Part 5

But you will reply, we got all this money from _you papists_. Yes, courteous clerks, to the _honour_ of the Catholic Church be it said, that all this money was left by our _charitable_ ancestors; and I will now judge you from _your own_ mouths. _Mind_ and _mark it well_, that in the _Catholic_ times of old England, the above sums of money were divided into _three_ parts: _one_ for the maintenance of the clergy, the _second_ for the repair of the churches, and the _third_ for the support of the _poor_. In those good old _Catholic_ times, there were no church-rates, nor poor-rates. But your _god-like_ church as by law established, thought it more just, or at least _convenient_, to pocket _herself_ the _whole_ of the above sum, and to leave to the _public_ the charitable office, of providing for the other _two_ purposes. Really, Most Reverend Gentlemen, I candidly appeal to you, if this was not "a most extraordinary and presumptuous movement" of your clerical ancestors on the _pockets_ of the people; and _really_, must not people of the _present_ day think it "a most extraordinary and presumptuous movement" on the part of you Reverend Gentlemen, to continue these _pious_ frauds, and _godly_ practices of your ancestors? In _this_, at least, you _fully_ observe the commands of the _Scripture_, "Remove not the landmark of thy forefathers." Oh ye poor! (whom I sincerely love for the sake of my Saviour,) when I enter your hovels, where sickness, misery, and want meet together, and witness the scenes of distress that are passing there;--when I see a few handfuls of dying embers, that are calculated rather to starve you, than afford you the necessary comforts of warmth;--when I see the bed of wretchedness, on which you cast your wearied limbs;--when I view the tattered clothes, which scarcely cover you decently, much less protect you from the inclemency of the weather;--when I behold your pale and sickly countenances, that bespeak the poorness and scarcity of your food;--when I view your poor little children, begging in vain, with tears of artless innocence, a morsel of bread to satisfy the cravings of hunger;--when I witness scenes of this heart-rending description, (scenes which are not very uncommon now-a-days), the _charity_ of our _Catholic_ ancestors, and the _inhumanity_ of _your_ Church as by law established, rush vividly on my mind, and call to my recollection the words of our Saviour, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess ye the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you covered me; sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil, and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me not in; naked, and you covered me not; sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least," (namely the poor), "neither did you do it to me." (St. Matt. xxv. 34 to 45.) Oh how _strikingly_ does the _first_ part of this sacred passage apply to _our charitable_ Catholic ancestors? But shall I apply the second part to _you_, or _your_ Protestant ancestors? Oh! heaven forbid I should! I say with the great St. Paul, I judge no man; but charity for you, and the poor, induce me to entreat of you, and to ask of God to give you His grace, to commence a real reform in your _church property_, for the _sake_ of the _poor_, and to restore to the _poor_, what your Protestant ancestors so _unjustly_ took from them.

But you will perhaps reply, that all this church property, has been _justly_ given to your Protestant Church, by the _law_ of the _land_; for as the law of the land, _justly_ secures _to the landlord, his rents_, so the law of the land, _justly_ secures to _your church, the tithes_. I answer, in the first place, that by no law, either human, or divine, can property be _justly_ applied to any _other_ purpose, than to _that_ for which the _intention_ of the testator left it. Now one-third of this church property, was left by our _Catholic_ ancestors, for the support of the _poor_; and _as long_ as this property, was in the hands of the _Catholic Church_, the poor always received _their just_ share. Hence, among _all_ the calumnies against the _Catholic_ Church, even her _basest_ enemies, could _never_ accuse her of _injustice to the poor_. I answer secondly, the law of the land, as to _landlords_, is a _good_ law, because the landlord gives to his tenant _value_ (viz., the use of the land) for what he (the landlord) receives; whereas the law of tithes is a _bad_ law, because it often exacts tithes, where the payer has never received, _one farthing_ of value from the _parson_. Now in this case, it does appear to me (and I am sure it must to many others) most unjust to demand it _from persons_, who never received a _pin's-worth_ of good, from _your_ ministry in their lives. Nay, perhaps the _only return_ they got, for the payment of their tithes was, to hear their religion _abused_, and to be held up before the public, as guilty of those _very_ crimes, which _these_ reverends _themselves_ were _really_ committing, either by their robbing the poor of their just share, or by unjustly exacting from _others_ money, for which the _payers_ had never received one farthing of value.[H]

