receive at my hands, so late as Ash Wednesday, 1849, the holy Eucharist, yourself and your family? If I were one, of those designated in your letter, as bringing a greater danger, than the Pope, why then, my lord, was it, that _you_ said not all this before?" (Rev. Mr. Bennett's Letter to Lord John Russell.)

In conclusion, I can only say, that I am afraid Lord John Russell's letter, has been a most _unfortunate one for himself_; and as such, I regret it exceedingly. It has certainly placed him, in the opinion of sensible Englishmen, in a very ridiculous point of view; and how it will be received by future ages, it is not for me to divine.

My dissenting Brethren, to you who have honourably come forward, and assisted us Catholics, in the late hurricane of bigotry, and of insults, I return you my mead of sincere thanks. Your conduct shows, that you have acted the part of consistent men, that you are true supporters of civil and religious liberty, and that you have not forgotten the former noble, and disinterested exertions of the late Daniel O'Connell, in your cause. You cannot but remember, that the late Daniel O'Connell, nobly and disinterestedly, battled for _your_ rights and privileges, on the field of civil and religious liberty, _even before_ he had gained those rights, either for the English Catholics, or for his dear country, poor Ireland.[Q]

But what shall I say of those dissenters, who have joined with the Protestant Church, in the late fury and tirade against us Catholics? Can I call _them consistent_ men? Consistent men indeed! Do not all the dissenters, the Presbyterians, Methodists, Independents, Baptists, Unitarians, and Quakers, do not all these dissenters deny, as well as we Catholics, the spiritual supremacy of the Queen? Nay, do not all these dissenters, claim _their_ spiritual rights and authority, _independent of the Queen_? Why, therefore, will you refuse the exercise of their spiritual rights, to your _Catholic_ fellow creatures? Why will you unjustly deprive _them_ of those privileges, which are the _birth-right_ of _every_ Englishman; nay, of every human creature in the world? Does not the scripture, which you so often extol, tell you, "that you ought not to do unto others, that which you do not wish others to do unto you?" What, then, are we to say of those dissenting ministers, or minister, who on one day are seen claiming the power to give spiritual ordination to others, then, shortly after, attending an Anti-Protestant Church meeting; and, lastly, see them or him, arranged by the side of the _Protestant_ Church, for the express purpose, of refusing to the _Catholic_ Church, the exercise of those spiritual rights, which they, or he, had not long before deemed it their, or his right to assume? Nay, what is still worse, he had _even_ wished to refuse them the rights of a base criminal, viz., that a charitable dissenter should not be allowed to speak, or merely ask a question, in defence of the Pope, and of the benighted papists. Really, was not _this_, a most inconsistent, "extraordinary and presumptuous movement," of this dissenting minister? Well, I can only say, if the _religious_ creed of this minister, be not _more consistent_ than his _political_ creed, I really envy him not the possession of it, and I think I cannot do better, than address him in the words of the poet:

"His notions fitted things so well That, which was which, he could not tell, But oftentimes, mistook the one For t'other, as great clerks have done."

I must now say a few words to the English, in general, and make a few remarks on the unjust manner, in which the Catholic religion, has in general been hitherto, treated and abused. That you may the better understand this, I will make use of the following supposition. Let us suppose, for a moment, that we were in a court of justice, that a person was going to be tried, that some of you were witnesses against him, that the rest of you, were to form the jury, and that I was to be the judge. Now, if we were to examine, _only_ the witnesses who were _against_ the accused, and _not_ allow a _single_ individual to speak for him, if we were not, to allow the poor man to speak a word in his _own_ defence, and were the jury, and the judge, then to pronounce him guilty, do you think, we should treat that man _fairly_? _However innocent_ he might be, he was sure to be brought in _guilty_. And why? Because the witnesses were against him, the jury was against him, and the judge was against him; and not a single word was allowed to be spoken in his defence. Now, ye honest men of England, would you not think that man was treated very _unfairly_? Would you not feel for such a man? And would you not pity his case? I am sure you would, and all with one voice exclaim, "Let the poor man have _fair play_, and let _us_ 'do to _him_, as _we_ would be done by.'"

Now, my friends, let us apply this example, to the Catholic religion. Have you not read books, that gave you the most horrible account of the Catholic religion, have you not heard people, tell the most infamous things against this religion, and have you not, _even_ in places of _worship_, heard this religion, most _cruelly_ called, and abused? But did you ever ask yourselves, whether all that you then read or heard, was _really_ true? Did you consider, that abuse, is no argument, declamation, no evidence, accusation, no verdict? Did you examine the witnesses on the _other_ side? Did you read any _Catholic_ book, or consult any well-instructed _Catholic_ layman, or minister on these subjects? Did you not condemn the poor Catholics, _unheard_, and without giving them a _fair_ trial? But mind, I am not blaming _you_, nor the _public in general_, for this ignorance of our religion, nor am I surprised at it. No, considering what has been the state of things, I cannot conceive how it could have been otherwise. For these misrepresentations, and false statements against our religion, have been often made by very _respectable_ persons, and often repeated to the people, either from _the pulpit, where_ nothing but the _truth_, should be spoken, or in tracts, and books, which either _are_, or _profess to be_ written by _learned_ and _sincere_ members of society. Thus hearing these statements, and accusations, from _these_ sources, the people very natural enough conclude, that all that is said against the poor _benighted_ Papists, _must be true_. But my friends, I beg of you that _in future_, you will always remember, that the law of England, strictly forbids any one, even the _basest criminal_, to be condemned _before_, he has had a _fair_ trial, that it is an excellent maxim in life, "hear _both_ sides _before_ you _judge_," and the Scripture expressly says: "Thou shalt not bear _false_ witness against _thy_ neighbour." Why should not then the _same_ principles, be adopted in _judging_ of the _Catholic_ religion? When then, in future your hear any abuse, or accusation against the Catholic religion, I beg of you to ask yourselves two questions: _First, am I certain_ that the _Catholic_ Church maintains _such_ doctrine? and _secondly, if it does_, have I heard the _proofs_, which may be advanced, _in confirmation_ of _that_ doctrine? Oh! would only all Englishmen, grant the Catholics this common boon of justice! how soon would that dark, and heavy cloud of prejudice and misrepresentation, which has so long hung over our religion, immediately burst, and as the sun, after having been shrouded in clouded majesty, amidst the terrific storm, bursts forth with more transcendent brightness, so would the Catholic faith, after having been so long darkened with the mist of false representation, burst forth, with a lustre and brightness, which could not help attracting the eye of every sensible, and thinking mind.

One or two more remarks to you Englishmen, and then, I really must for the present bid you farewell. You cannot be ignorant of the many Protestant clergyman, who, are either returning in _many_ respects to the Catholic faith, or who have _already, publicly_ renounced the _Protestant_, and embraced the _Catholic_ faith. Now, with all these venerable examples before _you_, ought not _you laity_, to begin to think, that _you also_, have a right, nay, that it is _your duty_, to examine how religious affairs, stand in England? You cannot read, without feelings of interest, and surprise, the account of the _numerous_ conversions, of these _Protestant_ clergymen, to the _ancient Catholic_. Although you may condemn the change, still you cannot but admire the singleness of their purpose, and the strength of their minds. The Catholic Church, has no _earthly_ treasures (for the Protestant Church got all these long since) to offer these ministers for the great sacrifice of wealth, of friendship, and other worldly interests, which they have to forfeit, for _renouncing_ the _Protestant_, and _embracing_ the _Catholic_ faith. On the other hand, your rich, but poor in spirit Church, lays before them _golden_ prospects, some of the best, and highest preferments of your Church. But, they have turned their backs upon them all, either to accept the lowly charge of a Catholic Priest, or to sink into some despised, and humble situation in life. To many of you, these sacrifices may appear folly; but remember these converts, have lately studied in the school of St. Paul, who "suffered the loss of all things, and accounted them as dung, that he might gain Christ." (Phil. iii.) Thus, they have cheerfully renounced the riches, and honours of this world, to associate themselves in faith, and worship, with those holy, and illustrious members of the Catholic faith, who, in every age, and clime, have made it their aim, and glory, to bring their dear, but erring brethren, to this one fold, of the one Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