And now, most Reverend Gentlemen, I must just let the people see, how you contrive to blind them, by throwing _popish_ dust into their eyes. All the noise, which you make, _about the pope's bulls, and about popish spiritual and temporal domination_, is a mere _ruse de guerre_ of _many_ of you, (some of you indeed, I believe, are sincere in your motives, and actions,) to divert _public_ attention, from the _great temporalities_ of the established Church. You call, and hold your public and glorious meetings. With upturned hands and eyes, with high-_souled_ strains of _devotional_ eloquence, with cordial community of feeling, got up between the _established_ Church, and _those_ whom you indeed honour _with your lips_ by the title of reverends, but whom, _in your hearts_, you deem _mere phantoms_ of ministers, with silvery tones, and well-turned periods, of _rag-tag_ and _bob-tail_ inspirations; you excite the breathless attention of your audience, and profess the _most sanctified_ attachment to your _godly_ Church, and to your glorious Constitution, under the protection of whose wing, _you_ are _slyly_ basking in the sunshine of _godly_ mammon, and _worldly_ wealth. Should any poor _Catholic_, or _charitable dissenter_, (who wishes _you_ to _do_ to _others_ as _you_ would be _done_ by,) obtrude himself on the notice of your meeting, a thundering philippic is _instantly_ raised against _popery_, and gaining strength and speed, and loudness in its progress, rumbles onward, until at last, it bursts forth into a _tremendous_ elemental roar, increased by the zealous acclamations of an enraptured and fanatical audience. Oh, most Reverend Gentlemen, this is really a _glorious_, and _very profitable_ humbug. _As long_ as _you_ can manage, to keep the people in _this feverish state of excitement_, the gulls will think more of _discussing pope's_ bulls, _Guy Fawkes's, and Gunpowder Plots_, than of _questioning_ the _moral_ basis of the law, which entitles _you_ to take from _the poor_, their _just_ share of _Church_ property, left by _our charitable_ ancestors, and of exacting tithes and Church-rates from _those_, who do not belong to _your_ flock, and _for whom you do nothing in return_. Thus, you _successfully_ stave off the _discussion of Church_ property, professing all the while, the most _devotional_ concern for the _spiritual_ welfare of _the gulls_, on whose _pockets_, you are making a most 'extraordinary, and presumptuous movement.' Thus _you_ reap the _profits_, and _laugh_ at the _fools_, who are _cajoled_ by _your grand_ displays. Really, most Reverend Gentlemen, this extraordinary and presumptuous conduct, does, in my humble opinion, _beat all the powers of impudence_.[I]

Most Reverend Gentlemen, I have now proved "the extraordinary and presumptuous movement," which _your scriptural_ Church as by law established, has been making for a long time on the _pockets_ of Englishmen. I must now proceed to show, what "a most extraordinary and presumptuous movement" she has been making for a long time, on the _intellects_ of Englishmen. Would to God that occasion had never been given to me to touch on _this_ subject! But remember, that _many_ of your _reverend_ body, have been _publicly_ advancing the most _pretty_, and _polite_ things against _us Catholics_. The newspapers, will bear ample testimony to the _strange_, and _horrid_ things, which _many_ of your _reverends_, have _lately_ uttered against the Catholic Church. Now, what they have in general uttered against us, is, _unfortunately_, _not_ founded on _truth_; but mind, what I shall advance is _really true_, although _most awful_, nay _almost_ incredible, had not your _Protestant_ testimonies borne _ample_ witness _to it_. Remember, also, that although Our Saviour was the _most_ meek, and kind creature that the world _ever_ beheld, _still_, when the _honour_ of His Heavenly Father was _insulted_ and _outraged_, He cast the buyers and sellers out of the Temple. Now, some of your reverend body, have, in my ideas, lately used all their endeavours to insult, and outrage the Catholic Church, which, I consider, the Temple of God. Pardon me, therefore, if I should with the spiritual arms of _truth_, (and I hope of _charity_,) cast _them_ out of that temple, and show the world, they had _better_ have been in _their own_ temple, and have tried to have _re_formed _it_, _before_ they had endeavoured to turn masters of Israel, in their _neighbours'_ temple.

But _this_, Reverend Gentlemen, I must say, that if the Catholic Church, had _no better_ foundation than _declamation_ against the _Protestant_ Church, I would not be either a _minister_, or a _member_ of it for a _single_ day. But mind, the Catholic Church has both a _good_ foundation, and can also show the _flimsy_ texture of the _Protestant_ Church, when Protestant ministers are so _imprudent_ as to attack her.

Most Reverend Gentlemen, I can only say, had _you_ remained quiet, _I_ should have been _innocent_ of the disagreeable task, of having to state the following _awful_ facts. But as _you_ have not, I can only add, I am _innocent_ of the consequences, look _you_ to them. I will not indeed exclaim, with the Scripture, "Its blood be upon you, and upon your children;" but I will rather say, in the spirit of charity, may it bring you, and your followers, to a serious consideration, and to a sense of duty. But some of you reverends will _perhaps_ infer, from the awful truths which I shall advance, that I must believe that all, who are not of _our_ communion, must go to hell. _Appalling sentence!_ Christ certainly has said, that he that will not hear the Church, is to be to us as a heathen and a publican (that is, excluded from our spiritual communion.) But Christ does not say, he will _go to hell_, much less, therefore, ought _I_ to _rashly_ condemn him. St. Paul, also, warns us to judge _no man_, for this good reason, because _we, also_ shall have to stand before the tribunal of Christ. Far, therefore, be it from me to open the flood-gates of damnation, even on a _single_ individual, much less on the _whole_ body of our Protestant brethren. Although, therefore, I shall shortly advance truths, most awful, and almost incredible, still, let no one imagine, I mean anything PERSONAL. Oh, no, I will say with the poet--

"Let not this weak unknowing hand, Presume thy bolts to throw, Or deal damnation round the land, On all I judge thy foe."

Well, then, let it be remembered, that I shall advance only undeniable facts, without intending to deal damnation _on you_, or on the _whole_ Protestant body.

"I (shall) only speak right on, Yes, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, That love my friends, and that they know full well, Who gave me public cause to speak the truth. I'll tell you _that_, which you yourselves _might_ know."

A certain Spanish chemist, thought that _God's_ formation of his master, had not been executed in the most perfect, and durable manner; and this chemist had the audacious presumption to imagine, that if he demolished his master, he could raise him to life again, to a more perfect, and durable specimen of workmanship, than he was, when God first made him. For this purpose, this audacious chemist cut his master into pieces, and put the various parts into his sublimatory glass, with the design of raising his master again, by chemical operation, to a more durable, and perfect state of life than he was, when he was the handiwork of _God's_ formation. Now, Most Reverend Gentlemen, I will not apply this to your Church, but _this_ I will do, I will show you what the Church _was_, and _is_, which the fathers of the Reformation wished first to demolish, on account of her imperfections, and then, to raise her again to a more perfect specimen of spiritual life; I will show the characters of these spiritual chemists; I will show you the wonderful works of their spiritual chemistry, and the wonderful spiritual works of their scriptural hands; and then, I will leave you, and others to judge, whether these first reformers, and these new soul menders, _did, or did not_, really imitate the strange, and presumptuous conduct of this Spanish chemist.

When God first created man, He imprinted on his heart the light of reason, which (whether aided by revelation or not, it is not necessary here to enquire) taught him his duty to his God, to his neighbour, and to himself. This light was also imprinted on the hearts of his descendants; but as man fell from God by sin, the light of this natural law was greatly impaired, both in the hearts of our _first_ parents, and of all _their_ descendants. The light of this natural law, though much impaired by Adam's fall, is, and ever has been, imprinted on the hearts of all, and is, and ever has been, the foundation of all moral rectitude. The imperfection of this natural law was, before our Saviour came, supplied by the aid of revelation, which Almighty God communicated to mankind, at various times, through His chosen servants. But at _last_, the Almighty was pleased to send His only Son from heaven to earth, to supply the deficiency of this natural law, and to teach mankind, in the most perfect manner, their duty to God, to their neighbour, and to themselves. Hence our Saviour beautifully says, "He came _not_ to destroy the law, but to fulfil it," that is, He came to supply the imperfections of the natural law, caused by Adam's fall, and to teach us, in the most perfect manner, our duty to our God, to our neighbour, and to ourselves. Hence, for this purpose He became man, and united our humanity to His divinity. In this God-man, were concentrated all the treasures of divine wisdom and knowledge; and to this God-man, were given all power in heaven, and on earth. It is plain, therefore, as our Saviour beautifully says, He came to be the way, the truth, and the life to all mankind; that is, He came to be the way, by showing us the true way of heaven, which had been darkened, and obscured by the sin of our first parents; He came to be the truth, by revealing to us those supernatural truths, which the natural law did not reveal, and by revealing to us more clearly those truths, which the natural law revealed only obscurely; and lastly, He came to be our life, by communicating to mankind His graces, by which they were enabled to _practise_ the truths, which this divine law _taught_, and thus, by the _knowledge_, and _faithful practice_ of this divine law, to arrive at last at the kingdom of heaven. Hence, fully sensible of this truth, the Apostles are continually in the Scriptures reminding us, on _the one hand_, of man's fall, and the sad consequences of that fall; and _on the other hand_, of our liberation from sin, and of the abundant blessings we have received, by redemption through Jesus Christ.

Now, that mankind _in every age_, might be partakers of these abundant, and spiritual blessings, Jesus Christ was pleased to found a Church, and to invest this Church with the same spiritual powers, which He had received from His heavenly Father. This Church, _through Jesus Christ_, was to be the _infallible_ source of all spiritual knowledge, and of all spiritual grace; in short, it was to be the _visible_, the _infallible_, and _the incorruptible_ Church of all ages, with the world for its boundaries, and time for its duration.