I can only say it appears to me strange, passing strange, that if Catholicity be such a monster, as some would gladly persuade the world, it appears very strange, that there should be such an inclination in England, of late years, to return to this ancient faith. Every one must acknowledge, that the march of intellect in England, during these late years, has been immense; but if Catholicity be such a monster, as our enemies _charitably_ represent it, what is the reason, so many are beginning to enter into its fold, and what is the reason, Catholicity in England is so much in the increase? This great increase, is acknowledged even by our enemies. One would _reasonably_ think, that if Catholicity be such a monster, the march of intellect would have _naturally_ guarded the people against it. It surely will not be said, that the people have not been sufficiently warned against it. What! not sufficiently warned against it! Have they not been warned against it, these three hundred years at least? Have they not been warned against it, in books of all descriptions, from the large folio to the penny tract? Have they not been warned against it, in almost every pulpit (except Catholic) in England? Have they not been warned against it, again, and again, in the House of Lords and Commons? Have they not been warned against it, in almost every rank of society? In short, have they not been warned against it by every means, that human ingenuity could devise? But surely, we shall not be told, that this inclination to Catholicity, is owing to the want of scriptural knowledge in England? Want of scriptural knowledge indeed in England! Have not millions of money, been subscribed for the printing of the scriptures, have not millions of bibles, been printed and circulated in England? In short has not almost every one a bible, to which he confidently appeals as his word of life? And yet notwithstanding all this _warning_ against Catholicity, notwithstanding this immense diffusion of bibles in England, Catholicity is rapidly increasing, to the great dismay and "horrification" of our enemies. What then, can be the reason of this late increase of Catholicity in England? Why, I will tell you, the people of England, can now most of them read, and the march of intellect is abroad, and by these means the people begin to find out, that their Catholic fellow creatures, have been long, an unjustly abused, a shamefully treated, and basely calumniated body of Christians. The people, therefore, naturally begin to feel for them, and are now unwilling to be deceived, by the idle rant of those misinformed, but positive writers and preachers, who

"Without the care of knowing right from wrong, Always appear, decisive, clear, and strong, Where others, toil with philosophic force, Their nimble nonsense, takes a shorter course, Flings at your head, conviction in a lump, And gains remote conclusions at a jump."

It is related in the Anglo-Saxon history, that when the Catholic missionaries came from abroad, to announce the truths of the Gospel to our pagan Anglo-Saxon ancestors, it is related that an aged and venerable, but unconverted Thane thus addressed his pagan prince on the subject. "When," said he, "O King, you and your ministers are seated at table in the depth of winter, and the cheerful fire blazes on the hearth in the middle of the hall, a sparrow perhaps, chased by the wind and snow, enters at one door of the apartment, and escapes by the other. During the moment of its passage, it enjoys the warmth; when it is once departed, it is seen no more. Such is the nature of man. During a few years his existence is visible: but what has preceded, or what will follow it, is concealed from the view of mortals. If the new religion, offer any information on subjects so mysterious and important, it must be worthy of our attention." (Ling. His. Anglo-Sax. vol. i. pp. 29-30.) Happy shall I consider myself, O Englishmen, if in the above pages, I have advanced anything, that may be thought worthy of your attention on the subject of religion. Our lives, as this pagan, but aged and venerable Thane justly observes, are beautifully pictured by the short flight of a sparrow, flying through the narrow space of a hall, with a door open at each end. But after this short passage of life, there is something most awful, and mysterious awaiting us, and the true religion of God, only can unfold to us, how we may best prepare ourselves for the revelation of those awful moments, when time shall end, and eternity begin. Surely then, the sincere search after the true religion, must be a subject worthy of your information, of your attention, and of your frequent consideration. Happy, again I repeat it, shall I consider myself, if anything that I may have said, shall tend to assist you in the above important, and essential investigation. Refer, however, the glory and honour, not to me, but to the holy Catholic Church, under whose guidance I have been instructed. O holy Church, the pillar of truth and the child of Jesus Christ, if I stray from thine unerring word, I shall soon (a weak and frail child of Adam) fall down the awful precipice of spiritual inconsistencies, contradictions, and errors. Should I have advanced anything contrary to any article of thy holy faith, I am ready publicly to recall it. Under the safe shelter of thy unerring authority, I will fix my resting-place, and there, fear neither the scoffs of the infidel, nor the flimsy reasoning of those, who have unfortunately strayed from thy secure paths. O Englishmen, if you would only seriously, and conscientiously examine the _real_ merits of the Catholic Church, you would soon find that she is built upon the pillar of truth, and that she is the admirable work of that wise builder, Jesus Christ, who built His house upon a firm foundation. "And the rains fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, but it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock." (St. Matt. vii. 25.)

ERRATA.

FIRST ADDRESS.

Page 1, line 23, for "rights" read "rites." 8, note line 6, for "Gospels" read "Gospel."

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