I will now, give you a short description of this Church of Christ; attend, and I will tell you, in as few words as I can, what this Church always _was_, and really _is_. Catholicity, or Christ's Church, began with our Saviour, received her mission, her powers, and her doctrine, from Jesus Christ. She has been distinguished in every age, for the unity of her faith, and the sanctity of her doctrine, for the universality of her extent, and the apostolicity of her origin. No _earthly_ consideration, could ever induce her, to swerve _one iota_ from the sacred deposit, and unity of faith, delivered to her by Jesus Christ. Hence, whenever she found any in her communion, either layman, priest, or bishop, or _even a whole nation_, wishing to _change_, or _add to_, or diminish _one tittle_ of the _faith_, delivered by her heavenly founder, she _at first_, like a tender mother, expostulated with them, appealed to the grounds and truth of her faith, and traced it to the mouth, either of our Saviour or His Apostles; but if they disregarded her tender expostulations, she then, as St. Paul did the incestuous Corinthian, cut them off from her communion, and showed them, when _her faith_ was at stake, she feared neither the _frowns_ of individuals, nor the _strength_ of nations. Every article of her faith is so holy in itself, and so conducive to true holiness, that she challenges her greatest adversaries, to show the _smallest stain_ in any part of what she _really_ teaches, and the most convincing proof of their being _unable_ to do so, is, that not daring to attack her _true_ doctrine, they, by calumny and misrepresentation, lay things to her charge which she even _detests_ and _condemns_.[J] And then, after combating a _phantom_ of their _own_ creation, exult in an easy and decisive victory. From the dawn of Christianity to the present day, there has not been a nation converted to Christianity, but what was converted by her zealous exertions, nor is there a religion under the sun except hers, that can prove that any of her members, were ever honoured on account of their virtues, and sanctity, with the name of saint. She can look back through eighteen centuries, and shew that the unity and sanctity of her doctrine, are the _very same_ in the _nineteenth_ century, as they were in the _first_ century. She can trace a long succession of popes, even to the first pope, who was St. Peter. She can present you a long catalogue of learned and polite nations, of scholars, philosophers, and divines, of generals, statesmen, and princes, of saints, martyrs, and confessors, who looked upon her faith as their best inheritance, a treasure which they held more dear than life itself. In short, she can prove, that she is _now_ that Church, which _our Saviour first_ founded on a rock, against which, He promised, that the gates of hell should never prevail, and that He, and His Holy Spirit, should remain with it, teaching it all truth, _until the end of the world_. Hence, she has passed through the stormy trials of _eighteen_ centuries, which would have long since shivered any _human_ institution into atoms, and now stands forth, ever fresh and vigorous, in all her pristine strength, but silvered with the venerable hoar of ages.

This is a short description of the visible, infallible, and incorruptible Catholic Church of Christ; I will now show you how this Church was formed, and how it was to be perpetuated, _from age to age_, with the world for its boundaries, and time for its duration. The Prophet Daniel foresaw this Church, when he said (Dan. c. ii.), "The God of heaven should set up a kingdom, which should _never_ be destroyed." And our Saviour (Matt. xvi.) informs us, that He is the maker and builder of this Church. Hence He assures us, that as He Himself was sent by His Heavenly Father to preach the Gospel (Luke iv. 18.), so He, also, sent His Apostles: as My Father hath sent Me, I also send you. (John xx. 21.) For this purpose He revealed to His Apostles _all_ the divine truths which _He_ had received. "All things," says He, "whatsoever I have heard of My Father, I have made known to you." (John xv. 15.) He then gave them a commission, to teach _all_ these truths to _all_ nations. "All power," says He, "is given to me in heaven and on earth: go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, teaching them to observe _all_ things whatsoever _I_ have commanded you; and behold I am with you _all days, even to the end of the world_." (Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.) But when our Saviour gave these commands to His Apostles, He at the same time, imposed upon mankind a strict obligation, _to hear_ and _learn_ His gospel from the Apostles. Hence He says to His Apostles, "He that heareth _you_, heareth _Me_, and he that despiseth _you_, despiseth _Me_, and he that despiseth _Me_, despiseth _Him_ that sent me." (Luke x. 16.) But whilst our Saviour, imposes upon mankind the necessity of _hearing_ His Apostles, he pledged His _infallible_ word, that they should _never_ lead _the people_ astray, or teach any false doctrine. For this reason, He promises that He will send down His Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, to teach them all truth, that He and His Holy Spirit will remain with them _for ever_, teaching them all truth, and that the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. (John xv. Matt. xvi.)